Island Park

We had a wonderful time on our annual Island Park Trip. We left last Friday night after the Christensen Christmas party. It was getting really late and we decided on the ride up that it would be fun to stop and spend the night at Great-Grandma-lady's house. We all just love that lady so much. My boys were just thrilled when they found out that she said yes. It was such a great evening being able to talk with Grandma-lady and have her love our little Maylie. 

The next morning we woke up and let the boys play for a little bit before we decided to headed up to the condo. They got into the dress up closet and found some old glasses. They were pretty proud and funny looking. It was a good laugh. Grandma-lady fed us breakfast, we cleaned up our mess. and headed on our way.

We spent the day Saturday just watching TV and unpacking. All three of my boys were in Heaven. They LOVE the snow. Around 6:00 we tried to go over to the pool and go swimming, but there were too many people. Rhev was heart broken. There were alot of tears shed. So we went back to our condo and filled up the tub as high as we could and they swam in the bath tub. It ended abruptly when Trayvn got caught under Rhevs legs started drowning. That was an experience I will never forget. My heart completely stopped when I found him under the water. Luckily I got him to choke quickly and he threw up the water. -ya that was a bad Mom moment :( Things got better quickly when my best friend Brittny Petersen, her husband Jerik, Xenia Reyes, and her boyfriend broke in and payed us a visit. Those two girls can always make the world around them brighten up. It's really fun for me that Brittny's family has a time share at the same time we do. 

We had a fun time playing the Wii (thank you to Luke Grandma for letting us borrow it) and then went to bed.

Sunday

9:00am church comes way too early. Especially in Island park because you have to be there before 8:30 to get a decent seat. We made it though!

Maylie was the cutest girl there!

After church we all gathered at Tyces parents condo and had a lazy day of games, Wii and TV.  That night Candy Grandma did a lesson on "THINK"

T- is it True

H- Is it Helpful

I- is it Inspiring

N- it is Necessary

K- is it Kind

She was trying to teach us to think about the things we say. Rhev lately has been quite the copy cat and the lesson was a good reminder that both him and Trayvn are listening to everything that we say and we need to be careful so we aren't bad examples for them.

Monday

Grandma and Chase were both sick with a stomach bug so the rest of us decided to go to the Bear and Wolf exhibit in West Yellowstone. We've taken the boys every year, but this year was so much more fun because they were so interested. And it helped that aunts and uncles were there to play along with them.

Yep Rhev just hit me with a snowball. He is getting quite the arm on him!

This is a wolf den that Rhev found.

Kayl thought it would be fun to take the boys inside the bear trap. It took alot to keep Tyce from locking them all in ;)

When we got back from West Yellowstone, we were finally able to take the kids swimming. My 3 kids are little fish!!! They could swim all day if we would let them. Trayvn got to the point where he could jump into the big pool by himself (with a life-jacket on) pop himself up out of the water and swim to the edge, get back out and do it again with out anybody touching him. HE IS ONLY TWO!! They just LOVE the water!!

Tuesday (New Years Eve)

We left Maylie with Grandma and all the rest of us went for a snowmobile ride. We went to Big Springs and then headed up Black Canyon loop. By the time we got to the top, Trayvn was completely frozen so we turned around and headed back. By the time we got back to the condo he was a Popsicle. I sat and held him in front of the fire wrapped in the blanket for about an hour and he was still cold. He broke my heart. So far on this trip that little boy has had two traumatic experiences and my Good Mom radar is getting lower and lower.

At lunch time we found Maylie laying on the couch . Rhev had decided he wanted to take her picture, so he carted her from our room to the couch and layed her down to take a picture.

What cha think?

She is such a good sport :)

Everybody left and went on a ride except the kids and I. We got to have a lazy afternoon at the condo. It was actually really nice. That night we went over to the other condo for the holiday festivities. I was determined to make it a party and keep everyone awake.  We were able to get a key to the church and go play basketball. That was fun and got us out of the cabin for a bit. When we got back Tyce helped the boys build a wooden plane and car that aunt Lori game them for Christmas. They were all decked out in their building gear.

I was really impressed with how patient Tyce was with the boys. It took a long time to build simply because he let them do most of the hammering. 

Maylie's first New Year. She even stayed up with us. We all stayed awake, but it was definitely time to go to bed. Both boys were beyond breakdown mode and needed to sleep.

Wednesday

Charlie Anderson called us this morning and invited us to come over and sled on their hill next to his parents cabin. It's been a tradition of our to do it every year. The kids just love it. They slide down and then the snowmobile pulls them up.

Maylie even joined in the fun. She never went down the hill, but she was a good sport staying all bundled up.

Can you see her?

Dad thought it would be a good idea to lay her down on a sled for a minute. She did not agree!

She our little snow bunny.

We had such a fun time. I love this picture. All the kids had on funny hats (not planned).

We had Rhev the Bear, Trayvn the puppy, Maylie the owl, Alli the Monkey, Charlie Duck Dynasty and Chase the monster.

When we got back to the condo we went over to the clubhouse to play wally ball. Rhev and Trayvn did not like the idea of having to wait to go swimming. Needless to say we were all happy when they could finally quit crying and jump in the pool. Like I've said before; they are fish. They could live in a pool if we would let them.

Thursday

Lately Maylie has discovered her smile and we love it. This Morning she was all smiles and just sweet. We sure love her.

Tyce was able to go on a couple rides today. The kids and I just had a day hanging out. It really make me happy that Tyce is able to go out and do stuff like snowmobiling. He is such a hard worker and to be able to have a little time off is awesome.

All of Tyce's family left today. Kayl and Brielle had basketball practice so they all decided to go home. 

Friday

Finally we had a morning to sleep in and be lazy. It was Fabulous!!! We told the kids that if they would eat their lunch and get dressed then we would go sledding down the hills and then go swimming. Well we finally gave up on them at 4:00 and just took them swimming. We got tired of waiting :)

While we were having our lazy morning, my baby decided she wanted to be big and hold the bottle herself.

I couldn't believe it! She is growing too fast! Don't worry I pulled the bottle away and tied down her hands so she couldn't do it anymore and grow up to fast :)

Once she was fed and dressed she put on a smile show for us.

Can you see why I love her so much!

After swimming Daddy was a hero and took the boys to the gas station to pick out treats. He thought they would pick out something big and cool, but all they wanted was a little thing of sixlets. He was so disappointed so he bought himself a bag of licorice and a grapefruit for me.

Saturday

We woke up, cleaned up and were checked out around 9:00. I must say the drive home from vacation is the worst because the whole time all I can think about is how it's back to reality and the craziness of life. I don't understand why vacations go by so fast. We truly had a wonderful time as a family. My boys are loving life and I am so glad I can be apart of it!