Bookends

As I am looking back through pictures of our family visit, I realize that we have tons of pictures of our little 3 day jaunt to Wisconsin Dells and not too many of the rest of the trip. So even though the Dells was smack dab in the middle of the visit I am going to first document what came before and after it, and then I will give it it's own post, maybe two? We'll see.

Let's start by rewinding to last Saturday, the 22nd. Ann and Tony were flying in from Wyoming and Sarah and her party of 6 were driving up from Tennessee. After spending the morning at church for our program practice and ice cream party, I hurried home to try to at least have clean sheets in place when the masses arrived. I feel bad because I had scrambled brains through their whole visit so I was a pretty pitiful hostess. Sarah ended up cooking most nights. Plus, my house was falling apart under our feet so I felt pretty embarrassed, but everyone seemed to have fun in spite of my chaos.

Saturday night we didn't do much, and I didn't sleep much with the program jumping in and out of my dreams.

Sunday we started off nice and early to get to church for the big day. I feel bad because in my self-centered, self-pity I completely glazed over the program in my previous post. It was good. Really good. The kids said adorable things, like they always do. The music was super amazing. Lots of strong voices, an all boys number, 2 numbers with stringed instruments, but my favorite was Praise to the Man. We used the Jenny Phillips version and at the end our little Hannah girl sang Hail to the Prophet ascended to heaven, solo. It was hauntingly beautiful. It really jolted me and I saw a lot of people react on the stand and out in the audience as well. Only one little Sunbeam chickened out, but there is always one, every year. What I didn't expect was that it would be Chloe. She is my boldest kiddo by far, and the ring leader of insanity in the Sunbeams. She practiced every night for a month, but that day she just hugged me and giggled. I think she would have done it if it hadn't been me at the podium. Oh well.

Alyssa talked very first, before me, before any songs, VERY first. I was nervous asking her to do that because if she chickened out or whispered through it, it wouldn't be a very stellar start to the program but she did great.

Here are her words.

My favorite scripture story is about Noah’s Ark. I love animals and it makes me happy that he listened and was able to keep the animals safe. What I learned from Noah is that we always need to listen to Heavenly Father, even if no one else is. Even if we think He is asking us to do something that sounds crazy we should do it because later we will learn that He was right and that He was trying to keep us safe. I know the scriptures are true.

Alex spoke a little later down the road. He said his part in lightening speed, but by heart so 10 points for that. He said I follow the prophet because he follows Jesus because Jesus is good.

Alright, moving along.

After the insanity of program day I always feel like I need a 7 hour nap. Well, I felt it even more that day with the whole releasing debacle, but I figured that in the long run I would rather look back and know that I played with family instead.

So we went and played down by the harbor. After looking at our summer time beach pictures, Aspen requested some time by the harbor. Luckily it was 60 degrees that day. We had a nice afternoon walking on the rocks, playing at the park, hanging out with ducks, and playing on the beach. I am still trying to convince them to come in the summer one time because it is so much more fun in the summer, when it is not gray and overcast.

Even though the water was cold and it was drizzling on us, The Englishes had to get their toes wet. I am pretty sure that if it hadn't been Sunday they would have dove right in, cold or not.

Olive was manning Tony's camera and got lots of funny shots. I am also looking at them compared to my camera and thinking it is time to get a real camera.

Do you like Chloe's outfit?

Now back to my junker camera.

What are the odds of finding Olive and Tony's names both in graffiti on the same rock?

Insert Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday here.

We came home from the Dells on Wednesday night pretty pooped, so we took it a little bit easy on Thursday. Sarah and Jonathon went to the temple in the morning since it is only an hour away and it is an all day trip to get to and then back from their nearest temple. When they returned we were forced by the little critters to go to Jelly Belly. I have to admit that after almost 7 years, I am over Jelly belly, but my kids still ask to go pretty often and Sarah's kids can't do Wisconsin without Jelly Belly. So we went, and they had a blast as always. We then went to Trolley Dog for lunch. Somehow this has also become a cousins tradition. We never go to Trolley Dog any other time, but a tradition is a tradition. Our next plan was to go to the corn maze that my kids wanted to take their cousins through, but it started raining, and I don't think any of the adults were heartbroken about bagging the maze.

Instead Grandma and Grandpa took the big kids to see Dolphin Tale. They offered to take Chloe but I knew she wouldn't sit still so me and Seth took her fridge shopping. Yippee! Sarah and Jonathon stayed home with the baby and got dinner ready. We snarfed our dinner and then sang a quick Happy Birthday to Aspen before me and Seth ran out the door to help set up for Trunk or Treat.

And this last picture is just because it amused me. Alyssa and Aspen love to spend time together but they are both also hopelessly addicted to reading so every few hours both of their little noses would vanish into a book. I love it!

Friday morning, Sarah's crew hit the road. We would have loved to have them join in our Halloween festivities but they had their own Trunk or Treat to get back to. And you already know how the rest of the visit played out. We put Ann and Tony to work at the Trunk or Treat and then sent them home all partied out on Saturday morning.

It was such a great visit. Grandma and Grandpa always make the kids feel so special. They had a hotel and they would take two kids per night with them to swim, eat out in the morning and get spoiled. The kids loved it! Well, one little Chloe monkey did need to be picked up and brought home late at night because she missed her mama, but she still loved all the attention she was getting. And to have grandma and grandpa here and cousins too! Well, it just doesn't get much better than that. Thanks to all of you for making the trip out. Sorry you were sucked into the world of madness that was our life that week. Luckily it didn't stop us from collecting lots of good memories.

Alright, there are the bookends of the visit. The rest is coming soon.