California Pictures

You didn't think I'd forgotten, did you? Here's the pictures I promised.

Wait.

First, look who got a haircut. Such a big boy!


The Four Day Drive


Kelly and I with our TEN kids.


Breakfast at Ali's.....delicious Hootenannies (German Pancakes, Puffed Oven Pancakes).


The Lovely Bride and Groom JUST MARRIED!
So happy.


Ali's Brother's and me at the wedding reception for Allen and Megan. The one in the yellow is single ladies! He's kind, hilarious and adventurous. I'll set you up.


Where Walter slept during the entire reception while I partied.


Where Kate slept at the end of the reception when her cousins had left and she was done.


That's all for now...more later!

California

I'm sleep deprived and happy. California has been a non-stop party with about 30 cousins, 9 siblings/in-laws and spouses, 2 sets of grandparents and a handful of the greatest friends. Still planning on seeing many more! Less than a week left, so I have lots more to fit in!

I love it here!

Road Trip!!!

Crazy ole' Marie! I'm on my way to California. Yes I am driving. Yes, my mother is with me to drive while I threaten children. Yes, it is a LONG ways to drive. Yes, we have had two long days and yes, we have two more to go.

YES, I get to see Kelly and Ali tomorrow!!!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!! Yippeeeeeeee!

I miss my Willy. I love him. He's the best.

My Litte Sister is a Married Woman!

I can hardly believe it myself and I'm practically dieing because I STILL haven't spoken with her since she left from the reception 10 days ago! This is not normal to go so long without chatting with my wonderful sista. I miss her...but I must let her go. For now she is her husband's. He gets her...all to himself and he better be enjoying it, although I'm sure he is. No doubt about it. Who couldn't enjoy Betsy? She's the best!!!

The morning of the wedding us gals went over to help Betsy get ready. You know, girly stuff like applying makeup, zipping up dresses and telling her how purty she looked. Speaking of zipping up dresses, my zipper got stuck! I had my dad, my brother and my daughters all try to fix the dumb thing. Thankfully, I was able to zip it myself after a sincere prayer and little patience. Whew! We all got glamoured up. Kate even got a little lipstick which meant the older girls got some too. Everyone felt so beautiful!


The temple ceremony was wonderful and Betsy and Shilo looked elated. The worst part about taking pictures afterwards was trying to be quiet outside the temple doors. Oops, I have a loud mouth. :)


After the temple we hit Jamba Juice....I love that place! We then headed on over to the reception. It was 3 hours of pure happiness and bliss. I got to see so many old friends and even my cousins came!!! We partied, ate, visited and danced the night away. The newlyweds snuck out a little early and we just stayed till they kicked us out...I mean we helped clean up....a little.


You know what else is the best? The bonfire we enjoyed 3 days after arriving home in Missouri. It was the best welcome home present...even though it wasn't really for me. I still thoroughly enjoyed every minute. What's not to love? A HUGE fire, a little rain, polish sausages, hamburgers (yes I had both), seemingly unlimited supply of sodas for the kids, visiting with friends and roasting marshmallows.


I still wish I was a pioneer. Really. I can't wait for the pioneer trek coming up in June and Girl's camp in July and lots of camping in between. Maybe it's just the fires I love.

Oh great. Look who knows how to go down the slide all by himself! Slow down boy, you are only 13 months old! That reminds me....I need to go get his pictures taken.

Does this mean he can't play outside by himself any longer? Help!

More pictures of the vacation to come later. For now, I'm going to bed!

So tell me, is my love of fires abnormal and when will my sister call? I should wait for her...shouldn't I?

Checking In....and Out

Tonight we checked in to our last hotel for the trip. Sadly, the pool is outdoors with a lovely film of pollen and leaves adorning the top. It is heated though...I still think we'll pass. Currently the five kiddos and I are barricaded in the business center while I check email and William dines out with his cousin. We are looking forward joyously to an early morning flight and long drive home from Kansas City.

We've had a whirlwind trip.

Favorites so far are:

Muir Woods, Point Reyes, San Fransisco, Drakes Beach, Pier 39, Aunt Betsy's wedding, Grandma C's house, Uncle Nathan's baby goats, the crookedest street in the world, Thai food, Chinese food, Jamba Juice, Hampster bites, best dog Lucy, sleepovers with cousins, Easter Eggs, sleeping with a cat...IN THE HOUSE, Jelly Bellies, swimming, taking pictures, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Bridge and a few other bridges too, going to the Oakland Temple, walking by the bay and getting rained on, getting mosquito bites...in APRIL!!!!, trashing the rental car that had only 2 miles on it when we picked it up.

We miss California already.

I promise pictures will follow soon. Check back every half hour over the next several days.