Mike's Here!

Today was so fun!  All my family was together in one place!  Only for a second, but hopefully we'll get that longer tomorrow.  The day started off delicious with waffles from my dad.  We played games and the kids loved rides on the four wheeler.  My brothers were inspired by the frisbee golf course at the lodge, so they made their own.  Anne and Grace have bonded.  These girls are just under two months apart, I think.  They are fun to watch!  I know my dad agrees!

Anne & Grace

 Haha!  Little goofballs!

My brother Mike and his family got here tonight.  It is so amazing to have them here with us!  Mike wasted no time in teasing Matt.  He set up this display in the bathroom.

 Anne & Grace

I heard a knock on the door around 9:00 or so.  I opened it and was blown away to see Dave and Mandy and their family!  That was so much fun!  They had spent the day at Yellowstone, so they were pretty exhausted.  How nice of them to stop by and say hi.  Dave & Mandy and Mike & Christen lived together in Arizona for a little while.  I'm glad Mike and Christen were here for this surprise!  I have an adorable picture of Mandy and Christen, but I heard Mandy vetoed Christen's picture.  I bet mine is better because both of them look great.  I will refrain from posting it just in case.  I will not refrain from posting the picture of Dave with my brothers and I.  Bubs had left by this point which is why he is not in the picture.

Mike, Dave, Matt, Brett, John, Stephanie

 Mike felt left out

What a fun surprise!  I love my family!

David, Mandy, Jordyn

I had a hard time sleeping.  I decided to just get up and drive.  I pulled out of the truck stop at 3:45 in the morning.  I got several hours down the road before other people woke up.  I was a little nervous, but wide awake.  When Mike woke up, he made me a breakfast burrito.  Mike loves to cook while I'm driving.  He thinks it's so cool.

We stopped at a Walmart to get a few things.  On an impulse, we bought the kids their own sketch pad.  We were looking for plain paper, but couldn't find any.  This will work out better anyway.  We got some colored pencils.  I think these will be well used.  Maysen got Jorja a How to Draw Cartoons book a few weeks ago.  She has been so excited to give it to her.

Jorja, Maysen, Preston

We drove the entire day.  We were planning on stopping at this cool bridge in Kearney, Nebraska, but with our late start yesterday I didn't feel we would have the time.  I was anxious to get to my cousins' house. Our day yesterday pretty much looked like this the entire time.

We arrived at David and Mandy's house around 7:00.  Jordyn was there too.  They waited for us for dinner.  So nice!  They served us Hawaiian Haystacks.  It was delicious!

Mike putting on the Nebraska sticker

 Nebraska Unlocked!

My kids had a great time playing with David and Mandy's kids.  I'm not going to write their names because I don't think David and Mandy would like that.  Hopefully they don't mind the few pictures I'm going to put on here.  They played What Are the Odds?  Lots of laughing was going on.

 Mandy, Stephanie, Jordyn

 David, Stephanie, Jordyn

Stockton read everyone a story before bed.  They were getting quite silly at this point.  I love seeing my kids have fun with my relatives. Even though I doubt they have ever met before.  I was so close to my cousins growing up.  I sure miss all of them.

Jorja read us scriptures out on the tramp.  Stockton, Jorja and Preston slept out there.  Weird that this is their first time sleeping on a tramp.  I slept on the Leatherwood's trampoline all the time growing up.  They were quite excited about it.

Stockton's head, Jorja, Preston

 Preston, Jorja, Stockton's thumb

 Three thumbs up!

Maysen slept on the couch.  Mike and I slept in the guest room.  I stayed up a bit talking to David and Mandy.  They have been so nice to us.  It really was great to see them again.