Raspberries

We woke up at Grandma & Grandpa Parry’s today. Maysen and Jorja both picked raspberries out back ~ and liked them! Fresh raspberries are so good!

We drove up to the cabin in the afternoon. I haven’t seen Palisades this high in years. It is beautiful. Everything here is beautiful, although we were surprised to see horses right next to the garage. Hope Mike will be okay, at least he’s been taking his allergy pills. Usually they’re no match against horses though.

At dinner time my family came up. My dad, Matt, Bubs, Lincoln & Ella. Preston has been having a great time with the little kids. He doesn’t have cousins his age on Mike’s side of the family, so this is so great for him!

Lake to Falls

Today we packed up and checked out of our awesome condo. We took the kids to the swimming pool one last time and then had lunch at LeBeau’s. You eat outside and they have awesome milkshakes. Mine was Raspberry Chocolate Chip. Yum. While Mike was waiting to order, I walked around to get a picnic table. I turn the corner and sitting at a table was Vicky Orme! I stopped in my tracks and stared at her. I couldn’t believe it! She lives in Georgia! When I went back to Mike, I said, "Vicky Orme is sitting at the table around the corner!" Someone behind me said, "Vicky is my sister!" I was talking to him later, I’m pretty sure his name is Bruce. He didn’t know Vicky was there. He knew she was visiting Utah, but didn’t know she was right there. He lives an hour away from Bear Lake as well. The girls Vicky was sitting with (her friends from Kindergarten) were teasing her that they live here and don’t know a soul, she comes from Georgia and knows everybody! It was really, really funny.

We had another perfect day on the lake. Maysen and Stockton both tried to ski - to make their mother happy. Stockton popped right up to a crouched position, but couldn’t figure out how to stand up the entire way. He went a long way like that - and got a lot of water in his face. Maysen couldn’t get up, but she had a good attitude and tried a lot. Both of them loved the knee board. Maysen even stood up on the knee board! Crazy! Brandon got a big smile on his face when he watched Maysen. When it was his turn, Brandon stood up! He had amazing balance and was doing the robot while he was standing. I couldn’t believe I forgot our cameras! I would have loved to have that on video! Stockton had a huge smile on his face during his turn. Then while he was riding, Steve and Mike both dove out of the boat. Stockton was laughing so hard. At the end of the day, it was time for the tube! Preston, Jorja and Weston went first. Preston did not want to get out! He was so upset when we pulled him out that he went to sleep. The bigger kids went crazy! They loved the bumps. Maysen went over one so big that she flew backwards and only her foot remained inside. I don’t know how she was able to crawl back in, but she did it.

After we ended our fun on the lake, we drove up to Idaho Falls and are now at Grandma & Grandpa Parry’s house! I love it here! Preston played with Grandma on the puzzles for a long time. It is cute to see Preston with them. He is now interacting so well with other people. I can’t believe how grown up he has become!

Preston & Grandma

I loved these puzzles when I was growing up
Jorja and Grandma
Jorja and Grandpa

Boating

We spent most of the day on the water. Mike, Steve and Shannon got up early and went boating with Lisa and Aimee. I watched the kids at the condo. It was no problem until I decided to take them to the swimming pool. I had eight kids by myself. They did fine and there were no problems, it just caused me too much anxiety. We were there for about an hour and a half when Mike and Shannon came back to rescue us. Now it was our turn to boat!

Maysen and Stockton both loved the knee board. I want them to try wake boarding or skiing, but they didn’t get a chance. Hopefully we will have time for that tomorrow. I had a great time on the knee board and I even tried surfing. I got up right away, but I didn’t understand that I was suppose to be a little off center. I spent the entire time trying to work my way into the middle . . . which didn’t happen. Mike was fun to watch after me. He was able to ride awhile without holding onto the rope.

Preston finally got the flag

Stockton

Preston
Stockton
Mike & Preston
Mike

The kids got a little bit of time on a tiny beach while we went and picked up Matt and Sherry and their family. We gathered everyone in the boat. All 18 of us. At first they were counting 17 until I reminded them that Stockton was asleep in the storage compartment.

Much to the delight of the kids, we spent the rest of the day with the big blue tube. Preston loved it and did not want to get off. He has told me several times now about going over the bumps in the blue tube.

Preston & Stockton in the 'Dog House'

Sherry, Miah, Jorja, Steph, Preston

Brandon, Stockton, Jacob

Mike, Steve & Sherry all rode the tube together. Sherry said that was enough sibling bonding to last them for a couple of years.

Sibling Bonding

Mike, Sherry, Steve

Maysen & Connor

That’s it. Steve spent the entire day on the water. Mike hung out at the dock for a little while for a phone interview. It’s a pretty great life.

Hirschi Family Reunion

Mike, Maysen, Jorja, Preston and I got up early and went boating with Holly and Josh’s family. Maysen tried the knee board for the first time and loved it. She went in and out of the wake and had a giant smile on her face the entire time. Jorja thought we were taking a boat ride to the beach and was really upset that we weren’t going there until lunch. Preston enjoyed the ride until it was time to get out. He wanted to take the flag with him and screamed about it until he fell asleep.

Maysen

At noon we met for lunch at the beach. Grandpa Hirschi would have turned 100 this October, so that was the reason for the reunion. Aunt Mona and Aunt Marveen were there. Jay and Alyce were planning on coming from Chicago, but Alyce got sick and wasn’t able to make it. Scoop and Cori were planning on coming, but they decided to go back to St. George instead. If we had known they weren’t going to be there, we would have brought all the kids over last night so they could see their grandpa.

We put Preston under a tree during the lunch and covered him with towels. The kids were having a great time climbing all the trees. Sherry and her family arrived after we had been there for awhile. Everyone was having a great time when we hear a scream. Connor had jumped out of the tree and landed on Preston. Conner had no idea he was there, and I didn’t even think to warn them. Not a nice way to wake up from a nap, but Preston was fine. Connor felt so bad, but there was no way he could have known Preston was there.

It was nice hearing stories about Grandpa Hirschi. My favorite was when he was in his 20's, he was going to a dance with his brother. They got a flat tire on a rainy dirt road. Neither one of them wanted to change the tire because it would mess up their clothes. They flipped a coin and Grandpa lost. So, he took off all his clothes and changed the tire naked. He also had to turn the crank to start the car again. When he finished, he climbed back in, dried himself off in a blanket, dressed again and continued to the dance.

Family Tree

Preston
The Siblings
Sherry, Mike, Steve, Lisa

After lunch we played at the beach. Jorja is such a fish! Although I don’t understand how she can swim in the water that was too cold for her when we tried to get her to knee board. Preston loved the sand. My camera ran out of batteries, of course.

Jorja

Mike and I took our kids and Steve and Shannon’s kids back to the condo. They played games the rest of the day. We stayed up talking with Lisa, Aimee, Mona, Marveen & Holly’s family until midnight. It was really nice for me to get to know them better. We don’t get to see family that much living across the country.We talked Lisa and Aimee into staying the night with us. This is the only time we will be able to see them this trip. We are headed straight to Idaho, and before we get back, they are going on a cruise to Barcelona!

In conclusion, today was a long, enjoyable day. Looking forward to tomorrow!

(Happy birthday Matt & Grandpa Parry!)

Bear Lake

After church, we drove up with Steve & Shannon to Bear Lake for the Hirschi family reunion. We are staying with Steve & Shannon in a super nice condo. It is three floors and fits our families perfectly. The adults are on the top floor and all the kids are in the basement. Can’t beat that! Maysen and Erica have their own room, the other six are sharing a bedroom. Everyone has their own bed, so that is nice.

Jorja & Maysen
Mike

Stephanie

Later tonight, we took Preston and went to see Crazy Aunt Mona, Marveen, Holly’s family, and Scoop and Cori. It’s nice having Maysen & Erica old enough to babysit. If we had brought everyone, there would have been nowhere to move and the kids would be miserable.When we came back, everyone went to bed really easily. Although it was 10:00 at night. Past midnight Georgia time. When we come out west, our kids get adjusted to Hawaii time. Getting them back to Eastern time is a nightmare!

Nauvoo

We made it! We are now here in Utah! The kids were great . . . I was tired of the car.

Yesterday we spent the day in Nauvoo, Illinos. We met my dad in the morning and went around with him and Cathy. We went to Joseph Smith's home, his grave site, a brick yard, a black smith's shop and the Nauvoo Temple. It was interesting visiting the Joseph Smith house. That property is owned by the Community of Christ. They did a really good presentation, but you couldn't feel the spirit there at all. It was quite a contrast from the Carthage Jail. It lead into a good discussion on recognizing the spirit.

After Nauvoo we drove, and drove, and drove. Poor pioneers. Mike was wondering how many times they tried to convince Brigham Young that this was a good enough place.

Grandpa Millburn & Preston

Mike & Preston
Preston at Joseph Smith's house
Preston
Maysen & Stockton racing the bears.
Stockton was SO FAST at this!
Maysen & Jorja
Jorja

Maysen, Stephanie, Jorja & Mike

Stockton took this picture of us . . .

My sunglasses look very authentic

Stockton loved the Jacob's ladder

Maysen

Stockton, Grandpa & Maysen

Preston ~ at the brickyard
We went from the brickyard to blacksmith shop. Mason to Smith.

Nebraska Smells Funny

Seriously. Our kids kept asking what the smell was and Mike would just reply, "It's Nebraska". We are stopped here at a Super 8 Motel. 10 hours left to Utah. So tired! I will upload pictures and write about Nauvoo tomorrow. Right now, I'm going to bed.

Carthage Jail

Mike and I got up early this morning. 3 a.m. to be exact. We were out of the door by 5. One hour off of our goal, but not bad. We drove to Carthage, Illinois. The kids were great! We took a tour of the Carthage Jail (where Joseph Smith was killed). Preston was a little rough through that, but we survived.

Stockton, Maysen, Jorja, Mike & Preston

Statues of Joseph and Hyrum Smith Maysen, Preston, Jorja & Stockton

Maysen is sitting in the window where Joseph Smith was killed.

The inside doors are the original doors.

This one still has the bullet hole from

the bullet that killed Hyrum.

We found out our tour guide was from Idaho Falls. Mike asked if he knew Jack and Lois Parry. He said, "Of course, we were in their ward!" I think his name was Elder Lisk. We didn't get to meet his wife, she was doing a tour and our kids weren't waiting!

Elder Lisk & Stephanie

After Carthage, we met up with my dad and Cathy in Nauvoo. (My dad is leading a tour group through right now). We got there just in time to see the pageant. The weather was great, but my kids were about done. They couldn't really see well either, so they were pretty grumpy. Hopefully they will be back to their pleasant selves tomorrow!

Packing Up

I spent most of the day packing up and finishing last minute things. Mike is loading up the car right now. He is trying to figure out how we can fit all our suitcases and his submarine. I'm sure he'll find a way. Our plan is to leave at four in the morning. We shall see.

Walking With Teresa

My friend Teresa and I go walking as often as possible. She will most likely be moving away in a few weeks. It looks like they will still be in our ward, but it won't be the same as having her up the street. I'm going to miss having her so close. She was the first person I met when I moved to Georgia. When I met her, I knew I would like it here.

Irresponsible Tooth Fairy

So Jorja runs to our room this morning. She was crying hysterically. I guess the tooth fairy didn't come last night. Then Jorja lost her tooth as she was bringing it to us. I couldn't believe it! How could the tooth fairy forget? Especially since I blogged about it last night! We got it all straightened out though. We had a gigantic thunderstorm last night, so we discovered the tooth fairy was just running a little behind. I stuck blankets under Jorja's bed so it would look like she was still sleeping and told Jorja she could play. About a half an hour later, Jorja was so excited to see the tooth fairy left her a little frog clock. Crises adverted!

Jorja and her prize

Because we had friends over last night, Maysen was the only one who got to do their presentation. This morning Stockton and Jorja had their turn. Stockton has been working on a computer game and Jorja made a card game about birds. We played her game this morning. She was so happy!

Mike, Maysen and Jorja planted a rain gutter garden awhile ago. Jorja bought flower seeds with her own money. We were so surprised when we saw this beautiful flower out our window this morning.

Jorja is so proud!

Mike and I took Maysen to visit her new school. She will be going to middle school next year. The school is brand new and looks really nice. Maysen loved the library. I don't understand why they won't get their schedule until the first day of school. They won't get their lockers until a few weeks after that. I was looking forward to mapping out her route she should take, just like my mom use to do. Hopefully it's not chaos the first day.