Tri-Cities Trip

We spent a great week in Richland, Washington with my Grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins for the Johnson family reunion. I grew up going to visit there and it's fun to take my kids back and share the same memories with them.

Messy eater!

Chayce LOVES the swings and will take a ride whenever he can get it! They have the coolest parks right near their home.

The Columbia River is right down the street so we took a few trips to throw rocks in and get a little wet :)

Grandma and Chayce

A few years ago my family took us to Casa Mia for the first time and I fell in love. They have delicious italian food. Grandma treated everyone to lunch and it didn't disappoint!

One of the main reasons the reunion was this weekend was for the hydroplane races/art festival they do every year. Peyton had the chance to sit in the cockpit for just a minute and see the boats up close...

The boys with Kristen and Brandon. My cousins were such a big help throughout the week and I really appreciate all they did to entertain the boys!

Peyt is my little fish and Chayce would rather observe from the sidelines. He got to go swimming every day at my Grandparents pool and he was in heaven!

The grandkids with Grandpa and Grandma at their home. They were great hosts!

My aunt Melinda always has fun things for the kids when we visit. She bought my Grandparents house they lived in for many years (where I would visit as a little girl) and we stayed there during the week. Thanks for letting us crash your house Melinda!

They do an airshow coinciding with the hydroplane races. I love watching the jets and this was the best shot I could get of it...so awesome! It always makes me feel so patriotic and proud to be an American when I see these fly...

We didn't pay to watch the actual races, but here was one of the boats flying over the water. They cruise!

Here are the boys at the park after the art show. Grandpa and Grandma gave us all money to spend and they picked out sand art snakes.

When Mommy wasn't looking Aunt Melinda let Chayce plop himself in the muddy water and he enjoyed every second of it!

There's never a trip to my grandparents without music involved. Both of them are very musical and have lots of instruments around the house. You can imagine the fun my kids had with them!

Here is their family...four girls! Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Melinda, my Mom, Aunt Laurie and Aunt Julie.

The weather was so great while we were there. We enjoyed a few evenings on their back patio just relaxing and talking.

Peyton found a new best friend in my cousin Sarah. He wanted her to come home with us so bad! She's getting ready to start college at the University of Washington. I'm excited for her!

Aunt Melinda with her buddies

Grandma and I

A big thank you to all my wonderful family in Washington who made this a great trip. It's always good to see you! Glad we were able to come!

Outside...

There's nothing better than setting up the pool in the backyard on a hot summer day and playing outside all day! We had one of those days yesterday and the boys loved it. We set the pool up under the slide and Peyt had a grand time using it as a slip n slide!

They sure enjoy popsicles...and Chayce will let much of it run down his face and arms before its gone.

And of course we couldn't come in for lunch so we had a picnic!

These summer days are so great! It's too bad they come and go so quickly!

Some news...

In case you missed the badge I posted on the blog, baby Ercanbrack number 3 is on its way! He or she will be here in January and we are so excited! I may not be leaving my house in 2012 but that's OK.

There's been a few little bumps in the road these first 12 weeks but hoping its all behind us now. I've been able to see the little sweetie and can't wait to have another member of our family here.

Family

My family got together for a yummy barbeque tonight. Thanks Julie and Shawn for hosting us! Laurie and Kent (aunt and uncle from Washington) and their family are visiting right now. It's always fun to chat and catch up with them. We missed my whole family, but glad I was able to be there. I love the feeling of family and how much all of them mean to me in my life. I'm a lucky girl...

The girls

My sister in laws are some of my best friends. I love spending time with them. And we had a whole four day weekend to ourselves! Melissa is kind enough to share her family's condo with us in St. George so we headed down...thanks McKay, Mom and Pam for making it possible for us to go!


What we accomplished:

• Brick Oven
• Watched 500 Days of Summer and Morning Glory
• Trip to Vegas for Cheesecake Factory and H&M
• Chips and Salsa at Chilis
• Pool time
• Olive Garden
• Sweet Tooth Fairy
• Ticket to Ride
• Cafe Rio
• Five hour chats
• Good laughs
• Sleeping in

Next time Wendi needs to come with us! It was fun having Melissa's friend Kelsey...she fit right in! Can't wait til next year girlies! Love ya!

The 4th...

Who doesn't love the 4th! We had a great weekend spent with family. My boys couldn't wait to do fireworks! My Dad made delicious burgers on his charcoal grill (they taste better over charcoal!) and we had our own little firework show in front of their house before driving down to Provo to watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks. When we heard Brad Paisley singing it made me sad we didn't buy tickets! A little hard to take our two little crazies to things like that! I think our night turned out great without it though!

On the 4th we spent the afternoon at the Ercanbracks. Wayne is a dutch oven master and made his famous chicken, potatoes and cobbler. YUMMY! It's Wendi's birthday on the 4th so we celebrated her special day and enjoyed hanging out together. Dan and Wendi brought an aerial firework that was awesome! I think its great we can do them now without getting in trouble!

Kurt set up a darling picture of little Chayce driving down the road to work in his little car. I think Kurt's picture turned out better, but still such a cute little pic! Uncle Kurt is going to be the best Daddy. Aunt Ange is having a baby in December! We're so excited for them and they will both be fabulous parents!

I'm so grateful to live in the USA! We are so lucky and blessed to be a part of such a great place.

We LOVE our Grandma Neiger!

My wonderful Grandma has been going through a rough time lately. Cancer has showed its ugly face into her life for the second time. It's hard to have you live so far so we can't give you big hugs and spend our time with you!

Grandma I want you to know what a wonderful example you've been to me in my life. You've always been SO giving, welcoming and hospitable every time we've come to visit. You've never forgotten one of my 28 birthdays, nor my children's birthdays. You are the BEST cook and I love each recipe you've shared with me. You stood by Grandpa's side his whole life and always were a great wife to him. You are a strong, amazing woman and I love you for these and so many other reasons.

My goal is to update each day on what's going on around here so you can feel like you're a part of us during this time. It stinks we can't be with you but maybe this will help you to feel like you are with us! Lots of hugs and kisses!!!

Here's a little message from the boys...

Girls Camp 2011

We were so lucky to go up to Heber Valley Camp this year for the week! We had a great time! Nice cabins, showers and electricity make camping a breeze! A few of my favorite things from the week included...Cafe Rio dinner, Camille's midnight scream, dance parties at the ampitheater (particularly Cha Cha Slide), the eight foot sundae and testimony meeting. Here's a few pictures I took and sadly I didn't get one with me and the girls!

Here's some of the girls in their "Addiction Recovery Meeting" skit. They pulled it off in an hour and I was so proud of them! We have quite a few great actresses in our ward!

Craft time! Our amazing camp director Trina put together a darling craft...they were flower bracelets made out of fabric and jean material. I think the girls loved them too!

This was the dessert our Bishopric brought Thursday night. Who wouldn't love an eight foot ice cream sundae! Everyone already loves our Bishopric but this just put the icing on top! They were so nice to do this for us! The girls all dug in together right after the leaders took a little for themselves...

I love the 29th ward girls so much! You make me so happy! Thanks for all the fun memories from this week!

Sending them off

We had to say goodbye to our first group of graduating Laurels at the end of the school year. It's a little sad after you get to see them quite a bit to not seeing them at all! (Hint that you all need to stop by and say hi!) I have so much hope for each of these girls to build a wonderful future and know they will be great at whatever they decide to do! We miss you already and hope the summer has been great!

Love you Ashley, Aubrey, Ashley and Paige!

First year of preschool done!

Peyt had a great first year of preschool with Miss Denise and Miss Heather! Thanks for all you did for him! We really love and appreciate you!