And they are OFF to California!

The time has finally come for Olivia and Alayna to go to Legoland and Sea World with my parents. They have been looking forward to this trip for over three years!

This is the 2nd grandparents trip with two grand kids. Three years ago my parents started this tradition of taking two grand kids...Kierra and Conner to Legoland and Sea world. My parents loved spending one on one time with the two kids. They are going to continue on this tradition FOREVER! All I know is that the kids next in line can't wait till it's their turn!

My mom bought them matching shirts, sunglasses, hats and more clothes to be twiners on this vacation. They are going to be gone until next Sunday! What are Jared and I going to do with ourselves with only one little baby? I'm not sure, but I know I will do anything I want! ha ha ha Alayna will be missed but I'm going to enjoy a change in pace! THANK YOU MOM AND DAD. You are the BEST grandparents and grand kids could ask for. Thank you for loving them so much you want to spend time with them!!!

The NINE grandkids...

Here is our attempt to take a picture with the grand kids. It's a little tricky to say the least to have two adults holding four little boys! Not to mention to try and attempt to get everyone happy! Yeah, that didn't work! This was as good as it got. My mom was given a darling Americana frame and she wanted to put a picture with her and the grand kids in it. Well, we tried!

The Riverton Parade...

Oh...how the Riverton Parade has grown...let me explain. About 20 years ago my mom started bringing her four little girls to a parade. We would walk down Redwood Road and sit on the same curb every July 3rd at 6:30pm to watch the parade. Year after year the parade would get better and better. We would begin inviting cousins and friends to this parade and sit on the same corner. Year after year, more candy would be thrown - hence making the parade better and better! Year after year we would invite more people to sit on the same corner! Well over the span of 20 years all the girls have since married, had our own children and we have since invited our in-laws to "The Riverton Parade!" I know what your thinking...come on what is so great about this parade. Personally, I think it is all about the 20 year long tradition, the BEST candy parade, pizza on the corner, having to duck down every few minutes because you would be pelted in the face with taffy! But the best part this year was the family attendance. I know the picture is impossible to view everyone but, I'm going to humor you...by telling you who attended.
Left to Right...The empty spot on the left was for the Madsens (Todd's parents), Larry & Dianne and kids...(9 kids total - plus spouses & grand kids) they came just after I took the picture...My grandparents, my aunt Kathleen, then my parents & their three friends from their inner city mission, my family, my sister Ange & Grady with the boys, Krista & Riley, Kennady and four of their friends plus kids, the Pecks (Riley's parents), their kids, plus spouses and grand kids. My cousin Jeff & Shelley plus their kids. Well, I didn't take the time to count and get the final head count, but it was a ton!

Here we are sporting our new holiday shirts. We ended up passing out flyer's along the parade route. Besides them being BLACK and SUPER hot for this summer heat, it has made my life sooooo easy when having to think about my outfits to wear! I don't have to think...I just say, "Oh, I get to wear you again!" Then I'm out of the closet in one minute. I think Jared wishes it was always this easy!

Olivia and Alayna...they are two cute little buddies.

The four older grand kids...Alayna, Olivia, Kierra and Conner! If your wondering, their grocery sacks were FULL of taffy! These kids LOVE this parade!

An Early Morning...

On Thursday morning we attempted to make it on time to the "2nd Annual Perry Family -Murphy Family" Hot Air Balloon festival. Needless to say we didn't arrive on time this year. Either way, we had a GREAT time waking up early and seeing a few of the hot air balloons. The kids absolutely love this activity. Last year we arrived early enough to watch them blow up the balloons, you could hear the fire blowing in, feel it, and smell it. It really is such a great activity. I recommend the EARLY wake up for anyone to experience this!

This was the closest balloon shot I could get! We were just about 10 -15 minutes too late! AHH.

The gang...Todd, Isaac, Gr Lou, Olivia, Shan, Kierra, Diana, Brock (my cousin from California), Conner, Jake Murphy, Andrew Murphy, and baby Jacob. Emily and Ryan were taking the pictures!

Since we missed the hot air balloons, my parents found the next best thing. We got to have the kids watch a helicopter take off. The kids thought this was great! They were waving goodbye to them!

Grandma Nettie came with Alayna shortly after we arrived. Alayna was able to have a special sleepover the night before at their house. She was spoiled rotten as usual, watched two movies, ate ice cream and got to sleep in her Princess room. What a lucky girl!

After the balloon festival, we went to Bridal Veil Falls, in Provo Canyon. Do you notice Alayna in the river? Yeah, that was my dads doing. He dared the kids to walk out to a log and he'd give them a dollar. Alayna didn't hesitate. She walked right in and started walking up Bridal Veil falls. She did fall one time...but not a tear. She was so proud to have made it to the log for her dollar.
This made for a fun early morning adventure...we later went to Discovery Park in Highland, to eat our lunch. Yes, we ate lunch at 10:30am.