Last Hurrah before school

I love that we only live 2 hours away from the beach. Lohn took Friday off of work and we had a really fun day!

The waves were actually kind of insane. We couldn't go very far out. The lifeguards wouldn't allow it, and besides, the red flags were flying indicating dangerous waters. 

The little guys actually preferred the sand to the crazy waves.

This picture was taking right before Sylas got washing machined. (Tumbled over and over in the water)

And we saw dolphins! But sadly I didn't get a picture. Fun day!

Also, today we get to watch ND play.

Go Irish!

A new House!

While I was gone for 3 weeks, Lohn made a lot of changes to the house. It's amazing what he accomplished while I was away! The house is a lot brighter, and more pleasant. I was going to do another tour, but I decided pictures should suffice. (plus, I HATE listening to myself talk. I struggle forming sentences.)

Ok, so this change was made AFTER I came home. I went to a yard sale with Lohn the Saturday I got back, and we bought this table for $46. This room is more circular, and was begging for a round table. 

Lohn removed the lightless ceiling fan, and put in a light fixture. He also removed the heart studded shelf above the windows. Amy painted the walls white (Ceiling still needs to be done...). This all really brightened up the room. Also- ignore the legos. I gave up having the kids clean them up. It's a lost cause. 

The front entry way. Remember how we ripped off floral wall paper? Well, Lohn painted it a lovely shade of blue and white, and Amy bought some poppy pictures for the wall. SO much better.

This room was a mess of random furniture and boxes when I left. Lohn and Amy and my nieces painted white and blue over the brown paint (BROWN!) and lightened up the room. Amy added some furniture, which I LOVE. It's was unlivable before, and now it is my favorite room!

 Same room. 

 This is the table Lohn finished. He made it out of the old fence he pulled up in the back yard. My man is resourceful!

This is the formal dining room, now a study for the kids. This is where they will do their homework every day. We are going to put up a white board and maps.

And he made a BACKYARD! The forest pretty much went up to our house. He took his machete (yes he has a real machete) and a chain saw and spent many hours bushwhacking. If you look to the back middle of the picture, you can see the path he made that leads back into the forest.

The path

And this is where the path leads. It needs more work, but this will be our own personal campsite.

And this made my heart happy. 

 The first time Gunnar was with Lohn in the forest, Gunnar's sense of direction was completely turned around and he thought home was another direction. Lohn was concerned the kids would get lost in their own back yard. Great solution, don't you think?

More of the fence Lohn took down. I am excited to see what else he can make me!

The trip home

I left Utah in the wee hours of the morning. I woke up at 3 am with an overactive brain and nervous belly, so I decided to just GO. Glad I did, because that was a thirteen hour drive (15 when you have to stop every hour to accommodate Gunnar's spontaneously shrunken bladder.) 

I said goodbye to Utah in the dark. The sun didn't rise until I was in WY. 

I had to add pictures of the kids sleeping in the motels. I laughed every morning when I saw them.

After restaurant and motel fare every meal for three days, I feel as if I shall never eat out again. Ever.

I was giddy when I saw this. I forgot that Kansas City has a temple! It was a bright moment in my bleak drive. 

Remember how I said the kids were rock stars on the way to UT? That they never fought??? The trip home was the opposite. They turned into vengeful, spiteful little heathens. No one could get within arm reach of Sylas without being pinched, scratched or hair yanked. We all have battle wounds. There is peanut butter smeared on the van windows, peeled and broken crayons all over the van floor, nacho cheese smeared all over the new books we brought home and a toy ducky with its insides ripped out. Also- the threat of a grounding is useless while traveling, as they are basically grounded in a car seat for hours every day. But, I am happy to report that the van did fabulously (Respect the van!) and we made it home without there being any major problems. I avoided a migraine while traveling (wonder of wonders!) and came home to some wonderful changes Lohn made to the house and yard while I was away. Another tour is forthcoming, as I feel like I am in a whole new house!

Bottle Rockets! And a farewell to the Beehive State

My dad helped the kiddos make some bottle rockets for their last day in Utah.

I had a hard time getting a good picture of the rockets, but if you look closely, you can see the water trail, and Tamsyn's bottle high up in the sky. 

Aaaand, it landed on the roof, thus retiring from flying for the rest of it's days. 

Gunnar named his rocket Black Navy. After it's first launch, it's wings were falling apart. He held up a limp wing and said in a sad voice, "I hope Black Navy flies again." It did.

We had a great time in Idaho and Utah. I am going to miss the ultra blue skies, dry air and cool evenings. But most of all, I am going to miss get-togethers with Family, cousins for my kids, and long chats around the dinner table with those I love. A year seems too far away to come again. Goodbye to the West and all those I love that dwell there. God be with you 'till we meet again.

Family Reunion- McKee Style!

Lohn's brother has an awesome backyard.  They were kind enough to share it with us for a day. I am so glad they did. We had so much fun visiting, and the cousins were in cousin-heaven.

 Afterwards, we went to a pizza place, and the kids had a great time playing on the arcade thingys.

 Will it really be a year before I can see these wonderful people again???

 We sang happy birthday to our July/August/ September babies. 

Golly, I love these people. Come visit us in Virginia now!

Good-bye dearest Idaho!

I have loved visiting Victor, ID. We had good times with awesome family. When my Mother-in-law asked where we would like to eat out on our last day in Idaho, I responded "O'Rourkes!" It isn't the best restaurant in Teton Valley, I am sure, but that place holds lots of memories for me.

Cheers!

 Behold, The Malibu Chicken Sandwich. It was what I almost always ordered.

Goodbye dearest Idaho. Thank you for sharing your blue skies and cool breezes with me.