Our big summer vacation

O.K. maybe our vacation wasn't so big or so far away for that fact but hey it was a vacation away from home. All summer, Jon and I have wanted to take the kids and get away for a few days, but we really didn't have any money set aside for a vacation. All of our money that we have saved up is spoken for for other things we want to do. We were both getting a little crazy being home all summer long. In the past, we have taken off right after school gets out and head down to Disney (of course:) ) for about 10 days. But with our year long Disney passes expiring right before school got out that wasn't an option (that is why we went for Spring Break). It just seemed like school would never arrive. Anyway, We happen to fall into a little bit of unexpected money so with that we tried to figure out where and what we could do with it. We really wanted to go to Washington D.C. (mainly because all of our entertainment would be free) we would just have to pay for hotel, food, and gas. Well first off we are used to paying Orlando hotel/rental home prices (the cheapest in the world). Since our family is so big we would have to get 2 conjoining rooms or see about renting a house. After searching for a while nothing that I wanted to pay for was coming up in hotel rooms/suites/rental houses. After weighing all our options, it didn't seem like a good idea to go there. The main reason was we would take one day to drive up a day to drive back home and 2 days there. We only wanted to use 2 of Jon's vacation days because we are hoping to use his remaining vacation days right after Christmas and are hoping to go to Disney. Plans are in the works on how we are going to get the extra money for that trip. Hopefully things will go as planned. Anyway, we decided to check into a Marriott Residence Inn (it had 2 rooms, 2 bathrooms, a fold out couch, and a kitchen all for a great price) in Atlanta for 2 days and do a few things around the town we live in. The first day, we went to the World of Coke. Coke's headquarters are in Atlanta. They build a new Coke museum about 2 years ago. The new World of Coke is way better than the old one. I still think it is a little too pricey, but the kids have been wanting to go there for sometime now. They have a 4 D movie, some Coke art, old coke products and advertisements, a Coke bottle plant that they actually fill bottles of coke that they give you at the end of the museum, and the kids favorite part the Coke taste center. The drinks are divided by countries and you can taste different Coke products from that Country. Some are good, like the watermelon and others are horrible like the Beverly. I like just watching people try the Beverly for the first time. Most look like they are ready to throw-up. It is just that gross a drink. It was pouring down rain when we got to the museum so Jon dropped us off at front and then he parked the car. I forgot the camera in the car so I have no pictures of the World of Coke. That makes me a little sad. After that, it was getting to be dinner time so we walked over to the Phillips Arena (home of the Atlanta Thrashers hockey team and the Hawks (I think that is what the basketball team is called) ). It is also connected with the CNN center. Well in there they have a big food court (kind of like the ones in the mall but bigger). So the kids got to pick which restaurant they wanted to go to and after only having to go to 3 we all ate dinner. Then we checked into our hotel and went for a swim. The pool wasn't very big. The hot tub was almost as big as the pool. Then we went to bed. We had Hayden in our room with us, the girls on the couch bed, and the rest of the boys upstairs. Brenton was on the floor upstairs. At about 2am I could hear Connor. I took him to the bathroom and decided to lay with him so he would get up and start turning on the TV and light and waking everyone up. So I put Talmage down in my bed and tried to sleep with Connor. He stayed in bed the whole time but I don't think he ever went back to sleep if he did we both were asleep at the same time and it wasn't for very long. So that nights sleep for the both of us was terrible. The next morning Jon took half the kids to the lobby for some free breakfast. When he came back, I took the next group. I tell you this was the best breakfast we have had. Usually it is only continental breakfast and sometimes you get waffles, but this was called warm breakfast. So you got the main Continental breakfast items (cereal, fruit, yogurt, pastries, breads and juice) but we also had waffles, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, biscuits and gravy. It was yummy. Then we went to Stone Mountain. Stone Mountain is about 15 miles from downtown Atlanta. It is the worlds largest piece of exposed granite. On one side of the mountain is Stone Mountain Park. At the park are different attractions to do.

Stone Mountain has a carving in it. It is the largest high-relief sculpture in the world. This is what it looks like.

It is a Confederate Memorial carving of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson. It is 400 feet above ground measuring 90 x 190 feet and recessed 42 feet into the mountain.

The first thing we did was take the tram up to the top of the mountain. We knew it was going to be a hot day so we wanted to get that done first.

Brenton, Connor, Talmage, Payton, Kennedy, Gretta, and Hayden on tope of Stone Mountain

Talmage on top of Stone Mountain splashing in a big puddle

Then we took the kids to what is called the Great Barn. It is like an indoor playground. It has slides and tons of balls all over the place. You can up the stairs and put the balls in guns and shot them down. or collect them and put them in different collection places and when the basket is full of these balls a big siren goes off and the ball dump out of the baskets all onto the ground again. Hayden and Kennedy liked putting then ball in this suction vacuum that sucked the ball up all the way to the baskets.

After that we ate lunch. We brought a picnic lunch to eat. We drove to a picnic area and got out and noticed tons and tons of bees by the garbage cans which were next to the tables. We turned right around and ate in the car. Then we went to a little museum. It basically has lots of old fashioned cars, bikes, nick knacks. Our favorite was the the player pianos. They had lots of them that all worked. You put in 25 or 50 cents and it played for a long time. Then we headed back to the hotel. I took a much needed nap with Hayden while Jon took the others swimming. Then we had some dinner and went back to Stone Mountain. We did the 4 D movie and rode the train. Then we got ready for the laser show. Every night in the summer they do a laser and firework show. It was fun. Since this was the 25th anniversary they added a few new songs. The new part was my kids favorite (they did Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, and High School Musical songs with laser pictures going along to the music).

It was a fun and long day. The next day was Saturday August 2nd (Kennedy's birthday).

Oh What Do You Do In The Summertime?

So what do you do with 6 kids for 2 1/2 months all summer long so they don't drive you nuts as well as each other nuts? Well here are a few things we did on a regular basis during the summer. Many of our movie theatre have free movie days (or some theatres charge $1.00 we only did the free ones) during the summer.

The theatre we went to did the movies at 10:00 am every Tues and Wed. They do not show first run movies but ones that are out on DVD. You have 2 choices each week of a movie one is always rated G and one is always PG. Then each week they change movies. We went every Tuesday. Some of the movies we own the DVD but we mostly tried to pick ones we have never seen. The kids did fantastic. Of course it helps when you stuff your diaper bag full of goodies. Here are the movies we saw:

Night at the Museum

Veggie Tales-Pirates who Don't do Anything

Doogal

Racing Stripes

Bee Movie

Wallace and Gromit

Firehouse Dog

Robots

Everyone's Hero

Since the kids did so well with this it will be a must for next summer.

On Wednesday, our ward does a playgroup at a park. I took the kids to this most every Wed. Some of the Wed. it was just too hot out (even at 10:30 am) and the playground part is in the full sun. There are a few benches in the shade. A few of the hot day we just let our kids fill up their water bottles at the drinking fountain and have a water fight just to stay cool. Brenton was the oldest there so he was a little bored. I didn't really want him to stay at home and play on the computer so I kind of made him go to get out of the house and off the computer.

I also took the kids swimming. We have a local pool right down the street from our house less than 2 miles away that I bought a family pass to. I didn't have a set day that we went swimming. Almost every Saturday I would take a group to the pool while Hayden (and Jon) took a nap. Then we would go mostly in the evenings all together as a family.

Other than that the kids played outside in the morning (before it got to miserable out) and we hung out around the house so mom could get the house cleaned, laundry done, and dished done. We did do a few day trips some of which I already wrote about but a few more to come.

Rolling Coins

We finally decided to roll all of our coins that we have been saving for who knows how long. I think we ended up with around $250.00. We would of had more but we spend the quarters on a regular basis every Friday the kids get to buy Popsicles if they were good in class all week and the kids pressed penny collections. It was more than I thought we would have. We spent a while figuring out what family activity we would do with the money. We decided to buy year passes to the zoo. It has been probably 3 years since we have been to the zoo. We would just get our zoo fix from going to Disney's Animal Kingdom. But we aren't sure when we will be back to Disney World so thought this would be fun to do throughout the year. Below is the only picture I took while at the zoo. But I'm sure there will be more since we have all year to take pictures.

We also are going to buy year passes to Callaway Gardens. It is a place about 2 hours away that has a great beach, mini golf, bird show, butterfly exhibit, circus in the summer, and many other fun things. We try and go there every summer right before the kids go back to school. We thought this pass would be great for us since it pays for itself in less than 2 visits. We are also thinking of purchasing one more year pass to the museum of natural history with the remaining coin money.

Payton's Baptism Day

On July 19, 2008 Payton was baptized. She was baptized with another girl, Anna from our ward. It worked out real well having the 2 girls baptized together because we just split everything down the middle. We did one prayer, talk, and piano playing and they did one prayer, talk, and led the music. We also each made a bunch of refreshments for after the baptism. We had a great turnout. We each had lots of family and lots of ward members attend. We did it in the Relief Society room, but were almost forced to do it in the chapel because of the turnout. We squeezed in about as many chairs as you can in that room. The one bumber of the event was that Jon's brother Thomas and his family had car trouble on the way to the baptism so they weren't able to make it. Payton asked Thomas to give the Baptism talk. Luckily, we have great people in our ward so Rich Harris pitched in with about 5 minutes notice, and did a great job. Thanks Rich. Other than that everything went over great. .

I am so happy with Payton's decision to be baptized. I am also thankful we have all of our extented family so close by to share this day with us. The furthest one away is my sister Cheri and her family they live just under 1 hour away.

Blueberry Picking

Every year in the beginning of July, we go blueberry picking for Family Home Evening. We usually go with My parents, Morgan (although she was at Six Flags this year), Taylor, and the Tady's. This year we also invited Jon's brother Thomas and his family (since they moved close by to the farm). Every year we have to hear Jon's stories about how these blueberries aren't as big or as sweet as Michigan blueberries. But I will take small and a little more tart (nothing a little sugar can't fix) blueberry's than spend another winter in Michigan (sorry for all those who enjoy the freezing and shoveling and slip sliding your car all over the road) not for me though I'm a warm blooded gal. Anyway, we had a great time and the kids really enjoyed hanging out with their cousins. As tradition, we always eat dessert after we pick the berries. Last year we weren't able to pick because we had a few freezing nights in May so the crop didn't grow.

Lincoln and Brenton

Lincoln and Brenton

Jon, Kayla, Sonoma, Hayden, and Payton

Kennedy, Hayden, Payton, Sonoma, and Kayla

Happy Independence Day

Well the kids started school yesterday (Aug. 11), and I am only on July 4th. I hope within the next 2 weeks I can get caught up now that my day isn't full of kids.

This Independence Day started out with Jon and Brenton going to the Peachtree Road Race in downtown Atlanta. Jon's dad was running in it with about a bazillion other people. They never did see him run. They just caught up with him in the end. It is the most popular race in Atlanta and was a 10 K. When they got back, we headed out to the city pool. Every year they cook up hot dogs, and do a coin toss, races, and splash contests. We have been doing this long enough to call it a tradition.

Hayden looking for coins in the kiddie pool

Talmage and Kennedy searching for coins in the kiddie pool

Brenton in the noodle race

Payton in the noodle race

Taylor with Kennedy, Jon with Talmage, and Gretta with Hayden in the piggy back race

Gretta with Hayden in the piggy back race

Gretta round 2 with Kennedy in the piggy back race


We left just before the splash contest so we could give Hayden a short nap before going over to the Bugee's house for dinner. The Bugee's, Edwards, and us were there. My dad and the Tady's were out of town. We had hamburgers, potato salad, watermelon, chips, corn on the cob, and IBC Root beer. Then an hour later we were off to the fireworks. They shoot off the fireworks at the high school which is less than 2 miles from my parents house. We watch the fireworks in the shopping center parking lot (the grass area) across the street from the high school. My parents every year go early in the day and put a huge tarp on the hill. We have had this spot for over 3 years now. We had lots of people with us this year to watch the fireworks. Besides the people who were at my mom's house to eat, there were Jon's brother and family (and a family they invited from their ward), Jon's dad and his dad's brother (visiting from Portland), and the Bothwell's (they go to our ward and used to live next door to us but moved about 1 1/2 miles away 2 years ago). And of course we can't forget the Carmel brownies, and mini chip brownies my mom made. They are probably my 2 favorite desserts.

Morgan and Jon

Hayden with cousin Paige

Hayden

Brenton and Payton

Talmage with sparklers

Brenton with sparklers

Kennedy with sparklers

Fireworks

more fireworks

Front don't know 2nd row Talmage, Kennedy Kayla, 3rd row Brenton, Payton, Gretta, Hayden, and last row Melanie, Elizabeth, Thomas, Preston and Paige

Once the fireworks started, I only took pictures for 1 minute and then put my camera away so I could enjoy the show.

I am truly grateful for and awesome country I live in. I am thankful for what our forefathers did so I could live in a free country. I often take what I have for granted until I see or hear about other countries and what they don't have (this could be freedom all the way up to luxuries (fridges, washer, driers, microwave, computers etc). Now since it is really Aug 12 and the Olympics started a few days ago. Go USA!!!

Fishing

I know, I am not very cleaver at coming up with titles. I just don't have the time to think of something cleaver right now. Maybe once school starts and I get all caught up with these posts I can spend a little more time at that.

Anyway, Jon took Brenton and Payton fishing. They only caught one fish. I am glad they caught that one fish. Here are a few picutres of there adventure.

Happy Birthday Connor

So the day after our anniversary was Connor's Birthday June 26. We just have one party after another the end of June. Payton's Birthday is the 24th our Anniversary the 25th and then Connor's birthday is the 26th. After Payton's all girls birthday party, we had all our family over to celebrate Payton's and Connor's birthday since most of them except Morgan and Taylor and the Grandparents had to come get there girls anyway we thought it would be better to have them bring their families and stay for a family party instead of making them all come back another day. Connor turned 10 years old. Having autism he doesn't really play with toys. He does like toys that make noises by pushing a button or ones that play music. So finding just the right present for him can be tough. Connor loves the Wiggle, and likes pretty much any other preschool programs. He also loves to eat the frosting out of Oreos (leaving the cookie ends). I don't buy Oreos that often mainly because I will eat way to many and I am sick of eat ting Connor's ends because I spent all that money on them and don't want to waste them. Anyway, someone usually gets him his own bag of Oreos to do as he pleases for his birthday.

Connor also got a Wiggles DVD, Disney Dollars (which hopefully he can spend sooner than later), Jon and I gave him a TV with a DVD player so he can watch his DVDs in his room (I can only take so much Wiggles). He also got an exercise ball (he loves to bounce on it and has great balance). Two weeks before his birthday Talmage poked a fork in his other exercise ball.

I made an icecream sandwich cake for his birthday cake.

Connor has this cool devise he got from school (we call it his talker). He presses buttons on the screen for things he wants to tell us and then presses the sentance he made and it will say the sentance he pressed. Right now he is pushing pictures with the name of the picture underneath sometimes the button he pushes with go to another screen with more words relating to the button he pushed (like food then it will go to another screen with food on it). He is starting to read and spell so probably eventually he will type what he wants to say. This is a picture of it.
I love technology.

We ate at Mcdonalds for his birthday.