Vacation Through Lamoreaux Reunion

 We were at my parents' home for 2 weeks due to the unexpected change in plans (the mechanic had to come to Raton to pick up the car and return in to TX, and my Dad drove overnight from CA to pick us up and turn right around).  #4 LOVES riding bikes, but there wasn't one his size...

 #4 action shot

 #5 loved hanging with Pops--cleaning the backyard, watching TV, everything!

 So many hours of swim time (#2 with cousins) and even many hours of MOM playing tag.  Talk about feeling my age!!

 Pops throwing #5

 #2 (who never stops flexing!)

 100s of slides through an innertube.  #3 wouldn't slide until the very last day.  He then held on to the top bars and lowered himself down as far as he could, gathering his courage to let go.  After two slides managed that way, we heard him tell himself, "Well, I didn't die, so I guess I'll try it sitting up."

 Quynh took us to a science museum in San Francisco.

 Including a butterfly exhibit (#s 1 and 4 with cousins and Pops)

 These are actually 100s of sea lions at the tide pools.

 This is one of my very favorite pics from the entire vacation, #5 once again with Pops.

 #1 starting the "burying in the sand" activities that ended with all the boy cousins burying their legs in a circle.

 Fedoras are in!  #2 and cousin Porter.

 #3 enjoying our view from Sams Town the night we spent in Vegas before the reunion

 My sweet Grandpa Orien, who passed away the night after we returned to TX

 Grandma Hazel

 #4 LOVES babies

 #5 with Gram

 Mom messing with cousin Leland

 #2 had a sick day or two in the middle  :(

 We did all kinds of crafts and activities with the kids

 Including blanket sleds

 Croquet, trampoline, tree house campouts...

 #5 climbing in Valley of Fire

 #s 1 and 3 at the very top

 #3 also had a sick day--I think from dehydration at Valley of Fire

 So much swim time...it's a miracle Mike survived this one!

 Water balloon launcher--serious hit!

 Our target...PAPA!

 Mike and I got to go to the temple.

 Lake Mead slide, tubes, mud, food, SO MUCH FUN (#1 here)

 The whole fam-damily!

 Cousin Kim and her husband Kalani made an incredible luau dinner for us.  Never tasted something better than that guava cake!

Who extended Lamoreaux family joined us Thursday evening (here #5 is making friends with Reese)

The Great Road Trip of 2012 First Day

We took off on Tuesday, June 26th with a new transmission, a loaded car, and high hopes!  We were shooting for about an 18 hour drive to Grand Junction, CO, as our first leg of the trip.  Our first clue that plans might change came in Amarillo when that shiny new transmission overheated. 

Our next clue came when the highway signs started to come in the shape of OK, which we never intended to pass through!  Why is it that the men in our lives literally cracked up when we asked for help since our GPS wasn't getting signal?

Soon the clues started coming fast and furiously (and on 2 lane roads thanks to our foray into OK).  By nightfall, that shiny new transmission was overheating too frequently for comfort, and we turned back toward TX (we were only about 3 hours from our destination!  :(  ).

Heading back after 18 hours--and with 5 (OK, make that 7) incredibly disappointed faces staring out the windows--we overheated two more times between Trinidad, CO, and Raton, NM.  At the first stop it appeared that a trucker was going to stop to help us.  While we might have welcomed that during any of our many daylight stops for car trouble, this made Mom and I pretty darn nervous.  By the time one of the kids asked why we were nervous when the truck might be stopping to help, the stress must have gotten to Momba because she replied, "Because it might be an ax murderer in that truck, OK?"  All eyes a little wider we watched as the truck continued down the road feeling more than a little relieved.  This stop took quite a bit longer to cool the car down, and anxiety mounted as Momba, Michael, and I took turns holding up the hood (which wouldn't support its own weight for some reason) because we heard a pack of wild dogs.  It didn't really peak, though, until we heard the gunshot, which caused us all to pile in and try once again to continue on.

We overheated one more time before deciding we needed to sleep in the next town rather than trying to continue our homeward trek--this time literally right next to a bear crossing sign.  I asked the boys to keep an eye out for bears (thinking that 5 children watching their mother mauled by a bear would NOT be the perfect end to our day), but they were already worked up about the ax murderer comment and wouldn't believe bears to be possible.  Luckily, none showed up, and by using the last bit of extra water Momba had bought us, we were able to cool down just enough to make it to Raton (overheated again in the parking lot!).

December 2011

 More crafts and friends in prep for Christmas.  Here #3 and his friend Caleb make Christmas notebook gifts.

My Daddy turned 60, and I got to go!  In fact, all of us kids surprised him.  First we gathered at Wendy's, where Em invited Mom for a frosty.  She had no idea we'd be there, and it was super fun to see her reaction, especially because the day before she'd told me she wished she'd thought to bring us all out.  I'd just told her we could've thought of it, too...  :)  Then Gene and Quynh took Dad to dinner like they always do, and we all walked in after they were seated.  It was funny because Dad said he really felt like we were all coming, so he was let down when he got home to a quiet house and again when we weren't waiting at the restaurant.  Glad we waited to walk in!

 This is our baby sister Allie (#5 in our family) and my beautiful niece, Cienna.

 This is my Dad and next younger sister, Annie (#3).

 This is my nephew, Charlie, and I (#2) at the San Francisco zoo.

 Quality time by the hippos--our favorite place to stop for lunch.  Dad's holding Max next to Quynh (married to #1).

This is my brother, Gene (#1), and my nephew, Preston.

This is my sister, Emily (#4), holding Max.

 

Charlie got his very first haircut during our visit.

 #1 did the Christmas tuba fest again this year.  We sent videos to Grandma, who LOVES tuba music, and really had a blast listening to their fun music.

 More friends and crafts

 We got Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas this year.  It was wonderful.  My parents come about once a quarter, and it is really fun to watch their relationships grow with these boys.

November 2011

 My kids often get to repeat what we did in preschool.  Here's #3's efforts after we talked about "feelings" in preschool.

 We had a super fun visit with Uncle Rob.  They played frisbee, rode bikes, jumped on the trampoline, played some serious dodge ball, enjoyed every minute!

 These pictures always remind me of ET in the closet among the stuffed animals.  :)

#1 got his wisdom teeth out.  You can't see it very well here, but he was about as swollen as I've ever seen anyone get!  At least he got to miss some school.  ;)

Nana and Papa joined us, too.  Here's #3 with his special buddy and a tag-along.  :)

October 2011

 Fall soccer team of #5

 #5 individual

 #4 with Coach Danielle (also #5's coach)

 Mom's favorite birthday gift

#2 practicing

Yummy mummy cookies we attempted

 #4 is getting better and better--really fun to watch because his teammates have been playing a lot longer, but are supportive as he improves

 Halloween trunk-or-treat.  #1 is the 'Y' (flanked by Landon and Ty), #2 is the Roman centurion, #3 is the Star Wars trooper, #4 is the Gronkel from "How to Train Your Dragon," #5 is the bat, and my nephew is Iron Man

 Gronkel face paint job

Mom's job was passing out candy.  People couldn't figure out who she was until she smiled.

 New nephew, Max!

Aunt Emma came for a visit.  Zack was a trooper to keep the kids.  We had such a great time--I cannot believe this is the only pic I took!!  We did Sam Moon and all the usual things, plus she did my dishes and we laughed and laughed and laughed.  Come again soon!!!

For the actual trick-or-treating, we switched it up a bit.  #s 1 and 2 passed out candy; #3 went as Noah (you'd think the ark would make him pretty recognizable, but I guess not too many people figured it out--one guy got close, guessing Moses...); #4 opted for Dracula; and #5 stuck with the tried and true bat.