End of Summer Adventures

I know it has been a while since I posted about anything we've been doing... so if a picture is worth a thousand words, hmmm.... I don't know but I have about a thousand pictures for you all!

In July Louis' mom came out to spend a week with me and quilt Daniel's mission quilt in time for the wedding the end of August. It was so much fun! Kaylee found that she really loved being part of the sewing and Grandma helped her and Charles pick out some fabric to let them quilt their very own mini blankets. They loved it. We were able to have Aunt Susan come up and help us and that was a lot of fun for us! The quilt turned out really nice!

The first weekend in August is always the Holley Manwaring Reunion. This year my dad was in charge. We all camped out at Cherry Hill. The first night we had pulled pork sandwiches from the Lion House and potluck sides and desserts Yum! Then we played a Manwaring trivia game. It was a lot of fun! Afterward we played games and had a mini pinochle tournament. Louis and I were slaughtered! The next day after a delicious breakfast of awesome eggs, french toast, and hashbrowns, we braved the cloudy, cool weather and played mini golf and went swimming. The water slides were a blast! I think I had as much fun as the kids! And no sunburns! Yay!

The very next weekend we went back down to Woods Cross to hear Zach speak in Sacrament Meeting. We enjoyed seeing family and friends and lots of delicious food again! Zach did a great job and it was cool to hear him.

The kids and I were able to travel back down to Woods Cross on Tuesday afternoon to enjoy a day of play with Zach before he was set apart as a missionary. It was fun to watch Zach, Charles, and Grandma Eva play baseball. Later on, we went bowling. Kaylee was so fun to watch. She decided she really wanted to throw the ball herself and not use the guide they have. She did great! I would love to take her again soon. Heather was the champion of our game with so many strikes, I lost count! We were afraid she was going to come away with a perfect game! And she tried to tell us she's no good at bowling. Hmm...

Tuesday night we gathered in the livingroom for Zach's setting apart by my dad. Afterward we took pictures with the new missionary.

Wednesday morning we gathered for family prayer and then went to breakfast at Village Inn. Mom and Dad took Zach to the MTC in Provo. The one chance for my mom to experience the MTC was thwarted thanks to the swine flu. They dropped him and his luggage off at the curb, and a senior missionary escorted Zach inside. That was it! It was tough to say goodbye. A little less frightening than sticking Josh on an airplane to Brazil, though. It was nice knowing that for a month or so he was just in Provo, only a block from Josh and Heather! But the time went fast...

The weekend after Zach left, we celebrated Steve's 50th Birthday with a surprise Hawaii 5-0 party. Donna is the most amazing party planner I know! Seriously! She doesn't forget anything and it all turned out so wonderful. She had awesome decorations, and we ate lots of delicious pizza, drinks, and cake. Yum! Plus, despite all the attempts to ruin the surprise, Steve was actually surprised! Yay!!!

School started on Monday, August 24th for Charles and I. I don't have any pictures because my camera was left at my mom's during all the missionary festivities. I took some pics of Charles on my old film camera, but we may never develop those. :( So, when Kaylee started school on Tuesday, August 25th, I sent her to Donna and Steve's for pictures. Thanks, Donna! Can you believe how grown up she looks? Aack! I can't believe I have a first grader! Her first day was pretty rough and ended in tears at home. The next day went much better thank goodness. I was a little worried to have her miss the next two days, but we had to for the wedding...

Wednesday evening we loaded up the car with our luggage and the wedding dress and headed to Woods Cross to stay the night at my parents. It's amazing what a difference those two hours of headstart can make. It was a long drive, but the kids did great. We like to get up insanely early and drive straight through. It makes the drive much quicker not having to stop for bathroom breaks every couple of hours. We stopped in St. George for breakfast and then made it to San Diego by mid afternoon. We were pretty exhausted when we finally arrived. After meeting Esther and Rodney (Karla's aunt and uncle who were hosting us), we headed to the hotel to meet up with Lynn, Weston and Mike. The boys and the kids headed to Chuck E. Cheese and I got to stay in the room all alone and do my homework! It was wonderful!!! Once they got back, the kids were a little wound up and tried to work off some energy by jumping on the beds. They had a great time until the front desk called to request more quiet. Oops.

Don't they look so much alike? Crazy!

Friday was the perfect day for a trip to the beach. Such perfect weather! It was actually unbearably hot the entire weekend, so one day at the beach was such a relief! It was beautiful!!! The kids had a blast playing in the waves and digging in the sand. I even got really brave and went pretty far out with Louis to swim in the big waves and try body surfing. I wasn't very successful, but I did finally try diving under the waves and I would definately do it again.

While we were all at the beach, Karla and Dan were getting their 'bridals' taken. They turned out so beautiful. Kate Mower was their photographer and she is amazing! Check her out here.

Friday night we spent decorating the church for the reception. We had a lot of late nights!

The next morning we all rose early to get dressed up for the wedding. It was a HOT day and we were all standing around in the noon sun for pictures. What a relief to head to Olive Garden for a delicious luncheon. Soup, salad, and breadsticks. My favorite!!!!

That night the reception was beautiful. There was a bit of dress technical difficulty to overcome... but it all turned out thanks to some quick thinking by Esther!

The cake was delicious, the food was yummy, the video was so wonderfully sweet and it was so fun to play with my nieces and nephews. Especially little Lawrence who generally only goes to Lynn. We were pretty close that night. After all the clean up, we jumped in the car and drove through the night. It was a long night and I am so glad we made it home safely! Whew! What a trip!!!

School has been going pretty well for all of us. Charles especially loves preschool. The only sad part is the absence of his best friend, Andrew. Andrew moved to Virginia last week and we are coping the best we can. Of course, before Amber and family took off, June and I had to take her to get a huge iron tower. If you've not had one of these, you haven't lived! And, we discovered a new delicious savory treat.... Iron Gate Grill's cheese fries! Ooooh yummo! We were celebrating June passing her realtor tests, Amber's new adventure, and my return to sanity. ;) We also reminisced about the two years we spent together in Relief Society laughing our heads off and having a great time! Thanks ladies! Next reunion, Virginia!!!

As a final note, my baby brother left the MTC on Labor Day and flew out to Manchester, New Hampshire to begin his mission in the field. His first area is Belfast, Maine. It's going to be cold! :) It's been fun to get his letters. He already seems so much different.

Well, that is about all I think. Phew. If I left anything out, feel free to comment and I will try and fill you in!