A blown out tire

We have been having a lot of fun with friends and family these last couple of weeks.

My poor kids are so tired of being in the van. We drove to Salt Lake yet again this last week to spend time with Candace and her family.

On the drive there, the van tire blew out (I was alone with the kids) and I had to pull over on the side of a very busy I-15. I gave the kids all the candy I had so they would be happy and got out of the van, looked at the tire, looked at the on-coming very large and loud trucks, looked down at the tire again, and thought to myself, "Self, I can do this". I have never actually had to change a flat tire by myself, but I have been taught many times and thought it would be simple. I am cheesy, so I said a little prayer and then got down under the van and looked at a very old and rusted spare tire. Then my prayer was answered. As I was looking under the van wondering in my mind how I was going to do this, feet magically appeared from nowhere. A very nice man from Billings Montana took over and finished the job for me. Good thing he showed up because........we had no jack in the van. Also, our tire was stuck on so tight that he almost couldn't pull it off. Then the sight of the donut about scared the guy off. It was so old and rusted and......only half full of air. So he followed me to Pocatello going 50 m/h with our blinkers on and made sure I made it to a tire shop so I could get a new tire. What a nice guy he was. Those Montana folk sure have good hearts! Now don't be mistaken, but this picture is not of our van. I found it on Google, but our tire looked almost like this one.

We made it to Candace's house and had a great time with her and her kids. Dylan and Katelyn fought a lot, but they had fun together and it was so nice to spend time with Candace. She has a beautiful home and a wonderful little family. Thank you Candace for all you did for us!

A long drive

We made the 26 hour drive across the country last Saturday and Sunday.

It was the longest drive I have ever done. Okay, so we made that drive a year ago when we moved to Michigan, but even then, with two separate cars, this trip still seemed to take longer.

The kids did pretty good, probably better then I did. We stayed in Nebraska at a hotel Saturday night and the kids loved swimming and staying up late jumping on the beds.

I have never been so happy to see this Idaho sign in my life as I was on Sunday near the end of what seemed a never-ending drive. Dylan also would not stop asking where Grandma and Grandpa's house was. Him and Cassie both were so excited to FINALLY get to Grandma and Grandpa's house. It has been fun to see all of Nate's family and spend time with them. I will post pictures in August after we make the loooooooooog gruelling (is that a word?) drive back to Michigan.

Swimming

Here are some random pictures of the kids at the splash pool. We love going there swimming because it is free and only for kids shorter than 40 inches. My friend, Cora, took a few of these and you can definitely tell which ones she took. The close up ones with good color and quality. Some day I will learn to take better pictures. These will be the last pictures I can post till August, since we will be in Idaho for the whole month of July. PLEASE wish us luck and pray that the kids will travel well (1700 miles). Have a great CANADA DAY everyone (on the first). I am so sad I am missing out! Oh, and happy July 4th as well.

Festival

On Saturday, the kids and I went down to Howell, MI with some friends to the "hot air balloon festival". Nate was working so I thought it would be nice to get out with the kids. We went down with Heather and her kids and, needless to say, my kids cried/screamed the whole way down and back (minus Dylan's nap on the way home, however Cassie's lungs were large enough to make up the difference). Yes, my kids don't travel well. Heather's 3 children sat quiet and didn't make one noise the whole way there and back, or so it seemed. I am a little worried about our drive to Idaho this weekend, which is 26 hours long (and we only have 2 days to do it in). They couldn't even handle an hour and 10 minute drive. HELP. I need suggestions. Luckily we have a DVD player, but with limited DVDs. Nate told me to buy Benedryl and I think I will add ear plugs to the list. But anyway, here are some little pictures of our fun day yesterday. We all got sunburned and were very tired by the end of the day. The funny thing is, is that we didn't even see one hot air balloon. Funny, I know. Apparently you have to be there really early in the morning or really late in the evening. Maybe next year..........or not.

Dylan making a caterpillar with beads. (Yes, he is wearing a little Sheriff's badge)

No, that is not me in the background. For some reason a few out there think I am going to show up in July pregnant (maybe because I did that last time). That is not going to happen.

Cassie was only 2 years too young to ride this train, but I put her on there anyway. She needed to experience the fun. Dylan was kicking and screaming when I tried to pull him off so the ticket guy let him ride again. Dylan then kicked and screamed again after the second ride, so I had to pry him off of the train and left with a sad boy.

Just thought I would add a hot one of me. I kind of felt like this by the end of the day.

A very tired Dylan on the way home.

Flowers

Dylan and Cassie picking "flowers" for me. They love doing this.

I love this!

You might be from a small town if...
1. You can name everyone you graduated with.
2. You know what 4-H is.
3. You ever went to a party that was held about 20 miles down a deserted dirt road.
4. You used to drag "main."
5. You got a speeding ticket and your parents knew within an hour.
6. You schedule parties around the schedule of different police officers since you know which ones would bust you.
7. You ever went or thought about going cow-tipping.
8. School gets canceled for a sports team going to State (or provincials).
9. You could never sneak into a dance (when you were too young) because everyone knew how old you were.
10. You ever road in a tractor all night to give a friend company.
11. You never missed a Homecoming parade.
12. You still go home for Homecoming.
13. It was cool to date someone from a neighboring town.
14. You had a senior skip day.
15. The whole school went to the same party after graduation.
16. You can't help but date a friend's ex. (or your sister's ex!!!)
17. Your car is always filthy from the dirt backroads.
18. You think that kids who ride skateboards are weird.
19. The town next to you is considered "trashy" or "snotty" when it is just like your town.
20. Getting paid minimum wage is considered a raise.
21. You refer to anyone with a house newer than 1980 as the "rich people."
22. The people in the big citydress funny then you pick up on the cool new trend two years later. 23. You bragged to your friends because you got pipes on your truck for your birthday.
24. On Fridays, anyone you want to find can be at Main Street or the local resturants.
25. Weekend excitement involves a trip to Walmart
26. Even the ugly people enter beauty contests.
27. You decide to walk for exercise and 5 people pull over and ask you if you need a ride.
28. Your teachers call you by your older sibling's name.
29. Your teachers remember when they taught your parents.
30. The closest "cool stores" are at least 45 miles away.
31.You hear something outside and automatically assume it is a racoon in the trash, not an axe murderer or robber or anyone.
32.You can charge at all the local stores or write cheques without any i.d.
33. It is normal to see an old man picking bottles in the ditch (or driving a lawn mower around town) .......and you know his name.
34. Everyone who played sports had to play on every type of team, or there wouldn't be enough people to have a team.
35. You don't give directions by street names, but by references (turn by the Clarke's house, go 2 blocks past the Hounsell's, and it's four houses left of the track field).
36. You went to parties in a field, a bush, a gravel pit, or in the middle of a dirt road (and the party couldn't start until someone with a big stereo in their truck showed up).
37. You don't ever lock your car, or your house.
38. You have ever been in a sweat-hut.
39. You have ever played night games where you start on one side of town and end up on the other side of town. (or in someone's field)
40. Wedding receptions are all held at the local church.
41. You laugh your head off reading this because you know it's true.

Fun with my parents

My parents made it out for a visit this last week and we had a wonderful time. We didn't do a whole lot, just hung out and enjoyed each others company. Dylan and Cassie had such a fun time with their Grandma and Grandpa and were both very sad when they had to leave. (I was sad too, it was so nice to have them here). Here are a few (I mean a LOT) of pictures from some of the things we did. The first few are from a little Farmer's Market that is a walk away from our house. The kids love going their to see the animals. It is so nice to have this so close to us.

This was funny. Dylan kept chasing around the chickens trying to catch them.

Oh, a goat. They were very friendly.

Hmm, I don't think Dylan was supposed to be on that side of the fence. He jumped over and was having fun with the rabbits, so we let him play with them for a little while.

This white rabbit scared Dylan while he was feeding the brown rabbit. It was funny to see him jump.

Then he tried to catch the rabbit.

With Grandma's farm expertise, he succeeded.

We visited Frankenmuth, a little German town about 20 minutes from us, and had a great time their. Dad loved learning about the history and trying to find someone who could tell him where the nearest Dairy Farm was. We went on a boat tour and the kids loved that. It was relaxing and since it was such a hot day, the breeze on the boat cooled us off a little. We also walked around and looked at some cool shops and tasted some fudge as well.

A cool bridge the boat went under. Dylan loved that.

A very tired Cassie.

Nate looking onward.

What a hot couple. Actually, we really were "hot" and tired of walking around. It was above 90 and humid as well. Good thing there was wind.

We had a famous German chicken dinner and Dylan loved listening to this guy play. His shorts are hot too.