It has been exactly one month since our last blog post. We have had a VERY busy month, so here are a bunch of posts to catch you up on what we have been doing. Unfortunately, I was too busy living most of this stuff to take too many pictures but there are a few.
Aunt Megan's Visit
First, we had Aunt Megan (my sister) come for a visit. We had lots of fun with her, but we didn't take any pictures. While she was here, she took the boys swimming a couple of times. We also went to IKEA and out to eat at Mighty Fine and she and I were able to get some shopping in at the outlets and a movie with the girls (Time Traveler's Wife). She was also able to visit some friends from her mission that live here. Then she helped us do laundry and pack for our trip to Utah. It is quite the workload to pack for 6 people to go on a trip (and fly so everything has to be compact). That brings us to part two of this catch up post.
Campbell Family Reunion
We were supposed to leave the house at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning (Aug 19) to get the airport, park the car, check our bags, etc. We were only 25-30 minutes late leaving, but got there in plenty of time. (Luckily, Austin has a relatively small airport). As Megan put it, it is always fun to be the entertainment for everyone at the airport. We certainly were. With 7 people (3 adults, 4 kids), 6 checked bags, and 8 carry-ons, plus a stroller and four car seats, there is a lot to manuever through the airport. Going through security is quite the process since everyone has to take shoes off and the stroller has to be collapsed and everything put through the x-ray, then on the other end everything has to be taken back out and put back together. Such fun (and entertainment for the rest of the travelers).
Fortunately, the kids were all really good on the flight. J.D. watched movies on my iPhone while Jake and Joey colored in their new coloring/sticker books. Janalynn basically just ate and sat there and didn't sleep much because she only really sleeps well in her bed.
When we landed in Las Vegas, we had the ultrafun task of collecting everything then getting us and all of our stuff to the Rental Car shuttle and on it, then getting us and all of our stuff off the Rental Car shuttle, renting our van, getting everything and everyone loaded in and leaving the airport. It was really nice to have Megan with us for this part of the trip since an extra adult is always useful with that much stuff and kids. After all of that, we were starving, so we had to make a pit stop at In 'N Out Burger before our 1 1/2 hour drive to St. George. It was delicious!!!
Our drive to St. George seemed very long because Janalynn hates the carseat and cried at least half of the way and the other half I had to listen to the wind whistling through the windshield of the rental van (must not have been sealed correctly when it was replaced or something--it sounded like nails on a chalkboard). But, we made it.
The boys were very excited to be at Grandma and Grandpa's house and promptly got the train set out and started playing with it. We hung out and relaxed for a while, then went back into town to eat at the Pizza Factory. A trip to St. George is not complete without eating there. The food was yummy and we were full, but we stopped at Iceberg on the way home for some shakes. However, we were all tired and most of us went to bed before we could eat them.
Thursday morning we met Merril, Jamie, Jack, and Juliet at Sandhollow Reservoir to play in the water and on the beach. They gave us a ride in their boat to a nice beach and the adults (and Janalynn) sat in the shade while the kids played in the sand and water. The kids were all in heaven and had a great time. We also had lunch there.
It was fun for me to go to the reservoir because when I was in college I worked at the Washington County Water Conservancy District and the reservoir was just in the planning stages at that point. So, it was fun to see it built and filled and being used.
Joey and Juliet playing in the water
Hanging out in the shade
J.D. showing off the boat
The boys in sand and water heaven
Janalynn hanging out with Grandma and enjoying the fresh air
After we left the lake, I took the little kids home and Jim, J.D., and Jake, went wheeling with Grandpa in his jeep. J.D. and Jake had seen pictures of Grandpa's jeep climbing the red rocks and they wanted to see it for themselves, so he took them. That night we went to Marv's (local burger place--similar to Mighty Fine) for dinner.
Friday morning we did some grocery shopping and errands and got ready to head to the cabin in Pine Valley. Everyone got there around dinner time. The kids really enjoyed seeing their cousins and playing in the wide open spaces. All of the girl cousins loved holding their new baby girl cousin, Janalynn. I didn't get pictures of all of them holding her, but here is Juliet holding her with Grandpa's help.
Friday night we also played "Deal or No Deal" aka "The Open the Case Game." J.D. and Jake ended up taking a deal for an activity book and candy after they opened the $20, video, and $15 gift card cases.
Their cousin, Beau, made a deal for crayons, so he and Jake pooled their winnings and colored together.
Saturday morning we got up and ate a yummy breakfast, then got our swim suits on and went to Veyo pool. We had fun swimming and eating lunch there.
We went back to the cabin and did a few craft projects and rested and relaxed. Then we ate dinner and got all dressed up for our family picture. We took several big group and smaller group shots and despite the rain and cranky kids, did mange to get a few good ones. Pretty much everyone is good in this one except Joey. I am trying to restrain him on my lap and still smile. (Click on the picture to enlarge.)
After our family picture we had our family skits and talent show. I took some video, but none of it is very good. Our family did a skit about the foxes in our yard. The boys dressed up as foxes and we caught them in a cardboard "fox trap." Jared and Emily did a skit in which they announced they are expecting a baby in March. Will they finally have a boy (to go with their three girls)? We will have to wait until March to find out. We also had a family auction with the highest priced item being play dough for $620 fake dollars. After putting the kids to bed, the adults played cards and Wii.
Sunday morning we had a mini-primary at the Cabin for the kids while some of the adults went to the broadcast of the Oquirrh Mountain temple dedication. We then had lunch and a relaxing afternoon of playing games, napping, and a wild game of "Around the World" ping-pong.
It was fun to see all of my siblings and their families and we were glad we made the trek, despite the stress of flying with four kids. (I won't give a blow by blow of the flight home, but we provided a lot of entertainment in the Las Vegas airport when we forgot about some liquid medicine in Jim's laptop bag, almost left our boarding passes at security, had to schlep all of our bags and kids without an extra adult this time, etc.) It was a much-needed vacation, but I don't think we will wait clear until the end of the summer to take it next year.
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