Remembering Our Roots

 Tom put together a great family reunion this year in Wellsville.  Lots of family and fun.  We had a great time playing some games and hanging out. 

 Nate was in charge of kid games.  We couldn't get any of the extended family's kiddos to play but we got all our cousins to play.  We had a fun time with the water guns from the fish pond.  Those Jensens' got a little out of hand though.  HAHA. 

And, it's always fun to go to Cache Valley.  For Nate and I, we have some wonderful memories of our time there.  We were a young, struggling family.  Learning all the lessons that helped us get where we are today.  It was time I wouldn't have traded for the world. 

Hanging out with the Boys/Girls

We have some good family traditions going for our family.  They are just things that have naturally evolved and become annual events.  One thing that happens each year is camping with Dad.  The boys get a turn and the girls get a turn. 

 

While Nate took the girls, Ben and I took Dave to the Dinosaur Museum at Thankgiving Point.  It was quiet and nice to spend time with each other.  Ben is a great conversationalist and makes a great date.  After the museum we grabbed a bite to eat at Panda Express. It was too cold in the restaurant so we decided to take it home and eat out on the porch.  That was a great idea.  We ended our night by watching Iron Man 2.  It was perfect. 

The girls went camping with Dad up AF canyon.  It was Sarah's first year joining in on the fun.  She did great.  Dad spoiled the girls, as always.  He bought all of them head lamps.  Such fun when your a tramping through the dark.  They took a fun hike and ate plenty of junk food. 

 I guess that any dad would spoil cute girls like this.  I mean, really, they are just such awesome girls. 

 As always, Dad makes sure that those girls are snug as little bugs in a rug.  :)  Whenever he comes home I ask him how he slept.  He always tells me about the numerous times he woke up to make sure that his girls still had all their blankets on.  He never sleeps that well but those girls always sleep like rocks Thanks to their loving Dad. 

Marie Curie Visits

Rachel's 3rd grade school project was to write about a famous woman.  She chose Marie Curie.  We managed to come up with a good costume and she memorized a two minute "self introduction".  She did a great job.  It was so fun seeing her show off.  Rachel is da bomb! 

Counting Down the Days

The last month of school can be a bit long.  It can make you a little Kooky.  A Little Strange.  I just want to give them a big push on those swings.  

The Great Baxter Adventure - Day 3 - Seattle Washington

 Enough good can't be said about the trip to Seattle.  Uncle Sean was amazing and got us up and going to head to the ferry.  He was amazing.  The Ferry ride was an adventure all by itself and you can't beat the view.  It was fantastic to see Seattle from the Ferry.  Our first view of Seattle ever. 

 We also had a good time taking some pictures on the bow.  Kids...they are hilarious.  And these cousins are no different.  All their personalities combined make for some real fun entertainment.

 Sutton and Sarah had a fun time together too.  Getting to know each other a little at a time.  :) 

 Pike's market was really cool.  If it had just been Nate and I we would have stayed there all afternoon.  Alas, with 9 kids in tow, we limited our time there and didn't go down to the darker areas of Pikes market but we heard there are some.  And of course, not adventure is complete without ice cream!

Dave conked out right about the time we were headed for the space needle.  Little Baxters can only handle so much of a good thing.  Looks like the blog can only handle so mush too.  More to come.  :)

The Great Baxter Adventure - Day 2 - On to Gig Harbor

The only picture I have of day two is as we came onto the bridge heading into Gig Harbor, Washington where our Sean Baxter cousins reside. We were thrilled to have made it this far.  Aunt Melissa was a doll and had dinner all ready for us and Avery, Tobin, Tenley and Sutton all welcomed their cousins with open arms.  The big kids stayed with Aunt Melissa and Uncle Sean while the younger kiddos and mom and dad went to a motel.

We stayed here.  It was a bit of a dive.  But, we just needed to endure a couple of nights so we decided to just go with it.  Yes, it used to be a smoking motel and it was definitely still a place for many long term residents...but we managed.  I was a little scared we might come home with bed bugs...but we didn't.  The people were super nice.  It just wasn't what I expected.  It hadn't been updated since 1969...probably when it was built.

Ok.  So that was just a small hiccup in our otherwise, vastly wonderful vacation. 

The Great Baxter Adventure - Part 1 - We're off

 Well, our first big family vacation.  We haven't left the confines of Utah in years...in fact...for all the kids aside from Ben...never.  The planning for this trip started months and months ago and the day has finally come.  Wahoo!  It's exciting.  The kids each have a nice personal travel storage to stow all their gear. They are super excited. 

 For a family of 7, rest stops are a must every couple of hours.  It takes a little longer to get where we are going but it keeps everyone smiling.  Above was a fun little rest stop for lunch/dinner.  We got out our scooters and rode all around the stop.  It was a much needed break and we are about half way to Boise. 

 Back in the car, we have to find more to do.  Play with toys and sleep.  Watch another movie.  We even watched one of Mom's favorites, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  A captive audience is always good to have when we are watching musicals.  HAHA.  We are trying to make it to Boise by 9pm so we can still go swimming. 

 We stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Boise.  Super great place. 
We had an awesome suite with 2 bedrooms and a fold out bed in the main room.  So much space and the kids loved it.  Not to mention the pool and continental breakfast the next day. 
We rested up and prepared for the second half of our journey to arrive at the Sean Baxter home.