Funny things that keep childrens attention-

My dad and Shirley have a bird feeder out back and squirrels come and eat the food. We spent an hour watching one hang upside down by his tail from the feeder and throw food down to another that would eat them on the ground. Before long another came and a rabbit came and they spent all day eating the bird feed! The funniest thing I have ever seen when he would fall and barely grab on and then hang upside down by his tail again. We also spent an hour catching lightning bugs by the fire pit- this can keep kids entertained for awhile too.Throwing rock into the lake is another winner with the boys. These simple things have kept the kids entertained.

St Joseph Aquatic Center today!

We went to the St Joseph aquatic center today for a double birthday of Shirley's niece and nephew today for 4 hours! I think we have had enough sun the last 2 days to last a week. The humidity is high here so you just drown in your own sweat. The kids are getting worn out - friday they asked grandma if they could just stay home for a day. We even offered to take them out to a restaurant with video games and they said NO! Can you believe they stayed home and read books and played with water guns and rested. Yesterday we went sailing again and pulled Austin on the inner tube, he loved it! Braden wasn't going to do it but I knew he would regret it so I convinced him to do it and he loved it too! I have been throwing these slide shows together quick on my dads computer and I noticed I have a lot of spelling errors and spacing- I promise I can spell and if there are words together I blame the keyboard- you have to push down harder or it skips my letters and spaces. We are hoping to be home soon unless the kids decide to stay here forever because there is so much to do here. I just wanted to remind everyone BREAKING DAWN is out this week! For all you twilighters who have been waiting like me I'll see you at the bookstore on Saturday!

The Goose poop infested swim beach- YUCK!

They have brought sand in and created swim beaches by the lake, but there is goose poop along the shore. I told the kids they could NOT get in the water here and this is what happened. You see London is actually the one who got the dirtiest and the goose poop didn't even gross the kids out just me and Grandma were grossed out! Sorry if you are getting sick of picture after picture of my kids butgrandma is keeping us really busy! We have one more week and we'll be home in Utah!

We Caught a fish!

We finally caught fish yesterday, early when the weather was still cool outside. They weren't very big but who cares- WE CAUGHT FISH!! We also ran into a bird swimming in the water.

Happy Birthday to Grandma!

Today is a special birthday- it is Grandma's birthday! It is almost impossible to find pictures of Jane because she is usually taking all the pictures, but I did find some from weddings in the past and recently. We just want Jane to know we all love her and appreciate all she does for our family. She is going through a bad time- healthwise and we are thinking about her always. Happy Birthday!

Fishing with Grandma!

We went fishing three different places today and the big catch of the day was seaweed! We might have had two bites or maybe just wishful thinking. It is beautiful here- it is green and this area is like a vacation area. It has lots of forest area, the lake, hiking trails, and a lot of animals! Grandma is wearing the kids out running all over Smithville so I put them all to bed at 8 tonight!

Sailing with Grandpa and Grandma

Initially London and Braden were a little scared of the sail boat because it tips to each side but once Grandma turned the motor on and put the sails down they were fine. Austin was soaking everything in on the boat and loved every minute! We anchored in a cove and went swimming and I know my husband won't believe I got in because I worry about fish sucking on me but I did! There is only 2 photos because of course the photographer was in the water. Londonsays I don't have enough pictures of her in the water but she wants Dad to know she went in also! Missing Dad but having a ball!

Swimmimg with our Missouri Cousins!

Kim, Jaedra, CiAnna, Scott and his family Kathy, Rayni, Rylee, Josie, and Avery all came down to Dad's house for lunch and swimming. Nine cousins all in the same house! Scott spent the whole time throwing Austin and Braden around the pool- he was the only one who ended up tired.

First couple days in Missouri

I didn't get to say much about our pictures the other night because it was so late and I was tired but I wanted to explain some of the photos I posted from Missouri. So we flew in Thursday afternoon and my Dad and Shirley took us to eat out on the boat dock. There is a restaurant right on the dock- you actually float up and down while you eat. The kids had fun feeding the ugliest Carp fish that I have ever seen! The fish actually will climb on top of eachother to get the little pellets of food. The next morning we woke up and went climbing down into the creek/ditch behind Dad's house to find a snapping turtle- which we never found but after we got in the ditch Shirly started telling us to watch out for poison ivy, oh ya and brambery thorn bushes, poison sumac, ticks, and chiggers. YIKES! This is why we are wearing pants and long sleeves, it is NOT cold here. For lunch we had a picnic at the lake and played at a playground. Later their cousins Jaydra and Cianna came to spend the night also. The boys just played board games all night, but London was glad for some new girl cousins.

Our first full day in MIssouri!

Not a day over 25!

London says; Daddy I know you miss me but I love it here it is so fun! Maybe I will come back someday soon.
Austin;Sorry we couldn't be there. I didn't have time to get you a present but I'll make it up to you when I get home. Happy Birthday!
Braden;Sorry we aren't there - hope you have a good day
Love of your life; Ready for the next 13 years together? Hope this birthday doesn't slow you down. Otherwise you might have to run to keep up with your MUCH younger wife. HA!

Off to the flood plains of Missouri

So me and the kids are off to see my dad and my second mother, Shirley in the great state of Missouri. We are hoping we don't float away with all the water they have there right now. Shirley says their side of the state is pretty dry so we'll see in 4 days! Chad will be home alone for two weeks and for his birthday- the house to himself is the best present he could get. RIGHT? Just Kidding! I asked my brother-in-law and Chad's sister to take him to dinner for his birthday and some how it turned into go cart racing, and a full day of 4-wheeling with just the boys! Well if you see my husband wish him Happy Birthday for us and I will be putting my Missouri pictures on my blog while I am there so Chad can keep tabs on us. See you all when we get home!

Real Soccer game with a bunch of CRAZY boys!

As you might know by now Chad is coaching Austin's comp soccer team and UYSA gave the team tickets to the Real game last night. Chad and my boys have been to the games before but it was my first time. The game was great but it was a little stressful because we picked up boys at almost every train station. Chad had to keep telling me to calm down- you know men they don't worry about things like kids getting left behind at a train station by themselves. Once we got all the boys picked up on the train I had a blast! Chad was getting a little irritated with misbehaving 11 and 12 year old boys but my seat was up further by my neighbors so I was just enjoying the game. Security even had to tell the boys to settle down! Real won 2 to 0 against Columbus Crew and I was told they are now in first place. PRETTY COOL!!

Nature Hike up Waterfall Canyon

So me and my neighbor are starting to run out of stuff to keep our kids occupied so we decided to hike up waterfall canyon in ogden. The bottom picture is right before we took off on our 2 hour hike. I was a little worried about taking London but she did well and I only had to pick her up twice- to cross the water and when a whole bunch of bees made Braden cry she freaked out and wouldn't go past them. Usually Chad has to carry her every where so this was a HUGE day for her! That rattle snake was on the trail. It had been beaten to death but still- eww! I have never seen a snake that close except in cages so I was a little freaked out when we still had to go up the trail and back down. Of course all the boys had sticks so I told them they had to beat any snakes we found.It was beautiful at the top but very slippery so I was holding on to a rock as I took pictures. Going down was pretty scary because you had lots of oppurtunities to fall. London says she only fell twice because if she fell holding her stick the other times didn't count- but her dirty butt told another story! She had dirt on her face, her hands, dirt every where! Overall it was a good trip for us to get the kids out although London did fall apart about 5 minutes to the end of the hike and kept crying til I fed her. She is like her mother- if you don't feed us Carver women we get a bit moody!(It rearranged my pictues so the fourth picture is at the end and the bottom is at the beginning of the hike.)

BIG day for London!

So we have been trying to get London excited to take her training wheels off but she has been a little resistant to say the least. So we told her today was the day! She was hysterical the whole time! Don't let the pictures fool ya - she is crying the whole time and then she gave up and went and sat on the stairs. My daughter is going to be a teenager before she learns to ride without training wheels! The picture of Austin is him passed out because I have been trying to run with him and Braden to get ready for the fall season of football and soccer. We have only been running a mile and he is still dead! Me and Braden beat him by 5 minutes, but just so he doesn't look bad Chad ran today and finished just as slow and he stopped a couple of times. He said he was staying back to motivate Austin. Ya, okay! Hopefully by next week we will be going longer and faster.