20th Anniversary Cruise

We picked up Megan from the airport on the day before we were to be on the ship.

I was so excited to see her I could hardly stand it.

I loved every minute of the time we got that day and evening catching up.

I didn't really even want to leave, I could have spent the week with her but that would have made my hubby a little sad.

We had to Facetime with Mickayla, it was super fun.

On Sunday Morning Dale and I had to leave at 5 in the morning so we left before anyone was awake.
It was fun to get updates from Megan on our way to Galveston that they made it to church through all the fog, and even arrived early.  Not bad for a new "Mom."

These are the only pictures I have from the entire cruise. 

This was the first day on the boat.

Dale didn't waste anytime getting his ice cream and french fries.

I enjoyed Hannah's Kindle that she let me borrow for the week.

It is so fun to have cruising friends.

And these are a few pics of what was happening while we were gone.  Sam had the Disneyland life with Aunt Megan taking him to the park EVERYDAY.  Ya I don't do that. :/
All the bliss ended when Sam turned on his stubborn side and would not bike home. 
Sorry Megan, I know that was torture trying to get the dead weight 45 pound toddler home.

Megan learned that Sam's mood can change on a dime. 

 Happy one minute, the next so sad.

Video games, movies, Chinese food restaurants.... I told you Disneyland life with Aunt Megan.

Look how great they all look?

Alarms didn't go off and they all woke up at 7:50 and had to leave by 8:00.

They were even on time.

Not bad Meg, not bad.

We are home!

I was so excited to hear every detail of Megan's week.

I have never been so happy that Megan is a very detailed story teller than when she was telling stories about my own kids.  All my kids loved having her here and I'm still hearing stories about her stay and Sam still prays that she would come back.

We brought Megan a super fun hat back from Belize. ;)

If you ever want to watch our kids when we go on a cruise you could score one too!

After changing 400 gross large child diapers all week.

Megan discussed with Sam how wearing diapers is gross and he should really wear big boy underware.

As you can see, she got him to put them on.

(Something we have tried to get him to do for months!)

Megan has documented her whole week on her blog.

If you would like to read it let me know.

I will do more blogging about the cruise later when I have more pictures from friends.

Mom's Utah Birthday Trip

Unless you have lived away from family you can't really understand the blessing it is when you finally get to go visit. 

After we took Mickayla to school I got to stay in Utah for a few more days.  It was the best birthday gift ever!  I'm getting better at my trips.  I have learned that I enjoy staying the night at each of my siblings homes and my parents home each for a night.  I loved staying up late visiting with each of them.  I love being in their homes and seeing their kids.  

This trip I got to meet Baby Stella.

Oh my is she a sweet baby.

So fun to see Kim enjoying having a little girl again after all these years.

I got to attend the Sollis Family Night/Christmas Party/PaPa Tom's Birthday Party.

I got to watch a fantastic magic show, watch the cousins play and watch everyone open their presents from Grandma Jan and Papa Tom.

It's pretty impressive that they know exactly what to get each of their grandkids. ;)

Just so you know this is only half of the group.

Everyone wanted to help PaPa Tom open his presents.

Time for cake!

Becky got my toes ready for my upcoming cruise.

Don't they look fantastic.

 

It was so fun to have lunch with these ladies!

I told you I'm getting smarter about my trips.

Felt so loved that they would meet me for lunch.

 

So I'm thinking this might become a Birthday Tradition I do every year!

A Right of Passage

It was time to take Mickayla to college.  Such a right of passage for Mickayla, she has been waiting for a long time to do this.  Graduating early from high school made the wait even longer.   Her Dad and I are so proud of her and the young lady she has become.  I'm so excited to watch her grow into an even more grown up version of herself. 

On the plane and ready to go!

 

 

Once we got to SL we spent the night with Grandpa and Grandma and then bright and early we headed out to Rexburg.  Mindy, Becky, and Emmy came along. 

 I was a little nervous to be riding without a male in the car but Mindy eased my mind

 when she came packing.  :)

Did I mention it was my Birthday? 

This will always be a birthday that I will never forget! 

We made a stop in Malad to see Grandpa Moon.  We did get to see Aunt Jeri, but we missed Grandpa he was already out working when we arrived.  He didn't know we were coming, or he would have waited to head out.  We stopped first for lunch at the "The Dude Ranch" and had a super yummy breakfast. 

Becky read to us from this little book.

 

 Then we stopped at baby Kevin's grave. What a special place, there is a sweet feeling there. We all got teary being there, Emmy cleared the headstone so we could see it. Baby Kevin and the lessons we learned because of his life will always have a special place with all of us.

Finally we arrived in Rexburg, after doing some shopping we arrived at Mickayla's dorm.  All the packing and hording of kitchen items finally paid off when we loaded her kitchen.  So fun to see her through this whole process, she loved every minute of it and her excitement could be felt by all of us.

Her cousin Emmy really wished she was staying. 

I wish she could have stayed with her too, it would have helped me feel a little better.

Becky and I had to go down memory lane for a bit.

This is the spot where Dale told me he was falling in love with me and we made out.

This is Becky's dorm from her first year at Rick's College.

Funny how she look exactly the same.

It was time to say goodbye.

I was excited and sad all at the same time.

I think it was a right of passage for me too.

 

It makes me excited to take each of my girls to school and watch them take this right of passage too.

 

Thanks to Mindy, Becky, and Emmy for coming and spending this special day with us.