Missouri June 2016

We were able to go to Missouri in June this year.  Jeff's family was having a reunion in Branson.  We found that it was cheaper to fly out three days early and rent a house.  What a great deal.  We flew into Kansas City and drove a little way to Liberty.  We were able to visit the site of Liberty Jail.  This building is a recreation of the actual jail but it sits on the exact same site of the original.  I was very happy to visit this monument because it is the site of one of my favorite scriptures.  D&C 121 (excerpts)--"O God, where art thou?  And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?  How long shall thy hand be stayed......Yea, O lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them......'My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment.'"

 We stayed in a cute little two bedroom farm house in St. Louis.  

We went to see the Gateway Arch.  It was a terribly hot, humid, and sunny day.  We had to park very far away because of construction to the monument.  We finally found our way into the basement and purchased tickets to ride to the top.  It was such an incredible view and the kids loved being on the edge of two states.  Seeing the Mississippi river for the first time was fun for them, as well. 

This was the small pod-like tram that takes you to the top.  It was quite small and I hit my head a few times even after the safety presentation about the low ceilings.

Caleb was complaining of a stomach ache and was having bathroom stress.  We had to leave Jeff with Caleb at the monument while the rest of us walked back to the car.  I had fallen down the stairs earlier that morning and was in a lot of knee, foot, and ankle pain.  I ended up having to carry Blake on my shoulders for many blocks, uphill.  When we entered our parking garage, Josh saw the look on my face and took Blake from me.  He walked far ahead so Blake couldn't see me.  I hobbled the rest of the way to the car in tears.  I was very grateful for Josh rescuing me in that moment.

March 2016

Katherine was a trooper this year for cookie booths.  We even did a 6 hour shift one day.  

I wish I could show you a picture to represent the love between Blake and Caleb.  Oh look!  I found one.  

These two crack me up.  Blake pushes Caleb around like he's 2 years older than him.

Blake is going to be the death of me.  Look at this kid's mischievous ways.  He broke the vacuum twice (while I was on the phone with customer service), he dumped an entire bag of veggie fries on the couch with a random assortment of toys.  He smeared poop all over himself, and much more.  What a kid!

Joshua decided that it was time Blake learned his evil ways . Josh digs up the larvae of these huge black beetles at the park.  They look like a bag of pus with a red head.  It is a revolting creature that Josh insists on shoving in my face.  Blake wasn't scared.  No, he wasn't.  He proceeded to squish the poor thing with a pine cone until it had burst.  

BARF!

Caleb has done so well with haircuts.  He wears the drape, sits in the chair, doesn't protest at all, and during this last haircut, he even used the buzzers on the bottom half.  What a trooper.

February 2016

Superbowl Party

We've found that it is easier to just watch the game by ourselves.  The more families that you add, the less you get to see or hear. 

Caleb is really good at taking selfies at church.  Here he is showing his lost tooth.  His tooth had been wiggly for a month or so but it was too much for him when mom would try to tie a string around it.  We just waited to see if it would fall out on it's own.  He woke up one morning and there was no tooth to be found anywhere.  The tooth fairy was understanding and gave him some money, anyway. 

Jeff enjoyed yet another season of coaching basketball.  Kyle is never one to shy away from an opportunity to be goofy.

My mom, my two sisters, and I went to Disneyland (all by ourselves) to celebrate Isa's 40th birthday.  We went to Disneyland for 3 days, went to the beach, Hollywood, sight seeing, and mostly never stopped talking.  I came home with a hoarse voice.  I miss them already.

December 2015-January 2016

We had a Christmas visit from Nana.  We got to swim in her pool, eat yummy food, play at Sundance, and had fun.

 Here's the 2 older boys (blue helmets) getting on the ski lift.  We had such beautiful snow this winter.

Here we are at Utah Symphony's performance for kids with disabilities.  They offer a free concert every year where the lights are turned on, sound is quieter, and everyone is free to make noise, move around, or meltdown.  It was a wonderful experience. 

 Here is Blake's first dentist visit.  He was a champion!

 Here is Caleb in the chair.  Do you see that sweet hand holding his?  That's big brother Kyle comforting him.  Caleb will now allow most of the x-rays to be done, wear the glasses and bib, allow them to use the professional toothbrush, and even let them floss.  

Part 7?

I forgot that I had extra pictures on my phone.  

We got to go on a "girl date" to see Cinderella.  It was so much fun.

Someone gave us awesome seats to an A's game while we were there.  I snuck a picture of these two guys behind us that were the most entertaining hecklers on the planet.  "MoreLaaand!"  (Inside joke).

Here we are eating at a Burmese restaurant in SF.  Some of us liked it, some of us didn't even dare try anything.

Blake LOVED it!  He loved drinking straight from the coconut, too.

We had ice cream at Thrifty's for FHE. (A Carlson family tradition.)

Part 6

We wanted the kids to have a picture of the with their Great Grandma Venice before she moves to Texas.  

Blake decided that teething 3 molars and going on vacation would be fun.  He had had enough after 10 days and was quite miserable.

Grandpa had saved all his lemons on his cute tree for the kids to come and make lemonade.  They had a blast making it and we had a great time drinking it.  It was so delicious!

Part 5

We were able to catch a gorgeous sunset at the tide pools.

Cable Car and Fisherman's Wharf Day!

The boys were so lucky to be able to hang off the side of the cable cars.  They are getting so handsome.

We got to cross off "See a street performer" off our list.  The kids loved it.

San Francisco sourdough bread bowl with clam chowder snack.  Yummmmm!

We then took a ferry ride that took us under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz.  The weather was gorgeous.  The weather was sunny every day we were there.  How did that happen?

 Caleb got a cable car souvenir because he went potty in Nana Shari's bathroom.  That was huge.  He wouldn't put down this cable car for days.

Blake had to hold on to the cable car handles like all of the big people.