Branson Family Vacation

Nile and Scott in the cave

Claire and me in the cave

Claire and B waving good bye to Silver Dollar City

The gang on their favorite ride getting soaking wet

B, Claire, and Nile at mini golf

papa, nana, and Claire

Claire on stage waiting for awards

Papa and Nile with the golf ball

B and Claire at Dick's 5 and 10

The gang at the Dixie Stampede

Claire had a dance competition in Branson this past week, so parents decided to come down and meet us down there to see Claire do her dance since they couldn't make the dance recital. The first night we went to the Dixie Stampede show which was fun. The kids loved it!! Nile thought it was the best dinner he had ever had. On Thursday, Scott, Nile, and my dad went golfing, which was fun even though we had an injury. My dad accidently hit Nile in the leg with a golf ball on the 18th hole. He has a pretty good size bruise. My mom, B, Claire, and I hung out at the pool in the morning and then I got Claire ready for her dance competition. She danced great and received a gold award. Then we went mini-golfing and out for some frozen custard. On Friday, we went to Silver Dollar City, which brought back some great family memories. (My grandpa and grandma Farmer took all of us, aunts, uncles, and cousins to Branson 14 years ago on a big bus, it was quite the family vacation. We all loved it!!!) Claire could go on almost every ride but one. Nile loved all the roller coasters. Brent even got to go on Fire in the Hole. The kids had fun riding rides with papa and nana. We did get my mother on one ride.

On the way home we decided to stop at the Fantastic Caverns cave. It was an interesting experience. It is the only cave in the U.S. that you can drive through.

Recital Weekend

Claire jumping in
Brent swimming

Claire with Grandma and Grandpa after the show

Scott's parents came in town last weekend for Claire's dance recital. She did a great job!! We had a fun busy day. The kids talked grandma and grandpa into going to the pool to see them swim even though it was in the 70's. Then we went to the movies to see Night of the Museum 2 which the kids liked. Then I came home to do Claire's hair and make-up and get her ready for the recital. We had to wake all the kids up on Sunday morning for church. It's weekends like this that we wish we had church just a little later.

Nile is in cubscout day camp this week. He survived a little ran yesterday. His baseball game got canceled because of the lightening. Claire and Brent started swim lessons yesterday. Brent screamed for the first little bit which is surprising because he loves the pool. He has to go everyday to feel like his day is complete. Hopefully, it will go better today.

IT'S A DOZEN

Our anniversary was yesterday.  Here is a picture of us from our wedding day.  Time sure does fly by.  It has been a great 12 years and we are looking forward to the years to come.

National Running Day

In celebration of National Running Day today, I took the kids to the track to run.  Nile ran 2 miles.  Claire and B did a little less.  They had fun running as fast as they could.  They are enjoying their summer vacation.

Kindergarten Graduation

Claire with her 1st grade pose from her program

Brent, Nile, and Claire

Claire had her big graduation last night.  She sang some songs and received her kindergarten certificate.  She was absolutely adorable.  She is excited for first grade.  Nile just has a half day of school left and then we will be in summer mode.  The kids are so excited for the pool to open up on Saturday, hopefully it will be warm enough to enjoy.  Scott is busy painting because the boys get their new bunk bed tomorrow.  They are so excited.

Mother's Day Weekend

The cousins tanning on the green

me with my new running shoes

We had a busy Mother's Day weekend.  We went to St. Louis so we could be there to hear my brother Jonathan call home from his mission.  It was great to hear him.  He has become very fluent in the language.  Some of his friends were there and they were shocked that he was speaking so well and had learned the language as well as he has.  The kids loved hearing from uncle Jonny.  

The kids ordered me some running shoes and a running outfit for mother's day.  I loved them!!!  

My sister also came in town for Mother's Day and all the cousins had a fun time hanging out.  They put on their swimsuits and sun glasses and were "tanning" on the golf green.  While we were in town my other brother Jason wasn't feeling so well.  He went to the urgent care center and they said he might have mono.  He thought that was crazy but sure enough on our way home my dad called to say that the doctor had called and confirmed that he has mono, so hopefully no one else in the family gets it.  

Busy Weekend

Nile as catcher

The Garden Beds

Claire after her dance competition

B with his hockey "game face"

I went ahead and signed up Brent and Claire for another session of ice skating lessons.  They are really enjoying them.  Claire is even learning a little routine on ice with little jumps and turns.  Friday night, Nile had his first baseball game of the season.  He played catcher part of the time and enjoyed the game even though they lost.  On Saturday, Claire had another dance competition.  She did great.  They received 3rd place.  While Claire and I were at the dance competition most of the day, Scott, Nile, and B built two raised garden beds.  We decided to start a garden this year.  We are going to do one bed with strawberries and the other bed with veggies.  Nile had a birthday party that night so Scott and I decided to get a babysitter and try and do a little furniture shopping at Nebraska Furniture Mart.  While we were looking around, tornado sirens went off, apparently there were tornados in the area.  So we were offered to go into the storm bunker or leave the store.  We decided to leave and didn't run into any tornados.