Independence MO

A couple of weeks before we went to OK my mom called to ask if we wanted to drive up to Independence MO on Friday after the reunion.  We thought it sounded fun and the fact that Corey and I have not been there yet made it even more appealing.  All of us went except for my brother Beau who made previous plans to drive to NC.  So we all trained the cars to MO.  It was so stinking hot with the humidity.  There was a breeze which just felt like getting slapped in the face with a wet hot towel, but it did help a tiny bit.  We went to the Visitor Center first and did the little tour and then did a small walking tour around town with a book my mom had.  It really is so cool to think of our ancestors in that exact spot almost 200 years ago.  Granted we bought a stroller at walmart right before we left and realized when we got there that a wheel was missing.  This made me even more upset with Walmart and I vowed that Target would get my business from there on out.

 

 The original court house built in the later 1700's.  It is still original and in great shape.  The church owns it and we missed the tours though.  Mary Elizabeth Lightner lived here with her family for a little bit.

 Gabe in front of the wood work.

 At the visitor center they had a kids play room.  I know this is a hoop that you run and roll with a stick but Gabe found another great use for it.

 The site of the temple.

 We walked by this old house that was a bed and breakfast.  I loved it....this would be a dream house for me.  Maybe one day.

 This was the spot that our ancestors saved the book of commandments.

 Too cute

Family Talent Show

On the last night at the cabin my brother organized a talent show.  It seems that some families were more prepared than others (my family being the one not very prepared) and the talent was impressive.  I didn't get pictures of most of the talents.  There was a lot of singing and I won't go through the whole program but just from my family all 3 older kids sang songs.  Hailey sang a small snippet from a song she knew as well.  Corey did a stand up comedy skit which I am sure tomatoes would have been thrown if they were available.  My parents did a synchronized swimming routine that was pretty funny.  Just seeing my dad in a swim hat and goggles was funny enough.  It was really entertaining.

 At the very end Josh put on music for a dance party.  The kids were having a blast.  They just looked so cute dancing around.  I have to say there were some pretty good dancers in the group.  And Hailey granted us all lots of butt slaps.

Waterhole

For me this was the most fun part of the vacation.  The day before Josh and Sally drove around the park to locate some fun things for us to do.  When they came back they told us of this waterhole that was fed from a stream so it wasn't all mushy on the bottom.  It would be perfect for the whole family to swim.  So we all loaded up and went for a dip.  The weather was warm but it was perfect since the water was really cold.  The water ran under a bridge which was poured concrete so it was shallow for the little kids, then it ran over this ledge of rock into a swimming hole about 5 feet deep at the deepest.  All of us had a great time.  I tried to stay high and dry but should have known having 3 brothers there it was not to be.  Thor grabbed me and threw me in.  I hated it, but the worst was the fact the rocks were so slimy I couldn't get out.

 Danni and I, it was nap time.

 Hailey was squirting everyone....and it was inconvenient for the men since she is at crotch height.

 Gabe and the alligator floaty

 Lexie really played well with Paisley and Avenly.  She misses them already.

 Camera shot of the water

 I love this picture just because this is a real smile.

 There was this random rock right in the middle of the hole.  The kids would swim out and then jump off of it.

 Standing on the rock.

 Cute Danni

 What can I say...at least he is consistent.

Everyone was all smiles the whole day.

 

Little did we know that all of us adults would have bites all over us.  We are not sure where we got them or what caused it.  They are in places that you know mosquitoes could not get access to.  Pretty sure we all got attacked by chiggers.  Looking back if it happened at the swimming hole it was well worth it.

Nature Center

Inside the actual state park for Ten Killer Lake there is this nature center.  It was just a small place, but it contained the animals that were around in the park.  The had a lot of snakes and yes there were more poisonous ones than I wanted to know about.  And of course some spiders and turtles.  All things except the turtles that I don't want to come across in nature.  The kids got a good look at some of the things and touched some real animal fur.

The lady who worked there had a pigeon from Africa.  Now everyone has heard of cat ladies, well this was the first time I saw a bird lady.  This bird was in love with her and she seemed to think this was the best thing ever.  No matter how cool a bird is, it shouldn't replace a relationship with a human but whatever.  She seemed happy to sit in her chair and love all over this bird.  we all took pictures touching it...

Nice skunk on her head. 

 Took this picture in the dark room...I love Paisley's face.

 Diamond head which was shaking it's rattle the whole time we were there.

Just so cute couldn't resist.

Avenly's Baptism

My brother had a great idea to have his daughter Avenly baptized while we were all together.  He got permission to baptize her in the lake and it was such a memorable experience.  I have been to so many baptism's but to see it with the backdrop of all of God's creations and family it was wonderful.  I love that all the men in my family uphold and honor their Priesthood.  It was awesome.

 

 Rollins family

 

 Aren't they the cutest family?

 Proud dad and daughter

 I love this picture...he loves his girls.

 Marching out in the muck.

The place where we baptized her was just down a dirt road from the lodge.  So grandpa gave the grand kids a treat of riding in the back of the truck.  Growing up we did this all the time, but as we all know it is illegal now.  But man did they have fun for just that little bit.  Look at all those cute kids!!  And yes that is Gabe flashing his gang signs again in the background.

You Golf, I'll Hike

I have nothing against golf...I know that my hubby has this obsession with it and that is fine.  I mean I have my own loves but golf is just not in there.  I knew going to this reunion that my hubby would disappear for a good portion of the time with the men to go golfing.  They went almost everyday, until the last couple when Corey realized that his vacation was much better than mine was.  I love my kids, but it was so much work keeping them entertained by myself.  My little brother Beau was sweet and stayed with the women most of the time...of course so did my other brother Josh but that was because he had his gallbladder out just the week before and was not allowed to golf.  So Beau came up with the idea to go for a hike.  Now I had bought a baby backpack for this very purpose.  But guess what i forgot to bring....yep.  I didn't even bring a stroller because I assumed I would have my pack.  My sister had a nice umbrella stroller that she let me try out.  This trial was not a hard one, but was not stroller friendly.  I walked with the group for awhile until the trail got to rocky I thought Danni was going to have seizures.  My sister-in-law Sally and her little one Laila were also tuckered out.  Laila is only 2 and so her little legs were giving out on her.  So we went back early and drove back to the lodge.  Now I didn't want my kids not to have camera opportunities so I let Gabe take my nice expensive camera with him.  I was a little nervous, but when they came back it was still in tip top shape.  Plus I got some pretty hilarious close up's to share as a bonus.

 

 

 Ashlynn Thor's little girl.

 Avenley....Beau's girl.  I love this picture of her.

 Gabe I guess thought this cactus was interesting.

 Nice....

 Grandma being such a good sport.

 Oh yeah, did I mention that Hailey was whining as well.  She wanted to come back to the lodge too.

 This is Bailey Stacey's little girl.  She loves bugs and actually held this daddy long leg.  She kept bringing bugs to me all week and I am not a big fan of bugs.

 Danni in between turbulence.

 Logan and Paisley (Beau's other little girl)

Macy, Josh's girl.  She has such a quiet stillness to her that I just adore.  I smiled at her all weekend long.