FAMLY!!!

Yay for family! We had an adventure a couple weeks ago. First we drove to Corvalis, OR. We met my mom and dad, Nette and her kids there as well. In the end we had 8 kids, 5 and under, and 5 adults.First, Carrie took us to the coast and we got to see some tide pools, and then play on an awesome sandy beach. Unfortunately I forgot my camera and I am to lazy to figure our how to transfer the pics to my blog. But we had lots of fun times. The next morning we woke up and drove to Portland and went to the zoo. The kids loved it and it was a great zoo. There were lots of very interesting animals and it was so large that we did not make it through all of it because we were all too tired. But we did have enough in us to go to VooDoo Donuts. It was a very interesting place for sure, very creative but the donuts did not taste that great. Then the next day we rode on a tram that heads across part of Portland. It takes you to a hospital and is not really a tourist attraction but it was a lot of fun. And the kids love to ride on anything in the air so it was a success. We then headed out to Seattle. We got here late and where we wanted to eat could not seat us so we ended up at the mall to eat at the food court. Sadly, and oddly it was my first time in the mall. I barely feel like a woman not going to the mall and having been here for so long. Anyways, it worked out because they had a great kids area with small tables for the children and a big one for the adults.

 Here are the moms with grandpa in the background. The kids on the right are building a tower out of their milks and plates which was pretty creative. Clayton and Cody seem to have fun no matter what they are doing or where they are.

 Ryan has become one of Macey's favorites when we are together. In this picture she had just told Ryan that she was cold. Ryan asked if she wanted a jacket Macey's reply "No, I just need to snuggle for a little bit."

 Here is Grandma with Brigham, he is at the age where everything and anything goes in his mouth. It is so funny to watch, and he always has these big eyes taking everything in. I loved watching him he is sooo adorable.

 Here we are waiting for the water taxi. There were huge star fish on the posts and jelly fish for us to watch while we waited. It was lots of fun.

 Here we are at the Aquarium. These are the giant sea annenamies that they have for you to touch.

 Picture with most of the cousins. It was pretty funny because everyone kept asking us if we were a day care.

 This is one the benches in the large aquarium under the Seattle ocean. Grandpa with his two buddies.

 The kids are watching some fish that are in the ceiling swimming around.

 Sitting on the otter bench, here is a picture with all the cousins. We almost got all of them to look at the same time.

 The gum wall. I have seen this before but have not had any gum. We just so happened to have some from the Space Needle they were handing it out. Before this we did go to the Space Needle, and for some reason I did not get any pictures. It doesn't make sense to me but you do what you can.

 We then went with everyone to the Crabpot. This is Nette, Benson, and Vanessa.

 This one is for you Carrie. She was making funny faces in every picture so I thought since she put in the effort I would include one of them. And MacKayla chowin down.

 Here is Grandma, Grandpa, and my Uncle Dexter and Aunt Charlotte.

Clayton and Cody, we were at this resteraunt for over an hour and they were in their own world the whole time. It was pretty cute. Clayton really has missed him.

 Here is a great picture of Seattle, from the water taxi heading back to our cars.

 Later that night we got ice cream treats and headed to Grandma and Granpas room. Since it was the last night we decided to stay up late and hang out for a bit. The kids had a great time wrestling on the beds and running around.

 Brody giving hugs and kisses bye bye to grandpa.

 And Grandma gets hers too. He not really getting into it because he did not want to go. Its one of those things that they just don't understand fully. He is much better at random hugs and kisses, just cause he wants to. Which they got a lot of because he really did miss them.

Thanks family for the great times. We really had a fun time getting to see every one. It was the first time that we have seen Carrie in over a year. None of us had ever met MacKayla, and she is soo big now. It was a great time and THANK YOU mom and dad for all the great times that we were able to have because of you!!!  WE LOVE YOU!  That was almost two weeks ago now and Clayton still includes you in his prayers to get home safely.