Suprise!

I know what you are thinking. Either Traci has fallen off the face of the earth or she has quit blogging. Well I am still here and no I haven't quit blogging. I have been working afternoons where Maddi goes to preschool. Even though it is a part time job I don't have a lot of extra time. I thought Maddi going to preschool would give me more time to goof around but I am busier than ever!

Over the kids' fall break this year we had some suprise visitors. Grandad, Mary Lew, Aunt Tammi and Allison. Well James I and knew they were coming but the kids had no idea. The night they got in they had us meet them at Cracker Barrel for dinner. When we pulled in the parking lot I saw right away Aunt Tam taking a picture (one of very many while she was here! HA!) and they quick ran inside so the kids wouldn't see them. They were browsing around when we walked in and it took a minute for the kids to realize it. Laura with her sharp eye saw Aunt Tam and Ally first! All the kids were so happy!

The next morning Laura, James, and Kenni had a half day of school. While they were at school James and I took Ally and Maddi with to run some errands. One errand was to go pick up James' check. The girls got to go inside and eat doughnuts and also while we were there they got to sit on a loader that was in the yard.

Saturday we had a family get together. Since our house is on the small side Greg and Laurel were so kind to let us have the get together at their house. I forgot my camera but I'm sure by now you all know the normal pictures of Greg and Laurel's, horses, chickens, hay...
After we got home from chruch Sunday the kids showed Grandad the Wii. I think I'm pretty safe to say that in the near future Grandad will be purchasing one himself! He fell in love with bowling AKA arm chair bowling! HA! The kids showed him boxing and some of the other sports too but bowling was his favorite.

Monday Grandad, Aunt Tam, and Mary Lew went to visit Aunt Bobbeye, Uncle Boyd, Uncle Charles, and Jaine. Aunt Bobbeye has fallen recently and Jaine was in the hospital also so James and I stayed home with the kids. I braided the girls' hair, they played Barbies, and they also made rice crispy treats.
Tuesday Grandad took the boys to the barber. I always cut their hair so Grandad thought it would be a nice treat for them to get a different haircut. I only know how to cut it one way! They boys decided to get flat tops. When they got home we headed to Wal-mart. Grandad and Aunt Tam wanted to take James shopping for his birthday since it is just around the corner. He got an "adult" fishing pole and some bait and stuff for his tackle box. After Wal-mart we went and saw Dolphin Tale at the movie theater, then we went to Target and Albertsons. On the way to Albertson's we passed by Eegee's, which is a sub shop and they have amazing italian ice type slushy made with real fruit. I decided to make a last minute stop there to pick up some eegee's. Grandad now affectionatly calls it Eggee's .

Wednesday we got up early for a family day of fishing up in Mt. Lemmon. Aunt Tam and Mary Lew stayed home and unfortunately Laura wanted to stay with them. So the Ladies went out to lunch and shopping and the rest of us headed up the mountain. It was beautiful and Grandad loved the scenery. Ally had never been fishing so that was an experience for her too. She did great! After a while she just ended up collecting snails and just had a blast! Little Man was the only one who caught a fish for the day but Ally still got to see it and touch it. She wasn't scared one bit!

After our fun filled fishing trip, we came home and just hung out at the house. They were going back home the next morning and their flight left super early. So we took some pictures, played chicken foot, had a family bowling tournament on the Wii (which Grandad won) and the kids slept out in the living room one last time.

I do have to say I am glad there are not 10 people in our family every day but it was a great visit and one the kids will always have great memories of!