Summer Highlights

We just got back from an extended Summer Vacation in America.  Nicole was a champ for taking care of the kids all Summer while shacked up in my parent's basement.  While we are thrilled to be back in our home and enjoying Thailand living again, we are already missing friends and family who bent over backwards to accommodate  our unruly brood for so long.

   Top 5 things we loved about being back in the US of A

1 - Infinite devestatingly unhealthy food options.  As a family we have ZERO self control when it comes to eating out.  $5 pizzas at Little Ceasers.  Seriously?  How can anyone turn that offer down.    When we weren't gorging ourselves on fast food, my mother/masterchef was whipping up 5 course meals and delicious breakfasts.  Our kids syrup intake jumped up about 700% this Summer.

2 - Open Spaces:  Parks.  Everyhwere.  And so accessible.  We got into a routine of picnics and park escapades during the day and fishing at the local pond in the evening.  Our kids lived outside.

3 - Family and Friends and every turn:  It was great to be able to reconnect with all of our friends and family.  As I mentioned above, everyone went out of their way to make sure we had a great time.

4 - 4th of July / Parades:  The local Parades were amazeballs.  Our kids got more candy during the parade then their accumulative Haloween hauls over the last several years.

     Subcategory:  Glow Sticks. Our kids were obsessed with these.  Why don't they have these in Bangkok?

5 -  Church:  As in, no callings, no responsibilities, just showing up and zoning out.  Beautiful.

  Some of our Summer Highlights were:

- Maggie's 6 year old Bday bash
Once again my sister took it upon herself to throw Magpie a birthday party and once again she out did herself in making sure Mags had a fantastic time.    Sidenote:  I can't believe Maggie is 6 years old.  I know every parent says the same thing at every bday.   She is such a little adult now and seems to have grown up overnight.

AJ caught sneaking the cake

- Family BEAR LAKE Adventure:

Camping in tents for three nights was probably not Nicole's favorite part of the trip, but our kids were in heaven.

My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Cousins


- Park City Wedding

Nicole's mom married Bob at the Lion House in SLC.  The wedding was beautiful.

Thanks for the hulu skirt grandma.

While awake, the girls fought tooth and nail over having a clear line down the middle of the bed.  They forget that they're mortal enemies while they sleep.

Do not be fooled by the innocent expressions.  If you look closely at Tuck's arm, there are scratches all over it from AJ.

Nicole and Lynds - pregger twins.

Nicole went on a quick girls trip to NYC with her BFF, Tasha. 

As fun as the summer was, we are happy to be back in Thailand, land of eternal summer and maids.  And the girls are back in school.  Hallelujah!