Thurs July 30th

Why is life so stressful? Nick feels like he is getting pounded over and over again. I'm not close to getting unpacked. How do people have lots of kids? I can't handle my three let alone adding Will into the mix. I hate moving. 

Ok there's my vent. Change your attitude Brooke you can have a good day. Change your attitude. Breath in the good breath out the bad. Breathe in the good breath out the bad.

These kids are so cute. Another DI adventure. The girls are having a blast with all the cheap toys.

 As stressful as everything is I couldn't resist taking a pic of that adorable face. Kids find the joy in life. Just look at that face!

Sat July 25th

The kids and I went to the pool this morning while we were waiting for the truck to get fixed. It was nice that the kids got a good break. Plus we probably would have had to sleep somewhere anyways. At least this way we got a free hotel night. 

Gorgeous view out the car window. Tons of cool rocks out here. There is beauty all around!! We made it to Sians house a little past my midnight.  I'm so glad we made it alive. Dad drove his car all the way. Mom and I traded off and Ammon and Cam traded off in the u-hau. 

Fri July 24th

We didn't get out of the hotel as early as we would have liked but we made it out on the road. UT here we come. 

A final Texas breakfast. I'm going to miss tx.  

The U-haul keeps breaking down. Come what may and love it,come what may and love it. While we were waiting for the mechanic to come Ella and I found a bush to go to the bathroom in. As I peed on the dirt I said "we're giving moisture back to the Earth" and Ella says "the Earth eats pee?! Gross!!" Haha. I'm glad Ella is getting a chance to pee outdoors at least. Haha. Come what may and love it. 

The mechanic came and couldn't figure out what's wrong with the truck. We're going to try and make it to Albuquerque tonight. 

The truck broke down another 3 times on the way to Albuquerque. The u-haul company is paying for a hotel room for us and then tomorrow they're sending someone to check out the truck. Come what may and love it. 

Fri July 31st

We slept at our house last night. Link slept with me half the night. I took that pic this morning. He just looked so cute sleeping next to me. He is definitely my most attached baby. He loves me more than any other thing on the world. Sometimes I don't appreciate his love for me like I should. I complain about holding him every minute of the day. But before I know it he'll be a kid. Then grown up. This morning I took a moment to savor my cute little boy and his love for me and my love for him. 

One room down...kind of. The moving in continues. I hate moving. I'm so glad my family is here to help or I might have a nervous breakdown. I hope I don't have to move again for a long time. 

Lisey fixing Auntie Sians hair. 

Ella and Will are such goofs. They have such good imaginations. They have so much fun together. Even with all the unpacking, we still had some fun.

Wed July 22nd

We made it back to Texas.  What a slow long trip. Now we just have to pack, clean and then drive 2 days straight to get to UT. Fun fun fun. 

We went To Freebirds for dinner and when and I went in to use the bathroom. There was a painting of a boy on the wall and Ella says "looks like someone wants us to start dating". I laughed so hard. My little humorous girl. 

Packing didn't go as good as I hoped. Tomorrow will be rough. Cleaning and packing the u-haul and fixing the holes in the walls. Yikes. 

Mon July 20th

We went to a play first. A cute play for kids called Just Plain Anna Amanda. It was about how special you are being you. 

The kids met the preforming missionaries after the show. 

Then we went for a carage ride and heard the stories of Nauvoo. 

The kids loved playing at the pioneer pastimes. 

Lisey has been entertained the last 20 mins just dumping water and dirt into a bucket. We need to get her a set up like that in our new backyard. 

The girls had so much fun dressing up like pioneers and working in the little house and school. 

Link had a little snooze in Giga's arms. 

I couldn't resist making him into a little pioneer boy. So cute!

Who am I kidding? We all had a fun time at pioneer pastimes. Cameron made walking on stilts look easy but it was actually really hard. I finally got the hang of it after many many tries and by moving my hands lower. Fun times. 

We of course got the famous Nauvoo fudge. The girls wanted those chocolate covered marshmallows. They were much prettier than they tasted. We had lunch at a little cafe then went to another musical preformance. Link made it through the whole thing which was a miracle. He was restless for awhile and just traded off climbing between Ammon and I. But he made it (after a short snooze).  Then we took a walk around the temple. 

A nice lady took a pic of all of us in front of the temple. 

Thurs July 16th

Anne did my hair in a fancy braid this morning. Today we are going to see the sights. Abe Lincoln's house and then Lincoln's tomb. 

The Stephensons in front of Lincoln's house. 

Ammon, Cam, Anne, Lincoln and me in front of Abe Lincoln's house. 

After the tour of Lincoln's house there was an Abe Lincoln actor outside in the back yard. He was the actor that played Lincoln in the movie they show in the visitors center. He did a really good job staying in character and it was fun talking to him because you got a feel of what Abe Lincoln was really like. Abe Lincoln had a good sense of humor. When we told him that we named our son after him he said "Oh I'm sorry". Humble and humorous like the real Lincoln. 

Link holding a pic of his name sake. 

Link by Abe. 

After Lincoln's house we went to Lincoln's tomb. Our Lincoln was asleep in the car so Nick and I took his spot in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln. 

Lincoln's resting place. There was a very reverent feeling inside the tomb. 

Nick wanted a pic by this cool Lincoln quote. Who can argue that religion is what our country is based on. Just because we have a separation of church and state doesn't mean that there should be no church in the state. What is the world coming to?

"I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God" --Abraham Lincoln 

Thr top of Lincoln's tomb. 

Fri July 17th

It's so great having the family here! 

 

Family run!!! The girls are having the best time with their uncles and aunt :) 

Ella is such a great sister. She was so tired but she volunteered to put her even more tired sister on her back. Way to be Christ like Ella :) 

Ammon and lisey enjoying some time together in the tree. I love that picture of them looking at each other. It's so nice to see Ammon. It's been so so long!

Cam and Ella also had a blast up in the trees :) 

Then in the afternoon we went to Scheels. The girls all rode the Ferris wheel while the boys looked at guns and such. 

Lisey and I rode together 

And Anne and Ella rode together. 

Then we went to steak and shake and Anne got guacamole all over. Good times with the family.