Greer

While Travis and Stephanie were down from New York we went as a family to a cabin in Greer to get out of the heat and to have a little family reunion. It was so nice up there and so beautiful. We did crafts, had scavenger hunts, visited, read, played games, went on hikes/walks, played on the roller coaster as the kids called it, ate, and much much more.

Here the grandkids are decorating their bags Grandma made for them to carry their stuff in they would get throughout the week.

There is Sawyer's masterpiece.

Abby was sleeping while this was going on so I made hers later with her. Well, mostly I did it.

This is what Matthew was doing while the bags were being made so again I made his later with help from Sawyer.

I think Stephanie was trying to keep Collin entertained so she could make dinner so she put on Curious George for him on his portable DVD player. Soon the others joined in, it was too cute.

Collin was so cute he would smile and laugh at the movie plus I think he loved having all those cousins around him. He thought he was in heaven.

Abby enjoying the weather, while coloring outside. See there are times she can be calm.

Here are the kids on their scavenger hunt. The girls took turns reading the clues while everyone took turns finding the clues.

Here they just got the clue out of Uncle Travis's back pocket. What a silly place to hide it Grandma!

After they found the box of stuff Grandma would give them a little lesson about Christ and would have a fun treat/toy that went along with her lesson.

I think this was the lesson that Christ is the Light, and they got glow sticks, or something to that effect.

One afternoon we went fishing but we didn't catch anything. Sawyer did feel a tug but no bite.

Brendon would cast the line and then hand the pole over to Sawyer.

He would then sit and wait and slowly reel it back in.

I was trying to keep Abby busy since she wasn't fishing so we went over to the small waterfall and we were throwing things in the water and watching it go down the fall. This is a picture from where we were.

The girls on our way back from our exciting fishing expedition. Don't the girls look so thrilled.

Brendon trying to get a picture of the girls because I asked him to. I wanted action pictures and he got posed ones. This is the before picture...

... this is the after picture. I think he told them to smile and be nice. It is a cute picture though.

Sawyer and Ruth.

Matty, what a cute little dude. We actually got a nice picture of him smiling.

The men and the kids went out for some evening fishing, again no luck though.

Sawyer and her dad fishing again.

Eagar Fun!

When Brendon came home he left Sawyer up in Eagar with Grandma Neus. They had a lot of fun and did a lot of fun things. She was able to play with her friend Erica everyday. They went to the park, to the lake, watched movies, did crafts with Grandma Neus, and much much more. Sawyer got to go into Show Low with Grandma and even got to eat out a few times, lucky her. One weekend Grandma Neus came down to the valley to have a birthday dinner with her mom so Sawyer got to spend the weekend with Grandpa. He took her to see The Prince of Persia and out to eat! She says she missed me but she only called once to tell me it was raining and to rub it in. I don't think she missed me that much.

While we were home without her we had a good time going to Grandma Evans' and playing at home. Abby was in 7th heaven. She slept in Sawyer's bed and got to play with her animals. She thought it was so great. It was actually nice not having the two girls fighting. Abby was very pleasant and a great help. Everytime I asked her to pick up things she would. One day she even came in and said I cleaned my room mom. It was so nice, but I missed Sawyer.

On the 14th of July I drove up with Matthew and Abby to go spend sometime in the cool weather. It has been great! The weather has been wonderful, and the kids love to go to the neighbors and to the park. They keep busy and out of my hair. Monday through Friday the school does breakfast and lunch at the park so most days the girls go over there and eat. We have relaxed, and had a great time. We were sad, though, because Grandma Neus had to go down to Mesa unexpectedly because we found out Uncle Brian, her son, has colon cancer. I am glad she went to be with him but we sure do miss her here.

These are the projects/crafts that Sawyer did with Grandma Neus while here by herself. Sawyer made her projects, and Grandma did ones for Abby, the A and the birdhouse. Sawyer also painted and decorated a treasure box, and on a rainy day they made salt dough, which is the snake by the S.

The first Saturday I was up here there was a health and wealth fair at the park. I wasn't feeling good so I didn't go over there to check it out. Next thing I know the girls come back with all this free stuff. Backpacks, bags, books, pencils, crayons, rulers, stickers, coupons, tattoos, balloons, notepads, bookmarks, posters, magnents, stencils, buckets, and all sorts of stuff. SCORE!This is all of Sawyer's stuff!
This is all of Abby's stuff!
This is the next project the girls did with Grandma Neus. We were present for this fun craft. I forgot to take pictures of the process because I was busy making Abby's flip-flops. Abby's are the green ones. I went a little crazy with the material strips, oh well!
The next project I headed up because we didn't do them before Grandma Neus left for Mesa. Let me tell you the prep work was a little more involved than I thought but the end result was nice. Here is Sawyer working on tying her blanket.
Again I did Abby's for her so here she is reaping the benefits of my work, while Sawyer finishes her blanket up.

Here is the finished product of Abby's blanket and flip-flops.

And here is Sawyer's finished projects that were done while I was here.

The 4th of July!

This year for the Fourth of July Brendon went up to Eagar with all of the children. I needed to stay because was the only one that would be at primary. Plus, I wanted a weekend all to myself. Let me tell you it was so weird being alone, it was the first time ever without my children for an extended period of time. I had to work Friday and just went out with my sister for dinner. Then on Saturday morning I went to see Eclipse with my mom and sisters. Afterwards we went to lunch. That evening we swam and had a BBQ at my mom's. That night we watched fireworks up on her roof. Sunday, I had church and then we had break the fast with the whole Evans family. Monday I went to the movies with a friend of mine and then I went to my mom's for dinner. That was my Fourth of July weekend. It actually was quite nice to have a weekend to myself but I definately missed my family.

Brendon took of late afternoon Friday with the kids and his sister to head up to Eagar. They got there that evening. On a side note on the way there Matthew cried most of the way. Also, right outside of Eagar Abby thought it would be neat to stick her finger down her throat. Well, needless to say she gagged and threw up. Lucky Brendon! Saturday morning they went to the pancake breakfast at the park. Later they went to watch the parade.

Abby and one of her classic faces, boy do I love this girl.

Sawyer and Erica waiting for the parade to start with their wagon full of water and candy to sell. Sawyer made about $6 while up in Eagar at the parade and another day she went to the park and sold water. Sawyer waiting for the parade, doesn't she looked thrilled. What a cute boy! Happy 4th of July! The group waiting for the parade to start. Dad and Matthew watching the parade, with Grandma in the background.

Abby watching the parade. Yes, a piece of candy! He, he I got a piece of candy! Sawyer and Erica watching the parade. Every year this ward has a really neat float. Last year they did the Statue of Liberty and she went up and down. This year they had Abraham Lincoln, he sat in his chair and... ...then he would stand up.
Later that night they went to watch the fireworks at the Eagar Airport. Abby and Grandma Neus waiting for the fireworks to begin.

Only a face a mother could love (both of them). Brendon thought this picture was so funny. He said Matthew looks like he's dead. Thus I decided to put it in since Brendon liked it so much.

Aunt Katie and Matthew watching the fireworks.A picture of the fireworks.

The girls watching the fireworks from the car.

Sunday evening they built a fire and roasted marshmallows. The girls have wanted to do this the past couple of times that we visited Grandma Neus. Starting to cook our mellows.

Almost done cooking my marshmallow.

Just perfect, now it's time to eat it. So, good!

The group eating their marshmallows. I got marshmallow all over my face! Mm, I love marshmallows!

I almost forgot a most important part of the weekend. Brendon had the car all packed and ready to go. He just needed to feed Matthew and then he'd be on his way. He told the girls they could go play at the park. As they started running they got tangled in one another and Abby tripped over her feet and her head landed straight on the ground in the rock driveway. Head wounds bleed a lot and so it looked really bad. Brendon's mom got her in the car and said lets go to the ER. They cleaned it out but it didn't need stitches, so needless to say they left about 4 hours later then planned. They didn't get a picture right after it happened. This is a few hours later when they stopped to eat, notice her full mouth. Grandpa Neus took a picture with his phone and sent it to me. That is why the quality is not the best.

Summer Fun!

This summer we have been having a fun time. The girls have had sleep overs at Grandma's, pool day's with the cousins, going to the zoo, summer reading program, swim lessons, vacations, and much much more. I am sad that I wasn't able to get a picture of the girls at lessons, but my camera pooped out. By the time we found a new one, and ordered it, lessons were over before we got it. The girls have had fun, but boy I think I'm almost ready for school to start. I found out why mother's need school to start, I wasn't tired of them being of school and home all the time; I was tired of them fighting and teasing each other. We need school to keep those two away from each other. When they don't see each other all day everyday they are more pleasant to one another. Later I will post about some of our vacations.