Grizzly Jacks

We love going to indoor water parks in the winter time. This year we decided to visit Grizzly Jacks. We had a lot of fun playing in the water, riding the waves, floating in the lazy river and going down slides. Clark was a superstar this year with his swimming skills. He's doing so well in swim lessons. We love it! Kent is still a little apprehensive with water, but he does love to play in it. He just knows his boundaries which I don't mind at all.

Kent's favorite thing was probably the lazy river with dad.

Clark just loved swimming around in the big pool. Both boys love splashing...especially if they are splashing dad!

We were all really surprised when Clark took on the wave pool without his vest and without any help. He just jumped when they came and loved doing it.

Grizzly Jacks has an amusement park too. There were rides for the little kids: Kent, Clara and Zachery.

And some laser tag for the big kids: Clark, Isaiah, Cameron, Jason, Alvina and Josh.

1 Night Camp

We took the boys camping last weekend - just Friday night. Now if there is anything I hate, it is one night camping. There is so much work and preparation for one silly night. I like to set up camp and use it for a few days. My mom and dad came with us which was a huge surprise for my dad. I guess my mom hasn't slept in a tent since 1982. We didn't go far just over to Blackwell. After a rough start and some poor planning, things finally settled down and we were able to enjoy ourselves.

Clark - always the ham.

Boompa splits wood while Gigi tends to the fire with her battery powered fan. It worked pretty well in the wet morning fire pit.

We had our signature camping breakfast. We have yet to come up with a good name for it. We just call it our Breakfast Skillet. It's a package of hashbrowns, a package of sausage, some eggs and some cheese. Cook it all up and serve. It's pretty good. My dad made his with a southwest flair by adding some salsa.

Kent was so excited that he got to drink soda for breakfast.

Farmer's Market

It was so nice last week. I didn't even mind the 90 degree temps since there was practically no humidity. Thursday night, My mom suggested going to the village's Farmer's Market. We are so glad we did. Look at those happy faces!

This face would be really happy too, but it's too busy enjoying the sausage.

Fresh cherries

This was one of those moments that just made me so happy. Like really, really happy.

Cherry-licious!

Have a little fun rolling around the water feature. That is until the fun (i.e. mall) police came.

Finish off the night listening to some great Beatles music from the cover band That Cavern Beat.

Twist and Shout...Gigi and Kent cut a rug.

Clark was really embarrassed at first to dance. I let him know that the song was almost over, and then he got up and twisted the night away for at least 20 seconds. But look at that joy! What a FUN night. 

It's a Bird! Nope...it's a plane.

My dad wanted to celebrate his birthday at the village's Cavalvade of Planes this year. The boys thought it was a great idea! I did too and even missed out on a shopping opportunity because I wanted to see them see the planes.

They were able to sit in the cockpit of a few planes. How cool is that?

Josh and Clark as pilots...yikes!

We were able to stand next to the runway and watch the planes land. It was really cool. The blue plane, a TBMAvenger landed and then pulled its wings into the sides of the airplane. Awesome. We also had a good time finding the faces of the planes. Some even had whiskers.

Kent was absolutely in awe of the planes and notices them everywhere now. He likes anything that Boompa likes.

There were some military planes and helicopters there too. The boys had a great time looking at all the bullets and guns. I didn't know why we looked at them for so long. They also had simulators set up for plane hobbyists. My dad and brother just bought RC planes, so they were excited to use the simulators and talk to the pros.

Happy Birthday Boompa...hope this year is just plane wonderful!

Nauvoo

It really is a beautiful place.

We spent last weekend in Nauvoo and had a great time. We were even able to do a session at the temple. It's been almost 8 years since I've been to Nauvoo. I used to go every year. The church has really stepped up their tours since I last visited. Most of the buildings are air conditioned now. I guess that was the big improvement, but on a hot day, it is a BIG improvement! Now I don't feel so bad for the missionaries all decked out in their pioneer gear.

Our first tour was of the Wilford Woodruff home. Jason and his family are all descendants of Wilford Woodruff, so they always stop there. The glasses in the picture are Wilford Woodruff's actual glasses the case has a W.W. imprinted in it. The quilt on the bed that they boys are standing next to was actually made by Phebe Woodruff. It's held up pretty well, and she was pretty talented.

It was fun to show Clark where his Great (x5) Grandfather lived. He just thought the toilets were funny. The boys each signed the "descendants of Wilford Woodruff" book too. How cool is that?

We stopped at the Visitor's Center too. I love the movies they show. We were only able to catch the Remembering Nauvoo one, but it's still a good one. Kent's favorite part was the Christus. I'd like to think that it is because he is so spiritual at (almost) 2 years old. But really he just loved jumping off of the little ledge around it.

I know Nauvoo (or Baaaa Booo as Kent calls it with lips puckered WAY out) has always had a wagon ride, but they have now added an oxen wagon ride and a carriage ride that takes you to the temple quarry and everything. That's all new. They have a few new buildings as well. At least I don't remember them being there. Like the Lyon Drug and Variety Store. I really liked that one. Maybe because they "sold" fabric.

Can you feel the heat in this picture? Ick. It was hot.

I really loved taking the boys to the temple. Clark has seen pictures of the temple before and knew about the sun stone, but didn't know that the sun stone was on the temple. We pulled up and he was delighted to have made a discovery! Then we had to show him the moon stones and the stars. Cousins left to right Cameron, Clark, Clara, Zachery, and Kent.

Here is everyone except for Gram at the  temple. I always hate the I-have-to-run-really-fast-and-look-normal-pose-because-I-just-pressed-the-timer-button look that I have in photos. Must remember to bring out my remote more though I don't think it would have worked from as far as the camera was.
(left to right: Mary, Jason, Wendy, Kent, Zachery, Brandon, Melissa, Cam, Clark, Clara, Stephanie, and Cameron)

Grandma and Grandpa with the grands.

Clara showing off her Emma Smith bonnet from Grandma.

I really love this temple. It's so beautiful. Our forever family began here, and I'm so glad it did. It makes me so happy to know that I will be with these guys forever.

Kent's very excited about being at the temple too!

Our last stop was to Carthage Jail. It is here where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred. Jason and the boys are sitting in the window that Joseph Smith fell out of after he was shot. Carthage Jail has such a strong spirit. I always enjoy visiting there too. I'm so grateful for Joseph Smith and the sacrifices he made for the Lord, the Lord's church and me. I've been so blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It was such a long (as in exhausting) weekend, but definitely worth it. We won't wait 8 years before we go again.

Don't Rush Me, I'm Canoeing

Look at this good looking group of boys. They had such a great time last month when we decided to go on an impromptu canoe trip and picnic. They had a ton of fun going on "adventures" and throwing as many rocks as they could imagine.

I felt really old when Josh was "sharpening his stick" with a rock and told me, "This is how they did it in the 80s." Really? Maybe he meant 1880s? I mean now they have an app for sharpening your stick, right?

Jason totally in his element in a canoe. I don't think he is happier than when he is paddling. And I know I'm much happier when I don't have to paddle. I mean I have photos to take...who could expect me to paddle too? Clark LOVED being in the canoe. He hung over the side playing with the water the whole time. I see many long weeks of the boys on canoe trips and me all alone at home. Poor me, hehe! Oh what could I do with that free time?

Somehow Jake also got stuck paddling on his own! He didn't seem to mind at all though. The older boys had a lot of fun, but it was Zachery that was cracking me up! He just sat in front of his dad giggling the whole time. Such a cutie!

The Shore Crew...mostly because she'll hate it....oops!

Cinnamon Swirl Bread and Water Parks

I am branching out and taking risks with my MAD bread making skills! We had planned an overnighter at an indoor water park hotel and I thought this Cinnamon Swirl Bread would be perfect for a late night or early morning snack. 

I WAS RIGHT!!!

It's absolutely delicious!

I used this recipe from The Idea Room, but I had to tweak it a little since I didn't have rapid rise yeast.

Here are my revisions (based on some super advice from a bread guru)...

I decreased the milk to 1 1/4 cups.
Then I dissolved 3 tsp. of active dry yeast in 1/4 cup warm water

She said that you want to use the same amount of liquid, but you'd need water to dissolve the yeast. Very smart.

(P.S. I didn't heat the milk on the stove top either. I just warmed it in the micro at 45 second intervals until I thought it felt right)

You may have to adjust the rise times a little, but I didn't really. It came out beautifully except that it sort of looks like the elephant man version of cinnamon swirl bread. It was ginormous! Next time I'd like to try to use longer pan from IKEA that The Idea Room mentions.

Here's a little snapshot of the Water Park Weekend too...

A little bit of sunshine on the COLDEST day of the year so far!