Brandon's 17!!!

Brandon wanted to go tanking for his birthday and so we loaded up the troops and headed for the river. We decided to go on a 5 hour tanking trip and so we got there at noon and loaded ourselves and our cooler of pop and snacks into a blue tank and floated down the river. The kids had a blast and especially loved sinking in the stinky mud...gross. (see picture above) Brandon turned 17 the next day and we celebrated by going to Wendy's with friends after church and then he enjoyed the kick off to Aftershock (Youth group) that night. I can't believe that our oldest son just turned 17 where does the time go???

Family Zoo Trip

We decided to take a trip to the zoo with the whole family on Sunday. The zoo was very busy but we were able to visit some of the things we hadn't seen last time. The kids all loved feeding the birds in the Budgy exhibit and spent quite a bit of time doing that. Chelsey's favorite is the petting zoo and we didn't get there last time until it was closed so she loved doing that this time. We also went to an Imax show about Tornados. Everyone had a fun day!!!

1st day of School

Chelsey, 1st grade

Brittney, 5th grade

Courtney, 8th grade
Dylan, Sophomore

Brandon, Junior

Chelsey with her best friend, Kendall

Chelsey with her teacher

Brittney with her teacher

The kids started school today and the only one excited to go was Chelsey. She was so excited to start 1st grade and to show all her friends her new haircut, she wasn't sure that they would recognize her. Brittney started 5th grade, last year of grade school, Courtney started 8th grade and last day of Middle school. The boys are both in high school, Sophomore and Junior.

New Haircut

Before

Cutting off 10 inches

After with 10 inches of hair
Chelsey has been begging me to cut her hair for the first day of school. So, last night (with a backup in mind....although she didn't know she was) I decided to cut Chelsey's hair. She had 10 inches cut off which she is going to donate to locks of love. She was so excited and I don't think that she will miss the long hair. It was kind of sad for me, her hair will not fit in a pony tail anymore....for awhile...

Trip to the Zoo

Chelsey after collecting the eggs after the zoo

We made the first trip to the zoo this year. The boys had to work so it was just the girls. They were able to "pet" a penguin after a show and we went to a 3-D show at the Imax. We all had a fun time, next time we will bring the boys!! We are also getting a lot of eggs now, about 6-7 per day, all the kids love going out to collect them each day.

North Dakota

Pitchfork Fondue

Dad & Mom

Don & Angie

The musical

The kids with their rock candy

We went up to North Dakota to visit Grandpa & Grandma. This year they wanted to take us to the medora. We looked at the badlands on the way up, first picture. (not sure where my dad was) We checked into the campground and the other two rooms and went up to the musical. We enjoyed the pitchfork fondue first, where they grill steaks on a pitchfork and have a buffet also. Then we went to the musical that night. We camped in the camper and in a couple of cabins for the night. The kids thought that was great. I think everyone had a fun time there and at Grandpa & Grandma's farm.

The last days of vacation 2011

Chelsey & Courtney ready to leave the ship

Chelsey lost her 1st tooth on the last night of the cruise

Tracy & Larry with our waiter, Ryan
the girls with their hair braided

Chelsey checking out the flight schedule

Our last full day was spent on the cruise ship all day crusing back to Florida. We swam, went down waters slides, ate our last buffet meal and last sit down meal. It was a fun last day. We got off the ship and went back to the same hotel in Florida and spent one last night there and then flew out the next day for home. Everybody had a great time on the cruise and can't wait for the next one???!!!