{Forever Family}

We were able to sneak in a quick session with Brad for our family pictures. They turned out great!

Just FYI Taryn's skinny knee was killing my back!

Great Parents

Captain and Natti

Sisters... I love these girls so so so so much!!

All the kids

Kaylee Bug

Taryn Bop

Brookie Boo

Have you ever seen more beautiful girls? Me either.

Ms. Alyvia

Mr. Jonas

Our little family

The whole gang

[Utah}

After our return from Ohio we headed to Utah to see Samantha get baptized, Callie get blessed (where I took NO pictures :(), and spend time with family. We had a great time! We took the kids to the Box Elder County Fair...my FAVORITE end of summer memory from my childhood.

My sisters all had lambs and although we missed them showing, we got to see them sell. They did perfectly :)

Brook was too fast for me and I didn't get a good picture of her :(

Ms. Taryn...the professional

Ms. Kaylee...her las year.

Jonas liked all the dirt in the sale barn. Such a boy!

Then we headed to Hogle Zoo with Grandma Misrasi one day. I hadn't been there in years. I don't think it had changed much. Jonas REALLY liked the gorillas :)

classic Jonas face

Again.

Grandma and Jonas playing in the water.

Everyone was all smiles on the train!

After our trip to the Zoo we stopped at Smith and Edwards. Jonas crawled in this Igloo Dog house. He thought it was pretty fun in there.

Then we were off to Provo for the festivities.

We stayed with Devin's brother and his family. We all slept in the same room. Jonas enjoyed sleeping right next to dad.

We visited with Kaylee at her apartment.

And Jonas loved Maddison's chair.

Aury and "Aunt Mitti" as she calls me.

All the kids (grown-ups too) had a great time playing in the backyard.

{Ohio and the Tranchells}

After we left the Stewarts we headed to Akron to see Nate, Tiff, and their family. It was loads of fun. We hiked, crafted, went to a water park, celebrated Porter's first birthday, saw the coolest Amish country, crafted some more, the boys made book shelves, the kids played, we ate like royalty, and had lots and lots of fun at Lake Erie one day. We love going to see Nate and Tiff!

Lake Erie...looking towards Canada.

Jonas LOVES water and the lake was heaven for him. The beach was great and the water didn't get deep for a long way out so he could walk forever. He fell asleep instantly in the car.

Sassy little Sohpie :) Funniest kid ever.

Cute little Porter

Amish Country

these two pictures would be awesome if I wasn't such a crappy photographer.

We drove behind these fellas A LOT and they go VERY slow up hills.

Jonas looks a little nervous, but he really liked swinging with Dad.

Hiking. The last day we hiked down to a water fall that had pools of water to play in. So fun!

Thanks for letting us come and crash Nate's week off. We had a blast as usual and look forward to next time!

{Ohio and the Stewarts}

In mid August we traveled to Ohio to catch up with some friends. Our first stop was the Stewarts. Its been a long few months with them gone. I have missed having someone to listen to the monitor while a run a quick errand, someone to complain to when the kids are driving me....you know, and someone to play games and give our leftovers to. It was SOOOOO good to see them and even though we didn't stay long enough, we had a blast. They have a fun BIG house for the kids to play (complete with the biggest and best basement ever).

Jonas got really worn out during all of our travels. He crashed on the couch one day.

Jonas REALLLLLLY wanted to swing in the neighbors (two houses down) swings. Devin let him go thinking he wouldn't go all the way over there. He was wrong. Jonas made it all the way over there...and cried when Devin went to get him.

We visited the Air Force Museum while we were there. Coolest Air Force Museum.....and HUGE!! Don't you think Aleese has the coolest stroller ever? EVERYONE stops to comment on it. Its like we're a circus act.

We pretty much threw all the kids on one bath every night. It was MUCH easier that way. They loved it. One night they got to "Swim" in the jet tub. They had a blast.

All 5 kiddos. Cute as ever.

Barrick really missed JoJo. Jonas talked about him for days before we went.

I had to include this picture. Jonas gets so nervous on Devin's shoulders...and Devin being having the patience he does, keeps trying to get J used to it. Clearly this didn't end well. Devin's face STILL cracks me up.

{Sandusky}

Yep. Still catching up. Wondering if its worth it. Anyways....The next stop on our trip was Kirtland....but I got strep throat while we were there...so I didn't take any pictures. I was busy filling my prescription and trying to focus on living. I do love Kirtland, however, and really like the visitors center. My parents and sisters (most of them) enjoyed it. We even met Thurl Bailey's in-laws. (They are serving a mission in OH and were at the Kirtland Visitors Center that day) That was pretty exciting. After Kirtland we continued West towards Sandusky, OH. We were headed to Cedar Point...Kaylee's actual choice for her senior trip.

We stayed at the Castaway Bay Resort which has a large indoor water park. Very fun. Jonas loved it...and I think the rest of us did too. (Except for the ones who couldn't part with their cell-phones for very long.)

The kiddie wading area was pretty big and lots of fun. Jonas got bored of it quickly. He wanted bigger and better. As soon as Devin came...they headed off to do all the fun, exciting stuff.

Like this Giant Splash Zone. It had slides and a huge bucket of water that dumped on your head. A kids dream.

Kaylee helped J take a ride on this floating turtle. He liked it although you can't tell from the picture.

Kaylee also took J to meet Snoopy. He was a little unsure.

The next day we headed to Cedar Point. Bright and Early. Kaylee AKA the ride nazi, was determined to ride all the cool rides. It worked and she rode all the ones she wanted to. I think. I never dared ask her :)

Ms. Alyvia pretty much just rode in her stroller all day. She was pretty happy with that though.

She also got to ride on Dad's shoulders--a first for her.

Jonas rode LOTS and LOTS of rides...and loved most of them. These little race cars give you a good swing/jerk on the corners. He loved them and rode them a couple of times.

One of his favorites was this bus. It just went up and down in the air...but he loved it.

The frog hopper was not a winner in his book. I think he would have liked it....but he didn't like the ride before (The boats) so he wasn't really sure about going on anymore rides. He didn't cry though, just covered his eyes like in the picture the whole time.

Taryn (and Kaylee and Brookie and Dad) rode the roller coaster with him. Pretty sure it was his favorite. He rode it again and again.

He also liked the helicopters. I was nervous sending him to ride by himself, but everyone else's legs were toooooo long to ride in the back.

With Dad on the roller coaster. This is his cheese face. It always looks so painful.

All in all, Cedar Point was so much fun. It was our first time taking Jonas to an amusement park and he loved the rides. I had more fun watching him than anything else. Devin and I rode very little, but had the best time watching Jonas enjoy himself. The girls were brave and rode lots of the big (and scary) rides. Among them was a roller coaster that is 17 seconds from start to finish. Pretty fast ride!! They drug my Dad on that one too :) It was a fun place....I would definitely take the kids back when they are older!