We went to the Stampede. It was really fun, but extremely expensive. We road the LRT (train) downtown to the grounds. We had Corn Dogs for dinner... 5 dollar Corn dogs! Geesh. The kids went on a few rides and they had a blast. They also got to "milk a cow".
Petting a pony. While we were in the stables, there was a mad cow going a little crazy. So we hurried ourselves out of there!
On the actual 4th of July, there were fireworks at the ball park... Melaluca field. The Hydes of course are right across the street from the field, so we headed over there to watch them. It was also the last time to hang out with our dear friends. Fun was had by all, as usual. I was grateful that it was late at night that we had to say goodbye. I don't think the kids quite grasped the concept that we were moving to Canada in the morning. I braced myself for quite the tear fest, but luckily, they were all too tired to know. Saying goodbye was too hard. We sure love the Hydes. Here is all 9 of our children!
The Monday morning we got the biggest U-Haul we could get, all the Elders and friends from town that we could manage, and in less than an hour and a half, this baby was loaded and ready to go! Sarah D. was the organizer in the truck, and I don't think that we could have fit it all in without her packing job!
So, our rent-a-car that we were assigned was a 2011 convertible red Mustang!! It was totally not practical, but way fun! Before we left Chad took our wonderful friends the Droegemuellers for a ride! I don't know what we would have done without their help. James vacuumed my entire house and Sarah swept out my whole basement. It shaved hours off of our time. How we have missed our amazing friends!
Here I am in Great Falls, just before returning my Stang! It was way fun to drive, helped to curb the tears that flowed, no, not really. I'm pretty sure I sobbed all the way to Montana. But at least I cried in style!
Once we got to the border, we had to wait for 2 hours while they processed the paperwork. No worries, by this time we are very good at waiting! But all those months of waiting for our LMO paid off, because we had no trouble getting through! Once clear, my Mom (who came down to pick us up with Crystal) brought out the Canadian flags! Oh Canada! It was quite the trip. Very very emotional, both happy and sad. But when you are doing something that you know is right, that the Lord wants you to do, it makes it all alot easier. Now a new adventure begins!
TEN YEARS!!! Ten years we have been married. How wonderful. (this post is a little behind, sorry) We took a trip down to Utah to have one last Hurrah with the Deans. And little did I know, that Chad planned to wisk me away for the night... without the 3 oldest kids! So we took a little walk down by the Provo temple, and reminisced of days gone by. It was wonderful and such a beautiful night. I couldn't have married a better man for me than my Chaddy. How grateful I am to him and for his love and friendship. I hope the next 10 years are as adventurous as these last have been!
We stayed at the Hines Mansion in the Library room. It's the exact room we spent our first night in together. These stairs led up to the double jaccuzi with a skylight roof.
Model poses!!
Here we all are at the little slide park in Provo. Kent ordered us a 7 foot sub sandwich. Which was just enough.. until Taylor and Jordan got there.. I think there could have been another 3 feet to feed them!
Back at Spencers house for Father's Day dinner. All the boys were there and they had a slam dunk contest. They had a blast!
Kent was having a ball just watching all his boys and grandkids have so much fun. I don't think anything could have made him happier!
Shelby, Matty and Hailey hanging out in the shade.
Michelle, Marcie and Cassie. Such pretty girls!
Riley was having SO much fun with all his cousins and uncles and of course his Dad.
Can you get a more handsome group of boys together?? All the Dean boys minus Atticus and Alex. (Mikes youngest boys)
It was a little bright! But here are the Dean girls. We are only missing Kristy in here! Pretty girls.
All the grandkids.
Emily, who was deathly afraid of this dog at the beginning of the day, was holding the dog and never wanted to let go by the end of the day!
Here we are at the parade! We were so lucky to find our good friends Jolene and Eric! So they scootched over and we sat with them! The weather was nice and even cool, so it was great! The kids got lots of candy and had a ton of fun! Can you find Riley??
I just had to take a picture of all the American flags... wont see so many of them again in a long time. A beautiful sight.
We are all very proud to be American. These floats created very tender feelings with Chad and I. It is going to be very difficult to leave the USA. We love our country and will always be American. We know the Lord wants us to be in Canada, and that is a beautiful and blessed country as well. So it's all good. It's just good to see Old Glory in all her Glory!
Nothing like the afternoon nap after the parade and before the fireworks!
Sitting out by the river. We got there around 5:00. We just had a tiny little spot... sorry everyone around us! We got a little rambunktious! But I love being by the river with all the people. You can feel the excitement in the air!
Thinking of non-running games to play! Always a good match of arm wrestling between Emily and Riley!
This picture would be so good if it wasn't so blurry. How I love 4th of July. It is my favorite holiday. What fun we had! The fireworks of course were worth waiting for. A wonderful day.
My little girl turned 6 years old! She wanted an Ariel cake. I think it turned out great. We had our friends the Hydes over for cake and presents. During the day our other friends the Droegemuellers came with us to the Spray park in Rexburg. It was a very fun day.
Here is the Fisherman cake I made for Chaddy for his birthday! His birthday weekend he went on an overnight fishing trip to Henry's Lake, and could think of nothing else all month! So he had a fish themed birthday! I LOVE this cake I did. I love making cakes, it is so fun to see something so cute and yummy come together!
Of course we had to have our neighbours and friends the Hydes come over to help us eat the cake. And Uncle Jordan was there too! Happy Birthday Daddy!
Here is my so handsome little man! He went with Chad fishing, out on the lake and everything! Riley caught this fish all by himself! Yay Riley!
A few yards of bubble wrap = way too much fun!
I wanted to do something special for my kids teachers. They were such awesome teachers and I so appreciated all they did for my kids. So I made these sugar cookie flower bouquets! I think they turned out really nice!
I just LOVE this picture. It's so hard to find a really good picture of Chaddy. But here he's smiling so great, his eyes are so blue. He's so handsome. And on this Mother's Day, he treated me to an amazing breakfast in bed and dinner. He helps me in all I do as Mother. I couldn't do it without his help and support. He keeps me sane when I feel like going crazy. He always kills the bugs and opens the jars. He makes everything ok. I love you babe!
Nothing could mean more to me then the love of my 4 PRECIOUS children. They are my world. They have given me the title of Mother. They make me better than I ever could have become without them. How grateful I am for their amazing spirits, for their little hands that hold mine and their arms that hug me tightly. I love seeing the people they are becoming. I feel very inadequate at being a mother. I fail everyday. But I pray most earnestly that Heavenly Father will magnify my efforts. Thank you Riley, Emily, Shelby and Hailey. For without you, I could never be called Mama.
After our dinner, the weather was finally warm enough for us to go for a walk. We walked down by the river. We tried to take a picture with all of us in it...didn't turn out so fabulous... acutally, I love these pictures. So fun!
Riley went on a school field trip to the museum to see the exhibit "From Wolf to Woof." They had a great time.. probably more fun was the fact that Chad went with them.
