Highlights of our Holidays

It seems that the older I get, the more I value family (I know, I'm not even that old, unless you ask my kids of course!)!  That being said, the time together with my family has been a great source of help for me to dwell on the past while since getting back home.  Getting back home was great for the whole family for the first evening and then I was reminded the next day that still for my newbies, it was change again, and neither one of them respond well to change (especially Eden).  I take for granted that my biological kids have seen and been proven that home will still be home....with all of the amenities!

Don't get me wrong, stuff 15 people in one house and don't expect for everything to be easy breezy.  Those 15 people come from 6 different places they call home and not any of my family are used to having six kids around either!  No complaining, though!  My point is, it is challenging at times to work everything together, besides trying to get a plan together for 15 people and out the door before noon is near impossible!

Here are my highlights of our trip:

SHOPPING (hey, what can a girl say?  What is better than doing something you love with your family?!!)  By the way, this is NOT the number one highlight, either they aren't in order)!

left to right: Eden, Treva, Crystal, Katreese, Mom, & Kaylin

Eating Cold Stone ice cream!  It is a rarity for my family to get ice cream but my dad loves it, especially Cold Stone!  This picture is a joke my Grandma Irene was playing on my Dad!  She was going to eat all the ice cream!  

Different scenery!!

Hiking!

Watching and being with my kids!  In this picture Treva is taking a rest on the rock!

A different view (much like the above).  Sometimes you have to remove yourself from a situation(s) to change your perspective.

Being with my sis - easy as that!

Laughing, teasing, feeling a little light!

By the way, I'm picking a thorn out of my jeans!

 Making caramel corn!  Eating treats that we don't get every day!

 Bubble baths (yep, it's true!  I loved it!)  The kids had some cruddy colds and this is just what the doctor ordered!  Eden and Bella in their bubble bath (bubble ball from Auntie Crystal!)  You can't see very well but this is a deep, big ol' bath! 

Bear's bubbles are all gone by now but he still has green water for his duck to float in!

Even Katreese splashed like a 2 year old!

 Watching my family interact with my kids!

Grandma Shirley and Bear

   
Sunday family togetherness

Playing games (I have no pictures of us playing card games but it was great!)

Mom and Gma

Enjoying some sunshine - nice days!

cacti in the backyard

 We had a lot of fun at the Color Me Mine store.  We were able to get the back room with a table to ourselves with a bit of space for our crew! 

getting ready to paint

the lovebirds painting together

some of the finished products!

Daddy even hung around to hold a sleepy boy who wasn't interested in painting!

Bella had so much fun she wanted to paint ANOTHER thing!!