{luck}

it has been almost 9 years since we have gotten most of the woolley cousins together and as luck would have it we were able to see some of them the last day we were in utah.  we had planned to start heading home sunday and break the drive up in 2 days since it was a long 1 day trip of 20 hours driving but my uncle phil called and told me he was going to be in town and staying with my parents. i couldn't leave.  i haven't seen them in so long. then we found out my cousin kris was in town visiting his in-laws and they were coming up. then my cousin marcia said she was coming up. it was going to be a party! i was so excited. 

since we knew we were having everyone up for so we invited jake's parents up for the fun too. it was so great to see everyone and their adorable kids.  we all have at least 3 or more kids.  crazy! my dad got the old car out and took the kids out for rides. it was pure heaven for the kids.

it couldn't have been a more perfect night. my boys are so lucky to have a grandpa with such a cool car that loves taking them out in it. 

and here is most of the group. (minus phil and dianne they were taking the pictures) i miss seeing my woolley cousins so much.  i wish jake knew them better.  i guess we'll have to make a trip to disneyland and stay with them. 

this was the perfect way to end an awesome trip.

{rabe day}

the day before we left for home we had a day full of rabe fun.  we started off the day with family pictures which was complete madness with all the kiddos.  hopefully ann feels like she came away with ones she liked.  it is so hard to get 9 grandkids all 5 years and younger to look at the camera.  

after the pictures we headed down to the junction and did some bowling.  i can't believe how many of us there are now.  

i think bowling is one of nolan's favorite things to do.

cute baby malan and her ok looking parents.  i tease. 

all the madness. there were so many little kids running around. very tough to regulate who goes when.

nicole's little girl mckell trying to lift such a heavy ball.  she can make some cute faces just like her mama.

this shot would have been so perfect except we forgot to include our little ikers.  he was sleeping and we don't disturb the sleeping.

nolan in action.  he really gets a running start and lets it rip.

ikers was getting lots of grandma time. so nice to have someone hold him so i can enjoy the rest of the kids.

each time, so far, that luke and graham have seen each other they end up hugging like this.  it cracks me up. little buddies.

later on that afternoon ann threw a early birthday party for great grandpa marv. he is going to be 90 in september!!!!  not all the kids will be able to make it back to be there (but we will!!!) so we celebrated early. love the classic pouty face from luke. he seems to be doing that a lot lately.

of course there was swimming involved. our boys would love it if i took them swimming all the time.  but with ike i just don't have enough hands. maybe next summer will the summer of pools.

nolan got a little frustrated with his fear of going under the water but jake gave him a few pointers and he was swimming like a champ. way to go nolan!!!

lukie finally got his papa fix.  brad had to work all day. i feel bad that my kids didn't get to be with brad but only a few hours the whole trip.  next time though...

we sure love these two. i'm sad we don't get home more often. jake has the best grandparents ever! we are lucky with the great examples we have on each side.

the day was jam packed with fun. we really know how to party hard. it's so fun to have everyone together.  that rarely happens. all of jake's siblings were in town.  this was a trip to remember. 

{the meyer clan}

since our trip was so busy we barely were able to visit our favorite people, the meyer's.  we decided to meet up at liberty park and let the kids play while we did our usual crazy shenanigans. and boy was there lots of shenanigans going on.

miss tera looking oh so good!

things turned crazy pretty quickly with us.

the boys.

then there was this very sad attempt of me trying to climb the dome. i have seriously not been this weak in years.  i had to literally climb to the top and then drop down. so sad.

still trying

finally a successful goofy picture. i think that little boy was enjoying how long it took me.

lukie and carley quickly made friends with all the other kids there.  so friendly.

tera never can sit still for long so we tried our sorry selves at planking.  it is a bit harder than i thought. mostly because i'm out of shape and have no core muscles.

love this picture of tera. she is such a poser.  i think joel likes what he sees.  hot mama!

amongst all of our picture taking little bryn decided to strip down and continue playing. i don't know what they are teaching her at home...... but we were laughing so hard.

i wish we could have had more than just a couple of hours with these crazies. we will be out again in sept so be ready freddy's. love you guys! the possibilities are endless.

{lots of playing}

i don't think there was a day that went by that we didn't have something to go to or play with. we were go, go, go. we were definitely trying to squeeze in as much fun as possible. 

while getting ready to hang with the vause cousins again lukie was dressing himself. this kid cracks me up! i mean, look at those shorts.

after we got luke dressed the right way we headed off to the tree house museum.

the boys played with the trains most of the time. i don't get it, we have trains at our house that they haven't touched in months.  ours just can't compete with how cool these ones were.

alex was playing a little tick-tack-toe.

i love this picture of my dad.  he is the greatest! i have so much love and respect for him.

my handsome nolan boy was having a blast dressing up as a fireman. such a cute little cheeser.

this was the first time i got nolan to do some pictures. charlie is a great influence on him for that....but only that.  they can really get in to trouble.

we finally got our daddy back! jake got back from a much needed r&r in lake powell. he really deserved a break from work and from the craziness of us. but his boys sure missed him. 

after the museum we took the party to mcdonald's for some more rolo mcflurry's.  i think i had one almost every day we were there.