Water Fight!

Every morning started out the same:  Claire and Connor outside in their p.j.'s- playing in the water, then in their underwear, then their swimming suits, then naked.  Rinse and repeat...

And there were a couple water fights too.  Mostly started by Emily.  

Sweet Action Ice Cream

We got us some Sweet Action while in Denver.  It is a great little ice cream shop in downtown Denver.

Ryan picked the best flavor EVER... Fluffer Nutter.  Marshmallow and peanut butter.  Trust me, it was YUM-O!

Aurora Reservoir

Aurora Reservoir is the perfect spot to roast marshmallows, chase ducks and play Bocce Ball on the beach.

This was Haley's favorite place on our Denver vacation.

Denver

The kids and I got to stay with my sister Emily and her family for three weeks. We had the best time and the weather was perfect.


Haley and Ryan both made amazing new friends.  Claire and Conner  
got to play together from sun up to sun down everyday. 


We saw and did just about everything there was to do.  

Camping

For the 4th of July weekend we went camping.

On our way up to the property, we stopped by the Ranch to see some of Chris' family.

After a flood, the Ranch house had a brand new kitchen. When we walked into the house we where hit by the most horrible smell.... The smell of something dead and hot!

The oven had been moved into the garage during the remodel and then brought back in afterwards. During it's stay in the garage it became the home of some mice. Long-story-short. They where dead and hot... Chris' Mom had been baking potatoes in the oven and the entire house oozed with the stench!

The camp trailer was looking like a great place to be, so we headed up the mountain. The property was beautiful, except for one thing... THE SMELL.

Two cows had gotten locked in somewhere they shouldn't have and died. No one should have to smell this twice in one day!

The next day Chris took Claire and Ryan fishing. They both caught a few. Before sending them back to the river, Claire would give the fish a little kiss.

Best memory of the trip... and favorite find.

In Gothenburg, Sweden Chris decided that he wanted a little something to munch on.   We went to a grocery store and got this giant dessert roll.  It looked like a huge Hostess HoHo.  And we ate pretty much the entire thing.  I am sure that it was meant to serve between 10 to 12 people!  There were some girls walking behind us watching us devouring the thing... I am sure they were thinking what stupid Americans we were- eating this monstrous, calorie overloaded, delectable treat.   

The greatest band-aid dispenser ever...  The band-aids are pulled up and are ready to go.  You may not think this is as ingenious as I do, but trust me it was awesome!  

P.S.  Band-aids are called "ploustas"  in Sweden.  Try explaining that you need a band-aid to someone that has no idea what your are saying... comedy! 

Demark and Paris

After Sweden Chris and I went to Denmark- where we meet some of Chris' distant relatives, visited an old family farm and got a parking ticket.  We really enjoyed everyone we meet and we even walked to the very Northern tip of Denmark (Skagen) where the Baltic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean come together.  

 

And then a day in Paris.  Paris had so many places to visit that we didn't really know where to start, with only one day there.  We walked all over and saw amazing places.   We were a little stressed when we arrived in Paris and our luggage didn't, but it showed up the next morning at the hotel about 20 minutes before we left for the airport again.  The crepes with Nutella and bananas were yum-o!  And the chocolate milk with french bread to dip brought back tons of memories from a trip 15 years earlier!

 

Haley made a great sign to welcome us home and Claire wanted nothing to do with us.  I think that my Mom was loving it!

It was a great trip with great people.  We are very lucky!

Bjertorp Slott, Sweden

 After riding the train to Lidkoping, our good friends the Jepson's, (who are serving a mission there,) meet us at the train station and drove us about 45 minutes to Bjertorp Slott (Castle.)  It was so fun to see them and spend a little time with them.   It was great to see each other a hear some of the experiences they have had in Sweden.  We really couldn't believe that in all of Sweden we ended up going right to when they were.  Small world!

We had the run of our very own castle...  It was a fairytale.  The backyard was gorgeous with a fountain and green grass as far as you could see.  

 

The driveway leading to the castle was lined with trees.  Amazing!  

There were also some old bikes for the guests to ride.  That was the best!

Pictured are Ashlynn and her husband Coby, Ray and Brittany- She works for Asko USA and was our fantastic tour guide.  We called her "Sugar Mama" because she was the holder of the Asko Credit Card.  We were able to tour the Asko factory too.  It was really interesting and we loved meeting so many nice people.  

Sweden!

Chris won a design contest with ASKO; the winning prize was a trip to Sweden.  

The best part was Ashlynn that works for Chris won too!  Read Ashlynn's blog for more details and photos.

Asko spoiled us and we loved every second of the trip!

We had such a great time... I thought that I would share a few

 photos...

Stockholm is my new favorite place.  It was a beautiful city and old town was perfectly picturesque!  We spent the first two days there and I also got to celebrate my birthday there.

I

It did rain quite a bit, but we enjoyed not having to be in 100 + degree weather.   I have no idea what this picture is, but I am pretty sure I am thinking, "Oh, snap!  My hair + this humidity + a hairdryer that will NOT work with a converter... things are going to get UGLY!"

Del Coronado

After a long four months we finally got to meet Connor.  He is my sister Emily's first baby and so adorable!  

My brother Clint and his family where there too.  We had a really great time enjoying each other. 

There was only a ONE major incident...  We lost Ryan @ the San Diego Zoo.  (I really don't want to re-live this!)  

I am pretty sure that this will be a vacation that Clint,especially, will never forget...  :) 

We just all had fun being together.  

Chicago 2008

We had THE BEST TIME in Chicago.  The trip was a lot of fun, and to think that I just about bailed at the last minute.

Claire was not feeling her best, but that may have been a good thing.  All she wanted to do was sleep and cuddle.  She is NOT a cuddler, so this was a nice bonus!  

Chris and Ashlynn ended up being the big winners of the national laundry and kitchen design contest.  Both winners from Riverwoods Mill.  NICE!  The best part was that the grand prize is a trip to Sweden this summer!  (Extra nice!)

• The first thing we did was go for some deep dish pizza.  (of course!)
• The buildings and architecture are amazing.
• I didn't get one this trip, but the best Monte Christo Sandwich I've ever had was in Chicago and I have been craving it!
• The Magnificent Mile is, well, quite magnificent!  
• We stay at the Alerton Hotel- I am pretty sure that the elevators are possessed!  You never really know where your going to end up when you push a button!

THE CHOCOLATE LOUNGE:

Great concept!  Their motto is  "YOU LOVE CHOCOLATE, WE'RE HERE TO HELP!"  

TIFFANY'S-  

I tried on a 10 carat yellow diamond ring worth  $455,000.00!  

Yep, that's almost a 1/2 million sitting pretty on my finger.... 

Disney Cruise 2008

We went on a 4 day Disney Cruise with Chris' family over Spring Break.  It was such a good time.  The kids were completely entertained from sun up to sun down.   All of the kids club counselors were from England or Australia and after spending every waking hour with them, Haley came off the boat with a great accent!   

Next we hit another few days in Disney World.  We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  It was amazing to look out your bedroom window and see zebras and giraffe looking back at you.  There were animals everywhere!  I ended up getting sick the last couple days, so I didn't make it to the Magic Kingdom, but Chris, Haley and Ryan got to go after the park closed for the Pirates and Princesses Party.  They had the whole place to themselves until mid-night, then the magic wore off.  

Disneyland. [practice run.]

Chris was suppose to go to Canada last Sunday, but never left Saint George.   The plane in SLC was having mechanical trouble, yada, yada, yada-  missed his connecting flights...   Not going to Canada. (I think was just a very elaborate plan to get out of helping me in Primary :)  

So he came home with bags packed to go somewhere.  

Half hour later we where on the road headed for Disneyland.  We didn't tell the kids.  I tip-toed around the house and packed the suitcases with out them knowing.  We told them that we where going on a Sunday drive.  About three hours into our road trip, Haley was convinced that we were in Wyoming :) 

Our family loves Disneyland.  I am amazed at the way they do everything.  The way people are moved around the park effortlessly, the creativity, the look on Chris and the kids faces when they get sopping wet on the White Water Rafting ride (say that five times fast)- it's the best!

But I do have to confess that this is just our warm up.  We are going on a Disney Cruise and to Disney World in one week with Chris' family.  

Lovely Light...

I have been in love with this chandelier ever since I saw it in this fantastic store on Newbury Street in Boston.  My Mom, Sister and I went last May and I just can't get it out of my mind!

A great weekend!

I took the kids to Richfield while they were out of school for Christmas vacation.  Emily and Zach were visiting from NY.  It was so fun to see her little belly finally looking pregnant- only 10 more weeks to go!  

Then my Mom and I packed up the kids and went on to Salt Lake.  We went to the Clark Planetarium and to the Children's Discovery Museum.  Then meet Emily and Zach at the Cheesecake Factory!  We stayed at the Marriot by the Galivan Center so Haley and Ryan could squeeze in a little ice skating too.  We did a lot in such a short time and with three kids!