Feeding and Entertaining Kids While Jacob and Laurie Were Vacationing

So Jacob has been threatening for nearly a year now to go on a vacation alone with his wife.

He enlisted the help of his youngest sister--after all, she just has one baby of her own to take care of and so what's another four children?--and made it happen. Sarah then enlisted the help of her able assistant--me--to help her help Jacob pull off his perfect plan.

It was four days of fun.

Coloring pictures with Logan and Eli was fun.

Reading bedtime stories to the little boys was fun.

Taking the kids to the park was fun.
Playing in the neighbor's backyard playhouse was fun.
Exploring Roger's yard was fun.
Playing with cousins was fun.
Taking a walk was fun.
Eating snow cones was fun.
Playing in the park was fun.
Going grocery shopping was fun.
Watching movies was fun.
Having baths was fun.
Playing games and toys was fun.
Having pajama parties was fun.

It was all so much fun for the kids.

Now, let's talk about feeding all those kids.

The taco meal Natalie suggested was a big hit with the big kids (we've never seen so much cheese loaded into a taco shell before), with the babies (what a mess) and even with the adults (Ben and his friend, Adam, ate the taco leftovers when they got home).

Success!!!

Halfway through our babysitting week, a 4-month-old baby entered the scene. Sarah so kindly consented to watch Jeff's nephew for a couple of days so his brother and sister-in-law could have a little vacation, also. Jeff's brother has just recently returned from Afghanistan and we could appreciate their desire to want some time to themselves as well.

Bring it on! Sarah can handle it!!

Good thing we had a little baby-holding help now and then from the men who were lingering around the house.

Wish we could say all the meals we served the children were a big hit. It seems that no amount of coaxing or telling the children the Ritz Poppy Seed Chicken dish was Jeff and Sarah's favorite meal would convince them to eat it.

Strike out with the older children--but we adults enjoyed it nonetheless.

Success with the babies. They loved it. And yet another monumental high chair mess to show for it.

I'm not sure, but I think Ben appeared super happy when his friends, Adam and Collin, came over so he could play big kid games instead of do little kid activities.

We all did our part and made it happen for two couples to have some time away from their children.

I well remember what a welcome experience it was for us to manage a little getaway, leaving our children in the care of an able caregiver. I also remember that I always felt more sorry for the babysitter than I ever did for the children.

Here's a shout-out to all the people who have ever watched our children while we went on a vacation alone together. Babysitters are awesome!!!

And Sarah definitely falls in the awesome category as far as these two couples are concerned!!

Congratulations, Jacob, for finally making your dream vacation come true! (You do consider going to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone a dream vacation, don't you??!!??)

Family Fun

It's true Abe joined us for the day Ben arrived home from his mission, but he had to go back to San Francisco that evening.  We were looking forward to having him come back again with Klarissa over the weekend to spend some quality bonding time with Ben.

Since it was Klarissa's birthday the day before their arrival, Natalie got busy making a cute birthday poster for her.  And Emma made a birthday card for her as well.  I think it's safe to say Klarissa appreciated the efforts of the girls to make her feel special.

 

 

 

Abe and Klarissa were happy to see Ben and to see him wearing the shirt they'd sent to him for his birthday earlier in the month.

That evening we went to the canyon for a cook-out, just like we did right before Ben left on his mission.  Natalie tried to console Spencer while waiting to leave for our fun activity.

At the campground, Spencer covered up his ears and soon went right to sleep while Dallas got busy building a fire. 

The kids could hardly wait to get down to the river to start throwing rocks in the water and finding branches to dangle in the water to pretend they were fishing.

 

Great fire and then too much smoke!  So the kids played games, snacked a little and went back down to the river while waiting for the fire to get just right for cooking.

It was determined that more fuel needed to be put on the fire to get it burning once again.

No mosquitoes welcome at our party.

Finally!!!  The fire is right to cook a hot dog.

It was a lovely evening we spent out in nature and we all came home smelling like a campfire.

Jacob and Laurie were looking like a lovely couple the next day when it was time to go to church to hear Ben's talk.

Ben did a great job speaking and and look at all the good food we had to eat when all our family and friends came home to eat with us.

The following day the kids went to see a movie like Abe has been waiting to do with Ben.

Rebecca challenged Ben to a game of Set.  Those two are the best at that game and Rebecca's been bored with it since Ben left.

It's super great to have Ben home and be able to all be together again!!!