Living Close to Family

I really really miss Oregon and I really really miss my friends and our church but you know what....there is NOTHING like living close to your family!!  I LOVE IT!!!  I love being able to go drive a few blocks away from my sister's house and not go by and see her because we can see each other whenever we want!!  

The bad thing about living so close to family....well you forget to take pictures!!  Ooops!!  I dug around on Facebook and phones and found a few!!  

Back in August my beautiful Mom turned 50!!  It's hard to believe!!  This women can run circles around me!!  She has ran several half marathons and she's the run pushing me to run one.  That's not suppose to happen!!!  We had an birthday party Italian style!!  The kids loved being able to play with all their cousins!!  \\

Grandma and Baby Natalee!!  Happy Birthday Mom!

Then in September my family, my parents, and my sister and her husband went for a family trip to Silver Dollar City in Branson.  I believe that is the best amusement!!  I really like it because there is a little for everyone.  There are thrill rides, shows, shops, less thrill rides, etc.  It's a REALLY FUN PARK!!

Headed to the park....READY FOR SOME FUN!!

Haylee's legs were getting tired!!  We walked 10+ miles that day!!

Riding some rollarcoasters.  Haylee's not too sure about the scary rides!!  We did talk Garrett into going on a real roller coaster though....WOW!!!  It was a little intense!!  It went fast!!  Garrett was pretty scared but did GREAT!!!  He never cried and was willing to try another roller coaster (just not that one).  The 2nd one we went on he LOVED!!!  He put his hands in the air and screamed!!  It was so much fun going with him!!  I LOVE that he loves riding roller coasters!!!

Natalee's 1st ride...The Flooded Mine!!

Lunch Time!!!  Grandma Shirley's favorite restaurant!!  We thought about you Grandma!!!

Haylee's Favorite ride!!!

After lunch we decided to take a break and watch some shows.  I was really surprised how well the kids watched the shows!!  They loved it!!!

Let the RAIN COME DOWN!!!  We left the show and it was POURING!!!  So we decided to take a tour of the cave.  500 steps down, 200 steps up, and then a train ride (and NO strollers!).

We took turns holding the baby girl!!  She got sleepy in Grandpa's arms!!

What a FUN day...but not such a fun night!!  We headed home after the park closed at 6pm (a four hour drive home might I add) and the van broke down!!  Long story short we were on the side of the road for several hrs, Steve and Lindsey took the kids home with them, Josh, me and baby stayed in a hotel and my parents drove back up to help fix the van.  They got it fixed and all was ok!!

Do you know how hard it is to get ALL THREE KIDS to look at smile at the camera!!!  My parents came up for Garrett's last football game and we decided to check out the pumpkin patch!!