Spring Break at Branson,MO and Kansas City, MO

So going through my pictures I realized I never blogged about Spring Break.  We drove down to Missouri this year and stay in Branson for almost a week.  After our week there we drove back via Kansas City to see my cousin, Rick Blackham, his wife Andy and their 3 boys.  We took advantage of their wonderful hospitality and also were able to see the Kansas City Temple Open House.

We had a wonderful time in Branson.  We invited Rick's parents, Diane and Dennis, to come with us.  There is so much to do there and it is all family friendly.  Branson really strives to have a Christian family environment so everyone can enjoy every activity together.  We stayed in a huge home on the lake.  Everyone loved the theatre room in the basement where we watched movies and played Wii to our hearts content.  When we got out of the home we had so much to see and do.  Here are some pictures.

 We went on a dinner/show cruise on the Branson Belle, a big steam boat.  Andrew loved the geese outside the ship.  Excitedly he yelled, "quack, quack" at them all night.

 Us talking to the Belle's captain.

 Andrew and I on the loading deck before we load.

 The boys on the Belle's deck.

 Our family enjoying the Belle's ride.  They had an amazing show of comedy, magic, a men's quartet, and the world's only air flying-violinist/soprano (she was amazing).

 Here we are enjoying the hot tub at the house.

We visited the Titanic Museum there in Branson.  We couldn't take pictures inside but it was pretty amazing.  We all got to take part as we were assigned people who were on the ship.  Most of our people survived.

We visited the Table Rock Damn and fish hatchery.  They grow a million trout every year! 

There was a mini golf place at our resort that ended with the ball being swallowed by the fish!

Rick, Diane and I went to zipline one afternoon while the kids were taking naps.  It was so much fun! We enjoyed a lot of shopping and so much more in Branson.  We look forward to going back soon.

We went back home going through Kansas City, MO where my cousin lives.  Here we are with Rick Blackham's family, Andy, Connor, Daniel, Rick and Garrett.

 We took the opportunity to go through the open house with the older kids.  Our temples are sacred places in our faith.  Once they are dedicated we only allow those with recommends to go inside.  This is to maintain a high level of reverence throughout the temple.  Anson and Aaron went inside the Chicago temple when Anson was sealed to us as a baby but that was so long ago they don't remember.  Because this temple hasn't been dedicated we were able to take them through were able to show them similar rooms to where we were sealed and talk to them about how important temples are.  We believe families are meant to be together forever, not until death do us part.  Once a husband and wife are sealed they will be together forever and all of their children born to them after will automatically be with them.  Since Anson was adopted this additional step was necessary so that he will be our son now as well as after we die.  A heaven would not be much of a heaven without all of us there.  We rejoice that temples are near by us so we can make these bonds and covenants and teach our children about them.

Our church has a lot of history in Missouri.  One location is Liberty Jail where the Prophet Joseph Smith was wrongfully imprisoned for several months.  Once they realized they could not hold him wrongly forever they let him so.  The months were very difficult for Joseph as Liberty Jail in winter was very harsh.  He did a lot of praying and received important revelations during this time.  Here Rachel is in the reconstructed jail with Joseph in the background.

 On the way out of town we stopped by Adam-ondi-ahman.  It is a special field where we believe the Garden of Eden once was and where the Savior will come again.

It was a wonderful week with family and we all had a wonderful time being together and seeing wonderful things in Missouri!

Andrew turns 2!

Well our cute little Andrew is a two year old.  Ugh, I mean yeah!  The terrible twos and threes are not my favorite but maybe this time around will be different.  Anyway our little guy has had an explosion of words and new skills.  The best of which was learning the word "cheese" right before his birthday.  This helped with picture taking immensely. 

 What do you get the third boy, he got Winnie the Pooh figures and a book from Grandma and Grandpa Blackham.

 He got a car track/slide toy from Tia Medalith and Uncle Alex.

 He wasn't so sure about the slippers he got from Grandma and Grandpa DeMille until this moment when he figured out what they really were.  Now he leaves them on all day.

We gave Andrew a magazine style bookcase, which he loves.  He is rediscovering all of his books since he can now see them lined up.  The kids gave him some cars.

 We love our little guy.  He loves to play with his siblings, play outside and all things boy.  His first tune he sung was Star Wars.  He loves to have "sissy" and the boys read him books, wrestle, play light sabors, cars, legos, anything they are willing to share, including princesses.  

We love our little Andrew!

Kristen Graduated High School

So the purpose of this blog post is to congratulate Kristen and my parents for graduating high school and getting 5 kids through 36 years of life.  My oldest sister Amanda was graduating high school when my mom was 9 months pregnant with Kristen.  So way to go to them for all of the years they've dealt with the highs and lows of parenting.  They've had 4 teenaged girls and 1 boy during this time.  Of course Kristen has accomplished a lot especially during the last few years.  She heads off to BYU in the fall, which we're all thrilled with.  She is a very accomplished flutist and piccolo player.  She has also been Metea High School's Drum Major the last couple years.  Here are some pictures of the weekend of her graduation.

 

My sister Ashley and her family came to town for the graduation and we got to have them at the Memorial Day parade with us.

 Here is Andrew and Kensie "sharing".

Kristen is the closer of the two Drum Majors.  This is her last parade here in Naperville. :(

We love you Kristen!  Way to go on all your accomplishments.  We are so excited for all the fun you'll have a BYU and also in the BYU Marching Band.  Good luck!