Library Book Club

A month ago Bailey and I were at the library and we see that they're advertising a new book club - for grades 3-5.  We look it over and it sounds like the cutest thing!  Once you sign up, you get the book - to keep (!) - and then you come on the day of the book club ready to discuss all things literary.  To add to the fun, you get a sack lunch, and get to make a craft that corresponds to the book. This month the book was James and the Giant Peach.  We read the flier and Bailey was all in.  I mean, ALL IN.    

    She invited a friend to do it with her, they book got their books and started reading.  They even got together to read!  Every few days Bailey would count how many days until book club.  It was like Christmas morning people! 

    Finally the day came, and off these 2 cute girls went to their book club. They ate, they crafted (what's better than a mobile?), and discussed.  And Bailey couldn't have loved it more!  

 

Tomato, tomahto

Tyler is in a broadcasting class at school.  Every Friday they do a live 10 minute broadcast online.  I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who tunes in to watch. 

  A few weeks ago a kid in the class was reporting on herion. Apparently herion abuse is on the rise, and apparently this is big news.  

  As I'm watching this broadcast, learning about herion use increasing, I notice this kid's background graphic is of Rosie the Riveter.  

  For the life of me, I can't figure out what Rosie the Riveter has to do with drug abuse, and why this kid would pick Rosie as his graphic for the story. 

   When Tyler got home I asked him what Rosie had done to get herself involved with illegal mind-alternating drugs.  Tyler was as clueless as me.  He told me the kid who was doing the story had asked another kid to pick a graphic for him.  And that's when the pieces fell together for me. 

    I imagine it went like this:

What was said:  "Hey dude, I need a picture of herion."

And what was heard: "Hey dude, I need a picture of a heroine."

Tomato, tomahto 

 

Tyler to the Rescue

Last week after mutual, several of the Mia Maids came up to Derek searching for Tyler.  Derek and the Mia Maids soon found him and they told him their sad tale:  they were singing a hymn in Sacrament meeting the upcoming Sunday, and the girl was who was supposed to accompany them just informed them that she was going to be out of town that Sunday, and they needed someone to accompany them!   

      Enter Tyler to the rescue!  They went into the chapel and started their practice.  The hymn was "Because I have Been Given Much", a hymn Tyler had never laid eyes on.  But off they went anyways. Tyler said it went ok, not great, but not horrible.  

    He came home that night and told me the whole story.  While I was laughing, at the idea of Tyler accompanying the Mia Maids, he got to practicing. 

    Sunday morning they practiced before church, and then it was go time!  He did so great!  I'm sure the Mia Maids were great too .... I was only listening to the piano.  But Tyler did awesome.  I was so proud of his willingness to just jump in - with little notice and do his best.  

Dancing Cousins!

This month has been quite the month for watching cousins dance!  First, we got to go to Kamryn's Spring Show. But was so fun to see her dance!  We saw all of the dances she's done this year, plus her solo.  It was so fun!  Jen, Hannah, Allyson, and Paisley joined Emily and I cheering her on.  

    Next, Bailey and I were lucky enough to go another cousin's dance competition.  We've never been able to watch her before so it was fun to see her dance.  Megan, Kamryn, and Halli were there too - doubling the fun!

All the cute cousins

Kamryn and I were opposite twins!

(Don't notice that she's taller than me)

 
 

Round and Round ....

We got a front loader washing machine back in September.  Logan (and Bailey to be honest) still find it a bit mesmerizing. 

And yes, that's a bowl of cereal next to him.  Because yes, that's where he ate breakfast.  

 

Texting Hilariousness

The background you need for this text picture is this:  Emily's at home, tending Logan.  Derek is at Young Men's, and thinks Emmy's at Young Women's (lest you be judging.... Her beehive activity had been in the afternoon.., and she went people!)

And yes, Derek takes the 'no cooking in the church kitchen' rule very seriously. 

 

Cheering for the Cheerleader!

Emily has been in cheer for the last two years. This last year she's been on the Cheer Squad through our dance studio.  She had to try-out, and this squad has been more fun because it's been more serious cheering.  She's liked it better than any other sport she's tried - and she's tried 'em all!

Today we went to our first competition. Not only our family's first, but the studio's first as well. We had to drive 2 hours to get there, so it felt like a big deal. And we got to spend 4 hours there watching a LOT of cheering!  Most popular songs for cheer dances ... Shake It Off, Roar, and Fight Song.  So at least we had good music.   We were definitely a small fish in a big pond! Our squad has 6 girls, while some squads easily had 30 girls (and a few boys). We were the smallest by a long ways, but the girls went out there and did their best. Their was one fall in a stunt that resulted in some post-cheer tears, but overall they did great and had lots of fun. 

During the routine 

Afterwards 

Awards - they ended up taking 3rd in their division (there were only 3 teams in their division - so that was good!)
 

Cutest cheerleader there!

 
 

 

April Fools!

This April fools day I wanted to fool my fools. So of course I talked to Jen, who takes her fooling seriously. Since it was already March 31, I copied as many of her ideas as I could (aka, required very little work/planning on my part). 

My fools found some friends staring at them from inside the fridge. 

I found this horrible fellow in the toilet.  It actually scared me 3 separate times!

My boys found that the clothes in their closets had been switched. 

Derek and Tyler went to a movie, and came out to find the truck had been moved the other side of the parking lot. 

I utilized the power of Robb's seminary class, plus my own siblings/in-laws/parents to hit Derek with a text blitz.  At exactly 2:00 more than 100 texts hit Derek, all expressing their love for Donald Trump (there's no love there with Derek).

All in all, it was a fun day for the fools!

 

Mother's Day - primary version

 

 

   Today in Primary Bailey, Logan and I got to be one of the teams in a Mother's Day version of the Newlywed game (we were actually not originally picked - but one family didn't show up - and there happened to be 3 of us already in the room, so we got picked last minute.  Quite serendipitous I think).  My kids answers were so funny ... definitely post worthy.  Here they are:

 

Question:  What's your mom's favorite color?

Me:  Yellow

Them:  Yellow

  5 points for that awesome answer

 

Question:  What's your mom's favorite food?

Me:  Brownies

Them:  Strawberries

 

Question:  What's something your mom is good at?

Me:  Cooking

Them:  Cooking

  10 more points for that answer.  At this point we were winning.

 

Question:  What is something your mom says a lot?

Me:  Be kind.

Them:  Get dressed

"Get dressed" - seriously, that's my catchphrase they'll remember for their lives?!  The funniest part is that that wasn't the original answer - they originally said, "Take a shower!"  We were looking quite awesome at that point.  Not winning points-wise, but winning image-wise for sure.

 

Question:  Why are you proud of your mom?

Me: I make treats.

Them:  She's willing to take care of us.

Willing  to take care of them?  Willing to take care of this dirty and naked bunch?  Why, yes, yes I am willing. And couldn't be happier about it. 

 

And, no, we didn't win.

 

 

 

Scripture Reading Fail

  A few weeks ago we were reading the Book of Mormon as a family.  Logan was dutifully reading his verse, and it went something like this:

    Logan:  "...yea, unto the scattering (Logan begins laughing) them to destruction"

    Me (whispering to Derek):  why's he laughing?

    Tyler (whispering to me):  because he knows what 'scat' means and he thinks 'scattering' is funny.

    Me (not whispering any more because we've given up scripture reading at this point):  Logan,     

    what does 'scat' mean?

    Logan:  Poop!!

    Me (in a very shocked tone):  How do you know that??

    Logan:  Emily told me!

    Emily (mostly to herself ... smirking):  scattering

   Tell me we get credit for reading the scriptures at least!

Happy birthday Emmy!

Emily turned 12 yesterday!  How can that be?!  Hopefully we celebrated in a way fitting of an awesome 12 year old. 

 

 

She invited her 5 BFF's over for dinner and then off to see

"Into the Woods".  Did you know that's a musical??  We didn't.

But the girls were all smiles, and songs, the whole way

home so they must not have been bothered.

The next party included all of her cousins over for a cookie buffet.

Emmy choose chocolate chip, nutella, homemade Oreos, and

brookies (brownies and cookies - finally together).



     When she got home from school Tyler told her that 2 Beehives in our ward who go to school with him both told him to tell Emmy "Happy Birthday".  And then the nicest Laurel in our ward brought over cookies to Emmy!  Abi told her how excited she was to have Emmy in YW and how much Emmy was going to love it.  Have you ever heard of anything nicer in your life?!
    Then the big daddy of all birthday celebrations ... she got her ears pierced!  She has been so excited for this day to come - and as the day got closer, and closer, the more nervous she got.  For the past 3 days all I have heard from Emmy is, "Will it hurt?  What does it feel like?  How long will it hurt?  Does it feel like a shot?  Does it feel like a bee sting?  Does it feel like getting pinched?  Pinched really hard?  Does it feel like stubbing your toe?"  It has been endless.  Endless and constant. 
  She was so nervous I wasn't sure she'd even go through with it.  But she did it!

Here's our before shot.  I'm glad they gave

her that bear to squeeze because I was losing

circulation in my hand from her squeezing!



The during shot ... luckily there were 2 employees

there so she could get them done at once.

And the after shot.  Isn't that the happiest face ever?

 

 

   She totally did great - the second after they were done, she took a big breath, and then said in the most serious voice, "That wasn't that bad.".  I think if she had been hit by a truck, she would have said it wasn't that bad because her relief that it was over was more overpowering than any pain. 

  We went out to dinner afterwards and she couldn't stop looking for mirrors everywhere to check out her new look. 

  Last night she also got "Heart Attacked" by the Beehive class - hearts on the front door, and all over our lawn welcoming her in to Young Women's.  She loved it, and felt very loved.  Things like that sure have a soft spot in a mom's heart. 

Here's a little Emily 101:

Favorite movie:  Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Favorite TV show:  Jessie

Favorite color:  black

Best friend:  Taylor

Favorite animals:  seals and jellyfish

Favorite food:  steak

What she wants to be when she grows up: in the Air Force while she's single,

then an author after she's married

Favorite sport:  cheerleading

Favorite subject:  math

Where she wants to go on a mission:  Holland

Where she wants to live when she grows up:  Alaska

Favorite videogame:  Minecraft

 

 

  Emily couldn't be more of a joy to have in our family.  She is such a peacemaker - extreme peacemaker.  She always gives up what she has, lends a hand to help, and whatever else she can to help bring peace into our home.  She is totally self motivated - never needs nagged to do homework, clean her room, or practice the piano.  She set a goal to read the Book of Mormon before she turned 12, and finished a few days before her birthday.  She is funny, kind, smart, and oh, so responsible.  What a blessing to have her in our family!  Happy birthday Emmy Lou Who!

Series of Unfortuntate Events

   Last night was such a series of unfortunate events - it's almost unbelievable ... almost laughable .... almost.
  At the beginning of the school year Emily's band teacher told the class that one of their assignments was to attend a concert, this semester, that they weren't a part of.  So it couldn't be their own piano recital, but other than that, there were no rules.  After the concert, they had to write a review of the concert, attach the program/ticket and turn it in.  They had all semester to complete said assignment.  Well, unfortunately this went in one ear, out the other.  Until last Saturday. 
   Emily tells me about this assignment, and I was shocked that this was the first I'd heard of it.  I heard about it Saturday, and the paper was due Thursday.  Arggg.... Luckily for us, it's holiday concert season so I went the district website and started looking at every high school and middle school close to us looking for a concert to attend.  I found one on Tuesday night, but didn't want to go to that one because it was Derek's birthday .... but then found one at a middle school close to us on Wednesday night.  Perfect - we planned to go to that one.  I'd have to take Emily and Logan to the concert, because Derek and Tyler would have Young Men's, and Bailey would have Activity Days - but that was fine, we just needed to attend a concert and get it over with.
   Emily tells me her bestie Kate needs to go to a concert too, so we invite Kate and she's in.  So we're planning on going Wednesday night when Derek tells me that he has a city league basketball game at the same time, same school as the concert.  Perfect I think - he can take the girls, get them situated at the concert, go to his game, when the concert's over they can go to the gym and hang out until his game is over.  That leaves me and Logan out of the equation.  Perfect.  I run it past Kate's mom and make sure she's ok with this plan and she's fine with it.  So Wednesday night, off the 3 of them go.
   At 6:50 (10 minutes before the concert and the basketball game start) I get a phone call from Derek.  I knew instantly this was not going to be good news.  Yep, I was right.  There's no cars in the parking lot (other than the basketball players), the school's locked - there's no concert in sight.  Seriously??  I get on the website and see I was a day off - the concert is today, not last night.  That puts me in quite the bind because this darn assignment is due today.  I have to get these girls to a concert!  So on the district website I go again - there's a concert at a middle school 3 miles away from the school they're at.  It starts at 7:00, so late for sure, but we can make it work.
     I get Tyler and Bailey out the door, throw Logan in the car, and we're off to pick up the girls.  We pick them up at one school, drive to another school, and find the concert.  Unfortunately, the side of the gym where the bleachers are, is completely full.  Not a seat for one, let alone 4 of us.  So we go in and stand in the corner.  The orchestra is playing, and the whole time I'm searching for a program for these girls.  I can see parents with them, but can find any extras.  We only catch the last 3 songs and the  concert ends.  I go up to some stranger and ask if I can see her program - which I then take a very blurry picture of with my phone.  

  So home we go - attending the concert and getting the proof technically done - not done well, but done.  Emily immediately starts writing up this review.  She has to write 4 paragraphs giving quite the critique.  As soon she finishes she goes to print it. Yep, we're out of ink.  Not believing this night keeps getting better, I head to Walmart to buy ink.  Off I go, get the ink, come home and put the ink in the printer.  Yep, bought the wrong ink.  Bought color ink, of which we weren't out, but not black.  Unbelievable I think.  Unbelievable.  Off I go to Walmart ... again.  By now it's 9:00 and I can't believe I'm going to Walmart ... again.  At Walmart I can't find the right ink.  They're out of the ink I need.  Again with the unbelievable.

   And it gets worse ....
  So I go home and tell Emily she's going to just have to print it in color - use the darkest blue she can, and it's going to have to be good enough.  She prints it, it comes out purple - and we're past the point of caring.  I tell her to email her teacher the blurry picture of the program to her teacher (which she said was fine if we couldn't send in the actual program).  So Emmy goes to email her the picture, and lo and behold, there's an email from her band teacher.  Her email says, "sounds like lots of you forgot about this assignment ... I don't want you stressing it ... I won't make it due .... if you already did it you get extra credit." 
   Un. Believable.  Are you kidding me??  We went to 2 schools ... we went to a concert ... we wrote a paper .... we went to Walmart .... twice ... we emailed you a horrible picture .... for extra credit?!?  And Emily has a 100% in band.  After that, Emily and I just both had to go to bed.
   A series of unfortunate events indeed. 

Look who's 7!

Logan turned 7 yesterday - how can that be??  He's my baby!  And he's 7!  Crazy.  He is as smart, funny, and athletic as they come.  So glad we get to celebrate him!  Here's a little Logan 101:

Favorite food:  candy corn

Favorite TV show: Paw Patrol

Favorite color:  blue (blue, blue, and always blue)

Best friend:  Nathan

Favorite sport:  basketball

Favorite book:  Flat Stanley series

Favorite thing at school:  recess

Favorite scripture story:  Moses and the plagues

Favorite family activity:  Family Home Evening

Smiles from School

   Two cute things have happened to my kids lately - here they are:

 

   The first was from Logan's music teacher.  She had told the kids that she wanted to do a fundraiser to earn money to buy 3 xylophones for her class.  They recently had a program where they sang this cute little carmel apple song, and they sold carmel apples to earn money.  They also had little tin buckets out for donations.  Kids also brought in money from home.  For weeks I got the xylophone update from Logan.  Then I got this email from his teacher:

 

"Here is the update on the xylophones:  Even with the sale prices, shipping and handling would have made our total needed for the set of three xylophones $1300-1400.  WELL, I decided to call Suzuki directly and see if we might be able to "wangle a deal".  I told them how great my kids and parents were, that my kids had been bringing in piggy bank money for a month, that we gave "sidewalk concerts" as a fundraiser and raised $1000 for a set of three xylophones.  I asked if there was any possible way they might be able to sell us those three instruments for our hard earned $1000.  They said.........YES!!!!!

YAHOOO! So a big truck will deliver them the Monday we get back from break!  (They won't fit in the mail box :) )

I just wanted to thank all of you as families for sharing in this exciting adventure!  THANK YOU!"

 

Isn't that so cute?  I love cute/excited teachers.

 

The second cute thing happened to Tyler last week.  He went into one of his teacher's classrooms during lunch to borrow a book.  Ty didn't know what book he wanted to read, just that he was looking for a new book.  His teacher was there, reading a book.   So his teacher started asking him what kind of books he likes, they started chatting, and his teacher said, "Oh you should read this book...".  The book the teacher was reading, as in the book he was reading seconds before Tyler walked in.  Isn't that such a great, giving teacher?   I told Tyler it isn't exactly "the shirt off his back", but it's close. 

Logan's Kindergarten Program

Yes, it's October.  Yes, Logan is now in first grade.  Yes, this is 4 months late.  Yes, I'm ok with that.  I had these videos of Logan's kindergarten from last May, but when I uploaded them to Blogger the
quality wasn't very good.  Like, not even worth it.  But now that I'm this YouTube expert, I thought I'd put them on YouTube. 
    The first link is to the classic "I'm gonna be a part of it - 1st grade! 1st grade!".  All of my kids have sang this at all of their kindergarten programs - and it always brings the house down.  Logan's was more sad than cute - because he's my last.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z8uLcE888c   
    The second link is to him singing this song about how glad they are that we're all there.  They say, "I'll jump up high, slap my thigh, touch my nose, wink my eye ..." His wink is so cute, it might just kill you.  Kill you dead.  It's that cute.  Don't say I didn't warn you. 
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2XeUpjeQ3M&feature=youtu.be
   The last one is his Wiggle Worm song - I'm just adding this one because Logan loves to watch it. 
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr16DFXdbmM

Pancake Party

   This fall I was able to switch 3 of my kids to a charter school.  Only Bailey hasn't been able to get in yet. She's number 3 on the waiting list, so I don't know if she'll get in this year or not.  It doesn't really matter to me, I'm completely happy with the school she's at.  The only thing I don't like is that Bailey is on a traditional school schedule, and my charter school kids are on a modified year round schedule. Besides Bailey starting a week later, we haven't had any different days.  Until yesterday. 

   Bailey had the day off, and the other 3 had to go to school. Bailey and I decided this was such a rarity that we had better do something to make the most of it.  

  We decided the most fun thing would be to invite her closest besties over for a pajama pancake party. 

   Four cute girls came, I cranked out a bunch of chocolate chip pancakes, and happiness ensued. The party ended with a Freeze Dance game, and lots of laughs. 

  After our party it was back to normal: running errands, getting flu misted, and all the rest.  But having my buddy, Bay, made the normal much more fun. 

Education Week

  I feel like this is my 'goodbye to Education Week' post ... which makes me sad.  I have gone to Education Week almost every year since I was pregnant with Tyler.  That year, Jen and I went to BYU-I for our first time.  Man, did we have a good time.  Except for when Jen took my towel while I was in the community shower - one bathroom for a whole floor full of women, and I was an extremely 9 months pregnant (Tyler was born the next week), and I had visions of me walking completely naked back to my room.  Thank heavens she gave back my towel before I sent everyone there to therapy!  But I have gone every year for 14 years except the 4 years I was nursing a baby.  I've gone with my mom, sisters, sisters-in-law, and friends.  It's always been a highlight of my summer. 

  But, this year my kids switched to new school, where they are on a modified year-round schedule.  Education Week at BYU is always the third week of August.  And at our new school, we'll start school that same week now.  I'm not willing to miss my kids' first week of school - so Education Week has to be shelfed.  For now at least. 

   So I wanted to give a shout out to Education Week in this post.  I grew up with my mom going to Education Week at BYU every year.  Every year.  She would go to class from 8 am to 10 pm and eat an apple in between classes.  She was an Education Week diehard.  Me, not so much.  The last 4 years I've gone with friends - and while we certainly go to a lot of classes, we also squeeze in a bunch of fun.  We always go out to fun restaurants, go the temple, hike the Y, maybe see a movie or squeeze in some shopping (thank you IKEA!), and thoroughly enjoy ourselves. 

   2011 was the first year I went with friends.  What's been fun is every year it's been a different group of girls.  I'm starting to forget who I went with when, so I have to write them down to help my sad memory.  My first year was Andrea, Kristen, Kim, Lisa B., Becca, and me.  2012 I went with Becca, Kim, Katie, Lisa B., Lisa T., Kalie, and Melissa. 

 



2013 Education Week

Katie, Becca, me, Kristie, and Kim (Andrea was missing from our picture)
I.  Love.  These.  Girls.

 



 2013's Y hike

Becca, Kristie, me, Kim and Andrea

 

 

 The Y overlooking BYU

 

 2014's Education Week

Shannon, Katie, Becca, me, Kristie, Kristen

 

 

  It's so fun to be back on BYU campus - it's like no campus on earth, and I love being there.  I always bring home souvenirs for my kids - BYU t-shirts, hoodies, pj's, mint brownies or Y donuts.  A little subtle brainwashing never hurt anyone, right mom?  :)

 

So until next time Education Week - where I will welcome you back with open arms!

Piano Recital



 A few weeks ago my oldest 3 kids had a piano recital.  They all got assigned really hard songs for them - and they had to work, for months, to get these songs ready to go.  But work they did, and they did such a great job!  Bailey played a medley from High School Musical 2, Emily played "Let it Go" - I don't care who are you - you love that song, and Tyler played "Norwegian Concerto".  As you watch these videos keep in mind, our piano teacher is in our ward, all of her students are in our ward - so these recitals quickly go from 'recital' to 'party' - so there's lots of yakking in the background.  Oh well ... these are the most fun recitals we've ever had.  Enjoy!

   I put them on YouTube - my first time ever doing that (post worthy it isn't, though it proved to be more challenging than I expected, but shout out worthy in a separate post - sure!).  Here are the links:

 

 

Bailey:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE7ASfLW-hQ&feature=youtu.be

 

Emily: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvwghTLaYJc&feature=youtu.be

 

Tyler:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb_LnCEz8tU&feature=youtu.be

 

 

 

 

General Women's Meeting

Last night I took my girls to the General Women's Meeting. I don't remember why we didn't go last time, but this was the first time I've taken my girls since it changed to include girls as young as 8 years old. 

I was in the fence about going, I knew it would show on TV, and there's a lot to be said for staying home, watching it with popcorn, wearing pajamas.  But, I knew I would pay more attention, and it would be more memorable for all of us if we watched it at the church. So I couldn't decide what to do. 

So as I asked around, Kristie was on the fence, and Kim was on the fence,  and I stayed undecided.  Then as I sat next to Kim at soccer yesterday morning she said, "I'm going to go. It'll be better for me and my girls."  Just what I needed to hear. Yes, it would be better for me and my girls to go to the church too. 

So off we went last night to watch the General Women's meeting.  It was so great!  The theme was the temple and the speakers were all so good. President Uchtdorf spoke at the end and his talk was so great - about Heavenly Father loves us no matter how popular we are or what dress size we wear.  It was awesome. 

After the meeting we started inviting everyone knew to go out to get a treat together.  We ended up with 5 moms (Kim, Kristie, Kalie, Kristen, and me (the only non-k name, sometimes I tell them to call me Karen - haha) and 7 cute daughters at a yogurt place.  The moms chatted and laughed while the girls ran around on their sugar high.  It was such a great night of inspiration and friendship.  And I almost stayed home and missed it! 

 

 

 

Aubrie, Bailey, Perry, Andie, Kaisa, and Emily. 1 girl was too old to be associated with this crew and wouldn't get in the picture!

Oh Canada! Part 3

  The inevitable happened - we had to come home.  We left Winnipeg Saturday night and got a few hours down the road to Brandon, Canada.  The next morning we headed out for a full day of driving.  I think we drove almost the entire width of Canada - the whole thing, or at least really close to it. 

   I think the only highlight of that day was stopping in Regina to see my parents' temple.  Yes, a mere 6 hours from Winnipeg!  This was the littlest temple I think I've ever seen.  It was just in a neighborhood too. 

 

 



 

Alberta, Canada - our 3rd province!

Cardston Temple - awesome!

Love that giant square mountain that overlooks Cardston.

 

 

 

We drove as far as Cardston that day.  Our hotel had this gem:  a microwave/toaster.  Bailey asked me if I'd packed any frozen waffles.  After being on the road for 11 days.  Frozen waffles.

 

   We did get one gem of a story from our stay in Cardston.  It was Tyler's birthday that day.  So when we were leaving to get breakfast - we told him he got to pick where we had breakfast.  After asking the hotel clerk what options there were in the bustling metropolis of Cardston, he told us there was a Subway and a bakery.  Not super impressed with his options, Tyler picked the bakery, and we were off for a bakery birthday fit for a new teenager. 
   When we got there we were a little unimpressed - it was small, run down, and pretty yuck - just to give you the full picture.  The first few things we ordered they told that they didn't have, or wouldn't be done for a few hours, so we were really striking out.  Finally, we all found something to order and we sat down to wait.  Breakfast ended up costing $60 - not exactly what we'd planned on for breakfast.  One breakfast would come out of the kitchen at a time.  Slowly.  Very slowly.  I'm 100% positive that there one lady in the kitchen - because she would come out, deliver the one breakfast, and head back to make another.  For 6 breakfasts.  Not the way we really wanted to start our huge day on the road.  But finally everyone got their breakfast and we ate.  Derek started to talking to the lady, and told her that it was Tyler's birthday, and it would be really great if she had a cinnamon roll we could surprise him with.  She told us that she had one, and then went back to the kitchen.  So while we were done eating, Derek kept stalling us so this cinnamon roll could make it's appearance.  Then we see the lady come out, and ask one of the customers if she can borrow his lighter - I thought for sure her pilot light on her stove had gone out and now she was asking to borrow a lighter.  Oh no, not the case at all.
   Out she comes with the cinnamon roll - topped with 13 lit sparklers!  She yells to everyone in the restaurant "It's Tyler's birthday - let's sing!" and a restaurant full of strangers sang Happy Birthday to Tyler.  It more than made up for the cost and the wait of that breakfast.  As we drove out of town I asked Logan how his pancakes were.  He yelled, "De-lish!".  The bakery just kept getting better.
   Our next stop - the USA border.  The kids were excited to go back through border security - and  little disappointed that we were barely asked any questions at all.  

  Next stop, Glacier National Park.  We had planned on coming home through Glacier for months.  We really wanted to drive the Going to the Sun road - a 50 mile road that bisects the whole park.  I knew snow removal was a real problem, so for 2 months I had been checking the snow plowing progress on their website.  There were certainly no guarantees that the road would be open by late June.  So we watched and waited as more and more of the road opened.  When we got there we knew that road wasn't all the way opened yet.  So we drove 17 miles from one entrance, turned around, drove around the entire perimeter of the park, and went in the other entrance, and drove in 15 miles.  It stunk that we couldn't do the whole road, but it was still awesome to see some of the park. 

2nd National Park!

 

 

  We did find an awesome hike to Avalanche Lake.  It ended up being about 5 miles round trip - but the kids all did awesome  - maybe they were just so glad to be out of the car!

  That night we continued the birthday celebration by heading to Kalispel and eating at Famous Dave's.  Tyler LOVED Famous Dave's. 

By the end of this trip, our kids knew their way around a luggage cart!

 



Checking out of our hotel in Kalispel - our last one!

6 different hotels, 11 total hotel nights

Idaho - our 6th state!

 

This is our "after" shot - just a few minutes from home.

 

All in all, it was the most amazing trip.  I loved visiting Winnipeg, and seeing where my parents live, work, shop, and meeting people they love so much.  It was so fun to take on a huge road trip with the kids, who rocked it.  They were SO good, the whole trip.  It was definitely a trip to remember.