Tax Widow and Five Kids On Wheels

Well it is that time of year when my kids are out on spring break for 2 weeks, and taxes are piled high on my husband's desk......so we left dad and headed up to Utah for our annual trip. We had such a great time! The first stop on the list was Las Vegas where my good friend Julie Shipp lives. She was my nursing school buddy at Ricks. We were always at the library till closing, waking up at 4:45 for nursing clinicals, and even went to Mexico together to do our Pediatrics rotation of school. We always got asked if we were sisters.....even in Mexico they would ask if we were hermanas?

All our kids got a long great. It was a fun evening and she even convinced me to get up at 6am for a 4.4 mile run!! If she would have told me it was going to be that far, I would thought about backing out.....but I would do it for her ( I know she normally runs farther)...I am so glad I did it, we got some good talking time AND I felt cool to say I actually ran that far.

Next Stop: Cedar City Utah. We hit up my sister Liz for 2 nights, and another on the way back! I love spending time at Liz's she is such a fun person to be around....she took pictures for me, let us go to the movies, and took us to a fun work zone that Jeremy created for his company. She fed me SO good and healthy that it convinced me to try and cook like her.

Kids with Jeremy on the Rinho

My sister Jenna happened to be crashing there the second night too. So we took advantage of our very few and far between sister time and went out for ice cream! There is nothing like a sister....I am so lucky to have 3 of them! The next morning us sisters went to a killer workout that Liz does every morning. It was intense, and we were super sore, but it was SO much fun.

Next Stop: Kaysville, Utah. Off to Grandma's house we go. I parked it at my parents for 4 days. It was so nice just to hang at HOME again. I loved letting my kids get some one on one time with Grandma and Grandpa Brown. With 25 cousins that does not come around very often. Most the time my girls were at their cousin Madison's house....they loved every minute of that. Usually it was me, Kamryn and the two boys. Although, Luke got to go out to his cousins Kayson's house for a night. They had not seen each other for a year and they were already putting each other in head locks minutes after reuniting. We did a family dinner on Sunday where 4 siblings out of 7 got together. I went out with my really fun sister Mishaun one night, I loved the uninterrupted time. Thanks to my sweet Mom who watched the kids for me.

Luke and Drew sleeping at Grandma's house

Sadie Brown, Grandma Brown, and Kamryn

Me and Janell Brown just hanging

Family dinner night

Rj/Mishaun Barnes, Janel/Trent Brown Grandma/Grandpa Brown

LeRoy/Kelli Brown, and Meredith

All the cousins together

We took a whole morning and made new table cloths for my table. It was one of my goals to do while I was up there since I am not as good of a seamstress as my mom and sis. I LOVE my new table cloths, they are so cute!!! Thanks for all the help, I needed it!

Luke Dunking

Drew Dunking

(Notice Jarom beside him.....Drew LOVES him and followed him around hopelessly. He even started making me do his hair like his. He asked me all day long if his hair STILL looked like Jarom's.)

Kids/Cousins Hiking

Kennedy loving the out doors

This is an FHE game my family is famous for playing. You have to roll a dice and get a 6.....once you get a 6 you have to put on a hat, glove, and start stabbing a chocolate bar with a fork. You get to eat as much as you can until someone else rolls the 6.....Luke had a stomach ache after.

Drew not understanding the game and wanting to eat all the chocolate!

Next stop: Provo, Utah for 2 nights at Kristen Decker's house.....This one of my favorite stops. For one, I get to be with my best friend from England (no she's not British...both our dads were stationed there in the Air Force). The second reason is ALL the fun shopping! We got a babysitter for a whole day and went out. Just me and her. I loved it. I NEVER get a sitter and just go out shopping for the day. The two things I love, shopping and spending time with a best friend. She is such a great friend and always a great example! Thanks Kristen......

Kennedy, Kenzi Decker, and Brynn

The Salisbury girls....we all got matching hats.

Luke with Reese Decker

I guess Drew asked Kristen to take a picture of him praying....what a nut!

Luke

Bedtime for 3 giggly girls!

Even though 20 hours in the car by myself with 5 kids does not sound appealing....I would do it all over again for them to have this chance to make lasting friendships and build stronger relationships with family. I find it important to surround my children with these opportunities. Everyone made us feel so welcomed, it was such a wonderful trip. I learn a little bit from each of you at each stop. Making me want to be a better person. Thanks again...........can't wait to see you next year!

B-Ball Time

I Love watching Luke and Brock play together. The are so cute. They are best friends, but even better.....cousins. They sit by each other in school and stick up for eachother. They have a special connection.
The Magic......Clint coached this team and did such a good job. It was fun having Luke being coached by his Uncle. This was Luke's first year of B-Ball and Luke LOVES it. Maybe this will be his sport. Boys: Jack, Fredrick, Chris, Kevin, Brock, Luke, and Stone.

Dear Luke,

You are seven years old and my have you grown up this year......you have turned into such a good listener. You were my first baby boy that I got to fall in love with. When I rocked you at night I loved every moment of it, and remember feeling how much you loved me back. Heavenly Father blessed you with such a strong spirit. You will need to use that strength and channel it for good. You will be such a great leader if you can turn that determination into following Christ. I love you. You have made me earn my role as parent, but because of you I have learned to recognize my weaknesses, strengthen them, and hopefully become a better mother. I love you son!

Happy 7th Birthday Luke!

Luke is 7 today and he is very proud to be a year older. He is constantly measuring himself to me to see if he has grown. If we are going to visit someone he quiz's me down to see if he is older, stronger, and has more hair than the other kid. We had a HOT TUB party for Luke this year with all of his friends.

Justus, Spencer, Jacen, Stone, Luke, Brock, Cade, and Drew looking lifeless in the hot tub except for his smile!

His Great Grandma Cook passed away today......I am sure Luke will always remember that he shared that day with such a special person.

We will miss you Great Grandma Cook

Travis's Grandma died today of a heart attack. She and her husband were on vacation in Monterey, CA. She collapsed in their hotel room this morning. She was such a special lady. I have never seen a Grandma so full of life. She had such a spark about her, that is probably where Travis gets it from! We loved her so much. Here is her obituary:

Donna Cook of Echo, Oregon, left her earthly home on March 8, 2010 at the age of 80. She was born in Rigby, Idaho, on December 31, 1929 to Floyd and Mary Smith. She was married and sealed for time and all eternity to L. Vernon Cook on November 10, 1949 in the Idaho Falls, Idaho temple.

She was preceded in death by her eldest son Kent, foster daughter and son-in-law Barb and Frank Dana, and infant granddaughter Rochelle Salisbury. She is survived by her husband, L. Vernon Cook, her sister Maureen Thurston and brothers Reid, Lynn, and Brent Smith. Her surviving children include Dianne Hunt (Joel) Boise, Idaho; Sherri Salisbury (Mark) Basin City, Washington; Brian Cook (Karli) Irrigon, Oregon; Darla Hartsteen (Wally), Hermiston, Oregon; Lorilee Mitchell (Rick) Bonney Lake, Washington; Launa Allphin (Steve) Highland, Utah; foster daughter Marie Smart (Rod) Heber, Utah; Michelle Hullinger (Randy) Vancouver, Washington, and Kent’s wife Sharon, Sandy, Oregon; 57 grandchildren and 76 great-grandchildren.

Donna and Vernon’s journey together began on a farm in Shelton, Idaho. Because of Vernon’s veteran status they pursued an opportunity to develop land through the Columbia Basin Project and moved to Moses Lake, Washington in 1953. They moved to Basin City, Washington in 1958 and Echo, Oregon in 1972 where they currently reside. Donna was not a spectator in the farming venture, but rather very much involved in the family business where she worked side by side with her husband in addition to raising and nurturing their children.

Kennedy is 9!

Kennedy had such a fun birthday. We had her friends come over to share Kennedy's favorite lunch: pizza, bread sticks, and orange soda. Then they all hot tubbed and got brave and started jumping in the cold pool. She had a great day.

Atalie, Brynn, Eva, Kennedy, Payton, Lani, Samantha, Calle, Brinley, Taylor, Eden

(notice Drew still pouting it is not his birthday)

Dear Kennedy,

You are such a light to have in our home. You have that type spark that can light up a room. Everyone loves to be around you because of that joy you have in your eyes.

Always hold your head high and know you are a Daughter of a King, no one can take that away. Your worth is beautiful.....I love you and feel privileged to call you my daughter.

Love,

Mom

Mom, Will You Scratch My Back?

I hear Drew ask "Mom, can you scratch my back?" and then I turn around and see THIS! Once I start scratching he tells me to go right or left. I don't even know if he knows what right means and what left means. His stance is just priceless.........had to capture the moment.

Money Jar

My parents came into town to help my brother Clint. He just had a little baby that was in the NICU for almost 2 weeks! While they were here they brought down the "money jar". It's a birthday tradition that they do for the grand kids. When it is their birthday a grand kid gets a one time chance to grab as much change out in one shot. Kennedy got $9, and Luke got $5 they were so excited to load their wallets with TONS of coins. It was such a fun week seeing them around town!