Grandma Tucker's Turn

While my grandpa was hunting, we decided to take a trip to Twin Falls to see my grandma. I didn't take very many pictures to prove it, but we had so much fun!

We spent lots of time looking through my grandma's hope chest/family history binders, making treats, playing with the kids, and just talking. 

The kids had just as much fun as I did.

Grandma was so patient while she showed them each of her collectible boxes.

She had cleaned out her toy cupboard right before we came, so the kids got to keep a few things. They were really excited about it, and they still carry those toys around and tell me that they are from Grandma. Ellie calls this crocheted Grover "Gilbert," and it cracks me up.

We found a picture of Gran D in her baby book!

And of course Grandma had to get some story time in. It was funny to hear Ellie's confusion as she heard some of the New Testament names since they are names of her siblings, cousins, uncles, etc. I guess that's something we need to work on distinguishing between!

Grandma and I were really excited to take the kids outside to jump in the leaves... But they were much more interested in raking them into a giant pile.

We had to force them into the pile, and even then they didn't enjoy it all that much. Strange. What kid doesn't like jumping in leaf piles?

But overall we had a great time. I'm so glad I could spend that time alone with my Grandma.

Grandpa Tucker Visits

Grandpa Tucker stopped by on Saturday on his way to go hunting. 

Ellie sat next to him the entire time and asked question after question after question.

And I love this picture. All three of the kids are captivated, but in their own way: Ellie is right up front and center, Nathan is back a little ways getting used to the situation but still wanting to be part of it, and Jonah is looking up from whatever he was playing with on the floor. That is a perfect depiction of each of their personalities.

I'm so glad we got to see him, even if it was only for a few minutes!

A Few Pictures from Our Trip to AZ

     I forgot how busy life is when I'm in school and working. Whew! So blog posts may be a little less often... Oh well! 

     Anyway, here are a few pictures from our trip to Arizona. None of these are from the actual reception, but I will get those up soon hopefully!

Snuggling with my girl after the reception. She was inconsolable, and only wanted me to snuggle her. Please excuse the creepy red eye I have going on.

The plane ride on the way home. So tired!

Apparently there was lots of tiredness going on...

On the way to Arizona - why is the trip to a vacation so much more fun than the trip home?

My handsome, blurry boys on the way to the wedding. Nathan sure looks like his daddy!

     We were so glad to be able to go to the wedding and to spend some time with family! Luckily our kids have mostly gotten back on their schedules. Thank goodness!

Love,

Back to Real Life

     We got back from my brother's wedding last night around 9 pm. It was great to see family, and especially to be present for the marriage. I have lots of pictures to post, but I will get to those later this week. Right now we are trying to help our kids get back on a schedule because they definitely didn't get enough sleep while we were gone!

     Hopefully getting them back on a schedule will curb Ellie's screaming. To be honest, I'm really quite sick of it. Yesterday, on the way home, we stopped at a grocery store to pick up a few things before we really got on the road (this was after a plane ride, so of course Ellie was exhausted) and Ellie screamed for a sucker the entire time. Oh man, that girl tries my patience sometimes. It's a good thing she's cute and that I love her so much!

     More about the wedding later.

Love,

My Brother is Coming Home TODAY!!!

     My brother is coming home from his mission in New York City today!! (Well, to Mesa... I get to see him tomorrow. Yay!)

     In honor of his homecoming, I have decided to post a few hilarious stories. Be excited.

     The first story happened when we looked about like this:

Aren't we cute? Yes. The answer is yes. And P.S. We are the two in the middle.

     Anyway, story number one. We were visiting my grandma in Utah one summer, so we went to church while we were there. Tucker and I walked into the Primary room together ready to introduce ourselves to the Primary President so we could get put into the right classes. Here is the conversation that ensued:

     Primary President: Hello! Are you guys visiting today?

     Tucker (because heaven knows I was too shy to talk to anyone I didn't know): Yes!

     Primary President: Great! We're so glad to have you! What are your names?

     Me: Heidi.

     Tucker: Tuck-o. (he couldn't say his "R's")

     Primary President: ... Taco?

     Tucker: No, Tuck-o.

     Primary President: ... Taco?

     Tucker: No! Tuck-O!

     Primary President: ... Taco? 

     (Lady, you haven't figured it out yet? His name is NOT Taco.)

     Tucker: NO! TUCK-O!!!

     Primary President: ... Taco?

     Tucker: NO!!! Tell her, Heidi!

     Me: Tucker.

     ... awkward silence ...     

     Primary President: ... Oh, Tucker! Why didn't you just say that in the first place? 

     ?????? 

     (Real life, people.)

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     The second story happened when we looked about like this, minus the Halloween costumes. Obviously.

He's the bat, and I'm the angel. (Very fitting to our personalities, don't you think? *insert angelic smile here*)

     Story number two also happened at Grandma's house, but not the same grandma. This time we were in Idaho for the summer, and all the cousins were going to sleep in the basement. Naturally, Tucker and I were fighting over who got to sleep on the couch.

     We were in the room that my parents would sleep in, digging through suitcases to find our pajamas. I swore it was my turn to sleep on the couch, and he swore it was his. We were getting madder and madder, louder and louder.   Finally he just shouted at me, "I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU MY BARE BUTT!" (since, you know, that was a valid argument that would convince me to sleep on the floor.) and he proceeded to pull down his pants. To escape the horror that was my 6-year-old brother's bum, I quickly buried my face into the bedspread... Little did I know, the wooden footboard was covered by the bedspread, and I slammed the bridge of my nose into that instead of the soft bed. I screamed, my parents ran in to see what had happened, and I of course blamed everything on Tucker. I may have been a little dramatic.

     But guess who got to sleep on the couch that night? This girl. 

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     Luckily Tucker's speech impediment is gone, and we no longer show our bums to settle arguments. 

     I am flying into Arizona tomorrow to see him, and I can't wait! I have missed his crazy personality:

     Yep, he's great. Welcome home, Elder Denton! (Well... in a few hours.)