We were so excited to be able to see so much of Craig's family at the wedding, but I was also excited to get to see my family for a few weeks after the wedding. Brooklyn and I drove up to Boise from Salt Lake on October 19th with Craig's parents. She did really well on the drive, even took a good nap. We got into Boise Sunday evening and were able to have dinner with my family that lives in Boise. On Monday we walked over to the park with Grandma. Brooklyn loved going high in the swing and Grandma running underneath her. For lunch my mom had some of our close family friends over and Brooklyn had a lot of fun playing with the little ones. On Tuesday we went over to the YMCA and swam while my mom taught a water aerobics class. We then met some ladies from my mom's ward for lunch at Casa Mexico. That afternoon we played outside in the backyard a lot. Brooklyn was absolutely obsessed with the trampoline the entire trip and would do her best to coax anyone to go out there with her. She was successful most of the time cuz she is just too dang cute.
Wednesday afternoon we headed over to the Moss residence and hung out their for a while with Mark and his family and also ate dinner there. After dinner Audrey and Brooklyn headed outside to pick Brooklyn a pumpkin from Stan's garden and then drive the Cobra. Brooklyn had a blast, even when Audrey would accidentally run into things. She can't wait until she is big enough to drive it herself, maybe next time we are in town.
That evening Sunni and her kids got into town. Brooklyn was so excited to see her cousins. She didn't want to go to bed that night, she wanted to stay and play. I'm always so grateful that my siblings always make such an effort to come into town when we are there.
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| Brooklyn was having fun going through grandma's toy cupboards |
On Thursday we braved a little bit of rain and headed downtown to the zoo. Compared to the Memphis zoo it was a little wimpy but it was still fun and all of the kids really enjoyed it. Brooklyn enjoyed all of the puddles that she found because of the rain. we also stopped at Trader Joe's while we were downtown, I had never been there before but it was a cute little organic grocery store and Brooklyn loved the miniature shopping carts she could push around.
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| She was not a fan of sharing the tiger with Xander |
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| Her feet were soaked by the time we were done |
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| She was even more excited when grandma let her push the cart with actual groceries in it. |
That afternoon we just hung at the house while my mom did a team dinner for Tucker's football team after school. We then had everyone over for dinner before we headed over to Centennial for Tucker's last game of the season. It rained the entire game and the other team had scored two touchdowns within the first minute and a half of the game, but it was still fun to watch Tucker play. Luckily my mom came prepared and so we had plenty of blankets and umbrellas. Brooklyn was super content to just sit on my lap and watch the game. We did leave at halftime to get Brooklyn to bed and sadly Tucker separated his shoulder in the second half, good thing we know an athletic trainer and orthopedic surgeon.
Friday morning we headed out to Planet Kid. The older kids and Sunni and Missy did a team building thing with some rock climbing, while my mom and I stayed with the three little ones and played on the indoor playground. Everyone had a blast. That evening I was able to go to the BSU vs. BYU football game with Stan and Mark. BSU played awesome and it was a great game to be at. Don't get me wrong I am very grateful for my education at BYU but I will take BSU over BYU anyday.
Saturday morning we met at Tiffany's house and then headed out to Linder Farms. Stan and Diane met us there. We went on a hayride and picked out pumpkins. The kids played in a corn pit and then the highlight for Brooklyn was the petting zoo and riding the horsey. Brooklyn had to pet every single animal there but especially loved the bunnies. She was so excited to do the horsey ride. She wasn't scared at all and didn't need or want me to hang on to her. She would wave to Nana and Pops as she went passed them. Brooklyn could have stayed at the petting zoo for hours. We then went back to Tiff's for lunch and then back to Grandma's for naps. That evening we all just hung at the house. Brooklyn had so much fun playing ring-around-the-rosies with LJ and Xander. It was so cute, they did it all by themselves. Then late that night my Dad got back in town from Europe. He missed a connecting flight so he got back quite a bit later then planned so sadly Brooklyn was asleep already.
On Sunday we went to Stake conference with my parents and then Sunni and her kiddos had to head back to Rexburg. Brooklyn had a couple boughts of diarrhea that afternoon which was super fun. We just hung low that afternoon and evening. We did go over to the Moss' for a little while with Tucker so that Stan could take a look at his injured shoulder.
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| Grandpa and Brooklyn working on their "computers" |
The second week in Boise was a little bit more chill and relaxed. We played outside a lot. Brooklyn had a lot of fun helping rake up leaves, well it was me raking the leaves into a pile and then she would spread them all back out with her little rake. Luckily I could rake faster then her. We also had to hit up Costa Vida while we were in town. I of course downed an entire pulled pork salad and it was so worth all of the calories. We also decorated the pumpkins we got at Linder Farms. They were too small to carve so I let her draw on them. She had a blast with the sharpies and barely got any on herself.
Wednesday morning we got together for a little play date with my cousin and her boys. Brooklyn loved that they had a trampoline in their play room. We did the Trunk-or-Treat with Tiffany on Wednesday and then on Thursday Brooklyn got sick. Not sure what happened, but right after lunch she puked her Mac and Cheese all over me and then after we showered she puked again, but luckily I got her to the sink this time. She then threw-up one more time in the middle of the night. I felt so bad for her, but she was just as happy as could be and wasn't acting sick at all. Totally weird.
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| my mom thought it necessary to take a picture of Brooklyn's puke |
Luckily Friday she wasn't puking anymore and we went to lunch with Grandma, Grandpa, Tiff and LJ at Chik-fil-A. The kiddos had a fun time in the play area, I did have to climb up after LJ and then go down the slide, just a little embarrassing. Brooklyn then did more Trick-or-Treating that night. Saturday morning we went to the Aquarium with Stan, Diane, Mark, Audrey and Camdon. Brooklyn loved all the fishies.
My Dad had to fly back to Europe that afternoon so that evening we went with my mom to a wedding reception for for a friend in high school, whose parents are also in my parents ward. Sunday we went to church with my parents and then went to go say goodbye to Stan and Diane. We then went to my Uncle Marks house for the monthly Williams family home evening. Monday morning we got up and packed and then headed off to the airport. We flew threw Phoenix and were there for almost 4 hours and then stopped down in Houston before getting back to Memphis at about 11:00 pm. Brooklyn and I were both exhausted, but she really did a great job on all of the flights and during the layover. She did get to play with my phone and kindle way more then she ever has, but you do what you gotta do, right? It was a great trip home and it was so great to see so much family. We can't wait until next time.
a few other pictures from the trip:
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| blowing bubbles with Grandpa |
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| watching football with Uncle Tuck |
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| playing golf in Aunt Tiffy's living room |
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| jumping on the tramp with Aunt Missy |
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| She loved the baby doll set my mom bought and she figured out she could fit into the baby's stroller |
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