4th of July

Well, after Canada day, soon comes 4th of July. We had a real good time celebrating the 4th at my sisters house on the prairie. She lives right on the Montana border so we hiked up the hill and took some pictures. I've been up there a handful of times but every time the view is a beautiful wonder. Old Cheif mountain in the distance and long waves of green grass as far as the eye can see.

With my American boys at the Montana border.

Dan let me hike up while he rode in the truck with the boys. We started them out in the jogging stroller but very quickly ditched the idea. Mosquitoes.. cow patties... gopher holes.. ya

Here is the fenceline separating the US from Canada. Our kids ventured out past the fence, but I didn't think it was a fabulous idea. I guess because I live so close to the Mexican border... that just doesn't happen!

All the kids and cousins standing at the border monument.

I laughed at my sister for trying to get us excited about rolling a tire down the long hill. But it was amazing how far it went and so fun to watch. Talk about simple pleasures!

Dan taking the boys for their first wild ride. Look at Jasper holding on for dear life to Jayden.
At my sister's farm, there are lots and lots of toys. I'm not talking about barbies and cars, I mean golf carts and quads and canoes and bikes and trampolines and chickens and miniature horses (well their use to be) and magic trees with fairy doors. Yes its true, my kids prefer visiting their farm, to disneyland. They absolutely do, no joke. Its is a kids haven. Well, for 2 months anyway, the other 10 are covered in snow. ha

It was also a great day for kite flying. Dan had one going so high he had to attach 3 more ropes, until my sister said he better get it the heck down or else. Apparently it was an expensive one from Costco. A fun day, wish we could have stayed much longer.

Arriving in Canada

Cousins everywhere, I think my parents now have 15 grandkids. So all but one ( sweet little lassy Raven residing in Europe) greeted us at Grandpa Johnnies farm on Canada day. We had fun at the parade, and playing at the farm. It was an eventful day for sure.

Lets see...Norah, Ellie, Maysa, Lilah, Cheyenne. Girls and more girls, the majority of my Dad's grandkids are girls.

How fun to have a ball pit at Grandmas house, especially since my boys LOVE balls of any sort.

Cute cousins all lined up in a row to see the parade, I did their hair and made the red and white hairclips (thankyou very much, don't they all look so nice)..

I love this picture of Jasper waving the Canada flag... I just didn't take the shot of him trying to eat it, this one was better... ;)

Jayden often got stuck in this little bench at Grandmas house, it was so funny.

Raymond main st fair... it was such a blast... yyyaah. Here is my sister ZeeZee and her husband Al with some of the kids. What a party. Somehow I was talked into going to this. Eventually the mosquitoes drove us out.

Sierra being a good big sister feeding Jayden, what a sweetheart. We just love to spoil our babes.!

Travelling to Canada

Travelling to Canada was not as stressful or difficult as I thought it would be. Afterall we took 4 days to get there. First we stopped in Payson, Az so that we could pick up Elena from YWs camp bright and early in the morning. She was able to go to 3 full days of camp at least. The twins travelled very well, I sat beside them for the majority of the time, as long as they were sucking on a bottle or we were doing puppet shows, they were just fine. Maysa was probably more difficult than they were, but with her ipod and dvds, she did ok too. Next year.... we will fly.

I loved watching the twins sleep, they looked so identical it was hilarious.

Eventually they tired of every toy I brought so pill bottles and nail polish seemed to do the trick after 18 hours of driving.

My favorite part of the drive was Montana... and it lasts forever. I am convinced Montana is the most beautiful state in the country...>>>>> well... in the summertime anyway :)

lovely Montana.. I think this picture looks like a painting, but its NOT, its taken from my iphone and I am not a photographer.!

Sierra and Maysa having fun at our first stop in Payson AZ, really enjoying the MUCH cooler weather!

need I say more..

Elena was all ready and packed for YWs camp at least 3 days in advance. She could barely hold up this pack, and she sure had a fun time.

Maysa had to give it a try too, but with Dad holding her up of course.

I think this was the first time we let the boys run around on the grass, they loved it of course. FREEDOM!!!

All dressed up

Getting ready to go to Canada and see all our cousins! The kids looked so nice for church we had to shoot some pictures....