Memorial day weekend

We met Rob's brother Daniel & family and sister Trish and family in Colorado to see their old stomping grounds.  Here we are at Garden of the Gods.  The weather was nice half the day and rainy the other half.  After this hike, we made it back to the RV just as it started raining.  On this trip we drove to Rifle, CO and boondocked in a walmart parking lot.  The kids, especially Emma were really hyped up until 11pm as we were trying to fall asleep. The first night is the hardest to get them settled.  It was so nice to get up, have breakfast, then drive (or eat with a table while driving).  We met cousins at Garden of the Gods, then hiked, then hung out at the RV with them.  Then we made dinner at that parking lot, ate, then drove to a McDonald's in Woodlin Park that advertised RVs were welcome. (also, cheapest gas here, even though this was a rich area).  We were wishing that the play area was open, but the dining area wasn't even open.  We watched Spiderverse that night (my first time seeing it), and the kids went to bed at a more reasonable hour.  

Zachary must be tired to fall asleep like that.  Funny that there are beds in this thing, but the kids fell asleep at the table.  I should say the Christopher and Michael didn't come on this short 4 day trip with us.  They were invited to separate end of the year parties and since we were going to have a family reunion the next week, we let them stay with their (separate) friends.  They had a blast and the Hanks and Harris' said they were great.

Then we drove a short ways from the McDonalds to Mueller State Park.  We made breakfast there, then hiked with Daniel's family and got back just as the rain was starting.  Maybe we got a little wet and cold, but not too bad.  Then we drove to Cabalas near Colorado Springs and made dinner.  After dinner we walked around Cabalas.  Then Trish's family came and saw us and hung out in our RV with us.  I bet we watched another movie then went to bed.  (Glad we put the tv/dvd player in even if we can't hear it while it's driving). The next morning was Sunday, so we showered everyone (we had a great system where Rob washed them and I dressed them (or laid out their clothes).  (Remember, still boondocking in the Cabalas parking lot).  Then we drove to Rob's old church building in Black forest.  We made a bunch of crepes (Rob cooked, I made the batter & Rob's siblings provided toppings.) and ate with Rob's siblings and kids.  Luckily no one got nutella all over their Sunday clothes.  Then we went into church, they saw a bunch of people they remembered, we took over a few primary classes, then drove by their old house.  Afterwards we drove to Fox Run Park, but didn't get out because it was pouring down rain!   We hung out in the RV, all 19 of us.

Here are some kids/cousins

And some more

 And the rest (minus one baby).  After that we drove back to Rifle to spend the night, very grateful that the roads were clear.

Stephenson reunion

The boy Stephenson cousins

The girl Stephenson cousins

Rachel wanted some pictures with the babies. (and Emma wants to be wherever Rachel is)

Adalyn's like 'mom, are you sure about this?'

Kids loved climbing around in nature's playground.

Makayla's cousins made her a beautiful hair-do,

 Emma loved playing in "the sand". Too bad I didn't get any pictures at the reunion house or the neighborhood pool that we enjoyed every day.  Emma was so funny and was scared of the water at the neighborhood pool/waterpark.

Michael's 6th grade graduation and award ceremony

Michael was awarded the Kiwanis Terrific Kids award.  Here is what the letter they sent us said:  "Your child has been selected by teachers at your elementary school to receive a Kiwanis "Terrific Kids" Award sponsored by the Spanish Fork Kiwanis Club. Each year our club recognizes outstanding 6th grade students from elementary schools in Spanish Fork and Salem for their contributions to the school and community. Our criterion for a Terrific Kid is one who is: Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inclusive, Friendly, Inquisitive and Capable; hence, TERRIFIC. "

I was really surprised and impressed that Michael was awarded this award with 5 other 6th graders at his school.  Here he is with his friend Derek, who thinks Zachary is really cool. (several of Michael's friends gave Zachary candy on his birthday.)

Parading around the school

The awardees.

Michael's 6th grade teacher (she was also in our ward).

Michael and his friend Joseph (and Zachary)

Michael and Derek with Mr. Talbot (which the kids call Mr. Tablet)

Even though 6th grade graduation was outside, it was weird being so close to other people after a year of social distancing.

 

Beginning of May

Makayla's birthday pie is an apple crisp in a sugar cookie crust.  Soo good!

So cute!

Here is Emma in the same outfit: https://robandmarseillestephenson.blogspot.com/2019/09/end-of-april.html

The kids love the rope swing

Adalyn was playing with that hat, but manage to turn herself and scoot away from it and looks so pleased with herself.

Happy birthday Makayla!

I love this picture.  It's the background for my phone.  Soo cute!

(It was cropped from this pic)

Happy baby!

Matthew wanted a picture with her.

Makayla wanted watermelon nails...we need more practice before we are ready for that.  Emma enjoyed doing nails with us.

Adalyn trying out sunglasses.

Makayla and her friend Hadley with their Hover boards.  Makayla wanted one for her birthday, so she paid for half of it and the other half was her bday present.

fun toy!

Emma and Adalyn LOVE swinging together!

Adalyn l.o.v.e.d sleeping in what we called her sleepsac. It was starting to get a little too small and then the zipper popped.  Sad day and a hard time falling asleep after that.  She would grab her arm kinda like she was stretching her shoulder, pulling her hand up to her mouth and kinda sucked on her sleeve.  So she was used to a special smell and softness from it.  Eventually she got over it and slept better.

Sunday nap with Daddy

Zachary photo bombing.

Makayla took a picture for me on Mother's day, but Adalyn wouldn't look at the camera.

Mathew lost 3 teeth...it looked kinda funny with that one in the middle there, but the ones on either side gone.

Makayla put chalk in the kids hair.

And her hair.

Zachary ran in Michael's track meet lollypop race.

Emma tried running in the race, but fell and a girl (maybe that girl?) helped her finish.

Michael went to the finals in one of his races.

Standing long jump (and friends from the twins soccer behind him)

Zachary helping Emma in our neighbor's backyard.

Making "houses" and keeping Adalyn corralled. 

Christopher doesn't like me to take pics of him, but I really wanted one last picture of him wearing this shirt, and look, he's even bringing in the trash, so nice of him.  The first picture I have of him wearing this shirt is 6 years ago, March 2015....He was 10.  https://robandmarseillestephenson.blogspot.com/2015/04/march-12-16.html (last picture on the post). Same shirt.  Right after this picture, he gave the shirt to Matthew, age 7.

For his birthday, Zachary wanted a chocolate cake with cool whip and strawberries.

He wanted a spiderman costume (spoiler...he WOULDN"T wear it for Halloween.)

I"m not sure why this is out of order.

He also wanted a punching bag (Spoiler...didn't last 6 months...mostly because he pushed the plug inside the base and lost/broke the other piece to the plug.

Eating warheads

 lol