Our Trip to Michigan- Part 2

Michigan State-One morning we got to go visit Brian at Michigan State. It is a beautiful campus. We had to get some more of the green Michigan State birthday cake ice cream.

We also visited an awesome children's museum on campus.
(In the background you can see the blue playhouse-
after we looked inside the house Ava told me in an excited, relieved voice, "There's no witches in there!")

Owen got tricked pretty good at how to make some toads squirt water at him but when he learned the trick he thought it was pretty cool.

Hanging out & chillin- this was the biggest goal on our list of things we wanted to do. It was done very successfully.



Lansing Zoo- This was an awesome zoo that was just the right size with lots of cool animals.
Jollay Orchards- on Saturday we visited another orchard but this one had a Ferris Wheel, blow up houses, hay rides, a corn maze and a fishing pond.

The Ferris wheel. Ava loved it. She could hardly stop giggling.

We played hard until they closed and then we headed back home.

On the way home we drove into a little town and ate at a pretty sweet diner that was a lot of fun.

Extended Vacation- so on Sunday we got to enjoy going to stake conference and playing for a few hours before we had to take off. We said our goodbyes and headed to the airport. On the way we got backed up in traffic because of an awful wreck that delayed us about an hour. Once we got through that we rushed to the airport only to find out we'd missed the cutoff with baggage by 10 minutes. After over an hour of Matt "discussing" with different people how they couldn't charge us over $300 a ticket to switch our tickets, we finally got our tickets switched for the next morning- for free thank goodness. The kids handled it all very well- Owen even said instead of staying 10 nights (as he held up both his hands)

We get to stay 10 plus one more!"So we took a shuttle bus to a hotel near the airport. On the way Ava said to Matt, "I'm so excited Dad!"

In our room we ordered a pizza for dinner and watched tv while we ate it. Then early the next morning we loaded up again and made it home later that night.

Thanks again Brian & Lexie! We had a blast.

Our trip to Michigan- Part 1

For our family vacation this year we went to Michigan to visit my brother Brian and his family. We had a blast and I have so many fun pictures- here's some of what we did.

Owen & Ava were so excited. We had to leave pretty early but neither of them slept on the drive down.

On the plane Ava wanted to share her seatbelt with Isaac for a little while.

We got to meet new little Wesley.
Sophie & Ava loved to take care of the babies.

We went on a pretty walk along the river in Lansing with Quality Dairy doughnuts & cider- yum!

Nora & Owen had fun doing puzzles and being silly together.

Matt making yummy molten chocolate lava cakes.

Reading bedtime books.
We had 7 kids under one roof but they did so good together.

Hawk Island Park- the weather was awesome. With the changing leaves it was gorgeous!

We were glad Miles could come along. The kids had fun playing & pretending together.
We got the next two shots in the car- I don't really know but it kinda looks like Miles was copying Owen's cheesy smile.

Apple Orchard- We got to go pick apples and taste a bunch of different kinds at a pretty orchard.

On our walk back to our car we passed a big pumpkin patch.

And in the parking lot Owen was a big fan of the sand.

Owen's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Owen!

Ava bringing Owen his favorite breakfast of crepes with a candle, because blowing the candles out just once on the cake is never quite enough.

McDonald's for lunch was just what Owen wanted on his big day.

Then that night Owen wanted to have a water party-

If you ever wonder if your party is exciting enough just invite this girl and your good :). It was fun to have so much family over to celebrate Owen on his big day.

Patrick & Dallin Paul

The race track birthday cake. Owen loved it and I was excited with my (with my moms help) first great cake making experience.

Grandma &

Grandpa Huff

Grandma & Grandpa Phillips

We love you Owen.

Huckleberries

Although not many berries came home with us, we had a lot of fun picking these tiny berries with a cookout on a campfire.

Thanks again Cat, you made the hiking in the forest possible without Matt there.

I decided showing Ava how matches work probably wasn't the best idea when I smelled them the next week after she lit some that she found at our house. luckily no damage was done.

It really is this exciting.

Owen was a good little berry picker.

Ava would agree it was fun being way up in the mountains.