Day 2 at Cedar Point

 We had another fun day at Cedar Point! Brad bribed Tenley to ride Top Thrill 2 with Dip ‘n Dots and she said yes! They went on the ride first thing when we got to the park. Tenley had so much fun that they got right back in line! And then they convinced me to join them so she went a third time. It was the craziest ride I’ve ever been on. I wasn’t ready to jump back in line like Tenley, but I definitely enjoyed the experience!

We enjoyed many more rides. I went on some coasters with the three oldest kids while Brad hung out with Luke. And then I got to hang out with Luke. He loved Camp Snoopy and decided to spend his birthday money from Grandma and Grandpa Woodruff on a Woodstock stuffed animal.

We had a really yummy lunch and Tenley got her Dip ‘n Dots. Brad got Ryder and Luke to ride a huge swing ride which they both ended up loving and rode two more times after that!

Around 6 it started to rain but Kade really wanted to ride Top Thrill one more time. They were the last car to go before they shut the ride down due to the weather. Brad and Kade were in the front car getting pelted with rain drops at 120 mph! They said it hurt but they still enjoyed it. It was a crazy way to end the park, but we had a great couple of days there. Now we’re headed to the next adventure in Indiana!

Cedar Point

 We spent the whole day in Cedar Point today and came back to the hotel exhausted! It was a long day but everyone had so much fun! After Brad and Kade went on the craziest ride ever, Top Thrill 2, we went as a whole family on Siren’s Curse. Luke had seen videos of it and was so excited about it. He made me pinky swear that I would go on it with him so I did. I ended up really enjoying it and he ended up terrified. We went on Millenium Force after that with everyone but then Luke said he was done with roller coaster rides. He refused any other rides. It was sad! But then we found the swings for him which he loved and a car ride, the merry go round and the Ferris wheel. We all had so much fun and Luke said he loves Cedar Point!

Ryder, Luke and I took a break from the park to go swimming and then came back at night to eat dinner with everyone. It was a good day!

Indiana Sand Dunes and Lake Michigan

 We left Bozeman really early this morning to catch our flight to Chicago. The hotel receptionist was really sweet and let us all have a fresh churro donut. They were so good! Our flight went well and the kids enjoyed experiencing the big city of Chicago as we drove through. 

We headed to Sandusky Ohio today but stopped at Lake Michigan to show our kids one of the fun places we used to come when we lived out here. The beach was nice and the kids loved racing down the sand dunes.

We made it to Sandusky at sunset and walked along the boardwalk at Lake Eerie and around Cedar Point. The kids are excited to ride all the rides tomorrow!

Family Trips

 Stake conference was wonderful this morning. Kade sang with a group of five other youth and it was so beautiful! The speakers were amazing as well. A sweet primary girl from our ward spoke and did such a great job! Here are my notes from the session:

What can I do to do a little more?

Faith and gratitude make us WHOLE. Luke 17

Repent. Our guilt can be swept away. Enos 1.

Where is your heart? Take out the stones of sin and the thorns of distraction.

After stake conference we came home, packed up and headed to Bozeman. We leave on an early flight tomorrow morning to Chicago for a Midwest adventure with the kids. We plan to visit all of our favorite places from when we lived in Indiana for dental school. We are so excited!

Stake Conference

 We have stake conference this weekend with a visiting authority so today was pretty busy for Brad. He was at the church from 1:30-9 for meetings, the leadership session, dinner, and then the adult session. I was able to join him for the leadership session, dinner, and the adult session even though I didn’t get to sit with him for the sessions. He spoke at the leadership session about preparing ourselves for the second coming of Jesus. It was a great talk. I loved when he talked about how we need to be able to recognize the Savior when he comes again spiritually and that we need to be able to be recognized by Him spiritually. Out inward, spiritual preparation is more important than how we look outwardly. 

I also loved this thought from Sister Johnson, our mission president’s wife: “What the world needs now is love sweet love. Alma 34:28 ‘There is no better way to manifest love for God than to manifest love for your fellow men.’ David O McKay.”

It was a great night. Our kids had fun together as well. They even helped our neighbor get rid of some snakes that she found in her yard. I don’t know where Tenley got the desire to hold things like snakes! 😆 

Family Errands

 We got a lot of errands run together as a family today and when I asked the kids if they’d like leftovers for dinner or to go out it was easy for them to choose. I don’t know why they hate leftovers so much! Luke’s face cracked me up when I asked that question. They were so helpful with the errands so we picked them up some pizza.

I finally got flowers planted at Brad’s office and at home. Freshly planted flowers are so beautiful and I love them! 

Kade and Tenley got to go on a youth temple trip tonight. They always enjoy those but they’ll be home really late tonight! I’m sure they’ve had a great time.

Soccer Scrimmage

 I got so lucky with soccer this year because Luke and Ryder ended up on the same team! That means I just have to worry about one practice each week and one game. I’m so grateful! It is a huge age gap which isn’t ideal but I think it will be fine. Their team scrimmaged against another team tonight and when their coach asked who wanted to play goalkeeper Luke’s hand shot up. The coach had a keeper jersey and gloves for him. It looked like he was copying Kade’s defensive moves. I was very impressed! Ryder played forward and between him and his other friend they were able to get two goals. They are both very fast and athletic. It was a fun scrimmage!

My Parent’s New Adventure

 My parents sold their house today and head to their new house in St. George tomorrow! I’m so excited for them and I can’t wait to go visit them. It’s crazy that they’re both retired now and onto a fun adventure. But they deserve it.

The kids are still enjoying summer. They went to the library together today. I know I mention this so much that it’s probably annoying by now but this time in life with the ages my kids are is magical. It is the best and I don’t want it to end.

My Kids

 The kids have been making the most of their time together. I have really been enjoying this season in my life with the ages my kids are and being able to have them all at home. I especially love seeing them all hang out, get along and have fun together. Today they took monopoly outside on the patio with some music and played. They’re the best.

First Day of Summer

 I had all my kids home most of the day today! It was really nice. Kade did leave this morning to meet up with some soccer friends and go for a run as part of their soccer training for the summer. And Tenley was gone for a few hours tonight for volleyball open gym. But other than that we enjoyed the day together! Luke was especially happy to have Kade home. Ryder was sweet and made them all ham, egg and cheese sandwiches. I got to sit out enjoy the patio again. It’s going to be a great summer!

Good Weekends

 I had to get a few pictures with Luke today because I forgot to on Friday. It was a bit emotional for me walking to the baptismal font on Friday knowing that this was my last child to be baptized. All the “lasts” are hard to process! My kids are growing up too fast! I’m grateful it is summer time now and I hope we are able to enjoy it together. Brad shared some of his thoughts from Luke’s baptism today in his testimony that he shared. He talked about how excited Luke was to be baptized. He had gotten in his suit and packed his clothes for the baptism hours before it was time to go. And when he and Brad were walking to the front, Luke was running to it! I need to be that excited about making and keeping my own covenants!  It was such a great weekend. We’re so grateful to our family for driving to be here. I’m so grateful for the perfect weather we had on Friday. It’s been rainy ever since! We were lucky that things worked out so well.

My Parents

 I had to say goodbye to my parents tonight which is never easy for me and felt even harder this time with their move to St. George. But luckily I had all day to hang out with them! Brad and his Dad and Kade and Tenley spent the day driving to Billings and back for Kade’s soccer games so Ryder, Luke and I got to be with my parents and Judy. We all enjoyed sleeping in which was nice and then the rest of our patio furniture showed up so my Dad helped me build it and get it all set up! It looks so nice!!

Then we went out to lunch at Qdoba and decided to go swimming at the hotel my parents were staying at. My Dad wanted to pick up a swimsuit at the store so he could swim with the boys and they got new swimsuits as well. They had a lot of fun swimming! 

We headed home to enjoy the patio, but the rain kept us inside. We enjoyed leftovers for dinner and more ice cream for dessert! 

I couldn’t be more grateful for my parents making the long drive here in the middle of their move. It wouldn’t have been the same without them! They are the best.

Everyone made it back safely from Billings and they had a great time. Kade played great! He was a forward the first game and then goalkeeper the second game and had some great saves and helped the team win. It was his last game of the season. It was the best team he’s played on with the best coaches. I’m so grateful for all the fun memories he’s made and the growth he’s had.