Toward the tail end of our trip to Idaho, Jack started to get a little stomach flu. This happens nearly every time we go home. And I have to admit, although I don't like Jack to feel sick, and I DO like how he behaves when he is sick - that being mellow, chill, relaxed, staying in one spot for an entire minute or maybe two! However, the life has sprung back into his little frame with all it's zest and fury. Sometimes this doesn't end with happy results! Here's the scenario: Because of constant rain and warm weather are lawn had turn into a thick jungly mess while we were gone. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday trying to mow this beast. It is a beast - and it was hot and humid outside. I left the boys to watch a movie while Lyv was napping and I manned the mower. I'm almost done, and I look like I've been dowsed with buckets of water, and red in the face when Sam scampers yelling out words. All I get over the sound of the mower is Jack - bean bag chair - mess. That is enough to send me running into the house. I discover that both boys have be enjoying a bean bag stuffing bath during my absence! 
I'm furious to say the least, hot, sweaty, and thirsty. So I start cleaning up - Jack goes back and starts dumping the beans out again! I give him three sharp spankings, he starts to cry (and if you know Jack this is a good thing, because he usually laughs when I spank him). The boys are sent to the kitchen to clean up the beans they trailed there, while I attempt to shovel the stuffing back into the bean bags. All I can say is Jack is feeling better!
I'm furious to say the least, hot, sweaty, and thirsty. So I start cleaning up - Jack goes back and starts dumping the beans out again! I give him three sharp spankings, he starts to cry (and if you know Jack this is a good thing, because he usually laughs when I spank him). The boys are sent to the kitchen to clean up the beans they trailed there, while I attempt to shovel the stuffing back into the bean bags. All I can say is Jack is feeling better!He did however give Lyv her first ride on the Gator and did a great job. She loves it. 
She also loves babies! She says, "Hi Baby" pats them, hugs them, pokes their eyes out, and repeats. 
She has really started to spout out a lot of words lately, no surprise to me, because she's been babbling since birth! "Uh-oh" "Jack" "Hi Dad" "Hi Guys" "Please" "Popcorn" "Thanks" "Ma!!!" "All done" "Shoes" She also knows were her body parts are, and follows directions better than the boys do. Her hair has grown a lot in the past little bit, and I'm hoping to try more do's if she'll let me. She really REALLY doesn't like her hair done. She still loves cars and trucks and mud - and makes all appropriate noises with them.
She also loves babies! She says, "Hi Baby" pats them, hugs them, pokes their eyes out, and repeats. She has really started to spout out a lot of words lately, no surprise to me, because she's been babbling since birth! "Uh-oh" "Jack" "Hi Dad" "Hi Guys" "Please" "Popcorn" "Thanks" "Ma!!!" "All done" "Shoes" She also knows were her body parts are, and follows directions better than the boys do. Her hair has grown a lot in the past little bit, and I'm hoping to try more do's if she'll let me. She really REALLY doesn't like her hair done. She still loves cars and trucks and mud - and makes all appropriate noises with them. I have a HUGE inclination that Jack and Lyv are going to become quite a gruesome twosome this year, without Sam's motherly supervision. Heaven help me to be patient, and heaven help them to find constructive ways to play!
I got see his new beard and his newest baby - Thad. Such a looker! J.D. wasn't through with suprises and fun... to make his stop more meaningful he pulled his bear hide out of the freezer to show the nieces and nephews! They were terrified at first, but then loved it. 
I ended my stay with a little photo shoot of Chad and Katie's families. There were many pictures taken, but these are just two. Thanks for letting me practice on you guys. 
They walked in the grain field following the circle's track and got lost out of sight for long enough to start me worrying. Grandpa and Shawn found them circling back the opposite direction at the hollow! 
We broke out the slip-n' slide (it was a HUGE tarp) and oh, so fun.
Emily - Bekah - Phirf
Shawn Water Skiing
Sam and Colton Tubing
He watered down the pigs (named Bacon and Porker) with Michelle. 
Picked and shelled peas fresh from the garden.
Followed by a tasting, where Jack discovered he didn't like the peas in his mouth. I asked him if he would like them in his ear then, and so he decided to test that out. 
Yep! He does like them in his ears. 
After all the cousin time, both Hill and Summers' cousins took time for their own family vacations, and that gave us some extra time to work on cool things like learning how to do a front flip! Sam rocks this trick now. 
We also went up to the Rexburg Temple since it is only 15 minutes away and took some pictures of the kids. I love this one of Lyv, in her tutu dress and tutu shoes at the temple doors. One day little princess you'll go inside!
