On the Road Again

 We spent the first part of the week getting the house ready to be empty, because on Wednesday the boys and I drove to Utah to be with Jonas at his baptism, and on Thursday Michael went on a High Adventure with the youth in our ward.

The boys did great on the trip! Asher never cried. The hardest part is answering/acknowledging Camden's constant (constant. so constant.) chatting about all the cars and trucks and cows and horses and trains and everything that we pass. The bigger boys listen to podcasts in the backseat the whole drive (Circle Round, Earth Rangers, Purple Rocket, or Magic Tree House CDs from the library), Asher is pretty content with a car or two and his stuffed elephant. And Camden just needs that constant conversation.

I left my headphones at home so our first stop involved grabbing a cheap pair at Wal-Mart because 7 hours of driving with no books or podcasts to listen to is basically impossible for me to do if I want to stay awake. And staying awake is preferred. So after that first stop I had headphones and a Dr. Pepper and the rest of the drive felt like smooth sailing. 

I went to dinner on Thursday night with some of my aunts and cousins and I just love catching up with them. Friday night my mom and sister and I spontaneously went to see Mrs. Harris goes to Paris and it was just a cute, happy movie and a fun night out with them. My parents got us Thai food one night and I just had so much fun being with my family. 

Michael had a good time on his High Adventure! He picked up some new gear for the trip and had a good time getting to know some leaders and youth in our ward more. Our bishop is super outdoorsy so they were in good hands. The boys sure missed not being able to talk to him at all those days!

I love how his little hand holds that little car seat strap holder like it's a handle.

We had some hawk or something leave us a disgusting mess on our deck.
I'll spare you details but I will tell you that Westin has become a super helper around here.
He took care of a mess that day that I would absolutely have had the hardest time dealing with.

Camden went to his first birthday party! It was at his nursery leader's house, so he was stoked about it.
So the rest of us had a totally blissful library trip. We did origami, read tons of books, got their summer reading program prizes (books and pizza!), and just loved the long trip.
I won't lie, I have a 5-minute rule at the library right now with all four boys and we just do all the reading of what they choose at home. But without the toddler we had a leisurely time and Westin said it was the best library trip ever. Cute kiddos.

Road trip stop 1: nursing on the floor of a Wal-Mart toy aisle, not my classiest moment, but we got it done.

Road trip stop 2: Little America, where we've made many, many stops.
Westin being able to hold Asher in this little side room of the Women's bathroom is a game changer.
I've held a baby while peeing with a toddler in the same stall as me more times than I'd like to count and I'll happily say goodbye to that stage :)

He loves slides. Not going down them, necessarily, but throwing things down them. Like pinecones.

Elise only wanted Camden to put on her shoes a few times, which made for a slow process.
They are hilarious together.

There's a farm by Ali's house, and if you pass it, they have a little sign that ways,
"Why didn't you stop?" But the thing is...

...this is the sign.
And it was poorly planned, I think.
We kept laughing about it.

Dallin loved Westin and followed him around like an adorable puppy.

Eliason ladies' night at Cubby's

Asher did start the day with pants, but, you know. Babies.
We were so happy for Jonas! It was a special day for that cute special boy!

I only brought one skirt, and Ali walked out of her room that morning before wearing a dress made out of the same material. We didn't even know we both owned that, our accidental matching has reached new levels.