Tay's play

About a month ago we trekked to Colorado to see our brilliant niece, Tay in a play. We successfully turned an 8 hour drive into 12. Because it was that much fun to be in the car together. We just didn't want it to end. Or perhaps the reason weighs seven pounds and cries every third hour for the breastaraunt to re-open. Or maybe it was a 2 year old proclaiming she had to poop 4 times. So we stopped 4 times for this reason alone. She pooped 0 times. But you hate to call their bluff about such things. The thought of disassembling a car seat full of spewed bodily fluids, and then continuing to travel with said fluids,will instill a deep and motivating fear into even the laziest of parents (us!). We know. We've been those parents in many a parking lot. But our kids really do well on road trips, and I really actually love listening to them for hours on end together (mostly). We like to roll old school and for the most part, don't allow electronics or TV. So the kids do what I believe kids should do. They talk and sing and imagine. Until somebody got the black horse instead of the brown horse and then somebody else wants to eat their 11th bag of Craisins but I (finally) said no.  The traveling to get where we're going is often some of the most enjoyable time spent together I think. 

Maisey and Anabelle love to rock out. We have a family rock out song that  we started jamming to when Braden was deployed. It was something that could bring us all together and make us laugh, no matter how we were feeling about each other the minute before. I used to roll the windows down, crank the song up, and we had hand motions and everything. We still do it from time to time. We are a bit concerned about the level of rock in these 2 girls souls. 

And then there's Lila. This is her watching Anabelle rock out. Sometimes you can get her to do a gentle head bob or some mild dancing, but mostly she just observes. And then she asks to hear some church music.

Tay didn't know we were coming so it was fun to surprise her. The girls loved riding their horses and playing on their land. Maisey and Tigue were found at the road together and when Grandma questioned them Maisey said, "We are pretending to run away". Which is different from actually running away because, well because Maisey said so.  

Herein lies the essence of Maisey

And then there's these fine lookin fellers...

And there's Reese, living Braden's dream right in front of him. 

This is Tay being Charlie, you know, the one who wins a ticket to the factory.  We were so impressed with her performance and with the person she is. Can't wait to see what the future holds for her.

These three were quite a group. I don't think Rook was allowed to have any kind of opinion that day. 

And then when it was all over Braden flew to California for work and MaShay and I drove home with our 6 kids under 6. On Mother's day. It was memorable. This is MaShay taking 5 of them to the bathroom as she did probably 4 or 5 times. Except for the time Maisey pooped in her carseat. Twice.