Sloan and Steady: April 2013

So, Brandon had to study for boards and we thought the best way to get him to focus on studying, is for me and the boys to just leave so..... thats what I did. I went to Texas to spend some time with my sister Gretchen for the whole month of march and it was AWESOME!! I actually wasn't planning on being there for a whole month, I originally was only going to be there for 2 weeks. But, then we decided to have me go a week earlier because Gretchen was going to run a marathon (more on that later). then a week before Brandon was going to pick me up he had the opportunity to go on a trip with a few class mates to do some optometry service in Kentucky, the perk for him was he would be able to work side by side with his Brother Bart who is going to be a dentist, anyway enough about Brandon this post is about a month with my sister!!! We had a really great time.

We started the month off with her Marathon. It was amazing!!! I am so proud of her and all that hard work that she put into it. She pushed her self so hard that she even passed out at the end. Totally freaked me out. watching her fall at the end. She was trying to qualify for the Boston marathon and missed it by a few minutes and can I say now I AM SO GLAD SHE MISSED IT!!! Who knows what could have happened if she would have qualified, and gone!! Tender mercy for sure!! Kirk ran too, and did amazing!! I wouldn't even be able to finish. Here are the champions!!

Here is our list of fun things we did while I was there, We did a lot!! I think we did more in that month than I usually do in a year j/k, but we really did a lot!

Gretchen and I went to the Houston rodeo, I had never been to a rodeo, it was so much fun!! I'm really glad that we went, (I had always wanted to go to one but for some reason I never did. and I lived in Rexburg Idaho, a block away from where the rodeo takes place.) We were in the nosebleeds so we didn't have the best seats but it was still amazing. After the rodeo was Tim McGraws concert and it was A-MAZING!!!! Seriously Gretchen and I were screaming/singing the whole time it was so much fun I forgot how much I love him!!! It brought back so many memories from High school.

Riding the train to the rodeo. SO EXCITED!!

Tex-Mex Nachos mmmm

Tim You are amazing!!

There is a little farm there that was really cool called Old Macdonalds farm . we got some food to feed all the animals, my boys for some reason are like deathly afraid of animals, Krew is getting a little better, Bennett is fine if he is approaching the animal but if the animal approaches him he will freak out, and Gray seriously does NOT like animals. I asked him why he was freaking out and he said "their going to EAT ME!!!" and started crying. poor kid! Hopefully he will be able to get over that!

Gray actually riding a pony!! I was so proud of him he walked right up there like it was no big deal such a HUGE step for him!!

Krew and Carter riding side by side. These two were seriously inseparable!

Bennett was inthralled by the chickens. He would just look at them then look at me and say "bock bock"

Gretchen trying to help them get over their fear. They did pretty good.

Can you tell how freaked out Gray was!!

Then heres Gretchens kids trying to show my kids "look just go like this"

Gretchens birthday was the 14th and we have more visitors come, Our other sister Heidi and our brother Corden came it was so fun seeing them it had been WAY too long. and of coarse what is a big family reunion with out a little vomit. The night before everyone came Bennett started throwing up ALL NIGHT. Seriously I felt so bad for him because he would wake up throw up then flop back on the bed and instantly fall asleep. anyway I wont go into anymore details. But, I cleaned EVERYTHING!! I also tried so hard to make sure everyone stayed away from Bennett as much as possible, I guess it wasn't enough because the next night Gretchen's 2 kids Carter and Wendy and Corden were throwing up. Oh I felt so bad!! My kid started it all. Luckily my other boys didn't get sick and it was only like a 10 hour bug. So everyone was fine by the morning, just tired.

Anyway, Heidi came to be with us because she wanted to go on a shopping spree... she needed it too. I am so proud of her she lost 30 lbs and looks fantastic!! She has always been beautiful but now she feels beautiful so she radiates. I'm so happy for her. So while she was with us we went crazy shopping out all day everyday she was there, and Wonderful Kirk (Gretchen's husband) was able to take all the kids! Thanks again Kirk it was SO MUCH FUN!! I have never been able to do that!

We went to the rodeo a second time but this time it was during the day and with the kids. They had a Blast pretending to be a farmer, riding rides, seeing farm animals and eating corn dogs.

Corn Angel

I think Texas was rubbing off on Bennett

We went to the beach and it was a perfect day to go, the first couple of hours it was foggy but still warm, then the sun came out and we enjoyed the sun for a few hours and then headed out! Krew and Carter had a BLAST running into the waves and then running away from them. it was really cute to watch them just laughing and splashing in the water. Gray was a little hesitant at first but then enjoyed it (what can I say he is my son) and bennett LOVED the sand it was fun watching him play in the sand and explore.

I love my brother!! He is so much fun and so good with the kids!! Love you Corden!!

Krew learned to ride a bike

Gretchens family is really into bike riding. Gray loves riding bikes (with training wheels) but krew for some reason never really got excited to go ride bikes and I know now why, He had training wheels. Gretchen owns a strider bike and Krew fell in love with it. He wanted to practice everyday and once he got that down we put him on a bike and he just rode off like it was nothing, like he had been riding bikes his whole life. he loved it. I'm so proud of him he worked so hard!! I don't think we have gone a day back home without riding bikes. He LOVES riding bikes now. I'm so glad!!

We had a tour of the blue bell factory and it was really cool. It was fun hearing all the interesting facts about the ice cream and watch them make it all. and at the end we got free ice cream which was awesome!! Especially since my kids only ate about half of theirs so really I got like 3 free ice creams, Score for me!! haha

The Houston zoo was really cool it's very big and we didnt have much time to be there so we didn't see many animals. but it was a lot of fun. My kids like watching animals from a distance. We were watching the chimpanzees being fed, it was really cool to watch I think thats my favorite part about going to a zoo when we get to see the animal feedings.

When Brandon came back to pick me and the boys up we wanted to do something really fun with him so we went to a little amusement park about an hour away from their house, I can't remember the name of it but it was really fun. Especially watching Krew he was tall enough to go on a lot of rides and he LOVED it!! His face totally lit up with a slight "I'm kind of nervous but really excited" look every time he went on a ride. And Gray was really mad that he couldnt go on every ride that Krew could go on but the ones he could go on he really loved. Bennett was even able to go on one with out me or Brandon wich scared me a little bit. but he very much enjoyed it! Brandon was ecstatic to go to an amusement park he loves them a lot!!

Cousins!!

We stayed until Easter Sunday. That morning the Easter Bunny left a little egg hunt for the kids and hid their baskets. They had so much fun finding all the eggs and their baskets. I'm so glad we were able to spend that last morning together.

The kids got a long amazingly well. Of coarse there were a few fights but nothing crazy. You would think that they would get so annoyed with each other but, they didn't want to spend any time away from each other my boys keep praying that they will get to go back to Texas and they also play pretend that they are going to go to Texas and see Carter and Wendy again. The other day they even got out the suit case and packed it with the most important things (their pillow pets and blankets) and "drove" to Texas (our spare bedroom) to go visit Carter and Wendy again. Yes we miss them very much. Although it is very nice to be back into the swing of things here at home.

Bennett found his basket

Cute little Wendy girl with an egg she found

With their baskets full of eggs

We sure had a lot of fun!! Thanks Cheney's for letting us raid you house for so long!! We love you all VERY VERY mach and can't wait to you ya'll again!!

Here are just a few random pictures I took While we were there.