Roy and Bonnie brought Jordyn (age 14), Maegan (age 12) and Brooklen (age 8) to Missouri on Tuesday, the 17th and they stayed for 9 days. It was the third time Bonnie has been here in the past 6 months! Sean's girls came to Missouri back in 2006 when Brooklen was only a few months old, so they don't have any memories of their time here. I have some fun pictures that we "recreated" from their last Missouri visit, but I haven't scanned the old ones yet. We loved getting to know the girls better! I am prejudice, but I have the best nieces and nephews that have ever been born. These three blondies are ridiculously fun and sweet! I adore every ounce of little Brooklen - her sugary voice and silly smiles stole my heart. I'm only uploading some of my favorite photos, because I'm going to make a separate photo book of their trip.
The day after they arrived, I had to get a lot of schoolwork done in order to spend the rest of the week playing. The kids all stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa while I did homework at the library. The girls found a way to have fun - backyard mud fight, followed by a mandatory water fight before I let them clean off in my bathtub!
Brooklen and Lindsey bonded the moment they got together, and were inseparable the rest of the week.
Some of the other activities from our time together:
Liberty Jail
A funny Cinderella play at the Union Station theater in Kansas City. The wicked step-sisters were men!
Swimming at the Liberty Hills pool a few times.
FYI, I despise pictures of myself in a swimsuit (like almost every other woman I know), but I recently read an article that had these points:
1. Every woman is far more concerned about her own imperfections than yours.
2. Your children won't remember your muffin top. They will remember you.
3. Boobs droop. Big deal.
4. No, you don't look like you did in High School. But would you really want to be back in High School?
5. Those stretch marks are not pretty, but you earned every one of them, dammit.
6. Pale skin means fewer wrinkles.
7. That cute lifeguard couldn't care less what you are wearing. And he's 25 years younger than you.
8. Nobody looks like the models in the magazines. Not even the models in the magazines.
10. You have far better things to do than worry about your body in a swimming suit. Get over it.
So I got over myself and will play WITH my kids every chance I get.
Celebrating Grandma's 68th birthday on June 20th.
A fun-filled day at the lake. Maegan, 72-year-old Grandpa, Jordyn and Brooklen were daredevils on the tube!
Ryan even felt well enough to join us the whole day! He actually felt well most of the time they were in town. It was a wonderful break from the usual stress we've had this summer.
I had fun, too. So much silly fun.
Girl trip to Nauvoo! Me, Grandma, Brynlie, Lindsey, Jordyn, Maegan and Brooklen enjoyed perfect weather in one of our favorite places. We stayed in a hotel directly across the street from the temple.
Oh, and I took this picture. Awesome, right?
The girls were goofy as all get-out when dressing up in pioneer clothing to march in a parade. But they were reverent and polite when hearing stories about the early Saints. I hope they always remember those moments when the Spirit spoke to them.
Sorry boys, these girls are taken! They have "prairie diamond rings" as proof.
Carthage Jail
I could never tire of visiting this place because the Spirit saturates that holy ground.
Originally, our visitors were going to leave on Tuesday, the 24th, but they decided to stay a couple extra days so Roy and Bonnie could support Ryan through his chemo treatment on the 25th. These awesome kids spent the day creating a "Let's Kick Cancer's Butt" sign. I took Sean's girls shopping for superhero shirts the evening before.
Despite some difficult struggles Jordyn, Maegan and Brooklen have experienced in their short lives, they are strong and grounded. I can't wait to make them a photo book with some of the 600 photos I took while they were in town (wow)!
We love you, sweet girls!
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