Labor Day in Fort Myers, FL

We had plans to go to upstate New York over the labor day holiday. Flights filled up, but our hearts were set on going somewhere, so we started searching for a location with open seats.  We searched 30 states and many locations in Florida and the east coast.  We finally found an open flight with an overnight layover to Fort Myers, Florida.  I had never heard of it before.  We only had 5 minutes to finish closing up the house to get to the airport on time.  Security was challenging with tired kids and we were still wondering if maybe we should just head home and have a quiet weekend.  One of the problems/great things with standby is that you don't HAVE to go if you aren't feeling up to it. But we stayed and got our seats.  Dave researched what to do in Fort Myers on the flight and found out that it is the shelling capitol of the world.  We started getting excited for the beach with shells.  There was a SUPER drunk man on the flight to kept saying that our family just warmed his heart and we were doing it right.  He loved that we were traveling with our 3 kids and thought we deserved free flight vouchers(little did he know).  He told Dave I was a 'solid' wife (fat joke?) and he wished he were married to me.  It was funny and crazy, but for once it was nice to not feel like people were mad or judgy that we were traveling with 3 little kids.  We landed in Charlotte at 11:00 pm and went to a hotel.  Getting out of the airport with sleeping kids and into the hotel room was a challenge, and knowing we had to wake up in 4 hours to go back to the airport and do security was daunting.  I was wondering if it was going to be worth it.  But the morning went really smoothly and the flight was quick and painless.  When we got there, we got a minivan with a DVD player and gps for no extra charge!  Minivans make our trips so much easier!!

We immediately got a redbox, some food and buckets (I had packed for a trip to NY, NOT the beach, so we were under prepared) and headed to Sandibel Island to go shelling for the first time.
We were not disappointed.  The whole beach was littered with shells!

The water was almost too warm, it didn't cool off the hot weather, but the kids could sit in it for hours.  The waves were gentle and easy and the kids could touch the bottom for a good stretch, thus we could go look for shells together.  We found so many sand dollars.  There was a man there who started the group the 'shellanators' on facebook and he found a giant shell with a fish, shrimp and crabs in it.  It was so neat to see.

After 2 hours at the beach, we headed to our hotel for a nap time. Mariah fell asleep and the kids and I went to the pool.  We were in heaven with the great weather and the cool water.  Hallie is learning to swim and loving the freedom of moving in the water on her own.   After nap time, we grabbed lunch at Carvers and headed to lovers Key state park.  This beach was great as well, but fewer shells and more sand.  The water was still warm and shallow.  It was a beautiful place to enjoy during dusk.  

Hallie had quite enough of the beach and sun  (and the late night/'early morning finally caught up to her) and she laid down for a nap. 

There was a turtle egg that didn't hatch that a ranger found.  Inside was a 2 headed turtle baby!  It was incredible, but I missed getting a photo of it. 

We crossed this river to get out to the ocean, and there were fish jumping out of the otherwise peaceful waters.  Once in the ocean, a fish jumped right near Jackson's face.  

 We only found 50% of the shell varieties on display here.  I enjoyed learning the names of the different shells.

 Mariah loved the sand and water this trip.  She was comfortable sitting in the water and digging in the sand.

After finding what we thought were empty shells we took them to our hotel and the next morning they shells were all open with the animal dead inside.  We felt terrible, but we didn't think they were alive, we were careful to put back the shells that we could see something in it, but these shells were closed up tight, like pebbles.  Now they are open and beautiful 'butterfly' shells.  

At the end of the night we drove up to Fort Myers beach and caught the sunset. ..

Just as an ominous storm was brewing from the east.  It downpoured while we tried swimming in our hotel pool.  We got ice cream from Carvers and crashed in the hotel room (Thanks Hilton points!)  

On Sunday morning we found a flight that was direct from Fort Myers to DFW, saving us 5 hours from our original plan with a layover in Charlotte.  This helped us have an easier morning and be able to attend all 3 hours of church.  I love meeting members and seeing the church in many different places.   We always bring a microwavable lunch (ez mac, oatmeal, tuna packets, popcorn) and use the church kitchen for a meal.

We took a drive while the kids rested/slept  and found a beautiful barefoot beach, with amazing homes lining it.

We went to Lakes park and walked around, wish we had more time for a walk around the water (or even a tandem bike ride!)  But alas, the time to go had come.  We got through the long line of security just in time to jump on our flight and make it home by bed time.  

Almost every new place we explore, I want to go back for more. This was just a taste of a wonderful place.  The shells were incredible and we loved the warm water.  

Summer in Texas

Despite the many trips to Utah this summer, we did in fact spend time and do fun activities in Texas, too!

We went to a local 4th of July fireworks show with new friends who live close (and work for the airlines whose kids all line up with ours!  Hallie and McKenna

 Jackson & Joshua

 Mariah and Bailey

 We took advantage of the free bowling passes the library gave us with the Hickson's

 Our Cole Cousins came to town on the way to their vacation.

We took the family to the local drive in theater to see Inside out and Jurassic World (once the kids fell asleep.  It was a LATE night.  It was fun to see fireworks here too!

 Our friends the Guidry's are moving so we went to the arboretum together and ended with dress ups.  Our kids loved playing with theirs!

 Facepainting for fun

 Fort Worth Water Gardens... so disappointing that you weren't allowed to get in because we were SO hot!!  But it was a gorgeous feature!

 CR Smith museum.  We get in free here because Dave works for American Airlines.  The have rotating exhibits which are interesting and interactive and more kid friendly than most of the rest of the airplane and history museum.  This summer it was trivial pursuit with 50 states... each state had an activity that represented something about the state.

 Play time after church

 Swim party at the Hickson's with a great pool and fun friends. 

 Laser tag party with school friends.  Jackson had no idea laser tag existed so this was a fun opportunity.

 Home depot classes...we made minion scooters on month and chalkboard the next month.

 Our ward threw a 24th of July party and the party committe always does such an amazing job with decor and details that impress.  We loved the races and kids activities.

 We also went to an exhibit on the Wizard of Oz... my kids had never heard of it. and I'm not sure I want to show them the movie for many more years, but we still found plenty to do without knowing the movie.

 We tried to go to the library for their programs as frequently as we could.  The magicians were great.

 Costco pizza with Ade( Girl I babysit a couple days a week)

 The Hurst library had a fantastic end of summer celebration with pony rides, in and out, popcorn, snow cones, frozen yogurt, superheros and lots of activities.  Heat doesn't stop texans from getting outside!

My biggest accomplishment this summer was potty training this little one.  A couple of days of being naked and she was perfect.  She is so independent that she goes all on her own usually, wipes, flushes, washes and dresses herself (or not).  This is usually great, but sometimes very messy.  I am so proud of her and the big girl she is becoming!!

 We won a backpack at a McDonald grand opening near our house.  This was after we watched Dave compete in a pine wood derby with a car run by CO2 cartridges.  Good job dad!

Utah in August

We had yet another trip to Utah (YAY!) This time the Harper family was all getting together.  Our family, along with Dave's brother's family from the east coast, were flying stand-by so I was nervous about actually making it to Utah together.  But it worked out like it usually does (after stress and hours finding plan B,C and Z).  Dave even made a flight because he was traveling alone (the kids and I came 2 days early) and there was only one seat so the parties of 2,3,4 and 2 in front of him couldn't take the seat.    Jackson went to grandmas house a few days before us traveling as an unaccompanied minor.  He loved the independence.  

Dave and his brothers went golfing on Friday morning (where Dave lost his wedding ring :( ) Later, our families had breakfast (at lunch time) up the beautiful canyon.  

After a short break at home, we headed to the park for an extended family get-together and a photo shoot.  Despite a bit of sweat getting people ready in the park bathroom, everything went perfectly.  The photos turned out great and for such a large group that is difficult.  

The weird ones

 My heart will burst!! I love these kids!

 Siblings

 Girls and Gramps

 My boys

The party and food!

It is so fun to be with cousins and lifelong friends. 

 Saturday we headed to Provo for breakfast at Callie's with Joe and Rich's family.

 We then went to the BYU scrimmage and burned up in the heat.

 We went to the bookstore at BYU and enjoyed the memories of college life there.

Finally, we headed up to snowbird to take advantage of my parents condo.  We swam in the pool, walked through Oktoberfest, played at the park and barbecued.  Dave's family (missing Michelle) all came up for dinner and a short hike to see the sunset.

  Times like these with our family is my absolute favorite.  I love being around family and cousins and having fun talking, playing and relaxing.

Our family got to stay in the Snowbird condo on Sunday night with my parents, Marcie and Grant and Melinda and enjoy the activities and pool and hiking the next day, too.  It has been a great tradition for our family that we love.  My mom left on Monday to drive to an interview and GOT A JOB teaching 4th grade starting the NEXT DAY!!  She was stressed and frantic to get things together.  She walked into her trailer and it was dirty with NOTHING in it.  Her whole ward and school came together to get her classroom together.  I was able to help out for a few hours before heading to the airport.  It brought back so many great memories of teaching school and stress of getting ready for that first week.  But it was so stressful to do it all in a day!  In all honesty, I think it was the best way for my mom to take the plunge into teaching after 32 years as a stay-at-home mom.  I already miss her (I can't call her at any time now!) but I'm so proud of her for doing what it takes to provide for her family and I think those kids will love her.  I think Heavenly Father has a higher purpose in her teaching after so long being there for her family. 

The flight I wanted to go home with Dave filled up so I had to come home alone with all 3 and it was one of the worst ever.  We got to the airport only 30 minutes before the flight left and getting through security was so stressful.  We had to have a layover in PHX because of full direct flights.  We got food there, but my kids don't eat restaurant food well, and I had no snacks due to helping my mom all day.  By the time we made the flight to DFW (last 4 seats on) My kids were tired (we landed at 11 pm) and our seating arrangement wasn't ideal 2 in front and 2 in back sitting with a stranger on each row.  People were kind and tried to be helpful, but really what can they do.  Jackson's tablet died after 15 minutes and Hallie was throwing emotional tantrums and Mariah was climbing all over.  Nightmare and a half.  Dave was waiting at the gate for us and got at least 3 comments that I was sure glad to see him and I deserve a break (a glass of wine) and 'don't I have my hands full'.  Although well-meaning, it still makes me feel inadequate and judged for having 'so many kids' that I can't 'handle'.  That threw me back into reality after another amazing week with family in Utah.