Sweet Vacation Part 1

We went on vacation end of June and into July. We weren't going to go anywhere this year, but Joe's youngest sister Chelsi decided to get married :) so off we went to Henderson, NV to see family and friends, then a jaunt to California to visit my old roommate and then we camped in Colorado! It ended up being a wonderful trip. We spent good time with family and friends and precious time as the little Black band. I won't be too wordy, but here are pictures of our adventures!!!

Hotel the first night with Grandma and Grandpa Evans visiting. The flooding in Council Bluffs wasn't too bad. Thanks mom for picking up Joe at the airport!

Resting at the hotel. She had had some wheat and dairy on accident and was pretty itchy :(. Got up early in the morning to start our drive!

Girls taking a rest after playing toys with each other, Charlotte is probably asking to watch a movie, Anne's asleep. We defiantly had to alternate activites to keep everyone happy!

We HAD to play on the dinosaur at the rest stop! 3 little happy girls!

"Mommy, try and keep me away from the puddles!"

After a cold camping night in Colorado, we arrived in Henderson. We attended the wedding of Chelsi and Morgan and then went to the reception. Xela's watching the last minute additions to the wedding cake.

Charlotte helping Dad hang lights for the reception. I can't believe I don't have any pictures of the bride and groom!!! Silly me!

Daddy dancing with Baby Anne, Great-Grandma Palma looking on. We had lots of fun visiting her and the family.

At the reception, enjoying seeing familiar faces.

Uncle Calvin and Aunt Carrie dance and play with the girls the whole weekend. They loved it!

One of Joe's favorite things to do at his parents house. We had a lovely time. The girls played to their hearts content with their cousins and I enjoyed being around family, relaxing and sneaking in a good book!

Family meal with the Blacks and the Adams.

Aunt Kayanne gave the 3 girls and their cousins a nice pedicure, girly heaven!

Anne and cousin Abby in nursery together :)

Grandma Black helping Xela to lead music for Family Home Evening. I love my mother-in-law. She is such a good woman. I really appreciate her example in my life.

Then to visit Trista and her family in their new place in California. Oh the fun times! We haven't seen each other in like 7 years?! We chilled and talked and the kids played. Mark made some awesome yummy cookies and, oh, I wish we could have spent longer. And I wish I would have taken more pictures!!!!!

Trista took us to Santa Monica Beach, here's Joe holding baby Ashlynn

Joe and Matthew in the sand. Trista enticed Joe and I to go boogy boarding and it was soooo much fun!

The girls loving the special treats of a fun day at the beach!

"New friends, sand, water, sun and a peanut butter sandwich...life couldn't be better!"

After Trista's we headed back to the Blacks for a few more days, spent 4th of July and then headed home. (I should've taken more pictures!!) Good Morning Joe! We got in so late he set up the tiny tent for us girls while he slept in the car.

A quick shot before the girls wake up. Everyone was snuggly warm. And yes, Anne can breathe, she laying on her side :)

Minnesota Government shutdown = no job for Joe = Longer vacation! Everything will turn out fine, so we might as well enjoy ourselves while we have the extra time together. (FYI, he's back to work now, shutdown lasted only about 2 1/2 weeks)

Re-arranged seating and we're gonna camp another day!! Happiness!!!

We bought some string and tied it to stick and the girls pretend went "fishing" in the water. Anne was ultra excited and went right in not too long after the picture. "Wet. Wet." "Yes, you are wet Baby Anne. And so am I now!"

The 2 older girls wanted to sleep in their own tent. We eventually had to move it into the bigger tent because of a storm but they still loved it along with their glowsticks!

Anne playing in the tent. Peek-a-boo!

Hangin' out in the forest with her blanket. The girls loved to explore and play and get dirty. I'm sure they would be perfectly happy if we moved into a tent in a forest for the rest of our lives. No flushing toilets at this site, but at least the latrines didn't smell bad!

Joe was 'the man' getting our fire going for cooking. I'm getting dinner ready. We made up some yummy, healthy tin foil dinners. Joe even tried a fresh cherry tin foil pie for dessert and that was good!!

Of course the highlight was roasting marshmallows!!! (See next post for the rest of the story)