Earth Week

In celebration of recognize the Earth Week I thought is would be nice to show how Clayton loves the Earth! We're still working on where anything is located on our big Earth, along with everything else he needs to learn eventually, but it's all a work in progress! Right? ;)

Visiting Family Fun!!

This past week our family had a blast hanging out with my sister Jessa and her husband Trent. Their trip was a fast one being that they arrived on Thursday, April 17 in the evening and had to leave mid morning on Tuesday, April 21 so needless to say we jam packed tons of activities each day!

• THURSDAY--- went to Potbelly's sandwich shop for a pick me for the weary travelers. Arrived at my house and got everyone settled in and had a huge movie night with all the props; blankets, pillows, theater seats, flat screen HDTV, pop, and popcorn with M&M's of course!
  
• FRIDAY---Sleep in a must ;) after breakfast it was into the car to drive to Spring hill Mall to visit the famous Steve and Barry's store where everything is $20 or under!! We happened to go on a weekend special of everything $8.98 or under!! SWEET! Lunch at the mall always not too exciting but it does the job of some sort of nutrition. On the road again, which lead us to the VOLO AUTO MUSEUM that place is awesome with all the old time cars, a crazy huge tractor, and cars from tons of movies like Gone in 60 Seconds! Trent had to of loved that place. It also had 5 huge ANTIQUE MALLS in it that the items seemed to go forever! If there was anything unique you are looking for that is the place to go. Back to the house for an Italian chicken dinner and more movies.
• AHH He's Got a Gun!!
  Dance it out!!
  The Bat Mobile!!


• SATURDAY---JELLY BELLY FACTORY!! My boys just love that little train tour. Hayden was still saying CHOO CHOO when we were all done in the car. We did learn lots about candy making but I think we all liked going a little crazy for all the candy we could buy in the store after the tour was done YUM!! We stopped at Steak N Shake for lunch then we were off to GURNEE MILLS MALL, first stop was Outdoor World. The boys had alot of fun trying to keep up with the fish in the big waterfall tank in the middle of the store. Who ever the taxidermist is for the store is making bank! There was so many stuffed animals! We stayed in the mall for awhile since there are so many discount and outlet stores to hit. It was $5 Little Caesars Pizza for dinner and playing cards night.
  
  Look what they can do with Jelly Beans This picture took 6 months to make!!



• SUNDAY---Nathan was out the door by 5:30 am going to all the meetings the ward clerk needs to attend, and the rest of us arrived on time for 9:00 church. A typical Sunday but I think Jessa thought it was funny I accidental made my music stand in primary fall down when I was trying to teach a new song OOPS ! Nice Roast and potato dinner for Sunday
  
• MONDAY---DOWNTOWN CHICAGO the four excited tourist were Trent & Jessa and Clayton & me, Nathan had a very busy day at work finalizing all the reports and statements for the CFO to take to a yearly board meeting so he couldn't come and Hayden got to play with his cousin for the day. Fist was the TRAIN RIDE Clayton thought that was so cool and playing Slug Bug made it even more fun. Took a bus to the FIELD MUSEUM of HISTORY which Nathan described as just like a zoo but everything dead! He was right! We all liked the Dinosaurs and the mummies. Next we walked (quite a ways) to Millennium Park to see the outdoor theater and the silver bean least that's what we called it. Next stop NAVY PIER we stopped at the little shops, saw all the big boats on Lake Michigan, and went through the stained glass museum. After Navy Pier I proceeded to make everyone legs fall off trying to locate the Chicago Water Taxi that will let you travel the Chicago River that weaves through the downtown buildingS for only $2 each way but we ending up finding out that they changed their port of entry and all that walking was for nothing except tired legs and feet. Someone really needs to tell them to update their website if they are to change their ports!! We settled for a bus ride back to the Train Station and gave our legs a good rest with our ride back home FUN FUN FUN DAY!!

WE LOVE CHICAGO!!!!


Millennium Park



NAVY PIER

• TUESDAY---Leaving day --sniff sniff-- we all had so much fun having Jessa and Trent here to visit and hope they come again and anyone else for that matter. Their flight left at 11:25 and on the way home from the airport Clayton said "Mom, I miss Jessa and Trent, they were cool" Yeah they are cool huh Clay!! We will miss them!

A Date With a Bull!!

NATE AND ME

L. James trying to get more points

Michael Jordan You really can't argue - - - - the man is a legend!!! Nathan and I were out for the night cruising into downtown Chicago to have our own adult date night !! We go out alot with our two boys to dinner, movies, shopping, or whatever fancies us at the time especially when our boys are really good for us where ever we go. But, this time it was a turn for Just Us, and what better way to go than a Bulls Vs Cavs game at the United Center!! We had such good seats (like row 7 from the floor) and even though the Bulls are not in the playoffs this year they put on an awesome show last night! There had to be at least 5 HUGE DUNKS that the crowd (and us) went wild over!! Lebron James was awesome as always and seemed really big in person, I tend to like an assortment of talented players than any one set team so when the playoffs are on they will be fun to watch.

Am I ready yet??

Awesome Jump!

You can't beat BENNY THE BULL

He's such a great dancer!!

Nate was trying to score a free t shirt from the flying Bull but alas a no t-shirt wanted to fly our way!!!

Half time was BMX Jumpers on ramps and those guys were really talented, we gave them lots of cheers for all their hard work. The Bulls won 100-95 the last point was a big one for the whole crowd because everyone there could get a FREE BIG MAC if the BULLS hit 100 points and they left us hanging until those last 20 seconds to see if they could pull it off or not. It was fun to get out and have a fun night out with Nathan knowing our boys were having a blast at home with Nathan's parents. Movie night watching "Willow" chowing on pop and popcorn! Nathan's parents are moving to New Orleans soon and I know my boys will miss them, but it will be fun going to see them for visits.

Turf Paradise Race Track

Dad , Eli, Clayton, and Landon checking on the competition. I'm sure Gr. Barbara was flooded with questions like:
Where's the gate? When's it going to start? Is our horse going to win? Can we have nachos? Grandpa Delwyn and his crew of girls!!

COSIMO NUMBER 2!!

He was right in third stance all along till the very last stretch!!
OH, He didn't win NEXT TIME!! My Niece Brooklyn with a beautiful pose!
My Gr Delwyn owns some race horses in Phoenix, so naturally we all went to go cheer for them on our trip to AZ. All the family was hooting and hollering for NUMBER 2 to GO GO GO!!! The kids loved the suspense even though this horse of Grandpa didn't finish out as well as others had in the past. But there's always another race and the next new horse to cheer on!!

ME and Big Sis Emily or in other words Emma Jean (my nick name for her)

Who's at the Zoo? Crazy Idaho people that's Who!

TURTLES!!

Clayton said "They have really long tongues!!"

Hayden loved the Giraffes

Who doesn't like visiting the Zoo? If you don't then there must be something wrong because there are so many animals, birds, reptiles, etc... to ohhh and ahh about. I especially love going with kids with all their questions and weird faces at the strange things. At one point Clayton asked "Why don't they have any clothes on?" referring to some monkeys who's bums were in clear view. Kids he he. We all loved feeding the giraffes and tropical birds. The kids were little statues so the birds could eat the apples from their hands.

Hello Sunny Arizona!!

Prime beach towel spot by pool, McDonald's Happy Meal, and Family, what could be better?
So Serious Hayden!! That's better Smile!!
Dad and Mom taking Hayden for a spin!!

Let the water wars begin! Dad at gun duty and Mom would go behind the alligator and attack! Sneaky Mindy!! Three peas in a pod!

Winter just seemed to dragged on forever this year, so our trip to sunny 80 degree days in Arizona was the best boost ever!! The boys and I went to visit my family in the new Thompson Winter vacation home in Peoria AZ. A gorgeous 4 bed 2 bath with a huge kitchen and family room and best of all a heated pool!! What could be better! We would wake up and all the kids would be in the pool at 7:00 am. Everyone there included: Dad, Mom & Sophie . . . Trent and Jessa . . . Joe Emily and their kids Brooklyn 8, Landon 6, Eli 4, and Calvin 1 . . . Then me Clayton and Hayden. My Gr. Delwyn and Gr. Barbara also have a house in AZ and we were able to see them and attend church with them as well. We had such a fun time, it definitly is going to be a yearly vacation for us!!