While Mom's Away . . .

Shelly had the chance to go to Utah for a girl's weekend with some of our medical school friends.  She got a couple-days break from the kids.  I'm pretty sure she had a lot of fun.  We also made sure we had a lot of fun.  When chores were done, we made a rare trip to the cheap seats movie theater and watched "The Croods."  It was a fun show, and the kids enjoyed it.  While the older kids were doing their chores to get ready for a fun day, Ava and I got to go to Chase's swim lessons.

Ava posing at Chase's swim lessons

Okay, the real reason I took this picture is because of the pool of liquid under Chase.  He was drying off when he all of a sudden stood up.  Then he helplessly looked down as a pool of fluid gathered between his legs.  He made no effort at all to try to make it to the bathroom.  All I could do was not step in it and inwardly chuckle, and then take the picture.  It was very uncharacteristic of Chase.  I guess he drank too much pool water.

 We were able to go to the local hands-on discovery museum.

Chase learning how sound bytes can be measured

Ava learning and listening to music

Jordan experiencing "sound bites"

Caden trying to find a tone that the computer had played.

Chase pounding out a rhythm

Caden and Ava in a wind tunnel simulating a tornado.  Ava couldn't get enough of it.  That's her laughing face, not her crying face.  She went in probably 20 times with different kids (anyone who would let her in).

 One day we were able to go to the local county fair.  Admission was free (Yay!!)  We started the day in the indoor arena where all the sponsors had set up booths.  The kids got tons of free candy and small prizes.

The case of the mysterious water that had no visible inflow pipe

One of the prizes was a clown nose.  Here the kids are lined up waiting for a free magic show.

Ava's thinking, "You want me to do WHAT?"

We got to watch pig, goat, and wiener dog races.  Jordan got to cheer on the Blue team

Kailyn pausing a moment to pose

There was also free admission to the junior rodeo.  We got to watch barrel racing, key-hole racing, and goat tying by young aspiring rodeo stars.  Ava got a little bored and did some laps around the bleachers.

We went to see some of the livestock - pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, etc.

Then we went to a draft horse show for a little bit.  While it was 85-88 degrees outside, it was only 75 in here.  It was a nice break

Once we got home, Kailyn and Caden made this multi-story log home and proudly displayed it

Just a random photo from our porch.  The sunset was gorgeous, but the camera, of course, could not catch the brilliance of it.