We had such a great time. Seriously, I couldn't have asked for a better time. It was so much fun hanging out and getting to know my siblings. I have watched them grow up through pictures my step mom sends me and of course through Facebook but to see and talk with them in person was just what my sister soul needed.
They really are amazing kids. So patient, kind, polite, go with the flow, never complaining. And let me not forget funny. They both had their own little funny personalities that was so fun to watch unfold as the trip went on and they started to become more comfortable.
My kids adored their aunt and uncles and they were so great with them.
As I watched my siblings interact I felt like I was looking into the future of what our life with my kids will look like. If my kids are half as well behaved and kind as my siblings then I will be happy :)
We had such a fun time swimming in the pool, hanging out at the reservoir, rock climbing, hiking, celebrating the 4th of July for 3 nights in a row, fires, s'mores and games at night and just hanging out. One of my favorite things was just hanging out on the porch with everyone watching my kids play. It was just such a relaxing, fun time with no agenda.
Enjoy the
Requested road trip selfie.
Pit stop to get some fireworks that may or may not be illegal in CO.
Joshua was so excited for them to come. He told me he made himself a bed on the floor so his guest could sleep in his bed.
Grandma Julie thinks of EVERYTHING! She had a box delivered with presents for the whole crew on the day they were set to arrive. It helped pass the time while the kids were waiting for everyone to arrive.
I am not sure who the last few hours of the trip was hardest on, the travelers or my kids? Here is J watching his clock count until their arrival by the front door.
I loved waking up each morning to find my dad on the couch with the two big kids watching cartoons.
Kayla loved her Aunt Brienna.
Grandma Julie hit a home run with these cars for Levi. He played with them NON STOP! She even sent extra batteries which he definitely needed. See, she thinks of everything!
Hiking the rock!
Being carried by Uncle Joseph.
Snack time.
Playing Wet Head, a game Grandma Julie sent. Joshua thought it was a lot of fun!
J and K loved playing the "lava" game with Brienna. The lave game was partly about wrestling and parlty about staying out of the lava.
Kayla jumping in with Aunt Bree.
We literally celebrated the 4th of July 3 nights in a row. Lucky for us our neighbors are awesome and most of them joined us with their own fireworks each night.
I love how they kept pulling fireworks out of their trunk.
Matching shirts.
Snake hunting behind our house.
These two were a big help in the kitchen.
The boys kept busy with Joshua's circuit board. I think Joshua and Levi's favorite was the fan that spins off. Mine was when they made a radio.
Looking up at the fan.
Levi telling me it went up.
Levi is so into it!
More firework prep. Tyler's favorite holiday.
Prepping the Piccolo Peeps. You know...to make them even louder.
Kayla enjoyed her bedtime stories being read by her Auntie.
I loved watching these boys bond.
J taking pictures of the fireworks with his camera.
Rock climbing.
He's a natural!
Brienna and Joshua hiking around behind our house. For a while they got lost. J was telling me all about when they got home and I think a little part of him wanted to have that adventure of being lost just like when Daniel got lost on a hike in Boy Scouts.
Doing what we did best, games after the kids went down...
...and fires and smores.
Grandpa snuggles.
Have you heard that you can't break a raw egg by squeezing it? Well Daniel took that as a challenge and was determined. He broke it all right and it shot out right in my direction.
My favorite part was hanging out at the reservoir.
Relaxing while Mommy and Daddy do all the work :)
Dad and Brienna paddle boarding and the boys khaking.
Kayla loved feeding the ducks. She was so kind to them saying, "here do you want some?"
Daddy caught a crawdad.
They were wron out.
Rocket (stomp and model) launch time.
Love this action shot of Brienna.
Levi's imitation of what a rocket does is so funny!
Charades. You had to be there to get how funny this picture is but it is one of my favorite memories.
The girls attened a church brunch at a beautiful garden and there were farm animals for the kids. Just today Kayla was telling me about the "special tea" we went to with Aunt Brienna. <3
Oh yes we did bust out our Super Nintendo. The big kids had never heard of it. I felt super old. 
A few days before they left Brienna did all the kids hair which they loved.
Photobombing Dad while he was taking a snooze.
Matching pjs with her dolly.
Photo shoot.
Photobombed!
Levi sported this Mohawk that Aunt Brienna gave him for several days. It even survived two trips to the pool. He would point to it and tell anyone who would listen "nee-naw" (letting people know that Brienna did his hair. He was so proud.)
Oh how I wish you could hear Kayla's belly laugh in this picture as both her Uncles pushed her super high.
Love this crew!
Dad teaching Joshua how to check the oil in a car.
Joshua slept on our bedroom floor for their entire trip and he didn't once complain. The day before they left I was preparing Joshua. I told him that it was okay to be sad and it was okay to cry. He told me, "it's kinda good to get your own bed back though." Then as they were pulling out to leave Joshua was waving by to them telling them, "Bye! Thank you for giving me my bed back. I kinda like it!"
Goodbyes are soooo hard! I hate how empty the house feels after company leaves. I miss glancing over at the couch while I am doing something in the kitchen and seeing the boys playing their games, I miss having coffee in the mornings with my Dad while the tween and teens were still sleeping, I miss seeing the tween and teens come down in the mornings together, I miss seeing their luggage piled up in my dining room and the corner of my counter that quickly became our spot for junk food, I miss the laughter and squeals coming from the basement while my kids played with their Aunt Brienna, I miss my kids sking if it was time to go wake up their aunt and uncles in the morning, I miss spending time on the porch with everyone. I just plain miss my family!
The kids are still talking about everyone and the fun trip we had. Often they point to people out in public and tell me they look like Uncle Joseph...it is always Joseph for some reason.
Kayla told me the other day that she wished they lived across the street.
Goodbyes are so hard but we know we will see them again and hopefully it wont be as long as it was last time. So thankful that they made the drive down to see us! Looking forward to the next visit and maybe the WHOLE gang will come! (Yes there are more :))
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