Next, we went to stay with my Aunt Rolayne and Uncle Kent and see Grandma and Grandpa Allen who had just returned home from their mission a few days before. Cheryl-Lynn joined us the following evening. It was nice to see all of them. We enjoyed visiting and seeing their lovely yard. Uncle Kent has created quite the masterpiece! The kids loved playing on their treadmill as well as with some of their toys. They were really excited that it
snowed so they were able to play in snow again. We played quite a few games including Tenzi, Marrying Mr. Darcy, Qwirkle, Pig Pile and Sour Apples to Apples. We had a movie night, watching "Sing" and eating lots of popcorn. We enjoyed dinner at Sweet Tomatoes. (Funny story about that: On the way home, I was with my parents in their car--so I could have my "talk" with them--and my dad called my sister to tell her something. She told him he shouldn't be calling while pumping gas and he wanted to know how she knew where he was. Just then the van pulled up to the same gas station.) The kids enjoyed riding in a
convertible. We also went to my parents'
mission report at church, where we listened to them speak about many mission experiences and on the importance of love. It sure was a nice visit!
We went to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, where we explored the health room, visited space and walked with dinosaurs.
Here Matthew is getting his heart rhythm and rate.
Current running through the kids. (Megan and Matthew are each holding one end of a light-up circuit and then the three kids are holding hands to demonstrate that a current runs through them.)
Matthew at the controls.
Astronaut Matthew.
Megan at the controls.
Astronaut Megan.
That evening, we were introduced to a fun dice game called Tenzi. You shake ten dice to get something, which varies from round to round. Sometimes, it's 10 of the same number, sometimes it's 5 pairs. The younger two liked when we played war (whoever rolled the highest number took all the dice).
Sarah, U and Megan.
Me and Matthew.
The next morning, we awoke to find a couple of inches of
snow on the ground. This was very exciting for my kids and they spent a few hours outside building snowmen and snow forts and having snowballs fights.
Sarah showing off some of the snow.
We went over to my cousin Kelly's home to visit and for the kids to play. The kids enjoyed it so much that they went over again later in the day.
At the Mullins.
Back row: Grandma A, Grandpa A, U (holding Hailey), Me, Cheryl-Lynn, Kelly
Front Row: Kate, Sarah, Megan, Lexi, Tommy, Matthew
Sarah and Kate hiding in the shower. They didn't want us to see their faces yet.
The big reveal.
Tommy, Kate and Sarah.
Grandpa A and Matthew arm wrestling over the red "Alaska" hat. Grandpa has often said that it's Matthew's hat and he's borrowing it. This arm wrestle was done to decide ownership of the hat once and for all. Matthew is happy to say that the hat is now definitely his!
My cousin Stephanie came over with her two boys. Here she is with Patrick.
U playing with Matthew and Logan. (Logan could tell U is a Nursery Leader and warmed right up to him!)
Sarah getting a turn holding Patrick.
Grandma A, Cheryl-Lynn, Megan, Stephanie, Logan, Me and Patrick.
Movie night with popcorn!
Sarah, Grandpa and Grandma.
Matthew and Megan.
U, Me and Cheryl-Lynn.
The rooms we stayed at had a comforter made with the same pattern as my bedspread from college!
All the kids loved playing with the LeapPad.
Playing Sour Apples to Apples. U and Me were good at getting Sarah's apples.
Megan, Me, Matthew, U, Uncle Kent.
Uncle Kent, hiding person, Sarah.
Matthew, Uncle Kent, Aunt Rolayne, Cheryl-Lynn (no longer hiding).
Playing the Name Game (like Jenga).
Matthew was very excited about the blocks with his name on them.
Megan putting her block on top.
U stacks his block.
Matthew stacks his block while Uncle Kent, Aunt Rolayne, Megan and Sarah observe.
This is the last block that was stacked before it fell.
Megan, Sarah and Matthew with Uncle Ossium Poppem (aka Uncle Kent). They sure love him!
