Fun with the Family

Things have been pretty busy around the Hoover household this past month. Some of my family (my parents, 2 nephews, and an aunt) were out for a visit from July 2nd-July 12th. They arrived around 9:30 on the 2nd and the kids were soooo excited, I don't think we went to bed until sometime after 11 that night!! And it was like that pretty much every night that they were here, they stayed busy playing from morning until night. We had a lot of fun while they were here and were able to do some fun things. We left the next morning after they arrived and headed up to the mountains to camp for the night. We spent that day just visiting, going for a few hikes, and then some of Waylen's family came up that evening and joined us for dinner and stayed to visit for a few hours. The next day, which was the 4th, was spent in much the same way. Waylen's family came up and joined us for the day. We were able to go see the train, then have lunch, but then it started raining, so that was the end of our day. We decided to go ahead and pack up and head home. That evening, we went up to Alamosa to watch the fireworks, which the kids really enjoyed.

The boys waiting to see the train pass by.

Kayla waiting with "Papa Night" and Nana.

Kayla hanging out with Porter. They were big buddies the whole time he was here.

Hanging out with Corbin, and being silly, of course!!!
Hayden, Corbin, and my dad keeping dry while it rained.
Waiting for the fireworks to begin.

Then, we were able to go to Zapata Falls and the Sand Dunes one day. Kayla stayed down at the picnic area with my mom and aunt while me and my dad took the boys on the hike up to the falls. The water was freezing cold, and Corbin and Hayden were ready to get out of the water within a few minutes. But we managed to get them to continue on, which meant my dad ended up carrying Corbin on his back from one big rock to the next, then going back and getting Hayden from that rock to the next one. By the time we made it back to the falls, our feet were frozen. Although, Hayden and Corbin didn't seem to have liked it, they commented that it was awesome, but that they would never do that again!!! After Zapata Falls, we had lunch, then headed down to the Sand Dunes. The kids stayed busy playing in the water and covering themselves from head to toe with the mud. It was pretty warm that day, but after getting all covered in water, they all started to get cold when the wind decided to start blowing. Needless to say, we were only there just over an hour and then we got the kids cleaned up the best we could and headed home!!!

The boys and Papa Mike making their way through the freezing cold water to Zapata Falls

Hayden managed to make it to see the Falls with lots of help from Papa Mike

The kids enjoying covering up Porter with all the mud.
Then it was Hayden's turn.
Then, it was time for Kayla to get covered with mud.

Kayla had to cuddle with Papa Mike to get warm.

I wanted to get a picture of the boys together at the Dunes, but Hayden was too cold to stand up for the picture.

We went up to Colorado Springs on Friday, and were able to spend the weekend with my aunt's daughter who has just moved there. My cousin has 5 girls, ages 13 to 2, so the kids stayed pretty busy playing from the time we got there Friday afternoon until past 11 that night. The next morning, Waylen came and met us up there, and then we all went to the Air Force Academy and toured the museum and the chapel there. Then, after spending a few hours there, we headed to the mall and did some shopping. That night and Sunday were spent visiting and the kids stayed busy playing the Wii and just having fun. It was a fun weekend, and it was nice to be able to visit with my cousin and the kids had a lot of fun. Even Hayden didn't seem to mind that he was surrounded by a bunch of girls!! Although, he was ready to go home by the time we left Sunday afternoon. However, Kayla didn't want to come home, and my cousin's little girl, Emily, who is just a few months older than Kayla wanted to come home with us!!

Kayla with the four younger Gunn girls: Heather (back), *also Corbin in the girls picture*, Hailey, Lexie, and Emily

Kayla with her new friend, Emily
Doesn't he look like he is ready to go home?

My parents stayed in Colorado Springs and left from there Monday morning to go back home to Georgia. I am always sad to see them go because it seems like the time they are here just goes by too quickly. Then, I don't know when I will be able to see them again. The kids really enjoyed having them here too, one day while they were here, Kayla told her Papa: "I go home with you Papa Night!!" "I go to Georgia, and Hayden, and Mama, and Daddy too!!" But who knows when our next trip out there will be - probably not until sometime next summer since Hayden will start school this fall!! But we haven't had much time to think about it since we have been busy ever since they left helping Waylen's mom on her float for the celebration. It's hard to believe that it will be here in less than two weeks, then only another week until July is over!! Then the summer is almost over, wow!!!