Nelly's first day back to school

Okay, I realize I am way behind on my blogging lately. But, better late than never...

Chanelly went back to school!! YAY!! She loves every minute of it. She loves her friends, her teachers, learning and being a "big girl". She is so smart and soaks it all in like a little sponge.

She is growing way too fast! She looks like she is at least 6 and acts like she is 16. She is so smart and understands things even I cant grasp. I love talking to her and hearing her view on things and she gives excellent advise!! She is usually right on the money, I really should listen to her more often because usually she is right!

I love that even though she is so big she still loves to cuddle and lets me hold her as long as I want. She knows she is special and will be the first one to tell you or show you one of her tricks! She knows all of her shapes, colors, most letters, how to spell her first and last name and she LOVES crafts!! I could give her some scissors and glue and she will make a masterpiece out of nothing in no time! And she will proudly hang her art all over my house!! I love Chanel more and more every day, everything about this little girl is just perfect to me. She is the most kind little person and she will mother anyone!!! She is such a huge help with her younger sisters and even puts her big brother in line when he needs it. She mommy's everything and I am so proud when I see her doing it because she does such a good job. It makes me feel like maybe I am doing something right if she is that good and being a little mommy already. She plays so well with everyone and makes everyone feel special.

Im so proud of my little Nelly Belly, she means the world to me.

ZOo 2Olo

This is our 2010 trip to the zoo!! Thanks to Cache Valley cheese we got in for free this year!! YAY! We try to make it at least once a year, to be honest I couldn't handle any more than that. Every time I leave that place it makes me so sad for all the animals, going crazy in their little cages all couped up from the world. Or at least the world and the life that they should be experiencing. I guess its a good thing they don't know any better. And I have yet to go to a circus, I refuse!!! I wont help support those types of things in anyway, so if my kids ever do make it to a circus, it wont be on my behalf! BUT my kids sure do love the zoo!!!

My 4 monkeys are enough for me!!! It is always so much work to go to a place like this, I am constantly with one in my arm, pushing a stroller, holding or trying to hold hands, yelling, running, chasing, on a mad search for bathrooms, disinfecting or counting heads. CONSTANTLY!!!

Little Ava Lyn LOVED the train!!

So do the others but I wasn't able to get a picture of them.

The bird show was really fun! The birds would swoop down just inches above our heads! Its amazing how well trained they are! I wish my kids would listen the way these birds did!

Baby ZURI!!

In all, the zoo was a great time, we were lucky enough to go with all our little cousins too!! Its been so fun seeing all the kids together so much!!!

Lake Powell with the Royce's!!

Finally!!! It is that time of year when we get to go to Lake Powell!! YAY!! We try to make it at

least once a year, this year we get to go twice! Next we will be going with the Alba's (my side of the fam).

We left late last Sun. so we decided to stop in a little town called Caineville, population 24!! We stayed at a cute little motel in the middle of endless canyons and rocks, besides that there was NOTHING! But it was so pretty to wake up to.

Rori Ana found a little bug

She loved that little bug SO much she decided to EAT him?!?! Ok, she didn't actually eat him, but she tasted him.

The little monster! You can see it in her face!

Little Oli playing in the bucket.

Once again, with a little work and a lot of cooperation from everyone, we pulled off getting ALL 8 grand babies together for some serious fun! They had a blast playing together, running up and down the beaches and swimming their little hearts out!

Sweet Charlotte playing hide and seek!

Ava got some new teeth in! Weird thing is she looks like a little vampire baby, I have never seen a baby's teeth come in like this before, but I love it! I cant help but laugh every time I see her smile.

Jameson fished his little heart out! He woke up asking for his fishing pole and we had to pry it out of his hands every night before bed. He gets it from his Grandpa Earl, I'm sure. But I was usually right there with him fishing the whole time. He must have caught easily over 50 fish, ranging in all different shapes and sizes!

And here is little Rori with another poor creature she found. My kids LOVE anything that moves, just like their mama. Poor little lizard, not to worry though, nothing was harmed they let everything go after they're done examining it.

These two are best Friends and worst enemy's!

I found a hole in a rock, so I climbed right in!

I was sitting in bat guano!! EW!!

Ava did NOT like her sunglasses!

Chanel made lots of sea shell pies, she also made mud burgers with stick Fry's and rock soup!

Nelly gave grandma a pedicure!

Everyone did lots of cliff diving!

Ava is not so into creepy crawly things like her older siblings, Im sure in time she will get used to them.

And Jameson learned how to wake board!!! He did amazing, just like he does with most other things!! He is so very brave!

Rori Ana also got to wake board! Maybe she will start young too?

It took a lot of work to get all the babies to sit for a picture...

Ava LOVES the sand!

The whole family helped make this little river...

Everytime we got on the boat the babies would fall asleep.

Rori Ana takes her blankie with her EVERYWHERE!! She drug it through the dirt, mud, water etc...

We all had such a great time! Thank you to everyone for making it happen. It was so nice to spend time with the family and to see all the grand kids playing together. I look forward to trying this again next year!