New York

We have such a great family and I realize every day what a wonderful blessing that is. I know that is what make all of our trips so much fun. We love being together and I can only hope my kids grow up to be the same way. I know when we were younger we weren't as into being together all the time but we sure would love to live near each other now. Our trip to NY was awesome. We had great weather and lots of time at the beach with the family. The girls loved it, maybe not the beach immediately but both came to love it! We had the Rathgeber Family Reunion part of the time we were there, Cassie and Chris' and Becky and Doug's pre-wedding celebration, and the 2nd annual family Olympics which were so fun. Lots of us got to go with Becky and Cassie through the Manhattan Temple for their endowments together which was great. And we got another week of Psillos Family time which was just as fun.

Lots of beach pics, not much of anything else. When I get my mom's camera I will put others on. I have to note that we beat Rich and Erin really bad at sequence on the Anniversary! That was the only night though so I just had to mention it! Can't wait to play again guys!

Daddy digging with the girls at the beach.

Katie and Hannah and the girls. Buddies all week!

Uncle Charlie digging a hole that made Rachel very happy!

We got to go to dinner a few times as a family which was great. We had a babysitter which made every thing more enjoyable to have the kids when we wanted and the ability to leave when ever we wanted too.

The family Olympics was a success. It almost got rained out but ended up working out great. It is more like a relay race but either way it is fun. I did the wheel barrow with Josh, I held his feet, funny if you picture it the other way though! It was hysterical again this year but my team didn't win again. Sorry guys. I think the Purple team won this year. Good job guys!

Aunt Hannie! Again, the best friend, babysitter, referee, entertainer there is! They loved every minute with her and ask for her daily. We miss you Hannie!

Photo with one of the brides to be! Or actually the already Mrs. Thompson since I am posting this late! The wedding party was great too. They had a tent set up with good food and barely any mosquitoes which is a miracle for a party at the beach house! Beck and Cass looked beautiful!

Thank goodness there were tons of shells all over the beach this year because that is what they loved to do the most. They walked up and down with their buckets and picked up all sorts of shells. Great time killer.

We went on the docks one day to catch crabs and the girls loved it. They loved seeing the crabs up close and pulling the killy bucket out of the water (I don't know the correct term-it catches the killys for fishing). We found a tiny crab that they both held and really liked that.

Rachel is scared of Doug. He made some faces at her the first day she saw him and that was it. She wouldn't go near him the rest of the time. We just looked at pictures online today that he was in and she said "I don't like Doug, he's scary." Sorry Doug, try again next year! She didn't seem scared of anyone else much. Except once of Jake but I think she thought he was Doug because they both have the white hair. She said, "Jake is scary" and as I am trying to say no he's not Hannah says, "Rachel, you just have to get used to scary people in your family." So I wonder who is scary to her?!! It was funny that this was her solution!

Livy learning how your feet get buried in the sand when you stand in the waves for too long! She took right to the water and the sand but never wanted to stay at the beach for too long. Rachel took a long time to warm up to the whole idea. As you can see in lots of the pictures she wore her shoes for a few days and had to carry her cat around with her and there was no chance she was getting in the water.

Eventually she warmed up to it all. Didn't need the cat, took off the shoes, and suddenly said "lets go in the ocean" like she had done it the whole time!

Livy's fish hat. I tried to buy her a cute flower one but she insisted she wanted the old man fishing hat! She was some serious entertainment anytime she had food. She would get so hyper at meal time and you could not get her to stop talking. She is loud just like everyone else there too! It was quite hysterical to see her get like this! They both got totally spoiled though staying up late, getting italian ices every night and anything else they wanted.

Showing you her clam she dug up. She loved bugs and holding anything. Rachel takes a little longer to warm up to that stuff but usually wants to hold it too.

We really had lots of fun and I am sorry all I have are beach pictures. I wasn't great with my camera. I have to get my moms pictures some how and get them on here too. We took them to Adventureland. A small amusement park right near my parents house. They loved it but didn't last that long because it was nap time. But Livy wore the admission bracelet for about 2 weeks! And they asked numerous times to go back. Maybe next year.

Danny getting to enjoy the beach. Perfect low tide day. Beautiful.

Jake and Rich taking Dan for a dip. He just wanted out the whole time.

The girls loved hanging out with their aunts and uncles. It was always a dance party in Rich and Erin's room. The girls would tell me to leave. They just wanted to play down there with them. Egg hunts, dance party, spinning until they are dizzy all serious fun to two year olds! And it was crazy jumping time in Josh and Katie's room. They loved to jump in their and snuggle in their bed and watch their movies in their room with them. They didn't get to hang in Charlie and Michelle's room because they didn't have one. Sorry guys! They gave up their bed for me the pregnant one and they took an air mattress in the hall. Thanks guys!

Erin and I tortured the girls. We got smashed by a wave and they were both hysterically crying! Sorry girls!

Grandma Ede. When saying goodbye to grandma the first time we saw her on this trip Livy just says, "Bye Ede." She decided to drop the grandma part. Oh, the things they say.

And one 10 pm Sunday night ER visit to finish off the trip. Our first ER trip ever. She was being swung by her arms and legs and then something in her arm popped. She cried longer than normal and then wouldn't move her left arm at all without shaking, whimpering, and saying ouch. So we brought her in to make sure it wasn't broken. And it wasn't. But it was a dislocated elbow that he quickly popped back into place and she was good as new. After not moving her arm at all for four hours she was waving it around and saying "I all better" the next minute. Good that we went though because he said it would not have gone back in on its own. Livy was an excellent patient and my mom says it doesn't count as an ER trip because she was so good. She sat and watched her movie the whole time and didn't cry. She let them do everything they had to do and actually liked it (temp, blood pressure, etc.). Not even any crying when he popped it back in. What a trooper. She did say there was lots of scary stuff in the room though! Just glad for no cast. She loved the hospital bracelet. She wore it for 10 more days until Erin got her to cut it off finally!

I can't say enough what an awesome trip it was. I had so much fun and am so thankful to everyone there for all the help. And especially all the babysitting. My mom hired people left and right to babysit so I could nap and sleep in. That is a true vacation!! Stay up late, lots of fun people, good food, lots of sequence, and sleeping in! What else could I ask for. Thanks so much mom and dad! We had an awesome time and wish we could come back sooner than we will get to. The girls were totally spoiled by all their aunts and uncles and all the attention they got. They just asked any of them for anything and they got it (food, come on the trampoline, etc.). They miss everyone too and were asking everyday for them. And now everyday they talk about going back on the airplane to grandma and grandpas house. Thanks for making out trip so much fun everyone. I wish we got to stay longer. We miss you guys and can't wait to see you all sometime soon hopefully! Love you all!