1 Allie's first Bike

Now that we are home, Allie is loving her bike. She rides it around and around our cul-de-sac. Everyday she has something different stowed away in her bike basket. She can really ZOOM!

0 Rest of Rexburg Pictures

Last Friday we (Maren, Mom, & I) took the 7 cousins to the BYU-I Botanical gardens for a picnik. Finally the sun came out! It was so nice to have a change in scenery.

Trips to the bathroom: 4
Spilled drinks: 372
Smiles & giggles: 1,436,328,495


Ring around the Rosie
London Bridges
Cat-Cat-Dog (Bailey's version of duck-duck-goose)
No fish seen
Mower rides by Aunt Maren when we got back home
Popcorn & apple juice for the afternoon show
Kylie helping re-pot Grandma's pots

Saturday started by going to cheer on Aunt Maren at her 10K run. We ended up arriving about 1 min AFTER she finished, since she ran so FAST she finished way before she told us to be there.
What a POWERFUL woman! Go girl!!! I think it is wonderful that she is setting, striving, and reaching such high goals. In August she is planning on running a half marathon. WOW!

Next was wedding dress shopping for Aunti Elle. She looked absolutely stunning! I don't know how she is going to make a decision, they all looked great.
SORRY - NO FULL PICTURES OF ELLEN IN DRESSES, JUST IN CASE SHE CHOOSES ONE OF THEM, WE DON'T WANT THE GROOM TO SEE!

Mom then treated us ladies to lunch and yogurt and Mill Hollow Frozen Yogurt. DELISH!!! Thanks Uncle Mike and Uncle Brent for watching the girls so we could get out for a bit.

While in Rexburg I went there for a frozen treat nearly everyday. They have the best 'tart' flavors that just happen to be fat free,/sugar free. I crave them everyday when I'm home.

Friday night Allie had woken up sometime in the deep, dark night with a fever. She was also having such a hard time breathing, I almost got up right then to take her to a doctor. By morning she seemed better, but was a bit clingy and needy. When she woke up from her afternoon nap, she was covered in bumpy hives. I gave her benedryl and tylanol. She didn't want a bath, so I patted her down with a cool rag. After about 2 hours the rash had faded away. All better.

Oh, and I best add in one of Allie's favorite things to do at Grandma & Grandpa's house: hot tub

1 Plan B

On our way to the park, just out the driveway, the clouds parted and it began to pour. The rain was followed by hail. Abort missing! "Plan B" was the good old Teton Flood Museum. It only cost $0.50 a kid and has a great kid room that they rotate each month. Last time we were there they focused on the nations of the world: loved the dress-ups. The next month there were doing dinosaurs, complete with a mini-dig site. June is all about rocks. There was a small shake table to simulate an earthquake and a volcano that actually 'erupted' (vinegar and soda). Just like last time the favorite was the 2 trunks of dress-up clothes and the wooden play food.

1 The fun just doesn't stop

Before bed last night I painted Laura, Allie, & Eden's finger nails. They held their hands out so cute and were very patient for them to dry.




Tonight we finally got a reprieve from the wind, rain, and clouds. The sun shone bright for a few hours right before bed and we took full advantage and out of the house. Maren and I took turns riding Grandma's beach cruiser to Sugar City and back. Grandma preferred her give the girls turns mowing the lawn at warp speed. Kylie is not any closer to walking. We've failed to find the right carrot to motivate her I guess. It was such a nice evening, Allie even ran through the pasture sprinklers on the edge of the front lawn.

No more snow, PLEASE!!!

0 Fun at Grandma's House

This week we've had fun being together at Grandma's house. Here are a few highlights for Abby & Brent who are missing out.

These "Bill Ding" blocks were made by my Grandpa Henry when I was young. I even helped paint some of them. My sisters and I spent many hours building with the "Bills". It brings back many fond memories of my Grandparents watching my girls play with them.

Grandma Martha is a fabulous story teller. As soon as she picks up a book, the girls are drawn to her.










Kate & Eden have practically lived in the old ballet recital costumes.














Wednesday we kept the girls apart a bit in the morning to give them some breathing room. Allie & Laura had a blast with paints. Allie tells me she painted a cave.



The rain has kept us cooped up, so Wednesday we took the girls to McDonalds so they could play. Laura floored me by eating more than she has all week, combined. The winner at most meals has been Eden, hands down, but Laura out-ate everyone for once.

Can you believe that it SNOWED!!!! Where is our summer?

0 Circus Magic

I've been waiting to post about this till I got the pictures of Maren's camera, but I'm not sure when that is going to happen.

Monday night Maren & I took the Bailey, Emma, Laura, & Allie to the 7:30pm showing of the Jordan World Circus. We had free tickets for all the girls & I buy1-get1 free coupon for us adults. Good thing, seeing how out single ticket cost $16!!!

The girls were absolutely glue to the action the entire time! I think Bailey & Emma (who are in gymnastics) really appreciated the acrobatics and tight rope acts. Allie did get tired midway through, but was a trooper. We were VERY glad we had left the 3 younger cousins home, especially since Kate didn't take a nap.

The girls were extremely well behaved the entire night. There was no pouting when we didn't shell out $32 for them to ride the Elephant at intermission and no whining for the treats & toys pedaled throughout.

Their faces spoke volumes, but there were some funny quotes:

Laura: "Its a dream come true"

Allie: "That's dangerous. They could get hurt."


Their favorite acts were:

• Ballerinas (trapeze)
• Dancing Elephants
• Poodles, on a slide
  
• Bears on rocking horse
• Pirates on horses
• Tight rope juggles
• not-so-funny clowns
• hula-hope dancers

We also treated them to ice cream before finally getting home at 10:30pm.

2 The Hoard

Paul & Martha Tew's posterity currently consists of FOUR daughters and SEVEN granddaughters. That's right. ALL GIRLS...that is until Abby gives birth to the first BOY this fall.

Monday afternoon we spent the morning riding, scooting, and stroller-ing the girls around Maren's neighborhood. We even herded them around the block to Maren's church parking lot for more rolling around before lunch. Lets just say that they all took great naps...everyone but Kate that is. Notice the GREAT Modbe hoodies Maren and I are sporting. Ours came today and we LOVE them. If you want on, see Maren's blog (link to the right).

Kylie LOVED the bike, Eden did NOT!

I had brought Allie's scooter so that we would have enough wheels for everyone, but of course that wasn't good enough. Allie kept causing Kate stress by taking her 2-wheeler. So, to keep the peace, I ran to DI & bought Allie the $65 princes bike for $5. It wasn't in perfect shape & was missing the seat cover & training wheels, but for $5 what do you expect. (Note: We almost got her the same bike new for her birthday last month, but decided on the roller skates she had actually asked for.) However, it didn't seem like such a good deal 2 hours later, after shopping 4 stores for a 2nd set of training wheels to replace the first set I bought & tried to install, since they weren't made for such a tiny bike. In fact, I'm sad to report that the bike hasn't even been rode yet since we couldn't find the nozzle to inflate the tires with. Nothing is ever easy, but hopefully it will be worth it...eventually.

Monday was also great weather for playing in Grandma's "park".

The sandbox under the deck was popular too, but for some reason the one and only yellow plastic shovel was a hot item and much sought after.

With all the action, the girls did veg-out on the couch for some cartoons in the evening.

2 Successful Journey

Note: look how funky my camera was today. I have no idea what it was doing, but its okay tonight. I think its about time to break down and replace it.

FOUR cousins under FOUR ready to ride

The 3 hour car ride went extremely smooth!

1. Kylie slept the entire way, after giving poor Eden a bit of stress by teasingly taking away her blankets.
   
2. Eden napped for an hour & then looked out the window and chatted with herself, so sweet.
3. Allie looked at books & watched a strawberry shortcake DVD on Aunt Abby's mini-player
4. Laura did the same as Allie.

We didn't even dip into the snack bags I'd put together. I'm most thankful nobody needed a potty stop. I was dreading having to take all four of them into a gas station.

Dinner time at the Grandparent's House:
{ what are we going to do when we add a BOY? }

We welcomed with open arms when we arrived at Grandma & Grandpa's house. Squeals filled the air as cousins were reunited after a few weeks apart. Grandma Martha was free with the pennies for her candy machine, a favorite of the grandkids and uncles alike. Here is a picture of sweet Eden working the candy machine's magic.

Even though it was cool outside, they all ran outside to play on the swing set, or as Laura calls it "the park". We didn't even bother to try calling them in to dinner until we adults had finished. Why bother? We wouldn't have won the battle between dinner vs cousins getting reacquainted with each other in the best weather we'd in weeks.

2 Ready or not here we come

Since my blog is private, I'm not afraid to announce I'm leaving town this week. Most of you know already, but I'm headed to Rexburg to spend a week with my family. My sister Abby has the opportunity to accompany her husband on a business trip in sunny Cali, so I'm taking her girls with me. That means I'll be chaffering a crew of girls ages 4, 3, 2, & 1!!! Heaven help me. I'll let you know if I make it alive.