SNORTA and the Dead Fish

Ok remember I told you that you would hear a funny story about my brother?

***I must warn you that there is a little bit of swearing....BUT it is TOTALLY worth it, so just be warned.

Here goes....

We were playing SNORTA and in the game you have to pick an animal and the animal's sound. Everyone is dealt an equal number of cards with pictures of the animals in the game. As you go around the circle you lay one card in front of you and when you see a match to your card you call out the sound to the animal of the person who matched your card. Whoever says it first WINS and the loser gets all the of the other person's cards.

I know. Clear as mud.

It is quite hilarious actually. Especially when you are playing with adults. You can either hide the animals (for those experienced) OR you can uncover them (for those not so experienced).

SO back to the sounds. There is a pig, cat, cow, sheep, donkey, owl, dog, snake, horse, and a few others. As we were going around the circle we were picking our animals and giving them sounds.

It came to Logan, who picked out the donkey... of course he did. He proceeded to tell us that his sound was (inhale) "I'm an (exhale) a**" Doug said, "What? Did you just say "dumb a**?" And so the sound was created.... "(inhale) dumb (exhale) a**." I have never in my life laughed SO hard. Ok. Its been awhile.

But it gets better. My super adorable sister in law (Logan's wife)... yes Chelsea you are adorable too, was the FIRST one to go and my brother was the second. Turns out they were the same cards. We all just stared at Natalie wondering if she would actually say it. AND SHE TOTALLY DID!!!! It was so funny. That was the 2nd hardest I have ever laughed in my life. Really this time. And Logan lost the game. Go Figure.

***** you will have to wait to hear about the dead fish until next time.....

Has it Really been 2 years?

It has been said, "Time Heals all wounds." I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone."

Rose Kennedy

Tempest approaches at furious pace.

Turbulent winds lead The Timorous race,

bringing Terrifying Truths I must now face.

For This Trial is mine, alone, To embrace.

With Temerity I never knew I had gained,

I Tread The Terrain Transformed by storm's reign.

Trampling upon The Terror sorely disdained

Only To learn That These efforts were in vain.

Memories, un-Tethered, now Tattered and Torn,

Trembling I remove Their Tortuous Thorn,

Whose Toxins slain The child I now mourn.

The pain is The Tonic for The wounds I have born.

The 5th Sister Blog-AWESOME

Dear Daxton,

Mommy misses you. I can't hardly believe that it has been two years since I held your little hand, kissed your little cheeks, or held you in my arms.

Sometimes it all seems like a bad dream. And sometimes it feels like you were never here. Only the memories live on. I know you were here though. A mother's heart will never forget. My heart will never forget. We are 2 years closer to that sweet day when we will never be separated again.

I may not be physically able to see you, but I can feel you near. I love you. And I can't wait to once again, hold your little hand, kiss your little feet, and NEVER EVER let you go again.

Love, Mommy.

Ten Years ago TODAY....ish

10 years ago last weekend, Doug and I drove from Utah to home, as just "friends." I hooked him for the 12 hour drive by promising him we would see the Grand Canyon. The best I could give him was Jacob's Lake on the very most southern tip..... hey you gotta give me credit for trying :).

And so it is 10 years, 4 kids, and 3 moves later, we found ourselves at the Grand Canyon. 

It is AWESOME. So amazing. 

We took the train from Williams to the Grand Canyon (Nice I don't know even what city its in.... Grand Canyon?) 

It was a 2.5 hour train ride (a 50 minute drive) with lots of adventures (kids puking, babies crying, motion sickness, sugar comas) guitar players, train robbers, harmonica players, over-priced photographers, and the beautiful scenery horizon to horizon. Pretty incredible. 

The train robbers were the best though, second to Mikenna puking her guts out and Isabella completely losing her mind. Savannah was terrified (seriously? that girls isn't scared of anything!). She was crying and making all sorts of raucous. She was yelling at the train robber to GO AWAY. PUT HIS GUN AWAY. 

And even when he gave her a frog from him sleeve, she was NOT persuaded that he was the same "Cowboy Santa" that she had seen earlier at the gun fight and begged to have a picture taken! Gotta love her. 

When we got to the Grand Canyon we took a free tour to see all of the coolest points. And let me tell you. They. Were. Incredible. 25 years we have lived in AZ and this was our first trip. NUTS. 

My brother Logan mentioned that whenever he comes home he looks on the internet to see if he made my blog.... Well my friends here he is with his cute wife. Aren't they adorable? Well he will not only make it in pictures this trip, but there is a GREAT couple of stories he is going to make on my blog as WELL!!!

Did I mention this was a family reunion affair? Oh yes. It was our FIRST ever Walter Family Reunion. And it was pretty fun. We had all of us kids and all of the grandkids (ok mine plus one :)).

***note the MOBY WRAP that Isabella is in. It is about 15 yards of cotton fabric wrapped around my body. There was a woman who made the comment when she saw me that this particular wrap was only good to carry newborns and small infants. HMMMMM note a little later just how wrong she was.

We played games, ate food, walked, played games, ate food, walked. It was everything a family Reunion should be. With a little bit of cuteness mixed in. :)

Totally UNPROMPTED!!! Isabella went and grabbed a sandwich from the cooler and proceeded to carry it over to Grandpa and plopped right next to him. We about died laughing. She is a hoot!

Playing Ticket to Ride. My all time FAVORITE game. NOT. Actually it is sheer torture every time I am forced to play it. But sometimes I sacrifice for those I love. 

Isabella started this new thing.... she loves to hold our hands. SO adorable. She will put her hand up and say "MA, MA" which pretty much means anything she wants, including but not limited to MOM.

PS: Note the woman carrying the 8 year old on her back in the infamous MOBY WRAP. Oh ya. That's ME. Carrying Savannah. I know. I am buff. I ride my bike and do yoga. The reason that I mention MOBY WRAP is because I think it is the SHIZ! I can carry a newborn and a small 8 year old. All in the same get up. 

Why did I take a picture of Savannah asleep? Glad you asked!!! There was a bus of tourists from China. As they got off the bus there were several of them who came up to where she was sleeping and took multiple pictures. No, I am not even joking. It was so funny. Like they had never seen an American girl sleeping.... who knows maybe they hadn't. SO watch out world. You may see Savannah on another blog! But seriously. Doesn't she look adorable? Poor thing was so worn out and not feeling too good the whole trip.

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