July 4th Weekend...

{July 1-3}

*I need to note that while we were getting packed for our 4th of July adventure Payton started to pull himself forward! I am thinking crawling is going to be happening soon!!!*

Our 4th of July celebration started a little early this year. On Thursday me, my four kids, and Molly headed down South. We met Jaime in Sandy so she could take Alec and Olivia for the day to let them play at her house. Then me, Marcus, Payton, and Molly continued on down to Orem for Marucs' Baseball tournament that he was going to be in. We dropped him off at the baseball field so that he could warm up with his team while we went and picked up my Grandma Carlson because she was staying at her sister's house over the weekend. While we were picking her up I got a call from Ryan, Marcus' Coach telling me that Marcus was sick. So we hurried back to the park to see what we needed to do to help him out. I think that his stomach was hurting because he was getting hot from the sun and that for some reason he was a little nervous. We decided to have him sit out during the first game so we could get him feeling better. We got him Tylenol, a neck cooler, slushy, and plenty of fluids. After a little bit he was ready to play! Unfortunately we lost both games, but we learned a lot (isn't that the best thing to think?!).

While we were away all day the kids at Jaime's house seemed to have lots of fun! I am so grateful for her help.... When we were done with his games we headed back to Sandy to stay the night at her house.

Friday we got up and let the kids play around all morning then we headed to Costco, were we enjoyed going around to all of the taste testers for lunch!!!! Me, Molly, and all five boys then headed up to Park City so that we could get Marcus to his warm up for his two baseball games. Marcus was loving watching the temp. drop while we got closer to his game, the weather up there was much better! Right before he started his games Jaime, Jayson, My Parents, and the two little girls came up to watch Marcus play.

We played much better on Friday. We came close to winning the first game, but after loosing that game we knew we were for sure not going to need to play on Saturday for the Championship games. But we were loving that we won our last game! The boys were so excited, it was worth sitting there for all of those games!!!


Marcus was loving his new batting gloves that my parents gave him for this game. He was thinking he was looking pretty cool.

I would have to agree! I think he looked way "cool" and very cute all dressed up in his uniform!!!

It was a fun season! We are excited to have our Big Daddy here for the next season....

After taking a couple of years off we were back to celebrate the 4th with Jaime and Jayson's neighborhood. This year the kids were looking very festive and enjoyed throwing candy while riding in Papa's truck for the parade and then we enjoyed a breakfast with the neighbors.

Payton enjoying watching the Parade!

Papa and Nana's 7 grand kids!

My parents got these darling dresses for the girls, so they could be like twins!

It took 5 takes to get somewhat of a good photo of Payter. You have got to love 61/2 month olds and cameras!

Once we all got ready we headed down to Orem for my Grandma Carlson's family reunion. My Grandma has 7 siblings and only one of them has passed away. At the reunion all of them were there. My Uncle Carmen (in the green shirt) came all the way from Florida for this reunion. The kids had lots of fun playing with their cousins. I think they could have fun where ever they are! Everyone thought that the "twins" were darling little girls and they thought Payton was a beautiful, happy baby! After Marcus' game on Thursday we went to my Aunt Ruth's house so we had already visited with some of them. So when they saw Payton again they just couldn't get enough of him. My Uncle Carmen kept calling him the "Curly Hair Indian"! He would come take him from us and walk around with him for awhile.

This is my whole Carlson family, minus Carson, Ryan, and of course my Grandpa!

It started out as a family of 4 and turned into 22 (so far!)....

Austin, Marcus, Jackson, Zach, and Alec!

Me and the kids ended our weekend with stopping at Ikea on the way home. Marcus is so funny he has been begging me ever since we went to St. George. A few years ago me and Jaime went there and we put the kids in the little day care place, so that is what he wanted to do. So I gave in, dropped the 3 older kids in the day care, and my and Payton enjoyed an hour of quietness while we looked around!

We had a wonderful weekend. It was busy and we missed Carson like crazy, but we had a good time. I am so thankful for all of my family and all of their help. But I am also thankful that my kids are good enough that I can even make these kind of weekends manageable while Carson is gone.