Road trips!

This summer we took 2 trips to Utah (both within a few weeks of each other.) Lots of car time for sure and despite Callie throwing up, whiny children, driving all night and a little arguing over movies it really wasn't so bad! I really enjoyed visiting and talking with Ron it felt like a a few really long dates, very nice. Both trips were for Family reunions. The Hopkins Family reunion was held at Cherry Hill Campground. We played in the water, visited Antelope Island and caught up with extended family.

Antelope Island was really pretty. My kids were fascinated with the Bison and animal life there.

The Hopkins Clan!!!

Callie really did travel pretty well. But she was our most difficult one in the car. Poor thing caught some kind of bug on the way home our first time. She threw up like 10 times in the car. Not sure if it was a virus or crazy car sickness. I learned really quick I'm not so great at catching throw up from the passenger seat. LOL Grateful we didn't experience that again.

Our 2nd Utah trip was for the Huber Family reunion. Both trips we invaded the Miller's home and stayed with Ron's sister Leslie (and husband Matt) with their 6 kids. This family is amazing. Especially Leslie! I learned a lot from her in just a few short nights observing their family. I went home with a renewed desire to be a better mom. Leslie is amazing with her kids and puts them before EVERYTHING. Plus ALL their kids are so great! They were very nice and patient with our little kiddos. It's hard to explain but I really appreciate her friendship and example as a mother in these latter-days.

 Church was nice to get to sit next to Ron. (a rare occasion that I relish every chance I get)

 Nap time!

Callie absolutely adores her cousins!

 Sleeping arrangements!

Callie Michelle

Family prayer is the highlight of my day.

"Please bless Jesus to help Alice fell better"

This girl said the most beautiful prayer tonight. We have a neighbor (and friend) who is in the care of hospice right now and not doing so well. Our friend Alice has sat by us at church for the last couple years, she is an amazing woman and a wonderful example to me. I used to report my visiting teaching to her. I watched her for years attend the temple weekly with her friend in the ward who doesn't even speak English. It's hard to think about the circle of life and facts of aging. But I'm grateful for the plan of Salvation and the knowledge I have of Life after death. It makes difficult situations like this easy to talk to my children about. Their sweet little innocent minds can grasp this concept surprisingly well.

Callie is turning into quite the little fish! She loves to swim and is learning to come up for air mid-swim. Despite her extremely stubborn personality she can really tug at the heart strings. She is obsessed with clothes (and changing her own outfit at least 20 times a day.) She is really generous with the compliments, especially regarding clothing choices and cracks me up with her compliments. "Mom I really like your shirt or mom your swim suit matches me!" The other day she wanted a drink of milk "Mom would you get me a drink of milk pleeeeease, Gorgeous." LOL 

She is still the biggest Daddy's Girl EVER and I love it! (I especially love this fact at 2am. Hehe!)

I love her and can't imagine life with out her.

Mason's 2nd eye surgery

Mason went into surgery at the Phoenix Children's hospital around noon on Tuesday, June 17th. He handled all the prep work like a champ (as expected)! No eating since 6am that morning, getting screened and WAITING forever to be taken into surgery. This surgery was performed by the Anterior Eye Specialist Dr. Gross. I have mixed feelings about this surgeon. He's pretty good from what I can tell (I'm a total Eye expert now. LOL) He's just not the most personable Doctor... a little full of himself. During surgery they placed an artificial lens (one-sighted he'll be far sighted in his left eye) and fixed the iris. His Iris was damaged and torn in a couple placed from the trauma. 

 You can see how irregular shaped his pupil is (on top it's torn and there's a small black slit).

This screen keeps you updated and informed about the surgery. I spent LOTS of time just starring at it waiting for the words "procedure complete" to appear.

 Post surgery

 the drive home

Post-surgery eye. 

His pupil is still a little large (it will always be bigger than the other eye's pupil) I'm thankful he has dark brown eyes and you can't really notice it. He is a little more sensitive to light because of the large pupil (sunglasses are totally his thing now!) My friend who is an RN informed me if he is ever admitted in the hospital for something else I need to let them know he already had different pupil sizes. I guess that's a sign of brain damage or something?

 Arggggh. Pirate Mason had to wear his eye patch for about a week, and no swimming for about 2 weeks. Counting my blessings and crossing my fingers we won't have any more surgeries! 

We had a follow-up with the Retinal Dr. a couple weeks ago. Everything still looks great but he can't see very well at all out of the eye. Dr. Kwong informed us he may not see out of it for up to 2 years. It takes sometime for the brain to realize the eye is functioning again and worth sending signals to.

Staycation!

I still need to post about Mason's 2nd eye surgery but we are having so much fun this summer in the pool and I want to post a few fun pics and memories. This summer we planned a "staycation" at the AZ GRAND resort in Phoenix.AZ. It's a resort that has a water park. My kids LOVE staying at hotels and call it their "new home" We got to go with our good friends (practically family) the Sare Family. It's crazy how hard it was to align our schedules to make this happen. I'm very glad we did! 

These two cuties I have decided will be married someday. And this picture is going in the wedding video. LOL They are so photogenic and have the "camera smile" DOWN every picture! Love it!

I laugh when I say this because Erin and my family go way back. We grew up thinking we were ACTUAL cousins only to find out years later our dad's served missions together and we were merely "play cousins". Erin is pretty much family as far as I'm concerned (thanks to facebook and her husband's crazy piloting jobs) our bond has been rekindled. It's fun to think that we are carrying on the tradition and a whole generation later our kids are "play cousins".

Erin, Tony, and Summer

 I just adore this family (especially Baby Summer). Poor Erin probably thinks I just use her for this adorable little girl. Not true but... I do love me some Baby "Summa" (Callie's annunciation)

 I didn't get very many of pictures of Mason because he was on the slides the majority of the time.

 The "wave pool"

  With adjoining rooms the kids were in heaven!

Probably my favorite part of the entire vacation was the lazy river. So nice to just sit (and take pictures) and enjoy doing NOTHING!

I found this beauty of a pic on my camera after I asked Ron to take some pics. I love this goof ball husband of mine!

Tonto Natural Bridge

Memorial Day weekend we went to the Tonto Natural Bridge with our good friends the Sare Family. Such a blast and a perfect day to spend a holiday as a family!

These 2 are so adorable I can't stand it!

I really enjoy family outings like this. Makes me more grateful for my healthy and family, and reminds me of the beautiful world our Heavenly Father created!