Arkansas Trip

Day 1

This year our Flake Family Reunion was cancelled due to a lot of scheduling conflicts. My sister Heather decided to plan a get together at her place for anyone who could come. I really wanted to go since a lot of my family was going to be there. It was a 24 hour road trip, so it was quite the adventure! On June 12, we loaded up our car and headed to West Jordan, Utah. We stayed with Greg's parents for the night.

Day 2

We got up and drove 2 hours to Price, Utah to go to church. 

After church we drove through Colorado until we made it to the Denver Airport. We dropped Greg off (he had to work the whole week) so he could fly home. 

We got to our hotel and put these little ones to bed.

Day 3

We left the hotel before 7am and headed to Lowell, Arkansas. I was a little nervous about driving 11.5 hours with 4 kids ages 9 and under without Greg, but the kids did surprisingly well!

Most of the stretch on Monday was driving through Kansas. It's a pretty state and so HUMID!

We arrived at Heather's house around 8:30pm. My sister Bethany's family was there too. It was a very fun night!

Day 4

On Tuesday we went to the JB Hunt Nature Center. 

Everyone had a good time!

He's pretty cute!

Then we got back to Heather's house and jumped in the pool. 

That evening we went to the Golden Corral for dinner. 

Yum!

Then we went to the Botanical Gardens. We loved the pretty flowers and butterflies.

Later that night these girls put on a cute play for us. It was very creative and funny!

Day 5

On Wednesday we took the kids to the splash pad, but they all just wanted to swim in the pool, so we went home. Heather thought it was pretty funny that I had so much sunscreen on my face... 

That evening we went to Braum's for ice cream. Sarah and her family were there, as well as my parents.

Ice cream makes everyone happy!

Bethany, Haley, Sarah, and Mom

Day 6

Arkansas is a very pretty state. On Thursday we went on a hike to see a waterfall at Tanyard Creek Park. 

I love waterfalls and forests!

Having fun by the waterfall.

Caleb loved throwing rocks in the water. 

We took our time walking back to our cars.

We walked on an old bridge and saw a bunch of streams. 

Then we headed over to the beautiful glass Cooper Chapel.

It was right in the middle of a forest and air conditioned. So cool!

There were lots of tuckered out kids when we got home.

Cute cousins: Juliet, Hazel, Delaney, Leslie, and Emily.

BFF's: Luke, me, Caleb, and Jack.

That evening the women went out to dinner. Lots of laughs and lots of fun!

We came back just in time to put our kids to bed. The kids loved listening to stories read by their uncles. Here is Uncle Derek reading to them.

My brother Justin and his family arrived that night!

Lots of people, but lots of fun!

Day 7

On Friday we headed to the lake. 

The Kramers own a boat, so we all had a turn riding on the boat and tubing. 

After spending the whole day at the lake, the kids went downstairs and watched some tv. 

Derek and Clara helped me cut up watermelon and cucumbers for dinner. Did you know cucumbers can help sunburns?

We fed the kids and put them to bed.

Then the adults went out to Fish City Grill. It was a good time!

Day 8

On June 19 we got up early and started driving to the Denver Airport to pick up Greg. We got there right on time. We were all smiles to be back together again as a family. What a fun week!!

The End of May

The end of May was the end of many things for our family. Emily and Leslie finished up their swim lessons, which Caleb was very happy about!

Leslie graduated from Kindergarten!

She loved her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Manter.

It's crazy to think she's a 1st grader now!

She wants to be a teacher when she grows up!

The official last day of school was Thursday, May 27. It was the best day ever for these two!

Abby graduated from Preschool the next day.

She is so excited to go to Kindergarten next year.

We'll have three kids in elementary school next year. Pretty crazy! They are all growing up!

Abby's Preschool class was small, but she really enjoyed it.

She adored her teacher, Mrs. B, too!

On Saturday we went to Utah to visit our families. Our first stop was in Bountiful to see my sister's family.

It was really fun to hang out with my sister, Bethany. 

Leslie and Danny...the two Kindergarten graduates this year.

Four friends: Emily, Grace, Leslie, and Abby.

In photo: Bethany, Haley, Greg, and Paul. Thanks for the good visit, guys!

Next we drove to West Jordan to hang out with the Burrs. Leslie loves her cousins, Suki and Millie.

We got to be there for Jaxon's blessing day! Pretty fun!

On Memorial Day we went and visited several graves. Steven Burr is Greg's uncle who died when he was only 21.

Our daughter, Emily is named after Emily Mazel Bryan Burr, so she wanted to get her picture taken by this grave.

Greg and Caleb have the middle name "Ray" after Clifton (Greg's great grandpa), Greg's grandpas on both sides, and Greg's dad. Caleb was really excited about this picture. ;-)

Such a funny picture of Caleb!

Greg's Grandma Gunderson passed away last year, so we made sure to see her headstone too.

They were all matching, so we took a picture! In photo: Suki, Rachel, and Mom Burr.

These girls love their cousin, Prahbu. 

It's finally summer!!

May Birthdays

                                         
On May 15th I turned 37! The numbers 3 and 7 have always been my lucky numbers, so I'm hoping for many great things this year. Greg spoiled me and made me chicken cordon bleu for dinner. 

I also got some really awesome gifts for my birthday.

I was a little worried about having a lame birthday cake because I am sworn off desserts this year, but Greg made me a sugar free pudding pie with strawberries. It was definitely a crowd pleaser! So delicious!

Emily turned 9 on May 17th. I can't believe she'll be in 4th grade next school year. She hardly even asked for any toys...mostly books and things to make crafts.

Usually our kids ask for chocolate cake for their birthdays, but Emily wanted angel food cake this year...just like her dad!

Every birthday is the best birthday ever to Emily. She is a fun girl!

She did it! Now we don't have anymore birthdays until September!

Spring Time

On April 29th we got our second shot for the Pfizer vaccine. 

It feels so good to be fully vaccinated!

The kids loved playing with this homemade rice table from the library. It entertained them for hours and was a huge mess to clean up!

Greg's pancakes are definitely a favorite around here!

I wanted to get a picture with Emily since we had matching dresses...but everyone ended up being in the picture!

Last Saturday we took our family to Birds of Prey. 

It was kind of cold and a little bit windy, but we still had fun!

Our four sweet kids: Caleb, Abby, Emily, and Leslie.

The birds were so beautiful up close.

We even saw a bald eagle! That was really cool!

This bird kept squawking while the lady was talking. It was pretty funny.

"Mom, take a picture!"

I'm so grateful Abby got to go to Preschool. She really loved her teacher and her class.

It was a great Mother's Day this year. The kids and Greg were very good to me. I am blessed.

One of my friends gave us their old Barbie dreamhouse. These girls LOVE it! It feels like Christmas around here!