Living out of suitcases...

• 4 weeks ago today the movers came and packed us up (one huge perk of the Air Force), and we moved into the Holiday Inn Express for our last 9 nights in St. Louis. We had adjoining king suites. Swimming 3 times a day was one perk for sure.
  

Our little moving coordinator. The older boys were shipped off to friends houses for 2 days.

Cooper learning to dive

And backwards dive

We call Beckett our water baby

• Then we headed to Kansas City for 2 nights in TLF (Temporary Lodging Facilities). 
  
• Fly to Boise for 2 nights in the AmeriTel, Andrew's extended FAMILY REUNION on his mom's side (the Brocks), and the MEMORIAL for Kloe Broyles.
  
  Andrew's immediate family.
  
  
  
  Andrew's oldest sister Artie and her family. Oldest to youngest (Dan, Artie, Tanner, Erynn, Tyler, Tate)
  
  
  
  Beckett's favorite, above the head push-ups
  
  
  
  Grandpa and Grandma and the grandkids
  
  
  
  All the boy cousins... I LOVE this picture showing all their personalities.
  
  
  
  Kaylee and Grandma playing another one of Beckett's favorites... peek-a-boo.
  
  
  
  
  Gunner
  
  
  
  Andrew's sister Aimee, and her family oldest to youngest (Dan, Aimee, Riley, Kaylee, Lilly, Brynlie)
  
  
  
  Aimee and Brynlie
  
  
  Andrew's parents and sisters.
  
  The reunion was held at a park where we ate pizza, played games, and got to ride these fun paddle boats. Then we played more games and swam at the hotel.
  
  
• Off to McCall for 3 nights for the LARSON FAMILY REUNION with Andrew's 2 sisters and their families. We stayed at a house that slept 16, a block from Lake Payette.
  Cooper and Tate in the bath after lots of playing "treasure map" in the forest around the house. 
  
  
  
  
  Celebrating the August birthdays.
  
  
  
  Tyler wanted to hold Beckett all the time... even when he was crying! He would say, "Cassie, I'll hold Beckett if that would help you out." Tanner, Riley and Erynn were a lot of help too!
  
  
  
  
  Tate and Cooper (9 months apart)
  
  
  
  Wiffle ball at the park
  
  
  
  The girls assembling 50 cards each from Becky's card kit!
  
  
  
  Gunner and Lilly
  
  
  Decorating frisbee plates. The sidewalk chalk behind the kids is the obstacle course Aunt Aimee designed (scooter, basketball, spin around the bat, throw wet balls in a bucket, run stick to finish line). Also shot Riley's BB gun.
  
  Kayaking crew
  
  Tate and Cooper
  
  Kayaking. Everyone except Cassie and the 2 babies went kayaking. Despite Gunner's apprehension, it was enjoyed by all!
  
  Fun at the beach
  
  Aunt Cassie and Brynlie.
  
  The boys loved watching Tanner burn everything with the magnifying glass. Also loved finding a caterpillar and dragonfly.
  
  
• Up to Spokane to Andrew's parents house for 3 nights.
  

Loving Aunt Artie's bathtub

ROCKBAND! A favorite for all! The kids laughed pretty hard at Uncle Andrew's heartfelt singing. :)

SILVERWOOD Theme Park and Boulder Beach Waterpark with Grandma and the Waites.

Gunner rode all the kiddie rides with Tate. Cooper was just tall enough (42 inches) to ride the 2 BIG wooden roller coasters... and he wanted to... and he DID!

Also got a DATE NIGHT out to Outback with Brady and Danna Nelson.

• Over to Coeur d'Alene to visit Cassie's family, the Gatten's, for 7 nights

One huge accomplishment in Nana and Papa's pool.... COOPER LEARNED TO SWIM WITHOUT A LIFEJACKET!!!!!!!!! He was so proud of himself. He got to the point where he could jump off the diving board and swim all the way to the shallow end. Way to go Cooper!

We had a GATTEN FAMILY BBQ with my Dad's extended family in the area. It was good to see a lot of family we haven't seen for a long time.

Beckett was BLESSED in the Dalton Ward, and we had a big brunch. More on that in a later post.

Cade 

(Brynne's little boy. Brynne just found out she is having another BOY!)

Here are the 3 boys. 

Asa (5 months), Brady (4 months), Beckett (3 months)

Had a fun night of GAMES and treats at Brynne and Jon's house. 

Made sure to get some cheeseburgers at HUDSON'S downtown Coeur d'Alene, and visited North Idaho College (where we met 9 years ago). It was fun to run into my old soccer coaches, Dean and Dan.

We were there during the North Idaho Fair, which for our family means one thing.... the ELEPHANT EAR BOOTH. What is an elephant ear? A huge flat donut with cinnamon and sugar, and a tradition for over 30 years. Why do we do it? To raise money for our kid's missions... it is anticipated to profit enough to cover as many of the great-grandchildren's missions who want to go. We make around $30,000 selling ears, pop, milk and water in 5 days! Lots of grease, lots of cousins, lots of work... but lots of fun! It was fun to be there, after missing it for the last 4 summers.

During the Elephant Ear Booth we decided to do COUSINS CAMP for all the cousins in the area... an easy way to "babysit" them while some of the mom's worked. 

Wednesday we went to the free movie, had a picnic at the park, did relay races (teams were the "Rad Runners" and "The Fast and Furious"), had an obstacle course, went back to Nana's to make jewelry, paint, and make cookies.

Thursday they did tie-dye t-shirts with Aunt Mikin, painted bird houses, made birthday hand prints and letters for Uncle Spike's birthday on his mission, and made their own pizzas for dinner. 

The Fast and Furious

(Ella, Sophia, Sally, Kate, Hayliann, Jackson)

The Rad Runners

(Kiah, Cooper, Nikell, Gunner, Wyatt, Noah)

Cooper undoing the knot during the obstacle course

Cade

Aunt Brynne, Cade and Beckett

Friday, after working the morning shift, we went to dinner at CAFE CHULO (a yummy Cafe Rio knock-off) with the Nelson's and then hit the FAIR for some fun. The boys loved all the animals, and the rides.

Gunner and Ella Nelson

Milo, Beckett, Tate, Ella, Cooper and Gunner

Unlce Brett

Ella and Gunner

• Back to TLF at Whiteman Air Force Base until we can find housing.... and we continue into our 5th week of living out of suitcases! Are you all as tired as we are after reading this post???!!!!