Californ I. A.

Right after we got home from North Carolina, we did some laundry, packed a few suitcases, threw them in the Yukon and headed out to my old home to visit my sister Kelly and her cute family.  It was so fun to see them all and to catch up.  Her kids are all so big now!  I can hardly believe it.  They were just little ones when I left on my mission!  Now Mike is going into the army and Dallas is graduating from high school!  It's creeping me out!  We mainly hung out at her house, had a few BBQ's and of course went to In-N-Out.  The kids played at the park next door and Mark and Tom blew some things up in the back yard (don't ask...).  We went swimming and made the trek out to LA so the kids could see the Hollywood sign and experience the Griffith Observatory.  Thanks for letting us drop in you, Kelly!  We had a great time!  Love you guys!

Griffith Observatory

You can barely make it out through the smog, but that's the Hollywood sign over our shoulders to the left. Lol!

Mark and I with our boys, Jackson, Caden and Jace

Me, Dallas, Jackson, K.C. Kristie, Jace and Kelly

I kinda adore this man!

Caden and Kristie.  I LOVE this picture!

All the Cousins!  Jace Gertge, K.C. Norton, Dallas Norton, Jackson Gertge, Mike Norton, Caden Gertge and Kristie Norton

Kelly and her kids...not so little anymore!  Kelly, K.C., Dallas, Mike and Kristie

My nephew Mike introduced my children to the wonderful world of Beyblades.  He earned major cool points from my kids.  They played the whole time we were there, and Kelly and Mike sent my boys home with their very own, plus one to take to Gage (Kim's little boy).

Uh, yeah...this is Tom and "...when you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room. It's for fun."

Now here we see a perfect example of an accident waiting to happen.  Jackson wanted to drive Kristie's chair and Caden and Jace thought it would be fun to strap on to the back and go for a ride!  Notice the knot on Jace's forehead in the next pictures.  I'll let you figure out what happened next....

At the park next to Kelly's house.

Topsail Island, North Carolina

In July, Mark and I went to North Carolina with Chris and Joanne Hayball.  We stayed on Topsail Island, just across the street from the beach.  It was so beautiful there and SO RELAXING!  We laid out at the beach every morning and then did a little sight seeing in the afternoons.  It was such a nice break!

In Willmington on the U.S.S. North Carolina

Mark and Chris showing off their guns

Mark and Chris showing off...

Joanne and Chris

I thought this lake was so pretty with all the lilly pads and the greenery so I wanted to stop and take a picture.

Little did we know what was lurking in the waters there.....

Uh, yikes!  The thing was HUGE!  It was like 8 or 9 feet!

Joanne freaked and jumped up on the car!  It was a little intense, but way cool to see a croc so close!

Near Orton Plantation, at the visitors center at St. Phillips Church.

St. Phillips Church

What a hottie!

We did part of the walking tour in Willmington.  The houses there were amazing!!

Fishing off the peir at the back of the house we stayed in.

Just sit right back And you'll hear a tale A tale of a fateful trip,

That started from this tropic port, Aboard this tiny ship.

The mate was a mighty sailin' man, The Skipper brave and sure,

Five passengers set sail that day, For a three hour tour, A three hour tour.

Thats right, friends, it's the SS Minow!

 

Poplar Grove Plantation.  It was so pretty!

At the Turtle Conservation Hospital

I know, I know, mock me all you want.  I should be mocked after going....

Mark, Chris and Joanne talking to our neighbor in front of the beach house.

View from the back of the house.

View from the front.  The walkway to the beach is in the middle.

Topsail Island Beach, North Carolina

Montana....again

We met Grandma and Grandpa Gertge in Yellowstone and went to see Old Faithful, then we headed out to Great Falls, Montana.  Gotta love the half naked kid in the background!

This butterfly really liked Jace.  Jace picked it up walked around with it for quite a while. 

He thought it was pretty cool!

Feeding the ducks

At Fort Benton Levee

We went out to see some of the missle sights that Grandpa Joe works on and he took us to this really cool look out point.  It was so pretty!

Montana Trip April 2010

For 11 years I have heard about Mark's dad Joe and his amazing ability to call the cows.  So, I asked him while we were in Montana if he would show me.  He was a little embarrassed and didn't think he could still do it, but we pulled over so he could give it a try... 

Uh, yeah...he's still got it!!

The kids had an Easter Egg hunt at the hotel

And at Mark's Uncle Jerry's home.

Jackson and Grandma at Jerry and Joan Gertge's home

They made a birthday cake for him and he got so shy when everyone was singing to him...but he loved it!

Mark Gertge, Marlene Monson, Julie Carpenter, Joan Gertge, Jenny Gertge,

Neilene Gertge, Emilee Monson, and Mary Gertge

Breck Carpenter, Mark Gertge, Joe Gertge, Dan Gertge and Jerry Gertge

This was a 2K's Kafe in Great Falls.  The burgers were HUGE!  2lbs of meat!!  Two of them fed my entire family with lots left over!  Here is Taylor enjoying his usual lunch!