Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Summer Time and the Livin' is Easy

A few weeks ago we jumped in the car and headed down some country roads to the suburbs of West Virginia for some easy summer time living.


Along the way we played John Denver - West Virginia, Mountain Mama, Take me Home Country Roads - it is required, by order of Nathan, that we listen to this song at least 10 times on the way to anywhere, but especially on our way to Auntie "Ya-wools" house just over the West Virginia border.


Laurel is my older sister by 7 years and the oldest of us 9 kids. We weren't exceptionally close growing up but since we're the only two siblings with kids so far and we're only an hour apart, we've quite gotten to like each other. It helps that our kids are totally in love with each other too. It doesn't help that she got all the good looks in the family.


Our little kids are total stairsteps of each other going Gordie 6, Ava 5, Nathan 3, Lydia 2, and Lias 1. Whenever either of us is alone with all the kids we shudder thinking that technically, these could all be ours. Laurel's got me beat by 1 though - her two older kids (11 and 9) missed out on the fun this time cause they were in California with their dad for the summer.

Laurel and her kids have had a rough patch in life over the past few years going through a divorce and a lot of uncertainty so it's been nice to just come and chill and chat while we let the kids go wild in her house. And go wild we did.


For 3 days we did nothing productive but....


play at the park....


chase kids.....


drink sugary drinks....


chewed gum....

A LOT of gum....

took advantage of all the pavement and taught our country kids about the beauty of cul-de-sacs - with only a few crashes.....


caught our fair share of lighting bugs and got more than our fair share of mosquito bites....



ran around half naked in our swimming suits until all hours of the night....



brought a little country brashness to the suburbs....



broke up our share of fights, real and pretend ones.....



didn't change enough diapers....


caught kids on camera....


even this Pidy one....


forced a few fake smiles....


and hopefully made a few family friendships that outlast this generation. Thanks for the fun Laurel and crew.


3 comments:

  1. awww bood- those are really cute pictures of everyone! I can't wait to come spend a day with you before I leave. and I promise I will! :D

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  2. Your families are sure growing and thriving. It seems like yesterday was just around the corner and i was sitting down to Sunday dinner with your family in Misawa Japan. I have always loved you guys and love watching your kids grow. Now my own son "Rhett" will be getting the priesthood this month (Aug) and I think about another he was named after. I know that the Donovans will always remain close in my mind and heart.

    Sincerely
    With my love
    Daryl and family
    Jonna, Chelsie,Rhett,Kami,Brynley and Emma

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  3. Lynnie that looks like so much fun! I love that last picture of Lydia and Nathan-- it looks like they are a cute like couple! I can't wait to have kids so they can come play with their cousins-- let the rest of us siblings catch up in that area! haha Love you guys!

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