Branson with the Rude Family!

There are THREE new posts so keep looking after this one!

After a couple of days with my parents and a day by ourselves all the other Rudes got to Branson. We enjoyed some relaxing family time with all of them. Even though we all live in Des Moines you don't always get quality time together so vacation is always really good for that!

Dan's brother Jason and his girlfriend Amanda (who is so wonderful!) and Dan's brother TJ and sister Jessica watched our kids for us so that Dan and I could have a date night. We enjoyed our time alone and our kids enjoyed their Aunts and Uncles.

Uncle TJ, Quinn and Aunt JessDan and Myla enjoying some cookies!

We all loved going to the pool but especially James and Conner, Dan's youngest siblings. Conner is three and James is two. It was a good thing that they were wearing the suits with the built in life jackets because they are active little boys and love jumping into the pool!

Jess, Myla and Amanda

Myla and Rex taking a snack break

Myla looking tanFor most of this trip Quinn wandered around the outside of the pool, occasionally dipped his feet in, would toss a ball in and then cautiously walk into the water to get the ball. And then something happened... not sure what but my cautious little boy turned into a jumping fish. He seriously jumped a hundred times. We were at the pool for over two hours and I don't think that he stopped jumping the whole time. It was so fun to see him like the water but Dan and I were just a little sad that it was the last day when he finally felt comfortable in the water. Still a fabulous time!

Quinton jumping to Daddy

Quinton jumping in the big pool to Amanda!

Quinn became obsessed with his hat while on vacation because he wanted to be like Papa. The funny thing is that he pulls it so far down that he can't see but insists on wearing it that way... silly boy!Rex looking so old!

We took a Rude family Duck ride. The Ducks are the things that can go in the water and on land. It was a fun time but HOT. We went around 5:30 at night and it was over 100 degrees. SO HOT!!

Myla and Aunt Jess

Daddy and Quinn.
Lucky for us everyone on board got duck quackers!

The only documentation that I was actually on the trip! Dan is always willing to take them for me but usually I forget and just want to capture the moment.
I enjoyed a hot sweaty snuggle from Rex

All the little kids got to drive the duck! Quinn was the first...Conner next...

And Hudson too... the Rude boys are good drivers!

Overall we had a FABULOUS TRIP! Our kids always seem to adjust well to new places, long car rides and lots of changes. We are very thankful for that and it makes traveling and vacation very wonderful. The weather was great and I always LOVE family time. I am a very blessed woman. I have an amazing husband who loves me, three beautiful kids and two great extended families!

Dan wanted to relive his childhood and we bought buggels on the way home. Dan was excited to show Quinn how to put them on your finger and then eat them. Quinn thought that was awesome!

Branson Golfing

Dan and I took Quinn mini golfing.
Rex and Myla enjoyed the ride along as I fed them ice cubes because it was around 100 degrees.
Quinn loved golfing and did about as well as you could have imagined a two year old doing. The funny thing about Quinn is that he likes to do everything himself so he did not want any help in golfing. He did however do pretty well on his own!There was a ground hog on the course. The people that work there said that he is always wandering around...

It was dino golf which made it even more fun for Quinn!

Do you think that we have a future professional golfer on our hands?

Quinn and Daddy giving a pink cheeked thumbs up!

Rex and Myla did unbelievably well despite the heat. They really enjoyed ice cubes!

Have a mentioned before that I love my children!

Branson with Nana and Papa

We enjoyed a fabulous family vacation in Branson, MI last week. It was amazing weather and lots of fun company.

My parents, Nana and Papa, drove up to meet us and enjoy a few days with us. It was a fun time for all. I think that my children enjoyed all the extra attention and Dan and I enjoyed putting our feet up a little more!

Nana and Quinn enjoying some ice cream

Papa and Rex sharing some ice creamMyla enjoyed some too!

Quinton's and my favorite part was the sprinkles

Ice Cream got a double thumbs up

Walking around with DadNana and Papa got to practice some of their fort building skills. I think that they passed! Quinn loved it!

Papa got invited in the fort!

Rex enjoyed all the

Quinton trying out the pool

Quinn sure thinks that his Nana and Papa are lots of fun. Just a little taste of the giggles they experienced

Lots to Share!

We enjoyed a wonderful family evening the other night. Dinner out and then a stroll around the "lake" according to Quinn. We brought bread to feed the ducks and fish, saw a frog, lots of people, live music was going on but the best part of the night was jumping off the huge rocks.

Probably one of the most common questions around our house lately is, "Mommy, can i jump off somethin?" You may be asking yourself jump off what? At least that is what I ask Quinn, in which he responds, "I don't know, jump off somethin!" So whenever we can we go to the park or find a big rock or sometimes I resort to pulling a kitchen chair over to the rug so he can jump off something. I'm not sure where his jumping desire came from but he definitely is fearless when it comes to jumping, sometimes probably too fearless.

He is also very into thumbs up. So here he is. Ready to jump with a double thumbs up!
Life is good!
The big jump that was probably repeated 25 times before Dan and I dragged him away!

Showing off his muscles before a big jump!

I think that this is Rex' get me out of the stroller look!

Quinn did really enjoy feeding the ducks and the fish!

Another thumbs of for having fun with Daddy.

It was a fun family night. I always enjoy being just the five of us outside enjoying life together! I am truly thankful for my amazing family!

Bath time is always a fun and interesting time in our house lately. I have resorted to giving Rex and Myla a pretzel stick to keep them sitting in the tub. It keeps them sitting down for a little while.

I wanted to stretch out Quinton's curls to see just how long they really were. He was not too excited about that!

Rex always has something in his mouth. Even when he is crawling around he will put a toy in there and crawl right along. It is just kind of a funny thing that he does!Bath time is always an adventure. The next two pictures were taken moments apart. It is just an example of how quickly things can go from fun to well, not so fun!Get me out of here my brothers are splashing me!

Quinn needed to get as close to Rex and Myla as possible!

We went to Hannah McGargill's 2nd Birthday party the other day. It was a great time to hang out with friends and Quinn enjoyed the pinata. None of the kids could break it so Hannah's dad Joe took one swing and busted it open. Lots of candy for everyone!

Rex enjoyed Hannah's motorcycle

We met friends at the splash pool/park again last week. It was become a favorite place for children and moms! Quinn still loves the park more than the pool but he is getting braver and braver!

Quinn and Eliza playing together

Our friend Kate joined us for play time. She taught Quinn how to go down the fire pole. Quinn didn't understand the concept of wrapping his legs around. He just wanted to jump off!

Brave little boy

Not sure what his plan was when he got to the top. Thank goodness for mommy

Christy, McCabe, Myla and Kate

He was even splashing around...

and sitting in the water!

Ok, so maybe this next picture is not totally true, but I'm pretty sure that Quinton LOVES fishing! I was just having fun with chalk while he was casting and then I would have to untangle the fishing line. In case you were wondering, kids fishing poles have the worst fishing line EVER on them. It tangles even when you cast it two feet. Oh well, it is fun time anyway!

Oh how I love his hair

Casting

We seem to catch the same little green fish every time...

We enjoyed an outing to the Bass Pro Shop the other day to look at the fish for some inspiration. Quinn loved the big fish tank. I however thought that every fish in the tank was the ugliest thing I had ever seen!

Rex continues to be so sweet. He has learned a new move and pulls Myla down from behind by her shirt collar when she has something that he wants. Oh how fun they are

Myla finally has her first tooth. It poked through the other day. I was excited to know that there are some teeth in her mouth! My kids seem to be pretty good teethers... I don't even know they are teething until I stick my finger in there a feel a tooth. I am truly thankful for that!

Quinn holding Josiah McGargill. The McGargill's are good friends of ours and Quinn always asks to hold Josiah. It's kind of funny because he never asks to hold any other babies. I guess Josiah is his little buddy!

Quinn in one of his "forts." I'm not sure you can understand until you are actually with Quinn but EVERYTHING becomes a fort. The other day Dan and I were holding Quinn in between us and he said, " look I in mommy and daddy fort" Oh his imagination is wonderful!

We are in need of a second high chair. Both babies enjoy pushing their trays off and moving around in their Bumbos. Can't take your eyes off of them!

We enjoyed a bible study hang out the other night and Quinn and Leighton enjoyed running around outside. They are both covered in sweat! Taking a sucker and water break! Fun little boys.

Life is busy but oh so fun. Sorry that this post has so many pictures. A lot happens every week. I hope you enjoy a little glimpse into how fun my life is every day!