Abby's Baptism

On August 11th, Abby was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We are so happy with the decisions that Abby has made to be baptized.  She is such a great example to those around her and she's always striving to do what is right.  It was a special day and I'm glad we were able to share it with many family members.   As Abby came out of the water to change, she was so giddy.  She said that she was just "so happy!"  We love you Abby and are so proud to have you as our daughter!

 The family that was there

 Olivia pouting for some reason but she was so cute doing it I had to take a picture

Before Abby was baptized we did a photo shoot with a local photographer just so I can have pictures of her in her three white dresses (baby blessing, baptism, and wedding).  Here are just a few of them.

 Angel on the lake - she poised herself

The In Laws Visit

Early in August Mom and Dad Yost came out to Texas for Abby's baptism.  While they were here I had then help me finish off a couple items on our summer bucket list, basically places I didn't want to take the kids by myself.

Chuck E Cheese was first on the list,  Alec loved being in the cars and had fun just wandering around.  I was worried that the girls were going to want us around but they just wanted tokens.  They were fine on their own, I think if I ever have to go again, I might just be okay on my own.

 Intense game of air hokey

 Abby did this funny aiming thing with her left arm for skeeball.  She'd aim with her left and then swing her right back and forth a few times before letting the ball go.

One day we went to the Ft. Worth children's museum and I definitely need another adult with me here. We spent a long time here and could have stayed a little longer but Alec needed to nap.

Making paper airplanes and shooting them off

 We all got to try a bed of nails

 Dug for dinosaur bones in the ridiculous hot heat - we didn't last long outside

 Built tall structures

There was some swimming going on while the grandparents were here.  We had our neighborhood pool all to ourselves, it was so nice.

Kaitlyn and Grandpa worked on several puzzles.  Both of them could sit at a puzzle until it was completed.  This is just one that they did together - a 500 piece puzzle.  

And while they were here, we had a family birthday party for Kaitlyn and Abby.  Only one cake for me to make!  They both agreed on a chocolate oreo cake, thank you pinterest! 

 It was fun to have Grandma and Grandpa to ourselves for a little while.  Hopefully we'll get to see them again soon!

Abby's 8 Year Old Survey

Favorite Color:  Purple
Favorite Food:  German Pancakes
Favorite Candy and treat:  Ice-Cream and Kit Kats and Butterfingers
Favorite Friend:  Sofia and Carly
Favorite TV Show:  Phineas and Ferb
Favorite Movie:  Mirror Mirror (watched it 4x in one weekend)
Favorite Activity:  Doing art, playing with stuffed animals, pretend adventures
Favorite Activity with Sisters:  Creating pretend adventures with them
Favorite Activity with Dad:  Watch him play Zelda
Favorite Activity with Mom:  Hangout, talk
Favorite Song:  Firework
Favorite Book:  Tale of Desperoux and Harry Potter
Favorite Primary Song:  Army of Helaman
Favorite Scripture Story:  Abinidi and wicked King Noah
When Abby grows up she wants to be a vet.
Favorite Thing about herself:  She's creative
Abby loves:  animals, my family, music and dancing
Her talents:  art, piano (and she memorizes music easily), and playing soccer, (I also like to add swimming)

Off to the races

One day while I was out furniture shopping Abby decided to make races for Todd and Kaitlyn.  She even made a crown and trophy for them.  Kaitlyn won by the way.

On a side note, I was going to be gone a long time and I asked the girls if anyone wanted to come with me and I explained that I was going to lots of furniture stores and it probably wouldn't be any fun for them.  Olivia however wanted to come with me.  We were gone 3+ hours and she never complained and stuck with me the whole time.  Olivia is my little shopping buddy.  She loves to go where ever I go and I love it!

Day 6- Great Grandparents

Before we headed home we had a little time to visit Todd's grandparents.  The girls headed out back and were picking up all the bad apples for Granny O.  They had a lot of fun doing this and still talk about picking them up off the ground, the really yucky ones they found and Granny O giving them crayons and coloring books.

 We were also able to get a shot of Alec's great grandfather who he is named after - Robert.  We tried to just do Alec and Grandpa but Alec would have none of that and settled down only when he had his pacifier and Daddy.

Todd, Alec Robert, and Robert

Yost Reunion Day 5

The last day of our reunion was Abby's birthday (Happy Birthday Abby!).  We let the kids ride the ATV a few more times, Mom and Dad did a slide show and told us all about their mission, and then we took family photos.  The evening ended with a variety show and some late night game playing.

The gang- missing 3 people (I'm taking this photo)

 I'm in this shot and Megan's taking the photo- lots of Yosts!

 Yost cousins minus 1

Our little family

 Yost babies born in the while Mom and Dad Yost were on their mission.

Alec surrounded by girls as usual, and he's the most upset.

 First annual Yost Variety show- since Todd and I were put in charge of the nightly activities I put this on the list since it was a hit with Porter reunion.  There was grumbling but everyone participated and it was fun to see all the talents and the "variety"

Abby MC-ing the show and she did a dance with her cousins.

 We started off with our impersonations - I had done too many EFYs in my past.

We did raindrops and hotdogs in a microwave.

 Kaitlyn sharing her knock knock jokes.  Cute dimple.

My "magic" show.  Ya-da-dat-da-da-da-da-DA!

 A Dance by Mom and Dad Yost

It was the last night and in the morning everyone was packing up and heading out.  It was so much fun to reconnect with everyone.  Friends for the kids everywhere you turned and there was never a dull moment.  Until the next reunion...

Yost reunion Day 4

Day 4 had just our little family leaving early to head down to SLC.  Our rental wasn't a van, can't remember what it was but we didn't have car seats for Abby and Kaitlyn thinking they were big enough for this trip.  Well they were sitting in the back and the windows in the back didn't come down far enough to their level so they couldn't see out.  We heard lots of complaining as we drove the 1 hour+ downtown.  They survived.

We wanted to meet up with a couple friends we hadn't seen in years!  It was great to catch up with the Horsley's at Planet Play or Pizza, whatever it was called.  We have meet so many amazing people that have lived here in Texas and have now moved away.  It's nice to catch up with them every now and then.  I think we need a girls reunion next year!

Temple square was the next stop.  Abby was getting baptized in August after we returned and we wanted her to explore temple square a little.  It was a beautiful day until we got there then it started to pour rain.  We decided to run to the visitors center but Kaitlyn refused to get wet so Todd carried Alec, Kaitlyn sat in the stroller while I pushed, and Abby and Olivia ran with me.  It was actually a lot of fun running in the rain.  We toured the southern visitors center- and for some reason I've never been in here.  The girls loved learning how the temple was built and all the time and effort it took.  What dedication from these early saints, I even teared up at some of the descriptions.  

Somebody got a little grumpy later on.  She wanted to stay a little longer but we needed to head out to catch up with the Hardys.  

I love walking the SL temple grounds.  Hopefully next time we're there the weather will cooperate and we can get a nice family photo there.  Olivia did sing "I love to see the temple" a lot while we were walking around.

That evening, back at the cabin the kids were able to play another game where they got MORE candy! The game where candy is wrapped in a ball of packing tape and you unroll it until the person next to you rolls doubles with dice.  There were 2 of these candy balls.

Kaitlyn trying to trade with Olivia

We also played the first ever Yost Minute-to-Win-It games. 

 Hilarity ensued.  There was lots of cheering, screaming and chanting.  

I was very impressed by the cookie face game, there were some games I think I should have tried first to work out the kinks and rules a little bit better but I think fun was had by all.

"Son, you've got a panty on your head."

Yost Reunion Day 3

Day 3 had us traveling over to Park City to ride the Alpine slides.  I haven't been there in years and we were all surprised at the new roller coaster that you control that was on the side of the mountain.  After coughing up an arm and a leg for everyone to go at least once we concluded that the roller coaster was the best of the two.  Both awesome but the roller coaster was out of control!  My brother in law had asked one of the operators if there was any way we'd fly off the track, he said no so we went as fast as the coaster would take us.  It was wild!

Alec left with Grandpa- he wasn't happy about being left behind.

 At the end of the slide

 Can you see Dad?

The rest of the day was playing at the cabin.  Uncle Thayne brought the ATV so the kids all took turns getting rides or learning how to drive.

Can you see Abby sticking out her tongue?

That evening we celebrated the 3 kids who were turning 8 and getting baptized this year.  Abby and Taydem are only a few days apart. Taydem turned 8 at the beginning of the reunion and Abby turned 8 that Sunday.  Zachary's birthday is later this year in December.  It's fun to have cousins close in age.

A pinata for the party!

When the pinata broke, you can tell my kids have done this before.  They have learned from past birthday parties with pinatas, that if you don't get in there, you don't get anything.

We got more than our fair share.  We loaded up on sugar!

Dinner out on the porch.  There was only one small round table in the kitchen nook and a few barstools.  Not enough sitting for 40 people.  There was a picnic table out back that the kids ate on for every meal.  We were mentioning how a cabin can sleep so many people but there weren't enough tables to eat at.  The day we were packing up to leave, the extra tables were finally found under a bed.

Olivia hanging out with Josh under the ping pong table.  Olivia was down there and Josh went down and copied her.  Too cute.

Hot tubbing

Once the kids were put to bed the adults stayed up late and had game nights.  Here are just a few of the many games that were brought to the cabin.

The back of the cabin.  4 floors- enough room for everyone to spread out.