Tori goes up North

While Taylor and I were in Australia and Tatum in Iowa, Tori went up to Showlow for a week to visit grandma and papa.    She was excited for her trip but when its time to kiss me goodbye she gets all teary eyed.   I took Tatum to the store to buy some last minute things for her trip to Iowa and I forgot my phone.   Big mistake... Tori was crying the entire drive up and wanted to come home.   Tad walks in at this time and we decided she needs to work through this and besides I was leaving that same night.    Once the 4 hour drive was over and they were at the trailer she was fine.  She had a great 5 days with them, and they played lots of cards and she informed us she won most of the games.    They went to a movie, drove race cars, went bowling and fishing.

Tad picked Tori up on Friday morning in Payson and they headed straight to Flagstaff for a softball tournament.   They had a great time together and her team lost in the semi finals.

These are pictures Tori took while she was in Showlow.

Rainbow Pines is their summer home

a sucker holder

 wind chimes

 She saw horses on a walk they took

 grandma petting one of the horses

 beautiful

 cute little duckys

Tori Jo is getting too big

Glad you had a great time,
xoxo
Tami

Tatum visits Iowa

Tatum left for Iowa June 13th and was there for two weeks visiting her Grandma.  She had a great time while she was there.  She got to spend time with her cousin Payton, Aunt Tracy, Uncle Bobby and her Papa Neal.    Tatum enjoyed Mr. Snoopers, baking, shopping, Adventure Land and watching Payton's dance recital.   Payton got first place in her dance "Fix You".  That was Tatum's favorite dance.

She had a nice day with her Aunt Tracy visiting a garden that had a entire room full of butterflies, giant bugs (fake) and lots of flowers.  Then they toured the Iowa State campus.  Tatum thought this was really cool, it was a really big campus.   Tracy showed Tatum the Vet school, which Tatum enjoyed since that is something she wants to do in college.

 Grandma, Payton, Bobby and Tatum drove to Minnesota to go to the Mall of America.   This mall is huge and has a giant amusement park in it.  Tatum was really wanting to ride some rides but didn't want to alone, Payton doesn't like roller coasters.  She had a wonderful day in Minneapolis.  On the way home they stopped by Clear Lake.  This was where her grandma was born.   They went to the house where she was born and then went to the lake.

Mr. Snoopers loved Tatum.  Every morning he would paw the door for Tatum to come out of the room.  He would sit by the door until she even came out of the bathroom.   They played games together and she threw tennis balls to him.  His favorite toy was panty hose. Grandma told her once she left when the door was closed he sat by the door then he would run in the room and get sad when he saw Tatum wasn't there.

Uncle Bobby took Tatum and Payton to Adventure Land, which is an amusement park in Des Moines.    The only roller coaster Payton likes to ride they got in line for... its just about there turn and it breaks down, they wouldn't ride any after that.   They did like the log ride, which they rode 5 times.   They played some carnival games and they won a medium parrot and a small parrot.

They went to dinner almost every night and most nights they went to Flaming Skewer.

Over all she had a wonderful time and wants to go back next year.

Grandma picking Tatum up at the airport

 Tatum * Grandma * Payton

 Tatum met Claire on the airplane

Payton and Tatum at the Flaming Skewer

 Payton * Father Terry * Tatum

 Tatum and Payton at her recital

Bobby * Buddy * Payton * Tatum

 Payton * Papa Neal * Tatum

 Payton * Tracy

 Grandma

 Tatum * Payton * Candy

 Flaming Skewers