Giants in the Sky!

My old Kentucky home.  Aaaaaaaaaaaah!  So breathtakingly beautiful in the Spring time and I got to go back to enjoy every minute of GREEN.

My brother Glen got cast as "Jack" in "Into the Woods" and I wanted to see him perform.  I have flown back to see all of my other siblings perform lead roles in their High School musicals.  It's just a little something us Krebs kids enjoy doing.  In fact, "less than average" Tammy is now the only Krebs sibling that was not ever a lead in a HS musical.

I was going to fly out by myself, just for the weekend, but Grandma Krebs scoured the internet and found some good flight deals so that I could also bring the kiddos and stay for a week.  Really really really glad we did.  It was a super fantastic visit!

When Emma called Grandpa Krebs to tell him she was coming to Kentucky - she immediately told him that she wanted to go to the horse races again.  Of course, Grandpa could not deny her request.  So, early Saturday morning Grandpa, Matt, Dave Evans (cousin) and a slew of children went to watch the horses complete their morning exercises at Keeneland.

Emma even packed an extra special outfit with a horse on the shirt to wear for her special day with Grandpa at the horse race.  When he came into our room to wake her up for their adventure, the first thing she said was, "I have a horse outfit that I will be wearing to the horse track!"

Of course, you need doughnuts to finish off all the "horsing around".  And of course the sprinkles need to be BLUE for the Kentucky Wildcats Basketball MANIA.

The best part of the trip, was all of the bonding that Emma got to do with her cousin Aliya.  They are only 4 months apart in age, and their time together is limited because of the distance between Arizona and Kentucky.  They spent the whole week glued at the hip, almost always in dress up clothes (as seen above at McDonalds WITH fairy wings), and giggling or singing their little hearts out.

They could not eat without the other in the chair next to them, although this frequently meant that they did little eating, and more giggling.

They lived in their "pretend world" about 95% of the time they were together.  Making believe all kinds of creative scenarios.  I think they were pretending that it was nap time here for Aliya.

One night we were VERY privileged to be the audience for a talent show by the girls.  They both took turns singing  for us.  At one point I tried to help Emma finish her song because it had gone on and on and on and on and on and on... which she curtly told me, "you are not invited to sing with me and it wasn't even that good anyway".  My parents were laughing pretty hard, remembering a young Tammy doing similar things as a child.  Oi!

Emma wore a zebra dress one day, which ironically was the exact same dress Corinda's mother had purchased for Aliya and Elsie recently.  PERFECT!  Picture time just had to happen.  I had a cute little zebra bow for Emma to wear, but she insisted that she also wear a bright pink bow like her cousins.

This was our first time meeting precious Elsie and we were so excited!!  She is such a precious little thing.  I even got her to giggle for me a few times, which I am SURE is because she knows that I am the funniest aunt she has.

So here is a pic of my parents only three grand-DAUGHTERS.  The rest of the crew (almost 7) are all sweaty, rascally, active, hysterical BOYS.  :)

I. LOVE. THIS. PICTURE.

This is bound to be in one of their wedding videos.  Or on their wall when they room at BYU.

We celebrated Glen's 16th birthday while we were there.  My Mom made an awesome ice cream cake.  His only friends at the party happened to be nieces and nephews... but I think he is have a REAL party later.

Glen, Grandpa and cute little Joseph.  I can not believe that I did not get one picture of this darling kid with his glasses on.  He has been having some eye concerns that result in them going "cross eye" - so he is super darling when he has his little glasses on.  It reminds me of when Matt was a kid, who also started wearing glasses at a VERY young age. 

We were honored to have my cousin Dave, his wife Sheelagh and their darling kids Taylor, Grace, Harrison, Lauren and Carter - come all the way from Lafayette, Indiana to spend the weekend with us.  Such an awesome and hysterical family and we enjoyed every second they were with us.  They even came to Glen's play on Friday night!!  Is that super family, or what??

We enjoyed eating too much food while we watched General Conference.

Here the kids are playing some "geo boards" that I made while I was out there.  Bought some wood, nailed some nails in, spray painted it, purchased some stretchy bands and WA LA!!  These entertained the kids for hours.  Such a super easy, super cheap activity for all ages.

Here I am cuddling with precious Elsie.

Here is Matt not-cuddling with Elsie, but being a pretty good prop pillow for her. :)

Yep.  Mr. Smiley Grant was also there.  He was a little hard to keep track of, because he was constantly trying to climb up or down my parents stairs, which was SUPER exhausting to follow!  I hope that by next time, he has mastered stairs and I don't have to worry as much. 

The kids were on the tramp about 100% of the time they were awake.

Just check out the gorgeous green lawn in my parents back yard.  Why do I live in this desert again?  WHY???????

Trying to get a pic of the kids.

Not working so well.  Just have to have proof that Grant does something other than smile.

And he's back again...

The whole gang.  Minus Mom taking the pic.

How did I escape the trip without a picture of my Mom?  She is super devious when it comes to hiding from cameras.

My parents are such amazing grandparents!!  I hope I can be just as great some day!  They make their grandkids such a high priority in their life and are always willing to drop anything for quality time with them.  Emma and Grant both went on little outings through the week with either my Mom or Dad making them feel special and loved.  It's so sad that we live so far away, but we try to make the most of the visits we do have.  I'd give anything to live closer.  YEAH for awesome families!!

And here we are after Glen's play.  I saw it three times!!  Anyone who knows "Into the Woods" is familiar with his big song "Giants in the Sky".  He did such an incredible job.  It is fun to hear his voice come into it's own and he really commanded a presence on stage.  I snuck a video of him singing, but evidently I'm not allowed to post it for copyright reasons.

The girls saw the first half of the show twice.  They really enjoyed it.  The second half of the show is lots of dying, scary giants, etc... so we opted for the first half only which ends happily.

And of COURSE, the COOLEST thing that happened while I was in Kentucky was the Kentucky Wildcats winning the national championship!!!!!!  I was so pumped when I realized that I would be in Lexington for the Final Four game and the Championship game.  Kentucky fans are insane and it was SOOO great to watch the games on home soil!  The final game ended around midnight and Little Glen and I went out afterwards to get championship t-shirts for the family.  Honking our horn and cheering the whole time!  YEAH BABY!!!!  GO CATS!!!!!  I seriously love me some Kentucky basketball.  And the last time we won I was a sophomore at BYU.  Long time ago. 

Thanks to my wonderful parents for being amazing hosts and for the rest of the family out there for dropping everything in their normal routine to keep us entertained!  The kids and I had so much fun!!  Hopefully Greg will be able to join us on the next go-around.  He is such an awesome husband and father to make them money and let us go play with us!!  Love you Greg!!!