Abshire summer all in one post.  Ready? Go.

Tansy graduated from preschool!  She was adorable as she did her songs and dances.  She didn't know where we were since we were in the very last row in the chapel.  That's why she doesn't look happy when she's carrying her certificate.  She was still trying to find us.

Her graduation was also Ben's birthday.  I let the kids decorate the cake.  They had a great time.

The Wings Over Whiteman air show was as fun as ever.  The girls got to perform.  Sydney was in a dance/cheer class that she really enjoyed.

Tansy has been doing tumbling and loves it.  So glad it is starting again this fall!

We took a little family vacation to St. Louis.  We always said that we would schedule a trip sometime when we went to the temple.  We now have a temple in Kansas City, so we had to just plan the trip anyway.

Our first stop was the Cahokia Mounds (or "Hokie Mountains" if you ask Tansy) in Illinois.  They are huge mounds of earth created by the native people hundreds of years ago.  They had different functions depending on the shape.  We did that first because we didn't think the kids would be very interested.  But they really liked it.  We climbed Monks Mound (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monk%27s_Mound) and got to have a good look around.

The next day we went to the zoo.  The carousel is free for the first hour the zoo is open so we rode it a few times before getting started.

My allergies decided to assault me shortly thereafter and we nearly scrapped the whole trip because I couldn't open my eyes.  I used WAY too many prescription eye drops, but after about an hour of that, my eyes calmed down and we had a really good time.

We tried to go up to the top of the arch, but they were sold out for the day by the time we got there.  We bought tickets for the next day, but we still had to get a picture.

We also visited the science center, which my kids absolutely love.  They had some fun shows as well as a hands on area where we played FOREVER!

As you can see, we finally did make it up to the top of the arch.  It was amazing!

We also went to Utah for a couple of weeks this summer.  The following three pictures are the only ones we took because we are lame.  Tyler was a horrible bed hog.  His pillow is actually at the foot of the bed on the other side so that he wouldn't bug Zack.  That worked well.  This room also had a set of bunk beds (one of my kids favorite things about staying here) so the boys got to sleep in those on the way home.

On our way back to Missouri, we were getting back in the car after a potty break.  The boys could not take their eyes off of this motorcycle next to us, and the owner offered to let them sit on it for a picture.  I couldn't get the boys to look at me for the picture because they were so impressed with the bike.

About a minute after we got home (okay, more like a day and a half) Ben found out he had to leave for a three-week training in New Mexico.  He left five days after we got home.  My parents decided to come keep us company.  Since bowling is the only thing to do around here, that's what we did.  I beat my dad for the first time ever.  Go me!

Zack celebrated his fourth birthday last week.  Unfortunately, Ben was still gone.  We opened presents while on Skype during his lunch break and had some friends come over that evening for cake.

We picked Ben up from the airport yesterday after getting Zack's portraits taken.  I was surprised that we were actually able to do them considering how much Zack's beat up his face the past few weeks.

This picture was taken at the ER after he fell on to concrete while trying to get off a trampoline.  He isn't bleeding.  That's all bruising.

Two days later, he did this on a different trampoline when he collided with his friend.  It turned in to a magnificent black eye that extended to his right eye as well.  Sorry for the poor quality cell phone shot.

He also fell off his chair at dinner a couple of days after that and got a bump and bruise on the top of his forehead.  Somehow, the kids managed to completely heal in just a couple of weeks and we got some good pictures yesterday.

Zack wanted to go to Rib Crib for his birthday dinner with Daddy, so we headed there from the airport.  It's amazing how happy the simplest things can make me when Ben is finally home with us.  I love my family and how we have such great times together.