Happy Fourth Of July From Beneath the Earth's Crust

This year we made our usual trip to Lubbock for the 4th of July. Since we didn't go on vacation this summer we wanted to do something special with the kids. We decided to take them to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. And to make it even more better, the entire Stunkard Family decided to join us! The 1 day that everyone could go was on July 4th. I was worried that it was going to be super croweded since it was a holiday but it wasn't bad at all! Carlsbad is about 3 hours from Lubbock. We were able to drive there and back in 1 day. It was dark on our drive back so we were able to see a lot of fireworks in several different cities. Especially since it was so flat. It was really pretty!

Beautiful New Mexico view with Cason, Molly and Ethan

The entire fam. Jake, Papaw, Granny, Travis, Tory, Cason, Ethan, Thomas, Ryliegh, Kim, Taylor, Molly and Toby

Spelunker Molly

Spelunker Cason

At the mouth of the cave. The kids were a little nervous walking down. 

We were all trying to not get pooped on by the birds that were flying over us.

It was actually pretty cold down there. The temperature was in the 50's. 

I am super proud of Cason and Molly. We had orignally planned to hike down into the cave which was about 2 or 3 miles. Then ride the elevator back up. When we got to the bottom, the line for the elevator was over an hour long. The four of us decided to hike back out of the cave. It was a very steep uphill 2 mile hike that was hard even for me and Toby. Poor Toby had to carry Molly on his shoulders about half of the way. But we all made it to the top! Yay us! 

Dance Recital

All school year long Molly took ballet and tap lessons to prepare for this one recital. She worked hard and her effort definitely paid off! 

On the morning of the recital we just hung around the house. Aunt Beth came to eat lunch with us and to help me get Molly ready. The day before I noticed that Molly had started sneezing and coughing but didn't think much about it. About an hour before we had to leave the house I was trying to fix her hair and put her make-up on. This girl lives for make-up and any thing girly. So when she started crying I new something was up. I thought she felt a little warm but hoped it was from the curling iron I had used. I decided to take her temperature and it was 102! I was so sad for Molly but I did something totally out of character for me. I gave her 2 choices. 1. staying home and missing the recital (that was what I wanted) or 2. taking Motrin and going to the recital anyways. Of course she chose 2.  We managed to get some Motrin in her, get her dressed and took her to her recital. I had to drop her off back stage about an hour early so I was expecting a phone call that she wasn't feeling well. It never came! She stuck it out and did an amazing job. We were even able to go out and eat afterwards to celebrate Fathers Day! 

Of course her temperature came back later that evening and the poor girl ended up having a double ear infection and pneumonia! BUT she had fun at her recital and that's all that matters!

Instead of paying ridiculous amounts of money for professional photo's my awesome dad took hers. They turned out every bit as good as a professionals! 

Molly performing her ballet dance.

Molly performing her tap routine

Bebe, Grandad, and Aunt Beth came to watch her. She was over having her picture made so I didn't get pics with anyone else.