Logandale Shoot *November 1st-4th 2012*

I didn't mention something very important in my blog post about the Heumann family Halloween party.  After the party Steven's mom came over and watched our kids while he and I went a bought a new car.  We upgraded to a mini-van.  Now we are super cool.  We weren't able to get much from the trade in on my car because of the accident from October 2006...we got $1500.00 but it was better than nothing.  Before we test drove it the guy told us it was 12k which was 2k more than we were hoping to spend but then we saw the sticker price of 17k and checked Kelly Blue book.  12k was a great deal-especially in Utah where Mini-vans are super cool.  So it's a silver 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan.  When we woke up in the morning the first thing the kids did was look outside and then started shouting about our new van.  They were very excited-we were tired and went back to sleep.  :)

Ok-so what does that have to do with the the Logandale shoot?  This was our first trip in our nice new van...which I don't appear to have a picture of.

Day 1 Nov. 1st
Right after school I took the kids in for their flu mists and then we were on our way.  My mom came with us so she could enjoy some time visiting her sister Ann in Logandale.  Sam is not my mom's #1 fan and was not happy to be sitting next to Grandma but she did her best to keep him happy.  An example of this is that one day she babysat and he woke up from a nap-when he saw it was her he refused to get out of his crib and laid back down and patiently waited for me to get home.  Little stink.  I think this may stem from us leaving him in her care while we went to Costa Rica.  Also-Sam is very structured and particular about things whereas my mom is quite random...I think he feels that things are a little out of control.  He's gotten better and been nicer to her lately though.

Anywho- Got dinner at Subway in Filmore and arrived at Ann's around 9.  Showed off the new van to Ann-Mike and Clark then tried to go to bed.  Sam-who like I said is quite particular about things- wasn't sure about this new place and wouldn't stop crying and shaking.  I rocked him and sang which helped but he refused to lay down in the crib.  I finally put him in bed with us and he fell asleep and I put him back in his crib around 2am.  Not the best nights sleep but I was happy to snuggle my boy.

Day 2 Nov. 2nd
We got up at 5am and headed to Boulder airport.  Steven and Alisha got on a helicopter while the rest of us ATV'd.  It was a little strange to watch my husband fly off on an air plane with another woman while her husband (BJ) and I along with her son Colton and my kids drove in the mini van together and then went on an ATV.  Sam started out the ATV ride with plenty of tears and screaming but once we got moving he was happy as could be.

We observed while the helicopter landed and Tyler got some pretty cool shots...and of course Sam was freaked out by the helicopter.

Then we hung out at a mine while Steven filmed.  The kids just enjoyed the outdoors while Buckshot (a guy they were interviewing who knows a lot about the mine) went to find the kids some rocks with little bits of gold in them.  They kept it for a bit until I got sick of finding it on the floor and in random places around the house.  Elese finally left hers out for a leprechaun on St. Patrick's day and it magically disappeared.  Buckshot also showed us a nice little tarantula.

 After that we headed to a barn type place where Tyler did more crazy things for the perfect shot.  The barn had lots of cool stuff but the kids were getting inpatient and not listening.  Colton kept messing with antique things and wouldn't listen and then at one point Max picked up an old glass bottle and threw it on the ground.  At that point Steven intervened.

Then we crossed the street where Steven stopped for a short nap (until he was rudely awakened my Stoney)-saw a plane that had crashed and toured a mine which was really cool yet kind of creepy.

Then Steven had to film at Valley of Fire.  The kids and I hung out at "the cabins" where they could just climb and play in the dirt.  On the drive there Max and E both needed to go potty so we stopped by the side of the road.  Steven volunteered to help them.  Little did he know they both needed to poo.  Poor daddy-he was so tough while I sat in the van and laughed at him.  Steven was very embarrassed because we were caravaning with Tyler and Stoney and so it was pretty clear to them what was happening. 

Just before Steven picked us up at the cabins 2 shifty eyed guy showed up in a suit with a silver briefcase. I was afraid we were going to witness a hit or something.  Eventually a limo showed up and out stepped a man and a women.  Just as we were leaving the creepy man with the briefcase started to marry them.  While Steven was out filming he saw 2 other weddings.  It is a beautiful place and apparently the place to tie the knot when you are only a few miles away from Vegas.  I had prepared some Lasagna for Ann and Mike as a thank you for letting us stay there so once we got back I threw that in the oven and Clark came by and we had some dinner.  My mom went with Ann to a high school basketball game where Ann's grand kids were playing and cheering.  Tyler-Steven and I watched some Walking Dead and then went to bed at 8pm.  We were very sleepy.  Tyler was so cute while he hung out at Ann's he was very polite and would call her mam and stuff.  I really like that kid.  He's made Steven's job easier and he's just a nice happy guy to be around.

Day 3 Nov. 3rd 2012

This was by far my funnest...and most frustrating day.

This was the day of the Hump and Bump.  It was a jeeping tour and was lots of fun.  I love jeeping.  Not sure I'd love driving but I love riding with people that I trust to keep us safe.  We knew we were leaving from the Red Rock area so we drove there but no one was there.  Then we found out that we were actually meeting at the fair grounds.  Ooopps.  So we arrived a little late but fortunately things were a little slow starting.  There was doughnuts and juice and t-shirts for the kids.  I'm still not sure how I feel about the kids wearing shirts that say "Hump and Bump" on them but Max still wears his every now and then. 

Max and E rode with a woman named April and her daughter Kayla along with Colton.  I'm not sure it was the greatest arrangement for them...Kayla and Colton had a crush on each other and were talking about and listening to music that I think isn't great for my little ones.  Granted Max is older than Colton (Kayla was like 12ish) but he's been exposed to more than my kids.  Anyway-there were a few times when I would ask them not to do something and then they would anyway.  I could tell it was waring on Max.  He was really quiet and later told me that they were doing things I'd asked them not to.  Not major things-just watching music videos and other things on Kayla's phone that I didn't think were great for my littles to be watching...looking back I was being a bit prudish but still.  Ok-so enough of that.  The jeep they rode in was very girly with bumper stickers and such.  Alicia didn't want to tell Colton for fear he would refuse to ride in it but I told Elese and she thought it was a fun little secret.

Sam BJ and I rode with Q.  It was a lot of fun. 

We stopped a lot for shots etc. 

Steven rock crawled for the first time and it was very cool. 

At one point the kids were climbing all over the place and Elese scaled a wall.  FREAKED me out!  There were lots of drop offs and I had Sam to chase so the big kids just went wild and once again did things I asked them not to.  When Colton's mom or step dad would tell him to not climb so close to the edge he would just yell at them and say "I know what I'm doing!!! Leave me alone!"  So...that's where the not so fun stuff comes in.  I loved that the kids got to play and have fun and that I got to ride in a fun bumpy jeep but not so fun because BJ was watching Alicia rock crawl and Colton was doing unsafe things and I felt responsible for him so I was bossing all the kids around trying to keep them alive and no one was listening.  All the while chasing around a 1 and a half year old in the blazing sun.  Not to mention that I was pregnant-constantly hungry- and hormonal).  It really was fun though.  I promise. 

At one point Steven had a moment so he enjoyed some time with the kids...it gave me a little break.

The ride ended at Red Rock.  This is a place where I spent a lot of time as a child...well not a lot but when we visited my Aunt and Uncle in Logandale we would walk-ATV- or jeep there for the day and play in the sand.  It holds lots of fun memories.  Steven even did a story on it and I got a little misty eyed.

Here's the link to the story about Red Rock.  http://www.youtube.com/v/U63zVjDN0uQ?autoplay=1&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&playerapiid=ytplayer

After filming at Red Rock Steven and Tyler went around filming some in Logandale while the kids and I went back to Ann's for a rest.  After that we went to a dinner event.  The kids won  prizes.  Max got a basket ball and Elese got a back pack that she could color.  She LOVED it and still uses it as her ballet bag.  While we were waiting for dinner (there was a HUGE line) Steven and Alisha were filming and BJ was watching while Alisha's mom watched her baby.  So I was watching the kids.  Max and Colton were throwing a football and almost hit Sam so I told Max he couldn't play anymore.  Plus they were playing in a highly populated area.  Colton argued with me and Max pouted.  Then they decided to start throwing dirt.  I asked them to stop because they were getting it all over Sam and E who had just had baths.  They didn't listen.  In fact Colton started throwing the dirt right at Sam and E after I told him they had just had a bath.  Then a drunk guy yelled at them and said "Stop throwing dirt!  There are people around and we are going to be eating food here!!!"  So Max moved a few feet away and started throwing more dirt!  I followed that up with some yelling and hormone induced crying and we left.  I took the kids to McDonalds in Overton and the drive-thru took FOREVER!  Steven called before I could even order and said he was done filming so I decided to drop the kids off to my mom and go back to the party with him.  Sam ate in the car and went right to bed and the big kids hung out with my mom.  Alisha and her family had gone back to the hotel so it was just Steven and Tyler and I  The food was yummy and we had a fun time visiting and laughing.  We watched a little TV and went to bed.

Day 4 Nov. 4th 2013

We started the morning around 5am (it was daylight savings) with me having a little (typical during this pregnancy) "My husband works with a pretty girl and gets to have lots of fun while I chase the kids around and watch" - break down.  After a chat with Steven I felt better.  I packed while he took the kids on an adventure.

 Tyler picked up Steven to go sky diving.  Sam napped and the kids and I watched one of my old favorite movies from when I was a kid.  On Our Own.  Elese colored her back pack and was very concerned about making it perfect and would get very upset and say "I just colored outside the lines!"  Then they played and I napped.  Steven called and it was time to go.  We picked him up at the Mesquite airport.  Stopped in Saint George for linner at Cracker barrel.  I was feeling nauseous this day.  Sam cried most of the way home.  It was nice to get home.

Oh and I have to mention my mom's "Vibrator" machine that she got.  This is a photo of Ann's.  My cousin Clark had some fun with the stickers...the photo says it all...