Cousins are Better than Friends

We love it when family comes to visit.  We especially love to have cousins come to play.  It's better than friends because they get to stay all night.  This weekend we had Uncle Randy, Aunt Janelle, Brinton, Holland, and Owen come to stay and play.  No house work or chores this weekend instead it was toys everywhere.  We must go shopping and try out the motorized carts and play hide and seek from the workers.

Ryder making sure Owen doesn't get lost trying to keep up with Brinton.

Hide and Seek with the cart.  How many kids can we pile on before they kick us  out?

We also had a handicap sticker so dibs on the close spaces.

Next to Rec Center

Time to show off a little on the new skills we are learning.

Swimming...Reganne striking a pose.

Ryder & Holland

Playing on the Coyote Slide

Catching Rylee before she vanishes again.

Weeee!!! love that slide.

Time to go home and rest before dinner.

Red Robin for dinner.

This still looks like a happy crowd that still likes each other.

Breakfast making cinnamon rolls.

These girls were good helpers rolling out the dough and filling it with the sweet stuff. 

We are cousins & friends

Too bad it was time to say goodbye or rather see ya soon in Idaho.  These guys played so well together all weekend that they were soon bored after they left.  What can we do now???  GO TO BED!!!!!  Too bad it was only 6:00.

Happy Father's Day!!!!

Time to celebrate the great dad at our house.  The kids worked hard the past couple of days to get ready to spoil him.  What do you get the man who buys what he wants and what he doesn't have costs way too much.  They had to get creative.

We bought him an iPod Shuffle so he can listen to his tunes while working out.

What is his favorite color?  Blue or Green?

We went with both.  Blue shuffle and green shorts.

Oops to big!!

Ryder colored pictures for Dad and wrapped them special with bubble wrap from his closet.  Two presents for the price of one.  Rylee decorated a mug and filled it with treats.  Which he doesn't have to share and didn't.  Reganne gave him a bag of her special treasures that she wanted to share with her Dad.  I love how creative our kids are

Group picture and all smiles

We asked Dave for his favorite dinner and the only reply we go out to eat.  We headed to Texas Roadhouse.

Weekend Fun

The weather has been really warm that the kids don't really want to play outside.  It was going to be a long weekend if we didn't find something to do and fast.

Little Valley Park....Swing, Splash, and Climb.

They lasted about 1/2 hour before wanting to go home.  Rylee figured out how to swing Ryder and have fun herself.  Ryder thought it was cool too.

Next stop...Rock Wall Climbing

They changed their hours of operation so there is only a short time they can climb.  Saturday afternoon gave them enough time for more than 1 run.  

Cinch on that harness and let's climb.

Reganne's turn and she climbed a little bit higher than last time.

Success!!!!!

Rylee made it to the top.

See Dad I can do it!!!!!

Let's try the next level.

YEAH!!!! 

She made this one as well.

Thank goodness this wore them all out for the night.

Time to Just Add Waters

Summer is heating up literally temperatures are reaching in the low 100's it doesn't take too long to figure out what our Saturday trip was going to be.... GO TO THE LAKE!!!!  Ryder was first up and he couldn't get everyone ready fast enough.  

Let's go and drive fast.

Dig that hair.

Note...put hair in a ponytail before leaving.

How's the water?

COLD!!!!!

Tubbing Time...Testing the signals or rather mixed signals.

Having fun

Hang on

After a couple of hours playing in the water, riding the tubes, and even driving the boat it was time to head home for some lunch.  However, they wouldn't leave without  promising to come again and play really soon. How about Friday?

Donation???

Dave called from work telling me that the wiener car was in their parking lot.  I told him to take a picture and they did.

Can you say heartburn??

Is this a donation or what??

My reply was don't you dare bring it home.  We are out of space.  Lucky for me it was only visiting and was soon on the road again.  Even adults can have fun once in awhile at work.

Christmas Toys Revisited

How many times do you wonder if all those presents at Christmas will ever get used again.  Our kids get way to much each year and there are some toys that get swept into the closet or under the bed never to been seen again.

This remote control car was one of those toys.  In the past couple of weeks toys have been coming out of hiding under the bed to be played with again.  Criss Cross Crash is another one that has found a new life.  

This little boy has discovered new tricks this past week.  Making farting noises and whistling.  You can always tell where he is since he is making some kind of noise.

Today before sacrament meeting I warned him that he must be quiet and no body noises were allowed.  He would have to go out if he did.  All was good until the last 10 minutes.  First started the giggles, next came the farting sounds, followed quickly by a small whistle.  The mommy glare didn't work.  He then looked up and wanted to tell me a secret.  As I leaned closer he stuck a wet finger in my ear and giggled  I just gave you a wet willy.  Do I strangle or smother him?

Heavenly Father please give me strength to love this little boy and not kill him before he is six.

Summer Fun....Mary Poppins

Let me set the picture for everyone.  I am very slow at finalizing plans and always wait too long so we miss out on fun things.  This year I am trying to break old habits and make new ones.  When Larry & Carrie told me they were coming for the preview night I knew that we should too.

I even got our tickets early and everyone (but me) got an email that the show wasn't ready and would be cancelled that night.  Thursday afternoon another email was sent and this one I got the show was back on.  

The night started out with dinner with Larry, Carrie, and family at their condo.  The best part of dinner was my kids all being to shy to talk much.  Dave & Ryder had a date at Yogartland and Ironman. 

Who are those funny people?

Two cute girls waiting for the show to begin.

Let's pester Uncle Larry, visit the gift shop, and get treats.

There they are.  

We didn't get to sit by each other so we did the next best thing by taking a picture of them.

The show started late, but it was amazing to watch.  The special effects or magic were amazing.  Mary Poppins flew around the stage, Bert walked up the walls, and finally how did they do that with putting the kitchen back together?  We had a good time but were really tired.  We made it home by 12:30 and into bed by 1.

They are begging to see Mulan later this summer.  It is on my list to get done and soon.

A New Look

I am not sure about this growing up thing it is happening too fast.  The past couple of months Rylee has complained that she couldn't see the board at school.  The Mom response "Where are you sitting and who is sitting in front of you?"  Daughter's reply "I sit in the back and the boys all sit in front of me."  Deja vu was setting in the only difference is that I was one year old.  Mr. Stewart let her move up front which seemed to do the trick for awhile.  Once again she started complaining that she couldn't see very well.  It was time for a visit to the eye doctor.  SURPRISE!!!! she needs glasses for nearsightedness.  She had already picked out her frames while we waited for our appointment.  The hardest part was waiting for them to be ready.

Finally.......

How do I look?

Supplies + chocolate

Once again the deja vu set in as I watched & listened to her as she looked around in awe at all that was blurry became clear to her.  I think she looks really cute and I love her frames enough that I might steal them.  Now comes the struggle of getting used to them and not setting them down so Ryder can get a hold of them.

Last Day of School.....YEAH!!!!!

It's official the last day of school arrived after all the parties, activities, and cleaning.  It is a day full of traditions and must haves.

Tradition #1...Scones for breakfast.

(Terrell Rolls make great big ones)

Awards...Perfect Attendance...Rylee

and Reganne.

Best Friends...Reganne & Franky

Family...Almost

Rylee, Reganne, and Dacoda

YEAH!!!! Schools Out!!!!

Funny faces

Last day of elementary school.

Onto intermediate school across the street.

Round out the afternoon with lunch at Wendy's with Mom. Let summer begin.....

Soccer Saturday Game 7

I made phone calls this week to all members of our team in hopes that we didn't have a repeat of last week.  Luckily Pedro showed up along with Axel to coach.  The boys were ready to play.

Off and running

Guest Photographer...Reganne

Let's make a goal

Get back here.  Good foot work.

Pedro, Axel, and Ryder

The boys!!!

Look at my medal!!!

Spring season is officially over.  Time to get caught up on housework, projects, and just relaxing.  It was fun coaching the boys, but I would rather leave it up to people who know what they are doing.

Fifth Grade Give Me Liberty Program

Rylee worked so hard this year with the Give Me Liberty program for all 5th Graders in our school district.  There were twelve items that need to be passed before the end of school to participate in the program. Only 12 kids from her class completed all items.  Who can recite the Gettysburg Address, name of the presidents in order, Recite the Pledge in sign language, or name all fifty states + capitals?

This group of awesome 11 year olds.

Everyone wearing matching t-shirts passed off all the states & capitals.

Oops this is really blurry. 

Certificate, Trophy, and T-Shirt!!!!!!

We are so proud of her and all her hard work in completing this program.

A note to everyone coming up in this program.  Pass of the harder items first and then work on the others.  You will get done much faster.