The Random Side of Things

Dallin is always coming out of his room with whacky things.....and this one was too cute to pass! He was pretending to be a scary monster. Funny thing was, the mask was too big, so he'd run up and growl, and Christopher would just tug the mask down a bit, and Dallin's eyes would be covered...so he would pull it all off, scold Christopher, and proceed to start all over again. What a clown!

Bailey is old enough this year to be in 4-H, so we enrolled her in Market Sheep Production. She has loved going to the meetings and actually got voted in as the reporter for her 4H group. Since fair is less than a month away, we've (I mean she's) been working with her lamb a lot trying to get him ready for the fair. It is so cute to watch her walking her lamb....and he (she named him Johnny) responds really well to her. I'm getting excited to see how it all turns out!

Sariah is our "girly girl" and loves to dress up.....apparantly she loves to dress her brother up too. But usually he's not a willing participant. So we had to get a quick picture when she pulled Ryan into the kitchen to show off the trophy: Ryan in pink ballerina pajamas! He was trying to act shy and embarrassed, but I could tell he was loving every minute of it just like Sariah was!

This is my ankle about a week ago, after a long day at the pool. There has been some speculation as to which ankle I broke, and a softball team we played against this week actually thought that my right leg looked atrophied. Well, my right leg is honestly not that SKINNY...and it's the good leg. My left leg is still a bit swollen, but I'll take that over crutches anyday!

We came home from swimming the other day, and after a quick bath and a fresh diaper, Dallin told me "I tired." So I let him lay there while I finished up some things, and when I came back, he had fallen asleep and Bailey had brought his pillow out and put it under his head to make him comfy. I just love watching him sleep....and it takes less energy than when he's awake.

Make new friends, but keep the OLD....

One is silver and the other GOLD.

I always enjoy catching up with old friends...and by "old" I mean from the past! We are certainly NOT old!!! Ok, so Crystal lives in NJ and only comes to visit once every great while...so we always try to get together when she does. (The rest of us settled right here in the good ol' SLV!) This time we met at the best Mexican food restaurant in town and wrestled kids while chatting about our busy lives. It was so fun! Next time, I think the park might be a better meeting place; then the kids can have room to run and play AND we can talk!

Crystal holding her little Rebekah, Kelly holding Crystal's Robert, and me with my four wild ones!

Kelly's little ones were spending the day with Grandma!

4th of July Weekend

This year for the fourth of July, we went camping at Cathredal Campground. What an adventure! Friday, Christopher and Jared (Shauna's hubby) decided to go on a four-wheeler ride. Four hours later they returned dirty and tired.....after a VERY long ride.

(They got lost!) In the meantime, Shauna and I kept the kids busy with a scavenger hunt, finding firewood, and eventually building a campfire....and yes, we did get a fire going! Saturday we watched the kids ride the motorcycles around the loop, and then decided we HAD to try it ourselves. Ryan is our accident prone child, and he proved that right when he stuck his chin on the propane lantern when it was HOT. Then, rather than cry knowing he would get into trouble for playing with the lantern, he just rubbed at it really quick, and took the SKIN off of his chin. It proved just how weak my stomach is.....Shauna had to care for it!

All in all, it was a blast!

David and his girly Racheal came up Saturday morning for a couple of hours to hang out with us, and Jaelyn and Stanton showed up with their family in the afternoon.

We had the opportunity last week to go to the temple with Connie and Jacob and their family to be sealed. It was so neat! When we came outside, all the kids were waiting with Uncle Jimmy. This is 13 of the 14 grandkids (we didn't realize that Blake was asleep in the Visitors Center).

After several attempts at a good picture with all of them looking, we let them play for a few minutes in the water.

After lunch, we decided to go to Cliff's Amusement Park. What a blast! Six hours of rides and fun, and the weather was perfect. It rained (light rain) for awhile, and then just stayed cloudy. The kids each had their favorite ride, and so did the BIG kids!

(Right to left: Ryan and cousins Caitlin and Marissa on the Frog Hopper. They rode over and over and over...)

(Front to back: cousin Angel, Bailey, cousin Dynae, and Sariah on the Log Ride; they also rode over and over and over....)

(Dallin on the Carousel.....just his speed with no quick jerks or loud music.)

Daddy has taught them well...

I was in the garage cleaning out the suburban, and realized I couldn't hear the kids. So I walked outside, and found them all washing their bikes and wagon. Christopher always washes his four-wheeler when it gets a little dirty, so I guess they thought they would do the same. It was so cute. And they were all sharing the hose and rags so nicely. Made me proud!