Playing with Trains & Show me your Muscles!!!

My brother Shane & his wife Liz celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary while they were here visiting & asked if I could watch Dennis while they went out to celebrate.  I said  no problem.  The boys had a fun night playing together & staying up a bit past their bedtimes.  We have all these trains that kids play with every once in a while, so I tend to forget about them.  I went into the playroom to check on everyone & Dennis had gotten the basket out & was trying to build a train track.  So, I helped out & built 2 tracks so the boys wouldn't fight.  They had fun getting all the trains on the tracks & bumping them into eachother.

Here they are.

They finally ventured outside to check out the "playground" & it was cooling off outside so it was a perfect time to play outside.

Here's Sonny & Dennis playing in the castle that both of them are way too big for.

Sonny loves to take his shirt off especially since he dresses himself. 

Who am I to argure with him especially if he's just playing in our yard? 

Mom...look how strong I am!!!

Look at my muscles!!

Show me your muscles boys!!

Look at how STRONG those boys are!!!

Thanks for coming to play with us Dennis &

Happy Anniversary Shane & Liz!!!

Just in case you were wondering...Blake was playing his DS most of the night & being very bossy & rude, which also means he got sent to bed early.  He's going through this thing where he's just trying to boss everyone around & I think he even tries to use "Jedi" mind tricks on me to get his way.  Haha...nice try but mom is on to your little tricks bud!!

Swimming Fun!!

This summer has been great so far.  We are so lucky to have friends & family who have pools that invite us to go swimming & the parks that have the water spray feature.  Makes the hot days much more bearable.  Wewent to Swanston Park one of the days Dennis & Liz were visiting (no pics) & that was a lovely day.  We also went swimming & invited Shane, Liz & Dennis to go swimming with us over at Grandmother & Grandad's house.  Boy!!  It sure was hot that day.  I'm glad we decided to go!!  It was so hot that as soon as you got out ouf the pool you were dry...at least that's how it felt.  So it was a fantastic day to be in the pool & not sitting on the side.  Anyway, the boys had their trusty innertubes & a-swimming we went.  I thought it would be fun to jump off the diving board to show the boys how fun it would be.  Sonny took right to it & I finally got Blake to do it once.  I guess that's better than nothin & Dennis had fun in the innertube & floaties as well.  Here's some fun pictures & short videos:

Here's Liz getting ready to do a flip off the diving board

Here's her 2nd attempt

Here's Sonny jumping off the diving board.  He loved it!! 

He even went several times without his innertube but I got tired of

catching him so I made him put it back on. 

Dennis telling his mom (Liz) to put the tube on.

Shane encouraging his son...I think he just dropped him in.

Blake just chillin'

Sonny swimming to the ladder.

What a fun time swimming with our family!!

A trip to the Zoo

Brad had a day off recently & he decided that we should take the boys to the Zoo. 

I thought it would be fun too....except for the price, but Brad really wanted to go, so we went.

We had a nice time but I am so surprised at how much it has changed since I was a kid.  You'd think that there would be big improvements but it seems like they continue to downgrade as the years go on.  I remember when I was a little girl just waiting to see the elephants.  Elephants are my fave...since I was little...my dad even confirmed it.  And watching to see if the hippos would come up out of the water so you could see more than just their nostrils.  And bears & tigers too.  And many of the habitats were closed for  maintenance.  Well, our poor zoo had to let all of those animals go to bigger zoos...so sad...so it's kinda not the same to me anymore...BUT...my kids don't know the difference so I guess it's ok.  Someday we'll have to venture to the S.F. zoo or go to San Diego on a vacation (oh wouldn't that be nice...sigh) but until then we'll just have to make do with what we've got & remember to check the zoo calendar for FREE admission days (which are coming up on Monday's in August) & go then & not feel like I've just spent a bunch of money for nothing.  So anyway...we did have fun & it was a nice day & we were together so that's what's really important...right?   Right!!!

Here's Blake & Sonny taking turns inside the "Blue Tarantula"

Of course we had to stop because "Max & Ruby" have been favorites in the house since Blake was a toddler & there's a bed time story call "the Blue Tarantula"

Sonny was not pleased with having to do this but he finally did it!!

Here's a picture of me & my brothers

hahaha

Blake actually took this picture.

And here are Blake & Sonny just monkeying around.

(click on image to see larger)

Of course we got to see the flamingos & the reptile house, Blake even went in a 2nd time by himself,  & there were plenty of birds & we even saw the baby lion.  There's this really cool smallish cat that looks like a leopard the Brad thinks we need to have but of course I had to remind him that it was a "wild animal" & we were at the zoo...haha...he loves cats!!

Oh & the giraffes were really cool too.  I could've probably just stayed there watching them for hours.  Blake & I stood there & watched for a little bit while Brad & his antsy pants had to move along.  It was fun talking to Blake & asking him what he thought.  And you can't forget about the Merry-Go-Round. 

What's a trip anywhere if you don't get to ride on the Merry-Go-Round?

 So all in all, it was a great trip to the zoo!!!

FRUSTRATED!!!!

So, I decided to give it a whirl!! 

Changing over to the new design & templates that Blogger has provided.

I'm FRUSTRATED!! 

I'm still messing around with everything & trying to figure out how to get everything just how I want it & I guess only time will tell.  I think that they've made it too complicated especially for people just starting out.  One of my favorite things is to change my blog background & now I have to figure out the new templates & which one goes best with it....Ugh!!!  I guess you had to do that before but you usually just kept the same basic template.  Hopefully the other background places are like  DOTTY DOT DOT & have included directions on how to install them.

(I'm sure they have...I've just been using them for now.)

Well....I guess I can say I'm learning something new.

I will continue to mess around until I do get it just right.  The only problem is that along with scrapbooking I like it to be simple & clean & not messy looking.

 Maybe because I'm not all that creative but I like to try & I want it to be easy & fun to read. 

 Only time will tell.

Swimming & a Lake Day

While Shane, Liz & Dennis were visiting we had a chance to hang out several times.  Shane was gone during the week working but all the girls were able to have a swim play date @ Amelia's & the kids swam & swam (so did I).  Amelia even brought out her big plastic slide so the kids could have a "water slide".  That was a lot of fun & Sonny had a blast.  I had to bribe Blake but after he went down several times he realized how fun it was & then when it was time to leave I had to threaten him.  He is a crazy kid.  Colby & Kylie were with us too & all the kids & cousins had fun swimming around in the innertubes. 

Most of the family went to the lake on the wednesday after the 4th but I wasn't able to get out there until that Saturday.  We packed up a cooler with some food & drinks & headed over to my parents house to hook up with everyone.  We headed out around 11:00am & we were there til 8:00pm.  It truly was a "day" at the lake.  We had a nice time & the weather was perfect.  Hot enough to want to go in the water but not so hot that you couldn't just sit in the chair under an umbrella.  Everybody had a chance to go on the boat or behind the boat.  I went on the "taco" with Blake & then Sonny & then April & then later I went on with Austin while Uncle Aaron was driving.  If I didn't know any better I'd have thought he was trying to kill me.  But...it was fun & it killed my head & my body.  Can't wait to do it again.  Someday I'd like to try wakeboarding again...maybe when there's not so many people wanting to have a turn.  My boys were actually doing great!!  Blake did even better than I thought he would.  With his life jacket on he swam out to the big boys more than once...that makes me so happy...he's a little cautious & I had to force him to go on the "taco".  I know...I'm the worst mom ever but you know what...he survived & he even wanted to try again later but it didn't happen.  Sonny was swimming all around too & before the day was over he was putting his whole face in the water & then coming up for air.  I think he was copying his cousin Austin because he was doing that too. 

It was a long & fun day & I hope we get to go again real soon :)

Here's my pictures.  Some of them are not great because you know...my camera...& I'm the only one that knows the little tricks but that's ok...you get the gist of it.  So here we go.......

Create your own digital slideshow

4th of July

So, the 4th of July was on Sunday & sometimes that makes it hard to go & do things since most people don't want to break the Sabbath.  Well, I don't see any harm getting together with family & friends to celebrate the holiday expecially since most people get together & do "family" dinners on Sunday...A LOT!!  So, what's the difference I ask you?  We didn't go spend money or anything & there've been plenty of Sunday's that we have.  So...there ya go.  Brad decided to BBQ & make a bunch of food & it was great!!  Bryan & Kimi joined us for dinner & then we hooked up with the DeGraff family, my dad & my Aunt Jeanne, My brother Shane & his family & the Griffin family at the Target parking lot to watch the Fireworks display that was going on across the street.  We got there a few hours early & had time to chat & the kids could play.  The only bad thing about our spot was getting out at the end of the display.  Gotta remember that for next year.  Anyway it was fun & we didn't have to spend $ on fireworks & the kids got to play & have fun too.  It was fun that my brother Shane & his family were there to celebrate too.  It's the 1st time in several years that we've seen eachother. 

 Anyway, just want everyone to know how grateful I am to live in this FREE country & that I can do pretty much whatever I want...as long as I don't break the law.  We are truly a blessed people to have the freedom that we do.  I am thankful every day that I was born here & I am ever so grateful for the men & women who serve our Country every day to keep it that way.

God Bless You & America!!!!

Enjoy the slide show!!

Create your own free digital slideshow

Swimming with the DeGraff's

On the same day as our Ward picnic my friend Hollie had texted me & asked if we wanted to go to their house to go swimming.  We had just eaten dinner & I convinced Brad that it would be fun for the boys.  We got the boys ready to swim & then we were off.  They live not too far & if it wasn't so hot out already we could've walked...but I'm into walking...not Brad...hahaha.  Their pool is above ground & they have a play structure with a slide & they made it so you can go down the slide into the pool.  Well, Blake just wanted to swim but Sonny definitely wanted to go down the slide.  So he did....quite a few times actually.  The only thing I was worried about was him falling off the side of the slide because it was a little high but he did fine & he would only let Emily (a yw from the ward) catch him & he would wait for her even though the other kids wanted to catch him too.  Sooooo.....here's a little video of one of his slides....

Just some shots of the kids playing in the pool.

I think Blake is on the other side somewhere in his innertube.  Sonny's in his too. 

 Those innertubes were the BEST thing I bought this summer!!!

Anyway we had a fun night & Hollie & I ditched our husbands & made them "BOND" while we went to get pizza.  I hope that we can have more friendly adventures like this because it was fun & I think Brad had a good time too & we all know how picky Brad can be :)

Thanks for inviting us over!!!

Ward Picnic

Since the 4th of July was on a Sunday this year many wards celebrated by having picnics on Saturday...the day before.  Unfortunately I was not able to participate in the "Run 4 Independence" with my friend Sarah this year (no $ for registration) so I decided that me & the boys should walk up to the Church.  It's really not that far & even though it was hot, we had fun.  Blake rode his bike & Sonny rode in the wagon.  It was good & I even did it in flip flops.  Stupid choice but I just couldn't wear my running shoes with the cute skirt I was wearing.  I know, I know...but although my feet hurt at the end of the day I survived.  Anyway it's about 3 miles round trip so I did get my 5k in.  We got there a little early so the boys were running around with some of their friends in the ward.  I'm so glad that I can let them run around & have fun without worrying about them every second.  Don't get me wrong...I do check on them but they are old enough that I don't have to hold their hands for everything.  Well...I think the turnout was pretty good & the food was great.  Thank goodness for Chloe who kept Sonny busy during the presentation!!  It was a fun day visiting with friends & family members who live in the ward.  Sonny went home a little early with Grammy Sisa & then Blake & I headed home.  Next time I won't wear a skirt so I can wear my running shoes :)

(click on images to see larger)

Here's me & my good friend Hollie @ the picnic.

Here's me & my fabulous Aunt Jeanne. 

Doesn't she look fabulous?!! 

She has lost a ton of weight & is now skinnier than me!!

Way to go Aunt Jeanne!!!

Red, White & Blue Parade

For the past few years the little city that I grew up in (& live in currently) has a fun Red, White & Blue parade.  It's ususally the weekend before the 4th of July.  The last time I was able to take the boys was probably 2 years ago.  It always seems to be the Saturday that I'd be coming home from camp.  But not this year!!  Soooo...bright & early on the Saturday morning we got up & got dressed & headed out to meet the other family members that would be joining us.  We got there 1st...of course...:)
Grammy got some balloons for the kids to hold on to & Sonny just loved his.
Here he is with his precious balloon.

Here are my decked out Red, white & blue boys with their balloons.

Here are a few pictures from our fun time at the parade.  I was only able to get a few as the stinking batteries in my camera finally died & I didn't have any spares....dang!!  At least I got these :)  (thinking positive).

Sonny & his fish face

Me & my Blake

(of course being silly....this boy is so lucky to have such great coloring!!)

Me & Sonny

(he's not sleeping...just closing his eyes for the picture)

I'm so glad we got to go & celebrate our country. 

I really want my boys to be grateful for the land in which we live. 

We truly are lucky to live here & to have the FREEDOM that we do. 

we will be able to do this again next year too.

After the parade we ran into SEARS & I got a new bathing suit top because after we went to Wal-Mart we were off to our cousin Gabreal's 2nd Birthday Party.  He shares his birthday with Uncle Shane.  No pictures from the Birthday party because I was in the pool most of the time.  We had lots of fun & got lots of sun too :)  What a great day!!

A Domino Sick Day

Don't you love it when you start to notice that your child is acting a little "funny"?
 Not the funny haha kind---the funny, what's wrong kind. 
I hate it. 
Well....this this very thing happened about 2 weeks ago.
At 1st I didn't think much of it but started thinking something was wrong when Sonny said he was freezing & wanted to be wrapped up in a snugly blanket on a really hot day.  And he didn't really want to do much...but he did want to play with the dominoes.  I thought that was a great idea & he had lots of fun playing by himself.



Setting up the dominoes in the right order.

All set up & ready for the....

 

KNOCKDOWN!!!

Aren't dominoes fun?!!

And the process begins again.  He had fun doing this for a little bit...and I'm glad.

Later in the day he kept saying his tummy hurt &  he had a fever & then yes...you guessed it...he
"tossed his cookies".
Oh how I hate puke (probably more than poopy messes...I know...weird...they're both gross).
 Anyway...at least it happened on the hardwood floor & not the carpet. (Little miracles).
Unfortunately this little bug of his did get passed to the kids I babysit but not as bad & then Blake threw up the following week but I'm not really sure if the 2 were related.  It was to be expected but I still feel bad when any of the kids get sick...it's so hard to make them feel better.  But...they are all well now.  Yay!!