what would I do without parks?

There's a park near Josh's work that was alright, ok..downright lame, when we first started going there 6 years ago. As far as toys go anyway. But we went for the green space to run and play and have picnics on Fridays. Since then, they've put in new toys, and fancy swings, and the bathrooms are way nice! It's like our own personal park now too, as no one really goes still (except for the infrequent teenage makeout couple, you know..) Maybe everyone still thinks it's lame, which is fine with me.

Well, there's a chain link fence that surrounds the park, and there's a ratty tatty torn out hole in the fence, that I've stayed away from...until this year! I walked over there with Ammon and we peeked over, and there's a GREAT little rocky spot perfect for kids who love throwing rocks into water!

Of course we just had lunch, so don't mind the dirty faces...

You could throw rocks for weeks if you wanted...Aria would rather sample each one like a tasty culinary treat. (I look at it as a great opportunity to build immunities)

Just so you know, Ammon inherited his stick-the-tongue-out-when-I'm-working-or-thinking-hard look from his Daddy. I love it. And see how shallow the water is right there? That helps keep the paranoid mom side a little relaxed as well.

If you want to come next time let me know..but shhh....no telling!

Eclipse

So for the opening day of Eclipse, we went all out. Josh went out and bought all kinds of decorations for the house, we wore black and red, ate from Edward and Jacob plates.....all of that is true, except for the Josh part. Obviously. Yes, I proudly went to the midnight showing of Eclipse with a huge group of gals, and it was SO much fun!! We ate at Red Robin beforehand, and thought we would stand in line for awhile, but when we got to the theater, luck would have it that our specific auditorium was already open for seating, so we spread out in the first three rows. Not ideal, but hey. You get a closeup of Edward and Jacob, so what's the harm? I think I drank four Pepsi's to help me get through the night, but silly Laura. As soon as the movie started I didn't need anything but the Cullen's to keep me awake. wink wink...

Truck Driving Championship (Did you even know there was such a thing?)

So we got to go to the State Truck Driving Championships this year, for the second time in a row! It was great....free lunch is always welcome in this girl's schedule. Josh's work treated us to fancy hamburgers, chips, and fruit. Even the huge chocolate chip cookies from Costco, if you were lucky enough to grab one before they were dumped all over the pavement by a little kid. (not mine, but just as easily could've been. Let's be honest) I saw the ladies throwing them in the garbage and a little part of me wanted to say, "Hey, five second rule..come on.. These are COOKIES! Give em here."The older three kids I think enjoyed the event. Dad got to show them some big trucks, we got to be right up next to the trucks and watch them drive all over...but there was one daughter who was highly unimpressed. Aria, not so much a fan of truck driving. Kinda good to see, truck driving is a tough career choice, and from what I can tell, I have no worries of this girl being a part of that world. Thanks Josh for letting us come and be a part of your day...and isn't that a MotoGP Valentino Rossi hat you have on?? Where's your GTI hat?

Ammon's Birthday

Ok ok,...Ammon's birthday was in June, my bad. So let me just say, he got a LOT of stuff for his birthday this year, for one reason or another. And one of his MOST favoritest gifts was this: A pack of gum and a PEZ dispenser?!?! What tha.... He treated those things like gold I tell you. We should've stopped while we were ahead..heehee..

He wanted a basketball cake, and with my dynamite baking and decorating skills and a bag of M&M's, this is the beauty I came up with. Please. Hold your applause.

At Grandma and Grandpa J's house, he celebrated his birthday with cousin Trevor, they are just about one year apart. I know in the pictures it looks like the cakes were actually on fire, but the boys managed just fine. They love fire.

We went bowling on Ammon's actual birthday with Porter and Claire, some friends of theirs, and let me tell you. There was not a dull moment the whole time we were there. It was crazy! We had two lanes, and Allyson and I could barely stay one step ahead of who's turn it was, where the balls were, keeping heads out of the tunnel that the balls reappear, preventing pinched fingers...whew! Great workout. The kids had so much fun. Me too.

Ammon with his new basketball, courtesy of Dad. Sadly, Josh ran over his old basketball, leaving a deflated lump of pleather in the driveway for Ammon to discover one morning. So here is Dad, making amends. The hoop shooting may resume now.

Ammon is a super awesome son. He's so helpful, listens and follows directions..he helps out his younger brother and sisters all the time, loves to keep his room clean (at least his part of the room. Sharing with Free Spirited Shayla is not easy for him), he's so sweet and beyond his years sensitive to what's going on around him and the feelings of others. I sure love that boy and I thank Heavenly Father each day for sending such a special person to join our eternal family.

Finally a Payoff

That's right baby!! Look at that boy working his room and board off! Now that's what I'm talking about! Heeheee.... Ammon LOVES mowing the lawn. He follows Josh around with the fertilizer spreader thingy the whole time Josh is mowing. So Josh let him try it out, gave him a small patch, and that kid went to town! *evil grin* Just a few more years and he'll be able to take over the lawn mowing chore. At least that's what Josh hopes.

Independence Day

"The 13 Colonies of long ago, the 13 colonies of long ago..they wanted to be free oh ohhh..they wanted to be free. The Declaration of Independence it gave us liberty..The Declaration of Independence it madeee...usss...freeee...." That's the song the kids sang for the 4th of July this year. We're trying to teach them what this day is all about, and I found this song and thought it would be neat to pass along.
We celebrated the 4th at Anna and Peter's house, having a BBQ, lighting our own little fireworks, and then walking the "short" distance to the waterfront to watch the big fireworks show. Jessica and Emily lighting sparklers...by far one of the favorites of the night.

One tradition I wanted to do was to make homemade ice cream every 4th of July. This is our second year of doing that, and the ice cream was goooood. Don't let Josh fool you. We hand churned it for about 5 minutes, and then switched to the motor for the rest.

I made 4th of July donuts from my friend Colleen's recipe, and those were dynamite!

Aria in her red and white outfit for the 4th. She loved all the noises and fireworks. Thank goodness. That always makes things easier.

Liam was HILARIOUS with those pop it things you throw.

All in all we had a great time celebrating together as a family. I wish it was a weeklong party. Maybe next year..

Explorers

Soo....what's goin on.... Trying to make small talk in hopes you don't notice I was MIA for about a month.

We've been busy! Who hasn't right?! We went to a new park (new to us) around here and LOVED it. Lots of exploring, threw some golf frisbees, had a few people give us the low down on how the course works, because..obviously..we weren't doing it right. That happened I think three times. We must've really looked confused. It was SO fun! Liam kept throwing his frisbee in the bushes, and Ammon would hunt it down. Shayla picked a lot of flowers. Aria just hung out. The rain came just in time to end the day. (this was back in June, where we had rain for most of the month I think. You would THINK that I would've gotten to see Edward, or even Jacob, as a reward for enduring all the cloudcover and rain..but no.) This park is a definite re-visit in my book.