4th of July

We'd been doing patriotic activities all week leading up to the 4th...painting patriotic rocks for the garden, learning about the Declaration of Independence, coloring our very own flags, telling stories about the Founding Fathers, making patriotic sugar cookies...we even learned the words to God Bless America and surprised Dad with a rousing rendition of it the morning of the 4th. We celebrated the 4th with gusto this year!

After a tasty ward pancake breakfast (with plenty of delicious food...always a plus!) and a quick morning cat nap (for some...ahem..) we went to a community parade and carnival where the kids got to jump in a bouncy house obstacle course and ride ponies. It was a fairly hot day (like a sauna, in my opinion) so after pony rides we headed home for more naps (again..for some..) and a good old fashioned BBQ in the backyard.

We even made homemade ice cream, a new tradition we want to start, and had the kids taking turns churning it by hand. Word to the wise, hand churn at the beginning of the ice cream making, not the end...I have all the grunts and scrunchy faces on video of the kids trying to turn that handle around when the ice cream was about ready.

Then on to our local fireworks show where we brought our own showstopping marvels to wow the crowds with: popits, sparklers, the friendship pagoda, a very disappointing chicken and eggs (again, no eggs came out this year!) the panda fountain, and our larger and flashier fountain purchases. We happen to see friends from church there and our kids were SO excited to do fireworks with them, it was a lot of fun, with smoke bombs leftover to pass around and extend the fun to another day.

At home we were all tired, except for Ammon and Liam, so we went outside and did more fireworks in the street. The whole time Shayla was begging me to go inside with her and watch from the window, but those that know me, know I have a neverending love for action so I couldn't go inside and miss something! So she relented and we stayed outside until we were all done.

We were having Josh light everything with matches...which didn't work out super well, so note to self...find or buy that little butane lighter before the 4th of July comes again. We all went to bed around 11:30pm, to the cacophony of fireworks being lit across the town. (like my big word in there? I subscribe to "the dictionary word of the day" email..hee heee)

It was a great day to celebrate the birth of our nation and I have much to be thankful for, from my family, to my Heavenly Father who allowed me to be born in this country into a great family, to those who give so much in the military (spouses and kids included!), to those who fought with courage to bring freedom and liberty to this land so long ago. God bless America, land that I love!

Isn't This the Cutest?

I somehow found this adorable free apron pattern while browsing for a car seat cover pattern. It's just the cutest, and I think I must make it. If you want to make it with me, let me know and we'll make a date of it. Bring fabric, chocolate, and scissors and we'll be done in no time. Done with the chocolate at least...

Ammon's Birthday

What a day! He had it all planned out for about two months prior, what he wanted to eat, what to do, where to go...so I was a little nervous the actual day wouldn't live up to his expectations. He got donuts for breakfast (whew, way easy!), balloons and streamers, rode his new green birthday bike, McDonalds for lunch (another easy task for me), and then we set up his slip and slide in the front yard and invited some of his friends over. It was overcast and a little on the cool side, but no one seemed to mind. Then a quick change and headed to the famed Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and unlimited games and fun. He got to invite one friend to join in the fun and we had a couple cousins join in on the fun. It was a full and fun day that wore us ALL out! But it was all worth it when on the way home from CEC he said "Mom and Dad, this was the best birthday ever!"

Really Ammon is having fun in this picture

At Chuck E Cheese with the dirt and worm cake, perfect for a boy!

The two cousins sharing a birthday cake....this was prior to the slobber attack, I mean, blowing the candles out.

It happened...

So I apologize first of all for not writing for so long. I couldn't find the cord to my camera. Then I found it. Now my computer's USB ports are on strike refusing to recognize anything. I'm tempted to jam a butter knife in there and see if that works, but knowing the basics of computering I think the only thing that will help is to appease my temper. So no pictures...yet.

Until then, I have a story. This morning it happened. I turned into my grandma. I finished my face moisturizer cream off, and the cool container it came in has two sections in it, one for daytime and one for nighttime face cream. I held onto that container for a good minute debating on whether to save it or not and what I could use it for....earrings, buttons, sewing notions....I was my grandma! She saved every plastic container that came into her home...margarine, yogurt and sour cream containers, mayonnaise jars, everything. Then I heard Josh's voice, "seriously..you're going to save that? For what, for me to throw away later?" and so I did it. I threw it away. Now as soon as garbage day comes and makes my decision final, I'll have the PERFECT use for it. Oh well. I'll just buy more face cream. :)

Fun Memorial Day Weekend

My parents and two brothers came over from the "Eastside" (the REAL eastside, not Bellevue) and we spent the weekend together, it was super duper fun! Saturday we went letterboxing at a new park (new to me after almost 5 yrs! ) that I want to go back and visit. It has a lake with fish that little kids can fish in for free, so cute. Even without fishing poles, Ammon and Shayla were perfectly happy finding a long enough stick to poke at a dead fish floating by the shore. Nice. Then we went to Great Grandma's house after church on Sunday and spent more time with family, which was SO relaxing. Monday we headed to Illahee park (a place I went to all the time when I was in 6th grade FYI) and Uncle Scott with his license..yes we were legal... got a few clams and his limit on oysters. We had fun walking along the rocky shore finding starfish and tiny crabs...wait..ALMOST all of us had fun walking the rocks. Not Liam. He was a bit tipsy and would fall and hurt his hands on the hard barnacle covered rocks and then be a bit brumpy (how Shayla used to say "grumpy"). We all took turns trying to get him to sleep in the stroller, and of course about 10 minutes before the end of our 4 hr excursion, he fell asleep. What a stubborn kid huh.

We also got to stay in a hotel (thank you Grandma and Grandpa K!!!) with "strange beds" as Ammon said, since they were very tall beds, about eye level to him. But the nice tv with Disney Channel made up for it. :)

Shelley taking her turn with Liam

Climbing the fun Elbow tree at the park

Shayla climbing the tree

Uncle Zach being a darlin pushing the stroller

Bye Bye Sugar Bugs!!

Ammon and Shayla had their first dentist visit today and did great! Ammon went first, he just walked right back there by himself and played it Mr. Cool. Shayla and I (with Liam sleeping in my arms..rare..) went back and watched Ammon do his flouride treatment with his sweet sunglasses on, and that was enough to convince Shayla she could do the same. They shared the "magic chair" seat while Shayla had her teeth cleaned and counted, then both got to pick prizes and cool toothbrushes to put in their goody bags. When we got home the kids spent the rest of the afternoon brushing their teeth and flossing. Have we turned over a new leaf with this visit? Ahh..I love it! No more threats? Countdowns? Dirty looks? I hope so!

Showing off their new toothbrushes and toothpaste!

Birthdays, Mother's Day, and Wheat Grass Juice

I'm a bit behind on my posting, how'd that happen?! First, Josh planned an awesome birthday for me, he surprised me with taking the day off (of course he still made me get up early and he pretended he was getting ready at the regular time, and then started doing breakfast dishes after we said goodbye...tricky guy! I was SO happy!!) and we went letterboxing with my brave moms and kids, and lunch with great friends...then Josh sent me off with Anna for pedicures and a new haircut while he watched the kids...how did he know an afternoon of pampering is JUST what I needed right now? We all tried to extend the birthday fun to dinner at Red Robin, but that was the straw that broke the poor camel's back and we ended up gulping our food and leaving before another crying fit (especially before one of the adults started breaking down!) I told Josh it was "the best birthday ever", he is amazing!

My new haircut and my pampering sis Anna...

Mother's Day was fun, we celebrated with crepes and fresh strawberries and whip cream (made by Josh...I didn't know he could make crepes!), church, and a fun BBQ with family across the bridge. Poor Josh, my two days of pampering (bday and Mother's day) were only 1 day apart this year so he was hopping all weekend. :)

A few weeks ago we did a field trip to Jamba Juice, and the kids got to try wheat grass juice for the first time. I think Ammon faked a sip, Liam ran away-preferring his orange smoothie, and that left the whole cup to little Shayla. Poor girl, she sipped, then gagged, cried and dug at her tongue pretty much instantaneously. Being the compassionate mother, I quickly snapped a few photos before cleaning her tongue with a smoothie gulp. Nice, I know.