24th of July, Pioneer Day

Waiting for the parade to start

Grandma & Jordan

They stopped right in front of us to shoot the guns

After the parade we went to Grandma's for a BBQ and the big kids got to go to the carnival while the little kids came home to take a nap. Richie refused to take a camera though, so that's about all I know about that :^) But they had fun!

For dinner every year we go to Richie's sister Kellie's house. She has the perfect view of the fireworks and in nice enough to invite everyone over every year. This year was a fiesta so we had tacos, burritos, and Mexican sides. After dinner the kids got to break 2 pinatas, one for the little kids and one for the big kids .

This is Jordan's turn, I tried switching settings on my camera for Brin's turn and they ended up not turning out. :^(

The loot

Mackenzie's turn. And once again, I tried to change settings to be able to take pictures faster, and the pics of Micailey's turn turned out all dark. And she happened to be the lucky one that broke it open! Good job Micailey!

The big kid loot!

All of the kids

Dallas built his own firework "contraption this year. It was a robot and it had flowers, fountains, parachutes, whips, and flashers. It went off perfect and was a great hit!

My new "favorite" picture of Cohen. What a cutie!

Sparkler fun!

Thanks everybody for making our 24th great!

The Fruits of your Labor's

This is Marcy and Khalid! Marcy is the Consulate worker who worked miracles for us getting the boys visa's all in one day so that I could return home sooner. On that special Friday, she was fascinated and charmed by the boys, and asked where this orphanage was so that she could donate some boys clothes. Shortly after returning home, we got an email from Marcy. She had taken the clothes to the orphanage and was so touched by the boys there, that she ended up keeping the boys clothes....... so that she could adopt!!! We've have sent a few emails back and forth and the last email I got this past week was her announcing the custody of her new little boy! I am so excited for Marcy and this little boy! What a blessing to have a hand in giving this little boy a family! He is such a cutie and hopefully some day we will be able to meet him in person! Congratulations Marcy!

What are the odds???

WARNING: This may become a bit graphic.... read at your own risk :^ )



Yesterday (Wednesday) our ward had a BBQ & Pool Party at our local pool. The 1st hour and a half was the BBQ and then they opened up the gates to the pool and let us all swarm in to swim. As soon as we got in and sat down, the older kids jumped in the pool. As soon as they got wet, we hear.... "Attention in the pool, Attention in the pool. We need everybody out of the pool for a pool check..." What! We JUST got in! Well, it turns out that someone had lost their dinner upon entering the pool... So, the 2 kids that had made it in, gladly got out. And we sat there for the next hour waiting for them to sift the pool and kill the germs. We then decided that we would rather take the tired whiny kids home and made a deal that we would go to a different pool the next day and even DAD would come!!! Yippee!

So they made the deal and we left without even swimming. At least it was fun while it lasted!

So today (Thursday) we held up to our word and took the kids to the pool with Dad! We got there about 5:30 and the kids were having a blast! We even had some cousins come swim.... till about 8:00 when we hear.... "Attention in the pool, Attention in the pool. We need everyone out of the pool... there's been an accident in the pool." What!!! So we all get out of the pool and sure enough, apparently some little kid should have had a diaper on..... Luckily it was just on the side of the pool. They announce that the lap pool is still available for swimming, so those who are staying run to swim over there for the 20 minute waiting period to detox the pool. But at this point, a lot of people are packing up and leaving & just as we're thinking how nice it will be and how less crowded it will be we hear...."Attention in the pool, Attention in the pool. We need everyone out of the lap pool. There has now been an accident in the lap pool. At this time the pool is now closing, I repeat the pool is now closed." ..... What - who in the heck?!?! If you are having a problem ....GO HOME!!!

What are the odds!!! We were talking as we packed up and we don't remember things like this happening when we were younger! What is the deal? Two days in a row....

But it was fun while it lasted and even though I just posted pool pictures, here are a few from this trip with DAD!!!

At the beginning, Cohen wasn't sure he liked it, but by the end he was running around and splashing all over!

This is what Brinley did almost the whole time.

She loves to float around in the shallow area on her tummy and on her back.

Eating PB&J sandwiches.... again! This time for dinner!

Taking a break to eat

Dad & Macie


Jordan, Dallas, & Mackenzie

Micailey dripping wet!

And just to prove that Mom does go on these adventures... a pic of Mom & Macie.

Look who's standing!

Macie has learned a new trick! She stands up everywhere now, whether she is by something or not. She has even dared to take a step every now and then. Every day she gets better and better at it!

This is another new trick of hers! She has discovered drawers and cupboards! She is fascinated with 2 in particular- the one with the Tupperware and the one with all my folded (used to be anyway) dish cloths and towels.

She thinks she is so funny!

Fun in the Sun!

Today we tried out a fun new local pool! The kids had a blast! The pool had a normal twisty slide and a free fall slide that Micailey loved! They had a splash pad with a bucket that dumped water every few minutes on all the kids, and a lazy river that was the perfect height for little kids! It was small enough that I didn't lose my kids every 2 seconds and could watch them do pretty much everything from one spot. It was a great day!


We went with my good friend Jody and her 2 kids. Thank heavens for Jody or I would have made quite a scene! At one point when we first got there, Brinley was a little timid of the water, Jordan & Cohen were SCREAMING to not touch the water, anytime they even felt a splash they started screaming louder! And Macie was screaming because of all the noise.... needless to say, we got a few stares! :o) Once Jordan figured out that it was fun and not scary, he ended up having a blast. Cohen on the other hand basically didn't like it until we wrapped him in a towel and he fell asleep. :o) I guess he'll get to play in a pool a different day.

He did get a sandwich before his nap though :o)

Brinley eating her granola bar.

She doesn't let you take pictures of her very often so you get what you get.

Kenzie drying off

The girls during the pool check,

you can see a little of the fun pool slides in the back ground

Micailey says she has learned how to swim!!!

She holds her breath for a few seconds in the lazy river and

"swims" with the current! Tada! She is swimming!

Good job Micailey! ;o)

Dallas & Micailey

Our always cute Jordan eating his lunch!

say "cheeseburger!"

It's amazing what they pick up on :o)

Thanks again to Jody! I hope you still had fun while entertaining my children with me!

Happy 4th of July!

We had a wonderful 4th of July this year! Last year we were split up on 2 different continents!

We have a tradition of going to see the balloons every year, so we were up bright and early for that! We missed the begining when they were all inflating. I love that part because you can walk all around them and see inside and get a perspective of just how massive they are. But it was perfect ballooning weather! It was the perfect temperature, the perfect breeze, everything! Once the hot air balloons are in the air, they have to make their way back to the field and drop a bean bag on a target and then try to spear some helium filled balloons to earn points. It's really fun to watch and see how close they can get. It's amazing how well they can control the balloons to come back and get so close!

Alexander's is the lead balloon every year and he has an extra X target, so if he can't get back to the field, he can drop it somewhere else for the balloonist to make it to. This year he was able to get back so they all had to make it back to our field. The pic below is him bringing the X back.

Macie enjoying the balloons

We then went back and made Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast for breakfast at Rich's parents house. We served 18 family members & I know my kids loved it!

After a good nap, we went to Rich's brothers house and visited while Dallas and Richie helped build a "contraption". Every year they link hundreds of fireworks together all over a hand built frame so that you light one match and then watch a domino effect of continuous fireworks for the next 15 minutes. It gets quite elaborate! It has become quite a hit in the neighborhood! We had quite a large crowd this year!

A few of the "boys" working on the contraption

Like Father like Son! Dallas & his cousin Oliver even built one on their own this year. They started off by drawing a "plan" and making a list of what they would need and then spent the afternoon of the 4th putting it all together. They had a lot of fun and were very proud of their own contraption!

The kids watching a few early fireworks to get pumped up for the show

Richie and Cohen

Jordan eating some of the yummy "pre-show" treats!

Jordan and Cohen in their Red, White, & Blue

Right after 9 as the crowds were gathering, the wind started to blow and we started feeling rain drops, and then it blew harder, and harder. And then the rain drops started coming faster and faster. So the little kids and me went to the car for a little while to hide out from the storm. It finally passed and they were able to light the match!!!

This is the best pic I could get of the fireworks! It is really fun to watch!

This just shows a portion of the crowd that was there! There were at least twice this many on their lawn and some up and down the side walks on the other side of the street.

Jordan & Cohen snuggling with Grandma and Aunt Kellie.

It was their first time for fireworks and they were a little nervous!

Jordan holding his first Sparkler, it was about out by the time I could take a pic.

But surprisingly he wasn't very scared of it!

But we had a wonderful 4th of July celebration! Thanks to all of our family who celebrated with us and helped us enjoy it. Being out of the country last year for the 4th and experiencing life in another country sure makes you thankful that you live in America and have all the freedoms that we have. This is definitely a choice land that we live in and I am thankful for all of the many people, today and in the past, who have done so much to protect our freedoms and our land! I love the saying.... Land of the Free, because of the Brave!

Dallas's Pinewood Derby

This year Dallas designed a Star Wars car. He drew out a plan and put a Lego Storm Trooper inside driving it. Last year we had a Black Pearl Pirate Ship, and the year before that was a red 1950's style car with flames on the hood. He didn't take first but he did a good job any way. It was a fun night. The Scout leaders had a popcorn machine and drinks for all!

Dallas's car is on the far right

Getting his award for the best "Darth Vador" award! The Leaders had even stayed up till 2 am making personalized drivers license's for each of the 22 kids! Great job Leaders and Great job scouts!!!