Kids are away and the grown-ups play

Josh's mom invited the grand kids over for sleep over so Josh decided we should go for a ride. He had been to this trail before and said it was pretty easy and wanted to take me. The only thing was that we had a thunderstorm go through that day. It was clear skies all the way to the trail and once we turned to head to the trail this is what we were hit with.

Some pretty good size hail and lots and lots of rain. I felt bad driving all that way to turn around and drive home. So we drove around the area and waited for the rain to pass.


Sadly this is the only picture we took of us and it was before we even started riding. Like I said it was not the best weather and I am not an expert at riding I am ok on normal dry trails. I had no idea how to ride on muddy slick trails. We got pretty far up the mountain with the occasional foot in the mud and then I went down. I got my foot stuck in between the tire and the chain. I also bent my brake bar and then had to go back down the mountain with a banged up knee and foot and bent brake. We had a good time riding and I have yet to walk away without dumping my bike and getting some huge bruises on my legs somewhere. And truthfully that was my real first ride without kids on my bike. I am so glad I didn't have kids with me for that fall. It was fun and I hope there are more rides to come.

Boys and their toys...

So Josh is out sharpening the blade on our lawn mower and next thing I know he says grab your camera and come see. I walk out to the garage and this is what I see. Him and Spencer sharpening his blade together and sparks were flying everywhere. Look at his huge grin. Of course Josh made sure he had safety glasses on.



I love this picture because Spencer is looking at Josh with huge admiration and Josh is loving the fact that Spencer absolutely loves it.


We were all sitting outside and Makenzie said Kaitlyn should try riding her bike without her training wheels. She was excited to try again we have done this before but she wasn't so sure about the whole process. This time she got on her bike and didn't even need her dad to help her start. My four year old, my baby girl, where has the time gone.


Because Kaitlyn could do it Spencer thought he needed to try. And try he did on the way back he said he wanted his wheels back on so he wouldn't fall and bonk his head.


I am so proud of her.

4th of July

Our 4th of July was celebrated for three days. We started on Friday at a neighborhood party. We had some desert and watched fireworks. Some shot right at the audience it was crazy but we all had a good time. Sorry forgot the camera on that night. Saturday we took it easy all day hung out at the house did a few chores and then went to the park and watched the really big ones. We got there early only because we heard it gets really busy and crazy so it being our first time here wanted to get an ok spot to sit and watch.
Spencer played peekaboo with his horse.


Spencer doing his own thing while I was trying to get their picture.


Trying to get all the pine cones out of the tree.


The girls wanted to do some "challenges".


Stefani, Josie, and her sister Amberlynn showed up and watched the fireworks with us.


Then it was on to our own fireworks. Not much of a show compared to the other nights, but the kids thought it was cool because they were their fireworks. Not a very good picture and it was so cold that night.


Josh lighting them off and enjoying every minute of it.

While the boys are away the girls will play...

We got home from my family reunion late Saturday night, went to church on Sunday cleaned up the house a bit, and then Josh went with his parents and some brothers to California for his grandpas funeral. The wives left at home thought we would get together and have some of our own fun. We decided to take the kids to Ross Park. We had a really fun time the kids played and swam and did so good. There were ten kids and three mamas. Hannah and Spencer loved to go through this tube.


Little snack time.


I think this was the only time Makenzie was in the kiddy pool. She spent her time in the lazy river. Kaitlyn never got her hair wet the whole time.


Kelsey, Gwen, Rachel, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Spencer. More snacks. We are missing Ben, Makenzie, Rob, and Jack in this picture.


We went to my sister-in-laws house after swimming and had dinner and the girls wanted to put on a show that they had put together. Cute kids.

I wasn't sure how the whole swimming thing would go over since there are four kids and one of me but I was very surprised how well everyone did. It made those days go by so much faster. Sister-in-laws are awesome.

Reunion time

The reunion was based on reality TV shows. We had the Iron Chef, Minute to win it, and my dad threw in treasure hunts for the kids. My parents had us pick which meal we would cook and then told us that we had two secret ingredients we had to use in two out of the three dishes we made. The secret ingredients were lemons and cheese. We were judged on taste, originality, appearance, and you got a bonus for using something old from the freezer or pantries. Troy and Ann were first up with breakfast. They cooked hash browns, eggs, bacon, and stuffed french toast.



After breakfast we did the treasure hunts the little kids were first. This group was Connor, Spencer, Rylee, Kaitlyn, Ben, and Brody. I only got the last four in this picture. My dad made up these awesome treasure hunts. Theirs were puzzle pieces they had to find and on the back, when it was put together, was the map of where the treasure was.


Next was Nyah, Hannah, and Brooke. Each group got harder clues to find and different tasks they had to do to get their clues.


This is one of the things they had to do in order to get their next clue.


Last were the big girls Makenzie, Bailey, and Madi. They thought the other kids were taking forever. When my dad was hiding their clues he forgot to put the treasure in the last spot so they ended up looking a little longer then usual before they started asking questions. oops


Next up was lunch. Josh and I were the lucky ones to pick this one. We made Hamburgers with curd cheese and crumbled bacon cooked inside, with cheesecake sauce for fruit, cheese crisps, and sweet potato fries.


After lunch we played some games from minute to win it. This one is called junk in your trunk. You have to shake all the balls out of the box. This is some of the kids doing it.


Troy and Ann


This one I can't remember the name of but you had to suck a candy onto your straw then put it on this nail thing. We also played an Oreo game that you placed on your forehead and had to get in your mouth without using your hands. Sorry no pictures of that one.


Last was dinner Brett and Annie made breaded chicken, homemade bread with Parmesan on top, potatoes, baked asparagus, cheese balls, and these grapes that were covered in a cream cheese sauce then rolled in cereal. They had the best appearance.


We had a lot of fun with everyone we ate really good and had a lot of laughs.

During the week at my parents

While we were at my parents house the kids played in the sprinklers, in their pond, and in their water fountain. My mom also made snow cones for them whenever they wanted pretty much and spoiled them rotten.


My older brother and his wife and kids came a day early for our family reunion so while the boys went golfing we took the kids to a park that had Frisbee golf and toys. They played orders up at this window. It was cute.


Makenzie, Bailey, Spencer


Aunt aunt(Ann) as Spencer calls her, playing Frisbee golf with the kids.


Nice shady spot by the river to rest and cool off as we were walking back.


I thought this picture was cute we were all tired and making our way back to the cars Kaitlyn and Rylee were holding hands too.

City of Rocks

After camping with Josh's family he dropped me off at my parents house where the kids and I ended up staying for the week. One of those days my dad took off of work and took us to the City Of Rocks. For the most part my kids loved hiking around and then seeing that we had just climbed up a huge rock. In the middle Spencer got upset because I had to keep grabbing him, he thought he could be like Makenzie and Hannah and just walk until they stopped. Sorry there are a lot of pictures but I couldn't just pick a couple.

First we ate lunch in the back of my dad's car all the tables were occupied with campers.


The rest are just some fun pictures of the kids and the places we hiked to.





Like his nose he fell on the garage steps at my parents house.


If you look through the rocks we came from the rocks behind.


The picture above and this one is the same rock just on other sides.





I told the kids to say "cheese" and Spencer was caught still saying it.


On the way back my dad let the kids pick out a couple rocks to take back to his house and add to his rock fountain, so they will always have a rock to remember.


We stopped at the one and only gas station in Oakley just outside of the City of Rocks and got a frazzle with ice cream in it. It was a much needed treat to cool us off.


We also stopped and visited with my grandparents. My grandma told the kids to go find the toys in the back room and my grandpa thought they were going to destroy the room so he went to supervise.

We had an awesome day with my parents. Thanks dad for taking the day off and spending it with us.

Fathers Day

On Fathers Day we were still camping in the Boise Area. So sadly the guys in the family did not get some of the traditional fathers day presents (ie. breakfast made and served to them, nice dinner after church). They woke up and started taking down camp. And then spent the rest of the day driving home. This Fathers Day was a bit different in the fact that Josh's grandfather who we had spent all weekend with passed away Sunday evening. So to honor him this post is for him.

During the camp out, Grandpa got up and presented each of the grand kids with a genealogy book about our ancestors with pictures and letters and other interesting stuff. He then told us it was up to us to complete the book.


This photo has everyone at the family reunion, only 10 family members were missing, other than that, grandpa got to see all of his grand kids and great grand kids before he passed. We were so grateful to be able to be with him before he went home.