Fabulous 4th of July

Kyle's parents invited us over for a 4th of July slumber party that was so fun! Here is my photo re-cap of the weekend...


There was lots of smiling...

I had to include this because she looks so pretty!

Lots of BBQ (and other good food as well)...

And of course G'pa couldn't do it without a side kick!

Lots of unnessesary roughness...

We had to steal this shot when Rochelle was NOT looking (he's in trouble now)

Lots of Games....

Uncle Ty thought he was so cool in his Brazil shirt

Cade was so not interested in playing soccer without his bat.

Lot's of Birthday Fun to celebrate Big Cade (who stuck with the theme and turned 4)!

It's no fun being little!

I guess Adia has some pent up anger she needed to deal with!

Uncle Ty was very proud of himself for breaking open the pinata - victory!

Barrel racing - I didn't realize how hard that was for kids... of course Kenyon had no problem

Lots of noise (Happy Birthday dear Cade included)

Lots of little patriotic people...

after the flag raising ceremony we had a nice little parade

Lots of HUGS....

Kyle and 2 (out of 7) of his sisters

Lots of Water...
for everyone besides Kaden they needed more than just the water fountain out front

Kyle and Adison - so cute!

Daddy and Avery in the kayak

Adison and Kenyon and baby Carson are all on this raft (as you can see Grandma is being very careful trying to keep them safe)...

Lots of little ouchies...

Uncle Ty helping Adison feel all better

(he didn't realize her lack of under clothing when he rescued her)...

And there was even more fun like Talking Tango, Volleyball (my favorite part), funny cousin moments, lizards losing tails and baby birds finding a special place in Grandpa's heart & river(yes, you should totally ask him).

THANK YOU G'MA and G'PA - We had a BLAST!!! And we hope you still LOVE us even though we tease too much, have too many kids that make too many messes and we don't know how to let anything go. We sure love you!

Mother's Day

First of all let me just wish each and every mother, every girl who wants to be a mother, every girl with no kids but mothers plenty of people in her life and especially all you first time moms a very HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! I appreciate each of you for what you have taught me on this journey!

So here is a glimpse into what we did...

On Saturday Grandma Jenny joined us on uor trip to the Folsom Convalescent Home to help put on a Mother's Day Tea for the residents. We had worked very hard making the tissue flower arrangements for each of them and we even got to deliver them to the rooms with people who were not up to attending the party. It was a lot of work but we are so glad we did it considering the joy it brought to some of their faces. These ladies deserve so much more than we could ever do for them. It brings tears to my eyes every time I go there and see how "forgotten" they seem to be. THANK YOU so much to Grandma, Ashley, Danielle, Linda, Stephenie, Jovie and Cheryll for joining us for that special day. It was the highlight of my weekend!


Cute story: We had planned on "entertaining" the guests for about 15 minutes worth of singing and the lady who heads the event asked us to keep going for another 25 minutes after that. So the kids were amazing and just kept singing songs. At one point Kenyon gets up and says "I've got one" and he goes and stands on the piano bench and sings a cute turtle song ending with pretend hiccups that everyone seemed to love. Well, he must have loved the attention because about 5 minutes later he says he wants to do another and total impromptu he writes his own song to me and sings to an unknown tune "I love my mom and I love to kiss her everyday" then jumps down and runs to me with a hug and kiss and says "that was for Mother's Day".



On Sunday I thought it would be nice to go to Tahoe (to escape the heat) and take the kids on a nice walk or something outdoorsy (I like that word). Well, I think I forgot that I HATE being outside in real nature (as opposed to landscaped beauty) and although I got tons of great pictures and the kids had a great time I left this event in tears and swearing to never go outside again. Kyle wasn't very happy with me either and had a few choice words to describe how out of control he thinks I am. I honestly think he thinks I'm the only person on earth who isn't into going on long walks in the dirt while bugs jump all over me. Thankfully he got over it quickly. I so badly wish I liked that stuff and I keep trying thinking someday I will change but it's not working. So for the record - I do not like bugs, I do not like dirt and I do not like heat!!!! And I HATE anything that combines the 3 of those things!

After my traumatic experience in the forest we came home and blew up the kiddie pool and while the little kids played in the water Kyle, Adia and I (yes, I) finished my garden. Not a fun thing but I needed to get it done and was SO glad Kyle was willing to help me because although I want my kids to learn to garden and appreciate all things natural it's a far stretch for me and being in the garden area too long gives me the creeps. I should never have taught the kids about insects this year - all it did is freak me out all the more about nature!

This is from a couple weeks ago when Kyle brought in the dirt for the beds... Adison LOVED helping daddy and it was SO CUTE watching them work so hard together. Everytime Adison walked by she would say "I'm making you your garden mom"... ahhhh.

And to finish off the weekend Kaden stayed up late and was in the best mood ever! He was so silly and so fun. Kyle, Adia, Avery and I seriously laughed at him for an hour straight.

And that's it... I'm so glad I'm a mom and so grateful that Kyle is the father of my kiddos (and so lovingly puts up with me). I feel BLESSED for sure!

Flying Factuals (lesson 3)

A big THANK YOU to my amazing MIL and FIL for joining our science class yesterday and teaching such a fun, hands on, feet moving, lots of learning type of class. Here is the re-cap...

First Grandma Jenny taught us to sing in Japanese and sound like a bird...

Then we were reminded that it takes more than feathers to fly...

Then we learned that size doesn't matter either...

We learned about thermal winds...

We got to see a bird right above us gliding/floating on a thermal wind...

Then we migrated like silly nerds (oops... I meant birds) - yes, I'm quoting G'pa Paul!

We learned that there is a magnetic North and some birds have built in compasses to find it...

We learned how birds use constellations to help guide the way...

AND WE HAD SO MUCH FUN LEARNING ALL OF IT!!!!! Thanks again to both G'ma Jenny and G'pa Paul - you guys went above and beyond (as usual) and we were all blessed because of it. We can't wait for lesson 11 on Beetles, Flies and True Bugs!

Okay, now here are some pictures of my cute kids playing in the yard today for your viewing pleasure.

And lastly I must mention that my same wonderful mother-in-law came over again today to teach me how to use my sewing machine... I had so much fun! I just couldn't stop... SEW FUN and SEW CUTE!

These are reversible and there is one for Avery and one for cousin Lauren.

And this is a picture of each side of the one for my beautiful niece Brooke - but don't tell her because it's for her birthday! Yee haw Brookie!