Nature Walk

Since Brad doesn't have many weekends off this summer I decided that we'd better start doing stuff on his day off during the week so that we don't feel like the summer has passed us by. So my first idea was to take a picnic lunch and head up a trail in the nearest canyon.

Embrie was quite the trooper. It was a little bit rougher terrain than she was used to. but miss independent wanted to walk it herself. I knew eventually wear out and wouldn't mind being held or holding hands.

as you can see she was filthy

I didn't know where we'd end up eating lunch but we actually found a open area with picnic table.

Garrett was on the look out for animals. The one in particular that he wanted to see was a bear. hmmm I am glad that we didn't see any bears. But we saw some birds, heard some squirrels and a snake.

One animal we saw a lot of was horses. There were a few groups on horseback and the kids loved this part of the trek too.

We all got very dirty.

So of course we headed home to strip down and rinse off in the hose (don't worry it was just the kids).

Independance Day

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men. We . . . solemnly publish and declare, that these colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states. . . And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

-The Declaration of Independence

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are to be free. Establish a law for educating the common people. This it is the business of the state and on a general plan."

-On the wall of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial

I am so grateful for my freedom and those who have and continue to fight to keep it. I know that sometimes it feels this country is going crazy, but each of us has a responsibility to be the best kind of person we can be and encourage others to do the same.

Above all I am grateful for a God who saw fit to grant us with this freedom and all that we hold dear! Let's not forget to thank Him!

We spent the 4th of July with Brad's family. We had a pretty good time (despite the fact that both of my kids had the 24 hr flu on the 4th). Our first activity on Saturday was a small town parade.

We have an even 8 kids between us, 4 girls and 4 boys, just right. Aren't they cute!

Sydnie, Ansley, Molly, Embrie

Riley, Alex, Cooper, Garrett


After the parade we all went swimming.
Garrett loved this slide, he would have gone up and down it all day if possible.
(even for not feeling too good)

As you can see little miss independent had a rough time. She didn't believe that she should have to hold my hand or let me hold her in the water, but really she swallowed enough water going under that she just made herself more miserable. She did have a few moments of fun when she wasn't trying desperately to escape me and Brad.

The rest of the afternoon we bbq-ed and played. Brad and I thought of every possible game you could play with the kids to keep them outside and leave it to Grandma to have fun and interesting thins to do!

Getting ready to light off fireworks in the street!

On Sunday night we drove out to the area where they were having a fireworks show and sat in the back of my sis-in-law's truck with 4 of the 8 grandkids and watch the fireworks. The kids loved it! I wish that I would have taken my camera and gotten pictures of their little faces, it was Embrie's first time watching fireworks.
We had a fun time.

Eclipse

MAJOR PICTURE OVERLOAD . . . and why not? it was so much fun!


This is our 3rd shin dig. We have enjoyed the books, now we're enjoying excuses to have fun!



It started with the making of our shirts, of course! I missed the original t-shirt party, but our lovely host, Heather, was kind enough to let some of us who couldn't make it sneek over to her house on another night.

Here she is below helping me get started on one of my shirts while I did the other. I got a ticket for my mom so she had to have a shirt too, of course. Thanks Heather! It totally helped me out on time! ( I made 3 last year and they took me forever!)

Here is my finished shirt (the back anyway). I am a peaceful person, can't we all just get along? ;)



Now lets get to the big night!

Me and Mom.

Going healthy, we had a salad bar with cheese and crackers. Well this was really just to even us out on the yummy desserts too!
Our wonderful party hostess, Angie. Thanks for letting us use your house!

added bonus! since it is summer we got to party outside! Lovin' the props! Hello Tent scene!



The woman who makes this night possible! Jena you're the best! we all love you!



The Entertainment gets better everytime! Here we have

Stacey and Heather

in a first ever debate (between us anyway) about who is better

Edward or Jacob



This was sooo funny! and they both made excellent points of course! Afterward the audience got to vote for the best debator. But who could choose really? they both got prizes, and we all got a lot of good laughs. Don't worry all in good fun, these two actually do love each other.

A few in a group pic by the tent. ( I think there were actually like 30 people there too bad we didnt get a full group shot but that is a lot of people to get in the same place at once, oh well.)

Stacey, Jena, Sheena, Emily, Amy, Me, Susie, Heather, Nickie, Allison

Some of my best buddies!

Susie, Sheena, Amy, Me, Nickie

Now for a little more prep time. Even Mom's of Mom's can get in on the fun too!

Some brought tatoos and My mom is a Wolf fan. Other's brought sparkly spray for Vamp fans.

And everytime we've had a Twilight night it has been someone's birthday. Just another great reason to celebrate! Happy Birthday Emily!
Not a day over 21! ;)

Now for the ever popular T-shirt contest (hence the reason we are making the shirts!)

Here are the nominees!

Here are the 3 winners!

Heck ya! my mom won a prize thanks to my awesome shirt making skills, ha ha!


Another quick group shot before we go.

Nickie, Joanne, Jena, Amy, Emily, Allison, Heather

Angie, Me, Sheena, Susie

And of course another of us all looking like total nerds cause its too fun to pass up.

We made it to the theater!

(some of us are not as young as we used to be, but I think we can stay awake)

(and no that was not just directed at you mom)

Glad my lovely mother could make it! (funny that she had read the first 3 books before I even picked them up! but I finished the series before she did).

I have a cool mom.

our group took up 3 half rows in the theather.

Here is my row for as far as my camera can reach in the dark.

And then Em and I made up the last two on the other side.

Erin, Dialma, Stacey

And one last shot after the movie. The group rated it pretty good! Better than the last two for sure. A few more in our clan were able to make it into this picture.

Carrie, Camille, Angie, Teresa,

Sheri(mom), Emily, Me, Trenda, Amy, Susie, Jenny, Jena

Nickie, Sheena, Stacey, Erin

Doing this is so much fun. Seriously, I live in the BEST neighborhood EVER!

The Lord must love me because he has surrounded me with so many awesome people in my life.
The BEST of the BEST for sure!

and not just because of Twilight nights, these girls are amazing in all ways imaginable!

Summer Days

Every year since we moved here, we've gone to the local parade and carnival for the town days. This year Brad had to work :( so 3 of us went to the parade. This is always fun for Garrett and now Embrie too!

Getting ready! it is going to start any minute!

Embrie really got into it, she had no fear trying to walk under the wheels of moving vehicles just to get a candy, paper, or anything else that might be lying around.


This year we waited until Brad got home to go to the carnival. It was more busy at night but worht it to have him with us.

Garrett and Embrie enjoyed the rides!

(I am aware that he doesn't seem to be enjoying it in this picture but I promise he did)

cutest little 'farmmade' train ever!

who can leave with out a cheap little stuffed animal, right?

they each one a small clown fish which Garrett named 'squishy guy' and 'squishy girl'.

Neither of them could take the sun in their eyes though.

another train. ha! we couldn't avoid this one, Garrett wanted to go on it so bad even though it was less cool than the other and cost more tickets, but I guess that is the cheapo mom in me.

Good times, good times.

Noah's Ark

Got invited by the awesome McQusiton's to go to the children's gardens at Thanksgiving point and play in the splash area. The theme being, of course Noah's Ark. It was a lot of fun!

(super cute picture of siblings loving each other!)

Nuff Said.

Dad's Day

Garrett and Embrie colored a crown for Brad for Father's Day. He wore it proudly! Two lucky kids to have such a good daddy and one lucky Dad to have two awesome kids!

This is my family aren't they adorable! I just love them!

Thanks Brad for being such a good husband and father!

Happy Birthday to all the dads in my life. I am so blessed to have all good ones!