Our Little Fish

....is finally... really in truly.... comfortable in the water (after forgetting over the winter how much fun he had last summer). We had to start over again this summer with getting used to the water and relearning how to swim. His timid, reluctant personality really came out at the beginning of the season. He'd just sit at the top of the waterfall and that was it! But, now that summer is about over, he loves it:). He now swims (again). Hopefully he won't forget for next summer.

Lance Flies to California with "Austin" ??

Lance was going to go to California this summer to spend some time with his grandparents. Last time he went, a cousin from CA joined them for some of the activities. At the last minute, Griffin, wasn't able to join them this time. Lance's grandma had previously offered to let Lance bring a friend with him. But, we didn't think Lance needed to do that when he was going over there to spend time with his family, not a friend. When Griffin couldn't join Lance though, I wondered if it would be nice to have another "kid" to take some of the pressure off of his grandparents. (They always do sooooo much - toooo much - to entertain and spoil the kids when they visit) We decided to surprise them. I told them that I was letting Lance bring a friend "Austin". But, in reality, it was his cousin, Lauren. She lives here in the valley also, but we get busy and they hardly ever get to spend time together. I thought it would be perfect - still family - but yet Lance would have someone his age if Grandma and Grandpa didn't feel like boogey- boarding, etc. Imagine their surprise when Lauren, aka Austin, got off the plane looking like this gangster dude. But, then pulled back the hood and revealed that "he" was their beautiful granddaughter coming to join in the fun. It was great.

Lance had a great time hanging out with his grandparents and Lauren. They kept him busy as usual. From a car show, to the beach, to Knott's Berry Farm. He was spoiled! I hope he knows how lucky he is!!!

When you don't have a baby anymore....

This is what happens when the youngest sibling gets too old that he won't let you dress him up anymore. Sierra and her friend, Jenny, had a great little photo shoot with Cash and dress up clothes.

Desensitization

This is what happens when one has tooooo many scorpians in a household. The kids get desensitized. Pretty soon they stop screaming when they see one. They start catching the scorpians and cutting off their stingers. The kids then play with the scorpians.

Doesn't seem right, does it?!

A "Friend" Reunion - Just Like the Old Days

Years ago....and I mean, YEARS AGO, we lived in a ward where we met some great friends. We all had kids the same ages. We started a tradition of going camping at Apache Lake everyMemorial Day weekend. We had a blast. It was a big ordeal....getting all our equipment from the car - to the boat - to the beach - where we could camp for 3-4 days. We have many wonderful memories doing that for a few years. Then, we got old, and it got to be too much work and it fizzled out. This year, we decided to do it again. But, those of us who stayed overnight did so in the hotel:). Our children are several years older. It was so great to just hang out with everyone again. It really is a great group of friends.

Zane did some seashell collecting on the shore.

Lance coming in on the jet ski.

Weston playing in the water.

Lance gave Wes a short ride. hmmmm. I'm not sure why, but Wes wasn't too fond of it.

Todd dragged around the kids in the tube. Even Wes got on it. Now, that was a big deal. He really surprised me with that one. He grew up a lot this trip.

He even SKIED for the first time ever. Yes, it's a cheater, beginner ski. But, last time, he wouldn't stand up (and that's pretty much all a kid has to do in order to ski on the skimmer). He finally did it. Yes, I bribed him. But, it was worth a toy. He says he'll do it again, so he must've liked it.

Waving "hi' while he skis.

Weston and Cayden had a lot of fun jumping off the boat into the lake. Again, this was a big deal. Last trip, Wes didn't even want to get in the water.

Here's our "old" boys - the now teenagers - that were twoish when we moved in the ward. What a great bunch of boys.

Here's our girls (minus one - Megan - who couldn't come). Sierra, Haley, and Kynlee are lifelong friends.

I want to say this is the new generation, but that's probably not the right word. These are the siblings who, unfortunately, never get to live in the same ward together. But, they are becoming friends just like their older brothers and sisters. l to r: Cayden, Wes, and Avery.

The girls are ready to ride with Claire and her kids being towed behind.

Zane, Sierra, and Jayden look like they are getting whiplash. What do you think?!

Todd and Lance decided to try wakeskating together the first day. It was so much fun. I loved watching them having fun out there "together."

Sierra did a great job wakeboarding!

Zane loves the ski skimmer (the thing Wes rode). But, we told him it was time to move up....to the double skis or the wakeboard. He wasn't very happy about leaving his comfort zone. He chose the double skiis and did a great job. (even though he still wasn't too thrilled about the whole thing:)

Lance and Trevor decided to wakeskate together. They almost didn't make it up - as they were running into each other as they were being pulled up.

Keep holding on boys!

They made it. Good Save!!!

Zane really looks up to Jayden. He wishes we lived next door to them.

Weston pretending to ride the jet ski:)

Unfortunately, a monsoon came in late that afternoon and put a "damper" on things:).

Rain poured off our easy ups.

We all took cover and laughed about it.

We had a great time and can't wait to do it again!!!

He Still Loves Me

Poor Todd. He puts up with a lot. It's always my job to empty the motorhome after a trip since it's his job to head back to the shop and make some money after we just blew a bunch on a trip:). Well, after we went to CO, I did my job. Or so I thought. A few days later, I remembered that I left soda pop in there. We often do that in the winter since we know we'll return to the dunes shortly and use the drinks then. It dawned on me that the summer heat would not be kind to those cans of soda. I mentioned it to Todd. Sure enough, he goes out there and cleans up the mess from the exploded pop cans. What a nice guy!

And, ...if that wasn't enough. On Saturday, he was moving the motorhome to it's parking spot out back. As he walked by the fridge, he got a whiff of something. What does he do? Opens the door and INHALES DEEPLY. Peeee- uuuuu. What is that awful smell? If that wasn't enough to gag him, he searches and finds hamburger meat rotting in a shelf in the freezer. Todd starts dry heaving...yacking...whatever you call it....all the while...running back outside for fresh air. He says he has never smelled something so bad before.

When we were in CO, I guess a friend had given him some of his hamburger meat from the ranch and he'd put it in the freezer. The problem was that I didn't know it was there. I didn't bother to check the shelf by feeling around...which is what I should have done since I couldn't see anything from where I stood.

Poor Todd.

Lucky Catherine.

Todd cleaned up the whole mess, trying not to gag the whole time. SERIOUSLY. He brought the plastic bin/shelf inside the house to bleach it. I couldn't believe just how bad that alone smelled after the meat was gone.

Yes, I am glad he found it and not me. I am glad he found it NOW and not in 2 months when we were ready to use the motorhome again. Could you imagine how bad that would've been? I am glad he was willing to clean it up and didn't even yell at me to go do my job properly.

He loves me despite my shortcomings. He loves me enough to clean up rotten meat that I should have taken inside in the first place.

At It Again

Sierra never ceases to amaze me. Probably cause I wish I had her riding skills. And, she always looks so dang cute out on those horses. The other day I catch her out on my horse trying out a bareback pad for him. Yes, I bought it for ME to use...so I could work on my skills....on my balance. But, there she is making it look so easy...in her swimsuit, nonetheless. Someday, maybe....I'll grow up to be like her.