Vacation!

So our big family summer vacation this year consisted of us going down to Provo with Riley (he had to go to BYU for work) for a couple of days, overnight really. We left early on Wednesday morning and came home late Thursday night. The highlight for the kids was getting to stay in a hotel and go swimming. That night as we were trying to put the kids down to sleep this is what I heard:
Sammi - (grunting unhappily all the while) Mommy?
Jaxon - Sammi, are you nervous?
Sammi - (still grunting) Mommy?
Jaxon - It's okay Sammi, they are just right over there.
Sammi - Mommy?
Jaxon - Do you want me to tell you a story?
Sammi - Uh huh
Jaxon - Ok, once upon a time.............once upon a time..........
It was about then that they started whacking eachother with pillows and laughing hysterically. It was then my job to somehow stop laughing and discipline. They eventually went to sleep even though Jaxon was way offended when Sammi knocked off before him and he tried to wake her up.
I think the all around favorite was going to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Pointe. That is seriously such a fun place, there was tons that I wanted to do, but we only had time for one, so the dinosaur museum won out. We were not dissappointed. If you can go, I totally recommend it!

4th of July

The fourth of July weekend was such a blast - tiring as it was. On the fourth of July eve we had a whole bunch of friends over that we haven't seen in a long time (eventhough some live sooo close by, pathetic, I know). It was so fun catching up with everyone in person instead of just through their blogs and such. Jaxon and Sammi decided that our party sounded like a drag so they took off to Ogden. We left to join them after the party. We had a major 4th party down at Kevin and (Riley's sister)Kelsi's house. We camped out on Friday night and the kids did awesome, so I'm told - thanks to aunt Bailee! The next morning we were awoken nice and early, 5:30am to be exact to the sound of the Hill Airforce base cannons. Then someone in the neighborhood decided to accompany it with the Star Spangled Banner played on their electric guitar. Then Rick's car alarm went off...I think someone wanted us up...

But I digress, so then we had a delicious breakfast of scones and fresh fruit then got all gathered up and went to the parade.

Here's Jaxon showing his patriotism.

After the parade we went back to Kevin and Kelsi's where we played outside all day because it was just so gorgeous outside! There was plenty of food, swimming, water balloons, sun, badmitten, fun, and fireworks.

Here's Sammi getting ready to nail someone with her arsonal of water balloons.
We left that night after the fireworks. So everyone was pretty much useless the next day because we were so hammered from partying over the weekend. We sure wish that Kevin and Kelsi live closer. Sammi keeps on asking to hold their kitty and Jaxon has found a new best friend in Kelsi. Maybe someday we'll all live close together, but for now we'll just have to have these whirlwind party sessions!

P.S. ~ Thanks Kenzie and Barbara for taking pictures for me as I was a bonehead and forgot mine - go me!
P.P.S ~ Happy birthday America - I sure love living in a land as free and as blessed as you are.

Signs of Summer

Riley got a new wheelbarrow. So far this is the only thing that he's used it for. But he's prepared for when the time comes, just like a good little boy scout is! Summer can really take it out of a guy.
First day of getting to play in the water - we love it!

It has honestly come now...I think.

The Dentist

Jaxon went to the dentist recently and was AMAZING! He first went to see Riley get the whole thing done and was so covetess of the free toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss that he decided that he wanted to make an appointment. So the big day came and he did perfect. And for all of you who know my son well, it's nothing short of a miracle. I was so proud that I was trying not to cry as the dental hygenist was sucking his spit. So now he thinks he's a pro and wishes he could go to the dentist more than twice a year because he got to go out to lunch afterwards, got a new movie, and a toy at the denist, not to mention the bag of tooth care items.

Happy Father's Day and Stuff! (it's never too late, right?)

The weekend of Father's Day was nuts. Riley went white water rafting with the Priests all day and into the night. He's itching to go again. Jaxon had a Primary activity day where he went to the firestation and made a sweet tie for Riley and got to sit in the fire trucks and help wash them as a service project. So cool! I was bummed that I forgot my camera. My Granny and Grandpa came into town as well as Katie and Mark with Mark's brother Steve for a whirlwind weekend trip. Before Jaxon got Steve's name down he called him "Crazy Uncle Mark other Mark" for short. On Father's Day the primary sang again in sacrament meeting. Jaxon was all geared up and ready to go, or so I thought. He was the first one up on the stage and then promptly came back down because he didn't want to be up there all by his lonesome I suppose. And then once all the kids were up on the stage there he thought there was no room for him so he didn't want to go up there. So once again he stood by me while I led the songs and then burst into tears when we had to sit down because he didn't go on the stage to sing. It's hard being a little guy!

This is Sammi showing off one of Daddy's ties. Dad took care of himself for father's day and got himself some suits on ebay for on the cheap. Plus they came with a bonus tie. Of which I will not let him wear one because it's lavendar and pink. Uh, no. Sammi loves it though!

Here's Riley sporting his tie that Jaxon made for him at his activity day. All the dad's loved them; they were all beaming! On Monday morning Jaxon was eating breakfast with Riley when he asked, "Are you going to wear yours new tie to work, Daddy?" So hopeful. Riley informed him that it was a special tie that he could only wear on father's day.

Riley took Jaxon on his very first campout the weekend before Father's day. They both came back tired, but had a great time!

This is a picture I got of the four generations of women in our family. Granny Gene with her daughter and her daughter and her daughter. Kinda cool, huh? Like my white knees?

Explanation: Walrus day = Father's day. A few years back my family were all together for Father's day and decided that Father's day needed a mascot, if you will, for the holiday. Kinda like Santa or the Easter bunny. We thought that a walrus would be fitting for such an occassion. So happy walrus day one and all!

It was Emily's birthday on Monday. She's such a babe! We celebrated it all together over the weekend while everyone was here.

Here's the whole crew. Thanks Steve for taking the picture! Riley is missing because he was busy having an awesome time with the priests as was mentioned before.

So there's kind of a scattered run down of what's been going on with us. Sorry if it doesn't make much sense and is kind of disconnected, but Sammi has a stinky bum and it's really distracting, so I must go. Happy Father's Day!

Why, mom, why?

So today I was sitting on the couch reading Jaxon a book, as I often do, and Jaxon asked me a question that I didn't have an answer to. "Mom," he said, "what holds up the sky?" Uh............ I told him to ask Dad when he got home. Jaxon is very inquisitive and very literal so I have to always be careful what I tell him! Kids are great, aren't they?

The Goings Ons

So there has been a whole mess of stuff going on since I last posted. So sorry if I don't go into detail, but I will make up for the lack of info by having a whole photo montage if you will.

First, McKenzie and Cole moved and are now our neighbors again. Hooray! I'm already loving it - just today I abused their closeness by having Kenzie look after our kids as I chased after an escaped Lenny. But I digress, to see further info about their big move, just go to their blog!

Then onto Barbara's (Riley's mom) birthday - we were at a wedding in Draper, but celebrated it the following Sunday - she's amazing!

Next it was mothers day - yay for mom's! I led the primary kids in sacrament meeting. Jaxon sat on the steps of the stage and said repeatedly and very loudly that, "it's too scary!" until I finally picked him up and he helped me lead.

Then my birthday, wahoo, 26 and still alive, mostly.

Followed by our anniversary. Five years of craziness, but I couldn't have picked a better one to go through it with. We are too cheap to spend money on such things as professional photography so I did my own little photo shoot. I still think that we are a fetching couple...

kissy facenice.

Onto Bailee's (Riley's sister) graduation from high school. Talk about awesome - I owe her more than I could ever repay. But she informs me that there is no charge for awesomeness or atractiveness.

Yet another birthday - this time it was Cole's. He never saw such fancy wrapping from me as he did that day with a rake in a small bag with tissue paper. He totally didn't know what it was until he opened it!
And then last but certainly not least - Crazy Uncle Mark and Katie (my sister) came!

We had tons of fun with them. We went to the zoo, on a hike, played games, went shooting (well, not me, someone had to bathe the children for church), played mario kart, ate like there was no tomorrow, and laughed a whole stinking lot. We miss them already.

hiking at cress creek

yes, the picture is crooked. no they are not laying on their backs and shooting up, that would be dumb. forgot to fix the picture before I uploaded so you'll have to tilt your head. sorry!

while we were doing the above, the kids were doing the below.

So that's what's been going on with us - hope you're all having a wonderful spring!