Pictures that come back to haunt you...

We all had one of those pictures as a kid that we hoped and prayed wouldn't show up when we had a date over. Well here are Noah's and Cooper's... One day they just might find these pictures blown up, framed, and hanging in the entry way!

Hangin' out with friends...

We had our friends 3 kids over for a couple days while they were out of town. It's always fun to have an excuse to just hang out at home and play. The weather was perfect for water fights, water balloons, and of course the slip n' slide!

In Loving Memory - May 2011 to July 2011

This post is dedicated to "Bronco" the tube. All of the wonderful memories you have left us will never be forgotten. Yes we are all heart broken over the lost of Bronco up on Deer Creek.... I know it's only a tube, but he's been the best tube since my childhood's "Flying Disc". We can only hope that next year Costco will be selling the same one! I don't even have a picture of him from this trip - so sad. But here are a few fun pictures.Cooper sporting his wetsuit

We went in and had lunch on the 'beach' and let the boys play around in the freezing cold water

Kiara learning to drive the boat

Doesn't this kid just look happy!

Finally some color...

For 3 1/2 years our house has been the same color... cream... walls, ceiling, main level and basement. So I finally got brave and painted our living room. I can't figure out why I didn't do it years ago. I love it, and it was a really easy thing to do. However then I decided to paint our master bathroom and that was peer torture. The bathroom took me 3 times longer to tape and paint then the living room. I really hope the bright green paint I used in the bathroom grows on me. I will post pictures of it soon. Here's the living room:Before

During: Cooper helping

After

A summer of boating

A couple more boating trips. We've been lucky to get out a lot this year. The boys have so much fun out on the lake and each trip comes with lots of new memories. If only the weather would cooperate with us one of these days. Kristine, Noah, Tyson, and Kiara on "Bronco" the tube

We finally convinced Cooper to stand up again. He's a little nervous he'll fly off again.

Me standing up. It was a little trickier than I thought it would be.

The military was doing training that morning and dropping guys into Utah Lake. It was so cool to watch. The pictures don't do it justice.

Tommy and the boys

Tyson and Grandpa Phil

Tour of Utah

It was my lucky day. Coming home from the grocery store I noticed people lined up along the sides of Redwood Rd, which is kind of random. So as I was turning into my subdivision I asked a guy if the Tour was coming through and he said yes within the next 10 mins. I ran home grabbed Kiara and the boys and we headed down to watch. It was so much fun. I'm such a sucker for road biking now, so it was a very exciting thing for me. There was a good 5 mins worth of police and support vehicles before any bikers, but the boys loved them honking and turning on their sirens. Then the bikers flew by within seconds. I loved it!!!Support vehicles and police.. bikers in the distance

The first 3 in the lead

Peleton

Tyson enjoying the excitement

BYU's Thursday Hero Reunion

On August 9th BYU had a reunion for all Thursday's Heros. It was nice to see some of the football players and coaches again. However, I really wish they would have at least acknowledged the Thursday's Heros that were there. I would have loved to hear their stories. I talked to a girl who's husband broke his neck after only 2 years of marriage and a brand new baby. It was really inspiring to hear her story and how positive she was. It made me so grateful for my 'insignificant' challenges. At dinner we had 3 football players sitting at our table, it was fun to laugh, joke, and get to know them better. I'm truly grateful for the wonderful program Bronco has established and for the example these football players set for my boys.

Plus Noah got a poster signed by Bronco and Chad Lewis. I told him we were going to frame it and he looks at me and says, "Really Mom, Really?" Of course why not :)

Splash Pad

Swimsuits on, sunblocked, pool toys inflated and ready to go.... sign on the gate saying pool closed = Splash pad. Aunt Shelly's pool was closed and we had 10 kids dressed and ready to go, so we went to the splash pad instead. Not quite as fun as the pool, but much better than taking devastated kids home. Noah and Abe

Noah, Isaac, Dallin

Grandpa and Tyson

Cooper

Everyone having a great time

Grandpa with Ella and Tyson

1st Annual 4th of July Fun Run

Tommy's sister Emily was coming into town for the 4th of July and her boys have wanted to do a race, so we looked into the Freedom Festival's 1 mile fun run, but the cost for all those little kids and who would run with them... long story short Emily came up with a great idea to do our own race. It was the best idea ever. We got medals and treats for the kids and they loved running on the track by themselves or with their cousins. Noah did an incredible job and came in just under 9 mins. Cooper was in 2nd place just under 10 mins. Tyson and Grandpa brought it all in at the end. It was so much fun to watch Tyson cross the finish line with his Grandpa. All the kids did an amazing job and I can't wait for next year! We'd love to have even more people join us next year.The whole group

Noah and Cooper pre-race.

On your marks, get set, GO!!! No land speed records are going to be set with this group. But they sure are cute. We also tried our best to get 4th of July matching shirts for them, we were a little late in the game to get them all the same shirt. Next year!!

Now that's a happy kid!

Tyson and Grandpa

End of the race

"Grandpa's Boat"

We all love Grandpa Phil's boat, but Tyson not only loves Grandpa's Boat, he loves to say "Grandpa's Boat". It was really cute at first, but when you're sitting in church and he sees a picture of Jesus getting baptized in a river and starts pointing yelling, "water, Grandpa's boat, water?!" it becomes a little old. However it is a lot of fun. Our nephew's Abe and Dallin where in town from Washington so we were able to take them out for an afternoon. What a fun trip it was. Abe loves loves LOVES the tube. The only way to get him off is to throw him off. Cooper was our dare devil until he did a somersault off the tube, then he became very cautious. Dallin liked to ride in the middle where it was nice and safe! Noah has a grip of death, loves to ride and ride and ride, but holds on for dear life we have yet to throw him from the tube. I guess when you only weigh 45 lbs it's easy to hold on! A great big thank you goes out to Grandpa Phil for taking us out on the lake.Cooper, Dallin, Noah, and Abe on the back.

Abe, Cooper, Noah, and Grandpa Phil standing up on the back.

Cooper, Tommy, Noah, and Abe taking some air.

The only way to get Abe off... check out those legs flying off the back!

There goes Cooper!!! He sure tried to hold on.

Tyson's all time favorite thing to do. "Drive Grandpa's boat"

All the boys swimming.

Love this picture of Noah. He's such a handsome dude!

Noah and Abe giving high five.