Dirty Lake Trip 2009

Kaelie, Brynlie and Hayley on the tube...ya Brynlie

Riley and Braden

Loving the camping hair....so stinking cute!

So cute.........

Terrizo and egg burritos...anyone have a stomach yet?

Ray and Ryan...think they are related?

Dirty Lake Trip 2009:

It was the second annual dirty lake trip...The thought of sleeping in a tent, dealing with dirty, tired and sun burnt kids and cooking with no running water with a baby usually make me complain for about a week prior to going but as soon as we get there we have a blast and nothing seems to be as much drama as I made it out to be. We had a great time this year. Sadie did absolutely awesome for no naps and sleeping in a tent....she was such a trooper. The kids tubed more than any kid should be aloud. Hayley wakeboarded for the first time ever and got u after only two tries. Uncle Brandon brought up some jet ski and the kids loved to get rides on those...we played catch phrase and we even roasted marshmallows even though it was over 100 degrees out....it was so fun! I hope no matter how much I complain my family makes me do this every year because you forget how much fun it is to be with your family without any of the distractions of life! I love you guys....

Back to school

Funny picture...they are all packing all the back to school supplies, looks they they are on there way home from the grocery store!

Where do the summers go...back to school again. This year Riley is in 4th grade (yes Ryan and I are getting old we have a 4th grader :-(), Paige is in 3rd grade and Hayley is in 1st grade. They were all pretty excited about school starting this year but probably not as much as our Sader B.....it has been near impossible for that girl to get her 5+ hours of napping a day (I wish I had her life) in with all the kids home and all the places they want to go and all of their friends over. It has been a great summer but glad to get back to a routine and a schedule and most of all a clean house...yea! This year Riley and Paige both got teachers they didn't know and Hayley got Mrs Liddy...the same teacher Riley and Paige had for 1st grade that we absolutely love, she is so sweet. I am sure this year will lend itself to lots of home work and new and fun field trips, projects and activities. BTW - I you were wondering why we only have a few pictures...apparently are kids are way to school to hang out with us and take pictures on their first day of school...another indication that we are getting old :-)

Lake Powell 2009

Love the diaper lifejacket look

Cliff jumping

Foot hole wall next to sand hill

Sand hill...I am so proud of my kids it was hard!

Randy, Hayley, Tallin and Paige

Riley, Tanner and Taft

Preparing for a hike...have fun!

Whoohoo...you go Riley

9 kids on two tubes...this isn't dangerous right?

Rain storm

White horse....must have heard Paige singing Taylor Swift

Always love a poser

HI

Wow....she is tan

LAKE POWELL 2009.....

What an amazing trip... every year Ryan and I go to Lake Powell with all adults and it is so fun but this year we went with two other families and brought all the kids (well except Sadie). They had so much fun. They went tubing, had tube wars, wake boarded, built fires, took hikes, went cliff jumping, went to sand hill (so impressive, last year I barely made it up and all three of my kids did it with ease, wow I am getting old :-)), watched rain storms, ate yummy food, jet skied, relaxed, went on the slide on the house boat, played games and took scenic boat rides. It was so much fun....we camped/parked next to another boat with a bunch of kids too and between all of the two boats I barely saw my kids except when they were hungry or injured....it was so fun. I think we all missed Sadie since this was the first time we left her home for 6 days but she was well take care of thinks to friends and family and we enjoyed our time at the lake...can't wait to do it again!

Bike Park

Riley got his new bike and we all went to the bike park to watch him ride...he was so excited and did great, looking at the hills and the drop ins I was scared for him but as usual no fear and he dropped right in. There was a park with a water feature so the girls and I played over there for a bit. I wish we had a park like this in our neighborhood instead of having to drive all the way to Chandler but it was worth it....all the kids had a great time especially Sadie. She was going from the sand to the water and water to sand, which is a mothers favorite combination :-).

HARD WORK!

Over the last year Riley has had two bikes stolen. He has been riding his sisters pink mountain bike every where he goes and having to ask her each time. Since the bikes were stollen because they were left out and we really wanted to teach him to be responsible for his own stuff. We made a deal with him, we would pay for half of another bike but he had to earn half the money himself. So all summer long he has been working...babysitting, doing extra chores, mowing the pasture at Papa Bobs, waters peoples plants while they are out of town, etc. With school approaching and summer winding down he decided this week that he wanted to get the bike. He went to a few stores and he found one he really wanted. He counted out his money and was $36 short. He was supposed to go to papas and work but the monsoon storms put a damper on that. So he was bugging me and bugging me for something to do to earn money....so I told him he could wash out our big black garbage can for $5 and since it was trash day he could go down the street and ask if any of our neighbors wanted theres done too. This little job turned into quite the money maker...people were driving by asking if he could do theres. I think it was a bit harder than he thought it would be but he worked his little butt off for hours. He learned some great lessons today and I am so proud of him and what a hard worker he is! It always amazing me how motivated this kid is...he never gives up when he wants something. We love you Ribug!

Pleasant Valley Days in Young, AZ

rope swing...go riley

ready and waiting for candy

just a little snack...it only looks like I was eating mud

What a good looking family...wonder who they belong to?

Casie in the parade...you go girl!

We went to Young this weekend to Papa Bob's cabin for Pleasant Valley Days. Every year they have a big (relative for a small town) throw down for Pleasant Valley Days. They have a craft fair, rodeo, parade. The kids love to go to the cabin so this is just another excuse that gets us up there every year. On Saturday afternoon after the parade we took a ride in the rangers and on quads back to a swimming hole.....someone had made a rope swim that was so fun. The water was freezing but none of the kids seemed to care. We kicked up to the swing and they swam there little hearts out. Sadie loved the ranger....it was hysterical. We borrowed it from a friend but it has been in our garage for a few days and everytime we go out there she points to it and makes an uhhh noise, funny how they remember.

70's, 80's and 90's Suprise Party

Molly and Jimmy..leg warmers and pee wee herman, NICE!

Ohh...lala...look that these studs!

Hey Jane

Our friend Jimmy threw a surprise party for his wife's 30th birthday. The theme was 70's, 80's and 90's. They had trivia, games, name that tune and food, food and more food. It was so fun and the costumes were so hysterical. Ryan and I went to Goodwill and got great outfits for under $20. Ryan went for casual 90's (tight jean shorts and an class of 96 ringer tee. He also got some low top white reebok with the thick soles and wrote I love Tricia, it was so high school I love ite!) and I went for totally 80's spandex and a side pony. The costumes ranged from punk 80's to Jane Fonda, mullets, etc....it was so fun! Jimmy did a great job organizing and we all had a lot of fun.