Clayton

Ryan: We finally got rid of all the riffraff.
Angela: Yeah, about time.
Ryan: Funny that you never correct me when I call your family riffraff.

We had the privilege of meeting Clayton, Alyssa's new flame, this weekend. We all went to Camel's Back Park on Saturday. It was so fun.

The view from the top of the hill was amazing.

Clayton and Alyssa. If you want my honest opinion of him, you can email me. I shouldn't tell you how I really feel about him via blog. Just joking. He is great.

The kids pretended they were on a cruise and Kathleen served them drinks. The playground and Camel's Back kept the kids entertained for a very long time.

We went geocaching there. Alyssa and Marianne must have been lonely because they held hands as we walked.

Clayton got the cache.

On Sunday, Brandon's big thing is he always wants spiky hair "stuck straight up" for church. So naturally, so does Cody.

Marianne kept the crazy kids entertained with a pad of sticky notes.

Looking at the moon through Ryan's telescope.

Right now while I am updating the blog, this is what the kids are doing. Yes, that is a sprinkler under the trampoline.

Happy Birthday Cody

We took the kids to a Hawk's game. They sure had fun.

So the story begins. We have now officially bought a new camera, again. Yes, we venture down this path every two years it seems. Cameras have very bad luck at our house. We'll see how long this lasts.

Oh yeah, and Ryan makes me take a picture in front of the mirror. It is tradition.

What do you do with bored kids in the summer? Have an Ice melting contest.

Who won?

Cody and Daddy snuggling.

Ryan and I decided to can jam again. We ran out and it was time. Here are some beautiful strawberries from our garden.

Strawberry rhubarb cooking in the pot always looks so pretty. We went to tuck kids in during the process and couldn't find Brandon. He was in the closet asleep.

The final product. We did the strawberry-rhubarb and orange-rhubarb, same as last year. But this year we added lemon-rhubarb. It was really good. I know, I am just as surprised as you are.

Happy Birthday Cody! Cody turned 3 this week. Here he is with his birthday cereal and cards. He got a package in the mail from Grammy and Pompa. It was a zebra webkinz that he LOVES.

The cake is green (his favorite color) and has Thomas the Train (or one of his buddies) on top.

We went to the store and Cody bought Thomas stuff with his birthday money.

As soon as dad got home, we opened presents. Cody got a stuffed elephant that he really wanted. He has walked around with his zebra and elephant non-stop since.

We had some friends over for dinner and had chocolate chip waffles with strawberries and whip cream on top. That is what Cody picked. I know, kind of weird for a kid.

Cody has some really cute friends that he adores. One of them is Autumn. He really loves her a lot.

Kathleen taking pictures wit her digital camera that she got from Grammy and Pompa last year for her birthday.

Blowing bubbles during Cody's birthday party.

Opening presents.

Cody took quite a few tries to blow out all the candles, but he finally got it.

Brandon loves his "white blanky" that blue Granny made him. He has slept with it just about every night since he was born and snuggles with it all day. Consequently, it is pretty ripped up with rags and holes all over it. But he loves it. So we made an agreement that we wouldn't throw it away, just put it in the attic with his special things and get him a new blanket. He finally agreed and was really pretty cute about it. We did end up having to give him one extra night with his "white blanky" and then he was ready. Such a big boy.

Xander came to visit (with his mom and dad, Heidi and Jared). The kids LOVED having him here. We miss him like crazy already.

Brandon loved to sit and play by Jared. Maybe it is because they have the same birthday.

Kathleen and I got all dressed up for the pioneer parade with the primary. So did Heidi, but I failed to get a picture of her.

Playing with water balloons.

Kathleen met a new friend and loved every minute with her. Her mom had a baby, so we helped to watch the girls. Kathleen was sad to say goodbye.

Dave and Kami invited us to the lake. We had a blast with our friends.

This is the best picture we have of me. But we do have a good video of me actually getting up. I know, shocking. But for my own sake, I am not posting it.

All in all, a crazy busy week.