tUESDAY, sEA wORLD

Well we were off to a late start and didn't make it to Sea World until 11:00am. We all had red shirts so we could find each other easier. It really did help! We had to drive almost 2 hours to get there, but it was worth it. We had so much fun and the kids loved it!! Riley loved the Shamoo show and the pet show the most I think. He also was so excited to see the sharks! The day flew by so fast cause we wanted to watch most of the shows so when one was over we would head straight to the next one so we would have a seat. Riley was too short to go on the Shipwreck ride and was upset, but that's ok because we got DRENCHED!! Riley would have hated it since he hates being splashed in the face. So instead we went and found him a prize. He was happy about that. The ride home was really hard trying to stay awake. We made it in one piece, put the kids in bed then fell into bed. As soon as our heads hit the pillow we were out, that was about 11:20pm. A really long day, but also a really FUN day. Will post all my pics when we get home!

mONDAY

Last night was a much better night. I got more sleep and the kids did great. Steven and I had the days meals so we got up, oh wait my dad called Steven at 5:56am to tell him it looked like the dogs were already fed, and started breakfast. We had french toast and scrambled eggs with bacon. Steven was all mad about the syrup I bought, he said it ruined all the hard work of making the meal. Oh well he'll get over it. Then we headed to the beach about 10:00am. The boys rented surf boards and the girls set up our beachside umbrellas or whatever you want to call it. Riley was mad and didn't want to swim in the big water again but once we get going and playing he has a good time. The lifeguards came and told us there was no more surfing where we were at and needed to move to the other side of the pier. Well, that was a long ways away and we had gobbs of "STUFF". So the boys took the boards back and we just boogie boarded. We all had a great time even though the ocean did give us all a pretty good beating. We got home and ate lunch about 1:30pm-2:00pm. Half of the crew was ready to head back and half wasn't. Marlo and I went with our babies and did a little shopping. Of course we had to get a little of that in! By the time we got back the boys were back from the beach and hurtin'. Steve and I made Football Captin Special and it was a hit, or everybody was just really hungry. All in all it was a great day and we had lots of fun. Half the kids are already asleep and hopfully the rest will follow. Can you believe it, my two were the first ones asleep, that's the first! Maybe we can play a few games later!!

cALIFORNIA hERE wE cOME

Joyce rented the Alder Family a beach house on Huntington Beach from June 21st to June 28th. We loaded up 2 SUV's and a trailor for luggage on Friday evening. We made it to Mesa where we stayed at Rich Crandall's(joyce's nephew) beautiful home. We woke up and went to Jodi's where she had a great breakfast awaiting us. We finally started our trek to Cali. With a few pit stops we made it to the house about 4:30 pm. The house is really nice EXCEPT there is no AC or even a swamp cooler, NOTHING! The owner said we hit a heat wave. It is really humid, not as hot as AZ but we are used to a dry heat. We unpacked and headed to the beach. We were all so excited! Riley could hardly wait. He wanted to swim in the big water. After being there and him running in. He was not liking the water coming up and chasing him. Mommy got wiped out by a couple of waves. It was still really fun besides drinking the salt water. The night was long but my boys did ok considering Aiden has been sick and running a fever just before we left. His fever finally broke during the night at Richard's. So here we are on Sunday just chillin around the house. Can't wait for tomorrow to go back to the beach. Then on Tuesday it's to SEA WORLD. I can't wait to see Riley there with all the sea animals.

hAPPY bIRTHDAY bRITT & pARKER!

oK SO I AM REALLY LATE ON TELLING bRITT HAPPY BIRTHDAY SO i AM TELLING bRITT AND pARKER AT THE SAME TIME. i CAN'T BELIEVE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE YOU TWO WERE BORN. iT IS SO FUN SEEING YOUR LITTLE PERSONALITIES COMING OUT. rILEY LOVES PLAYING WITH YOU BOTH AND HAS SUCH A FUN TIME. hAPPY bIRTHDAY!

bRITT AND rILEY AT THE PARK!!

pARKER AND rILEY WATERING OUR BACK YARD!

hAPPY dADDY'S dAY

dADDY AND aIDEN

dADDY, rILEY AND aIDEN

Steven, I just wanted to tell you how much I am so thankful for you and for the great daddy that you are. Riley absolutely loves and adores you. It was so cute when he made the comment "When I get big like daddy I can ride Saucy!" That is Steven's horse by the way. He wants to be just like his daddy! Aiden is growing so big so fast that he too will soon be out there with his dad wanting to be just like him also. I love you so much, Happy Daddy's Day!

mY FAVORITE PIC OF dADDY AND rILEY

dADDY, rILEY, mILLY, AND sAUCY

cANNING

Ok so I have really been on this kick about canning food. I am trying to be a good little homemaker. With the price of fuel and everything going higher in prices there has been a little scare of the truckers going on strike. So Steven and I went to Wal-Mart and stocked up on canning jars, band-aides, hydrogen peroxide, neosporin, shampoo, toilet paper, clorox, and maybe a couple of other things for our year supply that are not food. Hey even if the strike never happens we will have the things we need and not have to run to the store. Plus we are doing what the prophets say we should be doing and working on our year supply.We bought 50 lbs of beans and 40 lbs of chicken so I can start canning them. This is the first time I have done this and am totally obsessed with it. I was able to get almost four dozen pints of chicken canned and lots and lots of beans. I have done just a couple of jars of pork and beef but plan to do more as they come on sale. We have tried a jar of all the things I haved canned and they have turned out great! Steven loves the beans when I have made chili beans. Oh how fast and easy they are to whip up. They taste great. I must say I LOVE to hear the little seals "POP" after being taken out and sealing. It is such an awesome thing to hear. It gives me such a feeling of accomplishment.

sHINNERS!

On Thursday I was watching Sharleen's boys while she went and did some stuff for her mom. I was in the Kitchen making lunch when I heard a "KABOOM". I hurried into the living room to find my little boy on his hands and knees crying. He was next to his little red chair that was tipped over. I got to him to find his nose all bloody and already turning black and blue. Poor little guy. I carried him to the kitchen to get a wet wash cloth to try and clean the blood so I could asess the damage. It looked pretty nasty! He cried a little for a couple of minutes and that was it. He was being so brave. I got a blanket and his pillow and layed them on the floor so he could watch one of his favorite shows, Caillou. I finished preping the gourmet mac-n-cheez and the Bushes baked beans. He didn't want to eat and he didn't want to drink anything. So I just let him lay there. Finally later he decided he was hungry enough to get up to eat. He LOVED the beans and didn't touch the mac-n-cheez. I don't know why not, they were gourmet afterall. Later that afternoon I decided to take him to the pool for a treat. He was so excited and loved it! I kept asking if his nose hurt and he kept saying "no". He's my tuff little boy! Needless to say the next day my 2 year old little baby showed off a shinner!



The dirty little culprit!

iMPRESSIONABLE

Well I have to write a little something about the things you think your kids are NOT paying attention to. The day little Karlee Jane was born we had Britt over for the day. They played and played and were having a great time. The boys were all excited about having a new baby girl in the family. Steven and I were in the kitchen getting lunch and the boys come barreling in saying something about Heavenly Father. We paid no attention to them at the time then a few minutes later we did. The boys were each taking turns sitting down and the other would put their tiny little hands on the others head and start to say a prayer. Then they would switch and the other would do the same. I was in awe. These little boys are only two years old and they have seen their daddies give blessings to their moms. They know that it is something special. I didn’t think they were even paying any attention at all because we as moms are always trying to get them to sit still and fold their arms. After having Aiden and getting my gallbladder out I was starting to feel better and Riley came up to me as I was laying on the couch and put his hands on my head. I could hear him say “Dear Heavenly Father.” Then a bunch of jibberish followed and then an Amen. How amazing are our little ones. I know they can feel the spirit even when they are so little. They watch us everyday make choices and do things. They follow our example and we better be ready when they do the things we are doing. I only hope I will be a great example to my children as they watch me. It makes me want to do so much better. Remember when they are running around, don’t think that they are not aware of what is around them. They are very aware and very impressionable!