Backyard Fun

I snapped a couple of pictures this week as my kids were playing out in the yard. It's been hot, but we can solve that with some water and a popcicle! Taylor in the pool. He had a blue popcicle and made a mess. So I dipped his hands in the pool to wash them off. He seemed to enjoy it, so I ripped his clothes off and put him in the pool. He doesn't mind the cold water at all and loved splashing. Eventually his diaper got water logged, so that came off too and we had a naked j-bird walking around in the pool. I had a naked picture of him try to climb out, but I suppose it's best if I don't post it. ;)


Abby loved the slip-n-slide, especially when daddy pushed her legs and helped her slide down.

Daddy also put Taylor on and slid him down, but he wasn't so fond of the process...

Taylor has decided he likes popcicles and ice cream after all. For the first 12 months of his life, he didn't want popcicles, ice cream, or anything else cold in his mouth. But he's changed his mind and joins the other 2 with a popcicle every chance they get.

Water fun with the DeHaans.

Splash Pad

We met Char & the kids @ the park/splash pad today. They had such a great time playing in the water and on the park equipment.

Abby was pushing Taylor in the stroller when all of a sudden the water came on in the spot he was sitting and he got splashed. I thought he'd start crying, but he LOVED it.

Joshie was rather undecided

The part I liked best is that Char & I got to sit on the lawn on blankets and visit while the kids ran around. Taylor is into everything, but he does NOT like how grass feels, so he sat right beside me on the blanket and wouldn't get off. It was a welcome break!

Bryce Canyon Half, Cabin

We are sometimes a little spontaneous, and a few days ago Tige decided we should head up to my parent's cabin and so he could run the Bryce Canyon half marathon (about 45 minutes away from the cabin). We took Cathy & Ben Ford (and one of their sons), with us so Ben & Cathy could run with Tige. They got up insanely early because the race started at 6:00 a.m. Tige finished the race in 1:46, which is a full 30 minutes off his time for his first half marathon 18 months ago.


Taylor pulled over my mom's lovely stained glass lamp. I was sitting right next to it, but there was nothing I could do. UGH! My parents are in Europe on vacation and don't even know yet. I've searched for a replacement on the internet, but can't find one that looks like it. Mom will have to help me find the right replacement when she's back. Raise your hand if you want me to try and talk her into a less fragile lamp so you're not paying for the next one...

Abby loves the horsey swing

Joseph & Kason roasting marshmallows

Abby downing a Smore

Ben & Cathy, Tige's race buddies

No cabin trip is complete without a walk down to the pond to throw rocks. Thanks to my kids there aren't many rocks left @ the lake, so we have to collect our own in a bucket on the way down.

Dad teaching Kason the finer points of skipping rocks

Fish!

Kason, aka my shark boy, has wanted fish for a very long time. Years and years. Tige & I didn't want to deal with cleaning the tank so we've been resistant. He's recently been saying "I need a fish to take care of so I can learn some responsibility." Yeah right kid. I have plenty of other ways to teach you responsibility. Uh, hello? We do have a dog you can feed.

Anyway, at our 4th of July outing in Richfield there was a booth where you throw bean bags to win a fish. I begged him not to do it because you had to make 2 out of 3 bean bag tosses (plus the fish were really ugly). I was afraid he would either 1) not win and cry about it; or 2) win one and we'd have to deal with trying to get it home alive in the plastic baggie. Either way not fun.

I finally promised him that if he'd just wait until we'd get back home I'd go get him a blasted fish. Fast forward to our new fish. We found a beta tank with a divider so the push-over that I am got him 2 fish with all the trimmings. He's been taking very good care of them. He's as happy as can be with "Nibbles" and "Gilbert." You'd have thought he won the lottery...

4th of July, Family Reunion

Every 3 years my mom's siblings and all of their families get together for a big family reunion. This time Cathy was in charge and we went to Richfield for the 4th of July celebration. I think my Grandma Scott has about 94 posterity now and only a few were missing. It's always great to get to see everybody.

Saturday we got together at Lion's park and ate dinner and played lots of fun games. This is just 2 blocks from the house I lived in during my childhood. It was fun to drive past my old house, my grandma's old house, and reminise with my family about my old stomping ground. I didn't get any pictures at the park during the festivities. What's wrong with me?

Sunday morning we went to church and then my parents and siblings went to visit Grandma & Grandpa Scott's graves. In the afternoon, we gathered @ the Youth Center for a huge family dinner, games & fun. My sisters-in-law and I were in charge of crafts and games for the kids before dinner, so I was busy with that and didn't get any pictures. But here's a picture of the necklaces and star wavers we made...
After dinner we had a talent show, geneology my mom dug up about my great grandfather, and a magic show by Uncle Mark. This picture is my mom and all of her siblings as well as Grandma Bev.

Grandma Bev also sang her new Alzheimer's rendition of "Memories." She is such a hoot. She brought the candy bar game for all the kids too along with a binder for each family of her treasured poems over the years.

Monday morning Tige and Kason got up early and ran a race. Tige seems to always be able to find a ra ce no matter where we go. Tige ran a personal record 5k @ 23:12 and Kason ran a 1 mile @ 8:59. After the race was the parade and Richfield goes all out. I haven't been to the parade there since I was about 18 years old--I couldn't believe all the people! Here are a few of our crew...

My family...

Abby waved at all the horses and beauty queens that went by. It was so cute! Kason and Abby were pros @ gathering candy and ended up with an entire grocery bag full. Would you believe that somebody stole it out from under our chairs at the park while we were sitting right there? Unbelievable.

Monday night we gathered at Uncle Myron's house for the fireworks show. They shoot them off on the red hills and his laws is the best view in town. It was so much fun!

Andy's family waiting for the fireworks to start. Rachel is starting her 9th month of pregnancy, and she is such a trooper for even being there!

Alayna, Abby, Kason & Bryce. Adam was in this crew too. They had a great time with pop-its and sparklers.

Alayna and Abby waiting for the fireworks. This is about my favorite picture ever. 2 such happy and sweet girlies!

Sparkling Kason

at my grandparent's grave. Grandma died 24 years ago this weekend, and Grandpa just last year. How they would have savored this weekend with their children, grandchildren & grreat grandchildren.

My 4 brothers and I at the cemetary.