iCe BloCkInG

Don't knock it until you try it... For a youth activity the other night, they went ice blocking down a perfect hill. I had never done this, nor had seen it done before, so I had to come and watch (ok, I couldn't resist, I tried it too). The best was when they had like 15 of them going at one time in races. The mayhem at the bottom of the hill was priceless. I must say that it takes some core balance to stay on that little ice block at a bumpy rate of speed!




Really, what a cheap way to entertain a large group of people, I highly recommend it!

LaGOoN

Well, we spent a crazy weekend where we packed up the kids, drove 7.5 hours to Utah getting in late Friday night, then waking up and getting to see some great friends and my Grandma in the morning.... AND THEN it was Lagoon time. Let me tell you that our kids were so excited they shook. They could not even fathom what they were in for. Lets just say that Mike and I's love for wild rides and scaring ourselves has been passed down into our four children and it made for an awesome day.
KwinLee and Spencer did all the Roller Coasters except one, oh and Mike did to. Hyrum did as many as they would let him on, and believe me, he would have done everyone if they weren't so diligent about measuring height. Reed loved the ones that would go in a big circle really fast (not his mom though). We loved doing all the rides we could as a family (even if it meant mommy getting soaked). The kids were so good and listened all day. I have to say that they were on their best behavior and the older ones were great at trying things and the little ones were great at being patient.... Oh, it was just a great day. And I ended it by going on Wicked all by myself. I think I could have talked Mike into it if we would have had someone to watch the kids. But I also think Hyrum would have gone without any questions if we would have let him.... We shut the park down and literally just escaped the monsoon that hit right when we pulled out of the parking lot.
This morning we packed up, headed to Richmond to see Mike's Grandpa Pope and visited for a little while before we headed the rest of the way home. Talk about whirlwind, but it was so worth it. The kids did amazingly the whole trip and it was truly enjoyable. The Highway Patrol who pulled Mike over was even generously nice! What a weekend.

FrOm WoLf tO BeaR

Spencer is advancing from a Wolf to a Bear in scouts. He loves scouts and is doing great with it. Our pack meeting last night, was right out here on the ranch. It was a lot of fun and Spencer received a lot of badges. Here he is showing his dad the badges and also with his troop in front of one of the tepee's that were set up!



And here is Reed. It is tradition that on the way home from school all the kids tell me about their day, taking turns. Well, I forgot to include Reed (having already talked to him when I picked him up earlier in the day) and so when we got home he let me know that he was upset. So I got him a glass of Dotty Milk and called everyone around the table to come and listen to Reed's day. This is a picture of what he did for about 5 minutes, not once mentioning what he did that day, just making his brothers and sister giggle by pulling funny faces over the mug.

MiSS KwinLee Is TurnIng 10

10 years ago we were getting to meet our first and only baby girl. Our little "Tootsie Bella". I can't believe how time goes by so fast. I am not kidding, it seems not long ago those cute little chubby cheeks holding up tiny little glasses were toddling around the house. Now I have a little girl who is turning into a young woman before my eyes.
And to prove it, this year she asked that I get rid of the "little girl" decor and redo her room to be more "modern and age appropriate". I surprised her with her new room and she loved it, she even thought the big paint spots on her carpet were cool (but they will be going out with the carpet!)
Mike and I love, love, love this talented, brilliant, soft hearted, fun little girl (yep that is what she will always be to us).
Happy big decade Angel Baby, Tootsie Bella, Ninnee, Sissy Bear, and (AKA) KwinLee Elizabeth... We love you so much!

LaBor dAy

What a weekend. Saturday evening we headed over to White Sulphur Springs to stay with Mike's family and to spend some time with Buzz and Sharon and their family. The first night brought Mike and I to Jello Wrestling. Waste of good jello if you ask me. I thought that was the one thing we haven't used jello for :) Sunday we went to church and then had a great lunch, followed by a wonderful nap, and then some good visiting and music. Then Mike and I went out on the streets and danced until we thought the carriage would turn into the pumpkin or when those around us had become consumed by "the drink". Monday led us not only into Labor Day, but it was Spencer's 9th Birthday as well. His Grandma Diane made him a great breakfast, he and his sister rode their bikes in the big parade, he went to the rodeo, and then he shared a bunch of cake with family and friends at the park. It was a good day for him and he let us know several times. For his birthday he got a new vest and he wanted his room changed up a bit from the little boy stuff to the more "cool" stuff. So he picked out a new beadspread and we put some things together for him.
At the Rodeo Hyrum rode a sheep. He did pretty good, except his mom missed a few shots coming out of the chutes because the announcer and clown were giving her a bad time and distracting her! He was so excited when he got a dollar and a soda pop. It made his day.