Here We Go.....

This is where Ihave spent many afternoons this summer instead of blogging. I have to admit, I am tanner this year than I have been in years!

KALEB'S CAMERA CORNER!

Since my friend Janine dared put a picture of her toenails on her blog, I thought I'd add a picture that Kaleb took of his toenail after scout camp hiking. Nice, huh! (I hope you've already eaten your lunch!)
Window seat, obviously!

Kaleb's dad giving the announcements prior to flight. Vaughn LOVES that part! (Ha, Ha)


One one of our trips, Kaleb sat across from Lance Armstrong. Pretty sneaky picture taking, Kaleb!

SASHA'S 7TH BIRTHDAY

The cousin's who came out to wish her a Happy Birthday.

Shaun sulking because the hammock picture was too noisy and crowded for his taste.

That evening, we ignited an hours worth of fireworks on the front lawn. Sasha has such a fun day for a birthday!

While Karla, Mike, Natalie, Alisa, Ashleigh, Spencer and Adam were visiting, we went to feed the horses. Here is Shaun doing a fine job of it. That week we also went camping. Too bad I didn't take pictures of that event. Or of Alisa's broken arm! Two things we can't forget! (Or won't soon, huh Alisa!)

4th of July!!!!!!

Shaun starts the 4th off right by seeing two sweet cars on the way to the parade.

The kids enjoy the parade, our family tradition!

Later that night, fireworks!
We watch the fireworks they shoot from the BYU stadium from the Provo Temple Lawn. Lots of family join us there every year.

Our Lithuanian cousins in the background. It was great fun to meet them.

Kaleb wins for putting the most glow sticks in his mouth. He is quite talented. I am so proud!

Our fun trip to Ft. Lauderdale. The hotel is right on the beach, seen behind the pool. Great memories, again.
Sasha and her friend Ali. Two cute girls, one of them mine!

Bahama Mama!

Sadly, all good things must come to an end, but we really had a TOTAL BLAST and made some great memories! Because we were in water practically the whole time we were there, we really didn't take a ton of pictures. (We took some videos and maybe I'll try to post those next time. I'll atleast try to put the video of Vaughn going down the main slide you see on the Atlantis commercials where you slide through the pool of sharks.) Anyway, here are a few pictures of what we did get. We just played all day and enjoyed the sun, sand, water, slides, pools, lazy river (the water park is amazing!) aquariums, shopping, nightly strolls, and each other. It really was paradise on Paradise Island! We are considering just moving there! JetBlue does have 2 flights a day you know and the commute is only 2 and 1/2 hours! Hummmmm.........!





The view from our balcony! Gorgeous!

A self portrait on our balcony.

One of the great pools on the property. There were dozens of pools, all with different "themes".

The day we went into town, we stopped to eat some traditional Caribbean food at Cafe Skans.

Vaughn eats Conch Chowder!
At a park downtown.

Thanks for the trip, Vaughn! You are the BEST!

Bahamas! (Really?!)

Vaughn is taking me to the Bahamas for our 15th Anniversary next week! Here is a pic of the hotel we will be staying in. He was trying to keep it a surprise. I was hoping to go somewhere fun like that but didn't think we would ever really do it. I squeezed the info out of him today. I don't even have a tan....(well, I do have a farmers tan, yuck!) Here's to hoping I come home with one!

What is this? A post?!

(The kids in Vegas last year)

OK, it turns out I am about as good a journal keeper as I am a blogger...start strong and then move to fizzle mode. It has been hectic around here, but that is everyones experience, so I can't use that as my excuse everytime, can I? (But, I will!) We even got a new video camera after leaving ours somewhere in San Diego over Spring Break and have already put plenty of stuff into its memory. For example, since then, we have had two dance recitals one choir concert, another vacation to Fort Lauderdale, and Kaleb's 14TH birthday. (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY DEAR KALEB. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!) Not to mention all the cute things the kids do everyday that as a mother I find adorable and worth recording. (Like when Shaun was cryng because his friend Maxx went home, he said, "I have to wipe the cries out of my eyes" when he wanted to get down from my lap to go and see if Maxx could come play again.) Oh, and I can't forget to also mention all the great stuff Vaughn has been doing lately, like building an awesome pergola over our back patio and painting some new unfinished chairs I ordered for our dining table. Oh yea, I also ran my first 5k race with Vaughn and Kaleb. The other day, I even ran 4.5 miles! Lots of things I could post thoughts and pictures and videos about. So what's the deal? I don't know! First, I have to get the pics from the camera to the computer. (Maybe when we slow down on the projects!) It would be so much easier if I could project the things I want recorded to this blog instantly with my mind. Somebody start working on that invention! Anyway, without the pics to prove it, we are still alive and kicking! Thought I'd atleast peek my head out of my own self-absorbed hole!

A spider story- ala Shaun

Shaun told me a story tonight. It went like this....


"Once upon a time there was a bug. It was crying. It was a spidery bug. It was really crying. The end."

I think I know why that spidery bug was really crying. We "dispose" of spidery bugs around here. What a funny story. I love that kid!

All the fun stuff

Shaun loves his play day's! Here he is with his friend Spencer. Spencer is really sweet and very quiet. In fact, he doesn't say much at all. They play cars, push each other on the swings, play soccer, and get along great despite the silence. Finally the other day he said something and Shaun excitedly screamed, "He talks, Mom!" Eating treats under a sleeping bag makes it taste so much better!

Sasha had a bake sale the other day. The girls did pretty well not to eat all the profits, even if these pictures look like there may be a sugar high!
They just made a sale! Cheer up already! This picture is only moderately posed. Really! Good job guys, nobody is walking off with any of the goods today!

For Spring Break last week our family went to San Diego to spend some time at the beach. Unfortunately, we couldn't find the charger for the digital camera anywhere before we took off, so all I have recorded (pics) from that trip are small pictures from Vaughns cell phone! I can't believe with all the cords and plug in thingies we have in this house, that none of them were for that camera!!!! I found it today...always a day late and a dollar short! Anyway, the trip was great, but we wanted to do a shout-out to Elliot! (We booked our rental car on line, but apparently we went to the wrong place once in San Diego and needless to say, this van (rental company) was an adventure in and of itself! "Elliot" left his "my name is Elliott" sticker on the window and so we assumed (imagined) we were renting Elliot's moms van for the week. Poor Elliot. We hope school was within walking distance!) It was a great trip! Vaughns legs got burned to a crisp, we collected shells, played in the water, swam in the hotel pool, visited the San Diego temple grounds, and loved every minute together! I'm really starting to get addicted to these little getaways!

And finally, for SHAUN'S 3RD BIRTHDAY, he was able to already get his drivers license!!!!! he LOVED it and as soon as we took the car out front, he picked up how to drive it immediately. He was born to drive! Notice the matchbox car in his hot little mitt? You hardly ever see him without a car, so this was a real treat for him because HE LOVES CARS!!!! It was a joy to watch him take the wheel! He has driven the battery pretty much to dead every day since then!

Week in Review

Last weekend, when Vaughn got home, I was anxious to take a little trip. We checked the flight loads to San Francisco, Burbank and San Diego (the 3 sunny locations Jetblue flies direct to from S.L.C.) they looked okay, sort of, and so instead of chancing it or spending all the $$$ on hotels and rental cars, etc. we took an "old fashioned" get away to a local hotel...something we did often before the flight privileges. It was a great little get away. After all, as long as there's a pool, hotel beds to jump on and a dinner out at the restaurant, the kids are happy, here or 600 miles away.

Easter at Grandmas is always fun and a creative endeavor. Here the kids skillfully paint eggs.

Oops, should have turned this one first. Sorry!
Well, Shaun wasn't that into it, so he spent time jumping on the" jump-a-line" with Easton.

Grandma made delicious carrot-cake cupcakes with tinted coconut made to look like nests with jelly-bean eggs. DELICIOUS! Thanks for ruining my diet! Oh my gosh, I accidentally deleted the picture. I HATE how there is no back button for mistakes on blogger!!!!!!!

Earlier that morning, Kaleb took Shaun to the school park behind our house for the Cedar Hills Easter Egg Hunt. Shaun had a great time. Kaleb is a great big brother!

After he came home, he fell asleep....on the chair! It must have worn him out!

Sasha had her school program 2 weeks ago. She was sooooooo excited to perform! I LOVE the excitement when the kids are young! She was the cutest one there. Well, I certainly think so!

Kyle displays his hard work on California History. Shaun came with me and doesn't want to smile for the camera. He did a great job, but we are glad that whole thing is over!!!!!

Blogging? What's that?

OK, a recap which seems to be all I can do these days. I followed Vaughn again a few weeks ago on one of his trips. These pictures are in Raleigh-Durham (sp?). It's always fun to get away for a few days. Thanks to Randy and Lisa who graciously watched our babes. They too had a fun weekend.
Shaun always keeps me busy and always brings a smile to my face.
Karla and Natalie came for a week visit....it was Grrrrreeeeeaaaat! I love visiting with her, sharing Natalie with everyone who wants a piece of her delicious skin, getting together with family (I think we ate out every day except Sunday). We love for them to visit! (Shaun is helping Natalie smile for the picture.)

Karla made sugar cookies and Shaun is eyeing them, but with some sort of will-power, doesn't touch them! Way to go Shaun! (Who's kid are you?)
Hat Day at school couldn't be better represented! Wish I could look good in a cap like that!
Scouts....constantly doing something scouty. Way to go Kyle. You are a good kid. Thanks for coming to our family!