24th of July
We took off to spend the day - the WHOLE day at Cherry Hill. The kids had a ball, the adults had a great time. It was nice to cool off in the heat. I have never in my LIFE seen my mom in the water for that length of time. It was amazing! I think she floated in the lazy river for 2 hours without a break! She even gave the water slide AND the cardiac canyon river ride a shot. Those of you who know my mom know that this was a huge milestone - KU-DOS to Carol. You would think that would be the one picture I have - I did take it, just with Krista's camera. I'll get that later - for shiz! It was a fun day! Here are just a few of the many pictures...

The river rat...my mom!

Dad just couldn't get the speed he needed to make it to the end of the flume!

Check out my man! All you ladies back off! Ok, so it is obvious that we needed a little sun in our family. However, so the story goes, and I will keep telling it - I didn't use an ounce of sunblock on my legs and STILL didn't get a stitch of color. No melatin I guess?
Carly and Jantzen

Abbers
Jantz chilled with grandpa - "right next" to grandpa while waiting for his muffin to finish her Brickyard 500 laps in the lazy river.
When you're 8 months pregnant, only few things can quench a gal's thirst...Brooke was a trooper! She hung in there with us all day.

We stayed so long there wasn't a crumb of food left when we were done. This is Kelsey and Josh finishing off the last bag of chips...still waiting for grandma!

Yes, this is my sister - under the blanket, and yes, it was 100 degrees outside, and YES, she is from AZ people! CrAzY! And still, waiting for grandma.

Josh and Brady

Giddy up!

Last year the rodeo was a crowd pleaser for young and old, so this year we decided to do a repeat! I don't have any pics of some of the "interesting" crowd though, just ours....

Hailee was dressed so cute like a little cowgirl, but for some odd reason, she doesn't like me to take pictures of her - EVER
Cousins can have fun anywhere - Jantz, Kelsey, Abby, Josh, Brady
Jantz is happy as long as he is with his "muffin"

I love this picture....they are getting really excited about the entertainment

This is what they are watching...motorcycle daredevils, there are three of them

But the view from the front was better....the reactions on their faces

Shannon's Visit
Dayt's cousin Shannon from Michigan came to visit with her family a couple of weeks ago. I was bummed that I couldn't go to the BBQ because I haven't seen her in a couple of years. Their family has been through a really tough year. Their son Brandon was killed in a car accident earlier this year. This is the cutest little family, they are so close and they miss him so much. I am grateful for the knowledge we have that we know we will see him again someday.
I sent Dayt with the camera....this is all I've got folks!

This is Shannon
Grandpa J and John (Shannon's husband) Grandpa J playing pool

Family Pictures - Sneaks

Here are some "sneak previews" of the family pictures we took just over a week or two. This chic is truly talented. I know because I was there and didn't expect very many pictures to turn out. My kids are in a crazy phase where natural smiling is just not happening like it used to. I can't wait to see the rest of them. Check out her blog www.veronicareeve.blogspot.com and from there you can go to her photography site.

If you are interested in the Gap Friends and Family Discount let me know. 25% off Gap, Old Navy, Piperlime, Banana Republic - August 1st - 3rd

Tumbling
We took our cousins with us to tumbling on Friday - so much fun! I took a couple of videos but didn't think to take any still shots until the very end when Brady gave me an opportunity I couldn't pass up. They all had fun tumbling together. The lighting is really bad with all of the windows, but here are a couple of videos of Josh and Abby doing their latest passes. Josh is attempting a pass he has never tried before a round-off - whip - 2 backhandspring - whip which is actually a pretty tough pass for an 8 year old. He came really close. I can't believe they have only tumbled for one year. Abby is doing a round-off backhandspring without stopping all by herself. I wish she had more confidence because I think she could be a real natural tumbler. This is only the second week she dared to do it without stopping and by herself. I am really hoping that it gives her the confidence she needs because she really has a lot of potential.

This is Brady doing his headstand. He doesn't do these in his class back home in Arizona so staying up for almost one minute is AWESOME! He was working really hard. His legs got farther and farther apart as the seconds wore on. I will take some more pictures next week. I think by then Kelsey might be doing something really amazing. She was so cute, she would watch the other kids and think how easy everything looked - she just wanted to go for it too! She has the confidence I wish Abby had. Rock on cousins!

Skate or Die
On Wednesday Krista and I thought with the weather being so overcast it would be a good day to take the kids to the park for lunch. They ate, climbed boulders, played at the park, ran around, and then took off to the skate park. It was truly chaos! The little ones darting every which way on their scooters, the bigger boys on their skateboards trying death defying skills...Tony Hawk makes it look so easy! Then there were the biggest boys twice the size of our kids on their BMX bikes and boards. Let's just say that it was a little dangerous in the bowl! We let them play just long enough to get some action. After a couple near crashes and emergency room aversions, we left. Truly, skate or die!

Brady
Josh
Jantz, Abby, Kelsey
Little dude

Just the Beginning
Ok, so the Stone's have only been here for the weekend, but no matter, we only have three weeks to get everything done. First up.....drumroll please.....family pictures were today. We are so thankful for Brooke, in her "condition" she trumped pictures with the whole group! Thanks Brooke! Next year I might just get pregnant to avoid another "group" shot! (totally kidding)Well, traditions run thick around here, and there was NO WAY mom was letting us get away without pictures of at least the grandkids - which is fine with me. Brooke' friend and photographer Veronica Reeve did the honors. I will send a link to those pictures when we get them. After the photo shoot, we were all a bit hungry, off to Chili's! Can you say QUESO! We are having so much fun...LOTS more to come!

Exciting Moments
They have arrived! The cousins are here! The kids are soooooo excited to have their Arizona cousins here for a couple of weeks. The fun began just hours after the 11 hour drive. Saturday afternoon we met up at Grandma and Grandpa Gibson's for the first time in 7 1/2 months! Whew, has it really been that long? They had some water fun and then we grilled some dogs, and fulfilled a "wish" for grandpa's scones. We really miss them a lot and are looking forward to spending every waking moment with them for the next 3 weeks!

Kelsey, Hailee, Brady, Josh, Abby, Jantzen

ICE CREAM SUNDAE's on SUNDAY

On Sunday we hooked up with Grandma Mac for her birthday. I won't say how old she is, but I will say that next year's birthday will be BIG! Can you say family cruise??

Later on that night we had dinner and a little mudpie for Ty and Brooke's birthdays.

Ty and Brooke look like foster parents when all the cousins are around.

Oakley's BirthdayParty

Jantzen's best little buddy Oakley moved to Tremonton this week. He has been staying with his grandparents next door for the past 2 months. We have LOVED having Oakley around to keep Jantzen entertained all summer. There aren't really any kids his age on this street so Jantzen was always a little bored, we were so excited for him to have a little friend right next door. They have played so well together for the last couple months. Oakley is a very sweet little boy with the biggest, brightest smile. I don't know what I will do with Jantz now that Oakley is gone...I haven't really told him yet that he moved away. Oakley turned five last week and had a little birthday party before he moved. It was so nice of his family to think about inviting my kids. His grandparents Bob and Evelynn are so kind to all my kids. We are truly going to miss them when we move. Here are a couple of pics of the party.

Jantz and Oakley with his little sister Sage
Notice the party hat on the slip and slide...classic!
These guys have the greatest backyard! Dayt and Josh and I were in the sand volleyball pit having a little fun and meanwhile Abby had joined the water fight with Bob and some of Oakley's cousins and friends from his old neighborhood. I was surprised to see Abby going after some of the boys, here she is chasing after Bob.