Cousin Day at the Park

So, I'm way behind, but that seems to be the norm lately.  I just uploaded the pictures from the cousin day we had a few weeks ago and was looking through them.  Oh my, we had fun!  And how can I not enjoy an afternoon when the kids were entertained by one another and us adults could actually sit and have a visit... okay, maybe not so much for Holly, but her child sure entertained us.  Gotta love it when you realize the naked child you are pointing and laughing at turns out to be a child that belongs to us!  Muwhahaha! 

Thank you so much Jana for putting this together!  You are awesome, even at 8 months pregnant!  Thank you Pam for making time for a catch up while you were visiting in Utah!  And thank you to all those that came.  We had a great time!

Here's are a few of pictures from our day at the park.  I thought I took a lot more, but I must have been too involved running my mouth instead. 

Devin, Chase, and Trae pushing Jamison in the tire swing

Jamison being cheesy, and Morgan and Jesicca resting on a turtle

Revenge... Devin getting revenge on Trae for hiding his flipflops

Little Man Mason (he was told only to get a little wet)

Devin trying to get revenge on Chase for his role in the flipflop
hide, but Trae is trying to save him.

Devin giving loves to his mommy, Pam, what a sweet picture it
would be if only he was trying to soak her at the same time.

Tai, Mason, and Trae running through the splash park

Jamison, Devin, Trae, Chase, Tai, and Aaron

Jamison, Trae, Devin, Chase, Tai, and Aaron... Again....
These boys were a riot!

Aunt Susan playing with Sienna

Fishing and Camping and Lots of Rain

Jamie headed to Las Vegas this past weekend and I begged and begged to go camping with the boys while he was gone.  After hearing that 2 of our neighbors would be up there already, he finally relented.  I was so excited to spend time with friends, but I'm afraid I failed in the social department.  Let me also tell you that throwing up into a tiny trailer toilet is no fun.  Talk about stomach cramping.. Okay, too much information, but I'm afraid I have no sensor right now. 
The boys drove me nuts with their "Can we go swimming?" questions for 3 straight days and I finally told them to move their fannies because they were going swimming.  Yes, it was 45* and I figured it was safe enough because there was a break in the rain, frankly I just wanted the whining to stop.  So, they excitedly got their swimming suits on, towels ready, and we hiked on over to the swimming pool.  Once there, they jumped right in and pretended to enjoy themselves for about 10 minutes.  I, on the other hand, sat under the eaves, wearing my jeans and sweatshirt.  They finally surrendered and spent the next 20 minutes in the bathrooms trying to warm up under the showers.  I can say, that they didn't ask me even once more if they could go swimming that weekend!  Hehe!  Yes, I'm an evil Mom. 
Jamie finally came home and we had a great time with him.  We had missed him so much.  We spent the rest of the weekend doing fun activities like going for a muddy, exciting drive over the mountain and took the boys fishing in the rain. 

Mason's 5th Birthday

Once again I find myself behind on my blog.  This pregnancy is making my old procrastinating ways look good.  Didn't think that was possible, but it really is.  I just mailed out my brother's birthday card... his birthday was May 28th and Lacey if you are reading this, I just mailed out your money (so, so, so very sorry).  I'm only a few weeks behind schedule for everything, including my house cleaning.  Eek! 
So little man Mason celebrated his birthday June 2nd.  He wanted to go to the zoo and so that is where we headed.  We had an amazing time.  Wasn't sick at all there, but I did pay for it that evening and the entire next day.  All that matters is that he had an awesome birthday and he said that he did, but when I tucked him in, he was asking why we didn't make it to the dinosaur park, too... uhm... yeah, how about that wasn't even in the plans.  Stinker kid! 

The melted ice cream cake.  I'll do better next time,
but at least it was still yummy!

Thank you Uncle Brandon, Aunt Shannon, Cassidy,
and Conner for the candy!  This is what was left of it by
the end of the day!

Our big surprise...

I keep wondering if I want to share my news or keep it inside for a bit longer.  This was such a big shock to us and I think I'm still getting used to the idea that our family is about to grow. 
Of course, maybe you caught the words on my t-shirt in the previous post and already figured it out... You'll have to go back and look for it now...  I'll give you a minute...

The baby is due January 23rd, 2011.  I can't even put my mind around this yet.  I'm just getting all of my kids into school, have disposed of all baby products, and will be now starting over.  I know I had hinted that I wanted this, but now that it's all happening, wow, I'm a little in shock.  Jamie had anxiety attacks for the first week straight before I announced to him that it was time to face the fact that we are having a baby in 8 months and to get over it.  He's much better now.
So here SHE is in her first picture.  She is only 1/2 an inch in size right now.  All perfect beating heart of her.

Welcome to the world baby Isaac

I have so much to post about and I guess I deserve it for not posting all of my exciting news last week and now having more this week.
First of all, we welcomed into the world baby Isaac on May 20th; my brother and sis-in-law's first baby.  It is so amazing to have a new baby in the family.  I am already so in love with him.  He's just perfect and so tiny with all of this dark hair.

The new little family

 Grandma holding her new grandbaby

 Me and baby Isaac

 Onto other news....

Jamison won the privilege of competing in the district wide Math/ Science Olympiad.  He and his little friend won 2nd place in the rain gutter regatta.  We are so proud of him.  He is such a hard worker and one smart kid. 

















The boys and their 2nd place medals.

More news...

My little man Mason graduated preschool!  He is so excited to be going to the big school in the fall with his big brother.  He is ready.  His class did a little performance.  Mason knew all the words and actions, but made them all so small because he was so shy in front of all those strangers.  The boy next to him, not so much.  It was too funny. 

Mason with his preschool diploma and prizes

Another great weekend is now behind us.  We spent Saturday at sports games, but Sunday was spent working on my garden.  I'm so excited about my garden this year; salsa and spaghetti sauce galore!!  The garden just looks amazing and will look even better once it starts to fill out.
Jamison won his soccer game, while Trae tied his first game and lost the 2nd.  I'm so proud of the boys and how hard they are playing this year.  Here are some pictures of the boys at play this past week...

 

The Bee Swarm

We had such an exciting weekend.  I'm going to be a dork and put this into 2 posts, otherwise it is going to be one really long post. 
We worked on our garden all of Sunday, we finally took a break late in the afternoon to grab a sandwich.  When I came back out I notice this swarm of bugs flying around a bush in the backyard.  I, at first, assumed that it was just the little flies that we so often see, but then realized that they were a bit too big for that.  As I got closer, I realized that we had a huge swarm of bees resting in our backyard.  It truly was a sight to see! 
We thought about spraying them, but then realized that they were honey bees and definitely needed to be saved.  We called in the experts... a beekeeper.  It was a wonder to watch her.  She crawled right in there with them and scooped them up into her bucket.  After she collected what she could, she put the bucket into the backseat of her SUV and drove away.  Crazy!

What a busy, fabulous, sunshine filled, happy weekend.  I missed Trae's lacrosse games, so Jamie took a ton of pictures to share with me.
I needed to pay my respects and say good-bye to a childhood friend.  It was a very nice funeral.  I'm so glad I was able to go and that Brett and Cynthia went with me.  My heart breaks for his family and friends that he has left behind.  The chapel (do Catholics call it a chapel?) was filled to bursting with family and friends.  I could only sit and reflect upon the memories that Ryin has left me with; the big-wheel races down the Reid's driveway and swimming in the ditch.  You were the one that taught me to light a match; good or bad, probably very bad considering we were only around 6-years-old and hiding in the teepee in your backyard.  I remember the time that you, Brandon, and I played hide-and-seek in our backyard.  It was a great game until Brandon and I realized that you had found an awesome hiding place in the horse trailer.... then proceeded to lock you into your awesome hiding place... then ran away giggling... and forgot about you until your Mom whistled for you to come home that evening.  Oops!  Boy, were we in trouble, and boy, were you mad!  Though we drifted apart in adulthood, you will remain firmly in my childhood.  Rest in peace, Ryin Rice.

Happy Mother's Day!  My great Husband made me a spinach, bacon, and tomato omelet for breakfast.  We then headed over to Home Depot so we could work on our garden a bit more.  It's getting close to planting time and I'm so excited for it.  Jamie bought me a little fairy statue to place in my garden and the boys each made me a card.  It was one of my best Mother's Days yet!

Mason and I (one of the hundred I found on the camera taken by him)

Another self portrait of Mason and his lacrosse stick.

Royals Lacrosse Team

Trae is in the black shorts and pants.

Mason's big toe.  On Mother's Day, all the boys were blowing darts with the dart gun, but they had lost one, and as boys do (at least my boys), could not be bothered to look for one little dart.  Well, here comes Mason running through the backyard with Grandpa and that little dart went through the side of his big toe and came up right below his nail line.  The boy who didn't cry for 4 shots at the doctor's office, exhausted himself with all the crying that came from this injury.  Mason got up Monday morning and pronounced  "Grandpa was wrong!  My toe doesn't hurt and Grandpa said it would hurt for three days."