JULY

Catching up part 2.......

4TH OF JULY

For the 4th of July we usually go to my parents house for swimming and a BBQ.  This year was no different.  This is a tradition we've had since I was a little girl.  We would meet at my Aunt & Uncle's house until the family just got too big.  We still end up with a pretty big crowd at my parent's house with my two sisters, three brothers and their families.  Throw in a few extra friends most of the time and it's a lot of fun.

Dan & Uncle Ryan

These boys get so crazy when they are together.  They have so much fun though.

Mason

Courtani, Brittani and Nellie

Dan and Grandpa Hall

Grandma Hall getting the huge amount of food ready for the crowd to attack.

After dinner most of the crowd heads on over to our house.  We sit in our driveway and on the front lawn where we have a great view of the fireworks going off at the high school down the street.  It's nice to be able to see them from our house so we don't have to drive around looking for a spot to watch them.  (Not to mention with 17 grandkids, ages 11 and under, it's nice to have a bathroom near by!)

some of the kids decided to watch from the truck

Porter and Courtani (or as Evi & I tend to call them.....Corter & Pourtani) are most definitely best buddies!

the adults opt for the lawn rather than the back of the truck

Aunt Shelbi & Cora

It was too loud for Mason

Watching fireworks!

Aunt Shelbi & Cora

Uncle Ryan & Ella

Speaking of fireworks.......

Even still today, I find joy in catching glimpses of my parents showing their love for each other.  They are a good example to each of us kids about how to build a strong marriage!

WRESTLING WITH DAD

July 5, 2009

I love watching the kids wrestle with Dan.  I remember watching my dad wrestle with my brothers when we were little.  Part of me wanted to join in with them, but only a small part.  On the rare occasion I did, it never went well for me.  Now watching Dan and the boys, it sometimes makes me nervous to see how carried away they get, especially as the boys are getting older and starting to give Dan a run for his money!

Funny how Trevor always knows where the camera is

Wrestling with Dad at Gma & Gpa's house

It's always two against one unless Courtani jumps in to help the boys.

In a headlock and still looking at the camera

Do the boys smell victory?

Dan usually gets them both pinned at the same time.  Then they are laughing so hard they can't do anything about it.

The boys decide to try some new moves on dear ol' dad

Looks like this one goes to the boys!  Dan quit after a swift kick to the gut by Trevor.  This is Dan lying here moaning and groaning minutes after calling "UNCLE"!

Trevor was still feeling the victory once we got home and he wouldn't let Dan forget it!  (check out this boys guns!)

It was a fun July!

JUNE

Well, it's time to play catch up again.....seems to be how we roll around here.

BRADEN'S ARROW OF LIGHT
June 3, 2009

On June 3rd Braden received his Arrow of Light award for Cub Scouts. He worked very hard to earn this award and we were very proud of him. He was excited to receive his award at the same time as his friend Scott Johnson as well as it being on his Grandpa Roberts' birthday. It was an awesome ceremony. The lights were all turned off (which of course you can't tell because of my flash) and they had a "campfire" in the middle of the room. All of a sudden we heard the steady beat of a drum and two kids walked in very slowly in full Native American costume. The ceremony lasted about 15-20 minutes and the kids were in awe the entire time. Braden and Scott received some really cool arrows (good job Lauren) and the ceremony ended with Braden and Scott being walked across a bridge to where their Boy Scout leaders were, signifying their transition from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. It was fun to have Dan as one of Braden's Boy Scout leaders and Monti Randall, our good friend, as the other. It was a great night and Scott and Braden were able to set a great example for the other Cub Scouts that are working on receiving this same award.

 Arrow of Light ceremony

 

Arrow of Light ceremony

walking across the bridge from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts

Welcomed by the Boy Scout leaders

 Corrie Curtis (Den Leader) & Tyler Hyer (Cub Master)

Braden with Grandma & Grandpa Hall

ANNIVERSARY GET-A-WAY
June 25 - 27, 2009

Dan and I celebrated our 12th anniversary on June 27th.  We were able to have our first get-a-way without the kids.  We went for a weekend to Jon & Kari's cabin in Christopher Creek.  It was amazing!!  We had been there for almost a day when Dan said, "Oh my gosh!  We haven't had to change a diaper all day!  We haven't done that for 11 1/2 years!"  We've always had somebody in diapers so this was a very welcomed change!  It was so nice to just sit out on the porch and enjoy the sound of the pines and just the quiet!  Ahhhh!  I actually got to read a book and didn't get inturrupted even one time!!  It was awesome!!  We spent an afternoon going through the little shops in Strawberry, went for walks in the nice cool weather, Dan made a full steak dinner the night before our anniversary and then cooked a full breakfast the morning of.  I was very spoiled.  It was just so great to spend time together for a weekend.  WHY, WHY, WHY haven't we done this before?

Thank you to Dan's parents and mine for watching our kids so we could go!
Thank you Jon & Kari for letting us use your cabin!
We appreciate it more than you know!!

The nice, quiet and peaceful cabin!  Ahhhhh!