BBs and Bug Bites

We celebrated Damion's birthday by having some cake and ice cream, spending a little quality family time together and then the boys got a little bored and decided that they needed to really celebrate so this is what they did next...

Yes, that is Kole.  Of course I'm documenting his amazing choices for our posterity to look back on and learn from.  I guess these little BBs won't kill you or put a hole in your buttocks but still... why?

And then there is Damion, the birthday boy.  He's the oldest of the brothers.  I'm not sure if that makes the situation better or worse.  Some people get wiser with age and others... well, maybe next year.

Yes, Deb and Dave stood by and mocked and laughed (and didn't stop anything) while all their boys shot each other with BBs.  I'm passing these genes down to my children.  Sigh.

Eve practicing her red neck skills.  What you can't tell is she's aiming at Jack.  Just kidding!!!  My mom would have a heart attack.  I don't promote child abuse.  Brother-in-law abuse is a whole other story.

"I'll let you shoot me if I can shoot you first."  I guess that seems fair.  Not bright but still fair.

From left to right: Sam, Keaton, Grayson, Kole (with the oh so manly BB gun) and Damion.  Did I mention they're all single- except for the really cute one with the gun.  Right now some of you out there are thinking "Line me up!  Those are the brains I want to pass down to my children!"  Yes ladies, if that is what you are thinking, I'm sure we can work something out.  You'll just need to fill out an application and attach a current color photo.  They're kind of picky so don't call them, they'll call you.

Maybe he is so grumpy because he wanted to wear a thick long sleeved shirt in the middle of August.  Really kid?  Do you like heat stroke?

Can you see all those mosquito bites? They are a week old in this picture and they still look like he got struck with a plague. His whole face was covered with them after he had a sleepover under the stars at Grandma Wendy's house. I was embarrassed to take him out in public for days. It looked like he had early onset acne. I'm hoping we didn't get a sneak peek into his teenage years.

Cache County Fair 2011

August in Cache Valley means hot summer days, the final count down to school, last ditch efforts to squeeze the remaining bits of fun out of the season and of course Fair time!  Our Fair screams country living at its best and it makes you remember that this happy little valley is still full of farm country and cowboys.   I always think of the Cache County Fair as the last hurrah of valley events before the lazy days of summer fade away into the hustle and bustle of fall.  The Cache County Fair is not the biggest or best fair I've ever been to in my life but you can't beat the local fair when it comes to running into old friends, indulging in that craving for oh-so-bad-for-you but you-just-have-to-have-it fair fare, and enjoying the constant ambiance of nostalgia. 

On Friday evening my mom and I packed up the three kids and headed to the fair grounds. Kole actually got to go to the fair too- but he didn't get to have any fun. He was stuck slaving away in the American Family Insurance booth. Poor guy all stuck in a little cage like one of those fair animals. So we stopped by to point and laugh at his misery and then ditched him for some real animals. 

 The kids loved all the stinky animals. I'm not sure how many of these cute animals we saw will soon be on someone's table but I try not to think about it. 

 

Can you tell that sheep behind Jack was trying to ruin our picture? 

Sheep in turtlenecks... because obviously it is cold in the middle of August if you're missing your wool sweater.  Ha ha.

Eve kept saying "I'm really good with cows... goats... chickens (whatever animal happened to be within reach at the time) huh mom?" ha. Yes honey, animals flock to you like the Disney princess you are.

I think Eve would have bought a goat if I hadn't stopped her mid-sale.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

And of course the cuttest animal of them all.

Just ignore the random kid hanging out in the background of our picture.

Jack's angry face- this is what happens when Eve makes him switch places.

Grandma Wendy can't resist those kissable baby feet...

...and neither can big sister Eve.

She can't help posing lately.  At least her love for the camera is reciprocated.

Some people see a blurry photo- I prefer to see photo effects.

We found the pony rides to be a better deal than the other kiddie rides... and the money went to a better cause that carnies.

Riding off into the sunset at the end of our fun filled evening.

Sweatin' like daddy

Kole's been doing the "Insanity" workout program and since Jack wants to be big and manly like his daddy he's been doing it too.  I'm a sucker for his goofy cuteness so I just had to take some pictures to embarrass him with as a teenager. 

Feel the burn baby boy!

Grandma Camp 2011

                                                                                                                               07/18/2011

For 4 glorious days and 4 peaceful nights Eve and Jack went on their summer vacation to "GRANDMA CAMP 2011." Since Porter was not the minimum age requirement of 3 years old (Grandma, we need to negotiate this in the future), I got a week of bonding time with him- which I absolutely LOVED!... and some much needed time to catch up on projects, house cleaning and rest! While I was thus in my week long getaway from real life, Kole's mom opted to make her life more stressful by inviting the hurricane force of little kids to invade her house for a week. I know, I know... what was she thinking? And since her personal horde of grandkids is not growing quite as quickly as she hoped ('cus I can only do so much on my own here), she decided to be super ambitious and invite a few "adopted grandkids" too. We all say, "Thanks Deb! You rock!" Eve and Jack had a blast and everyone survived (including the innocent bystanders like Grandpa Dave and Kole's stay-at-home brothers) so I think we can consider it a success and hopefully a YEARLY (huh huh?) tradition. Deb was good enough to take some pictures of the fun and chaos. I'm wondering just how many bonks, bruises and bloody body parts she had to edit out of these pictures before she gave them to me. Obviously I was not there (I'm sure I was lounging somewhere quiet and tidy at the time instead. Can you feel your jealousy bubbling up right about now?) so my lack of first hand knowledge does not allow me to comment on the pictures. But I'm sure you'll get the gist.

                                                                                                                                                    7/19/2011

                                                                           7/20/2011

                                                                                                                        7/21/2011

I'm sure we're all looking forward to next year.