Bear Lake 2010

Brook Jr had a problem loading his shorts.



I think we probably should have taken him to the restroom before his bowels got the better of him.



Bear thought he wanted to go out to the floaty to play with the girls, but he quickly changed his mind as soon as he couldn't touch any longer.



The floaty belonged to the people next to us and Beaner was brave enough to ask if they could play on it. They all had a grand time until there got to be too many kids and they weren't abiding by the three people max on the tube rule. Then I had to be the bad guy and throw them all off.



Lowell, the good daddy he is, is teaching Hyatt to swim.



This is Lowell Jr learning to swim, not quite as receptive as his younger brother.



Bud was a good playing with the others or all by himself. It's almost like there is a party going on inside his head and if others join him that's great but if not he's still going to party without them. He reminds me of his father.



All the babies at this age don't like Uncle Brook. Probably because he's a "giant". But that does not stop him from trying to make them realize he's the favorite uncle. They all succumb eventually as will Rae Rae.

Can't Get Enough Boating

We went boating before Big D and I left for Pittsburgh. It took Bud awhile to decide if he wanted to go in the water or not. He did eventually go in. I think he takes after his mother in that respect. I have to really digest things before I feel comfortable enough to enjoy it. Yep that's right, we both over think things.



Beaner didn't need to think about it, she almost jumped in without her life jacket. Talk about freak her mom out.



Bear helped daddy blow up the tubes. Afterward he liked the feel of the air on his face so he played with the pump a bit longer.



Kinnzi even got out on the tube too. We didn't pull her behind the boat she just got to float. She had a hard time with just floating.



Big D is at home in the water. I guess that is why most of our kids are water babies. We love going out into the middle of the reservoir and jumping off. I just hope we don't get too comfortable and underestimate mother nature. Thank goodness we have guardian angels.

Family Birthday Party 2010

We had our annual family birthday party at a gymnasium. Brook and Andy were in charge this year and they did an awesome job. We played at the gym for about two hours then went up to a park to do our BBQ and presents.



We had fun racing up a big blow up obsticle course. Some of the adults, I won't name who (Brook), used their wife's head to help him get over the top. Beaner is being patient waiting to help me up to the top. Good luck with getting me up there the last time I had to use Jason's head to get up.



Bug didn't want Rae Rae to be left out so she helped her through the course too.



There were so many fun things to play on that no one got bored and no one had to stand in line. Bud is very proud of his balancing skills.



Some kids brought some tude with them so Auntie Ann stood behind them during picture time to help them with their smile. Grandma Lovely didn't want to her smile to be left out of the picture so she snuck right in there at the last second.



Uncle Jason was a favorite among all the youngens, including little Rae Rae.



This is Auntie Marie and her fiance, Walker's, first family function together. I think they really enjoyed themselves. Hopefully next time his kids will be able to join us and meet the rest of the family.



Uncle Brook is such a poser.



See what I mean.



I think he's also rubbing off on his wife. It's too bad Big D and Uncle Itchy had to work and weren't able to enjoy the fun with us. We decided we are going to try and rent the gym for Bud's birthday. Maybe then they can play with us.

Bowling Princess

Our stewardship of the puppies is coming to an end.



Kathy, my sister-in-law, is bonding with her new baby, Princess.



This is Princess's new family. They are taking her home this Friday. They are excited. It is bitter sweet for us. We've enjoyed having the puppies in the house but we are excited for their new adventure. We feel good about their new owners and we believe that both Charlie and Princess will be in good hands. Plus, it's nice to know we can visit Princess any time we want.



Kathy invited us to Jaxon's (Eddie and Julie's youngest) birthday party at the bowling alley. The kids were doped up on sugar so we took them out on the lanes to burn off some of that "energy".



I think we may have a professional bowler on our hands.



I'm as surprised as you that she's bowling with a pink ball. She did really good. Bug always kicks my bum when we bowl on the Wii. This was a bit different, and I won her (he he ha ha).



Wow, look at that form. I'm lucky I didn't split my pants. Bear did great, he only needed help with his first couple tries then he did it all on his own. And, he finished the whole game. I guess there really is a first time for every thing.



Beaner was having a hard time with getting down close to the floor before releasing the ball. I thought she was going to split the ball in half. At least she didn't throw the ball backwards and almost hit the audience, that would've been Bug who did that. I wonder if she was hoping we'd all bounce like in the video game.



Beaner and Bug helped Kathy with her yard sale that morning. Kathy gave Beaner a pair of shoes that she refuses to take off.



I loved this shot, but my darn camera wouldn't work properly, so much for point and shoots.

Mat & Kayla

Mat, my nephew, and his girl friend, Kayla, both graduated from college this weekend. CoNgRaTs!!!



We went up to help celebrate with them at Kathy and Mike's house. Lindsey (left), Kelly (right), Little Ken, and Aunt Pat drove down for the festivities.



There was a lot of fun, food, friends and family. Here is the proud mama, Kathy (left), standing with Aunt Pat (center), and Debbie (right).

We were all hoping it was going to be an even bigger party with Mat proposing to Kayla but it didn't work out that way. So my girls begged to go to Kayla's party the next day, we were pretty sure if it didn't happen one day it would happen the next.



Beaner took my camera and snapped the pictures of the big moment. I think she did a pretty good job too.



This is the ring, a beautiful princess cut one carrot diamond. Beaner took a better picture of the ring but I accidentally erased it while trying to download the pictures, oops my bad.



Even though I'm pretty sure she knew it was coming sooner or later, she was surprised.



Mat started with the line, "Kayla you are my best friend" and then he took the ring out of the box. She turned and tried to run into the house but her exit was blocked by all the party goers.



She said YES, YEAH!!! The girls came home happy and singing that they are going to have a new cousing here soon. We don't the exact date, but hopefully we'll know soon, after it all sinks in.

Florida, Take One

The flight to Florida was uneventful. The boys both did great on the plane and it's a good thing Bud plays good with just himself. In all fairness, Grandma Honey tried her hardest to stay awake, but it was a long day.



Big D did NOT sleep the night before our trip due to allergies so he had no problem sleeping every time he sat down. I felt so bad for him starting his vacation out not being able to breath but once we got to Florida his allergies didn't bother him, YEAH!

Bear is just like his dad, he can sleep anywhere. He had a great time on the plane when he was sitting next to Bud but they were so loud with their wrestling and giggles we had to split them up on the next plane. It's amazing how crab nasty people can get when you shove two hundred bodies into a sardine can.



I suffer from a condition called "Kantsleepinmovingvehiclitis" so the girls and I played with all the stuff Grandma Honey packed in their goody bags. All the kids really enjoyed the free soda and cookies they got on every plane. Especially since mom, that's me, doesn't let them drink much soda.



One of the fun things we did was go snorkeling. We saw some Manatees on our way to Three Sisters (where the manatees have their babies) so we decided to jump out of the boat and see if we could get close enough to see them. Bud was real excited and was one of the first to jump into the water. But then something happened and he got freaked out and wouldn't leave the boat the rest of the trip.



Bug took to the water like a fish, I think she's related to Big D. Plus, I think she snorkeled last summer when she came to Florida with Grandma Honey and Papa Guy.



Beaner was so excited to get in the water, it was a little warm out, she jumped right in as soon as the boat stopped. Bear wanted to jump in, like he does off of our boat, but he opted to let Papa lower him in slowly since these were unfamiliar waters with huge animals swimming around.



We came back from snorkeling at the wrong time, low tide. So Big D and Vincent had to navigate us around big rocks and patches of underwater bushes. They did a great job and we promptly learned how to read the tide charts after that.



We also went hiking one day. In the middle of our hike we came upon a river and the kids wanted to look for shells. I was taking pictures of them when I walked over to the side and about a foot under Beaners feet (she's the one sitting on the wall) there was a huge snake. The only thing we could assess is it wasn't a water moccasin, that was a relief. Needless to say, we didn't stay there very long.

Give a Day, Get a Day

We decided back in February that we would earn a free day in Disney World. Grandma Honey helped us come up with the idea of what to do.



We decorated bags and filled them with goodies.



We also cut out and sewed stuffed monsters.



All this hard work went to a local hospital.



They hand them out to little kids who either have to stay in the hospital or are at the hospital a lot visiting a family member who is sick.



All the kids did great. It took us all day and none of them complained.



By the time we were done we had about thirty monsters and over a dozen goody bags. I think that's pretty good for a days work.

We had a great time in Disney World, how could you not. We split the day up, Big D and I took the boys and Papa Guy and Grandma Honey took the girls and then we switched.



We had a hard time getting the boys to go on any rides. We tricked them into going on this airplane Goofy ride and both boys were hanging on for dear life.



Next we went on the tea cups and that was a mistake for Big D, he got queasy afterward.



Both the boys enjoyed this ride because it didn't leave the ground.



When they saw the speed way they wanted to go. After we were done with the first go around, and a thirty minute wait in line, Bud wanted to go again.



Bud got his wish because halfway through the ride Big D and Bear's car broke so they let us all go again without having to stand in line. I wonder if they wrecked their car because the driver couldn't see over the steering wheel?



When we got to trade I was super happy to ride some more "grown up" rides. So we went on the magic carpet...not so grown up if you ask me.



The girls were getting on my nerves so I locked them up for a bit till they had an attitude adjustment.



I don't know what kind of special powers Grandma Honey had but she could get the boys to go on rides, fun rides. The first time she took the boys on Pirates of the Caribbean Bear got a little freaked out when the went over a little waterfall. He grabbed Honey and screamed, "I thought you said this wasn't a fast ride!" By the end of the evening Bud was saying, "Man, I sure wish I could go on the pirate ride just one more time." So, of course, Honey took them one more time.



The hats were super cute but I couldn't spend $40 a hat for four kids, so we took a picture of them. Oh, and Big D too. Some times I swear I have five kids.



This isn't the best picture, but we were on Splash Mountain. We got to ride this one back to back too because it was while everyone else was watching the fireworks. My philosophy is: you've seen one firework show you've seen them all, lets ride.



It was great being able to take our kids there. I hope it was a magical place for them. I feel a little bad because they didn't get excited to meet any of the characters because they didn't know who any of them are. That is one of the draw backs of not having a TV.



By the end of the evening we were all toast, my big toe was in a coma, and Bear didn't think he could walk anymore (thank goodness for the $15 Wal-Mart stroller we picked up). I hope they look back and think to themselves how great it was to give service and get two wonderful days full of fun memories in return: one serving and one playing.