Summers Almost Over !

Where did the summer go? It seems like it just flew by. The kids really love all the summer activities that living in the heat bring. Mainly swimming. Grandma got a new house with a swimming pool, and the kids just love swimming in it. The last time we went swimming there it was a little cold though. I guess that's the sign that summers almost over. We have a really neat underwater camera, so we thought we'd share some of our swimming pics!

Do you think this guy had a bad day???

A couple of weeks ago one of my friends called and asked me if I knew anything about a fire that was happening at Jeff's work. She lives right across the street, and she was hearing lots of little explosions and was seeing a ton of black smoke.I didn't know what was going on, so I called Jeff to see if he had heard anything. After some calls he said that a truck was on fire in the Southwest Gas parking lot, but he didn't know how bad it was. I was out and about around his work at the time and drove by to see what was going on. The truck was completely burnt to the ground. I called my friend and told her what the truck looked like. She couldn't believe it. She new something was going on because of the little explosions. Needless to say this guy had a bad day!!!

This is for you Rylin!!!

Rylin had her 6th birthday the other day. She had a great party at Peter Piper. She loved all the presents she received. Thanks to all the family for making it on a school night. Rylin is such a special girl. I don't think, as a mom, I tell her enough how much I love her. From the day she was born I thought she was the most beautiful little girl I'd ever seen!!! It didn't matter to me how much she cried, and it was a lot, I thought she was so perfect. As she grows and gets older I can see what a special person she is. She is so sensitive and caring. She has such an artistic streak. I tell her she's going to be an artist when she grows up. She loves to draw and paint. Her biggest smiles come when she gives someone a drawing or painting she's made for them especially. She loves her brothers and sister very much. She also loves her alone time too. She is a very private person, I think she gets that from her mom. I love how much she loves school. She doesn't want to miss even when she's sick. She makes me and her dad laugh when she's trying to tell a fib with a big grin. I tell her she needs to work on her poker face. Rylin I want you to know that you are special!!! I am so glad Heavenly Father let me have you for my little girl. You are full of special qualities that shine so bright. Happy Birhtday!!! I love you more than there are stars in the sky.

Traveling Back in Time !!!

Tanner and I got a chance to go see Walking with Dinosaurs. I think it was the coolest thing we've ever gotten to do together. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to see a dinosaur in real life this is the closest thing to that experience. The animatronic dinosaurs looked so real!!! They were made the same size the dinosaurs would have been in real life, and they were huge. We got to see baby dinos hatch out of eggs, dinos fighting with each other, dinos eating plants and even other dinosaurs, we even saw one dinosaur poop!!! Tanners favorite dinosaur of all was the T-Rex. They had a mommy and a baby. The mom looked really scary and she roared a very loud roar. My favorite dinosaur was the Brachiosaur (Little Foot's Mom) it was so big it almost reached to the top of the U.S. Airways Center. It was a great show. Both Tanner and I walked to the car saying, "That was totally awesome!" We really appreciate Hopekids for giving us the opportunity to go. It was a great memory maker. Tanner and I before the show started.

Robin's Favorite Dinosaur!!!

Dinos fighting.

Mommy and the baby T-Rex hugging. (These were Tanner's favorite Dinosaurs)

This was the comet falling out of the sky that caused the dinosaurs extinction.

Look at the Size of Those Melons!

This summer we planted a garden. Its nothing spectacular, but our kids think it's the greatest thing on earth right now. Conner goes out and checks on his watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, carrots, and squash (he used to have corn and green beans, but they died) everyday.
He gets so excited when its time to pick something. The other day I asked him if he liked planting and growing things he likes to eat. He told me he thought it was cool to pick his own cucumbers at home instead of having to go to the grocery store to buy them. I told him I thought he should be a farmer when he grows up. Sometimes I think he should have been born in the 1800's. He likes to camp, fish, hunt, hike, roll in the mud, and now farm. You also have to make him take a bath (and use soap) by force!!! He would have been a great Pioneer. Conner is so excited about all the watermelon he has that are getting big, I think there are 8 or 9 on the plant now. He can't wait until they are ready to pick. He says watermelon is his favorite! I think this experience has taught us that we will definitely be having a garden every year!!!
















The watermelon are getting big!!!
















We have a lot of cucumbers growing. Here's one!
















Conner and Mom found this one hiding in the plant. We didn't see it till today, so it got a little big. Hopefully it's not bitter.

Maybe a "Change of Pace" would be good!!!

Who wouldn't want to explore here???

Or take a bike ride here???

My parents just got back from a trip to Idaho. Actually, I should say more like a scouting mission. They are considering moving to Idaho, and wanted to scope out the area. My Mom seemed to like the idea, but only if we considered moving with them. She knows she would miss her grandkids too much! Today I began looking at houses on the internet. When she told me how beautiful it was in Coeur d'Alene I had to google pictures of the area, and she was right, it's GORGEOUS!!! Jeff, asked what he would do for a job, so I found out about the local natural gas company, and guess what, they are hiring for a position that is similar to the position he has now with Southwest Gas. I don't know, maybe it's ment to be. Sometimes I think it might be a nice change of pace to live someplace where summer highs aren't 115 degrees. Our kids love visiting the snow here in Arizona, maybe they would love to live in it. We'll keep you all posted on what the outcome may be.