Summer Fun in the Hot Hot Sun 2009

Four Generations! Going to and coming back from Lake Powell is a lot easier when you know you're going to Grandma Joy's house.

This picture has a story behind it. When we were out in Utah we went and visited my Grandma Runia while she was in the hospital. While we were waiting for the valet to bring our car around, an older Downs Syndrome gentleman walked by, and Ethan could not stop starring. I tried what I could to get his focus elsewhere, but it wasn't working. After this man walked passed, Ethan stuck his tongue out, and we weren't the only ones in the room who watched him do it. He just had this look of confusion on his face with his tongue sticking out. Kids just don't know. It was HILARIOUS!

All of us together again. Next to never happens with us all spread out. Can't wait to do it again!

For old times sake. Forever Powell!

Check out that diaper action! It couldn't be attached to a cuter kid! Although, she wasn't really all that cute there. She was Satan wrapped up in a cute little Autumn shell.

Can't wait to do this again! Little Sahara, here we come! Thanks Kye and Nat for the memories, and the wheelers.

Ethan couldn't stay off! He drove this four wheeler all day long, all by himself! I can't believe that's my baby!

Lovin' it!

Autumn and Jayda at the Children's Museum in Salt Lake.

Ethan couldn't get enough of the helicopter on the roof to play in. He kept butting in line.

Oh the times they have in Nanny's bath tub. She LOVES to play with them, and they LOVE to go to Nanny's house. I've never seen such proony kids.

Thanksgiving Point at the Children's Gardens. Those of you with Children know how difficult this can be to get every kid in the picture, and then to have them smile... Yeah, right. But we had a blast! Can't wait to do that again.

Playing the tree drums.

Ethan and Skylynn Harmon at the Trail Center. He's quite the lady's man... Already! At least he has good taste. She is SO CUTE!

Our garden 2009. It started out beautifully, and then got a disease, and it pretty much killed everything except for the bell peppers and jalapenos. Fun while it lasted.

The party was at our house all summer long. My neighbors Mom let us barrow her blow up slide and we put it right out in front of our door. It was quite the event and tons of fun. Yes, I went on it, are you kidding me! I was not letting that pass me by.

Autumn turned 2! She got to pick out her cake at Sam's Club, and she chose the princess cupcakes. She got a baby doll and stroller, and all the accessories. Car seat, swing, etc. She thought she had died and gone to heaven. She loved it!

He LOVES his car! He's very protective of it. Such a happy kid. Always has a smile on his face.

So that does it for our summer fun. I miss the warm already, but am really looking forward to some Utah snow. It's so different than Nebraska snow. Trust me, there's a difference.

Yeah, I know...

It's been a while. We will just start with the now, and work backwards. I'll do a summer vacation post later. I made a promise that I would do this before the week was out, so here it goes. I must fulfill it. This will be random and pretty much in picture form. Why? Because pictures say a thousand words. It saves me a lot in explanations and journaling.

First things first, don't mind the dates on the pictures. Our camera has been bothered by three sets of little hands and fingers. Not to mention it's old. But it works, so here we go. And so it begins. She "wants to go pooh on the potty like Dora does." Then when she flushes it she says "Bye bye pooh!" Then she grabs the stool and washes her hand. She's got the routine down, she's just been misfiring on a few signals. I'm just excited that she WANTS to do it!

This was another Fall Break Project. It made a huge difference! We love it! Didn't think doors would make such a huge difference, but clearly, they do! I'll post another picture later of all the doors. They're all in now, I jus need to touch up a couple of spots that I missed, and of course, think of taking the picture. But I promise, it looks awesome!

It was sitting by the garbage, so we sanded it, stained it, and sprayed it! Can't beat the price. We already had all the stuff, so it went pretty quick. Can't beat the price!

Our Fall Break Projects. So awesome. This is what we like to call our "Callie" moment, when you find something you can use and it was FREE!

Family Photo Opp. Wenninghoff's 2009. They had port-a-potty outhouses for the bathrooms, and Ethan was so excited! He wanted to go in the gray one. He brought me along to show me what it looked like. He thought it was so cool. One of Corey's classmates was taking his boys to the bathroom and was asking where they were. Ethan was so excited he wanted to show him. He lead them over there and said, "See, isn't it beautiful!" He's so awesome. He can find the beauty in a port-a- potty.

Have we mentioned how much we love our commander? We can go anywhere now and not hear a word from the back seat! We just plug 'em in. Notice my dead flowers in the back? It snowed fall break and killed 'em. They looked SO GOOD! I'm not ready for cold yet, but at the same time, it means the holidays are coming, and that I am looking forward to.

Yep, we've had a lot of these kinds of days. Need I say more?

Wenninghoff's Hay Ride 2009. It was supposed to be in the 60's that day, but not even close. It was 46 degrees. We didn't let it stop us though. We had a bon fire and roasted hot dogs and had smores and had a lot of fun! It was a CWDA activity, so we weren't alone. We were out there with a bunch of other crazy Dental students and there families.

He is so easy going. He always has a smile on his face no matter what silly thing you're doing with him. He has started throwing fits. They are hilarious! He sits on his butt and kicks his legs, and spins in a circle, all while screaming and crying at the same time. It's a must see.

I love these pictures. She has done this more than a few times. She can't decide what she needs more, food or sleep. She will never say die, so this is what it comes down to. Sleeping at the table. She has grown up so much. No more kicking the door. She loves watching Mulan. I was doing haircuts on the boys the other night, and she snuck out of the room with the scissors and tried to pull a Mulan on her own hair. She almost cut off the whale spout on top of her head. She also LOVES bowes. She is ALL girl, and quite the artist. She is just, awesome. So cute, and so much fun. There is never a dull moment with any of my kids. It is so fun to watch them and try and figure out what in the world they were thinking. How lucky am I!

Ethan's first day of KINDERGARTEN!! I almost cried, but held back. Why, you ask? Good question. Actually, I was wishing they took 2 year olds instead. It seems like once you get your kid to the stage where they kind of listen to you and help you out, they take 'em away. He is loving school though and is doing so good! He's so smart. He's still a little bit stubborn, but it's not his fault. He gets it from his Father. He is also so much fun and still says some of the funniest things. He likes to say, "When I turn into 8, we are going to move today." And then every few days he asks if he is going to turn into 8 so we can see Nanny today. He loves playing Autobots and still has more energy than any other kid I've ever seen and then some.

It is what it is people. Every day is another adventure, and a welcomed one. I love being a Mom. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't have a rollercoaster ride of emotions for my children. I do have a favorite though... It's the one that's behaving.