New Toys

Stetson has REALLY been wanting a trampoline for a VERY long time.  In the midst of the potty training frustration, I told him that we would buy him a trampoline if he learned to be a big boy and go in the potty - EVERY time!  I know, it is a little over the top for a potty training reward, but after a year you get a little desperate.  Kenny was a little disappointed when I made this promise because he has been wanting to get the kids a trampoline for awhile, but figured if we had to wait until Stetson was potty trained, we'd never get one (this was wierd because Kenny is usually so optomistic about everything).  Well, it happened - Stetson is potty trained, and we got our trampoline.  The kids and I were over at Grandma Grover's house where Grandpa Grover was giving the grandkids rides on the horse when it came.  Kenny got home first and called me.  Of course he didn't tell me it had come, he just said, "leave Stetson and come home for a minute".  Thinking something was wrong, I hurried home.  We set up the trampoline and I went back for Stetson.

Lucy got to try it out first

I told Stetson there might be a surprise waiting for him at home, and as soon as we pulled into the driveway, he saw it.  His reaction was priceless!  He was so excited, it was all I could do to keep him in the car until we stopped.

That is one excited boy!

He ran over, took his shoes off and hopped on the trampoline so fast, I thought maybe we wouldn't need a step ladder.  It must have been the adrenaline, because now he can't get on without one!

Pure Joy!

We have been wanting to get the kids a nice swing set for a long time, and have been pricing them everywhere we go.  Finally we decided that a cheap one would work just as well, even if it only lasts a few years - we need SOMETHING for the kids to play on outside at home.  So the swingset came the same day as the trampoline, but it took us about a week to get it set up.  We tried to work on it in the evenings, but it kept raining on us (not complaining - it has been WONDERFUL!).  We ended up assmbeling the slide in the house, and the kids played on it for quite awhile in there - they had a BLAST!  We FINALLY got it set up last night, and the kids tried it out. 

Lucy's current favorite is the slide, and she is not afraid to go down by herself

I think this swing set has everything we need: a slide, a glider, regular swings, a standing swing, and even a teeter totter.  Hopefully it will keep the kids entertained for hours!

Enjoying the new toy

I have never seen a kid that loves dogs more than Miss Lucy Mae.  Her and her dog Boda seem to have a special bond, they get so excited when they see each other, and they take care of one another. 

Lucy loves to lay on Boda and give her hugs and kisses; I think Boda likes it too 

 

A couple weeks ago, Boda had six puppies.  We have tried to keep Lucy away because she is a little rough, but now they are a little bigger and can defend themselves. 



I think Lucy would live in that dog house with them if we would let her!



My sister's kids came over to see the puppies, and they LOVED them.  It was so cute because each kid had a favorite puppy that they kept going back to.  I was so proud of Boda; with all these kids mauling her  puppies, she kept a close watch on them, but she never barked or nipped at the kids, she just stayed calm.  She really is a GOOD dog!



J.D. with Hazel, Stetson and Chocolate Milk, Paige with Spot, Boda, Lucy, Zach, and Aspen with Star

 

Aspen was so gentle with them



Lucy was a little rough, but they didn't seem to mind

MOM'S NEW TOY:

I ordered a double stroller back in April.  In May they cancelled the order because it hadn't been shipped.  I ordered again, direct from the supplier.  When I got notice that this order would also be delayed until the end of June, I cancelled the order.  Luckily, my good friend Jeanna had a nice double stroller that she wasn't currently using, so she was kind enough to let me borrow it, and it has been AWESOME!  The kids and I really enjoy going on walks/jogs, and we have put this stroller to good use.



Stetson took this picture - right before he left my camera on the sidewalk; while we were at church the sprinklers came on - luckily the camera still seems to work

DAD'S NEW TOY:

We are now leasing three hay fields, and trying to raise our own hay instead of trucking it in.  We decided that this called for an upgrade in machinery.  Kenny has been studying up on round balers for several years, because the round bales would work great in our tub grinder, which is what we use to feed most of our hay.  So we finally broke down and bought one.  You don't see very many round bales in this area, in fact these might be the first in Blanding . . . maybe we will start a new trend???



The bigger the boy, the bigger the toy!

 I had seen round bales from the road and in pictures, but I didn't realize how big they are!  They are about 6 feet in diameter, and weigh close to 1700 lbs.  Now THAT is a lot of hay!!!

This bale makes Stetson look small!

4th of July

Definately one of my FAVORITE holidays!  It is always warm, and Blanding has the BEST celebrations!  I open up the paper to a full page of activities, and as I read down through them, I realized that there is something for EVERYONE in Blanding on the 4th.  It must be pretty good because people come from ALL over to celebrate with us.  I'm not even exagerating when I say, I believe the population of Blanding doubles over on the 4th of July!

One of my favorite traditions is that the girls in my family get together and paint our nails red, white and blue.  I was super excited this year because now I have a daughter that can get in on the fun too!  I didn't know how she would be; I have never tried to paint her nails, it is hard enough to get them clipped, but we tried.  Lucy and her cousin Aspen were SO good!  They thought they were so big, and sat pretty still the whole time.  We used a hair dryer to speed up the drying process, and they turned out great!

Yeah, we're big!

Lucy had blue finger nails and red toe nails, and Aspen's were just the opposite

Super cute!

For the first time in YEARS, I didn't have to worry about anything for the parade - wierd, but nice.  So, I tried to get some pictures of my kids before the parade - nice try!  I made the mistake of giving them popsicles first, and that is all they were worried about.  Lucy's dog Boda, however, was really wanting to get in on the pictures - so this is what we ended up with:

We love popsicles!

Happy 4th of July!

 We usually watch the parade in front of the office building that Kenny's parents own.  It's nice because there is lots of shade!  Now Stetson is pretty sure THAT is where you go to watch a parade, and he wants to go there EVERY day!

Lucy and daddy, just waiting for the parade to start

Stetson with his candy bag by one of his favorite cousins, Trace

 I think Stetson and his cousins had more fun throwing water balloons than catching candy, in fact he ended up with a total of 6 pieces, and he didn't mind at all (neither did I!)  It was funny though, most of the balloons Stetson threw didn't even pop, they just bounced across the road.

Watch out!

 And then they got what was coming to them!  A big water truck came by at the end of the parade and sprayed EVERYONE!  It felt SOOO good!

Stetson LOVED this!

 The weekend before the 4th, the Will and Hattie Guymon family had a reunion.  Will and Hattie are my great-great-great grandparents; their daughter Hazel was my grandma Afton's mom.  Yeah, anyway, it was a lot of fun, and there were a lot of people there that I had no idea I was "related" to.  We had a breakfast and a dinner, along with a program and a trip to the old cabin.  Check out their posterity - pretty amazing!

This was the float they had in the parade

 After a yummy lunch at my parents' house, I had the opportunity to perform with three amazing girls at the annual Celebrate America program.  We did a combination of dances we learned a clog camp a couple weeks ago.  How convenient that the clog camp shirts were red - they made a great costume!  It was tons of fun, and Kenny was even there to watch!  Thanks ladies - you did an amazing job!

McKady - Amber - Brielle - Jeanna

Just doin' what I love!

 After the program I dropped Kenny off at the hay field to cut hay, and the kids and I went back to my parents' house for root beer floats (I think we got the best end of that deal!)  As we were finishing up our floats, McKady decided to start a water fight by dumping a cup of water on our cousin Jenna's head.  At first I thought she was going to get super mad - but she just got even!

McKady spraying Jenna from the back

 Jade got in on the fun by turning McKady's hose off, so she was at a disadvantage.  He was standing on the patio, thinking he was so cool, when Jens came up behind him and dumped a 5 gallon jug of water over his head. 

Watch out! Jade has the hose!

 Of course Jens didn't stay dry for long after that!  At one point he had both hoses, so for coming in last, it seemed that he ended up on top - but how do you know with a water fight?  Once you are sopping wet, what is a little more water?  I guess Jens got tired of getting wet though, because he retreated to the roof. 

 The kids thought it was super funny - until they got sprayed too!

So funny!



Not so funny!



 Now that was QUALITY entertainment!!!  Thanks guys, it was fun!

Another tradition I enjoy is having a picnic dinner at the park while we wait for the fireworks, we listen to the band, and the kids run around enjoying their freedom.  We had a special treat this year because my niece Brielle sang the national anthem when they posted the colors.  It was beautiful!

Some of the fam, just enjoying the warm evening

And apparently there were bad guys there - and this is what happens when the bad guys get you!

Check out that awesome big brother "helping out" with his baby sister

The "big" girls, sitting in their "big" chairs

We ended up going over to Francoms to watch the fireworks, which was great because Derek had a firework show for us there too!  Stetson even got to help light a few.  Lucy didn't like the loud ones, but she seemed to enjoy the quiet pretty ones that were far away, and they lulled her right to sleep.  Stetson stayed awake for the whole show, but was asleep by the time we got home.

All in all it was a super fun day!  Happy Birthday America!

"I come from Heaven"

My aunts were down for the weekend, and all the kids just LOVE to play games with them.  Yesterday they were playing the game where you sit in a circle and the first person starts with A and says, "My name is Amber, I come from Alaska, and I like Apples", the second person does the same thing using the letter B, and so on and so forth.  Stetson was sitting in the circle, listening intently to all the other people, and when it was his turn he said, "My name is Stetson, I come from Heaven, and I like Bananas".  Isn't that super cute?  What a smart little guy!  Thanks Aunt Hazel and Aunt Denise for sharing this experience with me!