Fabulous Fourth

This year instead of starting the fourth of July at 7am at the church for the traditional flag raising ceremony we started our fourth at 6 am for the not so traditional selling burritos and soda's to the people working in Grandpa's orchard for cherry harvest! Actually I think Jax got up at 4:30 am to help Grandma and Grandpa get ready for the pickers....his mother did not get up and make him a nice breakfast to start his work day right.


Zoe looks cute and all, but I love this picture because of Mom and Courtney in the background. This just illistrates how we women are constantly entertaining or doing something for our children! Not to brag or anything but we women rock!!

Swimming at Allred's pond on the fourth.

Shaina playing games with all the kiddos on the fourth.

Kids and their friends ready for fireworks. I don't think Sammi even shed one tear this year over fireworks--knew she'd outgrow it someday, just didn't think it would take twelve years. I wonder if I gave her a choice of cleaning her room or watching five minutes of fireworks which one she would pick??

The Hostess with the Mostest Chriss---I would have snapped a picture of the Host with the Most except he was WAAAYYY over on the other side of the pond setting up his fabulous firework show and I hate to disturb his genius---oh and I hated the idea of walking around the pond too! Thank you, thank you Chriss and Jerry you win my vote for the best fourth of July party. Although I kind of miss the old day's when you would set trees on fire, that was blood pumping fun!

Let's review June 2009!

I am sick of their being a breakdown in the time/space continuum during summer. June felt as long as 3 school days and then it was over. I am already panicking that summer is Half over--I need a summer break to do family stuff. A summer break to entertain and spend time with the kids. And a summer break to get something done around the house. But here is a quick recap of June....

Zoe, Carter and Sierra getting ready for our "primary parade" These pictures mean a lot to me -- as a mother aren't my kiddos so cute and happy looking?! As Primary President it's another quarterly activity done for this year!!

Holly and her family came in June a week after school got out. We loved it, Courtney made us write down everything we wanted to get done in that week and put us on a schedule--Genius!! Why haven't we done this before? The kids got swim lessons (thank you Uncle Brian) boating (oh-except the boat died in the middle of the lake with nine kids who were with Matt and Brian, of course they had no cell phone on them) a visit to the "mint place" who knew Royal City had Chemists and scientists?! The big cousins went out to lunch on their own, the Mom's went out to dinner, and the Dad's got golfing and then paint-balling time (Apparently Jax employs a duck and die method!). Why do the Dad's always win the most free time? The picture of Tyson asleep pretty much sums up how we felt every night after all our fun filled hot weather days.

Last, but not least, Michael and Lindsey (Christensen) had a very successful little league coaching year. Champs (other blogs may contest this - just ignore them!)! Sammi was the best on the team-I say that as a completely biased mother. She was awesome at first base and back up pitcher, and she was the best hitter this year(that is statistical truth and not just mother's bias!). Good job Blue!! I have no idea how Zoe's red team fared in the win/lose scheme of things, they had super great coaches, but the kids stayed pretty focused on the most important part of the game--snacks afterwards! Zoe was a crack up- running the bases faster than a dead turtle all the time with her hands on her helmet, she would hate to lose her favorite baseball accessory!