New Pictures

We took the kids this weekend to get their summer pictures taken.  From what I could tell, we got some good ones.  I will see all of them in a week, but thought I would give you a sneak preview of a few good ones.  Enjoy!

My big, handsome boy!

Sweet Kinley

You can tell that these two really love each other.  Too cute!

20th High School Reunion

I can't believe that I am old enough to have a 20th High School Reunion!!!  With my reunion in Salt Lake, we headed to Utah on Thursday to enjoy some family time as well.  I had a great time, catching up with friends I hadn't seen in years.  Enjoy!

We had a couple of days to find things for the kids to do.  My sister, Lisa, suggested taking them to Hollywood Connection.  The kids had fun playing games and going on rides.  Mallory and Kinley enjoying the merry go round.

I wanted to show the side view of Kinley.  Earlier that morning, she had asked me to "pull my hair up" and showed me what she wanted by pulling her hair into her hands.  This was the first time she has asked me to do something different.  Up in a pony went her hair and she kept it that way all day.

Mallory and Kinley enjoying a bus ride that takes them up in the air.

Eric took Colton to the indoor mini golf course.  Colton loved it and had so much fun.

I love the look on Colton's face.  So curious to see how he hit his ball.  Hmm, we might need to get this kid in golf.

Putting with Daddy.

The rest of the kids decided that they wanted to try mini golf as well.

Mallory showing Kinley how to cheat by sticking her ball in the right spot so that it will fall into the hole....bad Mallory :).

Kinley hanging out, waiting for her turn.

Bumper cars were up next.  These bumper cars are different in the sense that they are only one seaters and you control your movement with the two sticks on each side of you.  Colton was a little apprehensive at first, but after going once, wanted to go again and again.

We visited with my brother, Jeff and Mubbs.  Luke decided to handcuff Colton, which he loved.

Luke then got his bandanas out and made Kinley a little gangster.

Now, she looks like a little gangster...to funny.

Colton's turn to be gangsterfied.

On Friday, we had a get together at a local park where we could mingle and bring our kids.  Here, I'm catching up with Corrin, who I have known since I was six or seven.  It was fun catching up with so many people.

On Saturday, we met up with my high school bestie, Melinda and her hubby Joe.  We have kept in contact over the years and have hung out with each other when they have come to Vegas.  We had such a great time, talking, reminiscing and laughing. Lots of laughs.  Great night.

Colton took this selfie of us when we got home.  Love this boy!

Saying bye to grandpa and grandma.

July Randoms

July was such a fun month!  It was spent playing, swimming and enjoying life!  Here are some random pictures for our month of FUN!  Enjoy!

We had a serious heat wave in Vegas.  We actually broke a record and hit 117*!  When it's that hot, the water feels like bath water but still fun to be in. 

When it's that hot you get all the pool toys out and have fun.

When it was time to go in for lunch, this little lady did not want to go.  Here she is refusing to get out of the pool.  Too funny!

Yup, our pool water was 93*.  Crazy hot!

Eric and I took Colton to see Monsters University, his first movie in a theater.  He was very serious about it, not wanting popcorn or a drink.  He lasted about 45 minutes, when he informed us that he was ready to go.  We'll be trying Despicable Me 2 to see how he does.

This is what most mornings looked like at our house.  Colton would get his cars out to play as Kinley played with her toys.

Kinley showing me her bandaids that she got for going potty on the toilet.  I have a "treasure box" for each kid and when they go potty (poop for Colton) then they get to choose a goodie from the box.  Kinley choose Candy Land bandaids and promptly put them all over her self.

I had a mommy daughter day, just like with Colton.  We went to lunch with daddy, hit up the library and finished with getting our nails done.  So fun!

Kinley stood perfectly still for her finger and toe nails to be painted. 

I told her to pick out whatever color she wanted and she picked blue with glitter.  Pretty fashionable at age two!

This is Colton doing the Napoleon Dynamite dance in his underwear.  The kid can move!

We had Lillian and Emma come over for a swim and play time.  Here the kids are lined up.  Lillian (hulk hands) is a week older than Colton.  Kinley is ten days older than Emma.  Kinley is nearly as tall as Lillian.  Fun times with these kiddos.

Besides doing the "treasure box" with the kids I also do a sticker chart.  They can put a sticker on for things like, picking up their toys, brushing their teeth, dressing themselves, sharing, eating all their food, etc.  Both kids filled up their chart (25 stickers) and got to choose a small toy of their liking at Target.  Colton picked a Thomas the train toy and Kinley picked a Minnie Mouse hair toy.  It takes the kids about two to three weeks to fill their chart and makes it much easier to have them do things when I remind them what they get to do once their chart is full.  It has definitely been a life saver this summer.

After Target we hit up the library for some fun.  Colton picked several books to read and also enjoyed playing with the puzzles.

Kinley thought she would try out the kid computer.  

Having fun swimming with daddy.

We have had some crazy weather in July.  Several nights in a row we had wind, rain, thunder and lightning like the picture above.

Daddy and Colton enjoying a slurpee on a hot day.

I love this picture!  Colton "reading" books to Kinley before she went to bed.  We are very lucky that our kids are good friends and like to play with each other.

Videos of the kids swimming.  The first video is of Colton swimming all by himself with no help.  The second is of Kinley, with floaties on, using her legs to swim to daddy.  Weekly swim lessons since May have really paid off.

St. George Vacation 2013

Every year my side of the family gathers in St. George, Utah for a few days of fun and relaxation.  We mixed it up this year and we all stayed in a huge house in Hurricane.   It was a little crazy having 10 adults and 15 grandkids but it was a lot of fun as well.  Enjoy!

Kinley hanging out with the girls.  She kept her sunglasses on for nearly the entire time.

Eric doing what he does best when he is in a pool with all the nephews....taking them down!

The boys having some quiet time on igagets.

Our house back yard was a golf course.  Eric, my dad and my brother took a day to play it.  From what I hear, it is gorgeous, especially against the red rocks.

One of the traditions for St. George involves getting some ice cream at Neilsen's Frozen Custard.  Obviously Kinley was enjoying her ice cream.

Grandpa and Grandma with all the grand kids...the serious one.

The silly one...I love that Kinley understood the point of the picture and is sticking out her tongue.  Colton's look is priceless as he see's what Katlynd is doing.  Too funny!

Night swimming!

The kids slept on an Aero bed.  Unfortunately, it had a small leak and by morning the kids would be sunk down in the middle.

Mallory and Kinley saying goodbye.

Mallory and Katlynd decided to paint Kinley's fingernails and toe nails.  She sat still the entire time.

Saying goodbye to grandpa and grandma.

This is how Kinley took a nap on the way home.  She covered herself with her blanket and promptly fell asleep.