Summer Party Moves to Medford

Last Friday and Saturday we drove down to Medford to visit Papa Dave and Mama Lisa.  I flew home Sunday and have been receiving pics from DeA of their adventures.

It has been very hot in Medford, and the kids' cheeks show it.

Lil' Jens isn't immune to the heat.

Rock wouldn't stand still for a picture, but he was definitely hot.  He keeps wearing jeans (they are new so he was excited) and his black ninja costume.

I think it's safe to say that they are having a good time.

Mama Lisa's garden is starting to bear goodies, including delicious carrots.

Yeah, they're having a good time.

 They are having so much fun that they randomly drop like flies.

Yeah, it's been a good time for everyone.

Rock found his uncles' legos and has been building like crazy.

Jens woke up the other day with awesome bedhead.

It was very spiky and spectacular.

They spent almost a full day playing at the Science Museum and learning tons of cool things.

They found the bubble machines and basically bathed in the soapy goodness.

Rock learned how to make parachutes.

Jens did something fun, maybe weather related or something.

Rock did whatever this thing is...

Jensley discovered this science thingy.

 Needless to say they had a great time and even got to eat delicious food.

Rock got to ride some sort of centrifuge thing that spun him round and round and round.  He got off and walked up to DeA while saying that he didn't feel well.  He ripped off all his clothes and just sat on a random bench in his unders.  Maybe next time he'll dress for the heat a little better...but probably not.

More Summer!

I mentioned in the last blog that we participated in the Church cleanup project.  Sis. Toolson went around taking pictures of the workers and made a cool poster to hang in the hallway.

 Our lil' Jensley made the poster even though her help consisted of eating the weeds that Mommy had pulled.

 Rock kind of made the poster (along with Britt and Sydney) for apparently drinking out of the pitcher.

 Sunday night Dad took Ryker and I on a ride in the helicopter.  Ryker never really gets to ride in front and with the giant bubble window got to see things he can't see in the back.

 It was a very pretty night for flying and Ryker soaked it all in.

 He babbled and pointed out cool things to Papa Dale.

 He really seemed to enjoy the flight...

 Until the point that he just ran out of steam. 

 You'd expect this kind of behavior from a NWA pilot, but not Ryker.

 Rock was excited because a crashed out Ryker means more attention for him.

Summer Spectacular Catch Up Post!

Summer is always so very busy and that makes it hard to upload the pics of the kids being awesome.  We love summer because our raspberry/strawberry patch is giving us delicious fruit.

 Jens is a master at finding colored raspberries and chowing them down.

 "Nom nom nom"

 Papa Dale came over to help us harvest some berries.  Ryker was a big help.

 Ryker discovered sidewalk chalk this summer and decorated the concrete around my office.

 Jens loves drawing hopscotches, too.

 I came home from work one day to find the kids drawing 'hopscotches' all over the driveway and DeA painting her nails.  Summertime! 

 Warmer weather gives Jens the opportunity to find her bellybutton and play with it.  She likes playing with her bellybutton. 

 The ward scheduled a dinner/church grounds cleanup activity with one of the Hispanic sisters making delicious carne asada with homemade tortillas.  Summertime!

 We left right after the activity and met up with Uncle Nick in Seattle for a Mariners game on Saturday.  The game was a typical M's game and the kids were not thrilled with their poor plate approach, terrible fundamentals and overall suckiness.

 "Perez threw that 0-2 fastball where?  WHY DOWN THE MIDDLE?"

 At least they found the cotton candy and popcorn. 

  

 The seats that Nick scored were in the shade on a 90 degree day in Seattle.  Pretty awesome.

 We pass a road on our way home that reminds us of our good friend Jacqui Young (her maiden name is Tinkham).  DeA finally remembered to take a picture of the sign.

 The perfect hot weather has given us plenty of time to play outside and enjoy the new patio.

 The office sponsored the Manson fireworks show which put us into a drawing for a tour of the barge on the 4th.  We met Daryl (or Darren or Dave, we can't come to a consensus) who has been living the dream for over 20 years.

 Papa Dale came to see the awesome explosives and help with the kids.

 Jens seemed to like the fireworks and the Oreo cookies.

 Kiwanis changed their chicken BBQ to the 4th instead of the Sunday after which made it easier on us but harder on Papa Dale.  Ryker really liked the baked beans and lemonade.

 He also likes making funny faces for the camera.  Summertime!

 We eventually made our way downtown to Killian's property to enjoy the perfect evening.

 Jens loved the show and said "Ooooh!!" and clapped after the big booms. 

 I worked Thursday the 4th and took the 5th off.  The boys helped me clean up the yard and trim the rose bushes.  Then Rock fed the roses some delicious fertilizer.

  Ryker helped me bathe the roses in fungicide and insecticide.  Those things aren't as delicious as the plant food.  Summertime!

 He's pretty proud of his award winning roses (the award was given by his mommy, but that's still an award).

 Jens spends much of her time in only a diaper.  She will wear clothes when she wants to, but if she isn't in the mood for them it is hard to dress her.

 The Stutzmans (Stutzmen?) have been offering for us to use their beach all summer and we finally were able to enjoy it on Friday.

  It took Rock a long time to get all the way wet.  He preferred to play with the older boys and make sandcastles and sand-batcaves.

 Ryker fell asleep on the way down to the lake and slept for almost four and a half hours. 

 That kind of ruined our plan to wear the boys out in the water and sun and instead made him even more hyper and energetic.