Early Summer Fun

Late spring/early summer has gotten off to a good start.  Punky fixed Doug's flatbed jeep and Papa Dale went to pick up Rock from school with Jens' help.

She was a very good copilot, but maybe a little too hands on.

DeAndra came to make sure none of the kids did a barrel roll off of the flatbed.

Definitely too hands on.

Huddy didn't seem to have as much fun as the other kids, but maybe that's because he wanted to pull a barrel roll.

DeA is taking advantage of the warm weather to start the fun process of potty training Jens.

Rocktastico and Rykhino practiced for their skills for the World Cup next month.

Jens loves the swings, even though her face might not know that fact.

DeA seems to like this swing the most.

Rock has conquered the monkey bars this summer and can fly back and forth on them.

End of April and May is a busy time for birthdays and the kids loves congregating for the cake and ice cream.

Jensley doesn't feel like she needs a fork or spoon for her cake.

The weather has been perfect for runs with the kiddos. Rock and Ryker love to run hard for a while and then get back in the stroller. I think he'd be able to go further if he changed his boots, but so far he isn't changing his equipment. 

Here's another birthday party, this time it was either Lindsea's or mine.

Ryker really loves his cake.

DeA babysat Domi for Doug and Jama the other day.  After I got home DeA told me that she thinks Domi won, and then I quickly realized what she meant.

Summer is wearing the kiddos out to the point that they can't even finish their huge bites of chicken.

The boys wanted to camp over Memorial Day weekend, but I didn't want to share a campground with drunk college kids.  We compromised and slept in Papa Dale's orchard. They love camping and spending time wrapped up in their sleeping bags.

Jens and DeA came to visit us before lights out and shared a scary story.

"and then the Mommy said 'time for bed' and turned out the lights!  AND SHE MADE THE KIDS LAY THERE UNTIL THEY WERE ASLEEP!'"

"That's a terrible story!  Why would you share that?"

Shortly after the gals left the boys wrapped up and hunkered down for the night.

A gritty night camping requires a good, healthy scrub the next morning.

Jens just happened to be at Papa Dale and Mama Rae's house in the morning.

Mama Rae commissioned Lindsea to update the pictures on the walls of the elementary school. On Monday morning we helped hang the new artwork.

We were very focused helpers.

She really, really, really wanted to help swing the hammer but Rae said no.

Papa Dale took Nick, Rock, Ryker, Jens and I on a fun flight after we finished with the pictures. 

After the flight we finally hung Dad's birthday present to the wall and the TV so far hasn't fallen to the ground.

No matter how hectic or crazy the days have been Jensley always knows how to relax and unwind at the end of the day.

Apple Blossom!!

26 years ago a cute little blond kid walked out onto the old gym at Manson High School and pretended to blow a trumpet.  On the 9th of May the legend lived on when Rock followed in my footsteps.  Unfortunately it also meant that I had to attend the pageant for the first time in 26 years.

They gave him a trumpet without a mouthpiece and told him to try his hardest to make sound.  He took the challenge and blew his little cheeks out.

He kind of did a good job of being quiet and behaved, especially when you compare him to the other kids that had tickle fights on the stage.

DeA ended up running the Pig Jig with all three kids so I waited at the finish line to cheer them on.

Ryker seemed pretty fresh after running a whole 50 feet of the 5K.

DeA finished the 5K in under 34 minutes with all three kids on one stroller.  There were big hills and ornery kiddos, but she couldn't be deterred from finishing.  Then she complained that her legs felt jello and 'sexy'.

Pretty stinking impressive.

Rock was pretty cocky for a kid that didn't really run that far.

After the Pig Jig we snuck into the Grange for the Kiwanis pancake breakfast.  Jens was pretty excited to eat breakfast with Mama Rae.

Mom was pretty excited to eat breakfast with Nick's beard.

They moved the parade to 11am a few years ago instead of 10am.  A few years ago it seemed too late, but now that we're used to it things are easier as we get ready for the parade.  Jens helped save the spot on the sleeping bag.

Uncle Nick brought down his truck with the helicopter on a trailer.  We did a combined float this year with nine bags of candy.  Ryker was pretty stoked.

Jens is finally big enough to help throw candy and look cute for the judges (not that it did any good...the judges this year wouldn't recognize adorable even if it was their own nephew).

Needless to say she was excited.

golakechelan.com had a few good shots of the parade and Papa Dale.