Golden Boy's Steampunk Wedding

In August we flew down to SLC for KC and Heather's wedding. The kids were more excited about the plane rides than they were about the ceremony, but I guess you can't blame them.

We told the kids to start flapping their arms during takeoff but only Jens listened. Luckily her effort was enough to get us off the ground.

After the initial rush of takeoff they settled in to their shows and games. Thank goodness for technology.

We told the kids that they had to hold their breath for landing, again only the princess listened.

DeA's aunt Debbie let us stay at her house that has a home theater in the basement. The kids loved lounging around, trying to make popcorn and watching Curious George on the giant screen.

We had a fun time with family, including half naked Max.

Debbie and Roger's was a lot of fun for the kids, they had toys and food and lots and lots of paper to do origami.

And the theater, they loved the theater.

The trip was a little busy with all the running around, shopping and trips to Chick-fil-a but the kids were troopers.

They even dressed up in their steampunk outfits and tried not to ruin Golden Boy's wedding for Mama Rae.

I didn't get a lot of pictures of the costumes so I borrowed this from Nick's facebook to preserve the...style.

The flight home was a little less exciting because we had to wake up at 3:45 to get to the airport (or whoreport according to Jensley). The kids were understandably a little more low key.

They had their brief bursts of energy that made DeA and I contemplate putting them on the plane alone and then running away.

Once we got on the plane the burst of energy quickly disappeared. 

While we were in Utah the Chelan Complex Fire went bonkers and burned a lot of homes and acreage in the valley. It felt like a war zone when we arrived because there was smoke everywhere along with the distant sounds of helicopters.

Not that the kids noticed any of that, they were pretty much whipped. 

Stuff and a 4th Anniversary Party

 The kids have had a great year full of lots of spoils from their grandparents. 

 You can tell just by look at her that she smells spoiled rotten.

  Golden Boy's wedding was coming up so Mama Rae showed the kids their costumes. The wedding was Steampunk and despite many explanations I still am not sure what it is.

 Ryker did look freakin' adorable in his costume.

 Rock looked on in disgust dreading that "stupid costume".

  Ryker didn't mind, he knew he looked good and that the Steampunk ladies would be all upons.

 We enjoyed our 4th Anniversary party at the office with the usually jump house, massages and Dad's ice cream machine. 

 Ruth and Patti dread the day because they have to work soooo hard.

 Rock knows that he is the certified balloon filler-upper. 

 Huddie and Kassy bounced to their heart's content.

 It was plenty warm outside so the kids found shade and a TV and chocolate milks. 

 Ryker was intrigued by the antique calling device by the sidewalk. After enough chores he had earned enough money to "turn on" the phone and call Papa Dale.

 DeA was a big help with the seated massages, even with the toughest clients.

 Ryker and Rock spent most of the summer looking for paying chores to earn money. Mama Rae found her favorite job for them to do.

 It really was work to the boys but not to Mama Rae.

 So...one of Rock's ninja turtles wears dog tags around his neck. On the action figure it looks like a pearl necklace so when Rock dressed up like a ninja turtle.....

Summer Catch Up, House Progress and More Summer

Before DeA and I left for Lindsey's wedding on the face of the sun we put an offer in on a house. Thankfully it was accepted and we were able to watch our future home take shape. We have a big window in the living room that lets us see the lake and mountains.

 The kitchen is very kitcheny with many kitchen things.

 The master bedroom also has a view of the mountains but unfortunately does not have carpet in the bathrooms. Almost all of our homes have had carpet in the bathrooms and I know DeA will miss that feature dearly. 

 Jens has a habit of falling asleep in the car while DeA is trying to go to Wal-Mart. I could tell that summer was wearing her out because instead of waking up and playing she stayed crashed.

 Because of the abnormally hot summer the lake was perfect. That meant lots of swimming and splashing with Grandpa.

 MadBum and visited and Jens couldn't get enough snuggles.

 Madison definitely had enough snuggles but no one saved her from Jens.

 "Find a happy place...it will all be over soon..."

 "Oh please someone save me!"

 The boys picked the hottest day of the year to browbeat me into golfing with them. Don't get me wrong, I love golfing with them but it was over 100 degrees and the carts were put away for the day.

 Things started out well but then they wanted me to carry both their clubs and themselves.

 Ryker was so tomato-y that we stopped at the church on the way home to let him drink.

 Rock cooled off quickly with the help of a few Otter Pops. 

 He's really, really into Ninja Turtles right now. He woke me up really early to show me his new shell.

 The Forest Service's annual bonfire made things really smokey.  

 MadBum didn't seem to mind.

 It was the loves that she minded. She minded those a lot. She couldn't figure out why we had to power to stop it but we just laughed and took pictures.

 We were without a table for a while and that meant the kids ate on the plastic mat. 

 Bedtimes and routines were pretty much shot this summer so that meant family bedtime on the couch.

 Jens loves her "broders" and tries really hard to keep up with them... 

 Unfortunately that means a lot of crashing and crankiness. 

 Thankfully there seemed to be less crankiness and more crashing.