Happy Birthday Brady!

Hey! Brady is 12! What a guy!
Here is the birthday cake we made for him - but not the cake he requested. This was just the "dessert" for our family b-day party for him. Something for candles and singing.
Happy Birthday from Dallin! Big D gave Boo an AWESOME puzzle. It was a prehistoric dino/map of the world puzzle. It was sure fun to put together.
He also got a cool m&m puzzle from Grandpa and Grandma Fullmer - it might kill us to put that one together. His favorite gifts were his two new golf clubs - a wedge and a hybrid. Kelly is most definitely training up Brady to be his his long- time golf partner!
Now here is THE cake that Brady requested. When I was asking him what kind of cake he wanted he was kind of quiet. He really doesn't like sweets. He usually skips them all together. He suddenly got a big smile on his face and said, "How about a BACON cake?!!?" The kid thinks bacon is the best substance in the known universe. He LOVES bacon. He ADORES bacon. He would eat bacon everyday if he had his choice. Well, on your birthday you have a choice - for sure! Here is the bacon cake! AWESOME!

Yes, we do strange things at this house. All for Brady though, so it was definitely worth it! Love you, Boo!

Bran Meets Maura!

Brannen and Maura have had a great time getting to know each other! And they have gotten along much better than I expected them too. I think they have really enjoyed having another baby around for entertainment. They kind of don't know what to do with each other. They mostly just tend to follow each other around.
They have practiced some kissing though. A very valuable skill.
And oh, they can teeter-totter with the best of them.

First Scout Camp

Looks like a roudy bunch - huh?! Brady had a great time on his first over-night scout trip. It rained most of the time - so there was much muddy laundry to deal with at the end of it - but I think it was worth it. He had a great time.

Beautiful Smile! Beautiful Girl!

Here she is - the teenager in our family with her new, shiny smile! They haven't bothered her too much - I'm so relieved. She tends to be a huge drama queen - especially when it comes to personal comfort - so we are glad that she hasn't really complained. She's getting older all the time!

Aint He Cute!

Here's a smile to brighten your day!

So how is everyone's summer going? Ours seems like it really hasn't gotten moving yet - at it is almost July. We have had such miserable wet weather that we haven't been able to do much. Bekki and her family are here with us for a couple more weeks - and we hope the sun will come out to play! We need to go to the pool - bike rides - picnic - ya know - summer stuff!

Naturally Kelly managed to get hurt a week ago (dog attacked him on his bike - he doesn't remember much - long story ending with much Kelly pain, a concussion, broken helmet, emergency room visit. We do good head injuries in this family!) so his golfing has suffered - and therefore, we have all suffered. We are hoping that he gets better really fast so that he will have fun on his Scotland trip in July. He is actually doing much better, so it looks hopeful.

Kids are having fun and staying busy. Rae is always working at the riding stable with Grandpa and loving every minute of it (dang it - I need her to stay home and help ME! ) - Brady is either golfing, asking Kelly to take him golfing, playing some b-ball with good buddy Seth, or entertaining younger cousins with xbox or gamecube - it is a tough life. He has managed to also read a couple of good books already this summer - so way to stay busy Boo! Reese is the best darn helper the world has ever seen. She is the baby magnet! Maura and Brannen love her!! She is so content to "go with the flow" she always seems to be busy and not bored.

I have mainly spent my summer standing in the driveway. It is true. I watch the youngster of the family throw every rock he can find into the two puddles in our driveway. He can do this for hours. I promise you. I stand and watch, and if I get bored and start to wander and do something else (keeping one eye on him, of course), he heads out into the road to escape. I manage to catch the little guy before he gets munched - it is a good thing all my neighbors look out for him. His other occupation of the summer is trying to pet the horses in the field. Yes, we chase him a lot. He just can't stand to be inside! It has got to stop raining soon!

So that is a catch up on all of our doings. I have many pics to post - and will get busy with them soon!

Her Reign Has Ended!!

The Jr. Princess in this house turned over her crown this past weekend (well, actually she gets to keep it - they give the new Princess her own! Shhyyaaa!) Rae did get to go the the try-outs for this year, dress up, give a little farewell speech, do a little riding and just have fun. It was great. We went and watched with NO STRESS. It was so fun. I didn't have to worry one bit - just enjoy a cute girl having a great time on her horse. I guess this hobby isn't going away. She loves it waaaay too much!

Reese and the Field Trip

Before school was out, Reese and her class went on one last field trip. They headed to Tauphus Park Zoo in Idaho Falls - and Bran and I met them there. What fun we did have! Brannen loved being there with Reese.
Ohhh! Scarrrry!
Reesie with her buddy, Abby and of course Mr. Cazier - the best teacher ever!
After the zoo, we got to go ride a few rides next door while we ate our lunch. Fun stuff - bad picture!

Late Memorial Day Pics

I have been trying to catch up on blogging a bit, and was looking at some fun we had in Logan over the Memorial Day holiday with Clint and Allison. We spent the weekend with them - the big boys golfed and the kids played and we all had a great time.
Chase and Bran at the park - and many other kids climbing around and having a great time.
Uncle Clint cooked us some yummy food.
Kiddos had a great time sleeping out on the tramp - complete with fun tarp covering that they insisted on installing. Notice how tired they all look! Sleep-overs are never sleep inducing!

Fun Fun Fun

We love summer! We love fun!


Brannen's new basketball hoop - he loves it. Hours of entertainment!

Brady the Basketballer

Brady had a great time recently at the Star Valley High School basketball camp. He loved it! Nothing like playing with the big boys! Too fun! He did great too! They gave 4 awards for each grade 4th- 8th, and Brady received 3 of the 4 for his grade! Way to go Brady! He told me that he didn't win the free-throw competition because they wouldn't let him jump - had to keep his feet on the line. He's too short to make it without jumping : ) Jude just told Jen yesterday, "when I grow up, I want to be just like Brady." All I can say is - WHO DOESN'T?! What a nice, kind, helpful, fun (not to mention patient with all of his little cousins) kind of kid!

Reese Tumbles!

Reese has been working SO hard on doing a back bend by herself, without some help. I think she's got it! She has been so proud, she wanted me to blog it! Here you go Reesie!

Remembering

We miss you Garrett. We love you!

Love you mom!
I had a big, beautiful flower pin-wheel on my mom's grave - and was so sad when I went to see it and it was missing. We looked everywhere for it - maybe some kid thought it was beautiful. Anyway, after Brady helped me look and we couldn't find it - I was leaving and noticed that he walked back and put a big yellow flower that he picked on the pin-wheel stick. What a nice kid. He is sweet - he was trying to fix it.

And you thought you knew where babies came from! Sheesh! Silly you!

Brady the Handsome

Brady has been learning to play the guitar this year in his music program at school. His class just had their end of year performance - which was fabulous. He's pretty good! And good looking too - did I tell ya?! What a kid!


Mom - do you really have to take pictures at my guitar concert? Get over it will ya?! Other kids are looking! Stop it already!
Mrs. Heiner gives some last minute guitar advice. Yep, Bekki and Jen that is Kristi Heiner herself - Brady's music teacher! You can never really leave Bedford!

How Many Kids Can Fit on an ATV?

I guess the answer is 7 - almost 8.
Quick! We need to find more kids!

Gotta Dance!

It was dance recital time again for Rae and Reese. Their recital was Saturday night, and they both did so very well. Reese performed a tap number and a ballet number while Rae performed a tap and jazz.
They sure do look like sisters! Don't they!
Of course, Reesie LOOOVES to get all beautiful before a performance. Make-up, hair-do --what could be better for a girlie girl!?!

Here is a picture (a bad one - sorry) of Reese's Ballet performance.
Rae tapping her toes at a dress rehersal.
The beautiful dancer.
Brady and his buddy Seth were great audience members.
The song Reese danced to for her ballet was "Stealing Cinderella" and she was so thrilled because she got chosen to have her dad dance with her on stage for the performance. It was such a beautiful dance and Kelly did great. He and Reesie looked like Fred and Ginger.
Both of the girls got to dance with Kelly in the opening number of the recital. They danced to a song called "Dancin' on Daddy's Feet". Yes it was beautiful and tear inducing!

So they both did wonderfully - and now we can rest from dance practice until the fall! They had so much fun in dance this year.

Bran The Man

What a cute boy! He likes it when mom lets him hold a spoon and go for it.
He likes it much better when mom is gone, Rae is tending and she lets him eat chocolate. Sisters are soooo great.

Rae Rides Again

Last weekend Kelly took Rae out to Grampa's house and they really gave her horse a good workout. This is Lady - Rae's pride and joy. They are preparing to hand over the Jr. Rodeo Princess crown to the next lucky girl at the end of this month. Rae is excited to dress fancy again and ride a bit more as she shows the "newbies" just what it takes to be a rodeo girl! She will be helping the younger girls try-out for Lincoln County Royalty. What a Rae. We kinda think she's swell.

Time To MOW!

May 9 2009
I finally get to mow my lawn!!

We FINALLY had a beautiful spring day in Star Valley and I was able to mow my lawn. Now I know that most of you don't think this is something to blog about - but if you think that - you have never lived in Star Valley. We love to live here so much, but we definitely have to suffer through a few months of not-so-nice to get to the bliss that is summer.
A few daffodils are trying to poke up and prove that it is spring time.