Friday, August 26, 2011

Trip to Washington DC & Massachusets

So, we took a trip to Massachusetts, and stopped in DC on our way there. We stayed at Krissy and Sin's house and had a great time. I think Krissy and I look alike! We have the same nose, cheeks, mouth, and chin. It is always so good to see family even when it has been so long.

All the kids-Paul, Lucy, Ellie, Mitch and Miles.

Ellie and Kyle at the Jefferson Memorial.

We ran into some missionaries, of course one of them was from Idaho.

The family

Kyle being cute



I was so excited to see the reflecting pool- but this is what it looked like. UGHH. Guess they are re-doing the whole thing. This is happening the day congress is trying to figure out how to balance the budget. Wasn't the reflecting pool fine before? Maybe there was a leak.

The Lincoln Memorial. Paul Ellie and Kyle. At each memorial we told the kids kids a little bit about the history of the people. They didn't really pay attention until I told them there would be a quiz at the end and those who passed could get an ice cream from on of those fun trucks on the street. They started to pay attention after that. Especially Kyle.


Darren and I really enjoyed the monuments. Probably more than the kids. They just don't understand the importance no matter how you try and stress it to them. It is almost a spiritual experience to visit these monuments.

The Vietnam veterans wall. My dad served in Vietnam.




At the end of the day the kids were so tired from walking- LOL I had to take a picture of Ellie who refused to walk anymore- so Darren was kind enough to go get the car and come pick us up. I just had to take a picture of all my kids tired faces.

Kyle's tired face.

Paul's tired face.


Kyle wanted to make all sorts of faces while we were waiting for Darren to pick us up. I couldn't resist taking pictures of all his cute faces:)


Here the kids got their ice cream/Popsicle for passing the test. Even though when I ask Kyle who the 1st president of the United States was he said, "President Monson" close enough.

Kids enjoying the shade and their popsicle.

Another one of Kyle's faces.

We went to Arlington Cemetery and watched the Changing of the guard. Darren and I thought it was pretty cool- the kids, well just look at the picture.

The Changing of the Guards.




Warning: POLITICAL SOAPBOX.

We had such a great time in DC. We went to the museums the 1st day and the monuments the 2nd day. The museums were great, but the monuments were incredible. There is just something so special about the early Founding Fathers. They were men of God. They were men with integrity, honor, selflessness. It makes me angry and sad to now think of the men and women in our government running this great country into the ground. It seems as if all of them are exact opposites of our Founding Fathers,- liars, selfish, etc. They have voted themselves pay raises so they all now make an average of $174,000. plus all the benefits- while the current average military personal makes like $40-$60 grand a year. It makes me sick. And they are currently in session trying to increase the debt ceiling. Yea, I won't even go there. I usually don't talk politics because it makes me so sad to think about what is happening to our country. How can someone be so selfish- to ruin a great country with such a great history, so much potential, so many people, and can keep going for so long- yet they make decisions based on their own benefit so they can have money and power in in their own short 1 person life span. Pathetic. The only thing I find comfort in is knowing that God has a bigger plan. As much as they think they are so powerful and great-they are nothing and have no idea who is really in charge.









Friday, August 19, 2011

Summer Recap- Soccer

Ok, so this is more of a spring recap (April to be exact), but I'm pregnant so I'm a little crazy. Here are some pictures of Paul, Ellie and Kyle playing soccer. Last season I was Ellie and Kyle's coach. Which really wasn't a good idea. They didn't listen to me, they didn't want to play, and they fought like crazy for me. So this spring I wasn't the coach, and they were perfect. Of course.

Paul on the Green Gators Team.

Paul giving a big smile.

Ellie and Kyle on the Blue Team.


Kyle passing the ball to Ellie

Go Ellie!

Sweet! Ellie just scored a goal!

Giving her team members high fives.

Kyle and Ellie coming to give me a high five.

Way to play kids! You guys are awesome!

Ellie

Kyle and Ellie

Ellie and Kyle

So, they did pictures, and it was like $25 bucks per package. hmmm 3 kids x $25.00. I think I'll take the pictures myself. Plus- look at that pose! A professional photographer would have missed that!


And here is Kyle who INSISTED his picture be an "action" shot. So here he is pretending to be running.

Another one of Kyle's "action" shots. Once again, a pro. photographer would have missed all these shots!

"Ok, Kyle, I'll take those pictures of you if do one standing for me." He agreed.

LOL, look at that smile!

Well, it was a great spring soccer season!

Summer Recap- Slip & Slide!

So, since we are moving I decided to start getting rid of anything extra. We had this huge 100 foot long roll of plastic in the attic. I got it out and I rolled down the hill in our back yard. We invited a bunch of kids over-put the hose on and they had a blast! We even added some soap and sleds! LOL
Beautiful little Ellie
Marilyn and William
Since all the kids were over here, Marilyn bought Peter a birthday cake and presents and we had a slip & slide birthday party. It was a hit!

Grace, Koby, Michael
Peter, Ellie, Kash, ?, Katherine, Grace, Koby, Michael and Kyle standing in the back
There is it! 100 feet of fun!
Katherine DeBry- look at that face!

Summer Recaps- Paul's Boy Scouts

Ok, since I was sick with morning sickness pretty much all summer I didn't do a lot of blogging. So I am going to post a whole bunch of stuff that happened this summer. Starting with Paul's Boy Scout's. He got his Wolf, and is now a Bear. Way to go Paul!



Paul and his Cub Master

Pinning something on Darren, who went for me since I was at home doing a Young Woman activity for Girls Camp.
Paul- I love this kid!
Paul is half business man half scientist. He gets up every morning at 6:30. He will schedule out his day by the min. He is a master negotiator. He is good with money. That is his business man side. The scientist side LOVES nature. He is a fishing maniac. He would fish everyday, all day if he could. He loves to explore, especially rivers, ponds and lakes. He likes to catch frogs, fish, minnows, bugs, turtles, you name it. He has this net that is like his right arm. He uses it to catch all sorts of things in the water. He has a pretty cool science collection of things we have bought and things he has found. He also loves dinosaurs. Paul is sort of an adult kid. He likes to hang out with adults or older kids. He loves to gives hugs, and goes around church giving all the women hugs, they love it- it's pretty funny. We love Paul and are so thankful he is part of our family.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Kyle, again



So this morning Darren and I were snuggling with Kyle and he said,"Did you know we used to be really, really, rich?!!! But then we bought mom's wedding ring." LOL, I think he must have said that because the other day he wanted to take my ring off, and I said,"no, that ring is very expensive." It is so cute how he interpreted that.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Kyle (continued)

Ok, so Kyle told me I was as pretty as a dirty diaper. It made me laugh. So he laughed. Then he went to tell Ellie so she would laugh. But when he told Ellie, she did not laugh- she was mad! she said, "Do not say things like that about mom!" They started fighting- which ended up with Kyle kicking Ellie and so she punched him right in the nose- which resulted in a bloody nose. this is the 2nd bloody nose Ellie has given Kyle this summer.

So Kyle just saw a picture of Darren and I when we were dating and he said, "Oh my gosh! You guys look tiny! Like 10 or 12!" We were 17 and 18 actually. But close for a 5 year old.