Sunday, July 31, 2011

backyard camping

Our goals were simple for this day:
make it all about the kids, have fun, and wear them out completely
Our backyard camping day actually started the day before when the kids
got together to make their tie dye shirts.
Around two the next day the boys headed over to the girl's house where it was
Just Dance, Water Balloons, Sno Cones and a Stepping Stone game.
Amanda and I joined in on the games too
Then back to our house for
Dinner, Bowling and Playing in the backyard 
All their shirts turned out so bright and colorful, I loved them.
Back to the girl's house for
Tent set up and Smores 
Off to the pool for
Swimming, Chicken Fights, Diving for Money and Glow Sticks 
 I don't know who the winners were
 but I know this was the cutest chicken fight ever
Buddies Forever
 Diving for lots of change, they got to keep everything they could find.
Poor Ryan was so upset, even though he can dive he kept bobbing back up because
he couldn't pick up the money so Jason helped him and then he was all smiles again.
  The best part was
counting the money
 funny how a little change can make a kid so happy
After swimming it was time to go home for showers and pajamas
then back to the girl's house with all of our sleeping stuff for bed
The kids had a plan all day that they were going to stay up all night long
but after some chatting and a story it didn't take long before these two were fast asleep. 
Ryan and Ash were on one side of the tent
while Abigail, Cody and Luke were on the other.
Luke insisted sleeping by only his brothers, Ryan and Ash wanted next to each other and so did Abigail and Cody so the sleeping arrangements were easy and everyone was happy.
Cody fell asleep quickly and I thought Luke did too but I guess he was tricking me because after I went home,  Amanda told me him and Abigail had come inside and he wasn't for sure that he still wanted to stay.  She went back out with them and it didn't take long before they were all asleep, including Amanda. 
This is a day the kids will not soon forget.
They loved it and we accomplished all of our goals that we set out to do
we just had no idea that it would wear us out just as much as it did the kids.



Saturday, July 30, 2011

a little nutty

that's my family but I wouldn't have it any other way
we love to laugh and have a good time
a few pictures from our week with the family

{the peace guys}
{Cody was so intent on listening to everything Heath said about his days in the Marines}
{Ryan and my cousin Jenna have a blast when they get together.
Jenna and I are actually first cousins but she told her mom that I'm boring because
I just like to chit chat with the adults, good thing she has Ryan around} 
{Some of the Housley cousins}
we were never all together at the same place 
{a few more cousins and some cousins of a cousin}
{like mother, like daughter} 
{like uncle, like nephew}
{so innocent looking but they each can hold their own just fine}
{we have a lot of tall people in the family but Ben at 6'6" makes Tuck look so small} 
{a re-creation of this same picture taken years ago} 
{we thought it would be fun to do with the cousins too}
{my dad and Uncle survived their tube ride with Matt driving,
so did my Aunt Sue and I, but Ben and I weren't so lucky}
{Ryan the little funny man, knock knock} 
{the 3 foot long gummy snake, it's really too bad that after only eating
a foot of it, it was accidentally left behind at camp} 
{some things never change when you get your siblings together
between the hair pulling, poking and pinching
they were worse than my boys at trying to get a picture of them}  
{Just the brothers Uncle Keith, my dad, Uncle Tim and Uncle Curt}
{my dad is never innocent} 
{and so deserves everything that happens to him}
 {the lonely sister my Aunt Cherri
how she put up with them I will never know}
That's my crazy family!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Time Flies

when your having fun...
The past ten days we have spent as much time as possible with this family.
My Uncle Tim, Aunt Sue, and Cousins Catie & Ben
We've done it all.
-Lunch-The Rodeo-Family BBQ's-Boating-Camping-
-Hanging Out-Visiting-Eating-and Laughing-
It's been so wonderful
not to mention one continuous Laugh Fest.
The best part has been really getting to know my cousins since over the years
we have just seen them a handful of times since they live so far away in Virginia.
 They are so sweet, not enough nice words could be said about them,
this goes for my Aunt and Uncle too.
I've also loved that the boys have gotten to know them,
they think Catie and Ben are the best.
Cody loved listening and learning about everything they had to share about Virginia and
the surrounding areas, he had many questions and comments to them.  He even had no 
time for Uncle Matt's silliness when he was in the middle of a conversation with Aunt Sue.
Luke loved learning a special snail handshake with Ben and really loved the giant three foot
gummy snake he bought for the boys to share, I really didn't love it that much though.
Ryan loved that Ben would just sit and listen to all of his "hey guess whats"
and made up knock knock jokes. Jokes like this:
Knock Knock
Who's There
Pink Stars
Pink Stars Who
Pink Stars Under Stars
Ryan didn't love so much the kisses that Catie would try to sneak or having
to share a bag of chips with her but I know he loved all the attention she would give him.

We miss them already but the plan has been made we are headed to Virginia in 2014 and can't wait!


Thursday, July 21, 2011

not much to say

no grand pictures to share, no hilarious stories to tell
just enjoying our summer days, our summer days that are half over
which I don't even want to think about, I just can't
the boys have been full of energy lately, too much energy really
so I'm trying to keep them busy, busy having fun
we've been meeting friends at the park, going to the movies,
swimming at the pool, getting new books from the library, playing with friends at bounce
making strawberry jam, cleaning and organizing the house.
It all feels good plus we are getting things marked off of our list.

 2011 SUMMER LIST
Make a Summer Reading List
Roaring Springs
Going to the Library
Camping in Cascade
The Cherry Festival
Swimming Lessons
Backyard Camping
Tie Dye Shirts
Swimming at the Pool
Farmers Market
Birds of Prey Center
Making Homemade Jam & Salsa
Miniature Golf
Bounce
The Discovery Center
Go Fishing in a Boat
Picnics
Tour the Old Penitentiary and Museums
Ryan learning how to ride his bike and tie his shoes
Grow Ladybugs
Teaching Cody things he wants to learn how to cook
I guess I do have one picture to share, the boys colored these signs for
 my Uncle Tim, Aunt Sue and cousins Catie & Ben who arrived yesterday from Virginia.
They will be staying with my parents for nine days and it's going to be nothing but fun with them here!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Our week with company

A few hours after we had arrived home from camping last Sunday, Heath headed to the airport to pick up his mom and her friend Honey and we haven't stopped going ever since.
Monday the 4th of July
The boys loved this day, the fun just didn't stop.  We first went shopping so they could pick out a new shirts to wear for the day, then Mawmaw Teresia took them shopping for new toys and a new video game to share, then Heath took them out to buy fireworks which the boys are just fascinated by (I just don't get it).  It was a mistake for me not to go because the boys went a little crazy and when they came back with a firework called "The Blood Sucker" that cost twenty dollars alone, I knew we had wasted some money. Once again we got together with the neighbors to celebrate, it's something the kids just expect now.
Just look at the fabulous five!
Red...White...and Blue
Ryan had no fear and every time we turned around he was trying to re-light something on fire he stayed in trouble most of the night.  His favorite fireworks are always the tanks, the kids would have two of them fight each other and name them United States and Russia and chant for who they would want to win in the battle.  Luke of course was most excited for the blood sucker which was the grand finale but also a huge disappointment, that was twenty dollars down the drain.  Cody didn't really have a favorite he just studied all of their names and what they were supposed to do and enjoyed them all.
It was a late night but the kids loved every minute of it.
Tuesday
Every day this past week you could of seen Luke and Ryan playing outside with the pool toys.  They had such a great time setting them up over and over then running and jumping through the sprinkler.  This was the night we also decided to have a water balloon fight.  Teresia and Honey weren't going to participate but went outside to set up their chairs in the yard while we went inside to get the balloons.  As I looked out the kitchen window I saw that the sprinklers had just come on in the backyard and they were getting soaked.  It was the funniest thing to watch them dancing around waving their arms not knowing which way to go to get out of it, this was something that we laughed about all week long!
Wednesday
It was a bummer that Heath had to work all week but we just saved the fun stuff to do in the evenings so he would be able to join us.  This night we headed to the movies to watch Cars 2.  The kids loved it!
The boys also entertained themselves by sumo wrestling with each other!
The boys each loved spending some one on one time with Teresia.  Ryan enjoyed when she would read to him every night and during the day too, Luke enjoyed when she would just watch him play and Cody enjoyed teaching her everything he knows about Lego's. They each have a very special bond with her.

Thursday
Heath and I went out to dinner and a movie while Teresia and Honey watched the boys.
Sadly I wasn't starving when we went out to eat because we had been eating non-stop all week. Not only did we have some great dinners but some wonderful desserts too.  We ate five pies in seven days and that doesn't even count the chocolate covered marshmallows, rhubarb crisp and birthday cake we had too!
The pies were excellent though, two Peanut Butter Pies, two Coconut Cream Pies, and one Apple Pie. The Coconut Cream Pie is a recipe from Heath's Aunt Imogene that she is known for and it is unbelievable!
Needless to say I know that I put on a few pounds so it was back to running for me tonight.
Friday
We decided to head out to the look out towards Swan Falls again to see if maybe we could find any lizards this time around.  I don't know what the deal is because there was not one lizard to be found but we did enjoy the beautiful views. 
We then continued on up to the dam to look around up there. Heath was happy to have his mom here but what little boy wouldn't be.  I couldn't imagine only getting to see my boys twice a year so I know these trips are very special to her and us too.
We had the most perfect weather all week which made for a lot of front porch sitting going on at the house.  Honey and Teresia loved to sit outside to enjoy the weather and watch the boys play.  They also tasted rhubarb and fresh cherries for the first time too, and loved them!
Saturday
We headed to downtown Boise early for the Farmer's Market, we really need to get down there more often because I just love everything they have. We came home with homemade and fresh everything from  pasta, bread, fudge, an Apple pie, lavender and even dog treats!   
Ryan insists on always wearing two different shoes these days, it's just his personality and what a personality he has these days!  This week alone he has had a few things to say. 
When I was busy talking and not making his chocolate milk fast enough, Ryan says to me,
"Excuse me Mr. Talk A Lot are you forgetting something?" 
When Ruby walked over and was in between the two of us Ryan says to her,
"Can't you see we're trying to have a conversation here?"
When I asked Ryan if he had been jumping on any of our new furniture, Ryan says to me,
"Well yes I did jump on the chair but it's because Luke took control of my head and told me to do it!"
This kid just might be my problem child! 
 All of us enjoyed watching the street magician. The boys really loved it that I got to be part of the trick. 
After the market we headed up to Table Rock, it had been years since Heath and I had been and the boys have never been. Everyone enjoyed the view and the little hike it took to get up there.  Ryan of course showed no fear and would walk too close to the edge for any of us to feel comfortable. 
Another beautiful view.
We then went out to lunch and headed to the Birds of Prey Center.  Cody was the only one who has been there before and he couldn't wait to share every fact he knew with us all.  I didn't really know what to expect but they had a few birds to look at, a museum with tons of information and kid friendly things to do, see and touch.
We were also lucky enough to be there when they brought out one of their birds.  The boys all sat up front right in the middle while we sat in the back.  I talked with Ryan before it started and told him to behave and not ask any questions.  Well as soon as Ryan saw that other people were asking questions it didn't take long for him to look like this the rest of the demonstration.
The lady talking was very passionate about the birds and would rather talk than answer questions, especially from the kids so I don't think Ryan was her biggest fan.  Ryan first asked, "Does the bird eat fish?"  When she said No, another little boy asked, "Do they eat small fish?" when she said No again another young girl asked, "What about a minnow, could they eat a minnow?" Later on Ryan asked, "Do they eat worms?" When she replied No, he said, "Do they eat small worms?" and when she replied No again he said, "Well all birds eat worms."  Needless to say, we were all getting a good laugh out of Ryan that day, he was much more entertaining than she was. 
 Sunday
We celebrated Tucker and my Mom's birthday's on Sunday at our house.  It was a Chinese feast, swimming at the pool and back for cake and ice cream. Tucker turning 17 and my mom 57, only forty years apart!
Two very special people to celebrate!
We had the best time with Tereisa and Honey here, we all loved it and enjoyed having the company!
You two are just the sweetest, we miss you already.