Heat wave fun!

We have had quite the heat wave this past week so had to make sure we stayed cool! What better way than outside, playing in the water! I actually worked a couple days this week so the boys got to go to my parents house for a couple days and play on the slip 'n slide there. It got up to almost 90 degrees for 2 or 3 days. Crazy hot, but we do love the sunshine so not complaining!

Melinda & I had to run up to B'ham yesterday and when we got home, Jeff happened to be on the yard and hooked our slip ' n slide up The boys had so much fun! Ryan found Jeff sunglasses and thought he was pretty cool in them! :) Here he is strutin' his stuff. :)

Ahh, a pure summertime fun smile! Jacob just had a ball playing in the water!
Ryan definitely knows how to get Jacob to giggle and let me tell ya, there was alot of giggling going out there!

Jacob on the move!

Ryan & Mommy shot. :) He was taking a little break from the fun to have a drink and ice cream sandwich... doesn't get much better!

4th of July, 2010!

Well this is how the 4th of July festivities started at our house.... with my patriotic, American flag cake adventure! A friend posted the link on Facebook of the recipe to make it so I decided I'd challenge myself and do it! It took 3 different cakes (red, white & blue) but was worth it! This is where the construction began! :)

The finished product before I put it in the fridge for a bit.
The first slice... WHEW HEW! It turned out!

Everyone thought it was pretty cool! My niece Kylie said "Woww, how'd you do that?!".

We had Steve, Melinda & kiddos and Greg, Beth & kiddos over for some delicious steak Melinda marinated and all sorts of yummy sides! Before they came over, Jeff and Steve took the boys and went over to the reservation and bought some fireworks. They got a great deal and came home with quite alot!

Steve backed his pick up onto the lawn a little to lay the fireworks out on the tail gate and Jacob was loving just playing inside the truck, pretending to drive. :)

This is how we in the country light fireworks... with a blow torch! Works like a charm!

Couple happy boys waiting for the fireworks show to start!

A little family portrait! Kera, Beth, Kylie & Greg. It was awfully balmy outside! haha!

Megan & Uncle Greg smiling as cheesy as possible! Very cute, though!

Happy Jacob! He'd just float around from the lawn mower we parked on the lawn to keep him entertained, to the pick up, back to the playset and then on Jeff's lap a little, too. Busy body!

Steve let Kylie & Caleb light some of the smaller fireworks with their little lighter sticks that come with the fireworks. They loved it!

Daddy & Jacob... just a tad bit chilly out!

Sweet cheeks! :)

Light & RUN!!!! :)

Auntie Ally & Kylie... up close & personal! haha.

Kylie telling us that this particular firework says it goes off "100 times!". It was more like maybe 20, but oh well!

Kylie's turn to Light & RUN!!!!

Daddy & Jacob watching the fireworks.

End of the light... found a few last sparklers for the little ones! Here's Ryan re-lighting Jordan's.

Definitely a fun 4th of July! My back (which had gone out a few days ago) was finally feeling better... good company, great food, good times! Ryan slept in till 10am the next morning and Jacob till 9:15am... I think it's safe to say they were tired!
HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!!!!

Beautiful sunset

Sometimes it's the little things in life that make your day... life a gorgeous sunset! It had been sort of a cloudy, overcast day and then all of the sudden this appeared at the end of the day! Was beautiful the next day, though!

Stuff :)

Ryan & Jacob noticed that Jeff was just outside the back side of the house hooking up a piece of equipment to the tractor and they didn't want to miss any of it! Ryan even opened up the window so they could say hi! :)

Silly brothers.
One morning the boys and I along with Grandma Lee, Auntie D.D., Anna & Shelby ran up to Bellingham to Trader Joe's to get some ingredients for a salad we were making for my cousin, Brooke's, baby shower! After that my mom & I ran into Cash & Carry then we were off to get some subs at Subway for lunch and took them to a park on the water to eat! Was a beautiful afternoon to be on the water and the kids loved it! On the way home Ryan & Shelby were begging for Shelby to come over to our house. So here they are... they apparently won! They requested their favorite beverage, an Italian soda, and then hung out outside all afternoon! Good times!

Berry Dairy Days Parade June 2010

On June 19th, the boys and I met up with Melinda & the kiddos for the Berry Dairy Days Parade in Burlington! It was a little overcast and muggy, but was quite comfortable to be standing outside in.

Here's Jacob watching the police cars & firetrucks coming our way!!! With their loud sirens, you couldn't miss them!

Ryan & Jordan patiently waiting for the parade to begin!
CHEESE!!!

Berry Dairy Days Parade 2010

Jacob was taking it ALL in! This was the start of the parade, the police cars had already gone by and the firetrucks were next. I thought the loud sirens from them would maybe scare him, but he did great!

Apparently the boys thought they were loud, though! (and they were!)

Firetrucks!

Happy boy enjoying all entertainment in front of him!

My nephew, Caleb, and his good friend, Hayden, were in the parade and got to hold the banner for the 4-H club they are in!

Berry Dairy Days Parade 2010

Yes, a farmboys dream come true.... John Deere tractors lined up as far as the eye can see!

Stinkin' cute cousins, Ryan & Jordan
They were both so excited... "Look a Case tractor pulling an irrigation reel!!!" I know, exciting stuff! :)

These blue guys were walking around during the parade- Ryan thought they were hilarious! They were advertising some sort of costume place, I believe! Some brave guys!

Melinda's sister-in-law was in the parade for the company she works for and was handing out Otter Pops to all the kiddos. Ryan was sweet enough to give his to Jacob since he couldn't have any of the candy Ryan got from the parade. He certainly enjoyed every bit of it!

Raspberry Milkshake Time!

Come mid June we were already able to get some local raspberries at the berry stand in Conway. Oh my were they delicious. Because my eyes were bigger than my head, I had to figure out what to do w/ some of the berries that we didn't just snack on. Milkshakes! And oh my goodness, they were the best milkshake I think I have ever had... better than a strawberry milkshake hands down.

I planned on sharing mine with Jacob but he confiscated it pretty quick! Oh well, they both thoroughly enjoyed them! Deeee-lish!

Ryan: "This is really good isn't it Jacob?!" :)

LOVE berry time in the valley!

Sweet brothers :)

One morning while the boys were watching a cartoon, Ryan went over and decided to sit next to Jacob... it was really sweet. Jacob thought it was fun, too, and even got the giggles!

Ahhhhh :)

Must have been one good cartoon!

Love seeing them cuddled up together! Melts a momma's heart!

George, WA June 2010

Jeff was working alot over at our farm in E. WA trying to get the hay all done in a week so me and the boys headed over for about 5 days and stayed, too! We didn't get to see Jeff a whole lot as he was working some crazy hours doing the hay. (ie: getting up at 3am to rake and then bale the hay- they napping in the afternoon and going back out in the evening!), but was fun to be over there and stay w/ Jeff's parents.

I brought along a few bananas that were getting very ripe and my mom's recipe for banana bread! One afternoon Ryan helped me make a couple loaves and they turned out delicious! He's quite the good little helper in the kitchen!

It was awefully quiet at one point so I went to see what Jacob was up to and this is what I found... him looking through Ryan's special John Deere toy booklet!
Caught ya!!! What a cutie!

On the Tuesday we were over there, Jeff's brother Steve, and his boys Caleb & Jordan came over for the day in the Kenworth so Steve could help do vet as Jeff's dad was a bit out of commission with a broken leg! :(

The 2 boys were SO positive they wanted to go in the pool even though it wasn't all that warm out. I filled it up part way with water from the hose then went in the house and got bowls full of hot water to warm it up. They had a great time while it lasted but were cold when they got out!