Reunion low lights / high lights

Driving 2 ½ hours without air conditioning, windows down, and temperature dial in the van turned to hot. / Having the volume in the van so loud from the wind noise that I didn’t hear much fighting from the kids.

Sleeping in tents/ Brian walking into the boy cousin tent and saying, "Whoa! It smells like B.O. in here." Then Adam said, "What’s that? Barbecue sauce?"

Baby puking on me throughout the night in my sleeping bag. / Someone (Janice) letting me use her hot shower in the morning. (THANKS!)

40 degree nights, brr/ 70-75 degree days, ahh

Sleeping on hard ground when air slowly leaked from air mattress. / Appreciating the pioneers.

Fevering baby. / Sitting in the shade of the tree all day.

According to Rylan some friends (basically that refers to all the people there) told him he had a "poopy face." He said he told them, "Don’t!   Friends!" / having plenty of friends for my kids to play with.

Running up and down the hill checking on and finding kids. / Kids never got bored.

Having cookies, brownies, and yummy food provided. (because I kept eating it all!) / Having yummy food, cookies, brownies, provided!

Brian and Maddi colliding on the waterslide. / Have a super fun water slide for everyone to play on all day long.

Reagan slipped and scrapped his leg, fell off the teeter tauter, and got a "bleedy owie." / Reagan didn’t stop playing all day.

Wondering who all these people are. / Getting to know new people and seeing familiar faces again.

"I can ride a 2 wheeler!"

This is what Reagan declares to everyone he sees today.  It is followed by Rylan saying, "Me too!"

When Reagan first got the hang of it he said, "Allright!  I'm going to do this every day and every morrow!"  As he kept at it and got better I told him if he could ride from our driveway to the neighbor's and back again without stopping, I would give him a treat.  He started off and I told him the treat was ice cream and he said as he rode up the sidewalk, "Ohh. I can DO this!  I CAN DO THIS!!"  And he did!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Brian when he first became a father!

Conversation During Fireworks

oooohh
aaaaaahh
Grandpa:  I think this is the big end.
Grandma:  I have a big end.
Grandpa:  But your end doesn't explode.
Me:  Sometimes it does.

Photos

before crop.

Cropped just a tiny bit.

I'm taking a Photography class from Nathan Caulford.  He has a blog HERE.  I have learned lots so far with LOTS still to learn.   I have home work and thought I'd share some of the pictures I have taken for practice.

No photo shop used on these except for the tiny crop on the close up of Aubryn.  I have been practicing different things I am learning with each picture.  It has been fun, but more challanging then I thought it would be.  Photography is complicated and I have a new respect for really talanted photographers.  I have a long way to go still. 

"Mom, look.  The jello is movey."  Reagan said.  I laughed.  He said, "Really. look at it."
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I said to Aubryn, "Can you open the fridge for me?  Hurry. Quick as a cat."
She stopped and looked around.  "There's a cat?"

"Mom, you know what I am going to do to my kids when they are naughty?"  Aubryn asked me.  She was unimpressed with my discipline skills.  "I'm going to put peanut butter all over their faces and make them clean it up.  I'm not going to clean it up."
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"Heyyyy, Man.  Man!  Hey Man!  It's time to take our naps, Man."  Reagan said to Rylan.
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"MOM!  MOOOOMMMM!"  Rylan called from his crib.  I went upstairs and into his room.
"What?"  I replied.
"Here's a booger for you.  I picked it from my nose."
"Thanks."

"See.  Her did it."  Rylan said when Aubryn got him out of his crib after I said I would do it.
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Reagan wants to look like a "dude".  That means he wants to look cool.  He was upset about his hair.
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I told Reagan we were going to eat at a barbecue and he said, "I hope they don't have peas."
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Reagan woke up from his nap crying hard today.  He had a bad dream.  I asked what happened.  He said (through his gasps and tears), "There were these guys telling me to lay down.  I called for Dad and he just said, 'na na na na.' "

"Dare me to hornk it?"  Rylan said to me as he was supposed to be climbing back into his car seat and stopped at the driver's wheel.  "Look at me, I drivin'"
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While driving in the van today I asked the kids what we should get Dad for Father's Day.  Here are some suggestions:  a bag of chips (not Doritos!), and the "greatest idea" from Reagan was a fast rocket that could take us to outer space, and Aubryn said a motorcycle.  Those are super ideas! 
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Rylan never uses the word "and".  He uses "even" instead.  As in, "Even Reagan?" when he is told it is nap time.
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After watching ISAAC'S VIDEO Reagan said, "I wish Isaac was still here.  He look likes he was fun to play wif.  I wish I could play wif him."

Eternal Perspective

THIS  is WONDERFUL!!  If you have a long drive ahead you can download it HERE.  This man has been through incredible trials and has learned so much.  This is worth listening to.

James First Word!

He has said this SEVERAL times today.  He can also clap and wave!  He is growing up!

James First Word!

http://youtu.be/yXHQOwn81lU
He has said this SEVERAL times today.  He can also clap and wave!  He is growing up!

What We Did

Yeah for self timers and other people's flower vases at graves.

Usually we go swimming on Isaac's birthday. That was one of Isaac's favorite things to do. This year we had to change plans. One little boy at our house recently had some "intestinal issues". Swimming pools have rules about stuff like that. Luckily for us, Chuck E Cheese does not! So we went there! We had a great time. One of my favorite moments of the night was when Brian asked, "Where's Aubryn?" I thought he was joking at first. He wasn't. Then he saw she was dancing in front of the blue screen and was on every TV in the place.

Another funny moment of the day was when my SIL called me the morning of his birthday and asked if I was missing my boy. I said, "Yeah." Then she said, "Is he having lots of fun?" I paused and then realized that she was talking about Brad who is vacationing with Grandma and Grandpa. "Oh, yeah. He is having lots of fun." (Thanks Julianne and fam for coming to Chuck E Cheese with us)

Figured out his video!

We made this video sideshow for his first birthday.  After he died, we added video to the end and showed it at his viewing.

Remembering Isaac

Happy birthday Isaac!  9 Years!  I tried to post a video of him, but can't figure out hoe to convert my VOB file.  So, a picture will have to do.