TWELVE -12

My oldest child is now 12 years old, and acts just like it. I cannot write the number of ways this Summer is different from the last, but i'll get to that later.

McKaleigh started out her birthday with a HUGE trip to Oregon, all by herself, to see Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Walt. They really spoiled her with the Broadway show of the Lion King, sewing classes, berry picking and lots of one on one attention.

We had a family party, on June 23 - her birthday, and rode our bikes to Coldstone for ice cream instead of cake (her choice). McKaleigh opened presents and received exactly what was on her list - she keeps a running list on the fridge so we always know what to get her. I think she enjoyed her own digital camera the best. On Sunday we went to Grandma Deb's for a family celebration - and more gifts. We really are spoiled! Aunt Heather made a really cute cake in the shape of a watermelon that we saw in a magazine - she did a really great job, and it tasted fantastic!

This is currently the summer of "i'm growing up" and new freedoms.

Our little girl currently spends lots of time at the mall with friends, going to the movies with friends, going to the pool with friends, hanging out with friends and when she is not doing that, she is tearing through any book I bring home from the library. She has amassed a new wardrobe, which has turned out to be a great thing in the shoe department (for me!) with new "young womens" dresses and skirts - not ones for Primary! She has grown so much taller, is a great babysitter - not only for me, but also the neighborhood, and a wonderful daughter. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful oldest child to set such a great example for her younger brothers to follow after!

Finished Basement!

After having a foul smelling odor in our basement for a few months, we had rain gutters put up, bought nice smelling candles, checked pipes and could not locate the source. Then, much to our dismay, one day our basement carpet was soaking wet. After pulling back the carpet and finding water seeping through the foundation and black mold under the carpets and behind the baseboards, we called in a restoration company to find out what our problem was - and it was BIG. We have since spent the last month navigating our way through plastic containment systems, jackhammered up foundations, the worst stench that can be imagined, and black mold trying to fix all of the issues we had in our basement. Today we claimed our home back! Here are the pictures of the finished product! What a great night it is!
Thanks to all the family and friends who endured many tears, complaints and offered meals on our families behalf!

Happy Fathers Day!

I have to say, that my kids have the most wonderful father, and I have the most thoughtful - loving husband - Hands Down. He always says that we make a great team, but he is more like the team, and I the sideline cheerleader - Every team needs a cheerleader, right?!

We celebrated Fathers Day yesterday, with everyone still at home, and it was great! Dad got to sleep in pretty late, while I went to pick up McKaleigh from the airport (she just spent the last week in Oregon with Grandma and Grandpa). When we got home, dad was up and had Alex on the potty (as we are in the thick of potty training), and was doing a great job! We opened Fathers Day gifts, which consisted of tools for dad, along with what Colton thought was a pretty cool knife (from him), some special homemade chocolate/peanut butter bars, and some special candies. Then we lounged around for awhile while dad watched sports and the kids napped or watched toons. Dad got to pick the day's activity, and he chose a long bike ride. We went to Gardner Village and shopped, and played with the farm animals, and then he let each of the kids pick something from the specialty candy store. Then we rode back home. By then, it was too late to really make a great dinner, so we went to Carl's Jr. I was so proud of the kids, after that long bike ride, they wanted salads for dinner! Dad then settled in for a late night of back to back episodes of Lost.

We are so lucky to have such an active, patient, loving dad! I look at him all of the time and wonder - how I got so lucky! He is - all flattery aside - such a wonderful partner and father and I love our time together!

Fun BBQ

Today we had the rare opportunity to have Uncle David and Aunt Sarah in town for a BBQ at our house, so we invited Uncle Eric and Aunt Katie, Uncle Bri and the kids up for some irreverent Sunday fun! We all came back from church, and while the kids stripped down to their swimsuits, Uncle Bri put some kabobs on the grill - he did a really great job grilling, which was a huge help!
After enjoying a great lunch, the kids were begging Uncle Eric to pull out the blow up water thing, it was a great day for it!

Even baby Zachy could enjoy some of the lunch - rice and fruit.
Uncle Eric really knows how to entertain. The kids had alot of fun sliding and playing in the water - although Alex was not too keen on getting down and dirty. He kind of stayed off to the side and either squirted people as they came down the slide or just observed the chaos!
Alex and Elliot squirting everyone. They are just such good buddies!
Uncle David and Sarah checking out the "water park."
The kids out sunbathing - what beauties!
We were surprised to learn that baby Zachy loves the Roxy Dog! He would get really excited and his whole body would shake when he would pet her. It was really cute - maybe the Myers will have a dog lover in the family.

After all of that playing the little boys came in to watch some toons

While the big boys took a nap
Then Katie, David, McKaleigh and I got down and dirty. I borrowed a cricut machine from my neighbor for some Primary stuff, and decided to get crazy. We all made some great stuff for the house!
Uncle Bri spending some time with the Rox. It was a little crazy here, and I know she enjoyed some quite company!
It was such a great time, and I absolutely love having my family up and spending time with them. It would have been so much better if our dad could have been here, but he is across the ocean and we really miss him!