Gretchen's 4th Birthday!

 On Thursday Gretchen turned 4 years old.  She was so excited!  We played at the park with friends for a couple hours in the morning and then just waited for dad to get home so she could open her presents. 

 She got a Cinderella barbie and Cinderella purse and gloves from Easton and Kinslee.  She has been asking her dad for a pink laptop for months. 

 She was so excited when she opened it.
Instead of a party we went bowling as a family.  It was Gretchen's first time.

 She would take the ball let it drop and then run back and sit down.  I never really got a good picture. 

 Kinslee ate her toes while we bowled.  

 Easton did pretty good.  I think it was only his second time bowling.

 Here is a picture of Gretchen running back to her seat.

 Here are the final scores.  Yes I rocked. We went to dinner at Chili's after bowling and then home for some cake. 

 Her cake was supposed to look nicer but I dropped one and so she got just half of her cake.

T-Ball

Tuesday was Easton's last T-ball game.  He was on the Braves. 

 3rd Baseman

 Gretchen started taking pictures during the game.  I got a lot a shots like this one!

 

Heritage Days 2011

Every year the city we live in has Heritage Days.  It is a week of fun family activities.  This year we went to the movie in the park with some friends.  I forgot the camera though so we didn't get any pictures.  Then Saturday morning Chad and I ran in the 5K.  It was Chad's first race and he didn't pretty dang good.  His time was 24:05.  I was ten minutes behind him coming in at 34:something.  We didn't get any pictures of that either.  Saturday we also watched a Parade. 

 Easton waiting for the Parade to start.

 Kinslee waiting to watch her first parade.

  Charly, Gretchen, and Kinslee watching the parade.  Charly slept over to watch the kids while we ran in the race.  She is awesome.  We came home from the parade with lots of candy, coupons, and Frisbees.

Later Saturday night we made s'mores with some friends and did sparklers.

 Chad made a star

 We are really awesome parents and let our kids run with fire and this is what my camera captured. 

Gretchen making a triangle.

After we were done doing sparklers we watched the fireworks. It was a very fun filled week. 

Ward Campout

July 8th was our Ward camp out.  We didn't end up sleeping over but we went up for dinner.  We love our ward and had a good time. 

 Chad playing Kick ball

For a couple weeks before the camp out the Bishopric told the primary that they were going to have a tug-o-war them against the primary.  Easton and Gretchen could not stop talking about it.  They were so excited. 

 waiting to start 

 The Bishop

 The Bishopric and clerks

 Tugging away 



Lexie and Kinslee

One of my best friends had a baby 6 weeks after I had Kinslee.  We hope they are going to be really good friends.  A couple of weeks ago my awesome friend watch my kids while I ran an errand.  She took some pictures of the two cute girls. 

 

  This is the only one Kinslee sort of smiling and Lexie isn't. 

They both are super cute girls!

Water Fight

 Yesterday we went to Aunt Andrea's to play.  The kids started filling up water balloons.  Andrea, Brandon, Nicole, Marshal and I thought we should join in the fun.  We formed teams and filled our Balloons.  A few rules were stated and then the water fight began.  Of course the adult team had 2 hoses and water balloons.  The kids just had water balloons.  

It was a good time for most everyone. 

 One of the rules was that Gretchen could only get half wet. 

 This is the reason for that rule. 

She wasn't a big fan of getting wet. 

 I captured this picture of these two arguing.  They were on opposite teams and I guess they were discussing buckets. 

 Here is the wet group except me and Kinslee.  Taylor did break another rule and got Kinslee but she didn't really care so he didn't get the punishment that came along with breaking the rules.  

Kinslees First trip to the Pool

Last Friday we went swimming.  It was Kinslee's first time.  She enjoyed it for a little while. 

 Easton and Gretchen loved it and didn't want to leave. 

 I tried to take a picture of Gretchen coming down that slide but she never came and I went and put my camera away without taking her picture. 

Kinslee and I spent most of the time on our towels.  She napped and I got sunburned.  I made sure everyone else put sunscreen on, but didn't apply it to myself. 

Independence Day!

This year the 4th of July didn't really seem different then other days.  I am not sure why, it was weird.  Anyway here is how we spent our day.

 Outside in the stroller painting toenails and watching Easton ride his bike. 

 Red, White, and Blue toenails.

 Easton hasn't really had a huge desire to ride a bike so training wheels just came off a few weeks ago and yesterday after about two minutes he was riding his bike.  (not the best picture but it will do)

 We went and played games while waiting for it to get dark with our cousins and Aunts and Uncles.

 of course we did some sparklers. 

  It finally got dark enough to watch the fireworks.

 Gretchen loved them, especially the finale.

 I think Easton and Uncle Chuck took a nap during the fireworks.

I am so grateful to live in this country and so thankful to all those who serve and have served to protect us.  God Bless America!

Cars2

Last Saturday we went to Cars 2 with Grandpa and Karen, Aunt Andrea and her family, and Uncle Brandon and his family.  My kids have been waiting for this movie to come out for a long time.  They were so excited when we told them we were going.  I only took two pictures because Kinslee woke up and apparently she is not a fan of movies.  We spent time outside playing on the grass. I can't wait for it to come on DVD so that I can watch the whole thing.  Easton and Gretchen loved it.  Chad said it was just okay.

Father's Day gift!

 For Father's day Easton told me he wanted to give his Dad a hammock.  While Gretchen and Easton were at Grandma and Grandpa's we got this hammock.

I took 3 pictures and this is the best one I got.  They do love getting in the hammock with there dad.