Our own version of Jack Ass!

I have had these pics. for a week and I have been debating on whether or not to post them. This has to be some of the worst parenting that I have ever done.... but it was so damn FUNNY! We were playing in the back yard last weekend and the kids brought their bikes back there. They were riding in the grass and eventually either Ellie or Brayden took a bike up the hill. I think it started with just the big wheel, which worked well. It's low to the ground and very stable. With only one big wheel they had to take turns, so eventually all of the different kinds of bikes were rolling down the hill, sometimes with kids on them, sometimes without, and SOMETIMES with kids partially on or partially off. :)

I think everyone knows about how I laugh inappropriately ALL the time! Brayden was the first to wipe out. It was one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time. He completely flipped over, landed, and the bike came crashing down. I did pause long enough to make sure he was ok, then I couldn't control myself. Thankfully Kent had just made them put all of their helmets on. I thought they were fine without them since they were on the grass, but I hadn't factored in the bike slamming down on top of their heads.... After I gained control of myself, (it was a good few minutes) Ellie came barreling down the hill on the trike. Well, this was a bad choice because it is a wee bit top heavy. She totally bit it, and Brayden started laughing and screaming, this got him in trouble by Kent. Kent said, "Brayden it's not nice to laugh at people when they fall, just because Mommy does it all the time, doesn't mean it's ok." This made me laugh even more! Meanwhile, Ellie is lying on the ground pinned under the trike. (She turned out to be just fine.) I think cautious Dani was the only one who didn't crash and burn, she fell a few times, but nothing extravagant. :)

I looked over at Kent and said, "This is pure entertainment, I don't think it's very good parenting, but I haven't laughed this hard in a long time." Eventually we had to tell the kids no more, and put the bikes away. Maybe another day..... I will keep you posted, especially if I can capture a fall in action!

Dani hangin' out at the bottom of the hill where it's safer.

Brayden after a successful ride down the hill.

Ellie safely at the bottom.

Our Shelbi is all grown up!

Today Kent and I attended our baby-sitter, Shelbi's, graduation! I can't believe our little girl is all grown up. She has only been in our lives for two years, but it seems like she has always been a part of our family. I can't believe we only have two more months left with her. I am so excited for her and the new chapter she is beginning in her life. She is an amazing person and she will do wonderful things with her life, I can't wait to see the person that she will become.
In August she is moving to Bellingham to live with my sister, Kalin, and four other room mates! Kalin and Shelbi met in Florida when we convinced both of them to accompany us on our first family trip, when the girls were six months old and Brayden was 3. They instantly hit it off and have kept in touch ever since. I think moving to B'ham will be a great adventure for both of them, I can't wait to hear the stories that they will have to share! During the graduation ceremony I got a little teary eyed (mostly because I realized just how old I really am) thinking about how much my life has changed since my graduation day. I love my life and all the experiences I have had to get to this stage. I am so grateful for all of my wonderful family members and friends that have shaped me into the person that I am today. I couldn't help but think of all of my 'couve girls and how we have remained friends throughout these last 13 years since graduation!

Here's to lots and lots of wonderful years to come for the new graduates and us oldies!

Bunco Luau!

What a fun treat! We got to go out on Saturday night and play with our friends. Stephanie and Keith hosted a Bunco Luau party. These peeps are so fun. Everyone had to wear Hawaiian outfits, and some people really got into it!

Party people and Kelly and Kent ready to start rollin'! Kristin and Saundra

Kent and Christy

Saundra and Jason

Kelly and Sarah

Kent, Stephanie, Amanda and Saundra during an intense BUNCO round. I won two prizes, which made the night even more fun! I walked away with $30! $10 for rolling the last BUNCO (I got 3) and $20 for third place! It was basically a free night out, I paid my baby-sitter with my winnings!

Good times at Riverfront Fountain!

YAY for the sun! After Kent got home from work on Friday we took his mom to the airport and headed downtown. We had a nice (food court) dinner, where there was no screaming from our kids! :) Then we headed to the family bathroom. I have to say this is one of the best ideas ever! I never would have given it a second thought, but when you have three kids and two parents these places are lifesavers! Plus they were bouncing off the walls with excitement, so that added an extra challenge. Kent and I were able to get the kids in their suits and lathered with sun screen in record time! This is my new favorite pic:

The family bathroom. I am trying to convince Kent that we need double toilets like this for potty training the girls. Maybe I will just camp out downtown at the mall during the potty training ordeal!

All lathered up and ready to go!

Brayden is so excited he is jumping around like a monkey, that wasn't at all embarrassing!

The cutest little bums ever! (Dani's hair never got wet).

Ellie hit the ground running, right into the HUGE fountain! I was shocked the pressure from the water didn't knock her over. She was whipping around the big kids, screaming and laughing and splashing. It's so fun to see your kids so excited about simple things!

Brayden trying to warm up for a minute. Dani was thrilled to just watch everyone and splash once in a while.

When we got home the girls saw the "new" bikes I got for them the night before. On my way to book club I passed a garage sale. I saw bikes and I jumped out. (We only have one big wheel, and the girls are constantly fighting over it). I got two trikes for a $1 each and the big wheel for $5. Money well spent! They are all thrilled!

What a fun evening!

A lil' more than THEY bargained for!

YAY! We made it to Silver Mt. after nap time on Saturday. We were all rarin' to go! I thought the kids were going to explode. The second we got onto the freeway the girls took turns saying, "Wa wa park, Wa Wa side!" (Water park, water slide). Good thing it took us just under an hour to get there, I don't know how much longer I could have contained them.

We all got our suits on and we were ready to roll! We were just laughing about how B peed on Shelbi (our much loved baby-sitter) while we were in FL. Not even two seconds later she had scooped Dani up and she got a huge wet spot on her shirt! Too funny, it's good to know those swim diapers work so well! I guess they really are just "turd catchers." (according to Kent). We convinced Shelbi to just leave her shirt on, she would be wet in a few minutes, and no one would know. I tell ya, when this girl is a mom she is going to be AMAZING! We have broken her in SO well, there will be NO surprises for her!

Sunday morning we had a yummy breakfast, AND Shelbi snuggled with the girls until 8:30! Kent, Brayden and I were trying to be so quiet in our room. I finally went out to make sure they were still alive. They have been waking up at 6am. There they were, sipping their milks so nicely and snuggling with Shelbi! I couldn't believe they had been quiet for so long. Shelbi said she put them in her bed at 7. YAY!

So excited and ready to go!

Ellie

Brayden

Dani ready to swim!

Ok, so I was so excited to try the surf wave. I was totally bummed when we got there because it was closed. After a few hours they opened it up and a HUGE line formed. We managed to get in line later and we watched as people took their turns. It was quite entertaining! One poor girl lost her bottoms and showed everyone her bare bum! She later came back with a LONG t-shirt to cover her. As we were waiting Shelbi and I were saying how that would be so embarrassing, that was our greatest fear. Who cares if you fall off and slam against the wall, as long as you keep your swimsuit on!

The first time up went fairly well. I dove on the board (on my tummy) and made my way to the middle of the wave. I was on for a fair amount of time and tried to go from side to side. I was thrown off the board and flew up to the top of the wave. Brayden went next. He was amazing! The guy there said he didn't know if he was big enough to go. We measured him and he just made the height requirement. I told the guy, if he didn't think it was safe, I didn't want him to go. He asked how well he comprehended, and I told him he does a great job of following directions. The man took his hand and led him down to the bottom of the wave and let Brayden "enter" on the board from the middle, while he held it. B got right on and rode the wave FOREVER. Everyone in line was cheering him on! But after a few minutes they got bored and tired of watching the little boy hang out and do better than them. Finally the lifeguards were able to get him to lean side to side, eventually he lost his balance and FLEW off the board and was slammed up and over the wave clear to the back wall, where he bounced and landed with his swim suit around his knees. I ran over and scooped him up, I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head. Surprisingly he wanted to do it again! I told him maybe later. Shelbi went next and stayed on and didn't slam into the wall, she did great. It was Kent's turn and he did amazing! He just hung out going back and forth on his tummy.

The all powerful surfing wave!

After a while on the other slides, we ventured back to the wave. Shelbi took the girls to the baby slides and I went to the wave with the boys. I was first up. I was feeling confident, and got some tips from some people with experience. I jumped on the board and cruised down to the middle of the wave on my stomach. I was hanging out in the middle doing just fine and the lifeguard told me to lean to the side. I did as I was told and went clear to the side and out of the water. I leaned back the other direction to get back in the wave and a STRONG jet of water shot me backward. As I was flying backward the jet of water was shoving my swim suit bottoms DOWN! By the time I realized what was happening they were down to my knees. As I was trying not to swallow gallons of water I yanked my bottoms back up, thinking I was pretty smooth and no one saw anything that quick. As I stood up to move to the side of the ride, Kent came scurrying across the top with a peculiar look on his face, one I have never seen before! He said, "Babe, fix the front, fix the front!" The lifeguard looked down and tried to non-chalantly place the boogie board in front of me. My suit wasn't just a little skewed, it was TOTALLY MESSED UP! I looked up and the whole crowd/line was pointing and laughing. SERIOUSLY! It was like your worst junior high dream coming to life. I tried to adjust my suit, but I was so flustered and mortally embarrassed I could barely move. To top it all off, I had to walk by ALL the people to help B onto the board at the bottom of the wave. I couldn't even look up. My head was to the ground that entire LONG walk. I really wanted to just leave the park then and call it a day!

Of course, now it is a huge joke and KENT and Shelbi can't stop talking about it. I guess I really should have held out my hand for money as I walked past those people.... they got WAY more than they paid for!

Taking a rest and getting a snack.

Part of the Silver Mt. park.

Dan Dan, all dressed and ready to head home.


MONDAY

We had a BBQ, and Grandma Phillips brought over her bounce house AND her bouncy water slide thingy. It was like a huge party. How spoiled can these kids get? I got to go on the slide too, it was super fun!

While we were playing outside B had to go potty. The girls were still napping and he was soaking wet, so I told him he could pee outside. He said, "Excuse me Mom?" I told him it was ok and he thought it was the coolest thing ever! I really wish I could do that sometimes, if only life were that easy.

WEEE!

Brayden and the COLD water.

Ellie: No Fear!

Dani and Ellie

Ellie, Keegan, Brayden and Dani

Ow-E O's!

Ally

Part of the fam.: Dani, Christy, Ally, Brayden, Owen, Sandy, Sarah, Kelly and Keegan