Croquet Anyone?

To celebrate the family January/February birthdays (Colten, Kelly, Grammy, Teri, Becky, Ellie) we did a croquet themed party. Everyone had to wear their best croquet duds. We grilled burgers on the barbie and played a mean game of croquet, it brought out everyone's competitive spirit! It was so fun to see everyone's outfits! This is a family who definitely knows how to have fun together...... "a family that plays together stays together!"

Newport Beach, CA - Playing with your Cousin

Like birds of a feather, we stick together!

Sand, sand, and more sand.

AAAAHHHHH!

Catch me if you can......

Let the fun never end.

Home Teaching!

We have a wonderful Home Teacher named Matt Gunn who comes every month. He always has a great message and tries to engage the kids. Daimon and Ellie always give him a hard time, and want to know when we are going to stop talking. It’s hard to be six and eight years old! So this month he took Home Teaching to a new level and found a creative way to keep their attention for the entire time of the lesson “Wakeboarding”! As you can see form the pictures the kids had a great time. Both of them were fearless. Matt gave them both a quick Wakeboarding lesson and they jumped into the water like they had done it a hundred times. I was very proud of both of them! They were both able to do it within one or two attempts.

Kelly showed us all up first she Slalom Skied – getting up on her first try. Then she dominated the Wakeboard like she had done it a hundred times. She always makes it look so easy.

As you can see from the pictures – riding the tube is the closest I will ever come to Wakeboarding. I like to call it “Wake Tubing”. I do believe that riding the tube was the hit of the day. The object of the game is to hold on for as long as you can before the driver of the boat flips you off. The kids loved it, heck I loved it! We were all sore Sunday morning…

How is Matt going to top this next Month????

Fathers & Sons Campout 2008

Daimon and I had a wonderful time at this years Fathers & Sons Campout in the Pima Mountains behind Miami Arizona. Daimon has been looking forward to this since last year, and for that matter so have I. I am really trying to enjoy these years while he still thinks I am cool to hangout with.

We left at 4:45 PM on Friday and stopped at Jack in the Box on our way up. The "Tube Steaks" that the Elders Quorum where serving just didn't sound like they were going to hit the spot. We got there around 6:30 and set up our tent. A special thanks to Kelly's Dad for that and the sleeping bags. I can't forget the sleeping pad he gave me, it made for a good nights sleep. I sat around and talked with my friends and Daimon played with fire sticks all night long. Yes, I am Dad of the Year.... We got to sleep around midnight and slept good until the birds started churping around 5:30 AM. Nature..... "Watcha-Kunna-Noo"? We ate breakfast around 8:00 thanks to the High Priest Quorum - Breakfast Burrito. While they were cooking the sausage they dropped the pan, but don't worry they picked it right up and put it back in the burrito without even cleaning it off. Let's just say I had a little grit in my burrito!?!?!

This is what Daimon had to say to Kelly on the way home via email.

Hello mom I hade a great time at the father's son's . me and the boy's did fire sticks .we also eat smores.I was fun.
-Love Daimon

A little note from mom...... Ellie and I went on a special mother daughter date with friends while the boys were away. We had a lovely dinner at Carrabba's and then went to the mall for Ellie and her friends to pick out some new "dangley" earrings. We made a stop at Ben's sister Amy's Gelato shop for dessert! The night was a big hit! I knew there was no need to worry about Ben and Daimon..... Ben had done some grocery shopping for the two of them before they left. All the food groups were accounted for. His shopping bags consisted of Ding Dongs, chewy Chips -A-Hoy, chocolate chip granola bars, BBQ pringles, cheez-it's, sour patch kids, sunflower seeds (can't forget the nuts for protein) Oh yes..... and some orange and grape crush soda! I was so proud of his "cooking" abilities I may decide to have him do the shopping for the family all the time!