Catching-up

We have had a few excited times around here since the last time I posted. Natali and Bryce came and that was awesome to see them!! Natali suggested we go to the zoo one day while she was here. I remember when her and Bryce were dating, that was one of their favorite things to do. So we went, the boys, me, Natali and mom.
We saw this cute family of ducks. They got out of their little pond and started walking down the path. The mommy was really quite nervous but the babies were very curious. They got within touching distance of us. It was so cute. Zack thought it was great!!

My two cute birdies. Zack loved his map. He kept directing us all through the zoo and everything on the map, we had to see.
Of course we had to brush the goats. Look how brave Ty is. He looks a little freaked but he actually did it really well. He is getting so much more brave around animals.


The majestic king of the forest! (My favorite part.)
Here we are enjoying the warm weather we had while Nat and Bryce were here. This is Bryce and Bryan playing Redneck golf or Chux golf. Pretty fun!!
Tyler showing of his mad Tramp tricks
I think she was doing a cheerleader move. WHAT?!


My Beautiful mother and amazing husband enjoying our bountiful shade!
So that evening, our friends Tom and Emily and their kids came to visit. The day before, Shon had moved the tramp next to the pool and the boys loved jumping into it. Tom told Keaton, their kamakaze boy, to go jump in the pool and of course he did. That started a pool party in undies! They sure had fun. (We don't usually let the boys swim on Sunday, so they thought it was a treat.)

A line of boys in their undies.

A little catch-up

I realize it has been a long time since I have posted. Maybe it is because I have been so incredibly busy, but that isn't really the case. I just haven't done it. But we have had some fun things and done quite a bit since the last time I posted. So here is a little catch-up:

Shon had a birthday. His 33rd!! He said that he wanted to skip this one, but I refused to. Now he says he is in his mid-thirties, but most people agree with me when I say he is still early-thirties. I think he had a good one!!

July 3rd and 4th fun

What a fun holiday we had!! Our fun started on the 3rd at Tom and Emily's house (they are such great friends of ours. I'm so glad we are neighbors!) They throw a big shindig for the neighborhood. Everyone comes and brings food, games and we have a great time. Tom had got a big bounce house for the kids to enjoy. They loved it. All the ladies played Volleyball and the guys played basketball and the kids just ran around and did whatever. It was great fun.
When it started getting dark, Tom started setting up his big show. And I mean BIG SHOW!! It was great. By far the best driveway display ever!! I think he enjoys putting it on as much as everyone enjoys watching. Zack was so excited to watch, but then got a little scared of all the loud booms so he went inside to watch. Tyler loved it and Cameron did better than I thought. He just sat on my lap and watched with his thumb in his mouth. There were a few times it got really loud and I just plugged his ears. Thanks Tom and Emily for the great night!!

On the Fourth, we got up early and went to the parade. This has become a tradition with us and the kids sure like it. We got there a little later than we usually do so our regular spot was taken, but we still got a good place. We left a little early so we could beat the crowd because we were heading to Pocatello to a water park they have there. We have never been, and the Barnes asked us to go. It's called Ross Park and they have a little kid area with a slide and waterfalls and a great shallow area for them. There is also a lazy river, a few big pools and a big tube slide. We didn't know if the boys would go on it, but we bought them a pass anyway and they loved it!! That was Tyler's favorite part by far. I even liked it and I usually hate tube slides. We went on it tons. But we got pretty tired by the end of the day. Zack and Tyler fell asleep on the way home and stayed asleep after we transfered them to their beds. It was a great day.

How blessed we are for our country and our freedom. I am so thankful for it and for those who have defended it and those who are currently defended it. What a great place to live!

Summer fun!!

Cameron is just getting so big. He has really got such a cute and loving personality. He smiles at anyone who will talk to him and he is quick to laugh. I don't know what I did to get such a good boy. He is so pleasant most of the time. It is hard to believe that he is five months old!! Tyler and Zack love to make him laugh, which he does a lot for them. He sleeps all night and doesn't even wake up very early. My, what a ray of sunshine he is in our home. Such a blessing, I am so grateful for. We sure love him.

He has started rolling over. This is at the beginning of his roll. He just rolls one way and can't quite get from is belly back on his back. He kind of uses his head as a pivot and moves around it to face other directions. I think we are at the point of no return. He will be all over the place in no time at all!!

We have had an abundance of warm, sunny days here, which has been awesome!! Tyler and Zack have almost lived in their swimming suits. Between our house, the neighbors and our friends Tom and Emily's, they have spent a lot of time enjoying the sun. I know you can't tell from the pictures, but they are so, so tan. It is pretty darn cute.


Zack here chillin' on the slide. His friend Katon was over on this day and they were playing lots of games on the swing set. They are really good at make believe. Most of the time I can't figure out how they come up with their stories. Rachel (Katon's sister) was in the pool with Tyler. Both of them are little fishes. The love the water.

Rachel has taught Tyler some cool tricks this summer. It is good to see Tyler loving the water this year. It is the first year he isn't scared. I attribute some of that to Rachel and her tricks.

This is Ty as he is going in for a cannon ball. All the kids line up and go one after the other with their cannon balls. It is pretty fun to watch.
They have also loved putting the sprinkler under the trampoline. But I don't have any pictures of that. The have loved that so much that we haven't bought a new slide-n-slide. Fun times!!

Summertime...and the living is easy

I am so glad that we finally got some summer here!! There is really something about warm weather and sunshine that really boosts your mood. It has with me. T-ball games have been so much more fun now that we don't have to bundle up. And all those other summertime activities that we have finally been able to do are so fun also. We haven't been too busy around here. One thing I thought I would do before now though, is plant more garden. All I have planted is three tomatoes and a patch of potatoes. Oh well. I'm not a very good gardener anyway. Hopefully my tomatoes will do well so I can make some salsa. We love it around here and I didn't make any last year so we are totally out.

We finally set up our little pool and the boys and neighbors think it is great. We also got a fun new thing. A TRAMPOLINE!! Ty and Zack have been wanting one for a while and so we finally bought one. It has been real warm since we set it up so it has a sprinkler under it most of the time. They think it is grand. (Hopefully we don't get a broken arm or leg or something). One thing about this warm weather that I discovered is that sunscreen must expire. I have never thought about that before. Earlier in the week, the boys went over to our neighbors and played in their yard with the sprinkler and slip-n-slide and things. I lathered them up with sunscreen and sent them out. Well, about an hour and a half later, I lathered them up again and they stayed out for about another hour. When they came in, I could tell that they were a little red. Anyway, that night, they were so burned. I felt so bad. I thought I had done well but sure hadn't. The sunscreen that I used has been around for a few years, and I didn't think that it wouldn't be good anymore. Well, needless to say, I through it out and bought some new stuff.

Shon had his first ever experience with Girl's Camp this last week. On Thursday, he and the Bishop went up for Bishopric night and cooked the girls dinner. He actually went about noon so he spent quite a bit of time there. They dutch ovened their dinner and it turned out really good, he said. That night was the night when they give out awards, do skits and those things and then have the testimony meeting. The first thing he said when he came home (at 1:30 in the morning, by the way) was "Girl's camp is quite a bit different from boy's camp". But he was impressed by how organized it was and the things that they did. He noticed that girls are loud and they sing and laugh alot. Oh, and he mentioned they cry a little, too. He had fun getting to know them a little better and see them and the leaders outside of the church environment. I think it was a good experience for him. It made me think about the fun times I had a girl's camp. I actually really liked it.

Sorry I don't have any pictures. I keep forgetting to take any. But life is good.

Cameron and his funny noises

I think I finally got Cam to talk to the camera. He likes to make some pretty funny noises now a days. Very cute.

We finally got some warm weather here. It has been so nice. Today we actually went to the park and played for a while. I really love the summertime. All the flowers and birds just make me happy. We actually got to sit at a t-ball game and not be bundled up on Saturday.

Shon and I were looking through some of our cookbooks the other day and Shon came across a recipe that was entitled "Wacky Cake". We couldn't really determine what made it wacky though. I guess the only reason it is wacky is that you mix it a little differently. A few of the ingredients are a little different, but nothing I thought constituted wackiness. So yesterday, Shon decided to give it a test. It turned out very, very good. Actually the perfect chocolate cake.
Very moist, heavier than a box cake but not too heavy and the texture was great. I was very impressed with my husband. (which isn't rare, because he often impresses me. He is amazing!!)
So I thought I would share the recipe with you all.

Wacky Cake

3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp soda
1/2 c. cocoa
2/3 c. oil
2 T. Vanilla
2 T. Vinegar
2 c. water
Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl, mix well. Make 3 holes in mix. Pour oil in first hole, vanilla into second hole, and vinegar in the third hole. Pour water over mix. Stir until smooth. Don't beat. Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 for 40 to 45 min.
Hope you like it!!

Tyler is six!!

Friday was Tyler's birthday. Actually, it was the 13th, Friday the 13th. I hadn't even thought of that until just now. Huh. Obviously we are not very superstitious people. It was a great day. He came upstairs in the morning very excited. I was feeding Cameron on the couch and Ty came and sat down by me and we had a little chat. This is kind of how it went:
Ty: "I am six today. I am getting big."
Me: "Yes you sure are."
Ty: Holding out his arm "Mom, look how big my arm is."
Me: "It is pretty big."
Ty: Holding out his leg "Look how big my leg is. It looks like a six year olds leg, doesn't it?"
Me: "It sure does."
Ty: "I feel six."

It was very cute. I just smiled and gave him a big hug. He is sure getting big and getting so smart.
We had a little party for him and his friends during the day. Ty invited his best friend Austin and his siblings and them our next door neighbor Katon. We had a little treasure hunt that I had set up for them. They really had a good time. They played with the present Ty got from his Grandma and Grandpa Shuldberg, which is a "Whac-a-mole Tower". Both Tyler and Zack were so excited for this. They have seen it advertised on TV and have wanted it for a while. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa. It was a fun party. That night we had our friends Tom and Emily come and my brother Bryan. Bryan's wife was in Boise because her sister had a baby. Tyler wanted a Cars cake again this year so Shon baked the cake and I frosted it. I think he had a wonderful day.


He really wanted me to write Tyler is Six on in so that is what it says on the top. I thought it turned out pretty good.

We got him this remote controlled truck that was really cool. He was so excited!! But when we got it out and he started driving it, it didn't work right so Shon took it and Tyler back to Toys-R-Us and picked out a different one. It is really cool, too. He loves it!!
Zack was almost as excited as Ty was for this birthday. But notice that kid in the red shirt that doesn't look like us but is there in every one? That is Austin, Tyler's best friend. He is such a great kid. He belongs to our good friends, Tom and Emily. Happy Birthday, Ty!