15 years!!

Ethan Daniel has hit a dangerous age! Now that he is 15, I'm sure he will want to do Driver's Ed and want to drive all the time. He had a pretty low-key birthday, which seems to be what we do these days. He wanted new basketball shoes since the season is almost here and a new "indoor only" basketball. He picked "Chili's" for dinner and we were all too full for his cake and ice cream last night. Ethan is a good boy who tries hard to please others. He is kind to every one and has the quirkiest sense of humor! We love this boy with all our hearts. He is still my "Sunshine"!

"Dirty Dash"

What a fun race to watch, and according to the team to run as well! It takes place up in beautiful Midway, Utah. The 10k racers even had to slog their way through the marshy shores of Deer Creek Reservoir. Dennis said it didn't feel like 6 miles at all. Poor man, he was so sick the morning of the race he wasn't sure if he could run. But, of course, after he started he felt better and enjoyed it. Little Brad was just itching to get into that mud the whole time we were waiting for the team so at the end Dennis took him across the "big" mud pit. He had to be hosed down with a pressure washer at the end:) Dennis did this with his brother, Darin and sister-in-law, Sunny and a few people they knew. I was supposed to be part of the team but had to back out. Maybe next year!

Dressing up their Dolls

Jake and Whitney had so much fun pretending Ava and Reagan were their life-sized dolls. They would dress them up in different outfits, paint their nails, do their hair, and make plays for them to perform in. Lots of clothes every where but man did they have fun! Ava and Reagan enjoyed all the attention and loved acting out all the scenes Jake and Whit came up with. We had the kids from Friday evening until Sunday evening while Don was doing a 200 mile bike race called Lotoja and Jill was driving support for the group. Nick, Brad, and Ethan mainly enjoyed Ethan's new Wii game;)

Ralph Baby # 5!

I'm not sure why this picture is sideways since I took it the same way I take all the pictures but anyway. Yesterday I had a bit of a scare. Ellie called to see how I was doing and was worried about the constant "spotting" that has been going on for over a month now. She suggested I call the doctor and explain what was going on. So I did and thought they would just make an appointment for next week but the nurse said, "We'd like to see you today, can you come right in?" So of course I was a nervous wreck. They got me right in and did an ultrasound and the doctor was very relieved to see the baby in the uterus where it should be and to see the fluttering little heart. Hopefully there really is nothing wrong but he told me to come right in if I have any pain or severe bleeding. So, this is probably the earliest I've ever seen any of my kids! Brad claimed this photo for himself so Jake made a copy so he could have one too. They are sooooooo excited!!

While Dad's Away . . .

Okay, here's how it all went down! As soon as Dad and his sister, Shirley decided they would take a road trip to visit their brother Clint, ol mother's wheels began to turn!! She called her sons and two son-in-laws, Ethan, and Miss Rachel as well and informed them that she needed them all for the first weekend of September. She had several "projects" in mind for them to do while Dad was away. She wanted boards put across the seams of the ceiling of the carport, pavers laid by the gate of their new fence, pavers laid in front of Dad's flower gardens, the area behind the shed cleaned out with weed-cloth and rock laid down, trim on shed painted and nailed back on. It took the "crew" pretty much all day to accomplish the tasks but they were all good sports and enjoyed their time togther. The cousins played and made rafts and their own projects. It was a great day!! I tried to take some before and after shots but of course I have put them on here backwards!

Tuacahn Again!

We went back down to St. George August 26-27 to see "The Little Mermaid" at Tuacahn again. This time Ava and I were feeling so much better and really enjoyed the show. Dennis, Ethan, and Brad went swimming and took a tour of the visitor's center at the Temple while we were at the show. The next day, all the kids went swimming and we just had fun being together with Don and Jill and their little munchkins. I took a shot of Ava and Reagan being "mermaids" on the rock at the pool;)

Jake's 9th Birthday

Jake's birthday was pretty low-key this year. I made him a chocolate cake with "teal" icing (his request). And all he asked for was the movie "Soul Surfer" and a play bed by "Friends Boutique". We had a roast dinner and after singing and opening of presents, we all went up and watched his new movie (well, almost all of us-Ethan got up and left about 2 min. into it). Sure do love this little guy and feel so blessed to have him as our son!

Ava's style

This girl has crazy taste sometimes! Here she's sporting purple tights, purple skirt, black tutu, and red tights on the head. Jake and Brad thought she was so cute and wanted me to take a few photos of them with her. She's not spoiled or anything!!