Magic and Thunder

Kids had their first soccer games this week! It was so fun. Both teams are BLUE this year...Sydney's team is the Blue Magic and Payton's is Blue Thunder. Sydney was hilarious and seriously could have cared less where that ball was! I had to make myself sit down and stop screaming more than once...cuz really, was my screaming going to do any good? not so much. It was fun though...lots of grass picking and nail biting :)

Payton, on the other hand, is in the big time now. It's like a whole new game...with GOALIES. It was really fun to watch and though I am really looking forward to games a month or more from now when it's not blazing hot, I loved watching Payt play.

Go BLUE Magic/Thunder :)

partying with the cousins...

We are pretty lucky to be related to Jared & Amy who plan such fun vacations and let us tag along. We spent a long weekend in Huntington Beach for Mack's fifth birthday. The kids had a ball together at the beach & on the waterslides. I had a much-needed, very relaxing few days and except for a small bout with the stomach flu, we had a fabulous time. We also got to spend another long weekend over Labor day at Lake Powell with our family. It was very nice to be ALL together...it has been a while. We even managed to get a few family pics. The kids played so hard and came home SO exhausted, but it was a fun time together. Sydney and Avery loved to ride the jet ski with Mike. Payt & the boys went from the beach to the "hot pool" to the beach again. The weather was nice and food was great...and Avery even kept her life jacket on without a major fuss, so we had a great time.

I really am not even going to pretend that I don't think this girl is the cutest thing ever...

Aves loved riding the jet ski with her daddy.

tan babies.

Avery and her stringy, sunscreen, mullet hair...probably should do something about that.

Wee and little Aves.

All the grandkids with Pop and Dama-Dama

The whole bunch of us

{and proof that I went on this trip...the only picture taken of me...

maybe cuz I hadn't showered in 3 days???}

Sydney and the pet frog that died the next day. bummer ;)

Lots of boys...Jared, Will, Payt & Mack

Brunch at the Hilton...

little did we know we'd see ALL 5 of the chocolate covered

strawberries again on our ride home :) yucky.

Payton {6} Mack {5} Sydney Kate {4} Will {3} Avery {1} Sam {4 months}

{these are totally in the wrong order....}

Transformers cake AFTER!

Transformers cake BEFORE!

Happy Birthday Macky! We love you...

Skinny Miguel and the SPRINKLES cupcakes.

{Mike definitely regrets eating 4 of them.

And we are ALL trying to forget hearing them coming back up...lovely.}

"Strips" in honor of POP

Love these two beach bums.

Preschool

Our sweet Sydney started pre-school again this year. She loves school. She stamps and colors, is learning to write and even helped plant a garden with one of her teachers. She is growing up so fast, can't believe it.

first grade.

for me, first grade was BIG. I learned to read. I made friends that lasted me through high school. I loved Mrs. Mckinney. I got to bring the "friendship bear" home when I was student of the week. It was all very significant. And now I own one of those first graders. Wow. He loves it too...so big and independent. We are very proud of Payton and his ability to make good decisions and choose good friends.

All men? or just MINE?

So we were out of eggs and Mike wanted to make his specialty omelette, so he said he was going to run get some. Ok, so I said, could you grab some milk and bananas while you're at it? thanks. and then he returned...with this! This is NOT the first time this has happened, either. What is it with men and surplus? I will give him props to sticking to the list {I am totally guilty of going for one or two items and coming home with a cart full of stuff I didn't plan on buying}...but honestly, this family of five surely can't consume 3 gallons of milk and 54 eggs before the expiration date! Love him for his efforts, though! Needless to say, we've been eating a LOT of the specialty omelette!

entrepeneurs.

These two have been in the money making business the past few days. Literally, all on his own, Payton got this idea and dragged his sister along. They've been selling otter pops on the corner in the blazing heat! It's been fun to watch them make signs and stand out there. then run to the garage to get otter pops whenever they get a "customer". Truthfully, I think Sydney's sale tactics {a pretty darn cute face} are beating Payton's! But they are a good team...! They even had a little finance lesson with their dad...paid the bank {me...who bought the otter pops in the first place}, tithing, and split the rest 50/50. It was good to see them work for something for a change :) And thanks to all you neighbors {and strangers} who forked out a whopping .50 for an otter pop! {Payt started at a dollar...I had to work him down a little!}

Tahoe.

So...after 3 weeks of vacation, Mike and I needed a little break! We got to go to Lake Tahoe with friends for 5 days and it was such a fun little getaway. My mom came to watch the kids, so we left Avery for the first time {Ah!} and she did great. It was so beautiful there...I couldn't get over it! We went for the Celebrity golf tournament...and let me tell you, I am part celebrity now! I had such a fun time celeb watching. We saw a ton of athletes and a few tv stars {kevin from The Office, Pres. Palmer, Carlton from Fresh Prince, Ray Romano} My list of stars could go on and on! It was sure fun to shmooze with the VIPs for a few days. We rented bikes and rode to breakfast. We took a boat on the lake and man, was it beautiful. They don't call it Tahoe blue for nothing! We saw Harry Potter {long and overrated} and we ate a lot! It was so very much fun. Not to mention we spent time with great friends! Mike celebrated his 31st birthday while we were there and he kept saying "best birthday ever"! Seriously, what more could a guy ask for? Beautiful place, not a bad looking wife :), golf all morning {even if he's the caddy's caddy}, walking amongst the celebs, REO speedwagon and STYX concert...right up front! We had a fabulous time! Anyways, Happy Birthday honey.

Celebrity Golf Tournament

beautiful place...Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Blue! The water was so cold and so beautiful. This
was before the tubing ride with the girls! good times!

{my arms are still sore...}

Happy Birthday Miguel!

17th Hole.

"Rock On" faces at the concert

Tanners and Vans

proud to be an American...

How lucky we are to live in this great country. Even if we have issues :) God bless the USA.

Idaho.

Ahhh, Idaho. We got to stay at Mike's parents house in Menan, Idaho for a week or more. I don't have pics of the river, which was sooo high because of all the rain. Or the life-size mosquitos. Or the jet skiis and the amazing sunsets. or the hot tub and all the kids running around naked...but if I had, you'd see that it was awesome. Preston Rammell had his farewell the following Sunday so we got to go to that and have a brazilian lunch afterwards. I was in charge of the brazilian limeade {with my helpers Kate and Laury...} It was a fun time, got to see Kambria and her sweet baby Augustus. Dave, Tracy and Wrenn came to visit from Colorado...along with Granny and Pop. We spent a lot of time at the RV Park, kids LOVED the playset and the store. Pop and dama dama gave them lots of fun crap :) and Avery and the squirrels stole a LOT of candy off the bottom shelf! {seriously, the squirrels Love the m&ms} The fourth was awesome. We went to Driggs...Victor parade, teton springs for swimming, emporium for a huckleberry shake. Then off to Idaho Falls for the fireworks which were seriously awesome this year. The LeSeurs from our old ward happened to be staying at the park, so that was fun. Kristine and her boys and Terry and a bunch of folks were there. We had a great time. Can't beat Idaho on the fourth of July.

Not in Idaho...but I got to see Amy Jill briefly for lunch on our way back through Utah! love this girl. too bad I look 5 months prego in this picture.
Bear World petting zoo. Payt loved the goats.

Pop and all the kids on the Rhino at the park. fun times.

Victor Emporium, Victor Idaho.

patriotic bunch...

these two had lots of fun playing together...it was nice to have another girl around

Little miss Aves and her hats.... love her!

Relaxing at the Idaho "falls" watching the ducks and dodging goose poop.

Utah.

Utah was beautiful, lovely weather...even quite a bit of rain. We started by going to the temple with all my brothers and sisters, and parents. It was really nice to be together. Then Sydney's birthday! Can't believe she's four. She shares a birthday with her dama-dama, so that's always fun. Thanks to Amy & Jeannie for putting on such a fabulous flower party. The pinata from the 50 foot ceiling beams was a big hit and Sydney was very polite in thanking everyone for their gifts. It was a supter fun party.

Lots of love and smiles from this little guy...our newest little Sam. What a sweet "Sam I am"!!!

lots of cousins...

sweet Quinn. He's grown so much and is seriously his daddy's child!

Lots of these two peaches. They were so cute together. Arleigh would say "oooo" and just want to kiss Avery. Avery warmed up after a while and they got along quite nicely. Love having these two so close. I am lame and didn't take too many pics...but it was equally as nice to hang out with Arleigh's mama. She is a gem. Mom was preparing for Bijou market...sewing up a storm...so me, kate and Jenna were quite busy working on tags and displays and pics. It was really a lot of fun.

Family pics...

Elder Jared Boyd Rammell...Charleston, West VA mission!

Jared's farewell was Sunday...and he did an absolutely beautiful job on his talk. He is so great and so ready to go. Kate, Jenna and I sang "Beautiful Savior"...which was nice. We had lunch at Todd and Jill's and it was so nice to be around all of our family. We had a country picnic of sorts, it was yummy. Lots of people came down to support Jared. He is going to be a great missionary. "Take me home, country roads"...

Sydney and Dama Dama on their big day!