Blue Angels

While in Pensacola a couple of months back, we were hoping to see a Blue Angels air show, but they didn't have one scheduled during our visit. So, Dave looked up their shows and found one not too far from us in Idaho Falls. So, last weekend we ventured up to exotic Idaho Falls with the kiddos and went to the show at the IF airport. It was incredible! Dave got a little taste of his home and we all enjoyed it....well, by the end! Friday night we got to stop by and see our friend, Nicole, and walk the river and see the waterfalls downtown. We all loved that. Brenna did ok on the drive, but she slept through the loudest part of the air show, so that was great. The day of the show was HOT. And, the blue angels didn't get started until 3 hours into the show, so the kids were a bit spent, especially after jumping on the hotel beds late the night before. (Don't worry, Dave slept through the whole bed hopping...he got his much needed rest to be our chaueffer!) Apparently, I am not at my best after baking in the sun 3 hours either because I lost it on Grant after he started crying and wanted to go home. I told him we drove up a long way for him and he would look up at the jets and HE WOULD LIKE IT! You know what? I felt a little silly after, but he loved it in the end! Maybe my outburst worked, or perhaps he just threw a smile on to keep the beast from emerging again!

And, by the way, this cute little one started crawling! Say what? She is five and a half months old! She thinks she is a grown up baby, except for the night sleeping part...she is still stuck in the newborn stage!

Summer Lovin'

Dave had a birthday, yes I forgot to get candles, but he did blow out a couple of matches from his strawberry pie (per request of the birthday boy!). While we are on the subject of Dave, he deserves a shout out for qualifying for his works president's club! He will be cruising the Baltic next month for his hard work (although he will be solo because this year no kids are invited, and Brenna is still pretty attached to me, literally!). We are so proud and he is SO excited!

We have just been enjoying our lazy days of summer at the pool
where Grant, especially has discovered his inner fish!We've been letting the kids stay up way too late every night riding bikes and running around. We've been going to parades and carnivals,spending time with family,making new friends, watching fireworks,



and just being cute! Grant has even been noticing how adorable his sisters are. The other day he said, "Katelee, you look beautiful today." Then, with hand on hip, he turned to me and with a chuckle said, "Mom, I KNOW you have something you want to say to me!" I then told him he looked awfully handsome. His reply was, "I knew you wanted to tell me that!" He is cute, but we are working on the humility!

Set for the Season...

We are ready for summer and enjoying the sun thus far. The kids got new haircuts...as so candidly displayed by Katelee here. Now they can play sans sweaty heads! Except of course this little Chubberton. She is still bald as can be. I anticipate a haircut in early 2013 for her.
We have Grant and Katelee signed up for swimming lessons next week and Brenna is ready for rescue efforts just in case ;)
Grant wrapped up his first soccer season, where he ran like a champ. He was so gracious and gentlemanly and allowed every other child the opportunity to kick the ball, but he could run like the best of them. As long as no one was challenging his fancy footwork, he would dapple with the kicking!
After we completed his last game, he said to me, "So, I am done with soccer for a couple months right? " I told him that was correct and he would start up again in the fall, so its just a nice little break. He replied with, "oh good. It's like I am off track, just like the good old days!"

Yep, just like the good old days!! Where he can steal my camera and give Katelee her own personal photo shoot:
(I'm pretty impressed with the pics here, just the lighting may need to be adjusted!)...I am not sure the events that surrounded his work here, possibly a tribute to sibling relations?!


Back to the free time where he can build space ships with dominos
and enjoy food in the sun. Live it up kid, cuz kindergarten is fast approaching, then you will really wish for those good old days!

Thank you, Florida

I would like to take a moment and thank the great state of Florida, especially the specific cities of Pensacola and Panama City of being at their best last week. We could hardly contain our excitement as we were able to dip our toes in the warm emerald water on the white sand beaches. It was fabulous and beautiful! Grant couldn't get enough of the water and Katelee liked it as long as she stayed away from the wiggles (waves) that would "take her away forever."Brenna just liked sticking her tongue out to taste that salty sea air. She enjoyed the dolphins on our boat ride to Shell Island, feeling the sand and showing off her gut in her bathing suit!

I would like to thank the wonderful laundry fairies who reside in Florida, who magically pick up all of our dirty clothes and have it freshly washed when we return from any outings. That wonderful service has not followed us to our home, so I guess it is exclusive to that location.

A great thanks to Dave's family who hosted and cooked and were our own private hotel. The kids loved seeing an aunt, uncle, cousins (we are counting Droopie dog), grandparents and a great grandpa as well. We loved the Naval Air Station, the seafood restaurants on the beach and were so glad it wasn't too hot!

Thank you to all who were patient with us as we traveled on the plane...from Katelee yelling out to a nice lady sporting a cowboy hat "Hello cowboy Girl!" to the other passengers in our row who chuckled as Grant exclaimed he could see the whole world! Katelee explained she just could view Africa.

Ahh, Florida....we will see you again!

A Shout out and the Baker

Grant starting calling Brenna 'the Baker' when she was sporting this hat...I think the name is appropriate. Brenna, and the rest of the family would like to give kudos to Dave for his triumphant finish in the half marathon he ran Saturday. He shaved off his time from last year's half by 10 min, and he did it all in snow and freezing temperatures, without gloves and a head phone ear piece. We are all so proud! Dave claims he runs half marathon yearly so that he can eat what he wants throughout the year, train and run to loose the extra pounds. We have some interesting food issues at our house...I just love food...Grant, usually likes everything. Although, he has been tricky lately. Dave and/or I have walked into the bathroom by the kitchen to find partially chewed spinach or carrots in the little garbage can. He is going to have to be a little more stealthy to get away with that! Katelee has serious eating problems. The other day I asked her to eat a blueberry. She sweetly picked it up, clasped it between her hands in a prayer pose, and in a princess voice whispered, "I wish with all of my heart for this to break!" Alas, the blueberry was still there when she opened her hands and she had to consume the dreaded berry! I asked her to eat something else another day to which she replied, "I can't mom, because there is a stop sign in my mouth!"

Here the kids are helping Dave deliver breakfast for his CPA partners at work...they gladly ate a doughnut! I guess we all have our food battles!