People person or not ?

A little while ago I was really tired one morning so I decided to take a little nap while Weston was taking his morning nap. Needless to say Michael did not like this idea! He played for a little while, but eventually decided that it was more fun playing with someone else. So since he couldn't play with someone he was going to sleep with someone instead. When I woke up on the couch this is what I found next to me.

Second chapter of Michael's Birthday

So another family in our ward has a boy who is only a couple days younger than Michael. Rashell asked me if we wanted to do a combined Birthday party for them with their friends. So Michael got really spoiled this year and had two parties. For Family Home Evening we were going to make a pinata for his party. We started to but I kind of took over because it was becoming a pretty bad mess fast. So to make F.H.E. still fun Alan blew up some balloons with the kids and let them play with them. Way to save the Day Dad!

Michael doing pretty good blowing up balloons for a little guy.

Weston out doing his brother!

Just kidding!

The "Monster" pinata! It took five days to complete this baby. So we had the party in our back yard. All the kids went swimming, then we broke the pinata, had cupcakes and then opened up presents.

Water balloons to play with in the pool of course (who would of thought?)

Weston enjoying the sunshine

Pinata time!

So I think I didn't need to put so many layers of paper on the pinata. Lets just say all the kids got plenty of turns trying to brake it.

"Monster" cupcakes

Michael made out like a bandit! I couldn't believe all the nice gifts that he got.

This is the other Birthday Boy (Benjamin)

Between Alan's Birthday, Michael's Birthday, Father's Day and Michael's Party all within a week it was pretty crazy around here. Now that it has been several weeks I think we need another party!

Michael's Birthday

Michael turned 3 years old June 18th. We invited the Webb's (our friends from our old ward) to come over to our house for a Barbecue/Birthday Party for Michael. It was a lot of fun. The kids swam in the pool while we finished preparing the food. Then after dinner we had cake and ice cream and then opened up presents. I decided to try to make something fun for Michael's cake. It was supposed to be a magnifying glass looking at red ants. I think it turned out pretty good.

Michael was glowing by the end of the night! I just love to see my children so happy.

Memorial Day Weekend

For Memorial Day Weekend all of Alan's brothers and his parents came out to our place. It was alot of fun to have everyone here. I think Michael had a lot of fun too. He was having so... much fun that he didn't want to stop playing to go to the bathroom. That is right folks, I had poo and pee coming out of my ears! Luckily after everyone left he decided that he was potty trained again. Ya for that!!!!

Alan bought a swimming pool at a yard sale for $20 earlier this summer. It has been so much fun for us! He decided to buy a bunch of 10 cent gold fish to put in the pool for the weekend. What a cheap source of entertainment. It was and still is a hit!

The water was pretty cold that day but it didn't stop our boys from enjoying themselves. =)

We had a barbecue dinner down by the Columbia River Saturday night. We played in the river, fed birds, threw around the frisbee, road bikes, played on the equipment and ate our selves silly. It can't get much better than that.

Michael feeding the seagulls.

The older men feeding the seagulls. As you can tell by their faces, you never can get to old for bird feeding!

Monday morning we went to Palouse Falls. It took a little under 1 1/2 hours to drive there. We hiked as far down as we could with little children. Afterwards we ate our picnic lunch. It was a good thing we decided to go in the morning because as we were leaving the line of cars to come in were crazy (probably because it was a holiday).

Vlad, John & Tiff

Michael was so entertained with this little puddle of water. Between the puddle and rocks he was in heaven.
Vladimir had too much fun scaring his Mother and everyone else. I don't know how many times he got uncomfortably close to the edge looking down at the waterfall. (In this picture the water fall was directly below him).

Alaska trip

Well this summer has been going by QUICK! I figured I should probably start posting things or else it will be impossible to catch up. Back in the middle of May we flew up to Alaska to see my family and to attend my younger brother Michael's High School Graduation. It was so good to see my family! Time is kind of a funny thing. I hadn't seen my family for a couple of years but of course I continued to have love for them. When I actually saw them and spent time with them my bond with them and my love for them grew. I did not realize that I was slowly growing distant from them as the time increased between visits even though I kept in touch with them over the phone. My family is amazing and I just can't help but smile and laugh when I think of them. What neat people! All of the pictures below were taken in Alaska.

Our little family

Brandon and Amy's family

I just love all of the mountains that are in Alaska. You see them any direction you look.

This is Laurie's husky. It is still a pup believe it or not. It was afraid to walk over the bridge so Alan had to carry it over mud and all.

Michael and Laurie still had to work some while we were there but they slipped away from work whenever they could to come play with us. Here we are hiking on their lunch break.

Michael's with his new love! Michael burst into tears when he saw our house on the ride home from the airport. He thought we were going back to Laurie's house and was devastated! All Michael wanted the whole time we were in Alaska was Laurie. Hopefully time will heal his wound! =)

Brett and Laurie let us take their four wheeler for a spin.

This view is from Laurie's front yard.

The whole family went out to eat right before Mike's Graduation.

Cute little Luke (my youngest brother) is sitting right next to my Mom in this picture.

I love this picture of my Dad with Michael. Michael hasn't stopped talking about Grandpa West ever since we got back. His most favorite thing to do is to try to make scary monster faces like Grandpa does. It is quite funny! I will have to try to get a picture of it sometime.

Here is my Mom with Weston. Doesn't Weston look like he is enjoying every minute of it.

Laurie and Brett (I promise he isn't as mean as he looks)

Kennedy (Amy's girl)

Allie (Katie's daughter)

Katie and Payton

(Momma's boy) Congrats Mike! We are so proud of you.