Let the Wars begin!!

Rubber Band Wars that is.

This is something that Brian remembers he and his brothers doing in their basement room.

He's talked about it for years.

Now he's doing it with our boys (and girls).

Apparently the first step towards a great Rubber-band war is to have NO light at all.

So, the darkening began.

Brian had been saving cardboard to cover the windows of the basement for some time.

It wasn't enough though, butcher paper was needed as well.

Over the windows and doors of the walk-out basement (that we haven't been able to walk out of now).

The doorway from the kitchen to the basement had to be covered too.

NO light, remember...

Then the fun could begin!

They all wear protective glasses for their eyes.

Then run around in the dark shooting rubber-bands at each other.

Seriously.

The neighbors even come to do it.

And everyone raves about it.

Ashlyn loves it!

Madelyn isn't allowed down there yet (pretty sure she'd get trampled).

Have I played?

No.

Sorry, but even with my eyes protected, I'm not so fond of getting shot at with rubber bands.

I know, I know, I'm a party poop-er.

This can be one of those bonding with daddy memories.

Game on!

Fireflies and S'mores...

sThe fireflies are starting to disappear...

So we thought we should try and catch a few one last time.

 And while were at it...

why not have a fire and s'mores as well?

This photo is blurry, but it shows one of my favorite part of our new deck.

The lighting.

I love to sit out there with the deck lights on at night.

Simple things that make me happy.

Summer nights......please don't end.

A weekend in Virginia

This past weekend we got to spend with our good friends who moved to Richmond.

The last time we visited it was on our way to Florida. And we had gotten to their place at 7:00pm, and left at 9:00am the next morning. The kids were disappointed that they didn't get more time with their friends. So this time we went down on Sat., went to church with them on Sunday, and left Monday morning. We all had a great time!

A highlight was the backyard swing.

 The kids loved it!

 Madelyn is laughing at the 'thing' I always have on my eye (camera).

Thanks for the visit-we had a blast!

Monday morning we said goodbye and headed to 

 Kings Dominion!

As soon as we got there I took the older kids on a fast roller coaster, while Brian headed to Kidzville with the little ones.

They had a blast.

After lunch it was Brian's turn to go on some fast rides while I took Ronan and the little girls to the water park area to cool off a bit.

The girls had fun.

Ronan didn't stay in one place long enough for me to get a photo of him!

Then Brian and the other 3 kids met up with us.

We spent most of the 'hot' part of the day in the water.

Lazy river and wave pool to be exact.

Madelyn started walking out of the pool around 3:00pm.

When I tried to get her to stay in, she just said "No! Out!", and took off her life vest.

I wrapped her in a towel, and laid on a lounge chair with her.

She was asleep in 5 minutes. 

Tired baby.

After she slept an hour, we got some food, and headed back to the rides.

Madelyn had fun in the kiddie bumper cars, but got stuck. She couldn't figure out how to get out.

So, the next go around, we put her with Duncan, and they had fun!

Ashlyn LOVED the cars!

And the roller coaster!

Hayden & Morgan took me on the Intimidator 350.

They had gone once, and said I HAD to do it.

It takes you 300 feet in the air, then drops you at a 85 degree angle!

It was crazy!

I did it, but won't be doing it again!

We stayed until they closed, riding as many rides as we could.

We watched the fireworks, and Madelyn kept saying 'Pop!' when they would go off.

(photo from -Phone)

The girls and I rode the Carrousel as our last ride before we headed out of the park.

Brian took the other 4 on one last roller coaster.

Ashlyn was asleep in the stroller before we made it to the exit.

We drove home in 2 1/2 hours!

(That has never happened for us before-we always hit some sort of traffic!)

Everyone was in bed by 1:00am....and slept the next morning until almost 11:00am.

Of course expect for poor Brian who had to go to work that day!

Fun, fun day!

GREAT Weekend!

Summer Rain

Today we had some rain....

 It was coming down HARD, and the kids were so excited to get out there in it!

 I LOVE a good rain storm in the summer!

 We were drying out our towels from the pool....oops.

 A neighbor called me just as the kids ran out to see if Ashlyn wanted to play at their house.

I told him they were all on the deck in the rain.

His kids showed up 60 sec. later to join in the fun!

Happy Raining Day!!!

Hill Cumorah Pageant!

Last week we drove to upstate New York to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant.

We took the kids several years ago,

but they were young (2 not even born yet), and we thought it was time to go again.

 We took the scenic route up along the Finger Lakes.

It was a beautiful drive.

We arrived Thursday evening with enough time for dinner and pool time before bed!

Friday morning we got up and headed straight for Palmyra.

We wanted to visit the Sacred Grove first.

Our hope was that they would be most reverent first thing in the morning.

 It was a great visit.

(although, not without some complaints that they couldn't 'play' in the woods)

Lots of sweet moments though!

 After the Grove, we visited the homes that Joseph Smith lived in.

 First was the family's log home they built when they first moved to Palmyra.

 I pointed out to the kids that this one room was the Kitchen, dinning room, Living Room, and Family room to the Smith's and their 9 children!

 The upstairs bedroom where Joseph slept with his 5 brothers.

(2 of the sisters slept in the back room, and the youngest downstairs near their parents)

This is the room that the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph in.

Then on to the Smith Frame Home...

We came back to the hotel for naps in the afternoon, 

and the maid had a fun 'dog towel' waiting on the bed.

Then off to the pageant!

We had saved some seats earlier in the day, 

but were told to be there 2 hours before the show started or they'd be given away.

So, we picked up a picnic dinner, and ate on the grass while waiting.

Morgan with some of the Nephite ladies.

It was fun to visit with the cast as they walked around before the show.

There were whole families that came out from Washington State, or Idaho to volunteer in the Pageant.

They said the youngest cast member was 6 months old. What a fun thing to do!

Duncan and Madelyn with 'Moroni'.

We also got to see some friends from our ward up there too-that was fun!

Then, at 9:15pm the show began!

Lehi, Nephi, and Sam

The ship Lehi's family traveled to the America's in.

Abinidi, after warning King Noah

The crucifixion of Christ.

Christ appears to the Nephites after his resurrection.

Christ blesses the children.

Moroni and his father Mormon, as he's telling him to keep the record safe.

Joseph Smith receiving the golden plates from the Angel Moroni on the Hill Cumorah.

It was a fantastic performance, and my favorite part of the day was when Ronan turned to me half-way through the pageant and asked "When is this over?"

I sighed, thinking he was going to complain.

"I don't know, son.", I say.

"Because I don't want it to end!"

"This is GREAT! Are you feeling the spirit?!"

"Yes, Ronan, I am."

Perfect.