Here's the big brother/body guard team for the future Elizabeth (Ellie) Ray Hair...
Needless to say we are All ELATED at the news of a BABY GIRL!!!
This past saturday our family canned apples ALL day. Everyone had a job. Brian and Jonathan picked the apples, Sam washed them, Zac used the apple-peeler-corer-slicer, and Landon helped load them onto the trays to be dehydrated. Natalie stuck with me all day. We made apple sauce and apple pie filling. After dinner we went up the canyon and roasted marshmellows and played frisbee. I love Saturdays like this!! Work hard then play hard!
Our kids had fun this week working on various projects...thought we'd share. For a 6th grade school project, Natalie was to come up with an original way to make a rocket.(The school theme this year is Above and Beyond.) She melted crayons and painted this rocket. She won 2nd place! Way to go! Sam started pre-school this fall and loves to paint. I love when he comes home and describes what his painting is about. Here is his hand(on the left) and a flower. Next, Brian and Zac were just being funny with a ball that had been pulled apart. Lastly, Zac made an awesome bird house in Scouts. He was so proud of it.
Landon feels like a part of the "big kids" now. He goes to school all day where he eats lunch and takes spelling tests. Also, his first tooth fell out! He learned pretty quick that eating apples after losing a tooth just isnt as easy. Whose mysterious hands are those anyway?
Our Angel-boy turned 2 (ok, so it was back in August... I've just been out of it for a few months)! He loves the Backyardigans, and Grammie and Grandad gave him a Backyardigan's DVD. Oh my, was he in heaven. Who cares about the cool new trycicle, just give me the picture of Tyrone and Pablo. Natalie made his cake and decorated it too. She is wonderful! We love you Ammon!!
Neal took us out on the boat again, Andy was able to go which was a ton of fun. Neal is so fun with these kids.ESPECIALLY the BIG KIDS.
Brian turned 10 while we were at the ranch. He got a fishing pole and a tackle box. He was able to test drive the fishing pole later that day.Grandad had given him a cowboy hat the day before, oh my, was he in heaven. Happy Birthday Brian!! Also, the day before we were leaving the ranch, Landon went down on a long board and wiped out on the asphalt. Ooooooo-eee...gives a Mom the chills to even think about. He left quite a bit of skin behind. Once again we used Carrie's super-glue to put back together a chin this time. We know what to bring next time we go to the ranch!
YEEE-HAW! Bow to your partner! We had an unforgettable evening dancing and playing in the barn. A perfect way to celebrate Pioneer Day.
Here is the butter making contest! We did family against fam...really fun!
The men had a contest shucking corn! Hilarious!
JULY 24th We had a fantastic day with everyone. The best part of our family's day was seeing Grandad's car coming down the driveway...carrying our DAD! Andy flew in early Thurs. morning. What a sight!!! We were so excited to be reunited and have him there for the day's festivities. The girls (Natalie, Sadie and Aubrey) planned a fun treasure hunt for the kids. Here is Natalie waiting for her part of the program. They did a great job.
Sunday evening we went to Holly's and spent some time with them. They have such a great family. Natalie and Sadie switched us and went to Grammie and Grandad to be with them(where they were totally pampered I'm sure). The boys had a great time playing with Aidan and Brendan. Unfortunately Ammon got sick while we were with them. Sorry Holly! Bummer! We headed up to the ranch Tuesday evening. Wednesday, the boys got up early and went and rounded up cows with Weston. (ONe of the great high-lights of their trip) Everyone scattered and played. Zac and Bri spent most of the day down at the creek catching minnows. They came in for dinner and Brian put a jar down on the kitchen counter and asked "Can we cook these up for dinner?" Would have been a pretty good appetizer. Later that night I was trying to put Sam and Ammon to sleep and Brian came in the room crying and holding his side. I lifted up his shirt and he was bleeding right below his right hip bone. He had jumped from one bunk bed to the other and fell and landed on the ladder and split open the skin. He definitely needed stitches. I layed him on the bed and tried to calm him down. He was pretty upset(come to find out later it was because he thought his playing time at the ranch was over). Weston, Carrie and I then operated on him. I cleaned the wound, Carrie held the lamp and Weston applied the Super-glue. OH MY! DRAMA. Needless to say he slept good that night and was great in the morning.
We stayed with Mom and Dad until Sunday evening. The boys had a great time at Grammie and Grandad's. Grandad went out of his way to help the boys have a good time. Brian rode a bike that Grandad went and retrieved from their storage unit. He also made us a make shift bike/wagon pull. I road the bike and pulled Sam and Landon in the wagon while Zac held on as he roller bladed. Feeeeuu. Ammon was content to play in their rocks. I felt totally spoiled by Mom and Dad. They are really good at that. By the way...check out Mom and Dad's garden!! Dad worked so hard to transform his yard from a rock garden to a beautiful veggie garden.
