They're Ba-ack!!!

Well, the Canadians are BACK!!!! At least some of them. Trev's sister Jen & Bro-in-law Kevin came down for a little over a week and we have been having a blast (which is why I haven't been the best blogger lately). I'm a little behind so I'll start with last Friday, a.k.a. Pioneer Day. I love July! Any excuse to get together for BBQs and fireworks!


Here's the kiddos and Vickie swinging at Grampa & Gramma Barnes'.



Jace loved Sarah. The kids got some firework ball things that when you bang them together, they make a snap. Jace was in heaven.

Brooklyn giving Noah some kisses...

Brooklyn was a little unsure of her cousins and decided to be really clingy. I kind of enjoyed it and have got some really good cuddles out of it!

Jace was so excited for the "Christmas Lights" which is what he had been calling them all week. He wanted to look at the package of fireworks everyday...and was so excited. When it came down to it, he was scared of the loud noises and wanted to stay in the garage. He settled for sitting on Sarah's lap...

Brooklyn was front and center. She's so much braver than Jace.

Jace eventually wanted to sit on the front porch and covered his ears the whole time.

Jace was all over the "Sprinkles" too. Every night when we go to bed we have to say that we're thankful for the sprinkles...

Here's the biggest kid of all. He made a special trip to Wyoming...and was in heaven...

Oh, and I've convinced Jen to get on the blogging bandwagon. Now we have to convince the rest of the Canadians to join. See them at http://jkklan.blogspot.com.

On Friday I called Tara up & told her to drop of Noah (aka "Baby Tara" as Jace calls him) so her & Wes could see the new Harry Potter movie. Although she was nervous leaving him with me (Hello! I do have two kids of my own! Maybe it's because she knows that we all love him a little too much!) she obliged and we got to spend several hours with her sweet boy. I was kind of bummed because I was making jam (7 batches of apricot freezer jam with apricots hand-picked [by me] from my parents yard. Anyone interested?) so Trev got to hog him all to himself until the kiddos woke up.

Here's uncle Trevor and Noah chillin' out watching some manly movie. (I'm sorry Wes & Tara, I hope Trevor's awful taste in movies doesn't rub off on your son!)

When Jace woke up he was pleased to see his favorite little guy. He just keeps saying over and over again "He's so cute!" He loves his tiny toes and tiny fingers and hates it when he cries. Noah is pretty patient with letting Jace hold his hands and feet, and touch his nose and head.

Here's a rare shot of Noah alone, although you can see Jace sitting right next to him. Pay attention to his shorts. We thought it would be funny to see if they would fit Brooklyn...

Not too much of a shocker....they fit!

And quite comfortably too! True, they are quite baggy on Mr. Noah, and reach down to his mid-calf, but still...

Gotta love the little pot belly!!! (Yes, I know she kind of looks Ethiopian and yes, I do feed her.)


Thanks to Tara & Wes for letting us get some "Noah Time". We're looking forward to your next date! Although I might have to fight other family members on baby sitting rights!

Pictures are Priceless

Yesterday we had an impromptu BBQ with some of my mom's side of the family. We don't get to see them nearly enough (pretty much weddings & funerals, unfortunately) and decided last minute that we would get together for a BBQ. I'm horrible and didn't have my camera out, but luckily, my cousin and uncle took some awesome pics of the kiddos!

Brooklyn

(My little piece of heaven on earth)

Mommy & Jace:

(Jace was being a poop about taking pictures, which is why there are only a couple of him)

Brooklyn & Wes

(One of her most favorite people in the world)

Trevor

(Like my cousin Stacey said, What's a BBQ without it's chief?! Thanks hun for the yummy food!!)

This has definitely increased my desire for a nicer camera. I like that my point-and-shoot camera is small, and mobile. But I need something nicer to take pictures of my beautiful babies!!!


This is the camera that I have my eye on. The Nikon D5000. I definitely don't have a lot of skill in this area. I would love to take a class on photography just so I can take better pictures of my fam. I need some input from all you camera savy people!

God Bless the USA!

I absolutely LOVE the Fourth of July! Parades, fairs, cotton candy, BBQs, fireworks, patriotic music, it doesn't get better than that! I know that I sound like a broken record, but everything is so much funner with kids too! I love watching them get excited and experiencing things for the first time, it's very refreshing!


We started the day in Tooele at the parade. Here are the kiddos with Trev and Marc waiting for the parade to start.

Jace's favorite thing by far at the parade was the flag he got. He waved it at everyone who passed by. (Now the flag has been turned into a wand, and Jace and Brooklyn point it at each other and say "Abra cadabra!")

Rylan was such a sweetheart at the parade. There were a lot of kids (and adults) that were getting to the candy faster than Jace could. Rylan would pick up candy and drop it in front of him and say "Look Jace!" so he could pick it up. I'm very disappointed I didn't get a picture of this lady at the parade who was at least 6-7 months pregnant. She was literally ripping candy away from the kids. I couldn't believe it! She almost did the splits fighting all the kids for a first-aid kit, it was crazy! I just don't understand some people.

Here's Jace and Daddy after the fair. Jace is holding his and Brooklyn's first pets: two African Dwarf Frogs named "Green" and "Froggie". Unfortunately last night we had a casualty but I don't think the kids have noticed yet. We have followed all of the "instructions", so maybe it was just "Froggie's" time to go.

In the evening we hit some BBQs and did some small fireworks. (Trevor was very disappointed he couldn't make it to Wyoming this year for the good stuff.) Here is Brooklyn watching all of the other kids with their sparklers. She was SO messy by the end of the day, but still cute none the less.

Jace LOVED the sparklers! In fact, now every time we say prayers, he makes me say that we're thankful for the "Sprinkles". Such a cutie..

We had such a wonderful 4th! It's nice to have a holiday to reflect on how lucky we are to live in this beautiful country!!

Oh CANADA!!!

Here's a shout out to all of the Canadians out there!!

Happy Canada Day!!

The kids are showing their Canadian Pride.

Yay!!!


Too cute for his own good.

Jace is trying to help Brooklyn shout "Hooray"!!



"Hooray!!!"