July 4th and the Bees baseball game

This is how it ended.

With two tuckered out kids who missed all the fireworks.

It's awesome to go to a baseball game on the 4th, cuz you have the best spot to watch the after game fireworks.

Couple of drawbacks...

1. You can't bring your own food. So you don't really get to stuff yourself with all that yummy snack food and 4th of July food, unless you want to fork over a fortune for baseball food.

2. Extra innings!

The game went into the 13th inning and we still lost. Fireworks didn't start until almost 11:30!!

Hence, this...

Soooo...
We had plenty of time to mess around with our friends, the Merrills, who came too.

It's the bottom of the 9th, bases are loaded, 2 outs, score's tied...everything hangs on this next pitch from our star pitcher Owen...

It was a bit long for our British Mo who is not a huge baseball fan...not really knowing a whole lot about it. You mean they still aren't done?
We didn't care who won by this time...someone, Please...get a run!!

Did I mention it was crowded and sitting on the hill of grass you need Butt cleats so you don't slide down. We are working on that invention and it will be available soon to the public for the low low price of $19.95.

Either Butt Cleats or the wegde shaped chair... we're still working on that.

action figures, cowboys hats, cap guns....not accepted

Okay, When they are 14, action figures just don't cut it, though I happen to know there's still an action figure junky lurking in there somewhere. I have seen how he has to take Garrett's and Owen's and inspect them, seeing if all the joints move satisfactorily.

And he had fun shooting those cap guns, too.


Justin had to wait 6 days to get any presents, since he left for scout camp the morning of his 14th birthday.


But it was worth the wait!

He got a total of 2 gifts.

Ipod Touch....
....Pretty cool.


and just about equal in coolness, and value really...


The SHAMWOW!!!

We've had almost as much fun with both. They soaked up water over and over yesterday.
"Oh, no! We spilled water!
Whatever shall we do?
ShamWOW!"


All you can do with the ipod touch is....well a lot more than I ever knew.

Uh...and I have to ask...
Not so distant future heart throb hear?
Ahhhh...my sweet boy, Justin.

He's THREE!

Oh my Goodness.

Can there be a cuter Ketchup smeared cowboy?

Pew! Pew!

Stick em' up!
Pew!
Umph! No mercy!

Why can't they stay little?

...when a cowboy hat, two cap guns and a holster, and a couple of action figures
is all they want for their birthdays?

Here's Flash! It's a bigger one than Garrett's so now we have
Daddy Flash and Baby Flash.


(very tough Baby Flash.)I hear them playing...

"Dad, help me!"

Daniel: "What d'ya need?"

"NO! We're playing!"

Daniel: "Oh, Sorry."

"Dad, help me! Ugh!"
Lots of sound effects and spitting...
"I'm coming, Son! Here!"
Lots more spitting and sounds from the mouth.
I didn't even bake him a cake.
He's number 5...
we only had about 45 minutes to celebrate his birthday
between Daniel getting home from work and Ian going to scouts.
We met Dad at Carl's Jr. for dinner and presents,
picked up some cupcakes on the way home..

and he was thrilled.
Sigh...

Future heart throb here?

Now just picture the sunset in the background
and maybe he would be riding a horse.

Changing the wheel

Essentials for changing the tire on a mini motorcycle...or whatever you call this thing.
You definitely need:

Concentration.

Teamwork.

A Mom to take lots of pictures.

Help from your 3 year old brother.

And a Dad to put it back together.

Taking it off was the kids' job.
Daniel probably should have watched them a little more closely.
It would have been easier to put it back on if he knew where all those parts went.

But of course...he got it.

He always does.

Told ya'

See what I mean about the rolli pollies?

In the middle of sliding on the neighbors party blow up water slide...Garrett had to stop and inspect the rollie pollies.

SIR, YES SIR!

He wore this hat for a week!

Rolli Pollies

Rolli Pollies... (how would you spell that?)

...are the best bug in the world!!



My kids get hours of enjoyment out of looking for, catching, and playing with these bugs.

Sometimes the poor little bugs...don't make it.
That can be kinda sad.
But there are always plenty more.