Father's Day

I always feel like my hubby's getting shafted on Father's Day cause it's always Stake Conference. He doesn't feel that way however, I just think we miss out on the cute primary kids singing for their dads. I know, the kids sang last week, and they get cookies after conference is over, but it's just not the same. I mean, it's Father's Day AND Stake Conference. Which one is top priority?! Awwww, the torment this causes my little pea sized brain.

So this year we didn't go to Stake Conference. I know, the shock, the blasphemy, the total indencency. Will I get to keep my recommend now? We decided to stay at home (and it had nothing to do with the fact that we were up till 1 in the morning.) The kids and I presented daddy with our gifts, which he loved. One of the gifts, however, was too short. Am I the only one that didn't know ties came in lengths? I suppose it makes a certain amount of sense, but sheesh. So I take it back the following day, but by then the tie rack at Kohls had been demolished, and there were no purple ties left, and short ones at that. Yes, I said purple. And it was a beautiful purple. And Doug loved it. Oh well, he likes his shorts I got in lieu of the tie. But anyway, I digress. So for lunch on Father's day, we decided to take a picnic to the new Rancho park by the new Lowes. Did we know it had a water park there? Nope, as the pictures can attest. It was fun watching the boys just get sopping wet and the girls sort of piddling around in it until they too decided to just have at it. All in all, a good day. Doug had steak for dinner so he was happy. (Steak at my house is rare because I don't like steak, and I do the grocery shopping.)









Do you see Zak's pants hanging below his diaper? Just wait and see what happened to the poor boy.




And it begins....



Going.....



Going....



Going....



And....



THUD!!!



Didn't his parents try to help hime? Didn't they see his need? Didn't they foresee the calamity befalling this child as his pants strangled his wee little legs? Well, yup, they sure did, but they were having too much fun taking pictures and laughing. Luckily, the fall didn't hurt him and his owies were oohed and aahed over. And since there was no towel to wrap him up in (since we had no idea there was a water park there!!!) we did what any other self-respecting parent would do.

We used the tablecloth.



And then we changed his incredibly heavy, I swear 10 pound diaper. Doug couldn't resist getting a picture of this delightful rear end. Why do you suppose bums are only cute when you're little?



All in all, a very entertaining Father's Day!!

Pictures Galore!!

I am soooo loving my new camera!!!! I can't say enough great things about it, and I know that there is still so much to learn, yet the camera allows a complete novice like me to take some really great shots. I have to give credit to Doug, however, for taking some really cool ones too!


So bear with me with all the pictures. They are pretty cool though!

These pics were taken the day after I got the camera. Basically just me messing around with the settings.



Big surprise right? Zak without clothes or shoes. Yep, just the way I like him. I envy that kid his freedom sometimes.



As I was herding everyone inside (cause I can never go or do anything BY MYSELF) something on the lawn caught my eye. Naturally I took a picture. I walk over to it and I discover this.



Yes, it's our potty seat. Nope, I sure don't know how it got outside. I AM sure all the credit goes to Zak, but I really have no idea who the culprit is cause I was so into my new camera. I suppose that the kids could've gotten hit by oncoming traffic for all the attention I was paying them. Darn my new camera! Wait, I didn't mean it...I still love you best! This here potty seat is about to become Zak's new friend next month.




I couldn't resist trying the camera out while Zak was in the bath. He decided by the end of the "photo shoot" he'd had enough. "No more pictures mommy. I done!"






Friday we went down to Great America for the day. We had an awesome time! Doug's mom went with, even though she wasn't sure her house would be standing by the time we got back. What a trooper! We just kept praying the fire would somehow turn and go up the other side of the canyon. Luckily she had family that ran up there and grabbed all the important stuff when they started evacuating people. Fortunately the fire did turn and her house was saved. A lot of other people weren't that fortunate.



The first ride was the Merry Go Round. I always feel like this ride is a waste of time, much like the ferris wheel, but the kids won't be little forever. Sooner than I'm ready, I know, they'll be all grown up and the merry go round will get walked by, with nary a parting glance. They'll be on to bigger, better, and faster, and the Merry Go Round will be something that I will look at and remember when. So we'll enjoy it while it lasts!



This picture is Doug telling me to go on the other side and take pictures. I didn't want to, I was happy where I was. I had some nice shade, the lighting was good, and I was just happy to be spending the day with my family. Consequently, every time they came around he was pointing and yelling for me to move, so that I had to delete HALF the Merry Go Round pictures, and you know how I feel about the Merry Go Round. (Sniff) I would've yelled back "Just let the professional take whatever pictures she wants to!" but I refrained. I didn't want the people standing next to me wonder about my sanity, cause I care what perfect strangers think of me.




My baby with my baby's daddy.



The kids wanted to try their hands at navigating little boats on the river below.





It's so hard when you're little! Andon had to peer through the wood slats just to see where his boat was.



Zakry just gave up and watched everyone else. I just love his backside!! It speaks to me. (LOL)



This is the cool "Survivor Ride" with pyrotechnics too. It looks very tame, but it really is quite the ride. One of my favorites!
(This is us in line.)



We're the bottom right. It's the girls and I and Doug's mom, not necessarily in that order cause you can't see the picture when you add captions. You were such a trooper Collette! (This is a woman who gets very sick on motion rides, but still went on. You may be able to see her with her eyes closed. Yep, she closed them pretty much the whole time AND was wishing the ride would just be over soon. I guess I shouldn't have bullied her so much. Just kidding!)



There's just something about that fire that really makes you feel you're on survivor island. (did you catch the sarcasm?)
All in all, still a great ride, even with the cheesy fireworks.



Most of you probably know how much Andon loves Sponge Bob. When we saw him walking around Andon became so excited. We honestly didn't think he would get close, cause he can be such a woose sometimes, but he surprised us. I didn't get a picture, but he shook his hand and talked with him as well. I know, why didn't I get a picture? It's anyone's guess.



I just can't get enough of my baby and my baby's daddy.



Andon and Zakry have this thing with airplanes, helicopters, and if you're Zak, motorcycles. When they saw this airplane ride, they got so excited and ran right over to get in line.







Doesn't it bite when they close the gate RIGHT before it's your turn to get on?!! The above pictures were the boys and Doug AFTER they got on, but the below shots are what they did when they realized that it wasn't quite their turn. So funny!!




Just thought I'd throw this one in. Have I said how much I love this camera?!



Andon LOVED the swings!




I know we look bored, but they were taking SO LONG to start the ride. Sheesh! This ride was rode by myself and Brittnee, because Teaghan was too chicken. She did eventually ride it by the end of the day though. Brittnee on the other hand wanted to ride EVERYTHING, but couldn't because she wasn't tall enough. She is such my daughter. Teaghan is Doug's. That story in a few moments.



This was my favorite ride of the day. The Delirium. Later on that day, (no this is not the story I was referring to a moment ago) as me and Doug's mom sat and waited for Teaghan and Doug to ride, there was a park speaker right near us that was blaring music. Doug's mom commented that it was enough to make one delirious. Reason being is that we had to wait a while for Doug and Teaghan to get on. Right before their turn they had some maintenance people come out and run the ride, without passengers, twice. Mind you, this was right before Teaghan and Doug got on. I commented to Collette, "Don't you think it's a bad idea to be the 'test subjects' right after a maintenance check?"




Andon and Zak really wanted to go see Sponge Bob 3D. Of course, 3D cannot be seen without the 'special' 3D glasses. As these pictures were being uploaded into our computer, I asked Doug why they're all looking up like they're amoebas. They're completely comatose! Were they tired....or what? He said they were watching the sponge bob cartoon while we were waiting. Now you know why I let the kids watch sponge bob at home.






So here's the story, well, mini-story. The Demon, as you see below, is the first upside coaster the girls have been on. Brittnee was super excited, Teaghan- extremely nervous. So nervous that she began crying. She refused to ride. Britt on the other hand did and loved it, as we knew she would. We kept telling Teaghan to just try it. She was adamant about not getting on. Doug was the same way. He didn't ride a coaster till he was, I hope this is right, 13 years old. 13 years old! What a pansy I said! I, on the other hand, rode them at the same age as Brittnee. I loved the thrill. I CRAVED the thrill. (okay, that makes me sound crazy, but I really do enjoy a good adrenaline rush.) Teaghan is like her dad. Now though, Doug loves extreme rides, has from the moment he got over his fear of coasters.



So we didn't push it on her. By mid-day, she finally rode. She was crying as we first got on, but she overcame her fear and we are so proud of her! She rode the Demon 3 other times that day. We tried to get her on the other coasters, but she wouldn't have any of it. Baby steps, baby steps.