No wonder she doesn't eat her lunch!

This is how I found Kate in the kitchen yesterday. She was keeping very busy eating these doggy snacks. I said, "Ew! Kucka! We don't eat that! That's kucky!" She shook her head "no" and I said, "Do you like that?" She shook her head "yes" and smiled a big, bacon-y, happy smile!

Back to school

Just had to post these pictures of the boys on their first day back. Landon got the really "cool" man teacher and Daniel didn't get the teacher he didn't want, so they were both happy! I love this time of year! I'll post Emma's first day next week!

One more day. One more day. One more day.

My boys go back to school tomorrow. Emma goes next week!

The boys birthday....finally

I know this is now a week late, but better late than never! We celebrated their birthday at the reunion and a couple of weeks ago they got to go with their good buddies to Seven Peaks. We told them that was part of their birthday. On their actual birthday we went to Fuddruckers for dinner and then bowling at the new Jack and Jill lanes a block from our house. Yesterday they got to have their birthday date with Grandpa Kevin (dinner, shopping and watching Avatar on Grandpas awesome TV) and tonight we are celebrating with my family over at our house for dinner. Its really been a full week of fun! Last Sunday night I gave the boys a very special gift. Before my Mom died I asked her to write each grandchild a letter. She loved the idea and started writing. She started oldest to youngest and only made it through Landon and Daniel. She thought she would have more time. The letters were short and sweet, but so very special. We were all crying and it was a very spiritual experience for our family. I'm going to put their letters in frames. What a wonderful birthday gift from Grandma Judy!

McAllister Reunion 2010

Today is Landon and Daniels birthday, but I will post about that tomorrow after we have taken pictures of the festivities. This past weekend was the McAllister reunion and we all had a great time. Emily and David (mostly Emily) planned it all and did a fabulous job. I wish I had taken more pictures of everything they did, but here are some of the highlights.

Other activities not pictured here:

* The birthday pinata that has become a tradition. It was Lightning McQueen.

* The countless craft projects that kept us all busy!

* The Cabin Bingo game I created last year that is always fun for the little ones.

* The yummy smores around the campfire!

* The meteor shower that was almost overshadowed by Daniels ginormous burps.

* The Jeopardy game that helped us all learn more about great grandpa McAllister.

* The Minute to Win It games that were so much fun for everyone- young and old!

* The delicious food that every one shared!

* The room we slept in- oh wait. We didn't sleep in. Kate was up crying about 80% of the first night. Miserable.

Emma during the cute skit the kids put on. She loved this bandana!

Landon was the hero in the play and Caden was the girl he ended up riding off into the sunset with!

See how they love each other?

It wouldn't be the reunion with out a big ride in the Mule! Richard is usually the designated Mule ride giver. What a good uncle and Dad!

Everyone did Wii bowling competitions and Emma won out of her age group and won out of everyone for the "big bowl"!

A great game of water balloon volleyball for the older ones while the younger ones made a water slide on the swingset.

Emily taught us how to make these adorable rosettes. These are the ones that I made and put on headbands. They look so cute on the girls!

And here they are modeling them!

The birthday boys. Daniel is 8, Super Cool Caden is 17 and Landon is 10. Isn't Caden cute? I always wonder what my boys will look like when they are 17!

Kate thought the high chair was much more fun to sit in without the legs!

Grandma and Grandpa with all the cousins.

This is the back view of the cabin. It really is a wonderful place!

I love this picture of Daniel. He was the only one in the whole shooting competition to actually hit the bullseye! And he did it twice!

Aye Chihuahua!!

After dinner last night Richard took Kate with him to go drop of some papers to a client. I expected him to be gone about 15- 20 minutes, so after an hour I decided to call him. He told me the people had some puppies and Kate just loved them and he visited and Kate was being cute and playing with the puppies, etc., etc.. He said he was just turning down our street when all of a sudden this is how the phone conversation went.

"Oh my gosh, oh- oh- there's something. in . our. car."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Oh my gosh- I don't know what it is. Its an animal. Its in our car! I'm pulling in the driveway- come out quick!"

Turns out one of the little chihuahuas (not a cute puppy- more of a rat-like one) sneaked into the van and hitched a ride. Richard could only see its back end while we were talking and he thought maybe it was some kind of rodent and was going to bite Kate or something. I asked him how he could not know he had a chihuahua in the car!! He had to make a quick trip back to return the dog! So funny!

Singin' in the rain

Yesterday we took a trip to Mt. Pleasant. We went up the canyon and had a little picnic at the power plant picnic ground under a darkening sky. We loaded the kids, cousin Kjerstin and the puppy into the back of the mule and went for a ride. Not too long after we started, the rains came down and the floods came up! Seriously, raining cats and dogs!! Then the lightning and the thunder! We tried to park under a tree cover and wait it out. Fortunately the mule has a cover over the roof, but that only made it worse when Richard lurched it forward after sitting for 15 minutes and a big, cold wall of water poured over us and the kids. Kate was crying and saying "scared", the kids were screaming with laughter and joy and Richard and I could just look at each other and laugh! After about a half hour the rain let up and Kate and I took a nap in the car. Richard and the kids had a fun ride together and we were able to have a great dinner with family. It was a fun and memorable day!