Block Party

2011 annual summer block party.

Picnic dinner: sloppy joes, salads, and treats.

Jen, Ryann, Bonnie (Bob), Charles, Phoenix, Blake

Great visiting time with neighbors.

Phoenix's face painted as a bunny.

"The balloon man"  Brother Ludlow

Blake's spiders, Ryann and Hailee got butterfly's (That I painted.  Sis. Ludlow needed some help, so I did.  Who knew I could do simple face painting.)

Close ups of their cute paintings.

Bunco

Food, friends, and fun.

Once a month, guaranteed girls night out?  Yes please.

A few years ago, my sister-in-law, Jeanette, asked if I would like to sub in her bunco group.  I didn't know what Bunco was, but sure.  Dice rolling game with dinner and treats, I'm in.  Soon enough, I was a regular.  Too bad everyone lived so far away from each other.  After a while longer, I started inviting a couple of my friends to be subs.  But same thing, everyone lived so far away.  Next thing I knew, we were asking a bunch of friends who lived close, if they would like to start a new bunco group.  We have now been playing with an awesome group for close to 2 years.  Not that the other group wasn't awesome, it's just a lot easier when we only have to drive 2-5 minutes to each others houses.

Last night we had bunco at my house... thanks again ladies for the fun.

Backpacking Overnighter

2 weeks after girls camp, we took a few young women and leaders on a backpacking overnighter.  Makes me really remember why I love the great outdoors.

Ember, Vickie, Noel, Carrie

Ready to head out.

We hiked from Trial Lake to Duck Lake, about 3.75 miles.  Everyone set up camp, then Judy, Julie, Damon, and I went off on a day hike.  We hiked passed Island Lake, then towards Fire Lake.  We couldn't find the actual trail so we bushwhacked a bit and finally made it (thanks to GPS).  Then we headed around Fire Lake back to Duck Lake.  We ended up hiking another 4 miles or so.

When we arrived back at camp, the others had already made a nice fire.  We relaxed, made some yummy dinner, then told stories and talked until late.  We were able to see a really cool full moon.

In the morning, my awesome hubby, made a fire, and heated water for breakfast.  After everyone finished breakfast, we packed up and headed home. 

On the trail.  Julie, Jen, Tonya

Shantel, Katie, Emily

We took a different way back to the trail head, so this time we passed Long Lake.

The same route that Damon and Elroy passed 2 years before on their trip up to Big Elk Lake.

Long Lake panorama 2011 (Jen, Judy, Damon)

Long Lake panorama 2009 (Damon and his brother Elroy)

Elroy backpacking with Damon by Big Elk Lake in 2009. 

Eating Worms

Hailee: "Mom will you come to school today to watch me eat a worm?"

Really, this is what kids do at school these days?

Hailee's class has been reading:

Then they did some studies and experiments with worms, watched the movie, and today they get to eat them.  Washed, breaded, then fried.

Mrs. Robert's class has been eating fried worms for the last 5 years.  Why?  I have no idea, but I'll be there to watch.

Waiting on the school grass for their turn.

Maybe add a little BBQ sauce or mustard?

Cory (tried it with soy sauce), Brycen, Jordan, Rodrigo

Priscilla, Hailee, Sally, Kaylee

EWWW!  The worst part was watching her pick it out of her teeth.

Sebastian, Kyle, Sheldon, Ariana (tried it with mayo), Kallie, Lollie, Gladys

Kaiden, Jacob, Mikey, Hailee (completely grossed out), Corbin.

Surprisingly the girls ate more than the boys, the boys just spit them out. 

I guess this could be considered to be a good experiment, but really I think I'll pass on the eating worms part.

Sore Toes

"Put your shoes on!"

I don't know how many times I have to tell my kids this, but maybe one day they will learn.

A couple of weeks ago, we were going to go for a family walk.  Blake insisted on wearing his sandals.  We weren't even into our walk 2 minutes, when he starts freaking out.  "I'm bleeding, I'm bleeding."  That kid could break his leg, "I'm okay", but as soon as he sees blood, tears.

Dr. Mom to the rescue.

Check out that little face... he is trying so hard to be tough.

3 days later... Ryann wanted to run outside with no shoes on.

Again, Dr. Mom to the rescue.

Now that is one sad little girl.

I feel a little sad when the kids get hurt, but on the other hand, "I told you so".

New Owners of 4 Diesel Engines

Sometimes I really wonder about the man I married...

While at girls camp he mentioned that he was going to bid on a set of old diesel engines.

"Okay, you do that"  He never really gets anything, so I wasn't worried.

When I got home from girls camp, he informed me that he was going to take a day off work, to drive to Colorado, to pick up the 4 engines that he bought.  REALLY?

Yep, I now have 4 hummer engines, and I don't have a single hummer.

He says he will put one in our wheeling blazer, then sell the others, if they work.

IF THEY WORK?

But he is so proud of his great find. 

Damon was playing with his new "toys" when he was supposed to be babysitting the kids while I was at a meeting.  Here is what the kids were actually doing.

Ryann in her tutu pushing Phoenix in the stroller.

Blake riding his dump truck with a blanket cape and safety glasses.

Ryann and Hailee's self portraits. 

Phoenix standing way too close to the street.

But don't worry folks... he got one of the engines started.

 

(for a better video, go here)

I know that one day I will appreciate all his harebrained ideas, but right now, I'm still not sure.

I guess I do have to give him some credit, he started the stupid thing while it is still in the can it came in.  That's pretty impressive.