Week of fun

We had Rylan with us all week.  We had a great time hanging with him. 

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It was a hot week so we played in the sprinkler and with the water table

On Saturday we went to the Arboretum.  It was really hot, but we had fun.  We went with the Cruz and Clark family.

The sun was really bright, but thought it was still a funny pic.  :)

My kids love the tree house.

It was a fun busy week.  I am sad to see summer ending so soon.  I am not ready for school to start.  I guess I better soak up the time that I have now.  :)

Our Week

We finished up swim lessons for the summer.  Both boys advanced to the 4th station and are getting close to the fifth.  They had a great time.  Leah and Evan did a good job hanging with me while waiting for their brothers.

Leah and Evan enjoyed a picnic during swim lessons.

In preparation for our relay on Saturday we ran Duck Creek then played at the creek for awhile.  We have had amazing weather this summer!  I have loved summer this year!

On Friday we lost Johnny in a car accident.  We are all heart broken.  He was 18 Years old and a great kid.  We had a great time with him at the last family reunion and so glad that we did.  We miss him.  I didn't take very many photos at the reunion, so I had to pick a group photo with him in it.  We had a great time playing games with him.

Team: How the West was Run

This year I traded out Michael and Tony for Joshua and Dallin.  The boys did great.  The relay was 2 miles each leg.  The weather was perfect!  There was a super hero theme, which the kids loved.

In and Out gave out burgers to the participants.  It was so yummy and awesome!

Leah was my only kid this time to run the 1K.  She looked great in her costume and ran the whole way by herself!

Joshua started out for our team and handed off to me.  He got big cheers from the crowd.  I handed off to Dallin.  Dallin and Michael ran together.  Don't they look great!  :)  It was really fun for me to run with my boys.  They were so proud of themselves.

In the afternoon we went to Klyde Warren park with the Cruz family to see what the fuss was about.  :)

We had a good time playing in the water.

The kids tried their hand at the piano.

We had a good time at the park and it had lots to offer.  We were reminded however that we are not really city people.  There are just so many people there and not a lot of green grass.  I was even interviewed by the local news.  We walked around downtown and went home.  It was a nice family day.

Michael the Carpenter

Michael made us a new bed.  I am loving it!  He did a great job.  I love the natural look of wood, so I told him not to stain it.  

He worked in the heat of Texas to get it done, and now people have asked for him to make one for them.

Michael helped Tony make his own bed.  They stained theirs and it looks awesome!  Michael is a man of many talents!  :)

We also got to see my Aunt Karin and Uncle Bobby yesterday and cousin Angel.  It was fun to sit, talk, and eat.

Happy Birthday Dallin!

Dallin had a Birthday!  He  turned six years old.  We are very proud of him.  He is so kind and thoughtful.  At times he can be down right belligerent, but his thoughtfulness more than makes up for it.  He will be going into the first grade.  Currently he loves Star Wars, Power Rangers, playing soccer, and swimming.

Dallin asked for pop tarts for his Birthday.  Easy enough for me, I guess.  :)

Dallin asked for a Power Ranger cake with real Power Rangers on it.  He aslo got wonderful gifts from family and friends.  He was very pleased.  For Dinner he asked for McDonalds, so that is what he got.

We celebrated on Saturday by going to Little Elm beach.  We had a blast with family and friends.  We are grateful they drove out with us to spend the day.

We were on Lake Lewisville.  This beach had real sand.  It was messy but fun.

We played a little soccer, played in sand, ate, and swam.

Michael was pulling the kids on the board.  He is really sore today.  ha ha

Good times with friends and family!  

Brinkerhoff Family Reunion

We had a great time at the Brinkerhoff family reunion.  We drove for two days to get to Nevada in a rented 12 passenger van with my Sister.  We stopped on our way there to stay the night with Michael's brother Paul.  He was a great host.  It was great to see where he lives and visit for a bit.  My grandparents lent us their trailer so we were living in luxury.  :)  The food was delicious.  My Mom and Aunts made wonderful food.  We ate like Kings and Queens. It was so fun to hang with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, parents, and siblings.

I am having all kinds of trouble with blogger today, so this post will be all over the place, but the pictures will be up.

I finally got a four generation picture.  I love it!

On the 4th of July my kids got to be in the town parade.  It was an agricultural theme.  Joshua is a carrot, Dallin is corn on the cob, Leah is a flower, and Evan is a bee.  When my Mom was little they would get 50 cents and a popsicle for being in the parade.  Well, several years later my kids got 50 cents and a posicle for being in the parade.  They loved it!  They were even interviewed for the paper.  :)

We have several July Birthday in the family.  There were 8 of them all together.  We had a big Birthday for all of the July people.  Aunt Lori made a cake for each one.  Dallin loved all of his gifts and attention.  

Once again things are out of order, but I am too frustrated to fix it anymore.  On our way home we drove through Phoenix to see Quinn since he couldn't make the reunion.  It was great to see him an see where he lives.  He was a very gracious host.  We had two kids throwing up on the way home, so we were able to get everyone cleaned up there before driving the 15 hours home.

We had lots of games and activities at the reunion.  This was Michael's activity.  The boat regatta.  Everyone had fun.  Michael ended up being champion.  I put on a 5K  which Jenny won.  Joshua ran it in 31 minutes and Dallin in just under 40 min.  Jason took the men's devision.  We made stones  and Christmas ornaments.  We played lots of ping pong, horse shoes, crochet, and volley ball.  Michael had everyone playing rocket ball as well.  There was never a dull moment.

We played softball.  My team won!  

The kids swam in the local pool and little pool.  The boys really loved the slip and slide.

My family and my wonderful grandparents.

My Uncle and my cousins race.  My kids loved sitting in their race cars.

They even loved the truck that hauls the race cars.

Since we live in the city we aren't exposed to tractors as much, so my kids love to climb into the tractors.

All of the Birthday kids with their cakes.

Leah is playing in the misting hose.

We dyed bandanas.  

More parade photos.

What I do best is sit around and chat.  

Sometimes Michael and I can pose in a picture together.  :)

Evan after the parade.

My amazing Grandparents and all of thier grandkids minus 2.  Loren and Quinn are missing.

We had a wonderful time.  I love family!!