Three Day Weekend

We started out our 3 day weekend with a softball game on Saturday. It was Brad's birthday and Brad's office was playing the Fresno office in an annual softball game. Brad's brother Paul was playing on the Fresno team and Brad and his youngest brother Andrew were on the same team. We had not been to one so he wanted to go to this one. It was a good game our team won. Then they had a bbq and said they were going to play one more game. Well the next game they brought out a big keg and put it on second base, so anytime someone got to second they were supposed to drink the beer. They joked with Brad that since he doesn't drink he and his brothers would have to bat left handed or tie their shoe laces together, so that they would have the same disadvantage as all of them because they would be intoxicated. Wow. I decided to take the kids and go to Caden's baseball game. I didn't want my kids to see that, no way!! Brad ended up having to drive a bunch of the guys home since they were all waisted.

Brad got home around 7 and we missed our reservations for dinner, so we had a mini party for him at home then went to his parent's house to watch the UFC fights. I guess he had fun on his birthday softball and UFC fights not my idea of a great birthday but for him it was just fine!

On Sunday we did our traditional cemetery gathering with my mom's family. We go to two different cemeteries and put flowers on our family member's graves. I love going every year. Brad normally sits this tradition out. Since he hates cemeteries, so he had his traditional Sunday nap. There is a pond at one cemetery that every year my kids run right up to and Caden tries to pick up tadpoles, well this year he decided to join the tadpoles and take a dip with them. Right after I said "Caden don't put your hands in that water", he slipped in and was up to his waist in that yucky water. He stunk so bad he had to shower as soon as we got home!!!

This picture is for my sister.

Here is the group that made it out this year, plus Stacy who took the picture. We missed everyone else that couldn't come!

Monday was our Memorial Day party, this year it was at my Aunt Sharon's house. My kids love going to her house. Nixon is always scared of her dog, who is not even the least bit scary. I have to carry him from one chair to the next, I really need to get him used to dogs!! The kids had fun swimming and eating of course! I always love getting together just to chat.

My cousin Emilee's little boy is so cute, he wanted to be right by Caden the whole time. He likes that they have the same color hair.

Finally today we went to watch Caden get and award for being on the principles list all year and we sat at the assembly for over 2 hours!! It was so long, they gave out something like 350 awards. Nixon was not having a fun time watching with us!

I can't believe that this is the last week of school. I do have one question though why in the heck do they even have school this week it is all parties and clean out your desk all day. Why not just end it already. I guess the kids enjoy it, that's all that matters.

Happy 35th, Becky!!!

Happy 35th Birthday Becky! We are having a big party here to celebrate your birthday! Oh, maybe it is for Memorial Day, but we will still think of you! :) Have fun celebrating in Utah! We miss you!

Happy 35th, Brad!!!

Brad turned 35 today! Wow 5 more years and he is 40!!!! We kind of celebrated it last weekend so today will be full of baseball games and hopefully a nice dinner out. I am so thankful to have him as my husband. Happy Birthday Brad!! The kids and I love you!!!!

The Ellen Show

I have been so excited to go on the Ellen Show. We finally went today! We left last night and stayed in a hotel in L.A. We didn't have a hotel room yet so when we got to L.A we decided to go stay in one of the hotels close to Universal City Walk so we could catch a movie there and walk around. There are two hotels in walking distance to City Walk, they are The Hilton or the Sheraton. I called the Sheraton first and when I did the guy said I just have to warn you first that our hotel is having a convention this weekend and anyone who stays here has to be warned because it is an ADULT film convention. I quickly said, well okay then, we will be staying at the Hilton, that solves it!! Scary!!

This morning we woke up and ate at a really good breakfast spot and then got to the WB lot around 11am. Today was an outside show, they called it the Backlot Bash. Normally they have around 400 people in attendance but today they had almost 5,ooo people. When we got there, there were so many people already in line, they had to have been there since 3 in the morning! So they give us bracelets and as we go through the metal detectors a lady stops us and says "Is it just the 2 of you" and we say "yes" , so she takes our bracelets and marks a star on them and says get in line and listen for when we call for the people with the stars on their bracelets! We get in line and wait for about 4 hours! Finally we hear, "anyone with a star on their bracelets please get out of line and come to the new line" Brad and I make our way over to the new line as people are giving us dirty looks, and the people that must have gotten there at 3 in the morning are now behind us in line! They walk us to the outdoor stage and we got to sit 5 rows back from the stage!! It was awesome!

The line was insane!!

Brad and I right before the show started.

Ellen came out, I think she is funny. When she gets serious I don't care for her, but when she is being funny, she makes me laugh!

George Lopez came out and started spraying everyone with squirters.

No doubt was awesome, they only played old songs though, I wanted to hear some new stuff!

Gwen Stefani started to climb up this tower without anything holding her up there, I thought that was pretty crazy.

It was cool how close they were. Brad of course had to comment on how beautiful Gwen Stefani is, in person. In fact his exact words were, "I never realized how pretty she is, until I saw her up close and she is one pretty girl!!" Keep dreaming Brad :)

After the show I thought we would at least get a CD or something but all we got were free t- shirts, of which we didn't even pick up because we didn't want to wait in the huge line again! I guess they can't give away tons of stuff when they have 5000 people there. They did hand out Flip video cameras to anyone that caught a tennis ball that Ellen hit out into the crowd. We of course didn't get a tennis ball but the show was still fun to watch! I can't wait to watch it tomorrow on t.v.!!

Happy 7th Birthday Carsyn!!

Carsyn turned 7 today, I can't believe she is that old! She is such a fun girl and I am so blessed to have her as my daughter!!

Here she is at 18 months old.

She is always in a silly mood, except for when she and her brothers get into it!

She's getting so grown up.

This morning she had a little party with some cousins and a few friends. We had pizza and cupcakes and made some bracelets. Carsyn knew exactly what she wanted to do for her party, she saw it on a t.v. show and thought it was great, so she had everyone do a blindfolded makeover. One person is blindfolded and has to give the other person a makeover. It was pretty funny to watch. The girls had fun being able to paint all over eachother's faces.

Courtney painting Soleil's face.

Carsyn giving Ambri a makeover.

Even Amy got in on the action!

Someone really got Sydney.

Macy making Ashlyn beautiful.

After shots.

Macy

My mom let the girls make her over too.

Lookin good!

Happy Birthday Carsyn, We love you!!!

Bass Lake 2009

We just got back from Bass Lake with Brad's family, we had a ton of fun!! We look forward to going all year long and by the time we actually go the trip goes by so fast! We went to the lake every day and hung out every night.

Nixon loves riding on the boat. He is still to scared to ride on the tube.

The kids wanted to ride in the smaller boat so they could go really fast. The big boat doesn't go so fast when there is 20 other people on it.

Here is Brad and his brothers and dad.

All the kids liked making smores, but they didn't like to eat as many as they made. So all the adults were handed the leftovers. After one you tend to get a little sick!

Smores are soooo messy!

Paul and Mariela

Alyson and Joel

Everyday we went to the same spot to let the kids swim and play in the sand and rocks.

Here are the 4 year olds hanging out together, it was fun this year because they were old enough to entertain themselves. They had so much fun playing with sticks and getting dirty. Notice Nixon's shirt, not too clean!!!

The first night we get there we go out to dinner. Everything was closed by the time we got settled into our cabins and the only place open was a little pizza place which turned out to be pretty good. Brad's brother Greg designed the t-shirts this year and they turned out great. Here is Greg, Katherine, Gavin and Avery getting ready for some pizza.

Our family ready for some pizza too.

I know the pictures are a little out of order but oh well there are so many of them and it is a headache to try and arrange them in order!

My dad stopped by the day we were leaving and dropped off some bags that my mom made for my kids to keep them busy on our way to Bass Lake. She is awesome. The kids were so excited to open their bags and find snacks and fun things to do in the car. Thanks mom!

The kids slept so well! Caden didn't get up until 8:00 every morning!!!! He never does that he normally wakes up by 6:30 everyday!

I love this picture of Nixon and Carsyn.

Paul and Mariela brought their hammock and the kids pretty much took it over!

Here is little Kenny all wrapped up. Such a cutie!

More roasting marshmellows!

All of the women.

On Mother's day the guys made us breakfast and then said they were leaving to go out to breakfast, they didn't actually go but the sign they made was pretty cute.

The best looking cook I've ever seen!!

I had so much fun and can't wait until next year!