Family Pictures!

Last weekend we went to Oregon. Shane ran in a 200 mile relay race called Hood to Coast. Running from Mt. Hood to the ocean. He ran with some family and some of their friends. His brother and his wife Angela did a wonderful job putting it together and essentially hosting it for the team. Thanks guys! In total Shane ran 20 miles in something like 30 hours (your my hero, Babe). While this was transpiring I got to visit with one of my most favorite people in the whole world, Leah Remillet Stimmell. Amongst many talents Leah happens to be an AMAZING Photographer, lucky for me. She took our family pictures for us this year while we were there. Here is a sneak peek. Leahremilletphotography.blogspot.com
Don't forget to leave a comment for her.

Random Florida Pictures

This is the last of the Florida pictures. To the left we are waiting for the Endeavor space shuttle launch. We actually went 3 times to see it only to come home disappointed due to weather. The time we didn't make it, because the weather forecast gave no hope, they actually launched it. We were very disappointed.

We made some friends at church that invited me and the kids to their apartment pool. This was Bostons favorite thing to do in Florida. Brody preferred the beach to the pool. We went to both plenty.

Boston Turned 4!

End of July was Boston's birthday. We celebrated by opening presents, as soon as we all got up then had his favorite cereal apple jacks. We then sang Happy Birthday and ate a yummy ice cream cake. We hung out at the house and let him play with his new presents then went to the beach. We all had a great day celebrating BOSTON. We love you so much kid!

Home Sweet Home

We have been home for a little over a week now. We've had so much fun in Florida for the past two months, however it is so nice to be home. I forgot my cord for the camera at home so that's why I haven't been posting. So I'll try to catch up.

Here we are at St. Augustine beach. We were here about every other day, except on weekends we would explore some place new.

Oh Yes We Did...

... go to a Daytona Nascar race. On the 4th of July we went to the race with some of Shane's family. It was so fun, and Boston thought we were at the "Piston Cup Race." We had great box suite seats, which was a life saver for Boston, as the noise was just too much for him(understandably). It was so loud. However I was disappointed with the lack of mullets I was expecting. The lack of teeth made up for it though. The race was exciting with crashes right in front of us and even one at the finish line.

"We're Not in Kansas Anymore Toto"

We recently relocated from Utah to Florida! It's just temporary for a couple of months. We did a house swap with a guy Shane works with for the summer. I can't believe we are crazy enough to do something like this but we made the swap and are loving it here. I happen to LOVE the beach, It's up there on the list with family, friends, and my faith. It's so fun for me to share my love of the beach with my children. I've always dreamed of having little beach baby's. Although they are staying nice and white with hats, sunscreen, rash gaurds, and the whole bit. It has been a huge adjustment having Shane work from home, we are still working out the kinks. The boys like all the new adventures, but of course are a little confused by such a BIG change. We are trying to get them into some sort of a routine.
More pictures to come.

Day Out With Thomas

Here are some photos taken by Jenna(Thanks so Much, they turned out wonderful) of our day in Heber with some of our favorite things. Namely Thomas and Friends, Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Graduation!

Yep, Boston graduated from 3 year old preschool. It was really cute, I even almost cried. No, I'm not kidding. At the end they played a slide show with a country song about "let them stay little"or something, anyone know what I am talking about? I'd love to download it, so if you know let me know. Anyway, they just sang songs and did a little gymnastics to show a little bit of what they learned. During the songs he plugged his ears as you can see in the picture. Then he actually ran through the little obstacle course they had set up, which I was shocked, especially after the ear plugging. He was really excited when they gave him the trophy, he ran to me exclaiming, "I got the Piston Cup, Mommy!"

This is what his teacher wrote to him:

As shy as you try to be, I learned the truth. You are ready to make friends and learn with them. Thank you for all your help this year. Keep practicing your name and pretty soon you'll have it perfect. Miss Ashley 2009

Mexico!

The boys loved the beach

Boston lived in this raft at the pool

Shane was determined not to get burnt so this is how

he was even in the pool. Yep, he's that guy.

I know, I know it's been a long time coming, but I'm finally blogging about our Mexico family vacation. It just took us so long to get over the swine flu, just kidding. We had a blast and it is the way to vacation with children. It was a direct flight, and an all inclusive resort. Believe it or not it was cheaper than our southern California trips with camping and staying with family. Really! We could have taken day trips from the resort, but it was more money, and frankly it sounded too much like work. So for a week we just swam at the pool and played at the beach, eating whenever and whatever we wanted.

Easter

We had a great Easter. On Saturday we went to the high school and did an Easter Egg hunt with the kids. It was very entertaining. They had the field roped off into age groups, both of our kids were in the youngest group. There are tons of people standing around the field waiting for them to say go. As we are waiting and waiting trying to explain to Boston why we have to wait for the candy, I look around to observe who else came out for this wonderful event. I was so touched by so many of the little young family's who brought their baby's for their first Easter egg hunt all decked out Easter outfits, (as our were still practicaly in there pjs, mommy guilt trip) ah so cute I thought to myself. The candy is just thrown all over the field for easy pick up. Finally, they say "GO" and there is this mad dash of parents holding their young children. It took us a while to get to any candy, we eventually found a few here and there and it was very exiting. In less then 3 minutes it was over, like lotus eating a field. So, Boston and I find Shane and Brody and start heading back. As I look around I see all those same parents holding their baby's with full to the brim baskets of candy. I had to laugh. Now keep in mind there are stickers on select candy that lead you to prices from the local rotary club. We are not talking new cars or college educations here, but chocolate bunnies and other small prizes. It's like that bit the comedian Brian Regan does about "the cup of dirt." He jokes about the science projects in Elementary school, the one he rememberd as he was leaving for school the day it was due, grabs a cup and puts dirt into it. The teacher asks "Brian what do you have there?" he replies "It's a cup of dirt." Please explain Brian, "Well, it's a cup with dirt in it." Then he talks about the kid who brings in whole rotating solar systems, who keep repeating, "The big yellow one is the sun." The kid can't even zip up his pants, but can make a whole solar system, RIGHT. I remind Shane of this little skit he does and we could not stop laughing as we saw parent after parent walk by leaving with their only child to young to even have sugar with mounds of candy. Shane added a little something from Jay Leno, " the economy is bad, it's real bad."

Happy (Early) Birthday Brody

My Dad came to town for work yesterday so he took us to dinner. We never know when his work schedule will bring him back so he went ahead and got Brody an early (a month early) birthday present. Brody really wanted a tricycle, really, he did. Bostons bike is to big, although he tries to make it work. Also, he always tries to take the neighbor kids tricycle and throws the biggest fit when I have to pull him off because the kid wants it back. So we went to WalMart after dinner and got him this new tricycle. We also got Boston some new cars to pacify him, which he was so grateful for. Brody LOVES his new tricycle! He went crazy when it was time for him to go to bed because he didn't want to leave the bike. Brody likes it when we lay down next to his crib and hold his little hand through the bars, so I put the bikes handle bars through the crib bars and told him to hold his hand. He held on tight and I didn't hear a peep. Thank You Grandpa and Grandma!

My Sweet Boys

Does it get any cuter than that?

Thomas and Friends Live!

On Thursday we took the kids to the E-Center in SLC to watch Thomas save the circus on the Island of Sodor. The kids loved it, and we had great seats. It was acually pretty well done, we were impressed. The highlight to the show had to be the end when all parents had to just throw their toddler over their shoulder and hall out of there because all the kids went bolistic that it was over and time to go home, ours included.

Creative!

A couple days ago Boston was found standing on the sink counter next to the toilet peeing into the toilet. You got to give him credit for the creativity, but man where does he come up with these things? Quite the twist on relieving yourself.

What a Stud!

Boston did great for our family pictures before Christmas, as you can tell here. If you are looking for a great affordable photographer, Heather Taylor comes highly recommended(correction, Shane is informing me she is NOT affordable. My argument is she is compared to the others I wanted and we bought a LOT of prints). Boston started sunbeams this year. He got busted today trying to skip out on class, going the bathroom 5 times in 10 minutes. I can't believe this starts already. He also started pre-school this year. I feel like this is the perfect one for him, addressing his physical needs. He has some physical aggression that I'm trying to encourage in a positive way with a pre-school who emphasizes in physical fitness.