Good Thing Aunt Elisa is Patient!

Elisa took pictures of Caleb for his 6th Birthday. Caleb thinks he's a model and was very "helpful" in "posing" for the pictures. He'd grab a vine and wrap it around like a scarf for example. He'd lay across the rocks like he was getting paid for the pictures. Somehow Elisa managed to get some good pictures amongst the several not so good ones. Thanks Elisa!! Check's in the mail.

A couple of the better of the funny ones. Caleb rarely had his head straight and even bent his body in half while he was posing. Don't quit your day job kid!

Pioneer Days

Every year my mom rises early (thanks Mom) and saves us seats for the Bountiful Parade. My Grandparents, Mom, Elisa and her gang and us lined Main St and "cooked" while enjoying the parade. After the parade we went to Artic Cirle for a treat than on up to watch the fireworks. It was a fun night.

Elizabeth loved the parade. Last year she cried through all the sirens, but this year was much better!! She especially liked the Sheriff departments helicopter that flew really low over the parade route.

Kayden enjoyed giving his mom an ulcer during the parade. He ran across Main St (before the parade even started), when he saw Great Grandpa and Grandma arrive. Then he took off during the parade to chase after candy. I put on a nice show chasing after him.

I tried to get the boys to turn around and pose in front of the floats, but they didn't want to miss the parade. The Monsters Vs. Aliens float was so cute I took a picture even though the kids wouldn't turn around and look at the camera.

Six Years & Two Teeth

Caleb turned 6 years old on July 18th. We took him and the kids to the Roy Aquatic Center to celebrate. The kids loved it. Caleb was spoiled with lots of new presents from our family. Our home is being taken over by Transformers!



Happy Birthday Caleb!!

Caleb has been envious of all his classmates since they started losing teeth and he wasn't. When a new tooth finally started coming in, it didn't loosen the baby tooth enough to make it fall out since it was coming in behind the baby tooth. So.....yesterday Caleb went to the dentist and had two teeth pulled. He was so brave. He didn't even use the laughing gas they offered. I think it was harder for mom than Caleb.

Oregon

Our family actually had a family vacation this year!! Every other year my Grandma Lee's siblings and everyone on down gets together for a family reunion in Oregon. For the first time in over 30 years we went to a new location because of repairs at the usual lodge. Camp Elkanah, the new place, was quite the upgrade. The kids really enjoyed themselves. There was so much to keep them entertained. They loved the little playground with slide, monkey bars, tire swings and regular swings. There was also miniature golf, tether ball, basketball, volleyball, ping-pong, air hockey a giant water slide (my kids were mad at me because I wouldn't let them go) and so much more.


Elizabeth loved the tire swing. She also loved putting rocks in her mouth the whole time! It was a constant battle to keep them out!


You would think with two extra seats we would've had plenty of room in the van. Let's just say the only floor you could see was where Matt and I put our feet. Good thing the kids are young enough not to complain about leg room. It took me awhile to get used to not being able to see out the back window. (Next time we'll bring a luggage carrier)






This is the cabin we stayed in- Ephesus was the name. All the cabins had Bible names and used to be train cars. We planned on staying in a tent and packed for it, but when we saw how nice the cabins were- heat and electricity, we opted for the cabin. Caleb cried- he wanted to sleep in a tent.

Caleb, Kayden and Samantha playing together. The boys loved playing with my cousins Lyndsey and Kelsey from Las Vegas. They spoiled them with all their attention. When we got home Kayden kept calling Elizabeth Lyndsey- I think he was having withdrawals.

Daddy teaching Elizabeth how to play tether ball.

When we go to Oregon, the really young kids get to bathe in the kitchen sink. The only other option is a shower. This kitchen was incredible. It was huge and included a restaurant style dishwasher. Conner and Elizabeth had a blast splashing each other during their baths.

Chess

By watching Mom and Dad play chess a couple of times Caleb has quickly picked up on the game. Grandpa Hayes came over one day and Caleb was so excited when Grandpa said he'd play chess with him. The Treehouse Museum in Ogden has a giant chess board and Caleb loves to play there too. Even Kayden wants to play. I asked Kayden to hand me the horse and he said, "It's a knight mom". My bad. Who knew my 3 year old knew all the correct names of the chess pieces?

Catch up

I've been slacking off and missed a lot that's been going on with us, so here's the last couple of months of the Stones family.

Caleb, Kayden and Elizabeth at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden.

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Matt is "lucky" and has his birthday and Father's Day the same week (sometimes the same day). Extra presents!!

Happy 34th Birthday Matt. We love you! You're the best husband and dad ever!!

Matt opening his new Tranformers action figures and finding movie tickets on the back of the box to the new Transformers movie.

My moms school has a fundraising carnival every year. The kids loved the rides and the food. They went down some huge slides that scared them to death- then once the fear was gone, Kayden would cut in line and go again. We had to borrow tickets to pay for the rides he stole.

Matt, Caleb and Kayden with the Star Wars cast at the carnival.

Caleb at the Zoo with his Kindergarten class.

Matt with his sisters Cassie and Nikki with their mom on Mother's Day. We drove up to Twin Falls to spend the day with Matt's family.

Kayden or Kaytlyn?

So, I leave my two youngest with Aunt Elisa so I can go on the Zoo Field Trip with Caleb. Is this her way of telling me she doesn't want to babysit anymore? Well...Kayden does have good legs and the pigtails look pretty cute. Wait till she sees what I dress her kids in next time I watch them!