"Get Smart"

We went to see a funny movie today. All of us enjoyed the show. It is PG-13 which means now my kids understand everything they are saying or doing. Not sure I'm ready for all of that.

The Wii

We have entered into a new world. I mentioned to Brett the other night how I would like to get a Wii for the kids for maybe Christmas. Since we have absolutely no knowledge about this system Brett made a call for some advice. We were told how hard a Wii is to find so I didn't think another thing of it until the day of the car wash with the Young Women and he showed up late and then handed me a receipt. I was slightly shocked to say the least. He had gone to Best Buy, they had none in the store but. . .there were some on the truck. They went out and got it off the truck for him to make a purchase.
kids playing Wii doubles tennis

Don't hurt yourself

Brett felt like his golf game was just like that on the course. . .he was not too happy with his score

Swinging out of his shoes

Brett playing with his new purchase. He quickly became the home run derby champion I think he may end up liking this game:)

So a funny thing about this, On Sundays we do not use our main T.V. we have the Mormon Tabernacle Choir playing all day. So we had to bend the rules a tad so they could play the Wii. So here they are playing their hearts out and singing right along with the Tabernacle choir. I thought it was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday. At least we were spending time as a family!

Cole's first dirt bike experience

Brett has never been real big on any type of motorcycle/ATV he fears for the life of the one riding it. We have a neighbor who happens to be a professional motorcycle rider. He has asked us in the past if our kids can learn how to ride and we have told them no thanks however, Brett's heart has been somewhat buttered up by Cole and so last night he got his first lesson in riding. Notice how little the bike is I thought it was the perfect size for him. (it happens to belong to a 4 year old). Cole did a fine job riding next time there will be a helmet involved!Instructions on how. . .



Starting to pick up some speed . . . He looks like he has been doing this all his life:)

At the CAR WASH

We had the Young Women "Car Wash" fundraiser this weekend. It was a hot day and everyone was wore out when we were done. Brett told me he wasn't going to wash another car for a very long time:) With the cost of everything as it is camp is more expensive so hopefully they made enough for all that we need at camp. I was hoping for steak and lobster but I'm afraid I am going to have to settle for hobo dinners:) We had a shaved ice machine at the car wash. . .YUMMY! It was a huge hit!

it looks like Madison got a little bored for a minuteMadison getting ready to wash the cars


Look at the stream of cars. There were very few lulls!

Cole was not very interested in coming and helping at the car wash. I had to beg him to at least help with the shaved ice. He told me it is a "young women fundraiser why should he help?" Needless to say he was a huge help he even got out there and washed some cars. I'm not sure who soaked him but he loved every minute of it. When we got home he told me he had a great time. Duh- I knew he would, if only he would listen to me I am all knowing:)

Moving on UP- Graduation from 6th grade

Finally! We have made it through our kids' elementary years. At least now the kids will be on the same schedule! Madison received numerous awards yesterday. I am so pleased with the school for giving us such advance notice so we could attend. I say that with a lot of sarcasm!! They left a message Thursday afternoon so we could make it on Friday. I'm glad they were so prepared. Anyhow, enough of my complaining. We are grateful Madison was supported by her brother, Grandma Stalder, Grandpa and Grandma Ratcliffe, Aunt Angela, Kaitlyn and McKinley. Maddy's awards are as follows: Spelling Bee Participant, Honor Attendance (3 or less absences), Outstanding Academics, Outstanding Citizenship, Safety Patrol, America's Future Award and the best of all, President's Education Award. Maddy is a great student, we are so proud of her and knows she will do well in the years to come!

Madison receiving the America's Future Award. . .

They also gave her a nice Everyday Language Reference set (dictionary/thesaurus/vocabulary builder) I wonder if they will every come out of the nice box they came in?

Receiving the President's Award: in recognition of Outstanding Academic Excellence

With her beautiful safety patrol metal. . . I didn't even know she was on the safety patrol until she was able to attend the Lagoon day with them. Then she let me know- Man where was I?

Kamie and Matina's Wedding

Ok- Sorry I am so late on posting this event. I just have to say we had such a great time at this wedding.

Some of us ladies from work. . . We even got a little sun while we waited for the ceremony to start
the beautiful bride and groom and some of the cute little flower girls
YES- I am fried from sitting in the sun too long. I went straight from the ceremony to Cole's baseball game and just didn't think I would get so burned Opps!
Kasey and Madison

the bride doing the Samoan Taualuga

Jane and Kamie. . .she changed into this dress for her TaualugaMadison and Kamie. . . check out the cool necklace

The reception was held at the Wells Fargo building on the 23rd floor. What a spectacular view!

Students softball game against the teachers

Madison made the school softball team for their game against the teachers. They practiced for about a week. Last week during a practice Madison had to run the bases in high heals since that is what she wore to school that day. She said everyone was impressed with how well she ran in them too. Cole and I went and watched some of the game on Monday the teachers showed these kids no mercy. They played with a rubber ball (so no one got hurt)but the teachers would just clobber the ball out to the fence and get home runs.
Madison up to bat. . . she got a hit however she hit it right to someone darn!
she played catcher. . . she could use a little work there but she did well!

This is Madison's teacher Ms Rich . . . I am sure glad we are done with this one. What an interesting year this has been!

Just so that you all know tomorrow I am completely done with Elementary and tracks YEAH!!! Now that does not mean I am completely thrilled with the fact that my kids are in Junior High. Crazy! They grow up so fast!!

~*~The Manti Pageant~*~

Brett and I had the opportunity to go with our youth to the Manti Pageant. We had such a great time! We drove down Friday and played lawn games until it was time to eat. We went to the stake center and had a turkey dinner. I am not a big fan of turkey so I was surprised at how good this was. They had seasoned it which made it good for me! I think the mashed potatoes and gravy was the best! Around 8:45 we started making the trek on foot (about 1 mile) to the temple grounds. We had gone down earlier and saved some seats so we could just herd the kids in when it was time. We had great seats and the show was awesome. We slept under the stars in someones backyard. The roster started crowning pretty darn early. I was ready to have chicken for dinner. About the only battle we had was with the mosquito's. They were terrible I didn't think I had been bitten to much until today when my legs are itching so bad. If that is the worse thing we had to deal with I think we survived. After we got all the youth up and ready we went to breakfast at another church and headed home. It was fun to see the beehives jump out of the car in front of us and do a Chinese fire drill, Oh bless those in charge of them! They have so much energy! We have such great youth they all get along really well which makes it easy for us leaders. Cole and Madison did not know Brett was going and were somewhat surprised that both of their parents were going. Cole said "this will be the first trip with the ward that both my parents are at" Not sure if he was excited about it or not. I think they both enjoyed having us there.

The ladies were all over Cole. Ok- so they are a little young but they loved Cole!

Madison in her pajama blanket The kids playing "Smash Ball"

Our Father's Day

So we had a great day on Sunday! We went up to Ratcliffe's to spend time with Brett's dad. Put some food in our bellies and thought maybe we could just relax but no, my son was not letting the opportunity of getting his grandma wet pass him by! She had told the kids to bring their swimsuits so "they" could have a water fight. She should know better and know Cole would get her wet! Every time we are up there mowing the lawn Cole always tell grandma to come see what he is doing and then he turns the hose on her! So needless to say it was difficult for Cole to resist the temptation of soaking her. Uncle Kelly inched his way in to "help" his little one with her squirt gun and then he unloaded on the kids. He is such a good sport he gets right in there with them. I told them not a drop of water better come my way!

Shortly after, Cole ended up dumping a five gallon bucket of water on his dad who in turn chased him down and soaked him with the hose.

After the kids changed back into somewhat dry clothes we headed to my mom's to celebrate Father's day also. It's hard to believe my dad is gone. In someways it has been the longest year + of my life, but it others it is still so new. I miss my dad everyday but I am grateful for the wonderful example he was/is to me. When my family gets together we are always laughing all the time. When my dad was around he would just sit back and watch us he loved every minute of us interacting I know now he is doing the same thing but I miss seeing the smile on his face. We could always make him smile :) I am grateful for my dad and all he did for me and for loving me unconditionally, my father-in-law for all the great times we have together, for the father of my kids, he loves us so much we are so blessed to have him in our lives, and to my heavenly father for all he has given me!

~~IRON MAN~~

I got to see a movie yesterday with my brother. He had already seen this movie but I am glad he wanted to see it again, good movie. I had no idea what I was seeing, I had heard from others they had liked the show but I had not even seen a commercial for it. When I got home I told Brett and Cole they needed to go and see it they would really enjoy it. I thought Robert Downey Jr. did a great job!