Memorial day!

Happy Memorial day peeps!

We all decided since grandpa had a day off to make the most of it and head out to Folsom Lake.

On the way we figured it’d be awesome to get something to burn on the fire – like a steak. So dutifully prepared with pasta salad and a nice frying pan that could handle fire temperatures – we headed off to the store to pick up aforementioned protein that needed burning.

Here Captain Awesome (Logan) is learning how to drive. You can tell how seriously he takes this job.

Meanwhile, daddy and I threw the meat into the Ziploc containing the spices we wanted to marinate the meat in and poured the ice with sodas into the ice chest.

Here Logan is wondering, Why, oh Why we put him in midst of such harsh elements. On the way to our spot we nearly squished a rattle snake. Sun was blazing, water too cold to swim. Basically perfect summer day J Luckily our spot was beautifully aired and shaded. Basically, it was the best of all worlds.

Here's me cooking, daddy presenting:

Everyone enjoyed the food immensely. That includes the dogs. Of course the questions might be raised as to how one keeps the delicious meats AWAY from the beasts – well let’s just say their inner most self, no matter how domesticated, still afraid of fire and mothers.

Our trek back to the car was uneventful. We found some pretty wild flowers and poor Brent’s pants were totally falling off. So we took one of those memorable pictures that we can show to you future wife Brent dear.

Sunday's fun!

Ah, I suppose if I am to get serious about writing this for you kids - I shall Be more serious and write a little every day.
You're right. I shall!
My last night's excuse was that You Brent dearest- was driving me bonkers with unbound energy and jumping around like crazy while your little brother knowingly screamed his little head off for NO apparent reason.
That means he was fed, changed, burped, and was Even held - albeit with one arm, but still held!

Rollback: We visited church, Brent had his good times at the Sunday school - because they rock, and Logan almost didn't sleep through the sermon, but he likes the pastor's quiet yet engaging voice and so - conked out in short order.
The preacher spoke out of passages Philippians 2:19-30, and spoke in as much detail about Epaphroditus as he could, likening the military to him and his. Also calling out to parishioners to write a note of thanks to the men of service.

I'm yet to do this - but you boys are definitely contributing. I'll let you put a sticker on things, etc. Going to have to write it soonish like - otherwise i'll be running out of time :)

After church we headed over to your dad's aunt Shelly (aunt Michelle) who is awesome and hospitable and excellent person to be around. She threw a wicked bbq, and Brent of course had gazillion loads of fun playing with all his cousins, while Logan gave all the right smiles to all people around him, while they passed him around like a rag toy :)

Your cousins Stephie, Mike and of course indomitable aunt Roe enjoyed holding him, while everyone else got to hold a foot or a hand.
There was a bit of funny when they put little Logan in front of another little girl his age, and they grabbed each others face and screamed loudly to the fun of everyone in the room. Since these are the things that young ones do  at this age and denoted healthy awesome babies.

The food was pristine. Of course I ran out of time to go ahead and cook something spectacular. I know Olivie would have been bomb for that bbq. Oh well - next time.

After bubbles and wrestling - we all had to leave. Brent fell asleep in the car and uncle Joey was a very doting and caring uncle - tending to Brent's rolling head on turns and such. Logan did too for that matter - but awoke quickly once we stopped.
It seems like the little one wants to stay awake as long periods as possible so as to learn everything possible.

So he got to paint a picture for  us - which is still at grandpa's, and after we went to walk the dogs by our usual creek.

It seems like the neighbors are getting ready for a nice long week - your daddy and I observed some interesting machinations involving most likely drugs, or possibly something else. We weren't protected - so we generally stayed away, easily hundreds of feet. But the feel of whole purpose seemed evil on their part.
Ah, God guide them to the truth. Some day.

Following that we came home to Brent simply sucking down roughly 3 popsicles before I ever got food in his mouth, and then  a handful of pot stickers. Our old time favorite. They DID happen to be spicy - but that's nothing that a little milk didn't fix for you :)

After reading some books and watching our beloved Shrek for umpteenth time - everyone sort of settled down.  Me and Logan to feed and sleep, as we were exhausted and grumpy, and daddy and Brent to watch "Wipeout" on youtube - it's like MXC -  but american style. Just as funny, although I do miss the samurai. They were awesome.

Any pictures I have I'll follow with later. :)


Edit: here are the pics:

Logan the artist!

 Funniest doggy pile ever.

 Uncle Joey giving some love to the baby.

 Logan makes me look good. Uncles: Shut up :)

 Stephie.  Sweet cousin of Daddy's.

Randomness

This is Brent playing kitten. In his mind all kittens love boxes. Incidentally he's right :) for most part.

This is big bro giving his little brother a ride on his freshly fixed wheels. Ignore the mess. I don't have time to photoshop :P

Later we took everyone to Chucky Cheese. Good day all in all. (nah, we don't spoil you. :P)

Under the stars

Yes – this is a picture of you Brent holding, no, lighting matches – just for fun.

 

Logan watches you in awe, doubtless thinking of how many cool things one can do merely 2 ½ years after learning how to walk.

Another photo of a beautiful fire under the stars that daddy built. Funny enough – it’s couple of blocks away from a very busy street.

Your parents - heck your whole family tends to nurture all your kids' loves to whatever. Fire, skateboards, jumping you name it. It's awesome to watch you two grow and learn. :)

Wednesdays...

Well kids it was a FULL day. We went to storage and got rid of half of it in trash (actually it's still in the van) and got the other half moved to a much smaller storage unit. Thank goodness.
Your daddy and I decided to get rid of some things as well - and go ahead and sell them on craigslist - cause it's just good to do that sometimes. And we realized that if we ever have to move again - there really is just a tiny fraction of our belongings that means anything at all to us (like pictures of you monkeys) and some important documents and probably that's it. So if we ever move like that again (from two bedroom house into a living room lol)  we'll sell it all and give away the rest.

Now we talk about having great things happen in our life in the future. Daddy's working his business as fast as he can. He's got ads running everywhere he is able to afford it. And we're figuring out how to give you guys a bigger better life and future.

Having said that Brent - you're still taking a bit long on the whole potty training - but I believe in you - and will get it soon!

 Also the grandma you don't know very well - sent me some historic bits about your family on mama's side.

Apparently everyone who was anyone spent time in WW1 &WW2.

Because Logan is a darling:

he gave me a flower!

While on the whole this lizard LOOKS big - it was actually pretty big. Brent tried to pet it, as he often does with all living things (not limited to nurses and random girls) and it ran away.
It was pretty perturbed on the whole by the look of our two pit bulls who were so eager to say hi.

Unfortunately that particular trail was x'ed out of our daily routine. Too many bums, cats and various dead things. And while we love bums and cats - various dead things pose too much an incentive for our dogs to eat yet something else that shouldn't be eaten. (No we don't starve our dogs)

Monday's mundane.

Monday was great!

You guys got a pool! 

Brent spent at least four hours total swimming around. Loggy joined at the very end and did wonderfully - until he finally felt the cold water in full effect.

We also took our pups for the usual walk. Found  this snake:

Poor thing was dead before we  got there. Was quite sad actually. It has similar coloring as a rattler but lacks the rattle. I have to find the site that helps identify these guys and update this with the name of the snake later.