"A Million Balloons and Performing Baboons..." Wait... No Baboons...

FUN WITH BALLOONS!

I thought I'd buy some balloons and brush up on my balloon art that I have been wanting to improve on. My brother and I made some for Oliver's 5th birthday party and it was so fun to see the kids faces when they got one for themselves!

Here are some things that I've been able to create:

"Swan"

"Swan in Heart" - A friend of mine taught me how to do this one.

It's a bit tricky."Three-Colored Ball"

"Four Petal Flower"

First Attempt at "Poodle"

Second Attempt at "Poodle" and "Beaded Dog Collar & Leash"


"Hat" "Pirate Sword" "Sheath"

After all of that practicing, I put it to good use creating lots of swords and sheaths as well as hats! Needless to say, I didn't really get to chat with the adults at the cook-out!

Oliver made his own "Weenie Dog"


Eden made... well... something she was very proud of! :o)

I guess it must run in the family! Maybe we are circus freaks by nature... who knows! We had LOTS of balloon animal remnants lying around our house for days! Don't worry, Jaren didn't choke on anything! Fun times!

Ed's Bringin' Sexy Back... WHAT?!?

We had stopped by our friend's house and spent an evening chatting and playing games... then out popped a wig! You guessed it... The Redneck Wig came out to play! First Reggie had it on and the color almost matched her REAL hair! Then Ed put it on and I think I almost wet myself laughing so hard! We were all in hysterics!

"Make LOVE to the camera!!!"

Jaren looks like a mix between "Chucky" and a "Cabbage Patch" doll!

And somehow we've "saved the best for last..."

Journey Through June

Okay. Summer FLEW by! First of all I didn't realize that I would be on the go 24/7 while my kids were home for Summer Break! We bought a pool pass this year and we were there alot! The kids played with their friends from school (usually at the pool). They love going to play with my mom's neighbors: Saandi, Sanda and Amanda! We had the sprinklers, water guns, water balloons and a slip-n-slide all for them to play with this summer at Grandma's house. Saandi is 11 and such a nice kid. He and Oliver play alot together while Eden plays with Sanda (6) and Amanda (5). The kids could play with them ALL day and ALL night if they could! They always give hugs when we have to go home! We also went to the Youth Pavilion with the kids and they had fun protraying the "American Gothic" couple! We celebrated Ed and Jaren's birthdays on the same day. Ed turned 30 this year and Jaren was one! We just spent their special days with family this year. Jaren was decked out waving his flag during the Sturgis Falls Parade. It was his first parade to see. Hmmm... to bad they don't throw candy anymore!

Our Trip to Des Moines - May 2008

Memories of MAY...

Let's see here... oh, yes... May started out with Jaren's first three day stay at the hospital for his respiratory problems. He's definitely following in his older brother's footsteps. We think he's allergic to milk and wheat so far. He's probably got allergies like the rest of the males in this family, go figure! The kids had fun visiting brother and playing in his "cage"!

Jaren was released on our anniversary, Cinco de Mayo. So we've been married for 8 years now. Good news... we STILL love each other. We never got to celebrate it, but we do fun stuff together every now and again anyways! I love you, Stinkyface! Thanks for the beautiful flowers!




Krista, Tiona and I celebrated Connie's graduation from UNI at the Olive Garden and let me tell you, we were just roaring with laughter! Congrats again for a wonderful achievement!!! "Outer Darkness Cheese"... I'll leave it at that!!



I helped the girls with a craft this month. They were studying about "Things that Grow": babies, animals, chicks, plants, etc. We made a little nest with some chicks in it and they LOVED it!




We also crashed the Lou Henry Elementary "FUN FAIR" (well, my mom teaches there, so we really didn't crash it... ;) They go all out for the fun fair! They have a petting zoo, dunk tank, blow ups to jump in and all sorts of games and yummy food. This year the kids won two gold fish a piece, so after we left, we bought a little tank. Yeah... fish die fast. Not a great pet for the kiddos. I've also found out that if a pet does NOT make noise... it doesn't really get taken care of... the squeaky wheel gets the oil... ya know what I mean?!


Here are some pictures of Jaren trying to keep on standing next to the couch. He eventually toppled over, but was a tough little tot and didn't even cry! He's also just too cute when he flashes me his cute smile when he plays with his toys.






I took the girls to the Arboretum as well this month. Here are some pics of that:




At the end the month, we had a Book of Mormon Ward Activity which I'm glad I took the kids to. They had lots of fun going to the different stations and having hands on activities. Good job to those who made it possible, the kids had lots of fun!

APRIL Has Come and Gone...

Here is a short recap of our adventures in APRIL 2008...

We flew kites with the kids and our little friend, Isaac. I thought it was good exercise for the kids, until I look over and see Eden and Ollie laying on the ground flying their kites!!

My lifelong friend (for over 20 years now), Meghan celebrated her birthday and invited our family and other friends out for some bowling. The kids loved it as always! Happy Birthday, Meg! I'm so glad that we are still such good friends! I'm so happy you are having a girl and that we still live so close!!! She can call me "Auntie Stacy"!!!

We have a new niece to welcome to the family! ADDISON PAIGE PALMER... too cute for words! She was born on April 23rd and we are going to visit the whole family in California this September. I can't wait! She is truly a doll!

Eden had a family gathering where they sang songs, danced and played in the gym with giant parachutes and plastic chickens! That same night, Oliver had his 1st grade Vocal Music Concert. They both did great and we had lots of fun!

My friend's sister, Laura, got married on April 26th and we attended that in Janesville. The kids LOVE going to wedding receptions and dancing all night long! Unfortunately, we had to take Ollie to my mom's house due to every guest having nuts for a snack. Oliver complained that his throat was getting itchy. Eden had lots of fun dancing! Congratulations again you guys!

Jaren got to spend some time with his little friend, Eliza. I got some cute pictures of them playing together!

NO INTERNET FOR ME...

For the last two weeks and counting I do not have access to the internet. So, I'm at a friend's house writing this, telling you to call me if you are really interested in what's going on in my life! :) Hopefully I will be online soon! I'm having Internet withdrawls!

Hook, Line and Soggy Bottoms

Back in the beginning of April, my brother invited us, especially Oliver, to go trout fishing with him near West Union. We packed a sack lunch and started on our journey. First, we stopped at Hank's for some bait. As Bry went in, I saw a vending machine with LIVE bait in it! That was certainly a first! By the way I just loved the large hook hanging from the sign.

After an hour or so we finally arrived and saw that the first road was gated closed. We drove up the hill and stopped when we hit another gate that prevented us from going any further. Bry said that we'll just have to hike the bluff which was called the "Backbone Trail". So we loaded up our food and fishing gear and headed down the path. On the way down Ollie found a feather, we saw some different birdhouses and we even saw a garter snake that Bry tried to pick up! It was a gorgeous day, but oddly enough there was still some snow on the ground!

Eden found some deer prints in the mud.

I have to admit that some places were a bit scary! At first we had lots of leeway on both sides, but there came a point where there were dropoffs off of each side of us and little to climb across, I'd say it was about a foot and a half wide. Yeah... I was thinking, "I'm going to plunge to my death right about now!". Mom was getting dizzy at times so I let her go ahead of me so I could help her across the tricky parts. The kids did just fine with the help of Uncle Bryan!

Here is a peek at how high up we were!

Bry and Ollie

Ollie fishing.

Oliver did a pretty good job at casting, but one time it flew back and missed my face by a couple feet! We ate and then the boys fished for a bit. I got my camera and took a walk a little further up the creek. Everyone soon followed and I got some fun shots!

Eden and Grandma being silly!

Me standing by a HUGE rock embedded in the side of the bluff.

Oliver and Bry traveled further up the way and Bry found a fallen tree that he thought would make a nice perch to fish from. I was taking pictures a few feet away, but one moment I saw him standing on the tree and the next moment I heard a huge splash! He must have lost his balance and down he came! His wallet, his phone and himself were all equally soaking wet!

Bry tromping out of the water to dry land!

Needless to say we were done for the day and never caught a single fish! I guess you could say that my brother was the biggest "catch" of the day!

Where has the time gone?!

April has come and gone with lots of things happening and May is nearly over... I will post some blogs each day (I'll try...) about:

*APRIL*

Fishing

Kite flying

Our Newest Niece

Birthday Bowling

Eden's Family Gathering

Oliver's Vocal Music Concert

A Friend's Wedding

Jaren and Eliza

Random pictures of the kids

*MAY*

Jaren in the Hospital

Our 8th Anniversary

Jaren's Funny Tricks

Olive Garden

Crafts

Fun Fair Fish

Our Trip to Des Moines

(Bill Cosby)

(Zoo, Crab Shack & Capitol)