FHE Fresno style...

So, last night for FHE, we went to Bella's teacher's orchard to pick cherries. (I made some curtains for her in exchange for some fruit from her orchard). Anyhow, we picked Ranier cherries for about 45 minutes and check out our loot! This picture shows only half of it! It was good fun. The kids got to go in the chicken coop and get some eggs with Mrs. C. and the entire time we were picking cherries, a turkey followed us around strutting his stuff. The turkey was harmless but he made a lot of noise. He was all puffed out and about the size of Malia so the kids were intimidated at first...After they saw Mrs. C. spit a seed at him, they knew he was fair game. It was also very cool to see a couple of boxes of bees...I thought they had them for the honey, but Rick thinks they're to pollinate the orchard. The bees didn't bother us, but it was fun to walk by and see so many bees that the outside of the white box looked black.

As if that wasn't enough fun, they let us go jump in their pool to cool off after we were done. They have a very springy diving board which the kids thought was great fun. As we were leaving, the kids spotted one of their bunnies hopping through the yard. When we got home, the kids wanted to eat cherries. They came up with their own game of who could spit their seeds the farthest over our back fence (into the dirt field).

May I just say these are some of the most delicious cherries ever. Something about eating fruit that you have picked makes it taste sooooo delicious! So, come on over and taste our cherries...we have plenty to share!

You know you're getting old when ...

On Friday night, I got home and decided I was going to trim the shrubs at my house. As any good dad does, I made the kids come out with me and help. I had them pick up stuff after I cut. Brandon, who is a chip off the old block, spent a good portion of the time standing around remarking how exhausted he was. All in all, we were out there for probably less than two hours. The time was cut short by darkness. I cut enough to fill up our trash can with trimmings. Unfortunately there is still 2/3 of the front yard still to be trimmed.

The next day, my forearms hurt so bad I thought I was going to develop muscles the size of Popeye's within a week.

So, why did this caption start out with you know you're getting old when ...?

Because I got that sore using an ELECTRIC trimmer! The only exertion required was to hold it in position and let it do the work. What a Nancy!

Basher Quotes

Scene: We took 2 cars to my soccer game las night and we were on the way home with Camille and Ashley in my car.

Ashley: Dad, are we going to beat Mom?

Me: Of course we are.

Ashley: Boooyeaaahhhh

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Scene 2: We are sitting in the loft after scriptures and prayer exchanging some goodnight hugs...

Katie: Ashley, is that lipstick? Where did you find that?

Ashley: It's not lipstick! I think its just my slobber.

As a mother for young children, I have come to expect certain things...the toilet will rarely be flushed, closets always hide disasters, at least one child will not like dinner, mornings are crazy, bedtime will never go smoothly, etc. So, I should've expected this...but I didn't.



















Malia gave herself a little haircut...with those kiddie craft scissors.




You'll notice she cut both sides and a chunk off her pony tail. Just short enough so we had no choice but to cut it all off...So here's the new Malia...



Absolutely adorable...



I love the cut...and if she hadn't done it, I don't know if I would've had the guts for a long time...She doesn't look like such a baby any more does she???

I survived...

After five months of waiting and some ridiculous insurance issues, I finally got my root canal done this morning...my first. Here's a little formula for you...valium + adavan (sp?) + ipod= tolerable root canal. The dentist who appeared to be a total jerk from my last experience was actually very good and very aware of how I was doing. So, it's over. Thanks to my drivers and child care givers...I appreciate it. Hopefully I won't be doing that again any time soon...

Man Time

For those that don't view Katie's blog here is a link so that you can check out our latest video of Bubba. The boy is preparing for his career....I'll let you decide whether that is football or ultimate fighting.

Katie's Blog

I heart Brett!

The Scene: Prom night. Several of us in the family room. Brett and his date on the way out the door.

Mom: Uh, Brett, I don't think we ever discussed curfew. Dad, do you have any thoughts on that?
Brett: If you do Dad, you can just keep them to yourself.
Dad: *mouth open in stunned silence*
Peanut gallery: *muffled laughter and exchanging of knowing glances.*

The Scene: Driving to the 4th of July Angels game with Brett driving and Mark, Dad and I in the car. Dad looks over at the spedometer to notice that Brett may or may not be decidedly speeding...a lot.

Dad: Brett!! SLOW DOWN!!!
Brett: (voice entirely nonplussed and completely monotone) I can't.
Dad: *mouth open in more stunned silence*

With comments like those, is it any wonder I miss Brett all the time?



And doesn't the look on Brett's face in this picture capture his persona? Dale, being his normal self (thank you, Dale, for being a visual aid) and Brett...well, we all know there's some hilarious comment brewing in that head of his. If only the camera could capture it.



It makes me sad elizabeth isn't around him more to bask in the wonderful that is Brett-ums. One of my favorite scenes in my life was Brett holding Elizabeth for the first time and her smiling up at him. What lucky kids to have him for an uncle.



I wish I had a scanner because i have the greatest pic in the world of brett when he was little but alas, it'll have to wait to next b-day to embarass him. But until then, I'll just say Happy Birthday to our favorite youngest brother. You'll always be Boog to us, no matter how old you get.

For the love, do you want some chocolate milk? Does the baby want some juice? We love you Brett. Especially when we watch you "shoelaces" commercial over and over. :)