The Ranch!

How cool would it be to own a ranch?!!  An entire forest with a lake and mini 4-wheeling trails ... custom built with fire pits, bbq sites, tree houses, playgrounds, decks --- the works!  It would be DANG cool, that's what!

Mom, Kristy, and M had a work party at a fellow co-worker's ranch.  I was lucky enough to tag along with my kiddos.

Swings overlooking the lake:

Here are the kiddos testing out the water.  It was full of fish .... and they are not too sure about getting in quite yet.  Here's Marissa showing the littles how EZPZ it is to just dive right in .... except that she was totally kidding.  :)

Grandma Pat and Grandpa Brent got right down to business and got the canoe and 4-wheelers going right away!  All the kids were anxious to canoe.  Aaron pretty much thinks he's a pro at it.  But, really - he is.  He canoed all over the place.

Look how beautiful!

Aaron and one of the party attenders (? :)) raced another team around the lake in the canoes.  Aaron and his partner totally kicked - made Aaron feel pretty dang awesome.

A little water time was first, of course.  But - we were all hungry, so digging into the food was a close second.

HA! This kid cracks me up.  Mr. Macho Man -- but sportin' a Dora band-aid.  :)  Stuff like that just doesn't phase him.

Then - aaaaaaallll the toys started getting pulled out.  Like this cool trampoline:

Believe it or not - that is Marissa driving the grandpa on the 4-wheeler.  Whew!  Brave gramps!  ;)  It actually looks like he's pushing on the brakes or something in this picture.  hahaha!

Sure love my kiddos!

Aaron trying out the rope swing:

Aaron loved riding this paddle surfer thingy.  What a blast!

And the paddle boats were my absolute favorite!!  They were huge - and super fun to paddle around.

Here's some pics of the kids on the fun playground:

Thanks so much Mom & Dad!  Made my week!

Water Balloon Baseball Pack Meeting

For the Cub Scout's Pack Meeting in August, Tyler and I planned a Water Balloon Baseball Activity ... tag style.  It turned out really fun - and we had a good crowd.

Here's the playing field:

First - you have to hit and POP a water balloon.  SPLASH!

Then, you hurry to first base and squeeze a sponge full of water over your head.  2nd base is a swimming pool that you have to sit in - and if your lucky, Brother Cox dumps even more water on your head!

3rd base gets tricky, because you have to do 5 jumping jacks while getting hosed down on a mini tramp ... AND you have to finish before the next player tags you!!  Aaron was cutting it VERY close on this turn:

Then ... if you aren't tagged ... you get to slide home!

And finally - you get back in line to do it all over again!  Check out this line!  Good thing it moved quick -- the boys just got a chance to catch their breath before they were up again.  I think they ALL got like 10 or 15 tries!

Here are my favorite pictures of all the pictures I took:

1st - Aaron swinging with all his might ... and MISSING the water balloon entirely.  :)

2nd - not even my kids - but 2 of Aaron's closest friends - Zach and Isaac.  Look how close Isaac is to tagging Zach!  Whew!  Zach barely made it - but, his face sure shows the euphoria he feels for sliding into home before Isaac got him.

And 3rd - Four cute buddies:  Isaac, Max, Jacob, and Aaron

That was a pretty fun pack meeting.  Next up -- the CubAnapolis!  Stay tuned!

Ward Camp Out Picture Marathon

We had the MOST fun ward camp out ever at the beginning of August.  I have so many pictures - and I just couldn't decide which ones to take out ... so, I just put all of them in.  :)

Aaron, Thomas, Jackson, Krystal, Aeryn Anaka, TyGuy, Marissa

Truly - the people we were with made it as fun as possible.  We have such an incredible ward!

Marissa, Shelby, and Abbee

Krystal and her BFF, Aeryn

Aaron and Thomas

Roasting marshmallows is a must .... and the T-Man's gotta do it in style, of course.  :)

HA!  I love this picture.  The girl to the left of Aaron is one of my favorites.  She is giggly, loud, bold ... I just love her!  She's in love with all the boys in the ward ... (Aaron's face --- makes me laugh so hard!)  He has reeeeeeeallllly good friends in this ward.

Zach, Savannah, Aaron, Sierra

The pyros:

Aaron, Max, Isaac

Aeryn and Krystal enjoying their banana boats.  I've never had one before - and I had to work up a lot of guts to taste one.  But, it was Deeeeelish!  Krystal ate all of hers.

Aaron, Savannah, Anna

Marissa, Abbee, Anaka

Being with the Dymocks is always a good time!  Here's Ty with his bud Ted.  Goof balls!

Little Miss Krys was in HEAVEN with all her friends around!

BFFs forever ;)

Megan and Kryssie

The girls devouring their s'mores.  The bishop tried to sneak a bite.  :)

I love this picture of our ward socializing around the fire:

We had the best breakfast!  Another trick/recipe we have never tried before (we teamed up with great friends that had great ideas! --thanks guys!) ... anyway ... we mixed up eggs with spinach, bacon bits, mushrooms, cheese, green onions, and seasoning in ziploc bags - and then just boiled them.  They were SO fabulous.  We all totally gobbled them up!  Easiest camping breakfast ever!

More pics of the incredible kids our ward has:

Krystal and Allie

Aeryn, Krystal, Megan, Anaka, Skyler, Marissa, Ellie, Aaron, Gavin

Krystal zonked within minutes on the way home ... I think I did too :).  I love how she has to hold on to/snuggle with Anaka's arm.  She is such a cuddle bunny.

I hope we can go again next year.