"Get your motor running, head out on the highway, we went to California and lots of people came our way". It's been a summer full of great visits with family and friends. And of course, Liam takes the driver's seat in this little family. (What's with his hair?)
Melanie and the kids came to visit. She and I stayed up super late chatting under the stars about a million things. I felt like a kid again. She's a great photographer. Here she captures funny Kyle making a face.
She and I also visited together while I was in California (because she was amazing and drove all about the countryside on our behalf since I was vehicle-less). This picture shows what the four boys thought of our adventure. (This was taken outside of Andria and Kevin's house, where we went and experienced the sonoric joy of seven boys and one girl playing together).
Typical! But I love how each of their heads is flopped in a different nightmarishly-uncomfortable direction.
Our friend Aguide visited from Thailand. We had a wonderful time showing her around Utah. I hope she had fun with us ol' fuddy duddies. These were all taken at Sundance.
Ryker and Raelin came up and visited us in Deweyville while their parents celebrated their anniversary.
We had fun trapsing through the sprinklers. Though there's no picture to go along with it, the totem pole we made was pretty fun. A kid in my arms, on my back, and on my shoulders, and then through the sprinklers.
We also painted garden fairies which came out surprisingly nice (my Mom organized that activity). I'll eventually put some pictures up of those.
The following four pictures are from our (Grammy was driving Liam and I) stop over for some exercise at State Line on our trip back to Utah from California in July. The story is from Sept. 9. Remember that was a while ago. He speaks MUCH better now.
Yesterday, we had all been sick with some kind of stomach flu and all the food in the kitchen either sounded to me like the cause of all our sorrows or a certain contributor to them. What then for dinner? I didn’t know. So I asked Liam. “What should we have for dinner, Liam?” He thought for a second and then thoughtfully responded, “Mee” (Meat).
“We don’t have any meat, baby.”
Ryker and Raelin came up and visited us in Deweyville while their parents celebrated their anniversary.
We had fun trapsing through the sprinklers. Though there's no picture to go along with it, the totem pole we made was pretty fun. A kid in my arms, on my back, and on my shoulders, and then through the sprinklers.
We also painted garden fairies which came out surprisingly nice (my Mom organized that activity). I'll eventually put some pictures up of those.The following four pictures are from our (Grammy was driving Liam and I) stop over for some exercise at State Line on our trip back to Utah from California in July. The story is from Sept. 9. Remember that was a while ago. He speaks MUCH better now.
Yesterday, we had all been sick with some kind of stomach flu and all the food in the kitchen either sounded to me like the cause of all our sorrows or a certain contributor to them. What then for dinner? I didn’t know. So I asked Liam. “What should we have for dinner, Liam?” He thought for a second and then thoughtfully responded, “Mee” (Meat).
“We don’t have any meat, baby.” He thought again, and then with a cheerful smile, “ithe.”
“Ice wouldn’t be a very substantial dinner, sweetheart.” 
He then ran into the kitchen at top speed, stood in front of the refrigerator and with all the love and passion his little voice could muster he bellowed, “uh-ney!” (Honey)
He then ran into the kitchen at top speed, stood in front of the refrigerator and with all the love and passion his little voice could muster he bellowed, “uh-ney!” (Honey) I guess I was on my own.
Liam and I had a great time visiting with the Andrews in California, and an even better time (because it was longer) hanging out with them in Utah. However, I think we were responsible for the most flops experienced in a single trip on their behalf. We took a half hour drive to go to a pool twice and never got wet, we went to a fair that was so crowded that you could hardly breathe, and we walked about eigtheen times farther that anyone with five hungry kids should consider to get to a rodeo that we didn't know you had to pay to get into. It was ... vacation! Okay their vacation where Elias broke his femur had to have been worse.
Since Wes and William were not able to participate in this picture, please imagine a larger McKay with black hair, and a larger Liam with brown hair (do not omit pacifier).
For some odd reason I didn't have my camera around while we were visiting, so I have to use the few pictures I managed to get. Here's McKay, athletic powerhouse!
Leah, bounding with energy!
Melissa, about to sustain a serious injury.
A plant, hiding behind their kitty.
Liam's thoughts, "Is my aunt really this beautiful?!"
And ... otherwise filling up the summer days.
When asked to "make a face" for the camera, this is what Liam does.
Liam and I had a great time visiting with the Andrews in California, and an even better time (because it was longer) hanging out with them in Utah. However, I think we were responsible for the most flops experienced in a single trip on their behalf. We took a half hour drive to go to a pool twice and never got wet, we went to a fair that was so crowded that you could hardly breathe, and we walked about eigtheen times farther that anyone with five hungry kids should consider to get to a rodeo that we didn't know you had to pay to get into. It was ... vacation! Okay their vacation where Elias broke his femur had to have been worse.
Since Wes and William were not able to participate in this picture, please imagine a larger McKay with black hair, and a larger Liam with brown hair (do not omit pacifier). 
For some odd reason I didn't have my camera around while we were visiting, so I have to use the few pictures I managed to get. Here's McKay, athletic powerhouse!
Leah, bounding with energy!
Melissa, about to sustain a serious injury.
A plant, hiding behind their kitty.Elias on the go!
And a great picture of Ryanne, Leah, and Elias from McKay's baptism last year (see what I mean, I really didn't take pictures, I'm digging in the archives!).
We visited Colleen and Dan in their NEW HOUSE! It's awesome and so perfect for them. They're about as cute as (searching for the right description here), apple dumplings? No. Cuter. Kittens eating apple dumplings? Cuter. Wild animals eating the kittens eating the apple dumplings. NO! But really cute.
We visited Colleen and Dan in their NEW HOUSE! It's awesome and so perfect for them. They're about as cute as (searching for the right description here), apple dumplings? No. Cuter. Kittens eating apple dumplings? Cuter. Wild animals eating the kittens eating the apple dumplings. NO! But really cute.
Liam's thoughts, "Is my aunt really this beautiful?!"And ... otherwise filling up the summer days.
Learning a new skill at Ryker's b-day party.
Heavy machinery always helps.
And developing personality.
Working hard to keep up with the yard work.
Heavy machinery always helps.
And developing personality.
When asked to "make a face" for the camera, this is what Liam does.
Then he looks at himself on the LCD screen, laughs hysterically, and does it again.
What? You think he looks like he just bit into a lemon/ lime?
No ... that's more like this ...
Later, Mimi sent us on a special errand to get lots of fun fireworks. So, here's Liam, learning to distrust adults as they place a burning stick in his hands, smiling and laughing all the while. 
With a vocabulary which rivals most adults, this smart, beautiful little girl
See how they snicker over their 
