Smooches...

Very seldomly do I ever watch tv but I've been setting the DVR this season for the show the Bachelorette. Tonight Dyl was on a walk with the neighbor kid so I decided to watch the season finale. The guy got down on one knee, made his wedding proposal, and in walked Dylan as the two were exchanging rather passionate kisses. Dyl did a quick stare at the tv and then in all seriousness responded with, "Mom, sometimes WE do that, huh?" I was trying so hard not to giggle when I blurted out, "NOT LIKE THAT WE SURE DON'T!" Dylan's answer to that was, "Well...sometimes we hug and kiss and stuff, KINDA like that." There's a reason we only watch cartoons and kid shows around our house!

Apricots Galore!

Our apricot tree produced so many apricots this year they were growing out of our ears! Chase and Dyl loved climbing up the ladder and picking the biggest apricots...

These two haven't been so quiet since...oh, wait...I don't remember when they've been this quiet!

Water-iffic!

One of Dylan's places to be when it's hot outside is the water park!!!!

Not-So-Secret Crush!

Here is Dylan and his 17-year-old girlfriend, Kenzie. Dyl is proud that he's got a girlfriend and likes to brag about it!

The Findlay Family camping trip was at Twin Lakes this year. This is the first year everybody in the family was able to make it: Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins...Good times!

Shaylee wasn't about ready to let Kyler steal her potatoes! Every time Kyler tried to move in for the steal Shay protected the potatoes with all her might, mind and strength...And Kyler cried till he got his own way!

Well doesn't this look like a lively bunch? Is this where the party is?

Faces only a parent could love! I love taking pictures of dirty faces...It shows character!

This is Dyl's dirt bike! Dyl would start up at the top of the hill and hope he could stop his bike by time he got to the bottom. I think he only biffed it a couple of times~

Anthony picking on the kids again...I think he forgot Zach is growin' up! Any guesses on who won?

Britt posing after she got drowned by Anthony in the Lake...She didn't wanna let me take her picture till I convinced her she still looked hot!

Ryan and Karly helping to prepare dinner. Karly looks like a little orphan Annie!

Of course there's always gotta be at least 1 wild one in the bunch! I have such a hot brother...and, ladies...he's available! (And not really wild!)

Chase and Grandpa hanging out and trying to cool off...Grandpa banned the kids from eating any more junkfood till dinner!

Silly bunch! They had such a great time hanging out...Great memories! I hope they always stay close...

The picture says it all! Dyl thinks he's tough...Need I say more?

Aunt Tracy, as always, entertaining the kids...There's a reason she's a school teacher and the favorite aunt!

A little bit passionate for a kiss between a brother and sister, don'tcha think?

Sexy Grandma posing for the next Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue...

This was our entertainment for the occasion! Can't wait to do it again next year!

Peer Pressure...

I'm very open with Dylan and think it's important to discuss things such as drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. He's still a little young but Dyl knows about cigarettes and what they can do to your body. Since the 4th Dyl and I haven't gotten to sleep till midnight or later and Dylan was so tired! On the 4th Aunt Kathy had to have emergency surgery to remove half of her colon. Today we went up to the hospital to visit Aunt Kathy. Dylan had fallen asleep on the way to the hospital but when we got there woke up...extremely grumpy! We got out of the car and headed towards the hospital and all of the sudden Dylan sat down in the middle of the road, crossed his legs, put a big 'ole skowl on his face, and refused to budge. I started off with the usual lecture about how a car was going to come and run over him but Dylan couldn't care less about what I was saying. There was a man putting some stuff into his car and I said, "Did you wanna take a boy with you? He doesn't seem to wanna come with his mom." With that, the man said, "Heck...I can be stubborn, too!" He went and sat right next to Dylan, crossed his arms and legs, and then pulled out a cigarette, and asked Dyl if he wanted one. I don't think I've ever seen Dylan move so fast as he got up and ran towards me, crying "MOMMY!" all the way...Hey...call me a bad mom...but whatever works!

Dyl loves Uncle Anthony!

4th of July in Po-dunk Idaho!

We've been so busy this summer doing so many things that I haven't found the time to sit down and blog...So here are a few of the things we've been doing this past month. Dylan went to the fireworks at USU with Uncle Ryan and Aunt Jamie on Friday the 3rd and then we went to the parade in Soda Springs, Idaho, on the fourth...Small town parades are the best!

After the parade we went to the park for a little more fun...A guy was pulling his 4-wheeler around with this little train...Dyl loved it!

Menu for the Day...

Dylan must be going through a growth spurt or something because he has been eating all day long! Breakfast: Oatmeal, blueberries and an apple Snack: a WHOLE bag of popcorn Lunch: 1/4 of a Cafe Rio burrito and broccoli w/ranch Snack: Strawberries Snack: A spoon of peanut butter topped off with fresh blueberries (I guess it's sorta like pb&J?--creative at the least!) ...And Dylan is still hungry! I guess it is almost dinner time!

Forever cousins, Forever friends...

Dylan is lucky to have such fun cousins...It's fun to watch each of them grow and learn about life and develop their own unique personalities!

Green thumbs and feet...

Changing colors..Shay, Karly, Dylan and Chase spent a fun week playing and hanging out...Oh, the crazy dayz of summer!

After the rain comes...Lots 'o green grass!

It has been raining a ton over the past few weeks in Utah and the grass keeps growing and growing and growing! Just as soon as the lawn gets mowed it's time to mow it again. Dylan spent a week on Grandpa's farm last week and has been saying ever since that he wants some goats to put in the back yard. Come to think of it, that may not be such a bad idea...At least we wouldn't have to mow the lawn! You'll never hear a complaint from the kids, though...They're such good little helpers!

Following Jesus...

So Dylan said, "Mom, I follow Jesus." When asked what that meant Dylan responded with, "I follow Jesus because I make good choices." After a short pause Dylan said, "But, Mom...Uncle Gary doesn't follow Jesus 'cuz he gets mad and puts us in time out." Do you think there's a bit of a contradiction here? Why would Gary get mad and put Dyl and Chase in timeout if they were always "Following Jesus?"

Grandma Dorothy and Grandpa Bates came out to visit for 4 days. They spoiled us and Dylan had an absolute ball!

Thomas the Train...

Thomas the Train visited the Heber Valley Railroad in Heber City...And so did we!

Wet paint...

This morning as I dropped Dylan off at Aunt Leslie's he opened the door and said, "Ew...there's bird poop on the sidewalk!" Then with a big 'ole grin he said, "But don't worry, mom...It's not like wet paint...So I can step in it if I wanna and it won't ruin my shoes!"

Leakin'

So my sister, Leslie, took Dylan with her over to her in-laws' house today. Grandpa Saddler was putting an outdoor swimming pool together, sweating as the hot sun beat down on him. Dylan watched with clear intent and the utmost curiosity. Finally, Dylan asked, "Papa, how come you're leakin'?"

Are they pretty?

We scurried home tonight because some men from church were coming over. I told Dylan he could play outside till our visitors arrived. A little bit later Dylan said, "Mom, are they pretty?" I said, "Is who pretty?" "Those girls...the ones who are coming over to our house." Needless to say, Dyl was disappointed that no pretty girls were coming over to visit...