24th of July Celebration

In my little home town of Lyman, WY they have the best 24th of July celebration. This year we decided to go and enjoy the festivities. They have a mini triathalon that my sister, Bonnie, and I did. We had to bike 6.5 miles, swim 250 yds. in a pool (10 laps), and then run 3.2 miles. My goal was to finish under one hour. With a lot of hard work and some major stomach pain I did just that. Thanks to my sister who was my rock through it all, I made it. It was so fun to do it together with her, but I think next year we should just do it. Bonnie is an animal on the bike and swimming. It was so hard for me to keep up with her. It was a great accomplishment and I am pretty proud of us!

My man, Adam. He missed a trip to the Muddy to come support me. He was there at every stop. He got me ready to swim and was there with my shoes to run. He and the kids were cheering me on the entire way. Thanks guys. I have the best family ever!

Just finished. It was a lot harder then I thought it was going to be. I really struggled in the run, which I thought I would do the best at since that is my strongest thing. The bike killed me, it was down hill out and up hill on the way back. The swim was a little crazy, because there were so many of us in the pool at one time. I got in with a bunch a people and the guy in front of me was doggy paddling and I couldn't get around him. I was thankful for the break though. When I started out on the run I got the worst stomach cramps ever. I couldn't catch my breath and a lot of people passed us. I was so bummed, but I couldn't breathe. It was the weirdest thing ever. It was sad, because we were doing awesome. But we finished and I guess that was what I was going for and I did do it just under an hour. YAHOO!

They had a kids race around the block. Jane was super excited for it. Her and Natalee did the race together. Aren't they the cutest little girls ever!

She ran the entire way. She was so cute and so excited to do it. She had her exercise clothes on!

At the end of the race they got otter pops and bells. So cute.

After the race we headed for the parade where we loaded up on candy.
I love the parade because it lasts about 30 minutes at the most. It's great.

My brother Spencer and his darling boy, Wyatt enjoying the parade. He is the cutest little guy!

That night they have a Ranch Rodeo, which is really fun. They have some fun events and lots of fun. They had a kids 5 & under event. We thought it would be to catch a chicken, kitten, or bunny. Jane was so pumped for this, she really wanted to catch an animal and keep it. To our surprise they actually had to catch a big bouncy ball. They were still excited.

Guess what...we had a winner. Jane actually got the ball out of like 50 kids. They had maybe 10 balls and Jane got one. She was bummed she didn't get to keep the ball, but she did get a $1. I was happy about that. It was so funny cause on the way home we said that we were so proud of Ike for trying to get the ball, he got real sad and said, "No you not, cause I didn't get the ball." Adam and I just had to laugh. It was so cute.
We had such a fun time in good old WYO. My family is so much fun and it was a fun time catching up on old times and hangin' out. Love you guys! Happy 24th!

What we've been up to....

I spent a few days out in Wyoming with my family. Shunae and Jada came into town from California and we met up to see them. I came home a few days later with a new home decor addition to the family room......

Adam's big horn sheep was mounted and on the hall. It looks good.

Love the decorating Adam!

My parents house is now surrounded by a buffalo ranch. The kids love to go outside and look at the buffalo.

Me and my darling niece Jada. I haven't seen her since Christmas, I think. I was so excited to see her and Shunae. I sure miss these guys. I can't wait until Trav is done with school and they can move closer to us!
She is the cutest thing ever!

This is my darling nephew, Wyatt. He and Jada are only like 2 weeks apart and are the cutest things ever! It was so fun to seem them both. I love them both to pieces and their mom's are darling with them and are so fun.

Ike loved Jada. He couldn't get enough of her, and she the same. She saw Ike and couldn't take her eyes off of him. He loved to make her smile and loved when she would rub his hair after his new haircut. She didn't care for Cal much. He got close to her and she'd cry. He was a little too much for her. He just wanted to hold her and pretend she was a tiny baby. It was pretty funny.

Grandpa and Grandma Shelton were pretty happy to have all of their grandkids for a day.
top: Jane 5, Ashlee 8, Haylee 6, Grandma and Grandpa Shelton, Natalee 4, Jada 7 months, Cal 21 months, Wyatt 7 months, and Ike 3.

Me and my mom. I love this woman and think the world of her. She is a wonderful person and is such a big help to me. It is always loads of fun when my mom comes out to visit me.
Her and Bonnie came down for a day and we spent it at the pool. It was so fun and we wore all the kids out.

Bonnie and I. I love this girl. She is an amazing mother of 3 girls and such a great friend to me. She is always fun to be around and we get along so great. Our kids are really pretty good playing together and we always have fun together. We love to be around each other and can always find something to laugh about. I am so lucky to have such great ladies in my life. I love when we get together.

We have had a lot of fun with the Rudy girls and Grandma Shelton this summer.

We just finished our two weeks of swim lessons at the AF rec. center. Jane loved it, Cal thought it was alright, and Ike hated it for the most part. Jane did swim lessons last year and did really well, so this year she did just as good. She is getting so brave. She loves to go under water and is getting the hang of swimming.
Cal and I did the mom and tot class. He loved it. He thought it was fun to do his own thing instead of what the teacher wanted us to be doing.
Ike hated it. He was the screaming kid in the lessons. The first day, he wouldn't get in unless Jane was in with him. The second day wouldn't get in and was screaming. After that I gave up and just made him watch Jane and Cal. The next week he thought he'd try and he did pretty good. He at least got in and swam with the teacher. He loves to go swimming with us at the pool, but he wasn't sure of swim lessons. I am hoping next year will be better. He was a little stinker!

Ike in the pool and not screaming. I was to frustrated to take to many pictures of Ike. It would have been fun to have one of him screaming, but that was to much work.

Jane loving it. She loved going under water. I was a little disappointed at some of the teachers at the pool. Not the friendliest bunch of folks. I think I might have to try the private thing next year, if the budget allows!

Happy Birthday Katie!

Happy Birthday to an awesome sister-in-law! Today is Katie's birthday. She is one of the greatest people I know. She has been so good to me and I love her to death. Happy Birthday Katie!

Floatin' A Creek!

We have been having such a fun summer. We have been on the go everyday or just outside enjoying the warm weather. We found this fun spot with Myken and her girls. It's up in Cedar Hills at a fun big park with this fun little creek. The kids really had such a fun time. Ike and Cal really didn't get in the water much, but Jane loved it.
Just look at this tube! Myken and I didn't have any tubes for our kids, she made a quick trip to Walmart to get us the cheap tubes. They were fresh out. She then decided to head to Timp Tire to get the big time tubes. They were like $12.99 each. She brought them back and they were both deformed, big time. The kids floated on them one time. We were sitting on the grass talking and the tubes just popped. One after the other. It was so funny! She spent all this time and money to only have them pop after the kids used them once. We did go back and get out money back thank heavens. It was really funny!
It's always so fun with Myken and such an adventure with us and our kids. She has been so great and we have really enjoyed spending time with her and her girls and her sisters this summer!

After a huge Thunderstorm.....

We let them play in it. We had a terrible thunderstorm a week or so ago. It lasted only about 30 minutes, but came on so suddenly. Me, Myken, and the kids ventured outside to sit on the porch to watch it pour.

Look at that kids tongue! Love it!

Ike and Cal enjoying the dirty rain water off the roof, SICK!

Ellie and Zoe were way braver then my kids and myself. The laid in the dirty rain water in the gutter and really enjoyed themselves. It was so cute. They were freezing after, but thought it was pretty fun to get all wet with their clothes on for a minute!

Jane and Ellie have had so much fun together this summer. They are together all day everyday. It's great to have a friend so close. They are so cute together, and get along for the most part!
BFF!

Got Milk?!

We got the chance to feed baby calf's from a bottle. Our friends, Doug and Cami, had baby cows and invited our kids down to the farm to feed them one night. Jane and Cal loved it. Ike was just fine looking. It was a lot of fun.

Cal, lovin' it!
He is getting so stinkin' big, it's CRAZY! My baby is growing up!

The boys! As I said, Ike was fine watching.

Such a fun experience for the kids.