Trip to Sunny Nevada

The weekend before memorial day, we went down to visit my Uncle John and Auntie Mo. We had a GREAT time. The kids swam in their pool, played with their dogs, roasted marshmallows and generally got spoiled. We also went to my Uncle's drag race time trials, I got to ride in his dragster, and I got to take an awesome bike ride with my aunt. It was a great weekend. Here are some pics...

 Auntie Mo and Uncle John, trying to stay cool before the start.

 Our oldest son, chillin in the golf cart at the track.

 Uncle John and his dad's (my grandpa's) namesake.

 Me riding back in the dragster.

 The kids in the pool.

 This is what our baby does when he sees a camera and you say, "Say Cheese!" Squinty eyes and big open mouth. It's soooo darn cute!

 The kids found a geocache on the mesa with their dad.

 One of the kids' favorite things was riding to the time trials in the motorhome. They thought that was SOOOOOO coool!

 At the track...earplugs in place.

 My honey taking pictures of Uncle John.

 Two cuties in the dragster.

 The boys playing football with their second cousins.

 The cutest baby around if I do say so myself.

Happy 10th Birthday Kiddo! Video Game Party and BBQ in Nevada

Our second son turned 10 this month. He had quite the extended celebration. We were going to be out of town on his actual birthday so we had his party with friends a week early. He wanted a video game party. So I made a XBox video game controller birthday cake. HERE'S THE LINK to my other blog on how I made the cake. It turned out great and he told me I should be on one of those cake decorating shows. It was fun to make and I could really get into that sort of thing, but alas, no time.

The party was complete with pizza, soda, licorice, video games, glow necklaces, and fun. He had a great time. Fortunately he has a small group of friends so it wasn't too crazy. I can't believe how grown up he's getting.

Then we went down to visit family in Nevada while dad had to do some work there on the actual birthday weekend. They made his day special by having a BBQ, bonfire, and singing happy birthday to him. What a lucky boy...2 parties.

Then finally, Nana and Papa came over the evening after we returned and gave him their gift and shared some Peach Pie with us (this pie was the special request of the birthday boy). It used up the last of my frozen pie filling I made from our peaches last summer. I just hope our trees end up producing this year so we can make more.

Here are the photos from his many celebrations...

XBox Controller Cake made by his mom (me)...he was stoked!

Playing video games, TEAM 1

TEAM 2. Glow necklaces included.

Lego Rock Band...They Rocked!

The Birthday Boy getting ready to blow out the candles.

The Party-goers

Mom decorated like an arcade in the basement.

Great Aunt Linda's strawberry cheesecake bday dessert.

On the actual Birth Date...Yummy dessert!

Grannie & Papa weren't there but sent a gift...

or two. Thanks Grannie and Papa.

relaxing by the bonfire

Back at home, day 3 of celebrating, gifts from Nana & Papa

Thanks Nana and Papa

And special request, Mom's Peach Pie.

Black Belt Test

After 3+ years of Martial Arts, our oldest son tested for Black Belt. He passed and we are very proud of him. The journey doesn't end here, however. It's only the beginning. He hopes to earn his second degree black belt in another 3 years and see where life takes him from there. His Master, Master Royal West, is an 8th degree black belt and was one of the earliest, what we now call mixed-martial artists, to do full body fighting on TV in the 70's. Martial Arts has increased our son's discipline, maturity, respect, and obedience as well as developed many other aspects of his physical and spiritual characteristics. Great Job! Here's a slideshow of his test.