September, Family and Good Times!

September has started out to be a busy month. Jake celebrated his 3rd birthday on the 8th. I stayed down at Chris and Niccole's until the 9th. I picked up Ivan on the way back to Logan on Thursday. It was our "time together". It was so much fun to have Ivan with us for a few days. He went to stay with Caitlin to celebrate Cait's birthday on Friday and on Saturday Ivan, Caitlin and I went out to lunch at McDonald's. We then spent the afternoon together before going to dinner at Texas Roadhouse to also celebrate Cait's birthday. Ivan went to play out at Phil and Kristen's because the Roadhouse has too many peanuts which he is very allergic to. We didn't go to church on Sunday but continued to spend time together on Monday. We went out to have lunch, feed the ducks and do all the things that Grandma's and grandsons find fun doing together. I loved the time with Ivan! He is so much fun!

Gretchen had given Ivan $5 to bring to Logan with him. She told him that if he didn't spend it all that he should bring back the rest to give it to her. He also had about a dollar and a little change that was his own. It was a hoot to see how hard he tried to spend the money that his mother gave him. On Tuesday morning he still had the full amount. He begged me to take him to "All a Dollar" to find something to take home. Ivan was to ride back as far as Ogden with Mike and then Gretchen would pick him up there. We went shopping! It was funny! He wanted to spend at least $5 . When we got home he had his treasures from the "dollar" store. Then he drew out a dollar bill. I said, "Oh good! You have a dollar to take back to your Mom." He replied, "Oh, no. I spent my mom's money. This is the dollar that I brought that was mine!" Grandad and I had a good laugh!!

"Ivan's dollar" to take home!

Packed up and ready to go home.

Caitlin is in the saddle to have "Happy Birthday" sang to her while eating at Texas Roadhouse.

Birthdays and Holidays

Dad and Mike having a good camp trip! Rest and relaxation is what it is all about.

We spent the weekend of Mike's 63rd birthday in Salt Lake. We all met at Marc and Gretchen's before beginning the "Party".

When Mike was asked where he wanted to go to eat for his birthday, his reply was:

"In N Out Burger, of course!"

Everyone seemed to be ok with that since it was a "cheap" meal where we could take all of the kids. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal.

The kids in their "birthday hats"!

Carter (in front), Hiram (behind Cart), Brigham (front), Kaden and Noah

Before eating we had spent time at the park playing kickball, Kube, resting and visiting.

Some of the group played games, others napped (Mike S. and Matt), read or visited.

Playing Kube

Jenicca rests. She always smiles and is so fun to have around. She is my beautiful "Sweet Baby Girl". (Not so much a "baby" any more! But she will always be "Sweet Baby Girl" to me!)

Mike and Christina with family and Matt & Amanda stayed the weekend with Marc and Gretchen. Mike, Grandad and I went to stay at Nicci's, while Kristen & kids stayed at the Pugsley's. Phil flew back from Costa Rica late Saturday night and they had to be back in Logan for church on Sunday. Mike also went back to teach his Sunday School and came back afterwards to join in the Labor Day celebrating on Monday. This family knows how to keep a party going!!!

Monday we joined together to go to Hogle Zoo. The weather was great! It was fun to be there with the kids since we hadn't visited the zoo for quite a few years.

We spent quite a bit of time watching the elephants.

The baby was so cute!

Stopping for a short rest

Getting all of the kids in one place to take a group photo was somewhat of a challenge. What a great looking bunch of grandkids!! Poor Caitlin is just a bit out-numbered at our family outings.

Coop and Dad (Marc) stop long enough for Grandma to exercise her camera. Cooper didn't seem too thrilled about posing.

The little ones had to drag Grandma along.

(Jake, Cooper, & Kaden)

Faces like these make life worthwhile!!

(Jacob & Kaden)

Thanks everyone for the great weekend together, for making Grandpa's birthday a happy one (and for his stiffness from kickball ~~ that part helped him feel his age)!

We had a fun time! Family is great!