Sock Monsters

I have been trying to teach myself to sew (by hand because I don't have room for a sewing machine) and thought that I would share a picture of my first project. Sock Monsters! The green one is Ryker's, and the striped one is Anicka's. Not too bad, if I say so myself. They turned out kind of cute. I finished these a couple of months ago, and hadn't thought to upload a picture until now.

Tropic

We went camping with my family over the long weekend in the beautiful area near Tropic Reservoir. Just look at all of the amazing trees and rock formations that were just a short hike from our campsite.
(Most of these photographs were taken by Adam)

Anicka likes to help daddy put up the tent

Kaycee was very excited about catching weeds

Ryker loved playing in the dirt

Anicka caught her first fish

("...is it dead?")

In other, completely unrelated news:
I turned the book club blog into a book review blog. The new address is therecklessreader.blogspot.com

yep.

Attention, lazy bloggers!

(Just for fun. This post brought to you by the lazy bloggers post generator. It's like mad libs for your blog. I wish I had come across this site about a month ago!)

Holy Blog Of Doom, Batman! I just climbed out from under my rock and realised I have not updated this since long before Shakespeare wast a boy... You would not believe my anguish at my misdoings. I prostrate myself in sorrow and beg thy forgiveness..

I am absolutely consumed with cutting my toe nails, watching the grass grow, just generally being an embarrassment to the locals, my day seems to be packed from the moment my children manage to unlock my bedroom door and use me as a jumping castle to sun down and beyond. I am putting money aside so I can run away. but this damned rock is heavy.

I absolutely, positively promise I will update you with my nefarious activities as soon as I get a chance. No, really! Don't hold your breath though, you're likely to turn blue...

( We are going camping near Bryce Canyon this weekend, so I should have a fresh post and fresh pictures up sometime next week!)

Too Much! Too long!

I don't even know where to start. There has just been so much going on for the past two months that I haven't had the chance to update, and now there are so many things to catch up on, and... I don't know where to start. (Wait, did I say that already?) I suppose I'll just share a few of the highlights.

Since my last update we have:

* Gone hiking and exploring through/around Rockville


* Introduced Ryker to the swimming pool


* Celebrated Adam's parents' 50th wedding anniversary with a fun Hawaiian themed party



* Celebrated my parents' 25th wedding anniversary with a surprise party for my mom (sadly, my camera batteries died part way through the party and I got very few pictures. This is the only one I have of both of my parents.)

at which I showcased my (only slightly pathetic) first attempt at cake decorating
* Gone camping with Shane and Dusty's family

(The boys play in the back of the truck)

(Anicka does her first solo marshmallow roast)
(Katie gets attacked by the S'more monster)
(Ashlee nearly loses her battle with said monster)

I'm also sad to say that since my last update my great grandfather, Frank Reed passed away. I don't have any digital pictures of him, but I have a portrait of him and his sweetheart together that I would like to scan and put up here. His funeral was very touching. I have never been to a military funeral before, and was so moved by the military salute and the playing of taps over his grave. I think one of the most touching moments at the viewing was the '21 gum salute', where each of the grandchildren and great grandchildren were given a piece of gum to chew and we all 'snapped' our gum to salute grandpa before they closed the casket.
As sad as I am to have lost both of my great grandparents, I am glad that they are together again and free of pain. I am also glad that grandpa didn't have to be apart from his sweetheart for very long.

On a happier note, Ryker has learned a new trick in the past two weeks. Here is his new method of travel: