This weekend was Jeff's 10 year High School Reunion so on Thursday we headed out of town. Along the way we discovered there was a rhinoceros in the backseat: 

Owen isn't a very good traveler, even though he looks sweet & innocent in the picture....

And Ethan decided he was an angry rhino...sometimes he acts like one but I still love him.

For the past 2 years Ethan has been talking about swimming in Grandma Hurst's ditch. He has been waiting that long to be able to go swimming there again and that is what we did every day we were there.

Jeff's brother Tyler got a motorcycle recently and everyone took a turn going for a ride. Jeff's mom rode with her brother Shawn:

When it was my turn I ended up burning my leg on the muffler:

We also spent an afternoon at the pool with cousins:

Colton:

Owen just wanted to splash around in the water:

and play football in the grass:

and enjoy chocolate cookies on a hot summer day:

Kamden LOVES the water. He is 3/4 fish.

Owen takes after Kamden and loves nothing more than to be in the water. This kid can sure scream and squirm when he doesn't want to be taken out of the tub or the pool.

We also got to watch a parade-the 3rd parade we have been to in less than a month. If anyone needs any candy, stop by...we have a bucket full.

Grandpa Earl & Kamden Earl:

Waiting & watching for daddy to come by

on his class float...

Owen enjoying some pretzels before the parade...

~Saltwater Taffy~

Jeff's cousin McKay driving the tractor:

Jeff's other cousin Cody taking some great pictures:

{And I really was kidding about not claiming you as my cousin, Cody}

There was so much candy at this parade, even Great Grandma Hurst helped the kids gather it all up!

The boys got to go for a ride on Thomas the Train:

While I was there I got to take engagement pictures for Jeff's brother Brad & his fiance Cassey.

 Here's a sneak peek:

We came home Saturday so that we could be at church.

Today Jeff was called as the 2nd counselor to our new Bishop.

 We had family from both sides here to support us and I know those who couldn't be here were thinking of us...hopefully praying for me since I will now be sitting through Sacrament Meeting with the boys by myself...

Over the weekend Owen's 2 top teeth have started showing and he also decided it was time to switch it up and not just army crawl and roll everywhere, but also to crawl on his hands and knees: 

{His expression is exactly how I feel about it-he can't possibly be old enough to be crawling & now he's going to be into EVERYTHING!}

Another busy weekend has flown by and now we are on to the next one!

This year Jeff & I planned the Stoker Family Reunion. It all started on Friday when we met for dinner and "Minute To Win It" games.

The guys played basketball that evening and got up early for a 6am tee time for the 1st Mark Stoker & Sons Golf Tournament. There were prizes for the longest putt, longest drive, closest to the pin, and the overall winner received a glass Stoker's Milk bottle.

 

We went to the 4th of July parade on Saturday morning before having a picnic at the park.

Then we came home and got ready to go to the dam. The weather wasn't as warm as it should have been, but we still had fun playing Bocce Ball, doing a little boating, playing in the sand & water, and playing volleyball and Bar-B-Queing.

We had dessert later that evening at our house and also did sparklers.

Everyone went to church together Sunday morning and after dinner we played some Badminton, then we went to the Nature Center and saw lots of beautiful flowers and some big fish.

We played at the park for awhile before finding a spot to watch the fireworks before the reunion came to an end.

It was a fun weekend but it sure went by quick!

11 Months

I am behind on this post but last week Owen was 11 months old! Some of the things he has been up to are:

*Saying "Car" & "Go"

*Waving goodbye

*Shaking his head when he hears the word "No"

*Standing beside furniture

*Getting his 2 bottom teeth-they aren't completley up but at least we can see them now!

*Becoming the fastest Army Crawler/Roller around

*Throwing major fits when he has to get out of the tub

*Dancing whenever he hears music

*Sleeping longer at night (Yay!)

*Yesterday he would stick his tongue out and blow spit all over me, then lick my leg, look at me and laugh about it.

I guess the fact that he's so adorable makes it alright to be showered by his saliva...

 

this past weekend we drove to hells canyon and spent time with my side of the family.

the campgrounds were down a steep hill and for some reason, kamden thought it would be a good idea to forget the paved trail and head straight down the hill...

i, being the protective and brave mother that i am, stood frozen at the top of the hill. my arms were loaded with camping gear as i watched my second born fly down the hill propelled by his short little legs which looked like a cartoon going in circles surrounded by a cloud of dust. i hesitated knowing what would happen if i went after him...just like jack and jill. but i threw down whatever i had in my arms and started toward kamden. my legs going faster and faster, i watched as he finally fell face first and did a head bang into a pile of rocks. i was certain his face would be cut and bleeding when i got to him. but then i kept going right on past him, realizing that i needed to stop myself. so, naturally, i put my knee down right when i happened to meet the paved trail. tough little kamden had only a few scrapes on his cheek, legs, and arms...my knee, however, is still on the pavement. but at least i made the effort, right?

after the trauma was over and camp was set up, there was plenty of fun to be had. there was a lot of fishing...

ethan caught his first fish!

emily tried her hand at casting...

kamden had the time of his life throwing sticks and rocks in the water...

...all he ended up catching was a ladybug.

there was also some boating to be done...

...until the transmission had some issues and we had to get rescued by some lazy bums in a fishin' boat...

owen was spoiled rotten by everyone and got to go on lots of walks with grammy...

...and uncle jeff...

...momma emily and momma kelsey even got him to fall asleep while on a walk.

he got to hang out with grampa...

and just relax near the water while the waves put him to sleep...

 

out of his 11 months of life i don't think he has ever slept better...

other pics from the trip...

and, since we started the trip with some drama, what better way to end it than with a little more? on our way out of the mountains we were driving on a really curvy road and i was getting car sick. then from the backseat kamden says he's tired and needs to go to sleep. good idea, right? well, that idea got interupted when he barfed all over himself, his carseat, the seatbelt, and anything else that got in the way. but jeff was a trooper and did most of the cleanup, saving me from the same fate. but we did get to see a deer cross the street and bound gracefully off into the woods so i guess it wasn't all bad.

Overheard

While the boys were playing in their room-
Ethan: "You killed my father!"
Kamden: "I AM your father!"
Ethan: "NOOooooo!"

After Kamden had gotten in trouble:
Mom: "You haven't been nice to your brothers, and now you're not being nice to me."
Ethan: "Maybe you have darkness in your heart, Kamden."
Kamden: "I DON'T HAVE ANY HEART!"
(I guess they've been watching too much Star Wars)

Kamden was getting dressed and he was frustrated. He brought me a pair of underwear and said:
"I can't wear these! They are too fat for me!"

While driving, Ethan said from the backseat:
"That is a funny thing..."
I asked him what was funny and he said:
"Those two ducks were stuck together."

Happy Fathers Day!

We love you!

10 Months

LOST

This picture was taken on our way home from a trip to Utah almost 5 years ago-August 2005-when my little 8 month old Ethan was getting his first teeth...

...and this morning Ethan lost his first tooth.

He is very excited to see what the Tooth Fairy leaves under his pillow tonight & he even took his tooth to Show & Tell at preschool today. I never would have thought a missing tooth could make me sad-just another thing to make me realize how quickly he is growing up!

The Father, The Son...

Before you accuse me of being sacreligious, let me explain. We spent part of the day playing in the boys' room with their Fisher Price castle, pirate ship, & all the toys that go with them. During the rush to divide the goods, Kamden made a mad dash toward the pile, his eyes fixed on a figure across the room. Just before picking it up he said "I need this holy ghost!" then he grabbed it in his hand, claiming his prize. I thought it was worth a blog post :)

Happy Mother's Day!

Owen had his 9 month check up last week. He weighed 19lbs 13oz & measured 29 inches tall. He is working on getting his 1st tooth and he loves to clap. One of his favorite things to do is play with toys on his bedroom floor while listening to his cd with the "If you're happy and you know it" song & he claps along to the entire thing. He loves music and starts bouncing around & bobbing his head whenever he hears it. Owen also likes to growl, eat tapioca pudding, and he LOVES to be outside. He likes to play cars with his brothers, go on bikerides, and splash in the bath.