June 4

We had a fantastic Memorial Day that I am now going to report on for the next several days in June when I haven't done anything exciting......so Memorial Day recap: I woke up and took a nice jog around the greenbelt that ended up being about 8 miles, I just kept on going, because.....I LOVE that place!!!!), got juice boxes, packed picnic lunches, loaded up in two cars putting all the men/boys in one car and all the women folk in another. We drove up to Craters of the Moon in Idaho and had a great time. I had never actually been to Crater of the Moon. I had just thought it would be a bunch of boring rocks. Well, it was a bunch of rocks, but they weren't boring. I loved the trails and the lava rocks from the volacano. My boys loved it too. We had good company, good conversation, so/so weather, and a lot of fun. I actually even want to go back to Craters. I didn't even get to see half of it. We stayed for a couple of hours until it rained us out, and then we drove back home. I slept for 4 hours in the car, and then I got to unpack. It was a great Memorial Day!

June 3

This is what the Cannons look like when asked to put on their very serious Pinochle game faces. And whilst the grownups play....the kids get down and pull out golf clubs and wear black spider man hats......Of course we learned a few new games from the other Cannons. Every time we see them they introduce us to at least one new "worthy of play" game. If you ever need a game recommendation - they have it. They have sampled every game under the sun and have weeded out the best of the best. We owe our Settlers of Cattan, Shadows over Camelot, Epidemic, Dominion and other game fun to the other Cannons.

June 2

In between tons and tons of games - we found some time to take the kids to the park. I have an awesome brother and sister in law. They get down and play with their kids, tease them, teach them, have pirate day, make twelve billion flavors of ice cream together, etc., etc., etc... When I grow up I want to be like Klixi.

June 1

One of the highlights was playing with "Bubber." Bubber feels like weightless rubber, doesn't ever dry out, doesn't stick to carpet, and provided hours of entertainment for the kids (and me.) We sliced it, diced it, mushed it, and mangled it. My favorite part of the Bubber? On the lid it says: "Do not ingest." A little later it says....."Gluten free." Such a relieve because you know I couldn't play with play doh that wasn't Gluten Free. It would just taste bad if I ate it.

May 31

We went up to IF for the long weekend. Eric's brother from Missouri was up with his family. We had a great time. My boys loved spending time with their cousins. David decided to be the black spiderman all weekend long. He wore the spidey hat on his head nonstop.

May 30

It was freezing cold, but we did it! On Friday we actually used the nifty patio out my bedroom and the great bistro set. We had breakfast and lunch out on the patio. The boys loved it! I came in and had hot chocolate by the fire for desert each time, but it was a fun memory. I think we will have to do it again sometime.

May 29

Cade's preschool took a field trip to the Classic Fun Center. Bowling, skating, pirate cove, inflatable slides, arcade games, laser tag - you name it they have it. We hung out a lot there last summer and had their summer pass. I don't think we'll be doing that this summer. From the moment we walked in the door until the moment we left about and hour and half later David was crazy. He made me hold him whilst he screamed uncontrollably. He never wanted to get down and play and not even a balloon or candy or a pretzel smothered in sugar could calm him down. I think I learned that David is terrified of Nickel Cade, Fun Centers, Bowling Alleys, and yes even Chuck E. Cheese. I guess this is the end of my skee ball career, (at least until he conquers this fear.)

May 28

This picture is from last Saturday after all the crazy work was done. What did I do with my Saturday? Gym, taught piano, went to J and J Garden - Lowe's - Home Depot - Ace Hardware twice - redid a bistro set, stained a bridge, planted flower pots, planted flower beds, weed whacked the yard, planted a garden, planted a tree, and crashed on the couch. I think now I understand sometimes why I am the way I am - I may have gotten a little bit of my mom's busy bug in me. Sometimes I can take on a lot of projects and never stop. My mom wore me out though - mission accomplished - and she reigns supreme on the busy scale for this Saturday and everything she helped do! Thanks mom - lots of yardwork done is a huge relief for me!

May 27

Yes Virginia there is a tree somewhere in that picture. It's like Where's Waldo only it is where is my crazy Empress tree that I ordered online and wanted so bad and then when I got it is was this tiny stick in a pot, and now it is planted and I don't think it is going to survive, and it is a good thing the place guarantees their products and now I think I have to get another one and try again to kill yet another living plant and oh I have such a black thumb so if you want to get rid of any plants just invite me over!

May 26

We replanted the garden. Everything we had previously planted except the peas had withered away and died thanks to some extra cold late weather. Tomatoes, kohlrabi, beans, peppers, lettuce, etc.... is still to come! (If they survive again.....sad to report but it snowed the next day!) I think I need to get covers for my tomato plants, or stop buying tomato plants, or maybe just move somewhere where it doesn't snow in May :)

May 25

These are the great red flowers that my mom and I planted. I have flowers! I may have lots of weeds in my grass that is struggling, but I do have some nice red flowers to brighten my porch. I think we planted lillys, geraniums, dusty miller, alysium, and a bleeding heart. I wore a winter coat to plant these flowers. It snowed the next day, and Cade stepped on the bleeding heart, but after a week - they are somewhat still alive and thriving!

May 24

I finally put some furniture out on the patio outside of my bedroom! Last year I bought a bistro set at a garage sale for ten bucks. Problem? It was covered with some rust. I tried to spray paint it, but ended up spray painting my face instead. The result? I gave up and the set has sat in my garage all year. My mom came down and scrubbed it and repainted it, and then we put it on rubber caster thingees so that it won't rust the deck. Walaa - I have my bistro set outside of my door :) Now, if only it would warm up enough so that I could use it......

May 23

My mom stained my bridge for me while she was visiting. Yahoo! It survived the winter snows but had completely lost its color. Now it is a deep mahogany stain (my favorite!)

May 22

Ever wake up and realize that you are 9 days behind in blogging and you have not been taking pictures or keeping track of most anything you have been doing? Welcome to my morning. Uggh....so for a slew of lots of pictures about nothing.....here we go. This one? Proof that I watered my plants. I made a mess in the process, but nontheless I watered them. My mom came up last weekend and we made these planters. I couldn't tell you what is in them, but it is nice to have some flowers for a while (until I kill them.) Thanks mom for helping me plant stuff. She completely wore me out (no easy task) - and was such a big help.

May 21

Did I ever mention that I love this kid who makes crazy faces with me? Just in case I didn't - I'll mention it now. Cade cracks me up. He is my little money man right now. He knows what is on the front and back of every bill and coin, and I think he can add coins in his head better than me. No kidding.

May 20

One of my earliest memories of dating Eric is of watching him bend over and tickle the ticklets out of his little brother. I think the first time I met his family, his youngest brother was only five. I was so impressed by what a fun brother Eric was to his siblings - all 7 of them. I remember sitting in the chair thinking how awesome he was. Fast forward a few years and.....now I have a 5 year old boy, and Eric is my husband. He gets down and plays with the kids and tickles them, and yup, I am lucky. Sometimes it baffles me how fast all the time goes by though. Thanks Uncle Zech again for catching some fun candid photos of a tickle fest!

May 19

Cade sings in a children's choir run by my friend. They had a fun concert, and Cade did a great job! He actually stood still and was singing really well. He played the bells and the electric guitar and he was really good sitting by himself while I played for all the other kids to sing. I was happy to have the chance to play for these sweet little voices. I love children's voices. It did make me miss San Diego, though.....I am so grateful for all the years I got to go to rehearsals every night and listen to little voices sing. I've got some awesome memories to take with me from those years.

May 18

I couldn't resist taking this picture. There's just something about little boys in big shoes that line up on your wall and ask for a picture that is irresistible.

May 17

Thanks to Uncle Zech for snatching these pictures of our visit to the Great Grandparents. I think that the boy's homemade picture cards were a big hit.

May 16

Cade with Clifford. We went to a bike safety fair. Free pizza - free pop - and free carnival games. David was sick with a fever so he missed out on the fun. I can't decide if I feel more sorry for David who has been miserable for a week - or for myself because I have been his comfort nonstop.....He just wants mommy all the time. At least I know that I am loved.

May 15

Taken from my Mother's Day walk. We fed horses, ran across bridges, and had a jolly good time.

May 14

I am so behind on this YIP thing. We'll see if I can keep at this for another couple of months. Hopefully I'll make it at least six months. Here are more pics from the trip to the Golden Spike. While we didn't get on the really cool train, we got to ride this tram "train" around the parking lot. Sipping on Yohoo's and watching all the cars......the boys were in heaven. (I admit I was bored bored bored bored bored....)

May 13

This should have been the pic for May 10th - but it is not because I forgot. On May 10th we drove to see the re-enactment celebration of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in Promontory Point, Utah. The festival commemorated the 141st anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike. Zech and Liz were with us - and these pictures are Zech's (Thanks Zech!) I can't say that I actually got much of the re-enactment festival because I was busy being a mom, bu we had fun. We sang Dinah blow your horn obnoxiously loud, walked around the gift store, ate hotdogs, said the Pledge of Allegience, lost and found my wallet (Again.....) and my highlight? I stopped in at the Amateur Radio Club booth. There were so many elderly gentlement there - and I picked up a flier and got to tell them my HAM call sign - KGJPRQ. Yes I am a HAM radio operator......although I think I've used it once......I took the test to be a copycat of my husband. Yet, another story to tell another day when it isn't the middle of the night and I'm trying to combat insomnia by blogging.....

May 12

Oh how these people make me laugh.....some of my friends from the Village Green during a rehearsal. For the record - I'd love a Mickey Mouse hat like that.

May 11

The twisted Azalea tree. This pic is for you mom and dad. This is the tree we got to deliver to Grandma for Mother's Day. Hope it was okay - I sure thought it was neat.

May 10

Q: How many Cannons does it take to retrieve something from a tree in a park?

A: As many as you see.

We went to Logan for a picnic to celebrate Mel's graduation. We had a great time. We froze - we ate - we played games - and Eric saved the day by rescuing the game piece from the tree.

May 9

Happy Mother's Day! I hope that everyone had as great of a day as I did. It was truly fantastic. My sis Liz and her husband Zech were visiting. Thanks Zech for taking these pics of my greatest joys and blessings. I'm so privileged to be a mom to two incredible little boys. They showered me with homemade cards and a tulip picked from Great Grandma Cook's yard and they each gave me a candle. Eric gave me some great flowers and a card with a coupon for patio furniture! He also made me the most delicious dinner of grilled salmon and corn on the cob and salad.....yummy! My favorite part was getting a hug from all three of my little family. We had church and then we went for a walk up by Lagoon and then we visited my Grandparents. It was a wonderful day. I'm so blessed to be a mom and to have such a wonderful mom and to know so many wonderful Grandmas, mother-in laws, and mothers. Pull out the cheddar.....I could keep going on and on and on about moms.......

May 8

Here's our Mother's Day cards we made for the grandmas this year. A photo of the boys licking chocolate with the caption "You're as sweet as chocolate pudding Grandma" surrounded by a fruit loop flower completed the cards. The boys each decorated one side of the envelope. This kept them busy for quite some time, and I loved going to town on the Fruit Loops while they decorated and colored and had a great time.

May 7

I feel like it is cheating spreading out my Cinco pics over three days....but that is exactly what I am going to do. By the way, I wore that sombrero all day....even when I got dressed up for a dress rehearsal in black concert garb....I topped it off with the Sombrero. Being festive might be one of my fortes.