June 7

This is the last installment of Crater pics. Cade got his junior ranger badge and was very proud. The boys loved the caves - I never thought spelunking could be so much fun. Actually, I didn't get to participate much. I don't recommend wearing flip flops and shorts if you are planning on crawling into a cave. In my defense, I did have tennis shoes in my car I was going to change into - but then we decided to all pile in the suburban and left before I grabbed my shoes. I guess we will have to go back and explore sometime!

June 6

Yes - more Crater pictures. It's okay you can yawn. There will be just one more day to fill your days of boredom!

June 5

More Craters of the Moon pictures - be prepared for a few more onsloughts. Cade had a great time taking pictures of his cousin taking pictures of him :)

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.