Not much to blog about. It is pretty hot so I am making excuses to stay inside. This gets a little boring so I decided to finally put a few pictures up on the wall. It only took me two years!! I even got a few walls cleaned today. Hopefully I will be as productive tomorrow!

I was trying to organize my photos on line and came across some cute pictures of the kids painting. This was the first time Ariana had been allowed to paint. She did a really good job…

…at first! Then she decided to take up the job of water taster!
 
Did I mention it was dirty paint water! In the end more paint was on her than on any of her papers, but she had a blast!

I told the kids they had to paint something! Usually their papers turn into huge black scribbles! Here is Ammon’s self portrait!

Kalixta is working on her self portrait as well. She was very upset that there was no green and her grass had to be blue. She is really into the details, just like her Daddy!

Britain wasn’t concerned with what she looked like, but her rainbow had to be perfect! With only three colors to work with she and Zoe had lots of fun mixing colors to make new colors for her rainbow.

Zoe is such a perfectionist it sometimes drives me crazy! She started this butterfly three times before she liked how it looked! It was beautiful in the end and worth the extra effort!

The softball team Adam’s plays on had a rough season. They won only three of their games. Then comes the tournament. We won the first game only to lose the next game that was played that same night. After a break for July fourth week, we had another game scheduled Monday night at six. We won! We played another game at seven. We won that game too and the next one that was at eight! (We had played this team two other times and got beaten by a lot both times!) Then came the championship game!! They were undefeated so in order to be the champs we had to win twice. We played at nine and WON! It was amazing! It was so fun to watch all these guys play their best knowing how tired they must be! Kenny’s Mom was a LOUD, great, fun, motivator!! She was the team’s good luck charm!
Last night the guys had the final game! They didn’t win. It was a bummer, but I think they all did great! Second place is good, especially when the trophy is big!!

Here is Jason, Mike, and Kenny goofing off. It is a great picture, but I am still waiting for the team pic from Marci (hint, hint:-)

Great season guys!! I can’t wait to cheer for all of you next month when you start co-ed softball! 

We had a great fourth. We celebrated it with family, friends, water balloons, food, and of course, fireworks! 
 
The bigger boys had a good time throwing water balloons and seeing who could catch them. I think more were broke than caught!
 
The littler kids just like to hold the water balloons, which end up broke in their face. They always cry a little and then go get another one!

We decided to stay home and light fireworks in the front yard. Ariana didn’t like the fireworks this year. As soon as they started she yells “House! House!” I could distract her for a few seconds and she would say they were pretty, but she still wanted to go into the house. So she watched a movie. I tried to get her to come out and do Sparklers with us, but after one she was done and wanted to go back to her movie! Everyone else loved the fireworks!


There was a cool one that shot up into the air, exploded and a parachute guy came flying out! The kids loved chasing these guys.
 

  
Nik had a blast this year lighting some of the bigger fireworks. He didn’t even care about doing the Sparklers.

So you can tell we had a blast on the fourth! Hope you all did too!

Ariana turned two on Saturday. I have seen it coming for the past month or so. The temper tantrums have increased as well as her vocabulary. She is developing a very fun sense of humor. She loves to copy everyone, especially Ammon. She is a great dancer and loves to sing! She loves to dress up and likes anything that is “cute” and “pretty.” She is my little doll and I can’t imagine life without her.

We had strawberry shortcake, thanks to Michelle and Jordan, on Friday night with my parents. (They left that night and took Nik with them. He was so sad to be missing her birthday. Having cake with her made it better, even if it wasn’t on her birthday!) She sang along with us and tried so hard to blow out the candles. She took deep breathes and blew and blew, unfortunately she has terrible aim! Adam helped with that!


She got a new dress for her birthday!

Ari is so very hard to take pictures of! She purposely will not look at the camera when I have it out. Or she makes her cheese face which is only cute so many times! I was so excited when she took this GREAT picture with my parents. Too bad her hair wasn’t brushed!

Saturday we celebrated her birthday again! Daddy made her a cute heart cake. She sang Happy Birthday every time she saw the cake. Her favorite parts are the cha cha cha’s. She got two cute pairs of shoes, that hopefully she will keep ON her feet (She hasn’t wanted to wear shoes. She puts them on and then takes them off as soon as we go somewhere!).
 
She got some beach toys and bubbles. She was a happy girl!

Leaving Thursday was the first time I have ever left my family. Two whole days! I knew Adam could handle it, but the “What ifs?” were stressing me out! What if Ammon fell and needed stitches? What if Britain broke her arm? What if? What if? What if? As I packed, cleaned, and got ready to go it was all I could think about.

So what happened while I was gone? Maisey had puppies!! Not something I had thought of. Adam calls me two hours before the funeral and says Guess what? My heart sped up a bit! She had them outside in the doghouse, because I wasn’t ready to have in the house. Thank goodness there are four healthy puppies and one healthy Mommy! They are all boys and they are all black, like their Daddy! They are super cute and already putting on weight! Here they are four days old!

Oh, and by the way, Adam did a great job! Everyone was fed and happy when I came home! AND they all missed me!! Thanks Babe for doing so much so I could go! You are the BEST!

Here is my Grandpa’s obituary;

Michaelson, Elmont W.
Elmont W. Michaelson was born the sixth son of William and Mary Ann Michaelson in St. Charles, Idaho on November 4, 1923. He passed away on June 21, 2008 in Oxnard. He is survived by his wife of 56 years , Patricia Joy Michaelson and four children: Mary Lee (John)Beck, Lloyd J Michaelson, Todd Michaelson and Carol Ann (Derrick) Heller: sister Audrey Michaelson; twelve grandchildren, six great -grandchildren. Growing up in St. Charles, Mont graduated from Fielding High in Paris, Idaho in 1942 and then entered the military. He served in WWII with the 71st Infantry Division- Europe and was involved in the liberation of the Gunskirchen Lager Concentration Camp. After the war Mont attended Utah State University and received his Bachelors Degree. In college he met Patricia Jackson and they were married in 1952. Hired in 1953 as a teacher for Oxnard High School, Mont later worked in school administration. During this time Mont attended USC and received his Masters in Education. In 1965 when Rio Mesa High School was opened he became its first principal.Characterized by the dedication he brought to his work and the joy he received from serving students and faculty , Mont was twiced honored by the association of California School administrators for exemplary service to education. In 2007 he was inducted into the Inaugural Class of Ventura County Educators Hall of Fame . Upon his retirement from Rio Mesa in 1984 the school honored him with the naming of Elmont Michaelson Stadium. Memorial Services will be at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 3301 W. Gonzalez Road in Oxnard on Thursday, June 26 at 2 p.m. with visitations at 1 p.m. Donations in his memory may be made to Rio Mesa High School Scholarship Foundation: 545 Central Avenue , Oxnard, CA 93030

Ari and I flew to CA Thursday morning to attend Grandpa’s funeral. It was very nice. The casket was black with red roses and carnations on top, Rio Mesa colors. All the family wore red and black too. I loved hearing all the stories and memories about Grandpa from my Mom, her siblings, his friends, and Grandma. He was dedicated to his family and his job, whether it was at Oxnard High School or Rio Mesa High School. He loved his students and wanted the best for them.
My Uncle set up a table with pictures and memorabilia from Grandpa’s life. This was one picture that was there. I love it! This is my grandparents and their kids. My Mom is the oldest girl in the picture. She looks around eight, so I would guess the year as 1962. Am I close Mom?

After the funeral we went to Grandma’s house to visit with people. Around 7:00 we all packed into cars to head to Idaho. Grandpa wanted to be buried in his hometown of St. Charles, Idaho. After being there I know why. It is beautiful. His grave site is on a hill that overlooks his town and the lake nearby, Bear Lake.This is Grandpa’s view!
 
I got home around 5:00 Friday (we spent the night in Vegas). We packed up all the kids and headed to Idaho Saturday morning. It was a beautiful drive. I was worried about Ari since she had already been in a car for 10 hours, but she did great. St. Charles is about four hours from our house.
We went to my Aunt Audrey’s house in St. Charles. She is my Grandpa’s sister. She lives in the house they grew up in. The house holds many fond memories from my childhood. It was great to go there again. Here is all my family with my Aunt. She is standing right next to me.

All my brothers and sisters were able to be in St.Charles. This is the first time in over two years that we have all be together, so we had to take a photo!

After the grave side service we all went out to dinner at a very cute restaurant. This is our whole group! My Uncle Lloyd is next to Adam. My Aunt Carol and her two daughters, Xoche and Nola next to him too. Then my Grandma and Aunt Audrey. Aunt Audrey’s husband Rayo is over by my Mom and Dad and the rest I think you know.

We left late that night for home. It was hard for me to leave. Idaho is filled with so many memories for me. We will definatly have to go back again. We had so much fun. I will post more pictures later of all the things we did.

My Grandpa died today. It was his time to go and I am happy for him, but it is still hard. I will miss him a great deal. He was a very special man. He loved his family and we all knew it. This is my Grandpa.
 
I picked this picture of him and Ariana because this is how I will always remember my Grandpa. He loved babies. He would walk back and forth singing softly, patting their back, making them feel better. He could talk to a baby forever! He was always interested in what I was doing. Always wanted me to be happy! I wish I were a better writer so I could give him a fitting tribute. But for now Grandpa, I love you and will miss you!   

The kids decided they wanted to sleep outside last night. We have a tent that sets up on the trampoline. Nik brought it out and him and Uncle Lou set it up.

They brought out all their sleeping stuff and decided, "What's a camp out without a fire?" I tried to veto the idea, but Adam said if they could show him where and how they might be able to do it. They did it! They worked and found rocks to make a circle. They found the wood and got the newspaper and sweet Uncle Lou helped them start it. They had it going for a few hours!

They twins had to come in the house and were pretty upset to be missing all the fun! Daddy saved the day by letting them "camp out" on the sofa in the living room!

We took a trip up to the reservoir with Lou, Cami, and Grandma. Cami was a fish in the water and spent the time in there or trying to catch fish with Nikolas. The little kids took full advantage of Uncle Lou and had him burying them. Here's Britain.
 
Zoe was a strong girl breaking out of the sand!

The kids tried to bury Uncle Lou, but that was a BIG task!
 
Ammon is practicing for Aunt Marci to teach him how to surf!

Ariana was feeling sick, so she spent most of the time here or in my lap.

Ammon thought having a beard was pretty cool!

Tonight we went to watch the Orem Owls play for Jordan birthday! (Great idea Michelle! We had a blast!) We were a little late because Nik had a game, but since the game went 13 innings it was fine! We sat out on the side in the grass. Jason caught TWO fowl balls! Adam went up for one and knocked it down for Jason to catch and the other one took a perfect bounce to Jason.

In the bottom of the 13th inning all the lights went out. It was pretty crazy. There was a fire works show scheduled after the game, but since the lights were out they did the fireworks.
 
The lights came back on and after a few good plays…

…we won!

It was a great game to watch and a blast, as always, to hang out with family! We are lucky that Lou and Cami could join us! Grandma was too tired! We wore her out today! Again thanks Michelle, great idea! And Happy Birthday Jordan!! We love you both!!