Fun at the YMCA

Brian playing with his jazz band

Cute Megan

Megan dancing with the high school dance team

This past Saturday, Brian's Jazz Band from Legacy High school was asked to play for the grand opening of a new YMCA in our area.  Megan was also asked to dance with the High School dance team.  Both did a great job and Megan kept right up with all the other girls!!

Labor Day Fun

Kids enjoying the E-vil petting zoo

Looks like just the right place for this bunch!

Megan and her animal friend

Getting into the spirit of the wild west

A deer and a dear

Waiting at the train station

Colton's favorite

Two cute redheads

We had a really fun labor day weekend.  Grandma Bird was able to come visit and we did a lot of fun things together.  Saturday we visited Bonnie Springs Wild West town and petting zoo.  The kids loved all the animals and Colton loved the train.  We also had a yummy BBQ and went bowling.

First Day of School

Our second grader

First day excitement

Our Fifth grader

Our preschooler...what mischeivious grin...poor teacher!

The kids were all excited to get back into school this year.  I can't believe we have a 5th grader!  The first day was a success.  Everyone loved their teachers and Colton was excited about his class pet turtle "Spaz".

Colton turns four!

Colton and his cute friend with his Cars cake

opening presents

two cute brothers

I can't believe my baby just turned four!  It hardly seems like yesterday when he was born and not he is getting to be such a big boy.  Although he definatly keeps us on his toes with his high energy and determination, he is so funny and cute and constantly makes us laugh.  Happy birthday my little guy!

Last of the summer fun

Parker and his catamaran

The rain gutter regatta

Hiking on the bristle cone pine trail

The cool and beautiful mountains

We had some last minute fun activities before the school year started.  Parker is now a webelo scout and had fun building a model boat with his dad.  He was able to complete in the rain gutter regatta and did very well.  We also enjoyed visiting the mountains with friends:  hiking, cooking tin foil dinners and 'smores and having lots of fun.

California...here we come!!

Parker rides a lego car

Parker and Brian on the log ride

Waiting for the ride to start....

Megan and Parker on the train

All the kids with ta lego pirate guy

At the entrance...

Everyone on the planet Hoth

Visiting the San Diego Temple

Parker enjoys boogie boarding

A sandy beach and Colton

Megan enjoying the beach

Brian channels his inner Hoff

We had the chance to visit San Diego again this year right before school started.  The kids loved swimming in the hotel pool, Legoland, visiting the grounds of the San Diego Temple and playing at the beach.

Fun in Utah with the Birds!

On the Hogle Zoo Train with grandma

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!

Swimming at Seven Peaks

Mini golfing with grandma

Colton bowling...Bailey in the background

Megan's backyard dance recital with her cousin Kennedy

Megan making her shirt at the family reunion

Riding the carousel

Parker and my brother Jon with their shirts at the Ferguson family reunion

Andy, Parker and Ethan visit the Kennecott Copper Mine

While Brian took his young men on a scout trip this summer, I decided to forgo staying at home alone with three kids and going to Utah to visit with family.  I am so glad we did!  The weather was so much cooler and the kids were able to have fun playing at the park, night games with their cousins and going on long walks at night with grandma to get ice cream.  We had some really fun adventures including bowling, swimming at Grandma Great's pool, having a BBQ with grandpa, Megan performing in a backyard dance recital, going to Hogle Zoo, Parker visiting Kennecott Copper Mine, Swimming at Seven Peaks, Mini golfing with Grandma and a Ferguson Family Reunion.  We were all glad to have extra fun with family...even though we missed Brian.

Swimming Lessons

Cute kids all ready to swim

Is that the little mermaid?

Colton tries out the slide

Parker the aquaman!

Every summer the kids take swimming lessons thru the rec. center.  This was the first summer that all of the kids have taken lessons without at least one parent in the pool with them.  Colton was reluctant to get in a first, but once he got used to it we couldn't get him out!  Megan and Parker both did very well in their classes.

Annual Summer trip to Idaho!

One of Parker's favorite gifts...a fishing pole!

Celebrating the 10th birthday!

Megan riding horses

Brian, Colton and McKenzie canoeing at the pond

A little monkey climbing grandpa's trees

Everyone loved the kittens and puppies!

Colton's favorite place to be...on the four-wheeler with dad

Parker got to drive tractors and help grandpa farm

All the kids helped their cousins with 4-H pigs

Levanger cousins!!

We had a lot of fun on our annual trip to Idaho with the Levangers.  The kids had so much fun playing outside with cousins, riding four wheelers and horses, jumping on the trampoline, and sleeping out under the stars.  Some of the highlights included making tie-dyed shirts together, roasting marshmallows, swimming, canoeing and ziplining at the pond, and helping the cousins work with their 4-H animals.  I am surprised that we got away without a puppy or kitten!  On the way home we had the neat experience of seeing Brian's sister sealed to her stepson in the Twin Falls temple.  We also had a fun party for Parker's 10th birthday in Utah, complete with a BBQ and fireworks!