This & That

First news first. KASSIE AND MIKE ARE GETTING MARRIED! Rory's sister and her boyfriend Mike Mortenson are (finally) engaged! We are all so happy for them! We seriously love Mike to death. He is so good with our kids and he is so fun to be around. We couldn't be happier! The big day is in MAY! You should see Kassie's ring, it is AMAZING.

Sorry, this is the best picture I could find at the moment! Now, our kids will have two uncle Mike Mortensens! Weird, huh?

Last weekend my dad got these free VIP tickets to a hot air balloon festival on Antelope Island and invited me and the boys to come along with him and my mom. Remembering one that I had been to with Ror when we were dating, and thinking if I didn't go I would be sitting home all day entertaining the boys while Rory did homework, had me deciding right away that we would go. When we got there it was nothing like we expected. There wasn't much of anything there....let alone hot air balloons. Realizing we had come at a bad time we walked around for a bit, all the while my dad muttering under his breath and saying things like, "Gad...."

We didn't want to make it a whole wasted trip, so we visited the historic part of the Island, which was pretty interesting.





I tried to get a picture with both the boys and I but Eli would not cooperate. He was a crazy mad man the whole trip. He was seriously all over the place, thankfully I had my dad there, he just followed him around the whole time and carried him on his shoulders.



Kaemon was very interested.... in the rocks at Antelope Island. Walking with rocks can prove to be difficult. No worries, just use your shirt. He found all sorts of lovelies that made their way back to my car and were obsessed over for days.



And these are my favorite photos of the day: a stolen portrait of my beautiful mom. (don't be mad!) And my cute little GQ model.

On Labor Day my brother Rob and his wife Kari hosted a BBQ at their home. It was so fun!


Rob spent most of the time giving the kids all rides in his wheel barrow.


Cute little kids! I love the picture of Rylund, he is such a sweet little boy!

Rob posing for a picture by his pond. Actually he's picking out leaves my children threw in there.




The mother-to-be, Kari, making all other girls who have ever been pregnant look bad. She's like 20 weeks here and is barely even showing!

Stealing kisses :)




According to Eli, bubbles make the world go 'round. They are his favorite! Even as I type this he is begging me to blow them.







Anxiously waiting for daddy to blow some bubbles.

I had a good laugh while looking at the loads of pictures I took this day. Eli's face shows the look of pure joy in each one. They were getting ready for bed and Kaemon wanted to wear his new backback so Eli wanted to wear one, too.


Speaking of backpacks, Kaemon started preschool! He has been 3 times and loves his teacher, Miss Monique. If anyone lives in the Clinton area, I totally recommend her. She has taught all of my nieces and nephews, she is so good at what she does and kids just love her.

Kaemon and Jackson leaving for preschool orientation. Kaemon is short, but he looks so small in this picture because he is leaning on the chair. What cheeseballs.

PARENTING 101

1. Have your child up and dressed by 8:00 am.

2. When it's naptime and they say, "I have to work on my art project first!" don't assume that the art project is coloring neatly in designated areas.

3. Don't leave your child unsupervised, even if you're busily packing.

Warning, if these instructions are not followed carefully, you may have this on your hands....

You were planning on re-painting after we move out anyway, right dad?