Fossil Butte

We took a trip to Fossil Butte over the last weekend. We had lots of fun, and were blown away at such amazing fossils. Who knew that such amazing creatures lived in our neck of the woods at one time. I will for sure be taking my kids back this summer and doing some outside exploring.

Talk about perfect timing. I told Elena to jump for Joy cause she was living in Utah, and this was the result. Of course we spent the rest of the weekend trying to get one like this of Ellie and Jake with no such luck on our side. Oh well the picture below is perfect of Jake. LOL



Leave it to my boy to be wild and crazy. One of the many reasons I love this kid so much!!!

If this tree could talk I bet it would have some pretty amazing stories to tell, and of course I would be in the front row soaking up all it had to say.

It was really hard to get Ellie to stop for a picture in this Museum. She was going 100 miles an hour from one thing to the next. She was very much in awe of everything in sight.

How cool is this! It is a big tortoise and some smaller ones they have found on or around the Butte.

One of my favorite little creatures. Boy I can't wait to go back and explore this place even more once it is warm and we can hike around a bit.

Junior Prom

Spencer Stamps (Elena's boyfriend) asked her to the Junior Prom.  She was so excited, and a little nervous for this dance.  He picked her early in the morning and they went to a friends house where they ate breakfast, and played games till noon and then he dropped her off and told her he would be back at 3:48 and 32 seconds.  This left me with not as much time as I thought I would have to get her ready for the dance.  So, I called on my friend Amie to come help do her hair while I did her face.

<---A quick picture of her all finished, and just waiting for Spencer to arrive.  He was actually later than he said he would be.  3:48 and 32 seconds just didn't happen like he wanted it to I guess.  (lol)

---->Elena checking herself in the mirror real quick, and making sure she looks perfect just before her date arrived.  

Jake was so cute, he took Elena's hand and helped her down the stairs so that she would not fall down the stairs in her pretty dress!   Such a good little brother...  :)

<------Spencer was a bit speechless when he seen her come down the stairs.  It was kinda cute, I was snappin' pictures as fast as I could, Ray was a good dad and stood there making everything was ok, and Amie, well she stood in the dining room crying her eyes out.  lol

--------->I made then touch each other for this picture. I told them I was not going to take a picture where they looked like they were afraid of each other, or did not want to go to the dance together. Elena said she had such a wonderful evening, and was happy that she was given a chance to go to another America Dance.


 

I LOVE this Girl!

Elena's Grandmother made all three kids these scarfs that are like big leggings.  Ellie wanted to so badly to be able to wear hers to school the other day.  Her dad said no, and she was pretty sad about it, but I grabbed a picture of how cute she was before she took it off and did her hair for school. 

Ellie is getting so big.  She is on the Student Council for the 3rd term, and her dad and I could not be prouder of her that we already are.  She is so excited to be able to make a difference at her school, and lend a hand where needed.  Congrats Ellie on this new journey for the rest of your 5th grade year.  I hope you are able to make lots of fun memories that will last you along time. 

That blasted letter.

We got the letter in the mail yesterday that told us when Elena's flight will be. She will be flying out on June 19th. Talk about feeling a rush of sadness. We knew that the time would come when we would have to think about saying goodbye, but getting the actual date in the mail made me realize yet again that I will have to say goodbye to such a sweet girl. I am really going to miss her cute little face when it is time for her to go home. We have sure enjoyed having her in our home this past year. 

 

Jake's Friend Party

Jake had his birthday party with his friend's at McDonalds.  He invited 8 friends, and all 8 friends showed up plus he had 3 family friends show up as well.  We had a big crowd, and lots of fun making noise, and playing games.  This was Jake's first party ever with his friends, as the others he has had have been with cousins.  He had so much fun, and has talked nonstop since about his party next year, and all the kids he wants to invite, and all the fun he will have.  The pictures are not in order, but yu can see the fun he had at his 8th birthday party!

The boys had just won a game and were eating their victory cookies!
(The girls also won a game and had victory cookies to eat as well).

All the kids have arrived and are eating their kids meals, and playing with the toy from the bad.

Jake is choosing a girl to hide the toy for the next game.  He chose the cute little blonde in the blue stripped shirt.  She sure is a sweet little one!

Jake posing with his Ronald McDonald Birthday Cake! 
CHEESE!!!

Playing heavy, heavy hangover my poor head with his gifts as he is opening presents.  (his wish for each friend is that they would enjoy coming to his party next year also)  :)

The girls from the party all waiting patiently to give him their gifts. 
l-r Taylee, Shylee, Autumn, Mica, and of course Jake :)

Jake excited about the gift Ellie gave him.  A SNUGGIE!!!  haha

Getting ready to eat ice cream and cake!

  Jake had such a blast at his birthday party, and I am so glad he had such a great turn out.  I will admit I was affraid that he would not have much of a turn out, but it turned out in then end that I was wrong, and boy am I glad that I was.  

Dylan and Jake in talking about the girls at the party that they both think are oh so pretty!! 

Happy Birthday Jake!

We celebrated Jake's 8th birthday party as a family on the day of his birthday.  When he got home from school I had a birthday cake made for him, and we sang happy birthday to him and had birthday cake while he opened gifts.  Elena was glad that the gifts her mom had sent him for his birthday had arrived the same day as his birthday.  I cannot believe that my little guy is not longer a little guy.  He isn't a baby anymore and it is kind of sad to me cause I loved having a little boy in my house.  Jake is such a good kid, and tries to do his best in all he does.  Happy Birthday BIG boy, Daddy and I love you so very much, and are proud of the person you are today! 

 Jake got some fun things for his birthday.  He got 6 packs of his most favorite gum for his birthday, Madagascar 2 and Cars 2 games for his DS and then he got Mators tall tales, and a Mario game for the Wii.  Elena and her family gave his a hot chocolate mug with a Lion on it (anyone who knows Jake knows Lions are his favorite animal of all time) and a round hug pillow that says take a nap.  He had a good day, but I still can't believe my baby boy is 8.

Girls Choice

Elena asked Alec to the Girls Choice dance. She made their cute t-shirts for the dance. She had so much fun, and was glad that she went, even though the date did not go exactly as planned in the beginning.