Ellensburg Visit - The Cox's, June 29-July 1, 2009, Post 2

One reason we went over to Ellensburg when we did was because our friends the Coxs' were up from Arizona. We literally shared a wall with them for almost 4 years. They are attending Dental school in Arizona and I am so glad that Jamie's parents live in Ellensburg so they have to come back to visit. Jamie and I also were Visiting Teaching companions together for that entire time. Colin and Kyler are 4 months apart, when we moved in next to them Colin was a week old. Jamie and I were pregnant with our second boys at the same time, Kayden is 3 months older then Conner. Then they had their 3rd a little girl Kenna, who is 3. Then their youngest, Kamille was born in April. It was great to see them and get a chance to visit. And see how the boys acted as if they had never been apart, except for a few shy moments in the beginning. One reason I love blogs, my boys love to look at all the pictures of their friends.

Left to Right:
Kyler, Colin, Kenna, Conner, Kayden, Joanna and Jaclyn in the Ramsey's backyard.

I couldn't resist a few flashbacks:
Kyler (almost 2) and Colin (18 months) in May 2005

Kyler (almost 4) and Colin(3 1/2) in May 2007

Present Day:
Colin 5 and Kyler 6 June 2009

Conner (5 months) and Kayden (7 months) in October 2005
Conner and Kayden always had a love hate relationship, not many pictures of them together. And this last visit so they were everywhere, so I didn't get a picture of just the two of them.

And both of our youngest, Conner (13 months) checking out Kamille (2 months)

Colin, Kayden and Kyler, I believe Conner was outside.

Trip to Ellensburg: June 29-July 1, 2009, Post 1

We finally made a trip back to Ellensburg to visit all our friends....and those boys were excited. Our good friends the Ramsey's were kind enough to let us stay with them and it was great to catch up and just visit it. I have know Josh and Jolie since....I met Josh when I was 18. I heard about Jolie before I met her, she was actually mistaken as me, and we have been thought of as sisters. I met her when I was 19 after she was baptized. Josh and Jolie moved to Ellensburg to attend Central after they were married, so we got a chance to hang out a lot. Jolie and I were pregnant together, I was pregnant with Conner and she was pregnant with her Oldest Joanna. Now I have three boys and they have 2 girls and a boy. It was great to see the kids together!!!

Colin, Jacklyn (2nd child), and Conner at breakfast.

Conner and Jacklyn, they are only 4 months apart.

Conner and Jacklyn enjoying watermelon....

Jayden and Colby munching down!!!! They are also only 4 months apart.

Westport, WA - June 18, 2009

The day after Seattle we headed to Westport WA which was a must for Chelsea because her Dad had taken her family there for multiple vacations and deep sea fishing...I even went with them once. Yes me fishing...I don't eat it but I it was fun to go out fishing. But anyways, Westport is a small coast town about 2 hours away from us. Lots of fun little shops and boats to look at. And a nice beach. The boys were all super excited and had tons of fun. Beware there are lots of pictures but you won't want to miss them.

Colin and Colby eating black licorice Ice Cream Cones....
Yes I said Black licorice. Colby was finishing off mine, interesting flavor not bad but not my favorite.

Conner enjoying his Ice Cream Cone!

We even took Izzy, we had just lost our older dachshund and she was having a hard time being the only little dog. Most shops we kept her outside, but this shop allowed pets as long as they were carried, or in our case in a stroller. I don't know if Izzy liked it but Colby sure did.

Finally the beach, not that the boys didn't love the stores, but they were so glad when we made it to the beach. It wasn't really warm, in the 60's so I decided against swimsuits. My boys don't like being cold so I figured they wouldn't get that wet!!!

Boy was I wrong, Colin in the distance and Conner dashing down to the water. They didn't stay dry for long....

This is what we ended up with....Conner tripped running from the waves and was soaked head to toe. Sweatshirt and all! Don't worry I came prepared with change of clothes and towels but he had to wait while I ran to the car and got them. He was a trooper though and hardly cried at all. I have to admit after my first instinct of grabbing him out of the water....I had the thought that I should have snapped a picture first. But my motherly instinct had reacted first!!!

When I came back from the car, I found that Colin too had tripped and was wet not as wet as Conner but wet. Needless to say he found a way to warm up by rolling in the sand........

Colby loved all the rocks and the sand....I did manage to keep him out of the water.
Not that he didn't try to get wet....

Colby, I and the Pacific Ocean

All the boys, minus Owen, Colby, Conner, Colin and Corbin! Yes my boys did end up in their swimsuits after all....lesson learned.

The Fremont Troll - June 16th, 2009

Yes all these last post happened in the same day, while showing my cousin around Seattle. We did take them to the pier to Ivar's (a must) where I believe the boys fed the Seagulls more then themselves. And yes Seattle has a Troll under a bridge, George wanted to see it and I am so glad we did. I had heard about it but never actually gone there. The boys had so much fun climbing on and around it and there was a small group that was there just singing songs. Welcome to Seattle..... The boys were so dusty and dirty after wards that I since we were heading home I stripped them down to the underwear for the drive home. It is great how the simplest, free things are the best for my boys!!!!

Owen & Chelsea, Colby & I

Climb, climb, Boys!!!

Conner, Colin and Corbin

Colin & Conner on the Trolls Shoulder

Colin crouching near the Trolls Shoulder, I believe that is a real VW bug that is in his hand.

Own & Chelsea, Grandma, Colby & I

Boys & Rocks - June 16, 2009

So Grandma has started a rock collection, and not just any ordinary rock collection but one that involves finding rocks from everywhere. And she wants to have rocks for each of her children and grandchildren. She all ready had rocks that Grandpa brought back from his Dad's house after he passed away...so we decided to go to up a rock store in Seattle to let the boys well be boys and pick some rocks. Sounds boring but it was quite enjoyable actually, the boys liked examining all the rocks and finding the perfect one for their rock. They are now arranged in Grandma's flower garden and eventually I will get pictures by each one. Since we went up there, Grandma has collected rocks from the beach in Westport WA, Erie PA and Montana (right off the HWY while she was driving to pick up Sierra from School) It has added an extra special touch to the garden, and Colin is quite able to tell you where most of them our from and Conner loves helping Grandma arrange them.

Grandma, Corbin, Colin and Conner....they got so dirty.

Colin and Conner trying to find the perfect rock.

Colby checking out the rocks.

June 16th - Climbing trees and Visitors

In June my cousin Chelsea and her husband George and her two boys, Corbin (6) and baby Owen. They were here for a week and we had so much fun visiting and going places. Here are a few pictures from the boys climbing one of our trees.

Colin

Conner

Corbin

Girls VS Boys - May 31 20090

At the end of May we had the Drees and Kohler families over for dinner. It was fun to watch the boys finally be outnumbered by the girls. Actually both my boys loved it. Angela Drees is originally a Cheney, who graduated with my sister Joy. I graduated with Angela's sister Elizabeth, so I have know Angela since we moved to Washington over 15 years. She has 5 girls, Rianna, Sariah, Tierra, Karina and Aurora (I wish I had remembered them all but I cheated and looked on Facebook). The Kohler's are a family from our ward that have become part of the Burton adopted family. Sarah and I have become great friends and have so many similar interests. Sarah has a daughter, Courtney and son, Alex. But like I said it was 4 boys against 6 girls. It was fun taking pictures and catching up with friends.

What a group!!!
The Drees Girls are the 5 on the end. Courtney and Alex are the ones on the ends near the front.

I think I may have to watch him....

All out by the swing.