4th of July

We had such a fun 4th of July week! 
All the children and grandchildren were here.  The house was full of people and fun.

We started the day at a flag raising ceremony.  Joseph led the way.

His friends are Riley and Sam.

While they are raising the flag, Allan Bateman was behind them with a bugle and played reveille while it was going up.

After the flag went up the Liberty high school ROTC did a gun salute while we sang the Star Spangled Banner.  After each gun shot every baby in the crowd would cry.  I'm not sure how many shots were fired but every time it would upset the little ones like Calvin.  After each shot David would say to Calvin, "Wasn't that cool?"

And Calvin would nod his head yes in the middle of his tears.

They served cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate after.  Sarah made cinnamon rolls and dad did blueberry muffins.

We went home and played waiting to go to a parade.  Everyone loved riding on the four-wheeler.
Susan and Bradley had a good time.

Susan, Cassie and Madison in their red, white and blue. 

Parade time.  Madison excited because......

the people in the parade throw out candy!

Bradley got goodies too.

Here is Bradley sharing.

Madison, Sarah and the boys went home for a nap....

and more play.        David and Calvin

Calvin

Playing ball

Bradley

Dinner time

Dessert

More play until fireworks

Madison helped decorate cookies

Happy 4th of July

Great time wasting website

I did it, I hiked to the top of Poo Poo point again this morning.  It was a beautiful morning to do this invigorating hike and the view is always stunning.

While I was was recuperating at home eating my protein I came across letterheady.com and I can't stop scrolling through it.  It is a site that has collected all these letterheads from famous people, company's, movies etc...
Here are some examples:

I thought of Joseph

Beep Beep

Disney

Lincoln had his picture on his.....and he isn't the only one...

Richard Simons makes me smile

and in honor of the movie coming out tonight at midnight, bababababababababatman

Last, but not least, a letterhead we can all love.        www.letterheady.com

Rock and Roll marathon and half marathon

Here we are, Thomas, Sarah and me.  It's early, we are nervous and headed to the start line of the Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon and half marathon. 

Sarah trained and went for it.  She did the whole Marathon.
Thomas and I did the half.

We did it!!
We had so much fun!!
We can't wait for next year.

Seussical the Musical

Joey was a who in his middle school play, Seussical the Musical

It was a fun play and they did a great job.  Joey had a great time. 

Emma's new car

Emma got a new car.

Even though she doesn't look very happy, she is, she loves that this car is all hers.

It's a mustang convertible.
She now has freedom.

Happy Birthday Thomas!

Thomas is now 17!!
Joey first bought Tommy a gift at Barnes and Noble and it was 75% off.  When Thomas heard this he a little worried he didn't really want a gift (book) from Barnes and Noble. 
January 26th came and he started out by being able to drive the BMW to school.  It was the last finals day so he was lucky because his last two finals were his easiest and school got out early.  His friends came to hang and than it was time for family dinner.

Ezell's Chicken

Ice cream cake, yum!

Time for presents.

Joey present to Thomas is the Beatles picture you see on the table.  The next gift is Sarah's.  As Thomas picked it up it felt like a book.  "Oh no," Thomas said, "This better not be a book."  He opened it.

It was a book, this book, and Thomas just about died.  He couldn't believe she did this.  He said he started thinking just wait until Sarah's birthday.  Finally Sarah reached across the table, opened the book and inside was an itunes gift card.  He was very happy.  She "got" him.

The big gift is a refrigerator for his room. Which I kept hidden for a couple of days with notes on it that say "no peeking until January 26th".

Happy Birthday Thomas!!

Merry Christmas

Santa came this year and was very nice to us.

Let's get started with the gifts.

We opened gifts first thing in the morning, than we had breakfast before heading to church.
Everybody got at least one thing that was on their list. 
We all had a great Christmas.