All I want for my Birthday is a trip with dad!

What Hunter wanted more then anything for his birthday was a trip out of town with his dad!

Justin, being the amazing dad that he is, agreed to that idea.

Hunter had been wanting a real BMX bike.  They are super expensive so together with his dad they found a slightly used one on Craigslist.  It actually looks brand new but for a fraction of the cost!

I think Hunter enjoyed every aspect of researching his bike with his dad!

Is he only 9?

Hunter sure seems to be growing up too fast!  He hangs out with Chase quite a bit, who is 13 so I think Hunter is learning a few teenager tricks too soon!

Justin took Hunter and Chase to Phoenix  for the weekend.  They bought Hunter's bike and made his birthday dream come true!  Chase brought his BMX bike as well so they could enjoy a weekend of riding.

Justin found two skate parks, one indoors and one outdoors, so one night they went to one and the next night they went to the other.  I heard they were both pretty amazing.  But the indoor one had a foam pit you could ramp your bike into.  Now that sounds like something I would like to try myself!

This was the indoor skate park......looks like fun to me!

I heard it was a great weekend!

9 Things I LOVE about Hunter....

1.  His humor

2.  His intelligence.....this kid is smart!

3. The adult like conversations we have.  He can talk and reason like any adult! And boy is he a deep thinker.

4.  His desire to behave, especially when with friends.  We recently got a sweet compliment from his cub scout leader about what a good well behaved kid Hunter is!  She mentioned how much fun he is but he doesn't cause any problems even when the other boys are.

5.  His love for the future......he loves to talk about the future and all he is going to do!

6.  His relationship with Kiersten......these two are great friends!

7.  Hunter is super helpful with Mr. Grant....he loves being a big brother!

8.  He is always quick to apologize when he makes a mistake.....I love that.

9.  His testimony that prayer works......he is my kids that always reminds me that we could pray when we need help.  He gives the most thoughtful prayers!  He has been super thoughtful and sweet in his prayers for his Grammy Boswell, who is going through breast cancer as well as his Uncle Quincy, who is in Afghanistan. 

I Sure Love You Hunter Boy!

Thanks for teaching me so much!

The indoor skate park also had a trampoline area which the boys LOVED!

Now this definitely look like a place I need to take the kids back to.  

Hunter had the best birthday spending time with his dad and Chase!

I think it speaks volumes for the wonderful dad that Justin is!

I sure love all my boys!

Happy Birthday Hunter

Hunter was very excited to get a ice cream cake from Dairy Queen.

We usually go with the custom cakes but at Hunter's request we got an ice cream cake.

It was very yummy!

Since Hunter wasn't having an actual party this year we decide to invite the Smith kids over for some cake to help celebrate.  Hunter looks up to Chase so much so it seemed like a great plan!

That's my surfer haired Hunter sitting on the table.

I am hoping to be able to talk him into a hair cut without having to tell him he is getting a hair cut without his choice or say in the matter.

Hunter asked me if I could make something "creative" for his class for his birthday.

Thanks to Pinterest Hunter was a happy kid!

He impressed his class with these birthday bots!

Happy Birthday Hunter!

We Love You!

Moore Fun

Our friends, The Moore's came down for a visit.

We were all so excited to spend some time with them in the mountains.

This is quite the group of boys and then there is Kiersten.  She is such a trooper when we get together with the Moore's.  She was just sad Stacy didn't bring Hudson.

I just love Stacy!

I am so happy she is going to be able to stay home with little Hudson now.  I am just sad she moved to Gilbert!

Of course we played some lazer tag while enjoying the cool weather!

The mountains sure make for some great hiding spots.

Kiersten to the left hiding from Kaden on the right.

These two are so funny!  Kaden has a little crush on Kiersten and I think Kiersten is pretty okay with that!

We had a great time and I was sad it went by so fast.

We love the Moore's!

Tractor Rodeo

Well Justin took Hunter out of town on a guys trip for his birthday. Kiersten was having her birthday sleepover with her Grammy Cluff.  So that left Logan, Mr. Grant and myself all alone.  

I had seen a sign in Globe on the way home the past weekend that said "Tractor Rodeo."  I wasn't sure what it entailed but it sounded like something Mr. Grant would love.

So Saturday morning we loaded up and headed for Globe.  The Harmon's were down visiting and I had just had dinner with Stacy the night before so I invited Carson to come with the boys and I.  He is my little buddy......I just love Carson!

Mr. Grant was very excited to be going to a "Rodeo Tractor", as he would call it!

I had a pretty good crew of boys with me I must say!

Mr. Grant was so funny about his hat.  If I tried to put it on him straight he would move it.

It was a pretty hot day but I think Mr. Grant could have stayed all day watching the tractors!

It was pretty impressive to watch the equipment operators working showing their skills.

Carson seriously was a huge help with Mr. Grant......it was the cutest thing!

The boys all liked it when they lifted the big drum and had to maneuver it through the path.

They got all seriously when someone would knock off one of the tennis balls.

What a kid Carson is!

I just love visiting with him!

Thanks for coming with us!

Seriously a little stud with is hat on backwards!

All the boys enjoyed digging in the dirt!

Mr. Grant was in heaven with this little tractor bucket. 

He was never ready to leave it!

We even made some friends......this teenage boy helped me a ton with the boys and the diggers.

It was fun to spend a few hours enjoying time with my boys!

The only bad part about the tractor rodeo was there was no sitting...... you had to stand to see the event.

They had fun things for the boys to do and they loved it!

It was a fun time!
I can't even begin to count the number of times Mr. Grant has asked me to take him back to the "Rodeo Tractor!"

Happy, Happy Birthday Kiersten Dear

It's hard to think I have an 11 year old!  I couldn't be prouder of the young woman Kiersten is becoming.....I just wish it wasn't going by as fast!

She wanted Waffles with whipped cream and strawberries as her birthday breakfast!

She loved that I put up crate paper on her doorway!  It was a fun surprise to wake up to on her birthday!

(Kiersten, Raely, Khloe, Danika)

Because we had so much fun at Sun Splash a couple of weeks back Kiersten kept telling me that taking some friends to Sun Splash would be her dream birthday this year!  Well I am a sucker for making dreams come true, when I can afford to, so that is just what we did.  I let her invite three friends.  We decided it needed to be an even amount of people so that on the double seated rides no one would be left out.  It worked out great having four girls because there are a couple of four seated rides and they could all go together.

We stopped at the Cheesecake Factory on our way to Sun Splash....the girls were so excited about eating in such a fancy place.

Kiersten got her Oreo birthday cheesecake.....we all loved it!

Then it was off to Sun Splash for a day of FUN!

It was a great day!

We were all brave and rode the scariest ride.....can't remember the name of it but it is intense!

The girls are braver then I for sure!

I scream like a little girl.....felt like I was going to fall right out of the tube there for a minute.

That looks like one happy birthday girl!

We all had a wonderful time!  I love being with my kids and their friends.  I love acting silly with them and visiting with them about everything!  We enjoyed eating the junk food, ice cream and soda all day. Definitely couldn't eat like this every week!

11 Things I LOVE about Kiersten...

1.  Her dimple in her right cheek when she smiles.

2.  Her drive and determination to do her Best!

3.  Her concern and sympathy for others.

4.  Her example in saying her prayers....I see her every night and often catch her in the mornings on her knees in prayer.

5.  Her funny, and even air headed at times, personality.

6.  How helpful she is.......she does so much without even being asked.

7.  Her obedience and dedication......she gets up every morning and starts her music lessons (piano and violin) without being told and often when everyone else is still asleep.

8.  Her laugh.....she can get pretty giggly sometimes.

9.  Her love for her brothers.....she is a fantastic big sister!

10.  How thoughtful she is.....she is constantly leaving me thank you notes or little crafts she has made. They always make my day!

11.   Her ability to shine on stage......she loves to dance and it shows!  I love to watch her dance!

We had the bumper boats to ourselves....so the girls just had a blast!

They also played some goofy golf while I read my book.

It was a nice relaxing day for me.  I enjoyed being a kid for the day and enjoyed relaxing while reading a book and trying to get in a little more tan.

Of course we all loved playing several rounds of Laser Tag!

It was such a fun day!

We had stayed until the park closed so we spent the night in a hotel, had breakfast the next morning and then traveled home.

I am sure it's a birthday Kiersten will not forget!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.....We Sure Love Our Girl!

Reunion Time

We were all excited about the Cluff reunion up at Sherwood Forest!

Justin was nice enough to haul the toy hauler trailer up the weekend before.  He was so busy at work he wasn't going to be able to come up until Saturday but the kids and I wanted to go up Thursday.  Thanks Babe for being Awesome!

We invited Tif and her kids to join us and stay in our trailer.  It made for a fun weekend for sure.  I actually love the busyness of our two families together!

And who's heart wouldn't melt with this guy around!

He picked flowers for his Mommy, with a little help from his wonderful sister!

I just love my Mr. Grant!

We brought our lazer tag guns up to the reunion.....

Boy were they a HUGE hit!

I loved it!  Kept the kids of all ages entertained for days!

Look at these fierce warriors!

Porter is just a sweetheart, just like his mom!

Love the little frog he is "protecting".

Looks all too happy to be tied up.  And Justin was all too happy to be tying kids up as well!

They played a few minute to win it games.

Shaving cream and Cheetos game was one of them.

Hunter loved it as you can see.

Then there was the talent show!

My kids look forward to this every year.

This is Logan showing off his break dancing hip hop moves!

Yes this boy can dance!

In fact he danced for hours on stage after the talent show was over!

Everyone was impressed!

Kiersten did a great job on her jazz/ gymnastic number.  She choreographed it all on her own. 

 I am so proud of her!

Hunter and Jacob did a wonderful pogo stick routine!  They did amazing jumps, swirls, high fives and a lot more!

Kiersten also play a beautiful piece on her violin.  Hunter was going to play his violin as well but they never called him up to do it.  This year it was the oldest cousins in charge being the MC's so it just got overlooked.  He was a little bummed but got over it quick.  He had practiced for it and all.

And what would the reunion be like without Toodie Ta?

We sure love Grammie Cluff for being a good sport every year and leading the kids in Toodie Ta!

It was a wonderful weekend!  We all had a wonderful time visiting with extended family that we don't get to see often enough.  We sure are blessed to have such amazing family! Can't wait til 2014 for the next reunion!