Law Family Camp-Out...

Every year the Law's get together for a 5 day camping trip. Some family's go all 5 days and others come up when they can. We went up Tuesday with Jerry & Jeannie, JD & Amy, Josh and Jennetta. This year we camped at Anderson Ranch Reservoir. It was a nice change to have paved roads all the way in, unlike Deadwood.

Jesse & Teagen showed up later that evening. Teagen got a 4-wheeler for his birthday. The "nun-nun's" were the favorite toys all week! The kids loved to go for rides, but were also pleased just to sit on them!

Wednesday Braden fell asleep in Justin's lounge chair. JD went into the camper to help Maddie fall asleep and told Braden he'd be right back. Then JD fell asleep and Braden stayed right where he was put!

Wednesday afternoon Janeen, Brent & Jackson showed up. This is the face Jackson makes when he wants you to smell the flowers.

Stella loved camping! Having such a grassy camping spot worked out well. We had to keep Stella's surgery spot on her belly clean and she couldn't have a bath for a week so we were lucky we weren't camping in dirt.

Thursday Julie, Ron & their gang were the last to arrive. We had a birthday party for all of the June birthdays. Justin made Marshmallow shooters for Teagen, Sarah, and Emma.

We also made and brought some extras for the adults to play with. I didn't think that through very well though. I had to pick up marshmallows all over camp when they were done so that we didn't track smashed marshmallows into the campers (and so Stella wouldn't eat them).

A couple of nights we had some deer show up in camp. (This picture looks so bad because I had to REALLY lighten it up to be able to see the deer). Braden was shooting the deer with his marshmallow shooter...such a cute kid. After they left and we were sitting around the campfire he was calling "come here deer, come here deer!"

Friday morning we caught Braden cleaning Jesse's 4-wheeler with baby wipes.

Maddie and Braden had a love-hate relationship with Stella. They would love on her and let her lick them all up, then they'd get knocked down and be done for a while. I'm so glad they've gotten over being scared!

Jerry and Jesse found a hot springs about 6 miles from camp when they were out riding the 4-wheelers. So Friday we all put on our suits and enjoyed the warm water! I didn't take my camera so click here to see Janeen's pictures! On the way out of the hot springs Braden had a little run-in with a tree branch.

After we got done swimming/soaking we came back to camp and changed clothes. Then Grandpa took all of the grandkids up to the Cafe for french fries. Needless to say I stopped by there again on Saturday before we headed out for some fries for the road!

I just had to throw this one in here because I loved the look on Braden's face! This was right after he gave grandpa a kiss and told him thanks for the french fries.

And no Law Family Camp-Out is complete without the family picture at the end of the week before heading home!

We're Off to See the Wizard...

Saturday night my mom and I went to Garden Valley to see The Wizard of Oz put on by Starlight Mountain Theatre. Brenda and her daughter Emily rode up with us and we met a bunch of other ladies from the Washington County Courthouse there too. They had planned a potluck dinner with a Wizard of Oz theme. We had:

Auntie Em Cyclone Pork Roast w/ Veggies

Yellow Brick Road Cornbread

Over the Rainbow Jell-O

Ruby Red Slipper & Green Emerald City Salad

Fighting Tree Forest Dutch Apple Crisp

During intermission the cast comes through selling popcorn, candy, sodas and water. They had used something to color the popcorn green.
After seeing Emily's tongue I quit eating popcorn because is was afraid the clear bands on my braces would turn green.

They had some incredibly unique costume ideas for the twister and the munchkins...but you're not supposed to take pictures during the show and the audience is so small it would have be REALLY obvious where the flash came from!

They're also doing Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Foreigner this season. Sounds like we may have to make a few more trips up there!

Stella Had Surgery...

Stella had her hernia fixed yesterday. When Justin brought her home she was still a little out of it and was content to lay on her back in his arms. She doesn't wiggle or whine, she just lays there cradled like a baby!

Scotch Pines Dog Training...

It's Stella's turn to go to school! We started dog class on Thursday and I have to admit I was a little nervous. April -the dog trainer-has a list here on her website of "The Intelligence of Dogs." The beagles we have trained are number 72 on the list...Stella...she's number 77. She pulled me into class and after sniffing out the other dogs we got started.

I'm always eager for April to use my dogs as an example! It gives me a head start! April was demonstrating the sneak-away game with Stella. We've been playing sneak-away all week as home work and as of last night she was really catching on.

See how good she is!!

We have to miss week 2 so we'll have an update at week 3.

Yummy Cereal Bars...

Michael got this awesome recipe from his boss at his last job. And every once in a while...he makes it for us! :)

Mix in a Bowl:

1/2 box Crispix Cereal

1/2 box Golden Grahams Cereal

3/4 cup Shredded Coconut

3/4 cup Sliced Almonds

On Stove, Combine:

1 cup Sugar

1 cup Karo Syrup

3/4 cup Butter

Bring to a rolling boil.

Cook for 2 minutes.

DO NOT STIR!

Pour over dry mix.

Spread evenly on greased cookie sheet.

Let Cool.

Enjoy!!!

If you're making them to share (then you're nicer than me!) you can cut them up and put them on a plate or in sandwich bags. If you're just going to eat them yourself rip chunks right off of the cookie sheet or store in one big gallon bag. :)

Stella Likes the Car...

Stella likes riding in the car. She always wants to be where ever we are and go where ever we go. We were waiting in the car one day for Justin while he was at the dentist and she couldn't sit still! She was all over the place!

Sometimes she goes to Grandma's house for Sunday dinner with us and almost always falls asleep on the way home.

She loves to look out the windows (and leave slobber marks all over the windows--next time you see my car...don't look at the windows!)

Her favorite toy is a green monkey that Michael got her. She chews and chews and chews on the tail until it is covered in slobber. Then if you're lucky she'll leave it on the floor and walk away and you'll step on it in your socks. This is what we call getting monkey tailed!

How can you not love that silly face!

She's 7 months old now and loves to play. Her favorite game is to run around the living room and kitchen when you want to put her away in her kennel so that you'll chase her...and we do...and after a while...we win.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary...

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells, and cockle shells,

And pretty maids all in a row.

This year will be our first attempt at a real garden. We got the railroad ties for free down by the tracks (imagine that!) The fill dirt was free from our friends' subdivision so it was a very inexpensive garden to build.
We did have to add a fence to keep Stella out...I always wanted a white picket fence!

In the garden we planted corn, butter lettuce, romaine lettuce, red onions, peas, squash, artichoke and potatoes.

In the topsy turvy's we planted tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, and herbs. And in the garbage can, more potatoes and pickeling cucumbers.

And not pictured: Rhubarb that we transplanted from the other house. It's in front of the garage in the front yard to keep Stella out. We're not sure how well it will survive.

If I can remember we may have to do a garden update each month this summer!

Jackson...

I can't decide which one I like best:

Look Whoo's One...

Janeen and Brent came home for Memorial Day weekend so we had Jackson's birthday party while they were here. I found this pattern for owl Christmas ornaments online. We blew up the pattern 300% and cut them out of construction paper.

Janeen made some owl cupcakes that I saw here. (thanks Krystal!)
After dinner we took all of the kids across the street to feed the Swan. This guy is vicious! We made the kids stay up on the asphalt because if you come down in the grass the swan likes to come out of the water after you. The guys who mow the lawn are always batting him away with a stick.

Jackson's got some of the funniest faces. Janeen put together some party favors for all of the kids including noise makers and he wasn't so sure about all of that noise.

Grandma made Jacks his own little owl cake to dig into. This was followed immediately by a bath...which he screamed through, apparently he doesn't like baths at our house!