July 4th and Tyler's Blessing

July 4th is always a big weekend in Prescott. It's one of our favorite holidays of the year for all that goes on in this town. This year it was particularly special because we blessed Tyler on July 3. My entire family was in town for the festivities and the blessing. Me and the boys spent most of the week before the 4th in Phoenix because Kristen flew into town. We did a lot of shopping, relaxing, swimming and messing around.

The plan was to return to Prescott fairly early on Friday, July 1 but while we were getting ready to head out, we both got texts that Brad was in the hospital with appendicitis and was going to have surgery. That put a huge damper on the rest of the weekend's plans. We stayed in town until Friday evening so we could see Brad after his surgery. Poor guy. He did alright with everything but it sure bummed him out and has changed all of his plans for the next several months with his ODS and starting work at Naval Reactors in DC. Brad and Amanda did make it up to Prescott on Saturday and stayed like planned until Tuesday, which we were so glad about.

The weekend activities started very early Saturday morning with the annual 4th of July parade. The YMCA gymnastics program does a float every year. When Grant learned about it he decided he wanted to be in the parade. We had to be there at 8 AM even though the parade didn't start until 9 AM. My mom and Kristen came with me and the boys. Chad passed this year on the parade. My mom and Kitty took Cole to find a spot and I waited with Grant. Originally, I was going to leave Grant to walk with the other kids but then I decided I wasn't comfortable leaving him alone so I walked with him. By the time our turn to start in the parade came around it was well past 9 AM and getting hot. Grant made it about 15 minutes into the parade route before saying he was hot and tired and wanted to go back to my mom and Kitty. That was fine with me. He was able to hand out a few little gold medals to kids along the route and had the fun he wanted. We headed back and watched about half of the parade before getting way too hot and plenty of candy. At that point, we went to the Square for the annual fry bread. Because the parade wasn't over yet the line was reasonable and we got the fry bread quickly. Chad met us for lunch.

(Grant standing next to his friend Katie, from his YBL basketball team)

On Saturday night we all went to the rodeo. It was fun but crowded and a bit warm. Grant enjoyed it for the most part. Cole was just tired and restless the entire time. Their highlight was the root beer floats they got. Grant says his favorite was the horse drags where the cowboys have to pull themselves onto the horses.

Sunday was Tyler's blessing. As usual, it made me cry to listen to Chad give our little boy a blessing. In the circle was my dad, David, Brad and Marcus Rogers. After church, we had lunch. Sarah and Marcus came over with their kids and they brought Max and his girlfriend with them. It was great to see Max. We hadn't seen him since before Cole was born. We always love spending time with Sarah and Marcus. The kids had a great time running around the house and outside.

Prescott Bluegrass Festival 2011

We started going to Bluegrass festivals many years ago when Grant was just a wee one. Since then we have gone to several in and around Tucson and most recently attended the Prescott festival last year and this. It's never too hot or too crowded and the kids always enjoy it. We pick up bread, cheese, hummus, some treats and some water, load up the camp chairs and the jean blanket from Shelli and head to the square. We find the shadiest spot we can find and set up camp for a few hours. The kids eat, play, find bugs and just mess around while mom and dad sit in the chairs and relax in the shade with the cool breeze and the relaxing music. There are always interesting people to look at and lots of dogs to pet. We love these festivals.

Tyler's First Baseball Game

We have a tradition that we take each of the boys as a baby to a Giants/Dbacks game in a little Giants onesie Chad bought for Grant before he was born. We carried the tradition on with Tyler. Shelli joined us after work and was a great help. Tyler was a good baby during the game. Grant and Cole love baseball games because they get hot dogs, cotton candy and ice cream. They could care less about the actual game. I don't think I've watched much of a baseball game since Grant was born but look forward to that day again at some point in the distant future.

Cute June 2011 Pictures

This is Cole with his friend Clara Solorzano. He loves to hold her hand and keep her from running away. He was helping her walk out of the library in this picture. He has run after her and brought her back when she's run off after the movies and at the mall. He even asks if he can go get her. He loves to do it and it makes him feel like he's helping out. They are so cute.


The last Monday in June, we received a spur of the moment day visit from Amy, Nicholas and Zachary Studley. It was such a treat. They drove down from Flagstaff in the morning and stayed until the evening. From the second Nicholas and Zachary got here until the second they left the four boys played non-stop. They caught every bug they could outside, rode the Jeep, played who knows what upstairs and by the end of the day were red-faced, sweaty, exhausted little boys. Cole was so tired he fell asleep in the car and was the only one to take a nap. When he woke up he was a huge grouch so when I tried to take a picture of the four boys, he wanted nothing to do with it. That is why you can see Grant with Nicholas and Zachary below and a separate picture of Cole at the table looking grouchy. He wouldn't participate. We are so excited that Amy is having another little boy to round out this clan of testosterone.

We spent the days before the 4th of July in Phoenix with my mom because Kitty came to town. We did some shopping and some swimming. Below you can see me with the boys. Grant is our little shark, now able to swim from one of the pool to the other without help. Cole still doesn't like to leave the steps or try to swim and Tyler found the bathwater temperature water so relaxing he fell asleep in my arms.

Tyler's Second Month

Our little Tyler has grown so much in the past two months. He is now two months old. You can see how he grew from the beginning of June to the beginning of July.

(Grant gave this monkey to Ty, trying to help him play with his toys)

(This is Tyler dressed for his first swimming excursion but took a nap instead)

(Like father like son)

(I needed a close up of this sweet, sleeping baby)

(This is his first successful swimming excursion and he enjoyed it. He just chilled and fell asleep)

(This baby was pissed that he was in his carseat and not being fed)

The end of things...

In addition to turning five, Grant finished his last year of preschool. To wrap everything up, Sis. Tenney did a little presentation at Granite Creek Park for the parents. The kids sang several songs and in between each song a child took a turn reciting a nursery rhyme. Grant recited There Was an Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe. He did a great job. Throughout the year, Sis. Tenney keeps various artwork and other things the kids do and puts it together in a book for each child. I have Grant's from last year and this year. It is fun to see how much he's grown up and how differently he thinks about things in just one year. He's all grown up, as Chad always says and so excited for kindergarten in a few weeks.

T-ball ended at the end of May also. This is Grant at his last at-bat of the season. He still takes about five wind up, practice swings before actually hitting the ball.

Grant's 5th Birthday

My sweet, little Granty turned five years old on May 24, 2011. He was so excited about this birthday and getting to be bigger. We did our best to celebrate it as much as possible too. Round #1 was Grandma Mellen. She was in town just before his birthday so she and Chad went shopping for gifts that he got to open before she left. She got him a bug catching vacuum, a dragon from How to Train Your Dragon and some Color Wonder books. Of course, we can't leave Cole out when Grant gets presents so he got a dragon also.

Round #2 was the big birthday party at Peter Piper Pizza. With our boys there were about 9 kids at the party. The birthday party package included pizza and tokens for the kids. Of course, the pizza didn't get touched and tokens were gone before we knew it. Grant had a blast with his friends though and they treated him well with some fantastic presents. He still asks if we can go back to Peter Piper sometime.

(Grant with Olivia Solorzano)

(Cole with Taft Mangum)

(Luke Raber and Kaden Daniels)

(Grant with Breck Burk)

Round #3 was the family party with presents from me and Chad. We got him a scooter, Wii Mariokart and a sticky hand you throw against the wall. Guess which present he was most intrigued with? You guessed it. The sticky hand. Once that died, his favorite is Mariokart. However, he can't play that until he plays outside on the scooter or other toys.