Apologies and More Catch-Up

I'm sorry I've been absent for over a month. Things have been crazy around here. I know it's been too long when people are starting to discuss why I haven't blogged lately. There was even talk of me being pregnant (what?!?). Well, for the record, being pregnant wouldn't keep me from blogging. But here is what would (and did): vacation, returning from vacation and trying to catch up with life, another vacation, returning again and trying to catch up again, sick kids, well kids, and, last but not least, Relief Society. Especially Super Saturday. Joy. So hang on, friends ... here comes our life in the past month+ ...

At the end of July/beginning of August, we went on a cruise with our good friends Tim and Ashley. It was such a blast! I just want to thank them again for such a great time. Let's start planning our next one. Here are just a few photos ...

At the show ...

Casey and Ashley reenacting a Titanic moment ...

Ashley gambling ...

Casey contemplating gambling ...

Too much cherry Coke, I think ...

I also have to thank mom and Kate for staying with the kids while we were gone for a week. I hope it wasn't too bad because we're already planning our next vacation. Sadly, I did not feel the need to return to the kids one bit. But we did return eventually and celebrated Owen's and mom's birthdays. Owen seemed thrilled.


A week and a half after returning from the cruise, I took the kids and drove Kate and mom back to Wyoming. We spent a week+ up there at the parents' new house on the ranch.

Here's Evan with Alana and Frodo ...

Evan playing with Pata Jones' Army guys.

Evan got a couple mosquito bites above his left eye one night. This is what it looked like a day later.

And a little while after that.

And a while after that. Does anyone remember Sloth from The Goonies? "Hey, you guuuuyyyyys ...!" ........... Enough said.

Owen, looking like a doll.

A baby snake like the one Mama Jones (yes, Mama Jones) caught for Evan.

Fireworks with Pata Jones and Auntie Kake. On the outskirts of town in Wyoming, anything goes. We saw some pretty good ones that night. (These are not the good fireworks.)

Owen riding Spanky with Pata Jones.

Evan riding Spanky with Pata Jones.

Thanks to Mama and Pata Jones and Auntie Kake for such a great time in Wyoming!


This is random, but here is what happens when I turn my back on Owen for 2 minutes and it gets really quiet. (What is it with kids and wipes?)

But I can't get too mad because he does cute stuff like this ...

And this ...

And this ... (kicking back on the couch)

While we were in Wyoming, we missed Evan's official first 2 days of preschool. But here he is on his first day. He LOVES preschool! I do, too.


This is my new favorite playpen for Owen--the sandbox. He loves it. He used to eat it, but now he just sits in there and plays for a long time.

Well, that's it for catch-up for now. I'll try not to leave everyone hanging for so long next time. I wonder what other rumors might start up about me.