a brief funny...

We found these whitey tighties in the bag of cleaning rags and we had to have Kayla sport them for us. 

 Lookin' good, Kay! 

 I was cleaning off my mom's cookbook shelf and came across this little treasure. 

Richard Simmons Sweetie Pie cookbook. 

I know, I know, you all want a copy... well do not fret, I actually found TWO of these babies up there!  So, if you want one, let me know!  ;)

Riding Horses

My sisters and sister-in-law took all the littlest kids horse back riding while the men and big kids went on a quading trip.  I think the little kids had a great time on the horses. 

Here is Rayne and Rigby.

 Saidi, she looks like a natural!

 Brylee and Saidi.  I'm pretty sure Brylee looks like that because she is in back, just like I'm pretty sure Saidi looks like that because she got to ride in front first.  :) 

These two girls definitely had a little competition going between them. 

 Cydne and Tate

 Cody

 Kayla and Rayne

 Tate and Me

 Side view...  just what you wanted, right?

 And again.  Tate was loving it.  There were a bunch of cows there that he liked looking at, too. 

 But Tate's favorite thing was probably this big tractor.  He had to climb up and check it out. 

Pedal Pullers

While in CA we went to the Merced County Fair.  We were sitting down to watch a kids pedal pull (pedal tractor competition), and Tate didn't think he should sit with us.  He moved to the next bench and sat alone. 

 The tractors were pulling a trailer with weights in it.  The older the child the more weight they had to pull.  The farther they would pedal the farther forward in the trailer the weights would move.  There was a skid plate at the very front of the trailer so when the weight moved forward the skid plate would push into the ground more, making it harder to pedal.  If the kids could pedal past 25 feet it was called a pull-out, then they would get another turn with more weight to see how far they could go.  They continued like this until the child couldn't pass 25 feet. 

 So, here is Brylee on a pedal tractor.  She went 13 feet, pulling 55 lbs.  (So she was done, you only continue if you go 25 feet)

 Here is Dallin.  He went 18 feet.  We cam back a few hours later and entered the competition again.  The second time around he went 25 feet with 100 lbs, so he got to go again with 145 lbs and pulled that 15 feet. 

 Cody pulled 55 pounds and got a pull-out, so then he pulled 70 lbs and pulled-out again.  Third time, he pulled 100 lbs 16 feet.  He was the only grandchild to get a pull-out the first time we were there, and he got two!  The second time we came he got three pull-outs again.  He was the only one then as well.  During the first competition there were just the cousins from our family and about 2 other kids.  The second time there were about 20 kids, and Cody was the ONLY one to get more than 1 pull-out.  He's one tough cookie.   

Dallin got to mow the lawn for the first time on this trip. 

 Some of the grandkids at the fair.

 Sorry this pic is sideways...  This goat was eating Tate's shirt.  It was pretty funny. 

Cool hair, dude!

I had to get a picture of Tate's AWESOME hair on our long drive. 



Joplin Drive-thru

On our way out to California we stopped for lunch and gas in Joplin, MO.  We saw a lot of the devastation from the Tornado there last year.  It really was amazing.  In the distance is the hospital, it was hit really hard. 

 On this side of the street there was complete destruction.  On the other side there was minimal damage. 

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

This is a cool truck we saw that reminded us of Mater.  The truck was rusted through in some spots, but the engine was super clean and shiny.  It was awesome. 

 At Santa Cruz Beach, lots of grandkids, Brian and Aunt Casey.

 We didn't think we would be at the beach for very long, so us adults didn't even have our swim suits on...  the water there is cold anyway. 

 Surfs up!

 I think he is going to catch a wave...

 Cody catching sand crabs.

 Tate and Cydne Beans diggin' to China.

 This kid loved the sand and water.

 Tate loved the rides.

 Pretty much all the kids loved the rides.  Here is Brylee, Dallin, and Rayne

 Grandma and Halle

 Halle, Uncle Ryan, and Brylee

 Cody, Brian, and Brylee on a drop zone ride

 Aunt Casey and Halle

 Fuzzy Brylee

It was such a fun day, we just wish we had had more time there.  Next time I go to Santa Cruz I want to spend one full day at the beach, then go to a hotel to clean everyone up and spend the night.  Then spend the next full day on the rides.  It is such a fun place. 

Cowboy music and bbq

Our last Monday night in CA Brian barbequed up some ribs.  One of his specialties. 

 He and Curtis were manning the grill. 



 Juan jumped in for the photo, trying to look like he was helping.  Haha.

 Cody watering Grandma's strawberries. 

 Grandpa and Kayla with baby Cassie. 

 Brylee and Halle watching a movie in the new 'grandkids' room. 

 Casey, Grandma, and Tate.  This is when the Lamonts were treating us to come songs on the guitar.  Tate was insistant that I dance.  I was trying to dance to his satisfaction while not distract the rest of the family from the Lamonts.  It was pretty funny, I bet it was even funnier to watch. 

 Singing about Longhorns.

 Ryan, Cydne and Grandpa joined with the singing for a song or two. 

It was a great night.  Singing with the Lamonts is one of my favorite things to do while we are visiting home.  It was even better since we had the whole family there.