AMAZING JAKES......AMAZING MOM SURVIVES SIX HOURS!!!

With Colton going to California this week, I tried to get in some summer fun with all three boys last week. They chose Amazing Jake's last Tuesday. We got there about 15 minutes before they opened and were 2nd in line! That meant......NO LINE FOR THE GO CARTS!!! They were so happy....so was I, that we wouldn't have to deal with the WAY TOO LONG lines any time during our stay. Asher had his own car and even in his favorite color.

Colton drove Kyler in a car, which happened to be Colton's favorite color too!

There are many things my kids love about Amazing Jakes....Kyler loves the ice cream machine. He gets his own ice cream cones all by himself! (now if only this was a skill that could help him in Kindergarten, we'd really be set!) Here he is finishing a cone.

On to NUMBER TWO!

He also loves the soda machine. Sprite is a favorite of this little boy. He was so interested in the bubbles. He was practically standing in his chair looking down at the bubbly drink, then he had a great idea. Looking at the bubbles from underneath!!! Why is he so stinkin' cute!

Being the youngest kid by 5 1/2 years, he was on his own for some things.....like the carosel...

and the train...

but not the teacups!!! (sorry....the hot chocolate cups!!!) Disney must have the teacups protected by law!

The best part of all three in one cup.....they didn't really fit and it was HILARIOUS!!!!!

After six hours of food & fun, we finally left. (Ok, I was ready to go and we had Tae Kwon Do. I think the boys could have closed the place!)

HAPPY ASHER AND KYLER!

Teenager Colton!

WHY MOMS ARE IN CHARGE.....WELL, MOST OF THE TIME!

This is what happens when dads sit next to their 5 year-old.....OK, maybe just this dad. Tony unrolled Kyler's napkin and said (VERY CASUALLY I MIGHT ADD) "Just be careful with the knife." Tony, Tony, Tony!

Asher had just been to the eye doctor....like his old man shades. He fit right in at Mita's home when we went to visit her. He made a beautiful 12x12 scrapbook page for Mita and hand-delivered it to her earlier that day.

If Tony hasn't learned that you don't let 5 year-old have really big, sharp knives by the third kid......THERE'S NO HOPE! That's why moms are in charge.....most of the time!

BEDTIME STORIES

Our Young Women had a great idea for an activity last Wednesday night, they would invite the 6-7 year old children from our ward for Bedtime Stories. The children were asked to come in pj's with their pillow and a blanket.

I saw this adorable idea of setting the table like a bed for a bedtime baby shower. It was so cute for this little party!

All the children were able to make their own trail mix....YUM!

All of our Young Women came prepared with a story to share. One girl even came prepared with a craft that went with her story. The kids had a great time....THANKS, GIRLS!

I might even have to copy this idea for my kids and their cousins. I think it would be a great extended family activity. Night, night!

SOUNDS OF SUMMER

It's nearly 9:00 pm, the house is quiet - MESSY, but quiet. I drove Colton to California today to spend the week with his friend. It's hot! REALLY HOT!!! 115 degrees today - just outside though, not in our very cold air-conditioned house......THANK YOU, AIR-CONDITIONING! (not to mention the husband who loves to crank it down AND pay for it!) Kyler and Asher wanted our FHE activity to be charades tonight. Fun activity! We'll have to do it again.....then Tony took the two boys and our crazy dog outside. There was chasing....not sure if they chased the dog or the dog chased them. That's when I heard the best sounds of summer - kids and dad talking, laughing, making memories. The next best sound.......KIDS SLEEPING! What sounds of summer do you enjoy?

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Happy 4th of July everyone! We had a great time at my cousin Becky's home today. We were asked to bring dessert and I decided to make these red, white and blue vanilla cupcakes. So Yummy and Way Cute! I just wish I would have taken a picture of the inside of one too. Oh well! The kids loved swimming all afternoon and I loved holding my cousin Emily's baby.
I know you can't see her sweet little face, but trust me - Alexis is Beautiful!
This is my favorite way to spend any holiday!

Tony took this picture of our holiday cupcakes.

(the first two pictures were taken by my cousin Emily)

And could we have 4th of July without cute toes....I THINK NOT! Tuesday we went out for pedicures. I had mine painted red with fireworks - complete with a cute gem. These blue toes with the cute white star and red gem are my niece Sariah's toes.

As we awaited the fireworks, we tuned in to watch Wipeout. It's our favorite show to watch all together. I love seeing all the boys cracking up over this stupid show. Then we went out to the drive way to watch fireworks. We even brought Roscoe out on his leash. It was the first time he's been on his leash since we got his collar adjusted correctly. I didn't think we needed to have a tutorial on this until I saw Kyler dragging the dog around!

I hope we all survive puppyhood!

HAPPINESS

Swimming makes Kyler happy! But I think this will make him even HAPPIER...

His new puppy!

Introducing.....

ROSCOE MAXIMUS STOCK

We were supposed to pick him up last Wednesday, but he had a hurt paw. He's doing much better and the bandage came off. Asher and Kyler are going today to pick him up with their dad. (Colton and I will be at Scout Camp and Girls Camp.) I can't wait to blog our new adventures with Roscoe. I'll be back Thursday and will have plenty to share!

ABSENT-MINDED MOM

I don't have an explanation for 2 events yesterday.  I didn't feel confused or tired or dizzy or anything out of the ordinary.  Apparently my brain was on vacation!  First, after dropping Colton and Asher off at the public pool, I decided I would cut Kyler's hair.  I had plenty of time and thought that I would improve the whole haircut/bath routine.  Wouldn't it be great if I ran Kyler's bath water first, then go out and cut his hair and then let him run into my bathroom to jump in the tub - that's all ready for him!  Great plan, one hitch.  YOU CAN'T GET DISTRACTED!  I sent Kyler to run his bath and then found myself on the phone with my brother.  I told him early in the conversation that I had to cut Kyler's hair, but we kept finding things we needed to update each other on.  So...........time passed, Kyler played in the family room and I was STILL on the phone.  When I got off, I told Kyler we had to leave in a couple of minutes to pick up his brothers, go shopping and then get some dinner.  Fortunately, we just bought some new phones and all the boys love to intercom the different handsets - next thing I know Kyler is in his room calling me in the breakfast nook.  We talk for a minute and then he says "ha ha, you didn't give me a haircut!"  What happened in my brain can only be described as the moment in FINDING NEMO when Dory is with Nemo and suddenly all the pieces come together and she realizes that she's been looking for him.  I immediately screamed "THE TUB" and ran down the hall.  Kyler was ahead of me, just as panicked and then we saw the tub.....WE WERE SAVED!!!  The water was inching its way up to the top of the tub, but not quite the top - can you imagine if I didn't remember.  I could just see coming home from shopping and dinner to find a flooded bathroom!  Next, we had to pick up the boys.  After dropping off a friend we headed to WalMart for the yearly flip-flop purchase.  I parked the car and then decided I shouldn't trust my brain and I needed a small list.  I wanted mini marshmallows to try out a S'mores Nacho recipe, some sour cream, some double stick tape to finish a project, oh and those flip-flops  - can't forget those flip-flops!  We locked the car and got into the store.  I wanted to look at my list one more time, to decide where we should head first.  That's when I saw it....the item I wrote between the flip-flops and the double stick tape..............DINOSAUR!!!  What?!?  Ok, when Colton was Kyler's age, this would totally be on the list, but where did it come from that day?  Given my lack of brain power, I'm glad I chose not to cook that night!  We ended the day with NO FLOODS, NO EXTRA UN-NEEDED DINOSAURS & NO HOUSE FIRES!  At the Stock Household, we call that a perfect day!