Knock Knock Joke

Jimmy told a really funny knock knock joke. To get the full effect, you must first understand what the "Flying Falcon" ride at Hershey Park is.
Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE05QDm2W1g

If you didn't watch the video, it's a ride where you sit in a little bird head and spin on a spoke really fast, so the seat is sideways. The spoke is also on a larger spoke and it spins around quickly, rising in the air.

Gary rode this ride with Jonathan (aka Fire Car) and Jimmy, consecutively. Poor Gary. While Jonny was waiting for Gary and Jimmy to get off, he told me "That ride was making me getting sick." Gary made a comment like once was fun but twice in a row is too much. Jimmy didn't really say much, until later.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
The interrupting Flying Falcon
The interrupting Fly-
I"M SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enough with the name changing!

Last week Amy decided to be Amelia again. I kept forgetting to call her that anyway.

Jonny is becoming pretty adament about being called "Fire." I keep telling him "NO- Fire doesn't sound anything like "Jonathan" Your name has to sound like the name we gave you." But I guess that's a little too complicated. A few months ago, he decided that his middle name was Car. His new name choice would make him Fire Car. Not exactly what I had in mind when the doctor handed me an 8 pound baby boy!

Wet Cell Phone

Last week, I put a leaky water bottle and my cell phone together in the bottom of my stroller. Guess what?! Water and cell phones do not mix. If you could please use my home phone number to keep in touch for the next week or so, I'd appreciate it!

Question of the day

Why is there a Santa hat on the plunger?

This reminds me of a poem I wrote a few years ago. It was supposed to be a haiku but I don't really know all the rules for haiku. This was my first and last attempt at poetry. It was inspired by an incident with Jimmy and is entitled Good Advice.

Never thought I'd say

Don't take bath with toilet seat

Motherhood, the joy!

Pictures from Wheeler Farm

Jacob, Amelia, Aberdeen, Cameron, Jimmy and Jonathan
front row: Cameron, Jacob, Aberdeen, Jimmy
back row: Jonathan, Nana, Simon, Pop, and Amelia
While we were in Utah visiting relatives, we did a photo shoot with all the extended family at Wheeler Farm. Here are 2 good shots that we got with our own camera. The top one is of the kids with their cousins playing red rover while we waited for the photographer to arrive. The bottom one is of the kiddodiddos with their cousins and Nana and Pop.

Hiking in Southern Utah

To kick off our Utah trip, we decided to spend a little time hiking around in Southern Utah. Here are a few photos of our time in Goblin Valley and Arches.

I think this photo was taken at the bottom of the trail to get down to the valley floor. Isn't Gary so cute, carrying Simon in the snugli? Amelia thought so... she shoved a baby doll down her shirt, so as not to be left out of the baby wearing fun. (too cute!) Here's me and Jonny wandering around among the goblins, looking for the rest of the family. I had the brilliant idea to play hide and seek. It was really fun, until everyone was hid and I realized just how many places there were to hide. So I will call that part of the adventure "scary fun."

There were lots of peek holes among the goblins. Look below to see the view from this particular portal. I called it "kissing goblins." Jonny loves to have his picture taken, so he ran down to be photographed again.

Jimmy and Amelia and Jonny attempted to cool off in the shade of this overhanging rock.It was hot and we didn't bring much water (OOPS!) so we didn't stay too long. :(

We drove from Goblin Valley to Moab, spent the night and rose early to start the hike to the Delicate Arch.

We set off with plenty of water and smiles on our faces. That was due in part to the kid's excitement over the gumball machine they believed waited at the end of the trail. Delicate Arches are nice and all, but do they really compare to gumball machines in the mind of a 2 year old? We gave the kids pennies along the way to reward for good hiking. "You can put them in the gumball machine at the Delicate Arch." They were so in to the idea, they spent the last quarter mile deciding who should go first at the gumball machine and how they should line up. When we reached out destination, I attempted to pull the gumball machine from our backpack and place it behind a rock. I was not sneaky enough... Amelia caught me in the act. Jimmy, Amelia, and Jonathan enjoyed their break at the end of the trail and didn't seem too disappointed with my little trick. Below are a few photos from along the way.

Here we are at one of our first water breaks. There was another photo where everyone was looking, but Jimmy's smile in this one is so heartwarming, I had to use it.

Here we are at the Delicate Arch! This is where the trail ends. You can go on some sloped slick rock to go under the Arch, but Jimmy and I opted to stay at this point to photograph the others. Notice Amelia, Gary and I are twins... how fun to have a girl who wants us to match! I am always amazed at her attention to detail. She has a real appreciation for beauty and noticed many wonderful things along the trail.

Jimmy, Amelia, and Jonny really liked the gumball machine. Simon doesn't know why everyone else is so happy, he just likes to be happy too.

If you look carefully, you can see Gary (yellow shirt) under the Delicate Arch! Amelia and Jonny are there too, but you'll just have to imagine you can see them.

Due to some gastric distress, we ended up hiking back in two parties and I want to give Amelia a big thumbs up for carrying the water. She was my hero and I was proud of the maturity she showed. The hike was an amazing experience and time of bonding for everyone.

Snowbird

Gary snapped this shot of me and the kids a top Snowbird Ski Resort when we were in Utah this July. We rode the tram. The view was fantastic! The mountains were rugged and steep, with patches of snow here and there. I could have looked at it all day.

I took this picture of the family playing in the snow (well standing on it, but they did make a few snowballs)
Jimmy just came down and noticed this picture. He told me "I hate to say it but I was scared of heights. That's because I understand the complex death. (?!) People, even big people could look over the edge and THINK they have a foothold but they don't. And then they fall. Down (bump and crash sounds) into the water under the ice and they come to the top and they can't breath and they (makes puffy cheek choking sounds)" Yes that would be "complex death." (I guess) Jimmy didn't say all that at Snowbird, but he wanted to hold hands almost the whole time we were at the top. Now I know why.
Here's Jimmy in a lighter moment. He's riding the Alpine Slide. He's the only kiddodiddo big enough to ride it solo. He LOVED it and went as fast as he could. I rode with Amelia. She wanted to control the speed. She liked it SLOW. She was so scared at first, but I think she warmed up to it in the end.

I tried to take a picture of Gary and Jonathan on their way down. You can see Gary's hair at the bottom of the picture.

Although the kids had their moments of fright, we all enjoyed our time at Snowbird.

Photos from June

My niece Elizabeth, just prior to getting dressed up for her blessing in church. (Didn't I tell you she's cute!)
back to front:Ben, Grandpa,Cami,Elizabeth, Tracy,Simon, Jimmy, Jonathan, Gary, and Amelia after the baby blessing, just prior to loading into the vans to return home
Hanging out at Ben and Cami's house in central PA.

Amelia picking blueberries at a nearby farm. She was my most dedicated harvester!

Jonny enjoyed eatting the blueberries far more than simply putting them in his bucket.
Simon enjoyed sitting in the grass and crawling around at the blueberry farm.
It didn't take long for Simon to figure out he was surrounded by yummy blueberries. This outfit hasn't been the same since!
This would be a really cute picture of Jimmy next to a fully loaded blueberry bush, but he's only half there!

Not only did the kids help pick over 7 pounds of blueberries, they also helped to make homemade jam.

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission

We just had a talk about where we would all like to go if we serve as missionaries one day. Here is where everyone would like to go.

Gary (30-something): Brazil
Tracy (20-something): Italy or Pacific islands
Jimmy (7): Alaska, Canada, or Norway
Amelia (5): Texas, Tennessee, or Taiwan
Jonny (2): Chuck E. Cheese

Where would you like to go as a missionary? Let us know in the comments.