Sunday

I found this message on my niece's white board, right outside her bedroom, informing us visitors that church would be at 1 p.m. Very cute. I wonder if my boys would have been as considerate.

After church activities included visiting family members who came to see us, some from far away as North Carolina...

...some as far away as New Hampshire!

Jen was the hostest with the mostest. Turkey dinner with all the trimmings, and three set tables to accommodate all thirty of us.

Baby Ben always commands attention, and a couch.

Uncle Roger braving the cat litter cake treat, shared with us after the dessert auction.

It actually was very yummy!

Photo op with the three Kenneths: Kenneth Gordon Hutchins, Kenneth MacLeod Hutchins, and Adam Kenneth Whitcomb.

(My cute niece forgot one cousin: Tanner.

Out of sight, out of mind.)

Love of Girls, Moms, Food, Friends and Dads

We were lucky to be in the area for the annual fundraiser for girls camp. It's a wild and crazy auction, with homemade entertainment thrown in. I made oatmeal-raisin-pecan-coconut cookies.

Mom made cinnamon rolls.
Two pans for $160
Mom made chocolate cream pie.
Two pies for $170

Rachael made chocolate covered strawberries.

Three plates for $150

I came home with one of them!

Dr. Seuss' version of the Book of Mormon.

Old men version of little people.

Nixon version of the three little pigs, rap style.

My better-than-Hannah, official Montana, mini mincemeat pies.

Bought by Dad.

$85

(They even looked like they came from Montana.)

(It was the expensive Montana tin.)

That's love.

Boy Bonding

We're on a whirlwind visit to New England.

It is the first time we've taken two days to drive.

We tried different roads.

Saw new things.

The boys favorite by far was going over the George Washington Bridge.

Miller entered a house full of girls!

One grandmother, three cousins, and two dogs.

He has been unsure as to where he fits.

Ranger feels the same way.

Dad and Jarrod talking chicks.

Miller feeling more at home with Grampy and his car track.

The boys Tri-Bonding with their cousins.

Miller melting with popsicle love from Grampy.

Toilet Humor

" Mommy, look!

The playdough is pooping!"

Thumbs Up From All Thumbs!

Sawyer's Allstar basketball season is coming to a close.

Fairland hosted the tournament this past weekend, which required a few decorations.

These decorations!

These Moms are so clever and creative.

They spoke of doing this in high school, and I felt out of place.

I never made posters in high school.

Didn't really help make these.

But I cheered them on!

(Sawyer did some homework while I worked concessions. I do know how to do that!)

Oh the Places We Go!

In memory of the birthday of Dr. Seuss, Sawyer's class read book.

The assignment then was for Sawyer to pick his "favorite place to go."

He chose Texas.

I was a little surprised.

I guess I was expecting a "place," like Disneyland

instead of a "state.

I think his teacher was too.

She said a small trinket could accompany his green suitcase.

We had some great times there.
I'm glad he remembers.

It's hard to attach a trinket when it's your heart.

Crazy Hat Day!

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday, it was crazy hat day at school.

Cooper tried his orgami skills on a large scale, but was worried it wouldn't last through the day.

Then I reminded the boys of all the fun hats their grandmother has sent through the years. Sawyer chose the giraffe hat!

Cooper chose the jester hat with lit balls that blink.
Thanks for the great selection!

The Pinewood Derby!

It's that time of the year again!

The Dremmel gets dusted off, and the dust flies all over.

Cooper drew a hamster, looking suspiciously like Copper.

We were fresh out of fishing line that was white for whiskers, so we opted for broom straw.

Sawyer drew and painted a snowman!

His top hat is made from Dremmel pieces glued and painted black.

Miller chopped, hacked, cut, hammered, and smashed out

this manly car entry.

Porter chose this old classic to race.

As long as the wheels were changed it was eligible.

Hunter chose this old car in the spirit of the Olympics,

but as his wheels didn't need to be replaced,

and not knowing the rules,

became our cute bench warmer once again.

The former Cubmaster told the boys it wasn't the track that gave them the win,
but how carefully it was placed on the track.

Hunter helping Miller.
Didn't help.

Miller's car had a jammed wheel.

Never even slid down the track.

Squeaked a few inches, and stopped.

Cold. FUNNY!

Cooper trying his hamster backwards.

Sawyer receiving last minute instructions from the big boys.

Miller (running) getting to the finish line to watch his car race.

By far the boys' toughest competitor in the open division!

Even the shark couldn't pull off a win!

Tanner lost to Barbie.

It's a great record.

Ten years, multiple entries: No wins.

Makes for a great family tradition.