Jump on the Potty Train...Choo Choo

Ryder has been potty training! It is definitely not my favorite thing, but he's getting the hang of it. Most days are *mostly* successful with just one of two minor accidents.

He is the funniest kid. For those of you who don't know him, he is the most stubbornly independent child I've ever met. ( My mother claims I was the same way but I don't believe it...) He HAS to do everything all by himself. Sometimes it is so hard to watch. He will sit there for 10 minutes crying and screaming trying to get a sock on. I know it would take one little movement for me to help him but I'm not allowed to get even close. "NOOO!!! I DO IT!!!"

So I let him and he's getting really good at dressing himself. I can't deny the kids got style. These couple pictures are the tip of the iceberg, he goes through several interesting outfits a day. He's especially into socks right now and will go through my sock drawer for hours. That and my jewelry, but I'm trying to discourage that one. Well, here he is in all his glory AND in his big boy UNDIES!!

Seattle Sounders

A couple weeks ago my family lost their minds and decided to drive to Seattle and back in one day for a Sounders game. The Crandalls are really into soccer and it's rubbed off on us. My mom said she didn't think it was worth it (granted she had to get up at 5 the next morning after coming home at 3) but for the rest of us, I think it was well worth it. Thanks to my Uncle Doug we had box seats, which was perfect! The boys could wander a little, there was food and drinks and an excellent unobstructed view of the field. It was perfect. They played REAL Salt Lake, who we like too, so the 0-0 score was unexciting, but fine. We had a blast and I'd do it again in a second.

Ok I HAVE to mention how funny Ryder was during the game. Both of the boys really got into it, and were chanting and yelling with the crowd, but Ryder was particularly funny. He was yelling at the Ref and sometimes the players. He was screaming so much that everyone around us at some point or another was laughing at him. It was super cute.

Jory's first day of School!!!!

Well, its official, my boy has grown up! He is officially in Pre-Kindergarten. He is so excited to go to school, and not at all nervous (wish I could say the same for Keith). Keith came home to make him his first day of school breakfast. (Ryder wasn't happy about getting his picture taken so early in the morning...)

Here he is all dressed up and ready to go.

They're pretty cute eh? I can't believe he's 4 and in school. Its amazing how fast it flies. I am so proud of him and excited for this big day. And I'm excited that its only 2 days a week for a few hours because I'm not ready for him to be gone any more than that yet.

Labor day camping!!

We went camping over Labor day weekend up in Sandpoint with my family. I didn't really take any pictures of the campground or the beach, but I did get some good ones of the hike we took out to these waterfalls:

There were tons of what we think were spawning salmon. They were so bright and the boys loved them.

Here's my family on a cliff. It makes me nervous just looking at the picture. It was a very anxious time for me...

The Fuquas

The boys threw rocks into the water for about 20 minutes. we had to drag them away, they could have stayed all day. Don't worry, Keith and Adam threw rocks too, it wasn't just little boys

Keith trying really hard not to get wet!

Adam looking GQ:

The camping trip was really fun. It was our first real family camping trip. The boys had a blast playing in the woods and singing songs with grandma around the fire. We made some great food (banana boats were my favorite) and went to a really lame fish hatchery. The weather kinda took a bad turn on sunday so we ended up coming home early, but the fun didn't stop. We spent the night at grandma and grandpas and played all the next day. We went to the Kroc center and swam and then Ryan, Jenny, Keith and I went to Silverwood. It was a great weekend. :)

THE FAIR!!!!

We went to the State Fair while we were in Boise, here's so pics so you can see the fun for yourself:

This is my "baked potato" ice cream. It was delish. We ate waaay too much that day.

Keith snuck on the kids rides, he fits right in.

Grandma and Grandpa Fuqua:

Chuck, Kelli, Ben and Sarah:

Jory and Isaac:

Jory, Isaac and some sheep (names unknown):

Sarah, Chuck, Isaac, Jory and a bunch of Bull.

Ryder and some hot chicks:

Keith, Ryder and emperor Kuzco:

This is what Ryder dreams about:

What a good looking group of boys. They're from Oklahoma, but they're no hicks:

My little eggplant (apparently this is the face an eggplant makes, i love it Ryder.):

Jory on the cob:

Yay for the fair!!

Alex and Alia...or Alia and Alex

Well, since this blog serves as my family history as well, I MUST mention that Alex got married on August 21st to the beautiful Alia Petersen. The wedding was in Boise and it was absolutely beautiful. They are the cutest couple (can't wait to see the babies in a few years) and I couldn't be happier for them. I never thought Alex would find someone that met all of his qualifications (i.e. amazingly beautiful, smart, spiritual and wonderfully geeky too), but he totally did. They are two peas in a pod. I couldn't be more excited about my new sister-in-law and I am so proud and happy for Alex.

Here's the family at the Temple. It was really really really hot.

And here is my contribution to the wedding/wedding present. It was a lot of work but really fun. It stressed me out because I wanted it to be perfect, but in the end I was happy with it, which is kind of a miracle because I never like stuff I make.

Couldn't be happier for them both.

Kids Camp!

My brother Cameron and my sister Emily worked this summer at the Blackrock Kids Camp. Its an awesome facility with everything you could possible dream of to keep kids entertained. They were generous enough to allow employees to bring their families one night so we got to go check it out. The Zip line was by far the biggest hit.

Jory got up to the top and decided he didn't want to go. (it is kinda high up and goes down into the water) We were soo disappointed because we really wanted him to try it and we knew if he did he would like it. We tried every kind of bribery, but it didn't work. So, using a very UNrecommended parenting technique, we hooked him up and sent him down. He cried the entire time. And for about 5 minutes after. I sat at the top cursing myself for being a horrible parent and scarring him for life when all the sudden he jumped up and said he wanted to do it again. Phew! I guess it was a success. He did it a few more times after that too.

I did it too..

Cameron is a show off.

Little Rylee Miller was the most impressive though. 3 years old and it didn't take one second of convincing for her to go down. And I think she did it about 7 more times. She was an animal.

Chilling at the Dock:

There was also fishing and they stock the pond with trout. There were tons of them.

There was also an insanely cool (and VERY dangerous) playground where everything you step on moves and spins. I wish I would have taken a picture of it. It was fun. We also went in the pool that has two waterslides and the big boys had a cannonball splashing contest. The whole place was awesome and beautiful and we had a blast.

MILLERS!!!

So our favorite miller family came to visit last month!! It was sooo fun!!! I didn't take hardly any pictures, I did get a few on the lake...

The Future couple:

BFFS Keith and Der

Glamorous Shot of me and Katie (ok Katie looks good but I look revolting)

Some of the other things we did were play downtown, eat Gooey's, go to Silverwood, play at the park, take the millers to their first musical (hairspray!) and eat way too much. We had so much fun and are glad that they made the really un-fun drive up here to see us! We tried talking them into moving here, but I don't think it worked. We're not giving up though....

Our Photo Shoot :)

My sister in law Jenny is an AMAZING photographer, and she was nice enough to take some family pictures for us! we just went down to my parents dock and I had no idea it was so beautiful until she pointed out where we were supposed to sit. They turned out really great. Here are some of my favorites:

As soon as we can afford it, I want to get this one printed on canvas (killer cute eh?):

They really turned out so great, I am so grateful to have such a talented sister in law. Thanks Jen!!!