Ice Cream in a Bag!

I have been trying to think of some simple things to do with the kids to keep them busy until school starts in a couple weeks. Yesterday Hailey and Carter had some friends over and we made Ice Cream in a Bag. I loved this one because it was super easy to do and to clean up afterwards! The kids got shake a ziploc bag for 5 minutes, and then they got Homemade Ice Cream!

Zach really got into it and started jammin, what a cutie!

All the girls eating their treat
Chayce, Hailey and Payge


Here is the recipe:
Combine 2 Tbls. sugar, 1 Cup half and half, and 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract in a sandwich size ziplock bag and seal it tightly.
Place 1/2 Cup Coarse Salt (table salt is also fine) in a gallon size ziplock bag, then fill it halfway with ice cubes. Place the sealed smaller bag inside as well, and seal the larger bag.
Shake the bags until the ice cream mixture hardens, about 5 minutes.
Take the smaller bag out of the larger one, and eat the ice cream right out of the bag. Serves 1.
(Even though I had 5 kids making ice cream I only used 2 of the large ziplock bags and had the kids re-use them.)

Jack and Auntie Em's stay

Auntie Emily and Jack were able to come down from California for a few days so we were able to hang out with them a little. Hailey enjoyed snuggling up to Auntie Em.

Emily and I went and got some fireworks to do with the kids. We quickly decided that sparklers were not such a good idea! Carter kept trying to kill bugs on the patio, and Jack lit a piece of styrofoam on fire and tried to burn down Grammy's Playhouse. Let's just say that sparklers ended pretty quick after that!

The kids watching the fireworks......I love how Jack has his ears plugged, and check out the look on Carter's face.....priceless!

Carter built his own little wall to protect himself from any fireworks hitting him

Jack Jack watching fireworks......I just love this kid, he is such a little sweetheart!

I took the kids to the Dinosaur Park one day. Hailey has been wanting to go forever. For about 6 months almost every night when I put her to bed she says to me "Mommy guess what?" I say "What?" She says "we went to the dinosaur pawk (park) and I saw a BIG one."
It was a nice cool day with a little bit of rain, but I didn't mind because it wasn't as hot!

Feeding the Ducks and the Fish

Playing at the park

Hailey, Jack , Caleb and Carter Mining for Gold
Carter makes friends everywhere we go and made a quick friend at the dinosaur park named Caleb. They tagged along the whole time and had a blast together. Unfortunately Caleb fell down just as we were about the leave and had to go to the Insta-Care to get his arm checked.

It seems like Carter catches a DragonFly everywhere we go lately! I wasn't surprised when he found one here! This kid lives and breathes bugs. I wish I could get him to be as enthusiastic about learning in school as he is to learn about bugs :)

Grandma Larsen's 80th Birthday

My Grandma celebrated her 80th birthday a couple weeks ago! The kids always get excited when we stop at her house.

I remember as a kid Grandma would usually have 1 of the grandkids each weekend and they would get to do something special with her. I loved sleeping over at her house and then on Saturday morning going over to Great Grandpa Jones' house (her Dad) to help him with things around the house. We would almost always get to stop at the convenient store to buy a treat.

She has 6 Kids, 24 Grandkids and several Great Grandkids. She NEVER forgets a birthday and is always on the ball getting cards out to everyone. The first year that Bryan and I were married, I remember he got a Birthday Card from her in the mail. This meant A LOT to him. He could not believe that she had remembered his birthday since his own Grandmas never really made an effort to make him feel special on his birthday. It made me realize how lucky I have been to have such loving Grandparents and also that my kids have such great grandparents that want to be involved in their lives. My Grandma has always made us feel so loved and always makes sure to be at important events in our lives.

The kids always have certain toys that they look forward to playing with when we go visit Great Grandma

Carter loves the Marble Maze and pulls it out everytime.

Grandma's kids had a BBQ and cake at the park to celebrate her birthday. Here's Carter getting a whack at the pinata.

My Grandma with her two brothers

Hailey talking Grandma's ear off!

Carter was frantically trying to stuff as much candy as he could into his shirt. The look on his face makes me laugh! This pinata stuff is serious business you know!

My First Semi-Official PhotoShoot

Okay so maybe it's not an "Official" photoshoot because its my family!

My brother Bryan is getting married to Jill in September and they let me do their engagement pictures. I think we got quite a few cute pictures. I had a hard time narrowing it down, so there's a bunch to enjoy! I had so much fun with these, and it helps that they are so darn photogenic! I am used to chasing little kids around and trying to bribe them to stop for a second and smile! I didn't even have to bribe them :)

Thanks guys for letting me do these! You guys are Beauteeeeeeful!

Jordan, Bryan, Jill and Brianna

The "Bling"