Nicholas is 9!

Another year has passed and Nicholas is now "9". It is so hard to believe how old he is getting. He invited a few friends over and had a fun time playing together and enjoying his new gifts. Here are the memories of BIRTHDAY # NINE!!!

The boys squirting each other with silly string.






The boys having a water balloon fight.




I had overextended my schedule so my wonderful mom saved me and made this really cute cake for the special day. Thanks so much mom!



He got all of the candles out on the first blow. Oh darn, no girlfriends this year.


All of the boys wearing their Kung Fu Panda masks.


All of the party friends, Fischer, Nicholas, Taylor, Hyrum and Andrew.


Nicholas with his presents.


Andrew cooling off and being silly.

Shakespeare Festival

I have heard from many of my patients how fun it is to go to the Shakespeare Fesival in Cedar City,UT. I have wanted to check it out and so finally planned a trip with my three best single friends. We drove down on Thursday evening and stayed in a hotel. It was so fun to talk and visit all the way down and back. We ate a good breakfast in the hotel on Friday morning and checked out the gift shoppes at the festival. After eating lunch we went to the play "The Taming of the Shrew" which was performed in modern costume this year. Although I didn't understand all of the Shakespearean language I did get the jist of the play and enjoyed it so much. It was funny and the actors and actresses were amazing. What a fun time we had together.

Here we all are posing with "The Bard".

Beautiful Barbara


Heavenly Heather


Magnificent Mijken


Display of "The Taming of the Shrew"


Synopsis

Tacoma Zoo

While visiting in Washington, we made our way over the bridge to Tacoma and took in the sites of the Zoo. Here are some of the amazing creatures we encountered.

The walrus. It was so interesting to watch them swim. I don't know if this is normal or just in captivity but they would swim upside down.


The Beluga Whale. This whale was so photogenic. She would swim up to this rock and just smile and look around for several minutes letting everyone take her picture and have a good look. What a ham.


It was feeding time for the otters and they were totally chowing down on these crabs.


The Reindeer. And no they really do not fly.


The Lemurs. They were so fun to watch swinging and climbing all over their cage.


The goat in the petting zoo. Pee-yew, what stinky creatures.


Here is Ruby showing me how she can pet the goat.


On our way home from the zoo we saw these cute Raccoons on the side of the road.


It is hard to see in this picture but this is the bridge connecting Gig Harbor to Tacoma.


We passed this house a few times going into Tacoma and finally had to take a picture of it. This woman must really love flowers. They are beautiful but WOW I think a little over done.

Cute Foutz Family in Washington

Over the 24th of July weekend Carmen and I had the opportunity to visit Susan and the kids. We had a really good time hanging out and helping around visiting and eating yummy food. Here are some fun pics of our trip.

The kids weren't really coorporating but Susan looks really good.


This is Susan's brother Ken's home where she and the kids are staying while Jacob is in Iraq. I loved the layout and color scheme. It was a very nice place to stay.


Here I am with each of the family members.

Me and Susan


Me and Sierra


Me and Ruby


Me and Stan


Me and Chance


Sierra, Stan and Ruby ready to go on a walk to the park with Aunt Mijken and Aunt Carmen.


Here are the three kids trying to all make it up the slide first.


The three kids looking over the water behind the resturant.


Here they are all sporting their shades, or as Sierra would call them "my sunburn glasses".


Sierra going down the slide. Check out the electric hair.


Sierra on the swing.


Sierra playing at the park.


I had to bribe Ruby to get this picture of her smiling. She's not one to just pose at any time.


Ruby playing at the park.


Going down the slide with Ruby's electric hair.


Showing off her silly side.


Ruby found this feather at the park and was very proud.


Stan showing off all of his cuteness.


Going down the slide.


All boy.


Chance was having a hard time riding in his carseat on the way home. So to tollerate the crying, Stan plugged his ears.


Like all kids his age, Stan loved to swing and swing and swing and swing.


Chance showing off his feet.


Chance eating his bib.


Chance hanging out in his swing.


One of those pics we can use for blackmail in the future.


Just a couple of cute memories, Ruby kept forgetting my name and would say "whoever you are", Stan would call me "Nakin" and his favorite thing to say was "Sierra hit me" whether she was around or not.

We had such a good visit with all of the kids and it was so good to finally meet Chance. What a wonderful family. Can't wait to see all of you again in September.