Kayla's 9th Birthday

Kayla's birthday was Sunday July 19th where she turned 9 years old! We decided not to do a birthday party with lots of friends and activities since money is tight right now. So I said she could have one friend over for all day and a sleepover. So Saturday the 18th she had her friend Emelia come over. We went swimming at this really cool public pool in Chandler called Mesquite Groves. Then we came home relaxed, played for a few hours before dinner. For dinner we ate pizza. Then went to see the movie "Up" at the theater. It was a cute movie, we all enjoyed it.

Emelia gave Kayla this dragon Webkinz for her birthday.

After the movie we came home and the girls built a fort with Jake's help.

Later they ate some ice cream, played on the computer and by 11pm it was time for bed. Kayla had a lot of fun with her friend. I hope they can be together again in the same class at school.

On Sunday, her actual birthday we took some pictures before church. I gave her a necklace which she's wearing in the picture but you can't see it very good. It has 3 charms, one is a K and the others I can't really remember. She saw it at Claries and liked it. For the past month I've been trying to talk her into getting her ears pierced. I got mine when I was 7 yrs old and she has friends with their ears pierced so I thought she'd be ready. I know she wants to but she's still a little nervous about it. Maybe next year.

Later that day my mom and my stepdad came over for Kayla's birthday. She opened our present which was a new backpack, 2 shirts, shorts, a cat Webkinz, a Webkinz kinz clip, and lip gloss.

Reading her birthday card.

Here she is opening a box of money from my mom.

Kayla with her birthday cake. I decorated it with a W for Webkinz.

Blowing out her candles.

The cake I made, it looks a little weird...the ring around the W is crooked because I made the W too big, oh well at least I got the colors right. She had a nice birthday, nothing fancy, just a simple fun weekend with friends and family. Next year will be double digets!

Sedona, AZ

We took a day trip to Sedona yesterday with our friends JJ and Natalie. Jake and I had never been there so we were really looking forward to it! We've heard its known for being one of the most beautiful places in Arizona! I agree!

My pictures don't do them justice so anyone who's never been, you must go!

Our friends JJ and Natalie have 3 kids and their oldest Madelyne who is one year younger than Kayla had such a blast together! They don't see eachother very much but when they do its like they're best friends evertime!

Madelyne rode in our car with us, so much fun!

Samantha was kinda lonely without Kayla sitting by her but she was able to still enjoy herself.
When we got to Sedona we decided to just head up to Slide Rock and picnic there and have some fun playing in the water! We ate a good lunch at one of the picnic tables, changed into our swim suits and walked up to the swimming area. It was really crowded there and the water was freezing!

But that didn't stop Kayla! She immediatley started sliding down the rocks!

At first Samantha didn't like the cold water and slippery rocks, she kept saying "I don't like this place, I wanna go home." :(

But after a while she warmed up to the idea and got in the water. Here she is playing with our friend's two boys.

Time for a family picture!

The girls and I having a fun time!

Madelyne and Kayla having a fun time!

Kayla sliding down the rocks.

As you can see Samantha's not happy. Jake and Samantha were holding hands walking next to the water, he slipped and fell and she fell hitting her face on the rocks! Daddy felt so bad! We decided it was time to go.

Our Friends JJ and Natalie with their kids at Slide Rock.

The valley of Sedona behind us!

On our way out we stopped at this UFO store. It had this creepy looking alien statue by the entrance. We didn't have time to go in but they had that song from the X-Files playing outside!

A alien space ship crashed landed in front of the store while we were there! Ha ha

That was pretty much the end of our trip to Sedona. We hope to go back there and check out the things we missed.

Richardson Family Reunion

We just got back yesterday from the Richardson family reunion where we went camping up at Cedar Ranch(Jake's grandpa's land) which is between Heber and Holbrook. We go there every year and its usually Memorial Day weekend but they changed it this year to 4th of July weekend because some family had other things planned. We had a lot of fun hangin out with family that we hadn't seen in a long time. It would of been nice to see fireworks but the kids didn't seem to miss it that much. The weather wasn't too bad, it was hot at times but we had some cloud coverage and rain which definitely helped make it cooler.

On Friday July 3rd we left early in the morning and first stopped to pick up our neice Korbyn to take her with us to the campout. We were a little crammed in our van but it worked out ok. She was very quiet, just listening to her I-Pod, thats teenagers for ya. I hope she wasn't too bored with us, we're not that exciting when we're traveling.

But then Samantha started making silly faces, making us all laugh our booties off! I couldn't stop laughing at this one!

She's gone coo-coo!

Then Kayla started making funny faces too!

Jake spotted a 1967 Cobra hard top convertable way up ahead of us. Its his favorite car so he wanted to get a better look at it. He kept trying to drive closer to it which took a while because of all the busy traffic.

We got closer and closer and...

Finally we made it! Jake was very happy!

After we passed Payson and Heber and all those beautiful trees we saw a lot of this...

and this...I know its not pretty but the land was cheap when his grandfather bought it. I probably don't have enough pictures that show what his family has done to the property but they really have made it into a fun place for the family.

The campout was a Western theme, Richardson Roundup. Jake's parents were in charge of the activities. And one of the things they planned was taken from the Monty Python and the Holy Grail movie. Jake and his family can quote every line in this movie! Well his crazy parents came up with the idea to build a trojan rabbit just like the one from the movie! And wheel it around to everyone's camps and welcome them to the reunion. They recorded the sqeak and played it over and over, it was hilarious! I think everyone thought we were nuts!

My wonderful talented husband was elected to build the rabbit and he did a awesome job! It looks just like the one from the movie! Look below, great job Jake!

"Well, now, uh, Launcelot, Galahad, and I, uh, wait until

nightfall, and then leap out of the rabbit, taking the French, uh, by
surprise. Not only by surprise, but totally unarmed!"

Its the Welcome Rabbit!

"Run away! Run away! Run away! Run away! Run away! Run away!"

The next day July 4th we played some games. Jake, Samantha and I were on the purple team and Kayla was on the orange team. First we got into our teams and had a list of things to clean in the lodge, and whoever finished their list first wins. Our team didn't win but we got the place clean! After that we did relay games outside, I didn't get any pictures of this but it involved cow patties, eggs, potatoes and water balloons! It was a lot of fun!

After lunch it was kid craft time where the kids made little instruments out of cans.

Samantha making her maraca.

I did Samantha's hair all pretty for the 4th!

Kayla is enjoying a piece of cake!

Kayla couldn't get enough of playing foosball! She played it all the time with her cousins. I played a game with her and she was pretty good! Me not so good!

Later we rode the famous Richardson train! All aboard choo-choo! The girls love riding the train, they could ride all day! They played their instruments and sang patriotic songs.

Jake having fun on the train!

Jake, Shera, Tom, Matt and Grant decided to go on a bike ride. They kept asking me to come but I kept saying no because it was too stinkin hot! I thought they were crazy! But then at the last minute, someone twisted my arm and I said I'd go. I used to go mountain biking with Jake all the time before we had kids and was pretty good. But its been many years since I'd gone on any rough trails so I was a little nervous. But I did ok, didn't fall or pass out. It was fun!

Yee Haw! Time for our Richardson Hoe Down! Mostly everyone dressed up in their western duds and had a good 'ole time! There was laughing, singing, guitar strummin', square dancin' and other types of fun dancin'!

Kayla lookin all westerny!

Its Club Cedar Ranch!
Kayla and her cousins getting their groove on!

Jake's parents singing "Ghost Rider in the Sky" but they replaced the word Rider to Chickens to fit the western theme. Funny!

On Sunday we had church at the lodge which is like sacrament meeting but without the sacrament. Afterwards we took family pictures, this is a picture of Jake's grandparents in the middle with all their children. Jake's dad is second oldest and on the far right. I always have such a good time when I'm around them. I love listening to Jake's uncles and aunts tell stories about when they were kids, they make me laugh all the time! They are such a close family helping and supporting eachother. And Jake's grandparents are so loving, accepting everyone with open arms! I feel like their my own grandparents and love them very much! I feel so lucky to belong to this awesome family!

Later we relaxed and sat around visiting, saying bye to family who left and then we decided it was time for us to leave too. So we packed up our things and said our goodbyes. We had fun and can't wait to do it all over again!