Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Weekend with the cousins

After the Rodeo Brad and Claire's cousins stayed the weekend with us.



The boys slept in Brad's room and all the girls crammed into Claire's room. They must have had a lot of fun during the day because at bedtime they all crashed after only a few minutes of giggling and gabbing.



Friday was Whitnee's 8th Birthday so the whole day was dedicated to celebration. For breakfast her request was french toast. After breakfast we packed up lunch and headed to the Logan Aquatic Center.



Whitnee asked for snorkeling gear for her birthday. She used it the entire time we were there. We could always spot her in the pool. She did get frustrated when all the little kids would cover the top of her mouth piece with their hand as she swam by. They just couldn't help it. Her cute little bum cheeks got a little sunburned from her bum sticking up in the air the whole day.



Natalie and I








Corbin



Brad going down the straight slide for the first time...it was not the last either. He went down several times after that. He had bruises all over his arms from flailing around as he went down.



Corbin and Bean going together. The lifeguard had a hard time catching both of them at the bottom so Corbin got a lung full of water. He only went down once and was not impressed with the slide.



Claire going solo. She LOVED the slide. She is still my little fish.



Kirsten...she has grown up so much. She was so helpful with all the kids. I need to get me one of her.



Kirsten did try the straight slide once. She didn't care for it. She is like me...not into thrills.



Claire and Bean were attached at the hip the whole day. These two have a love hate relationship. One minute they are best friends and the next minute Claire is holding Bean's head under the water...Good thing Natalie was there to rescue poor Bean. Doesn't everyone try to drown their cousin??? Just trying to reassure myself here.



Jake absolutely loved the water. He is Lisa's fish. He didn't want to be held he just wanted to have freedom in the water. Poor Lisa's skin must have been rubbed raw.



This is a good sign of a great day!!!! It was a pretty quiet ride home. After a quick rest and pizza for dinner we did cupcakes and ice-cream. Whitnee wanted red velvet with cream cheese frosting and strawberries.






YEA PRESENTS!!!!








After making a complete mess with the cake and ice-cream the girls went swimming again in the tub. Only this time they got bubbles!!!



Saturday morning the rest of the family came up for a BBQ. (Except Kari and Steven. We missed you guys tons)
The kids spent the day in their swim suits again.













After lunch we pulled out the heavy artillery!!! The water balloons and water bazooka.



Even some of the neighborhood kids got involved.







Someone made the mistake of getting grandma moose wet...my mom is notorious for being water fight champion. Once she got involved I had to take the camera inside. Every single person that stayed outside was soaked to the bone.

In the fight between kids vs. grandma...grandma won!!!

After a yummy BBQ dinner we had homemade raspberry ice-cream and fire pit. It was a fun weekend!!

"Mustin Bustin"-- Cache County Rodeo



Brad wanted to try out Mutton Busting again this year. Last year he was not sure what to expect but this year he gave it a lot of thought and careful planning.



He was determined to hang on for dear life!!! He won 2nd place. His sheep was hyper and super fast. I was so proud of him.



He had lots of fans in the stands to cheer him on. Even Grandpa and Grandma great Fischer drove from Midway to see him in the Rodeo. Nanny and Papa came as well as Grandma Moose. All of Brads cousins came to cheer him on.
Jake....he was more interested in the treats and snacks than the Rodeo.


Brad's cousin Lexi


Aunt Nan and Kirsten. Poor Kirsten is deathly allergic to animals. She suffered and sniffled through the whole thing. What a trooper.

Corbin
Kennedy(Bean) and Claire. These two fought over who got to sit next to the fence the whole time. Little stinkers.
Whitnee...she was totally in her element. She loves horses. We sat right next to the chute. She loved looking down at the horses. I don't think she took her eyes off the animals for a second.

Nanny sent the kids packages in the mail a few days before the Rodeo. She made Claire this darling skirt with matching necklace and bracelet. Claire LOVED being dressed as a "real cowgirl". She sent Brad some lucky cowboy boxers. They must have worked because he did so great!!!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Switching Gears...

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind...

Zion's Bank has been calling Randy all summer long trying to recruit him. One of the Regional Managers met Randy at Kiwanis Club (a global organization of volunteers serving children). After about three months of persuasion and an offer we could not refuse Randy accepted a position to be Branch Manager for the Providence location. This is a HUGE jump for Randy's career. We are sad that he had to leave Bank of Utah. It was a great experience and he loved the people he worked with. When he told his boss that he was giving him a letter of resignation he said he knew this day was coming just not this fast...He knew he couldn't hold on to Randy for much longer.

Randy also serves as a board member for Habitat for Humanity. Last week the board nominated and voted Randy to serve as President of Board for the Cache Valley chapter. This last year he helped with the building of a home for a resident in Providence. It has been fun meeting the woman the house is being built for and seeing pictures of the progress of the home. Randy is passionate about this program and he will serve the board well. The first year he will shadow the current president. The next year he will serve as president. The following year he will train the new president. It is a three year commitment he is really excited about.

One thing I admire about Randy is leaving his jobs on good terms. He had been able to use all of his previous bosses as references. He is a hard worker and gives 100% while at work. Then he comes home and gives 100% as a father and a husband. He is a great catch!!!! Both in business and at home. I am so proud of all his many accomplishments. He has worked hard to get where we are. I am proud of him sticking with school and earning a Masters Degree. (He graduates in October!!!! WOOT WOOT)

As per bank policy...the second you give notice of going to a competitor they take your keys badge and all codes the same day. He cleared his desk and had had paid leave for a few days before he started his new job.

We decided to go to Salt Lake and spend some time with family.

Wednesday night we spent the evening with Randy's family. We drove to the Uintas and fished at Butterfly lake. It was seriously one of the funnest fishing trips I have ever had. Mostly because my kids even caught fish...several fish.


Brad was suprisingly good at casting and reeling all on his own. I'm not saying we didn't spent time untangling his knots, I was just proud of him.

Randy and I put a weight on the end of Claire's pole to play with. Claire has mastered the art of persuasion with her uncles and talked them into putting a real hook on her pole.

Good thing to...she caught her own fish. Notice the mouthful of candy. Doesn't get any better than that.


Aunt Kendra
All the Fischer boys. We made them pose for this picture they were not amused by the photo shoot. They complained but cooperated.


The first hour was a fish on almost ever single cast. It was fun to catch and release so many times.

Brad's best catch.
Claire trying to get a piece of her uncles lucky fishing hole.

Nanny untangling knots. And she thought she was done after raising 4 boys.



Aunt Tori

We had everyone there except Aunt Kamie. We missed her and it wasn't the same without her. The lake was beautiful and the sunset over the lake was spectacular. There is still snow in the Uintas so it was chilly enough to wear hoodies. Boy have I missed hoodie weather.

We spent the night at Nanny and Papa's house. Randy woke up early to go golfing with his dad. The kids woke up early to home-made blueberry pancakes. Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!

After breakfast my mom and sister-in-law Lisa picked us up to go to the zoo. Unfortunately Aunt Nan and the girls couldn't join us for the zoo but they did catch up with us later that day.



This year the Zoo had a dinosaur exhibit with life sized robots. Some of them sprayed water, some growled moved and roared. I was even impressed with them. I thought they were way cool.














They got to dig for dinosaur bones in the sand.


This was Claire's first time at the zoo. When Brad was little we bought a season pass in the summer. It was cute to watch Brad navigate Claire through the zoo like he was the expert.







We all rode the carousel. Little Jake HATED it. He cried the whole time. Poor Lisa had to hold him the whole time.

After the carosel we watched the bird show. I always enjoy feeling birds fly right over head. My mom saved us a spot so we were right in the front. My mom's head got hit with a bald eagle wing. That doesn't happen every day.


Right before leaving we rode the train. We were hot tired and ready for lunch.

We went to my mom's house for a quick sandwich then it was off to the Murray Pool to meet up with the girl cousins.

I didn't take my camera into the pool so I don't have any pictures. Randy met us at the pool. It felt good because it was such a HOT day. It was cute watching Kirsten and Whitnee take turns with Claire and Corbin down the big water slide. Corbin made me laugh. If he got water on his eyes he would yell out " I can't see. I can't see" He would keep his eyes closed until someone would come wipe his eyes for him.

After the pool all the grand kids played in Grandma's yard until dinner. We spent the night at my parent's house. Randy and I had to run home because Randy had school and I had to work a shift. My mom agreed to take the kids overnight so Randy and I could spend some time together.

Randy and I went and did some shopping then went and saw the Utah's Festival Opera Company perform Oliver with Michael Ballam. It was so good. I loved it. Every single ticket was sold out. We were lucky to have such great seats. (Compliments of the Kiwanis Club raffle) After the play we went to dinner at Olive Garden. Randy and I have not been out on a date for a LONG time. We had a lot to talk about and celebrate....new baby, graduation, and now Randy's new job. (THANKS MOM!!!!)

On Saturday we drove back to Salt Lake to pick up the kids and go to a Fischer Family reunion. It has been a long time since all the Fischers got together for a reunion.

Grandpa Great Hans Fischer and his boys.


There were a lot of people there. It was all of Grandpa Hans' brothers and their families. It was fun watching them gab and brag about their families. Randy's Uncle Gerald put together a slide show of all the families and old pictures from Germany. It was wonderful to watch. They had the best BBQ brisket for dinner. I am glad we came back down.

Then it was back home to life and busy busy schedule. It was a great week to relax and celebrate our blessings!!!