RENO!!!

Welcome to Reno!

(Warning this is long and unedited like everything I do)

Every day Brent wakes up and says "I love Reno!"  Well maybe not every day but most days.  I guess you can say we like it.

We love our cousins.  The kids are constantly asking, "Are the cousins home?"  "Can the cousins come over?"  This is Kara and Brooklynn at Crystal Rock.  If I am remembering correctly it is an old mine they dynamited during world war 2.  There are lots of Crystals to be found up there!  Notice the beautiful blue sky's.  Reno has amazing crystal clear skies.  I love it.

It was quite a little hike to get to Crystal mountain.  The road was a pretty bumpy dirt road and both of our black cars were brown cars by the time we got home.

The Dobbs Family has been showing us a great time here in Reno!  They take us boating and the kids love it.  This is one of their expeditions just with Ryan and Kathy.  Me and Brent were working and Hayden was at Scout Camp with Payton.  Kara loves wake boarding now.  Halle likes to tube slowly, but loves to be with cousins most.  Kelton said the best part of his birthday was getting up on the wakeboard.  He did a little celebratory hand jab into the air when he got up which was really cute, but unfortunately caused him to lose his balance and fall a little prematurely!

It does rain occasionally in Reno, which the children take full advantage of.  Kathy took these pictures for me.  Obviously I'm not around for all the fun: )

Kids under the Umbrella fort.

Halle is wondering if she should get her "tappy shoes" wet.  She loves to dress up, but playing in puddles is fun too!  As we were getting ready for church one Sunday, Kelton turned to me and said, "Mom don't you love getting all dressed up?"  I said, "I guess (while pondering if I really did like to get all ready)."  Then he said, "Sometimes it's fun to get all dressed up nice it just makes you feel good!"  I love when kids ponder about how they are feeling.

This is not a great picture, but this is Hayden at Scout Camp with the boys in his troop.  He was gone for an entire week!  We really missed him.  I think he had fun.  It's hard to tell sometimes.  He did tell us he met a boy he really liked that is his age and will be going to the same school.  His name was Carter.  I asked him why he liked Carter so much and he said, "because he warned me that the other boys were going to fill my sleeping bag with frogs."  I wasn't really expecting that answer, but I guess that's a pretty good reason to like someone.  He did the wilderness survival merit badge which requires you to build your own shelter and then sleep in it all night.  He had been very excited about doing this with his cousin Payton, but when it came down to staying the night in it none of the boys thought it seemed very exciting anymore, especially since all the boys shelter except one had been destroyed by the weather (the boys made the shelters on Monday and then did not sleep in them until Thursday).  They decided to all stay in the one surviving shelter and they did it.  Hayden said the best part was that everyone that did the Wilderness Survival got to be first in line for Breakfast.  So it was the first hot meal he had all week and it was delicious!  Hayden said he is now hungry all the time and no matter what he does he is still hungry.  We were out shopping for school supplies and I told Brent we were going to have stop eating for a week so we could pay for the supplies.  Hayden heard me and turned around and said, "I'm hungry enough as it is.  I'll starve."  I assured him that me and Brent would be the only ones cutting back on our portions as we have some extra fat stored up for the occasion! 

This is our beautiful neighborhood.  We have lots of very nice neighbors and there are lots of kids.  I can't believe how nice everyone has been to us.  I don't know why expected people to not be very friendly, but I did.  I was very wrong I think this might be the friendliest place we've ever lived.  Since moving to Reno I have not seen one person smoking.  I know people in Reno smoke, but seriously there is not anyone in my neighborhood that smokes.  I guess I am in shock because everyone in Mississippi smoked.  Its nice to not smell cigarette smoke.

I love the mountains in our neighborhood.  Every time I drive home from work I marvel at what a beautiful world we live in.  Mississippi was so green and beautiful, but Reno is so beautiful too.  I love being able to see for miles and oh how I love the crystal clear skies.  I know I mentioned that, but Reno has unbelievable skies!

My little Halle.  She is such a character.  Sometimes I wonder what she is going to be like when she grows up.  She is my fashion savvy girl, but also is up for anything crazy that Kelton can think of, and he is great at thinking up crazy things for them to try!  They scooter-ed down a big hill together a couple weeks ago where Halle skinned up both her knees really good.  Kelton said he warned her it was too dangerous for her (not him of course), but  she did not head his warning and Tappy shoes and tiny sun dress she decided to brave the hill.  I know your wondering where Me and Brent were.  I was wondering the same thing.  Well sort of.  I was actually wondering where Brent was because I know where I was.  I was at work.  Brent was in the house and they were suppose to be riding just in front of the house.  Brent had warned them about the hill a few days earlier and how it would be dangerous.  Unfortunately the both decided to try the hill and definitely suffered the consequence of disobedience.  Kelton brought Halle home of course.  She was in pretty bad shape, but Brent said she was very tough and  he thinks they learned their lesson.

I know this is kind of all over the place random writing, but I'm trying to get down all the things I've missed so I'm just writing as it comes to my head, which is never a good idea for me, but oh well, it's how I am, so why fight it anymore.  I guess I just need to embrace it.  So Kara was with me the other day and she said, "Mom how old do you have to be to get a Bra?"  I said, "Oh do you want a Bra (like how I never answer my kids questions)?"  She looked at me like I was completely crazy and said, "No I want to know because I don't want to wear a Bra."  I said, "Oh (and then was laughing as I was remembering my own horrifying experience looking for a bra). and then I told her well it just depends on if you have breasts."  She then looked down at her chest and said, "Few, I don't have any!"  I asked her why she was asking and she told me Brooklynn has a bra already.  She also told me Brooklynn gets to shave her legs this year too.  She would like to shave her legs, so since Brooklynn is shaving her legs she would like to too!  But she does not want to wear a Bra even if Brooklynn is.

Hayden has grown up quite a bit this year.  He still needs reminded to do his chores, but eventually he will get to them.  Brent is constantly saying things like "give a man a fish feed him for a day, teach a man to fish feed him for a life time."  He has many other little quotes he uses on the kids to get them to work mainly.  Hayden has decided to use those things to his advantage.  The other day Halle asked Hayden, "will you make me a hot dog?"  Hayden said, "Halle I will not make it, but I will teach you how."  Then he used Brent's famous quote above.  I'm not really sure if I'm ready for Halle to use the gas stove yet.  You have to use the gas stove to toast the buttered hot dog buns.  This is grandpas hot dog recipe.  Hayden is always making these hot dogs. I was beginning to get a little worried about all the hot dogs he was consuming, so I explained to him about nitrites and how maybe we should not eat so many hot dogs.  He was wondering if there was a blood test he could have to check his nitrite levels so he could eat more hot dogs!  He says, "I am hungry all the time and this is the only good recipe I know!"  Grandpa can you please teach him how to make something else he will love!!  Hayden's goal is to weigh 70lbs.  Actually I should clarify, Brent's goal is for Hayden to weigh 70lb by this winter so he has a fighting chance when he signs up for wrestling this next winter.  I think he can do it, especially since he has been eating so many hot dogs!

My cute little reds!  Halle told Hayden, "If you pop that balloon, I'll give you $20!"  Hayden said, "you don't have $20"  Kara looked in her wallet and said, "she has a $50 bill."  Halle turned to Hayden and said, "I'll give you $50 if you pop that balloon!"  Hayden agreed, but Brent stopped the corruption before Halle lost all her money.  She is still a little confused on what is a lot of money.  She took her money to the store to by a little Polly.  I had told her the clerk would give her some dollars back since she was using a $50 bill.  When we got up to the cashier I had her use a few of her dollars and change instead of the $50 bill so she would not have to break the $50.  Big mistake on my part.  When the cashier did not give her any dollars back she was very distraught.  I tried to explain to her what had happened, but it did not compute!  She just felt like she had been ripped off because she did not get any dollars back!

Brent's been doing a good job with the kids and I've been enjoying my job too.  I like all the people I work for and think I'm getting the job down for the most part.  It's fun to see Ry there occasionally too.  I still have that little problem with saying things that can be taken in several different ways.  While explaining to one of my patients what to expect during surgery I said, "when you wake up on the other side you'll see....."  The patient caught this and joked about not really being sure he wanted to wake up on the other side, yet.  I was a little nervous after that blunder, since I'm a little superstitious about that kind of stuff.  I was so relieved when he came out of surgery with out any complications.  By the way he had hurt his shoulder while roller skating with his grand kids!  So Dad, "Careful, careful, careful"

My Keltonator had a Birthday!  Which I'm going to post about next week so I can be all caught up before are much anticipated reunion.  The kids can hardly wait!  They've been planning their talents (which they still are undecided about) and packing their bags for weeks!

I taught Brent some hairdo's for the girls so he would be able to do their hair for school.  I came home from work the other day and Brent had done a really good job on a pony on Halle.  She was so excited!  She said, "Mom, Dad learned how to do my hair, now I can go to school with cute hair!"

Sometimes she's grumpy!

I've decided if you have trouble sleeping there is a remedy!  Get up consistently at 4am exercise and don't sit down again until you lay down at 9 and you'll sleep like a log!  I was going to say baby, but babies don't really sleep so I am not really sure who thought of that saying.

Brent also thought of a good idea for our laundry hamper.  I think it could be on pinterst (the white trash section, that is rude of me I know).  We have actually quite a few ideas for that Section.   The boys decided to hide in the hamper that hangs over the railing. Crazy boys!  Thank goodness the whole banister did not come down on them.  What will they think of next.

I feel so blessed to have a family and good standards to help guide my life.  I've met so many good people that have had such hard lives, some with good families and some with out any family at all.  I think of my own life and struggles and am so grateful to have a family to support and love me.  It makes life's trials so much easier.

Kids In Idaho

We Finally made it to Beautiful Idaho!  I have to admit Idaho is absolutely one of the greatest places to live June through September.  Purely my opinion.  The days are long and warm, the nights are just right, the grass is green and soft, the flowers are everywhere, there are sidewalks, limited amounts of bugs, and best of all there are kids out everywhere enjoying the weather!  Truly a child's paradise.  I think this is why I always wanted to raise my kids in Idaho, because I remember the summers as a child just running free.

The kids were able to stay with Grandma and Grandpa for 3 weeks while Brent stayed in Las Vegas and I went on to start my job in Reno.  These are the pictures Grandma and Grandpa sent me.  The kids all had an absolutely amazing time.

Kara and her best friend Madeline.  We love Madeline.  She is such a good girl and a good example for Kara.  I hope they stay friends forever.

Barrel rolls with our cousins!

It was so nice to be able to start my new job and know that my kids were having such a good time and being taken care of so well.  

Hopefully they did not wear Grandma and Grandpa out too much.  I think Halle had a few break downs.  From what I hear from the other children she did not hold anything back.  I guess she had a few break downs. 

Texas Cake, mmm, mmmm, with Madeline and Grandpa

Texas Cake with Grandma and Madeline

Our good friends the Holdings new home!  We love the Holdings too.  My kids have been so blessed with good friends and cousins that are such good example to them.  I hope they are always able to find good friends to associate with.

Alexis, Kara, Halle, Makenna soo cute

Halle and her little friend Chloe!  Grandma was so good and scheduling friends for the kids.  She kept their schedules very full : )

All the kids in the neighborhood!

We love all the boys in the hood too.

Alexis Kara and Madeline such cute girl.

 Kelton and Clayton fishing!

 Halle and Makenna.

 More Fishing

 Swimming with the Holdings!  My friend Melissa sent these to me.  I wish I could have spent more time in Idaho so I could have seen everyone.

 Snow Cones

 Qdoba and the Movies with cousins and G&G

 Movies!

Snuggle with cousins!

They played baseball, kickball, Nerf wars, football, Nerf sword battles, freeze tag, cops and robbers, and capture the flag.

Princess Halle and Payton!

Coco girls

Even a little piano practicing!!  Impressive!

Fourth of July!  Making strawberries with Reggie!

Yummy!

4th of July in Idaho!

Halle, friend Chloe and cousin Peyton!

Princesses!

I'm sure there was lots more pictures from all the fun the kids had in Idaho.  I know Hayden learned how to make hot dogs from Grandpa and not just any Hot Dog, "they are Grandpa's famous butter fried Hot Dogs," according to Hayden.  I wish I could remember everything my kids told me while they were in Idaho, but unfortunately my memory is not very good.  I'm lucky if I remember to put my keys on the hook instead of the refrigerator.  I know scary!  I'll be glad when I'm all caught up so I don't have to recall all of our experiences.