Parties, BBQ's, and More

 So, as much fun as hosting can be, it's been pretty fantastic to have the past couple weeks filled up with fun, social activities that required little from me other than showing up! Last week, the Cardon's threw the party of the year for their little girl's birthday. The theme was centered around the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and they had hired out to have face painting, balloon animal making, a hot dog "stand", bounce house, cotton candy machine and Mickey himself come to visit. While we were driving over, Trav told Collin to get ready, because, "You are about to go to something that you will never get yourself." Ha. Right he was. There is no competing with Maddie Cardon or her Grandma... you'll just feel bad about yourself. :) But it really was a fun party. Although, since Collin has never seen Mickey Mouse and therefore has no idea who he is, he was more than terrified of the big, scary mouse thing that came out to dance with the kids. We aren't talking {cower behind the parent's legs} sort of scared. More like {scream hysterically like a little girl} kind of scared. It was embarrassing. Trav had to take him away and calm him down in the car. When they came back, Mickey was out of sight, taking pictures with the kids so all was well. However just a few minutes later, Collin caught a GLIMPSE of the black and red terror and had a MELT.DOWN. He may as well have seen Satan himself. That kid.

 He had no idea that fluffy, sugar goodness was being made by the garage, but I did. So like a good Mother, I led him by the hand to stand in line for his own helping. Three licks later and it was mine. :)

 Oh yeah, there was also an adorable, homemade pinata. And they had personalized "Mousekeeter" loot baskets to gather their candy in.

 Speaking of amazing birthday parties...just in February we went to Reagan's party, held in the church cultural hall. The theme was CandyLand. Notice the individually, celophane wrapped balloons crossing the ceiling?

And how about the literal "Candy Land" room? I was in hog heaven.
They also had a bounce house. Now you can see why it's dangerous to have friends that set standards like this. We love it.... until it's our kid's birthday. :)

Our first summer out here we went to so many BBQ's I was sweating hot dogs.... we seem to be repeating history. Again, I love it! I know I'm gross, but I do love me a grilled hot dog. And even if I didn't... knowing all day that I don't have to cook dinner?! Yes, please! So thanks to the Dobbins, Carters, Shaws and many others that have hosted BBQ's this summer! 

This is one of the Cardon's BBQ's they had a couple weeks ago, to say goodbye. They officially left this past week and it was sad to say goodbye to Tiffany! She came over the night before they were to head out and talking to her reminded me again of how lucky I am to have met these friends out here. I will miss her! We both teared up. I hate saying goodbye. Then two days later I took Collin to their empty house to get a couple things she left for us and we walked in the back door and immediately Collin bolted to the hallway, yelling, "Naddy?! Naddy?!" (For Maddy). It about broke my heart! He was so confused that there was nothing there and she was no where to be found. He'll always associate that house with her and he's too little to understand that he doesn't get to go on walks to see her anymore. SADNESS!

Well, speaking of moving, that's the other main thing going on around here. Travis's Moving Company is officially open for the season! No, it's really not that big a deal, but he has been gone quite a bit moving people out and now it's switched to moving people in. Since he's been out of school for the past week and a half, he's had the time to help, so that's been nice. Otherwise I might be a bit more cranky about it. Also, most people are pretty grateful and don't just act like the church owes it to them (that's what gets my feather's ruffled). And of course, in a year, we'll be the ones needing the help, so what goes around comes around!

We played our first Kan Jam game of the year last week with the Elders. We've been promising them a game for a while, so we finally got to it after dinner last week. They are a fun group of missionaries, so I look forward to having them over. Plus, now with my brother, David, out on his mission, I always think of him when they are over and hope that someone over in Honduras is feeding him! He's been in Honduras for 2 weeks now and his letters are crazy. I think he experienced quite a bit of culture shock and it's no wonder! He said he has a companion who understands NO English, and since his Spanish is very limited, he has to look everything up in a dictionary to tell him things. They have no sink and if they want to shower, they heat up some water on a portable stove and pour it over their heads. Apparently, the missionary's places have toilets, but no where else does. Just holes. That, among many, many other things makes me worry about him! But missionaries are amazing and he will survive.

Here are Elder Hallum and LaChuga. 

 And this is Elder Bryson and Ingrahm.

After our game, I not-so-subtly introduced them to my neighbor, Celeste, who was out with her family playing basketball. I think Trav was embarrassed for me. Oh well. I'm not a very good missionary. 

 How 'bout this random post! I guess it was supposed to be all the things we've been doing lately. And that would include Collin's first sunburn! We were out mid-day for a couple hours and I spaced it on the sunscreen. Luckily, he didn't complain about it hurting. And even more luckily, the kids I was watching didn't sunburn. What was I thinking?!

  Occupational hazard in eating a blizzard...

We also go on lots of walks. Sometimes to the school park, sometimes just around the block, and sometimes (if I'm lucky) to Dairy Queen. We got home last Saturday night and Trav looked at Weston and started cracking up. Poor fellow. He didn't even seem to mind.