Cameron, King of the Playgrounds

Cameron, who has always found unique and extra fun playgrounds, struck another vein of gold in Pleasant Grove. He always considers it a victory if he finds one of the few remaining teeter-totters, or merry-go-rounds. This one had a teeter-totter, and some spinny things that the kids loved. Between the spinny things and the tire swing, Cameron had them all nauseous by the time they piled back into the van. Ali was the worst, she even still felt sick the next morning. But they had fun while it lasted. I guess that's what happens when Mom's not there to draw the line for the king kid, Cameron. :-)

My favorite things about babies...

I love babies. Particularly my babies, but all babies. These are some of my favorite things about them...

-After they fall asleep, when they continue the sucking motion. (See video of Truman above.)

-When they fall asleep in your arms.

-When they are sleeping and the startle reflex makes their arms and legs shoot out, with their hands open wide.

-The rooting reflex

-When they wake up eyes wide, find your eyes, smile, then go back to sleep.

-Their tiny feet.

-When you are holding them, and they start sucking on your cheek, chin, arm, or whatever soft skin they find.

-Their smiles

- When they grasp your finger with their little hand.

-Their soft soft skin.

-The gees and coos and throat gurgles

-Their peach fuzz hair

- Their chubby cheeks

-The laugh-cry... When they can't decide whether to laugh or cry.

-When they stop crying when you simply hold them.

So I finally synched my cell to the blog, so I thought I'd post a few recent pics from it. This one we took one night when we took the kids to the park around twilight... The pics turned out decent considering it was getting dark.

I took this picture right after we got home from our vacation to Island Park... Cam had suprised us and got the hardwood floor finished in our front living room. The kids had fun for hours and days playing on it.

We took this one at the National Guard base, on Family day. It was so hot that day, you'd think we were living in some crazy middle east country like Qatar. I wonder if it's humanly possible to get 4 kids looking and smiling at the same time...?

This was one of the pics we took at the park that night... My handsome boys.

Ali and Daddy

The last of the park pics... Ali loves rough-housing with her daddy... in fact, they are doing more of it as I type. Throw Ali across the room onto the bed is such a fun game.

Great-Grandma Dryg

Cameron's Grandma, Bertha Dryg, is 98 years old. I first met her 9 years ago, when I was pregnant with Isaiah. We drove from Salt lake to Lyons, Colorado to visit her. She had so many stories, we spent most of the few days we were there listening to her tell about growing up in Bolivia, meeting Cameron's Grandpa, traveling alone to the United States to meet her husband, raising her 6 boys and 1 girl- and probably a lot of other stories I can't even remember right now. A few years ago- Cameron, Isaiah, and Ali went to visit her again, after she moved to Michigan. The kids were a little to young to remember, so I am glad we were able to get to California last weekend to see her one more time. For the first time in at least the 10 years I've been in the family, the Dryg family had a reunion. We met up at Grandma's old home in Los Gatos, now Cameron's uncle Ed's home. Her memories are fading, but she seemed to understand all her family was gathered around her. She enjoyed meeting her great grandchildren, and seemed proud to hear how many grandkids and great-grandkids she had. She joked about it was good to know she was good for something.

Before we left, we told her we were so happy to be able to see her again. She kept saying she was 100 years old. (I'd say, if you make it to 98- you get to claim you're 100) She also said a few times she was glad she came this year- because she didn't expect to be here at this time next year. I don't know if that is an intuition she had, or something she just said because she is nearing 100.

While we were trying to get all of our naughty children to sit still and smile for a picture with her (they were doing everything but sitting still and smiling) Some of her old mothering came out. I heard her instructing them to sit still, and once or twice she threatend to give them a good smack. I thought that was pretty funny. Too bad she didn't.

Playing Catch Up

Um... Sorry I don't Know where the last couple months went... They dissolved into nothingness from soccer-basketball-lacross-baseball camps, the kids starting their new passion- gymnastics, trips to the Unintas and Idaho/Montana, and trying to spend a few days with cousins before they moved off to Qatar.

Here's a photo catch up of some of our summer activities...I think Isaiah has thoroughly enjoyed having a baby brother. The poor babe has a hard time getting a good sleep, because Isaiah can't bear to leave him alone for very long.


I love this pic, even though it's not great quality (took it with my phone.) Cori became a daddy's girl all the way after Truman was born. Here she is falling asleep, waiting at the window for Daddy to come home from work.


Cameron's Grandma McClain (Grandma Donna to our kids) Passed away just after Memorial Day. We all miss her sweet smile!

After cutting her own hair so many times, she made mullets look good, we went to Carrie Jo and had her rescue it... Everyone loved it!


Cameron has completed a few awesome projects this year, the sprinkler systems, prepping and laying sod in the back yard (had to take the trampoline down for that... the kids miss it, but yards looking better all the time.) And my favorite, our front living room done with our hardwood that's been waiting patiently in our garage since we moved in!


Cameron and Cori went on a hike with some co-workers from the us and columbia up to Timp Caves.
Truman before he got so fat.


Ali after her last softball game, with Coaches Cox, and Lawerence


Dressing up for church one week in June

The Fourth of July Parade in Kaysville


Trumey on the 4th


Ali and Jessica at Bridal Veil Falls on the 4th

I only had to fork out a dollar to get them to dive all the way under...


Isaiah and Truman shared a special day. On July 11, Truman was blessed, and Isaiah was baptized.
Ah, tender moment.

Camping with Christine and Jonathan's Family, and Peter and Wendy's family

Camping at the Spruces



The traditional catch a water snake and pose for pictures at Grandma's cabin


A cool tree in Yellowstone Park... More pictures of The cabin trip on Facebook!

Cameron and Clayton did the Grandaddy hike everyone's always talking about
ClaytonClayton, so happy to pose for a pic