Randy, the Storm Chaser.

The Sunday after we got back from Memorial Day, there was a huuuge storm come across American Fork. It was crazy. We were watching tv when the storm warning came on. Highland, Alpine, Cedar Hills and American Fork were supposed to get hit the hardest, it just came right over the mountain and BOOM. It was nuts. Randy and I love watching storms and lightning so we went on our front porch and watched the sky light up and listened to the roaring thunder. Macey soon joined us, holding onto my leg. She's not a fan, so much.

One thing many people don't know about Randy is that he LOVES to take pictures of storms. Like, a lot. I have probably over 500 pictures of random storms on my computer. I love watching him cause he's out running in the road, kneeling down, trying to get a great angle. It's pretty funny.

Anyway, so we're watching the storm and Randy of course grabs the camera and is out taking pictures when our neighbors across the street came out to watch with us. The loved watching Randy run out in the busy road and take all these pictures while he was getting rained on. They dubbed him "the storm chaser". He was getting good shots until it started hailing. WHAT THE HAIL! I've never ever seen anything like it. All of the sudden it started hailing, and hard! I honestly thought our cars' hoods were going to have dents in them! So we run for cover, and watch. It was so quick and so intense that Randy didn't get any shots of the hail. But they were silver dollar sized! It was CRAZY! I could see it in his eyes that he really, really wanted to run out in the hail and get hit by one. I was right. The little boy in Randy ran out into our yard and stood there with his arms in the air. He got pelted a couple of times (the whole time our neighbors whooping and hollering for him) and then decided that was enough. He said it felt like paint balls. Yeah, that sounds like fun to me! Crazy man. ;)

I know he said he got a shot of lightning but I couldn't find it (there are 200 pictures). So I am posting what *I* think are the better ones. I really wish we would have thought to take pictures of the hail and of course Randy running around in it, but alas, my story will have to do. :)

These ones are my favorite because I always wonder what the people in their cars are thinking.... why is that man kneeling on the side of this busy road and WHY IS HE TAKING A PICTURE OF ME? Haha. You can see the Timpanogas Temple in the background.

Memorial Day

I know, I know. I'm like, 2 months behind. Things have been crazy here, ok? BACK OFF!

But since I don't really want to have a whole post about this, I'll just give you a little update on what has been going on with me. The good news is I do not have cancer, the bad news is I had to have a colonoscopy to make sure. (Do I even need to mention that I am a huge worrier?) :P That is all.

I'm just going through the pictures and Memorial Day is where I left off last month. So here goes...

Every year we go to Idaho Falls for Memorial Day. The Ammon Cemetery has a nice program put on by war veterans that we like to go to. It has been tradition ever since I can remember. We'd go to the cemetery and put flowers on my sister's grave. It's a very bittersweet holiday now that my sister, Mother, Grandpa Judy, Grandpa Robertson and now my Grandma Robertson are up there. But it means so much to be there to pay our respect. Even if I do cry like a baby EVERY YEAR. My mom went out of her way to make it a tradition for our family, so I go out of my way to make it a tradition for my own little family. As long as we're able, we'll be there.

For the past 2 years before we make it to Idaho Falls we have taken a detour over to Rockland, Idaho to pay our respect to Randy's grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Horrigan. We go over with his parents. I don't have any pictures of it this year because the weather was absolutely AWFUL. We were only at the cemetery for maybe 20 minutes. But it's nice to go and hear Randy and his parents reminisce of Grandma and Grandpa Horrigan. They were very good people.

By the time we got to Idaho Falls the weather had let up some, so I do have pictures of that.

 The fam

 When we got home and were looking through the pictures Randy saw this one and said, your Dad looks so tough in this one! I smiled and said, that is his "I'm trying not to cry face". Love you Dad! Love you even more that you're a softy like the rest of us. :)

Collin's buddies Blake and Traegan. They love making him laugh! I love watching my kids play with their cousins! If only we could live closer!

My family has made a tradition of camping at our "secret spot" up in Bone over the holiday. (The Judy Family owns land in Bone, if you haven't heard me talk of it before.) We didn't go camping but we went up to the spot after the cemetery and had fun!

The wind mills on the property. This pic is taken from the "fish pond".

Just so you can see how HUGE these things are. Look at that big truck next to the wind mill!

The old barn at the fish pond. Ohhh, so many memories of this place growing up.

I love this picture. Randy was at the fish pond shooting his gun and pretty soon my nieces went over to watch him. He more than enjoyed the attention. In this picture you can see him pointing off into the distance at some bird that he was going to shoot. He thinks he's so cool. :)

Collin in the Ranger with Aunt Shalean! He had a blast and went for many rides!

 

Back at my Dad's after all of the driving! I can't tell you how AWFUL it was to clean our car. I'm pretty sure my Dad's neighbors hate him now because we hosed it off right in the middle of the road. Left some big clumps. Oh well. I say it's payback for all the dog poop in my Dad's front yard! HE DOESN'T HAVE A DOG! ;) 

 On the way home. Can you tell what a joy Collin is to travel with? :) He was totally like, don't look at me! And especially don't take a picture of me! He was so bugged.

Macey, on the other hand.... really does love to travel. We are lucky with her. She is usually all smiles on drives and entertains herself!

I will regret never posting this awesomeness.

I know, I know. Another post about something Macey said.

But... you guys. This one is the BEST.

So... anyone that has ever hung out with a 4 year old (or probably any kid for that matter) will understand me when I say sometimes, the child will be telling you a story and you just zone out. "Mmmhmmm, mmhhhmmm, yeah..." sometimes a head nod. Tell me you've never done it. That's what I thought.

Anyway. So Macey is telling me this story about a WOOF and Little Red Riding Hood, she apparently had just watched The Wonder Pets and they had the story of Little Red on and so I just zooonnnneeeed out with my mmmhhhhmm's and head nods. I mean, I know the story. And it probably shouldn't take 20 minutes to tell. But it did. So she's nearing the end of the story and I'm getting ready to tell her "That was a great story!!!!".... when I hear:

"And then the WOOF ate Little Red Riding Hood!!!"

Me: "Wait, the wolf ATE Little Red Riding Hood? ......On Wonder Pets?"

Macey: (Pause) "Yeah... the Wonder Pets didn't save the day."



Oh my gosh. Are you not dying? I mean, I'll be the first one to say I didn't watch this particular episode... but I'm fairly certain that the woof does not eat Little Red.  I think I have one imaginative little girl on my hands. And I must say... I like her ending to the story better.

What's that saying?

While the cat's away the mouse will play?

Well.

I have an equivalent.

While (but, more like if) the mom is away Collin will get in Macey's dresser.

What goes on in that brain of hers?

Today Collin was really shooting the bull. He was yelling some serious jibberish while he pushed his push toy around the living room and was in his own little world. I asked him, "what are you saying?" and Macey answered, "Mommy, he's just speaking Spanish. That's why you can't understand him."

Kids' Pictures 2010.

Back in December I was the highest bidder of a photo shoot with Becca from BlueCricketDesign from a charity auction. Since it was still cold, Becca and I decided it might be best to wait until it gets warmer; and that way we could use the pictures as Macey and Collin's birthday pictures too, since they're both spring babies. It was a long 5 months to wait! I *LOVE* Becca's blog. Her blog is actually where I got most of my inspiration and know-how to refinish furniture!

I'll say that it was a little intimidating meeting Becca. I mean, she's been on TV! She talks at CONFERENCES! But she is so sweet and cute. I love her. She is awesome for donating her services to a charity auction. We only spent 45 minutes taking these pictures and I am AMAZED that she got any good ones of Collin at all. He is such a busy body and wouldn't cooperate for anything! Seriously, I am so impressed. I told Randy I honestly don't know how she could have even gotten 1 of him. He's a hard one to contain, I tell ya.

I love them all so much I decided to make a video of them to share. Randy is a little embarassed of my song choice but he said it's better than a corny Coldplay song (which was my next choice). I say to him, whatevs. Make sure to turn the volume up on your computer while you enjoy "Me and My Gang". :)

And if you're in Utah seriously, hit Becca up! Her rates are very reasonable for what you get and she's pretty much famous. Just sayin'. ;) 

Big developments.

Collin is now a walking man. Oh my gosh, I can't tell you how much happier he is now that he is pretty much exclusively walking! He is such a perfectionist. Don't know where he got it from. ;)

On top of the walking he is learning lots. Just today we were all in the living room talking... he waddled into the hall, turned around, walked back in the living room with his hand waving at us and says, "Ha". Oh my gosh... pretty much the cutest thing ever.

He also says "Na-Nigh" and waves bye to Randy and Macey when it's bedtime.

Knows where his nose is.

Barks like a dog when you ask him what a doggy says.

Squeals when you ask him what a monkey says.

Gives the best hugs and kisses on command. 

Says mama and dada to the right people... I keep trying to get him to say Macey but he doesn't even try, which makes her cry.

Often tells me or Macey, "DOTE!" (Don't)

And he'll pretty much eat anything you put in front of his face. Including chalk. Yup... that's what I found him chomping on this afternoon when we were in the backyard playing. He got ahold of Macey's sidewalk chalk, thought it looked like a treat and went to town. The weird thing is he never thought it was gross. I think he ate a whole piece. Such a boy! The other day I was talking to my neighbor through our fences and she kept looking over my shoulder and finally said, "He's eating dirt. Is that ok with you?" HAHAHA. It actually probably would have been ok if he wasn't eating the dirt from my garden! ;)


Anyway... I can't believe how fast the Bubbas is growing up. It's so fun and so sad all at the same time. He's not a baby anymore!