Sunday Picnic

With the weather all nice on a Sunday Afternoon we like to take hot dogs and marshmallows up the canyon and roast them. This last time My sister Heather was able to join us. The boys love to help grandpa build a fire and roast their own hot dog and Marshmallows. Grandma showed the boys how to burn your marshmallow. The boys did not like them like that. So she had to slow it down to teach them out get one nice and golden brown.

Heather, Jacob, and Jarren starting to roast their hot dogs.

John, Myself, and My Dad finally starting to get ours.

Heather and Joseph enjoying their food.

Jarren Learning that Smores are very sticking.

Yay!! Jacob looking at the camera and trying to get a closer look of the river.

Joseph wearing most of his food.

John, My Dad and Mom just hanging and taking in the nice weather.

There's the nice golden brown marshmallow that my Mom did.

Heather thinking she can take all three boys on a up ward hike with no problems.

Jarren, Joseph, Heather and Jacob calling the picnic to an end.

Lost Our First Tooth

Jarren has lost his 1st tooth! Wow, he is really getting older.
He was so excited about it. He wrapped it so carefully for the tooth fairy. I think he was more excited that he got a dollar from it though. Congrats Jarren on that first tooth.

Yellowstone 2008

At the end of June we went to Yellowstone with my parents, brother Sean, his wife Natalie, and cousin Skyler. Where we stayed in a cabin just outside West Yellowstone. We had so much fun!! My dad had gotten fishing poles for Jarren and Jacob and took them fishing for the first time. And they sure loved it. Jacob was the only to catch a fish. Jarren and Jacob now ask everyday when Grandpa will take them fishing again. So I guess you could say I have some fishermen on my hands now.
While in Yellowstone we of course saw Old Faithful, lots of cool geysers, and stinky mud pots. It is always beautiful to go to Yellowstone. The scenery is always changing with volcanic activity. The boys really liked it as well. They Enjoyed the fact that we were in the volcano.
While there staying in the cabin my good friend Amie that I met through TwilightMoms.com came up with her family to visit since they live about an hour away. They joined up for dinner and stayed up to play a very long game of Settlers. It was very nice to see her and her family.
On the way home from our trip to Yellowstone we thought it would be great to take the long way and come through the Great Tetons. Now if you want to see some very pretty mountains the Tetons are a must see!!. The long drive was worth it!! I am sure the kids would have enjoyed the shorter way home though. All in all they travel very well.

Jarren and Jacob walking to going fishing for the 1st time. I love this photo.

Jacob, Jarren, my Dad, and Skyler, enjoying the first cast off.

Skyler and Jacob

Here Jacob and John holding the first and only catch of the day. Way to go Jacob!!!

Jarren joining John and Jacob in the celebration.

More Fun In The Sun

Here are some fun pictures of the boys sliding on a very large slip in slide at our neighbors home. It started out to be just a small slip in slide until our neighbor Jeff and our other neighbor Chad decided to turn the hill side into one large slide. At first it was just us adults sliding down. Then the kids started. I think we had more fun though. Sorry I did not get any pictures on my camera of us adults. I know that there are few some where.

Jacob taking his turn down!!! Weee

Look at Jarren go!!

Joseph playing in the kiddie pool that was set up.

Family Reunion in Sodasprings

Mid June we went to Sodaspring,ID where my Dad's side of the family was having a Kowallis family reunion. While we were they we rode the four wheelers that other family members brought and a great time. We stayed up late playing games and roasting marshmallows. Also the families had to wear a the same color t-shirts. So everyone that comes through my grandfather,
Ernest Kowallis, My dad's dad wore Green. My Grandfather's siblings families all wore a different color. Although there were more green t-shirts then the others. That was kinda cool. I got to see family that I have not seen in a long time and John got to meet some family members that he had not met yet. The boys had a blast!!

Left to Right: Anna picking her nose, Malinda, John, Corrine, and my Dad.

Left to Right: Little girl name unknown sorry,Coralee, Her new husband sorry again no name, little girl name unknown, Me, Jarren, Seth, Darin, and Kaylie. Just hanging out waiting for the family auction.

John with Jeremy and Ashlyn taking a ride in the cool buggy!!

Me, John and Joseph taking a spin around the cabin on the four wheeler. Joseph did not want to get off. He was trying to steer the thing.

John giving Jarren and Jacob a ride. They did not want to wait and take turns so John took them together. Jarren now asks if he can get his own.

Like I said Joseph did not want to get off. So John took him for another spin just before dinner.

Jacob, Jarren, and Joseph fighting over the smaller four wheeler. I think Jacob will win or Joseph might he looks pretty determined.

Yes! the winner is Joseph!!! Jarren accepting the ride on the back. Of course he really did not take it for ride by himself.

There go three of my men riding off into the sunset.

We really did have a great time and enjoyed the cabin. My Dad and his sibling were in charge. I must say they really put on a great weekend party!!! Can't wait to see everyone again next year!!

Time to Play Ball

This past Baseball season was great!! This was Jarren's fourth year and Jacob's first.
Jarren has really improved with his batting and keeping an eye out for the ball in the field. Next year Jarren will get to move up to the next level where they will start playing with all the game rules and have full uniform. This past year his age group were taught to bat from machine or coach pitch, if they were not able to on the first three balls then they hit off the T. They also had Jarren's age group playing all the positions in the outfield. He has learned a lot and can not wait till next year.

Jarren's team in the out field.

Catching Jarren and some of team passing the time.

Jarren waiting his turn to bat.

Jarren's turn to finally bat. He looks so cute!!

Now this being Jacob's fist year has been so much fun. He has sat and watched Jarren the past three years and just dieing to get his turn. So once he got his team shirt I could not get it off of him. He slept in most nights. He even had to ask every day if he had a game. He also wanted to be out practicing everyday. My Dad had taken a Soft Ball and attached it to a rope that I or John would swing around for boys to try and hit the ball. It is a way to get them use to a ball coming at them.

Jacob's Coach trying to keep them focused.

John and the other Dad's helping in the out field while the kids go chase after the ball. But I think they spent more time talking then helping.

Jacob now waiting his turn to bat.

Jacob getting tips from his coach on how to hold and swing the bat. I love the helmet on him. Do you think he can see the ball?

Jacob taking a big swing. And he does put power behind that swing!

Even Joseph is starting to get head start by practicing now.

Looks like Joseph has the batting concept down. We just now need to teach him how to hold the bat. He so wants to be like his big brothers. It is so cute to watch him try and copy all the things his brothers do.

June 5th was the last day of Little Gym for Jacob and Joseph. Jacob was in their Terrific Tots class where they spent time playing in the gym, had singing time, craft time, and story time centered on a weekly theme. On the last class they put on a little program for all the parents to see what they have learned and how much they a grown.

Jacob waiting his turn to show off his stunts that he has learned in the gym.

Jacob after singing the songs he has learned in class. They are so cute!!!

Jacob after he has received his certificate of completion and his metal!! I love the cheesy smile!!

A little video of Jacob performing the chicken dance as part of their program!! It was fun to watch.

Joseph was in The Little Gym class called Birds. It is a mommy and me class with children raging in the age of 10 months to 19 months. He has gained a sense of confidence and no fear. Because at home he will get into anything or climb on anything without thinking twice. It has been a lot of fun for Joseph and I to do this class. It will be great to see how much he grows in the next year since he will be moving to their next class called Beasts.

Joseph in the center of the parachute. It took him a long time to like the parachute and now I can not get him off of it.

Joseph just hanging out waiting for everyone else to get ready so we can turn the parachute into a slide.

Joseph and I working together on a summer salt.




A little video of Joseph showing how he can hang and swing from the bar. It is really good at it.

Jarren's Kindergarten Program

On June 4th Jarren had a kindergarten program to celebrate the end of the school year. It was so cute. They did a fashion show, where all the kids wore their favorite outfit. Jarren wore his Utah Jr. Jazz uniform from Basketball season. He likes to have his hair spiked to look like Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz. But something must have happened since it was no longer spiked for the program. Following the fashion show they sang some songs that they had been working on. Followed by a cute video show casing the things they had done through out the year. All the parents were able to purchase a copy after.

Jarren and Jacob after the program.

Jarren with his friends Bridger and AJ.

Jarren with his kindergarten teacher Mrs. Tipton. I can not believe that kindergarten is over and I now have a 1st grader!! Wow!!!

Jarren and I after the program sharing school work that he did through out the year. It is amazing to see how his hand writing has changed and how much he has learned.


Here is a video of one the songs they sang. They did a great job!!

Getting Caught Up!!

Sorry it has taken me so long to update. I have been busy, but keeping a list of things I need to update everyone on and share with you all. This the 1st of many entries that will be done over this weekend. So keep checking to see what else has taken place in the month of June and the 1st part of July.