IN-N-OUT

We were so excited when IN-N-OUT came to town, we have been hearing rumors that the burger joint was coming for 2 years. They finally opened their doors to thousands of fans that were willing to wait 2-3 hours for a burger. No we were not in that group, we love a good burger, but not that much. So we waited a couple of weeks to take the kids, what they don't know is that Coy and I drove by one day and there was a short line in the drive thru so we went before the kids. We had to air out my car and get rid of any evidence of that outing. Eli ended up loving the french fries and the chocolate shakes.

HALLOWEEN 2009

So every year there are a couple of neighbors that we do Halloween with, it all started 2 years ago when my friend and I had a hair brained idea of handing out hot dogs and hot chocolate instead of candy. This year we bought 250 hot dogs and hot dog buns and 2 large Costco size containers of hot chocolate. We ended up handing out about 230 hot dogs and ran thru all of our hot chocolate. The best is when we hear from parents that tell us that coming and getting a hot dog and hot chocolate is the kids favorite thing of Halloween night.

We also were able to go to one of our local photographers that was collecting food for the local food bank and get pictures for the price of a donation on food. It was a great way to help the food bank and get some great pictures of the kids.

AND SO IT BEGINS!! WE LOVE HALLOWEEN

We get so excited at our house when October 1 comes, because that means we can put up the Halloween decorations. We have the usual spider on the front window and we added the black cat last year. So this year we had to step it up, we found a scary 12 foot man to put this year. He started out just on the eves and then I had a great idea to put him on the highest point on our house. I have a great husband who will help me with my Halloween fetish. Love ya Coy!!

We don't wait until the 31st to start dressing up. The kids had to get flu shots this year, so Riley had everyone wear their skeleton shirts.

DRESS UP!! AND LAUNDRY ANYONE?

Who would ever think that build a bear clothes would ever fit a 5 month old. Leave it to Mackenzie to try.
This is the way Eli helps me with the laundry. I get so much done!!

FAMILY CAMP OUT

Every year the Ruse Family gets together for a "Family Reunion", this year we went to cabin in Scofield. We had a lot of fun with everyone and the kids had a blast hanging out and having a big sleep out with all the cousins. We rented wave runners on Saturday and went to the lake to have a great day. The kids had a blast with the wave runners and the tube. Ellie was the best because she did not want to get on one at first and then she went on a ride with Cami and Nate and then we couldn't get her off of them.










The kids had fun making S'mores and playing with the black coals from the fire. Camping is all about who can get more dirt on their bodies.

AQUARIUM FUN

The kids were bored one day and driving me crazy, so we called Cami to see how bored they were. To our excitement they were looking for something to do, so after much debate be decided to go the the Aquarium. So after filling their tummys with McDonald's we set off for our adventure. The kids enjoyed looking at all the fish and sea creatures and the best part was the Sting ray pond. You are able to put your hands in and try to touch a sting ray as it glides by. The other exhibit that the kids liked was the eels, they had a board that told about the eels and then there was two buttons, that when you put your fingers on it at the same time it will give you the shock that an eel would give. The kids were trying to get everyone around them to do it.

4TH OF JULY FUN!

We spent the 4th of July at Grandma and Grandpa's house this year. It was a very nice sunny day not to hot this year, we swam and played and had a great BBQ.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

We made it to the last day of school for the 2008-2009 school year!! It seems to go by so fast, I swear Riley just started pre-school last year! I heard from a friend that on the last day of her kids school she attacked them with silly string when they get off the bus. So Coy and I looked everywhere that day for silly string. So with the kids having a full day of school we prepared ourselves with 3 bottles of silly string and launched our attack. Here are some pictures of our attack!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE!!

The kids decided that they wanted to take Ellie to Build a Bear for her Birthday present. Riley decided to go see Transformers with Dakota, Bodhi and Andy instead. Can't blame him for that!!

Thanks Ellie for spending your Birthday day with us!!

THE BIG THIRD GRADE PROJECT!

Riley had to come up with a hole in one golf extravaganza for third grade. This was to be the last big project of third grade. The kids had to think up a theme and decorate the golf course and the putter and use at least one simple machine. (how easy is that!) Good thing the teacher sent home information about simple machines. Riley picked Candy Land, at first his teacher told the kids they could not hand out candy, so he thought of a way around that rule, use candy in your project. Thanks to Ellie we were able to have the Candy Land Castle as the ending place for the golf ball, also we have Lord Licorice and Gumpy the chocolate glob and Mr. Mint. So here are a few pictures of the final project!! Way to go Riley!!!

PARA SAILING

Coy and I wanted to do something with the older kids that they would remember for a long time. So we were able to take Riley and Mackenzie para sailing in Hawaii. Now I have never done this before, so I was a little nervous. I had to put on a brave face for Kenzie. They take you out to this boat and strap you into a harness and a life jacket, attach you to a rope that is 1200 feet long. (Yes I said one thousand two hundred feet long!) Speed up the boat and away you go!! It was amazing, it was very peaceful and quite up there. Kenzie was looking for sharks the whole time, I am happy to say we did not see one.

FUN IN THE SUN

We have just returned from Paradise and it was amazing! Our family was able to spend 2 amazing weeks in Hawaii, we stayed in a great condo just steps away from the beach. Coy did not go the full 2 weeks so that left me taking 3 kids on the plane across the Pacific Ocean. Luckily I had great company, my Mom and Dad and my sister Cami and her family went with us. We were all set for our 5 hour and 30 min flight to Hawaii, we sit down and the Pilot say sit back and enjoy your 6 hour and 25 min flight to Paradise. For some reason we had to fly over Oregon, never mind a straight shot. (Must need the miles.)

Picture the movie Home Alone, the part were all the family is in the airport headed to their destination. That was us, with out the part about leaving a child at home. It was quite a sight!

NEWYORK, NEW YORK

We had the great opportunity to go and visit my sister Emma in New York! We had so much fun! It was a last minute thing that we did, I had a bad day with Eli not sleeping and feeling like I was not going anywhere anytime soon. I called Coy and told him I was going to NY he can either stay or come with, he decided to come. (Good choice)

Cami and Nate had already planned their trip so we butted in and went with them. I think we ate our way through New York, my sister was great to tell us all the yummy places to get and the fun things we should see. My two favorite things was the Mexican food that we ate from a street vendor, it was the best ever, and also Magnolia Bakery. Everyone tells you of the cupcakes there, but the banana pudding is too die for!!!

Emma was great she watched Eli for us while we tried to go to a Yankee's baseball game. Even though my sister gave us great directions, I messed up and we ended up 2 stops from Conney Island. That is the opposite direction. We are glad we didn't go the Yankee's ended up loosing 21-2 total blow out.

The picture above is a shot from Emma's apartment, the little white building in the middle is the LDS temple. Thanks Brian and Tegan for letting us stay.

Coy and I found this great little place to eat breakfast one morning, I think it is a bar that serves breakfast but it was great. I love this picture with Coy and Eli, I think if sums it up! (enough Dad already!) Eli was a great traveler, he did great on the airplane and we were stopped all the time on the street, people wanting to see and touch his hair.

This last picture is on Emma and Eli chilling in the apartment, Emma's dog Jack was funny with Eli being there. Emma said at one point Jack was rubbing his smell all over Eli and Emma was walking down the hall with Eli and Jack jumped out at them. We are so blessed to have great family and fun places to go!

HAPPY EASTER!!

We had a great Easter! We were sad that Coy had to work but he was
able to see the kids find their baskets and eggs that the Easter bunny
hid. This is the only picture I was able to take today, we were
rushing to get to church on time and then the kids walked home in the
beautiful sunshine!!

THE BEST BIG BROTHER AND SISTER

I would have to say that Eli has the best big brother and sister ever! After Eli was born the kids went off track and all the adventures began. I will be honest with you, I was a little worried how things would go with the kids off track, but they did great! They were the biggest helper that I could of asked for, Riley would get Eli out of his crib in the morning and he would hold Eli while I got ready for the day. Mackenize was a big help from the get go, she was always offering to change his diaper and even feed him. Riley was a little slow to make the diaper offer, but just the other day Riley got Eli out of his crib and changed his up with out a word from me!


Riley and Mackenzie you are the BEST!!

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY

Happy 7th Birthday Mackenzie!

Miss Mackenzie started planning her birthday a couple of weeks ago. She made her own invitations and found random things around the house for her prize bags to give to her friends. Needless to say they were going home with drug pens and random candy left over from Valentines Day.



Mackenzie had decided that she wanted to go to the Zoo for her birthday and so we planned that. The beginning of Kenzie's birthday week was very cold, we started praying for the good weather to come back by the weekend but when we saw our weatherman with his white coat on (which means that snow is sure to fall) we knew that we were in trouble. So with our beautiful spring weather on it's way I set out to find a new activity for the birthday party which usually amounts to more money than you were planning on spending.



We ended up using Color Me Mine, you pick out a ceramic item and paint it the way you want and then they will fire them and turn your creation into a masterpiece. It ended up being a great party and the kids loved being so creative.

SOON TO BE BEST FRIENDS

ELI AND MADDEN
We had the most wonderful Sunday. We were able to have Eli Clint McAffee blessed today. He was given a beautiful blessing by his Grandpa, Papa Ruse, thanks Dad! We had many family member and friends travel to share this wonderful day with us.

Also one of my best friends had her son, Madden a week after Eli was born so we were able to have them blessed on the same day.

Lunch date with Jana & Megan

Jana and Megan made a trip up to Utah to visit and to come meet Eli.
My Mom had to go back to work but sneeked away for a lunch date. This
is Eli chilling out at Chili's.

SWEET KENZIE!!

Kenzie has been a great help to me, she is the first to check Eli's diaper and the first to pick him up if he is crying. The best is Kenzie will hold Eli while I am trying to get ready in the morning. I don't know what I am going to do when the kids go back on track at school. Love you Kenzie!

A DAY AT THE PARK

Today was a great day! We had sunshine and 70 degree weather, so we packed up the kids and their bikes and scooters and went to a new park. We went to the park with our good friends the Kings and Shelbey came over to get my phone so she could take a picture. That is when I realized what they had been doing for the past 30 min.

It's Bath Time

Why does it always seem that the first bath is so sad. We gave Eli his first bath on Thursday night, he did well until we toke off his clothes. So we scrubbed him down and gave him a good lather of lotion, and ended it off with a nice warm towel and a good binky! Maybe next time we will put a little product in his hair to see what it will do.

Second Day

So our second day was great! I had a great nights sleep (thanks to a little pill named Ambien.) Coy got the kids off to school and headed to the hospital. We had a good day of relaxation and getting to know little Eli. He is such a great baby, very easy going and we love to just sit and look at him and play with his hair. I had some great friends come and visit and bring me lunch, which was offered to Coy but be opted to eat the meatloaf lunch from the hospital. Cami, Grandma, Ellie and Ashton also stopped in. Ellie was excited to be able to hold Eli all by herself, she kept saying how cute and tiny Eli was. Ellie practiced writing his name and made him a sign for his bed.

The kids were able to come over after school and that is when I was bumped out of my bed and the remote to the T.V. was quickly taken over and the show was now a "kids show". It was fun to see how Kenzie quickly washed her hands and grabbed Eli, you will see in the pictures that it was very natural for Kenzie to prop Eli up on her lap as she was watching T.V. The day ended great with another visit from friends and the magic little pill