cardinals training camp

We had the fun idea to go up to Flagstaff on Saturday to beat the heat and watch our very own Arizona Cardinals at training camp. Patrick also had the side job of delivering gloves and treats to some Cutter's sponsored players. It was so nice and cool up there. But definitely crowded! Lots and lots of fans - we'll plan better next time and get there early to stake out a better spot for watching practice.

My cute boys in the crazy crowd! Next time I will not wear sandals (dirty feet!) and we'll bring chairs to sit in.
After getting a little frustrated about not being able to see well, we wiggled our way in to a good spot. There were some big dudes out there - so different when you see them in person!

Then Patrick called the equipment manager (he's worked for the Cardinals for 30 yrs. - isn't that cool?) and we were able to meet up with him and his family and go into the stadium where the locker rooms are to wait for the players Patrick needed to talk to. It was really cool sitting there watching the players come through and getting a chance to meet those that Cutters supplies gloves to. We were a little starstruck but everyone was so nice and normal.

The boys had fun racing on the artifical turf and tossing the football around. We ended the day with a relaxing visit to a nearby park and walking around downtown Flagstaff. We had a yummy burger dinner at a local place and then headed home. It was fun to have an all-day adventure like this - once sports start, it's really hard to take a whole Saturday away. We had a good family day!

we're ready for school and have the haircuts to prove it

The boys have gone all summer without a haircut. Well, that's not entirely true - my mom gave them a little trimmer when we were visiting. Which was good because otherwise they would have been completely unrecognizable. I think they liked their surfer/skater hair but it was time to clean up for back to school. Jake was the one that was the most sad about his long hair being gone. Dylan wished his bangs were still long enough to flip. Carter was happy immediately with the results. He kept telling me, "Mom, I look different." He was saying the same thing when he was watching Jake and Dylan get their cuts. "Mom, my brother's look different."

They look super handsome to me. And I like that I don't have to fight over getting it brushed.

a week in seattle (with basically no pics)

So this is the saddest post ever. Me and the boys went to Seattle a few days ahead of Patrick and I forgot the camera. He did a stellar job of remembering it for me and brought it when he joined us Thursday night. However, he didn't check to see if the battery was charged. There really was only enough juice for the pictures you see here.

Above is Jake, Patrick and Carter off Peg and Steve's deck at their new, stunning home in Redmond. They have a beautiful view of the trees and mountains and we spend a lot of time out here.

I don't have any pictures of our trip to Great Wolf Lodge which is a great family-friendly resort outside Seattle that has an indoor water park. A perfect place to ride out the record-breaking heat Seattle was experiencing. We didn't bring it, I swear. It was pretty crazy to experience 100 degree heat with most of the city not enjoying air conditioning. We thank Grandma and Grandpa for installing some in their house when they built it. So Great Wolf was a great place to hang out with Kim and the boys and Grandma. We got lots of water play time (and saw Austin turn into a swimmer boy before our very eyes), arcade time, buffet grub time and fun Magicquest game playing time. Kim and I enjoyed sleeping in while Grandma wrangled the boys in their room. Seriously - isn't that the nicest thing?

I don't have pictures of our fun BBQ at Aunt Kim's and Uncle Dave's where we informally celebrated Uncle Jim's retirement from Boeing. But you can visit Ashley's blog to see a little bit of our fun. Carter, Austin and Ava were adorable as all the uncles got them going with obstacles coarses, baseball and blanket pulling.

I don't have pictures of our day out on the lake for Seafair. We spent the day with Grandpa, Aunt Sara and her friend Ramey. The Moore's were busy at baseball (which we enjoyed the day before and would later that night) - Andrew had such a fun tournament team! The day on the lake was a great one. The weather was so warm that we all spent time in the lake - although I got teased for not going in farther than I had to to pee! What?! The water was still pretty darn cold in this girl's opinion. We had a great lunch out on the water and the Blue Angels were so awesome! So many times the planes were just right over our heads. Really a great show. Other than Patrick's back getting sunburned like crazy, it was a perfect day.

I do have pictures of our BBQ that night. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and then we fired up the fireplace to make s'mores. And then as only little boys can do, the whole got turned into this crazy Lord of the Flies-esque fire dance party! It was all over who was going to sacrifice the marshmallow.

Austin, D.J. and Andrew

Such great cousins and good friends to our boys. We miss them already!

Uncle Dave, Aunt Kim and Patrick wondering what the heck these crazy boys are up to.

Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Dave and Aunt Kim enjoying the grub.

Seattle in the summer is always the best. We love getting to be with family and enjoying each other. Grandpa and Grandma's house was so beautiful, comfortable and fun - they have a great loft upstairs for the kids to play games and do their thing. Grandpa even taught them how to play his Harley Davidson pinball. We loved staying with them. We love to visit the Burnett's and Moore's!! Thank you!! We love you!!

our favorite way to spend a summer day

How else would we survive the Arizona heat?! The funny thing is - we go so much, they actually start to get tired of it. Weird, right?

It always helps to bring Kameron along. She is way more fun than boring ole mom.

Only 9 more days of every day loungin'. Where did the time go?