The summer of OUT OF CONTROL FUN!!

This summer has been full of OUT OF CONTROL FUN! Here's a rundown of what's gone on for our family this summer.

1. First of all, we attended baseball games galore with Brennen playing coach pitch with a pitching machine. Brennen hit a home run this year and a few doubles. He did an awesome job. Taylor's girls fast pitch softball was a little more intense this year. We traveled to Bear Lake, and Soda Springs to watch her play against their teams. Taylor's team went the whole season undefeated until the final two games in tournament. They took second place out of all of the teams. She did great!
2. HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY DEAR PARKER! We had planned a party for Parker and had to cancel it due to Tay's softball tournament. I had offered to watch my sister's five kids and so when she brought them to our house that Sunday night, we decided to hurry and do a fun party then for him with the Heuseveldt side. The Harris side of the family had planned on coming that Saturday until we cancelled it. They gave him cool presents later on. Parker loved having a party just for him. A funny story: When I was frosting the baseball cupcakes, Parker ran and found his step stool and stood by my side saying "UMMM, those look good mom!" over and over. All of the sudden, I heard a smacking noise followed by a "MMM, those taste good mom!" Parker had taken a big bite out of the cupcake closest to him. I then overdosed it with red frosting so we would know which one had his mouth all over it! He was so excited and he knew that cupcake was his special 0ne! SIDENOTE: Now that Parker is three, we have really buckled down the potty training. He's got one substance down, we are waiting for the other to come. In the meantime, my laundry duty has tripled! If we would stay home for one week solid this summer, we'd have it!
3. We watched Jennifer and Jonathan's five kids for four nights, five days so that Jennifer could go to drill team camp and Jonathan could work and do dress rehearsals for the Soda Springs play "Hello, Dolly"! We kept very busy those days with water parties, library time, park picnic, and yes, Rachael my sister in law and I took 11 kids to Bear Lake-CRAZY, BUT SO MUCH FUN!
4. FOURTH OF JULY was celebrated in Soda Springs this year. I ran the 5K with my family cheering me on at various spots on the course. We attended the parade with Grandpa Heuseveldt while Grandma rode on the float with her Jr. High Cheerleaders. Taylor rode on the truck with the drummer in it with all of the girl cousins for the Cardettes. Jennifer, my sister, is the advisor. The park activities have greatly improved after the parade from what I remember. They had free games for the kids to play for prizes. Our kids loved it! We then went to mom and dad Heuseveldt's for the annual dutch oven chicken and potatoes meal. The men did all the cooking in their fancy aprons (refer to picture!). MMM-finger lickin' good!
5. The first annual Ken and Carol Heuseveldt family reunion was in Bear Lake this year. Shane and I were in charge of it this year. We camped at the East Shore Idaho State Park. We had reservations for a picnic area for the two evening meals there. We based our theme on Pirates. The kids had a treasure hunt with real buried treasure, decorated bandannas with paint and crayons, and played, played, played at the beach. The highlight was skit night where we had several fun skits performed by each family. (I left my camera in the truck so I don't have any pictures of skit night.) After all of the skits were done, Shane gave a short presentation on "Where is your treasure?" He did an awesome job teaching us of family, Christ, temples, and service. He had everyone in tears by the time he was done. He hooked up his laptop computer with speakers and used some of the "Mormon Messages" movies during his presentation. It was AWESOME! Our family came away from this closer and spiritually uplifted. It was a great time. Another highlight was the kids learning how to water ski. Mom and Dad bought a kid water ski setup and every kid tried it except Parker in order to win a milkshake from grandpa! Grandpa Jolley and Anne came up for one night as well and pitched in money for the milkshake fund.

We have been so blessed to have this opportunity to spend so much time together as a family this summer. We truly have felt the love of our Heavenly Father as we have grown closer with one another and have witnessed the tender mercies of him through the sell of our home (closing next Friday!). Our summer is not over yet, we still have more to come! These pictures should show some of our enjoyment to this point!!

BEAR LAKE HEUSEVELDT FAMILY REUNION

Brennen Learning How to Water Ski

In order to get Taylor to try waterskiing, I had to sacrifice my dignity and agreed to water ski ONLY if she tried it. When I was done, both of my contacts were sitting down by my nose-amazingly enough, I didn't lose them!!! I haven't tried this in years and it was so much fun!

The beached whale!

Taylor water skiing!

Right before she tried to ski-she's pretty nervous!

Parker enjoying the toys on the beach

The girls minus Jalissa

Shane tried the tummy tube. He reached some awesome air! It was fun to see him try to stay on the tube!

FOURTH OF JULY

The cousins enjoying the dutch oven dinner

DON'T MESS WITH THE COOKS!!

Enjoying the park festivities after the parade

Brennen having fun

Parker and Jalissa riding the "train"!

The parade-girl cousins riding with the Cardettes

waiting for the parade to start

BRAVING BEAR LAKE WITH ELEVEN KIDS AND TWO ADULTS! THANKS RACHAEL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER

Notice Parker's REALLY RED CUPCAKE! Read story above!!

TAYLOR'S FAST PITCH GIRLS SOFTBALL

BRENNEN'S BALL GAME