The 4th in Liberty

This is what we saw ALL weekend! Everett and Easton played SO well together...little buddies!
Easton rode a sheep and fell off and cut his lip. Immediately when Easton got out of the arena Everett was trying to comfort Easton. He kept his arm around him and was telling him "it otay, you otay." It was too cute!
There were lots of fun events at Liberty Days. Unfortunately we had missed the pig catch and the chicken catch. However, Everett and Easton did get the chance to catch a trout!! Here they are proud of their fish....and now touching and playing with their prize :-)
And if there is a train nearby, my kids must ride!!!
There was ENDLESS fun at the Jones' house....shooting a bow and arrow, slip n slide, water hose fights, fireworks, and food.
I think they were a little excited for the fireworks ;-)
Mason was all up in the fireworks...he had NO fear:-)
In the middle of the fireworks I look over and see Everett giving Grayson a hug. My sweet little boy!
Thank you Jones' for inviting us up for such a fun weekend! We love spending time with you guys. Everett last night was asking where Easton was and that he wanted to see him tomorrow!! See you guys next week though!

Block Party

The neighborhood we have been vacationing at for the past 4 months and now are moving from, had an awesome block party!!! Great food, music, dj, games, and bike parade, and fireworks.

The bike parade was the highlight for Everett and Reis. They thought they were pretty hot stuff being able to ride their bikes in the street. Everett went around the whole block, and Reis made it the end of the street before he gassed out.
Then it was the fireworks. There was NO way Reis was going to make it, so he went to bed. But Everett, on the other hand, was WIRED...especially with his snow cone night cap!!! I love this pic and seeing the awe in his face. He starts asking, when it just starts to get dark, to see and do fireworks EVERY night now. Between birthdays and holidays...there is always something he wants to celebrate :-)What a fun party...what a fun neighborhood. We will miss it!

Oh my, I have a boy who is THREE!!!

Everett is 3!!! Wow, 3 years have flown by. I am SO SO SO proud of my BIG boy! He make us laugh and wants you laughing and smiling with him. He will say "I smile at you" and won't stop until you smile right back at him. He is a smart 3 yr old and catches on to things quickly. I love that I will catch him singing I am a Child of God or Teach Me to Walk in the Light while he is playing with his toys. He brings much joy to our home and hearts. We just love this little man!! Happy Birthday Everett!!!!!!

The pic above was taken as we were heading to church and I had to take a pic because he looked like such a little man! He was SO excited to be dressed like his daddy (he is usually wearing polo shirts to church)!



Everett had 2 birthday celebrations....lucky guy. My kids are going to be used to week long birthday celebrations...as I think we ALL should!! One celebration was in Boise with my family. Everett was super excited to be around his cousins (and grandma, and the aunts and uncles) in Boise. We went to an awesome park for a BBQ and the kids got wet from the fountain, a huge water gun fight, and the rain. We headed back to my mom's to eat the cake. I made Everett a Batman cake...he is in to superheroes, and cars, and well, anything you can SMASH CRASH with :-)

The second birthday celebration (which was ON his actual b-day) was with his Aunt Kara and Uncle Scott that live here in Utah! They came over for pizza and cake. Scott kept pulling out little special presents for Everett to open...candy and more candy and oj...what goes around comes around Scott :-) The kids just love it when they come over. I STILL can't believe Everett is 3!!!

Bates Photo Shoot

The last time we had a family picture done was 6 days before my dad passed away 4 years ago, so I will always cherish that picture....but it is just a little outdated. So, we finally did a current one and it was BITTER cold to say the least. The sun was out, but the WIND! It is SO funny to look back at these pictures because, as you can see, the grandkids were NOT happy :-)









My oldest brother, Brett, and his family. I loved their crazy faces pic :-0 They are SO fun!
My second oldest bro, Gabe, and his adorable family. I sure miss seeing them (they live in Texas)!
Me and my little COLD family...see the red noses!
My youngest bro (little by NO means), Josh, and his wife. I still don't get why they didn't bring their little doggie Tucker to the photo shoot :-)

It was cold, windy, and kids crying but hey, at least we tried :-) We are going for memories and this day sure was memorable :-) I sure do love my family and miss seeing them everyday!

Easter

Easter weekend was packed full of fun activities. We ate dinner at soon to be Aunt Hillary's house with family...yum yum.
Our ward had an Easter Egg hunt...

Daddy did his tradition of bunny poops trailing to the loot (complimentary loot from Nana and Grandpa and Aunt Ashley and Uncle Shawn)...

First time for the kids decorating eggs...what a mess, but WELL worth it! Reis and Everett showed such concentration!!


You know Evers is focused when he sticks out that tongue...just like his Uncle Gabe :-)

They looked so cute in their matching outfits...thanks Grandma!
The kids LOVE going to church...especially nursery. They got a special sugar cookie treat for their leaders. I think they they enjoyed it :-)