Just Dance....

I think Lady Ga Ga says it best, "Just Dance...it will be OK". Of course, Paula Abdul's "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" is pretty true too. Then there's Prince who tells us "Don't Stop Dancing" in his Musicology Lesson. I'm sure there's many many more; but, you get the point! :} I think you all know by now we love to dance in our household! (well, Doug's learned to love it, or at least like it! :}). And Bradon won't admit it; but, he is often busting a move himself. The official season has come to an end, it was time to show us what they've learned a the recitals! As I've said before, it's been fun watching Dylan with his hip hop moves. He's coming along great & has a lot of potential to do well with this. I love what it's done for him & his energy! We are very proud of him! And of course it's always fun to watch Kaley as well, she's such a natural at it! She told me just last night she's on a special diet of eating healthy so she can spin like the big girls :} Of course, like her mommy, she forgets about that when treats are around! :}). She took Cheer as well this year, which was a lot of fun too. She said she hopes to be a U of U Cheerleader some day just like her cousin, Anjila. Precious! :}

(once again, I apologize for the fuzzy pictures. You'd think with as many pictures as I take I would be good at it by now!)

He's mastered "The Worm" this year!

She knows how to shake her thing!

As well as give an adorable pose! :}

She loves being able to share this with "her big sister", Cheyanne, and friend, Ashley

The Juniors before their California Girls Routine

She's become quite fond of the other girls!

"Surfin' USA"

The boys out for more entertainment in the Grand Finale. Go Dyl, Go!

The teacher's doing their thing.

Where did our baby go?!

Dylan & Calvin. He's helped Dylan a lot this year, Dylan looks up to him!

Sad to see it come to an end; but, as fast as time flies, I know we'll be back again soon!

Plenty to celebrate...

Last weekend we had plenty to celebrate. As my parents would call it, it was "Our Family Birthday" (our Anniversary, now of 17 years!). This means, together 21 years now, I've been with Doug MORE than half my life. Why does that sound so weird?! Despite the business of Saturdays, we still enjoyed family time together this day & had plenty of love from the kids too (they like that it's just a birthday for us all! :}). Happy Birthday to the Coleman Five! :}

It's nice when your spouse remembers the simple things, like your favorite kind of flower (mine is the Iris...we have some blooming right now in our yard, love them!)

The next day was followed up with Father's Day. Though I tried to get Doug to go enjoy his day with his favorite thing to do, play some golf, he decided it was best to take advantage of the sunny day & work on the posts. What a good guy! I don't think I say enough how proud he makes me to see him as a Father! Despite his big concerns in "doing it right", since he just wasn't around many little kids too much growing up, I think he's doing a FABULOUS job! :}

And for "The Celebration", we were once again blessed to be entertained by Dylan & Kaley in thier dance off!

When did our little boy start becoming a young man?

Really....I know every parent says this; but, it's amazing to look at your children at different times & wonder when exactly they grew some more. Not only has Bradon grown a lot more this year (now as tall as me!); but, he's really becoming the young man right before our eyes. Happens fast! He's now learned how to take over lawn mowing, which helps Doug out a lot. Plus, it's given him a bit of income for the summer since the neighbor is also paying him to do thiers too. It reminds Doug of his summers in Florida. He tells me about how he was quite busy doing many neighbors lawns & was very proud that he saved up enough to buy his own lawn mower one year!

He is learning all kinds of traits from his dad, like how to use the circular saw & cut concrete pieces. He's been a big help in this year's project, finishing the posts on the patio. It's just the 4 posts; but, they certainly take some time! (and all the rain lately hasn't helped with trying to finish; but, looks like it will be done this week...just in time for the annual bash!)
I love Doug's vision of how he sees our yard & continues to work hard at building this vision. Even if it's just one small part each year (the pond is still going to have to wait). Of course, last year, in building the new patio, was no small part. So we're moving along just fine! Here's where we started, the posts were ready to go, we got the stones, now the work begins.....

It sure makes a mother proud to see Dad & son bonding together. And very rewarding when it's done & know they've done it together!

Our trip to Yellowstone

After 3 years of promising our kids they would get to see Yellowstone Ntnl. Park, we finally just had to do it! Not that I don't just LOVE it up there, it's absolutely GORGEOUS country...it just never seemed to work out. This place has lots of wonderful memories for me as a child. I remember visits up there with the family, and my cousins & Grandparents. I'll never forget the time a moose stuck his head in the bathroom window one time & my Aunt Julie squealed very loud! Despite all the rain (we've had SO much lately, it's been crazy!), we still got to enjoy all that area had to see, like some amazing waterfalls all throughout!

You certainly see plenty of incredible mountains & lakes! And of course, lots of wildlife! It is the home where the buffalo roam, and the deer and antelope play! :} But, I am going to disagree with the lyrics in the song that say "And the skies are not cloudy all day!"
Yep, we even enjoyed all the cute little chipmunks too! :}New nickname for Kaley: "Lil' Ms. Hollywood". She just thinks she's "all that" lately! OK, she is ALL THAT! :} Where is my baby going though?!
Could she be any more of a Daddy's Girl? I think not! (But isn't it just darn cute?! :})
Having some time at our campsite at Flagg Ranch We enjoyed hanging out at the Campsite Lodge some nights so we didn't have to do too much cooking! (since there were bears sited in the campsite area that week even, best to not have too much food around!)
Dylan & Kaley playing a bit of see-saw while we were waiting for Old Faithful to blow.
It's always cool to see, though not as dramatic with all the clouds around. My kids didn't quite get the excitement of it all, as much as I tried to get them to read the brochures & understand how they occur, and how this area has the most geysers than anywhere in the world! :} Hopefully someday they'll get it, and know they were there!
Chillin' on the patio for a bit We started to get a downpour; but, this area, The Upper Geyser Basin, was neat to see. The steam was hitting us, it felt like being in a sauna! It felt good!
The turquoise pools
The Mud Volcano. Oh, would hate to be around when that decided to go off!
"Don't mess with me!"
Yes, we even saw bears!! Fortunately from a distance, as it should be! Here is a black bear just to the right of the pine tree.
And a Grizzly up on the hill. Again, great to see...from a far distance! Apparently we missed a Grizzly chasing a Mama Moose & it's baby across the road & through the river (which would have been sad to see too) by just a minute or so. The kids blame me for that since I made them stop for a picture before that! :} What are the chances you happen to run into your old teacher on the side of the road in another state? Here is Mrs. Pehrson (Dylan's 2nd grade teacher, prev. Ms. Johnson), up by Tower Fall. Dylan has a good eye, he noticed her with her back to us as we were driving by. We thought that was pretty neat! :}
Doug & I at Tower Falls So, of course, Kaley met some new friends. She's just lovable like that. She was thrilled to meet her 1st set of Triplets: Chesney, McKala, & Kaya (I hope I got that right! And I have no clue in what order they actually are either! I tried! :}). And Kaley just "couldn't believe that she had the exact same pair of Levi's too, with the same cute flower design! So they're like 4 sisters!" :}
They were a fun family, The Shanks, from Houston, TX. They made for great camping neighbors. Their son, Chris, was Bradon's age who is also a football fanatic & knows his stats like Bradon. The girls giving us a performance (I know, surprise surprise! :})The girls having some kind of bonding moment of "Friends Forever" (oh for cute! :}) Having a few silly moments in the camper. Here's Dylan shaking his head like a mad dog.
Seeing the "Grand Canyons" of Yellowstone, in the the Upper Falls area. Kaley was NOT in the mood that day (seriously had a dramatic meltdown girl moment in the parking lot! Girls! :}) So this picture is a trip. Besides another amazing waterfall, is anyone else thinking Mickey Mouse fell in & is reaching his arm out of the water to get out?! I'm just sayin'! :}

OK, pretend with us...check out the kids amongst the birds in the mountains! :}

Having a little more time with her new friends before we had to leave.

Catching what I could of the Grand Tetons on the way out. Should have gotten that picture on the way in without all the clouds; but, we were anxious to get to camp then! Still amazing to see!
Kaley insisting I take the picure where it tells us about John Coture, who discovered the Tetons
I'm so glad we finally got to visit this part of the country. It's really not that far, we need to do that more often!