Sunshine Radian XTSL

What is the deal with car seat laws? Why would we force an 8 year old kid to be strapped into a seat like a little monkey named Bubbles? I remember the good old days when we would pile me and 10 of my friends in the Grocery Getter (station wagon). I feel that this outrageous attempt for car seat manufacturers and car makers to earn a quick buck is turning a lot of us to a life filled with contumacious outbursts. I'm partly kidding, I realize it is extremely important to keep my kids safe and if this will do it...I will abide. 

Typical car seat is about 2 feet wide. A lot of my friends have turned to purchasing 8 passenger SUV's and minivan's for their 2 kids. I have decided that since most cars were made to fit 5 passengers that I would accomplish this. Behold, the Sunshine Radian (only 17 inches wide). With this $230 (on sale) beauty we can and will fit 3 car seats across the back seat of my car.

Thank you Sarah for helping me avoid spending $17k+ on a problem that was solved with a very nice, very expensive throne for Princess Lyla!

Family Pictures...

...of the Hales :) Haha were you confused??

We did take some shots of us to...

The camera man in front of the camera.

Sarah had to hold Lyla in between pretty much every shot

Emma and Jack

Our crazy family

They have way to much fun together!!

Jack's New Bike

We bought Jack a new little bike, that doesn't have pedals, to help him get ready for a "big boy bike." He loves it, he rides on it all day and is actually getting very good at it. Although he does ask me a lot why it doesn't have pedals!

Of course Lyla can't be left out!

Me and my big belly at 30 weeks.

Flanders Family Reunion

Our annual camp out at Anderson Cove with the Flanders Family was tons of fun this year, so glad to see everyone!!

Jack and Lyla trying out the walkie-talkies

Sean setting up a couple tents :)

While everyone else (Jack) was out on the boat Lyla was content just playing with some buckets and water.

Although it was more fun when everyone came back to play with her!!

Later came bubbles

Big ones and small ones

Thanks to Nina and Jared for making the bubbles so much fun!!

The next morning there was some wakeboarding...

...yummy food...

...finger painting...

...and dry ice bubbles.

We had TONS of fun this year and are already looking forward to next year!!! Thanks everyone!!!

The rest of the day the kids were pretty much shot. It is very rare for Lyla to hold still this long :)

Golfing at Cherry Hill

Jack has wanted to go "golfing at Cherry Hill" ALL summer. He asks me EVERY time we drive past, "when are we going golfing at Cherry Hill?" So finally we went, with the Hales, and he loved every minute of it. He ran and ran and golfed and just had tons of fun.

He hasn't quite figured out the rules yet, but as long as he was enjoying himself I didn't care.

Sarah H. has been a trooper this summer. Lyla has decided that Sarah is her favorite person and so whenever we are together it is like Sarah has 3 kids cause Lyla won't let me near her :) Lyla is also a climber, can you tell?

The kids loved throwing the balls into the holes and then watching where they ended up.

Yes I know I am huge.

Everyone but Sean: Sarah, Sarah, Lyla, Lucy, Jack, Emma and Matt

Patriotic Parades

We went to three parades this year!! I am seriously wondering why. I mean the kids had tons of fun and they got tons of candy, but they were kind of all the same :) although I am sure we will do it again next year!!

Sean, Lyla and Jack during the Centerville Parade

If Lyla saw a piece of candy she would run for it, no matter how far away it was!! She liked to keep daddy on his toes!!

Farmington Festival Days

This year we went with the Millers and they let us sit with them in there awesome seats!! Thanks guys!!

Rick got the honor of driving the Citizen of the Year

Uncle Chase was just spending another day at the office :)

Jack was sooo excited for the parade to start that he wouldn't even look at me.

Daddy and Lyla...let the fun begin!!

With Uncle Chase driving around the Maverick truck all summer we have sure had our fun posing with it. Jack, Rylee, Sarah, Lyla, Branson and RD

Jack and Lyla petting the baby goats at the festival

For some reason my camera didn't make it to the Kaysville Parade which was by far the most profitable. Jack came away with enough goodies to last the rest of the summer!! Thanks to the Hale's and Gunn's for letting us tag along!!

A few more days...

...of fun with Matt and Melissa's family before they headed back out of town. We went to Gardner Village, fishing, swimming, lots of shopping and just hanging out.

Although I only managed to take one picture...

Grandpa watched Lyla while the rest of us went swimming, looks like he had a really hard time :)

Matt and Melissa we miss you!!!! Come back soon!!!!