FHE with the Andersons - the "Me" flags

After a fantastic lesson from Jack, for Family Home Evening on Monday the activity was to make flags all about you and then share  what they mean.  Kurt and Bonnie came and joined us - which is always so much fun!  I'm not sure how to turn the pictures upright with the new "blogger" so - just turn your computer sideways :)

The whole crew and all our flags!
We used the timer on our camera for the first time - it  worked pretty well most of the time.

Jaron had to make 2 flags - there was so much he needed to say.  The first is a giant W...crazy kid.  The second was him in a bubble with lots of bubbles....(I don't know)

Jack's flag was all about military strategy. The border around the sides arr army men  shooting each other....

Kenzie flag was a Giant "M"  with lots of colors, because she is so colorful!  
I could not get her to smile normal.  So we will say she was afraid of showing her true colors :)

Paul's flag incorporated is Sampson "S" - very similar to Superman except better
My Flag had me, and then all the stuff I love or enjoy around it. 

Bonnie's flag  had music, sewing, and of course Kurt
Kurt's flag had finishing, pharmacy, and a last minute addition of a B for Bonnie

Paul's Big Fish

 For Father's Day this year Paul requested a "Man weekend".  So the kids bought him and a couple friends a charter fishing trip.  They went up the night before and stayed at a some-what questionable, but cheap, hotel room.  Apparently they found a really great Mexican restaurant in Mt. Vernon if anyone is interested.  The guys then retired to the hotel to watch Star Wars (Empire Strikes Back) and stayed up way too late.

They had to be on the boat at 5:25 am.  Here are some pictures from the trip:

On the way to the fishing spot from Anacortes right at dawn.

The sun rise over the San Juan Islands.

Picture of one of the San Juan Islands.

The water was calm all day.

Kurt waiting for a fish.

Kurt had the most action all day.

All he caught was dog fish. The small, ugly Puget Sound sharks.

The weather was perfect all day.

The ride back to Anacortes.

Here is a picture of Paul with his King Salmon. He caught it 45 minutes in and it was the only salmon that  they reeled in all day.

Man Weekend Complete - for another year :)  Thanks for being such a great Father for our children!!!

Kilt-O-Sac of Fire 2012

Every year the Smith family holds the most amazing barbecue and firework show loving called the Kilt-O-Sac of Fire.  It is actually where Paul and I met 12ish year ago...kinda crazy!

Aaron and his display of fireworks - neatly organized by use....

The opening ceremony....smoke bombs of many colors

The tank war preparation.  This year we found an "airport" and all of the tanks, including team USA, were attacking the airport. 

The airport doesn't stand a chance!

The battle....

After the battle was over we pile the carnage up and Aaron threw in a firework to start the burning....the fireworks are called Blue Balls

Despite the crazy name (and inappropriate position - Aaron) - the Blue Balls did the trick and were rellly fun to watch!

Jack and Paul had a separate one on one battle - this was Jack's first year to light fireworks and he really had a great time.

After....

The cleanup....(looking good Lael!)

Sunset over Lake Meridian - so beautiful!



Waiting for the lake fireworks



Thanks so much Smith Family for letting us be part of this - it was AWESOME!

After School Trip to Utah - a photo montage....

The day school was out we headed down to Utah for a visit with the Buckleys.  It was a great trip - here are some pictures:

The road trip....

Aunt Caroline and Uncle Al have a tree swing - it was a lot of fun!



Originally there was a tiger that was walking over them - it moved before the picture snapped - cute though!

 

No - she is not being eaten by a Lion - it is a water fountain

 

Three baby birds in a nest....



Two baby birds in a nest....



The elephant behind them kept flipping stuff at us with his trunk - it was really funny





A fun picture at the Carousel with G-Ma and G-Pa Buckley



Look - the kids found Daddy....oh wait.....

We were a Gorilla family....



I'm guessing in a few years his hand will fit this a little better





Me and my baby Monkey



Cute boys....



They got to meet a bald eagle - Jaron wasn't really thrilled



At the bird show if you donated $5 you got to meet the birds.  We only had dollar bills, but it was cool to watch the bird take the money from Jack and put it in the box.

The Giraffe's were standing right by the measuring tapes, we though they were fake statues.   I had the kids stand in the same order

After the zoo we went to the cabin.....

The View from the deck

No wait - this is the cabin Jack built :)

Two cute kids a the cabin



On the way home we saw this on the way home....a buffalo - what are odds?