Welcome Home Elder Dyer

Well done thou good & faithful servant.  We are so happy to have our brother home...the kids love their uncle & love spending time with him, and so do I.  Hard to believe that my baby bro is all grown up and an RM....watch out ladies!

Supersonic

Savannah at the farm exhibit

David playing chess at the children's museum

Bella & Melissa coloring

Bella in the butterfly exhibit at the zoo with one on her finger

Benji & Grandma

The S is for Super, the U is for unique...we had a super fun weekend in Seattle while Dave went to PNDC. We got to enjoy the company of Dave's parents, watch them spoil the grandkids a little. And spend time with my fav sister-in-law Miriam...okay okay I admit to having many fav sister in laws. But Mim & I do have fun together, which is good considering she didn't like me much for the first 6 months we were married. But hey, with my stellar personality it was easy to win her over to the dark side of friendship with Rach! Ha ha! Love you mim! Seriously though, we visited the Everett childrens museum & the zoo, had a fun BBQ with the Seattle Kellers and relaxed a little from our stressful life. YEAH!

4th of July Blowout

The girls schucking corn for the BBQ

Casey, Lori, Mom, Laurieann, Verne & Dave "watching the kids swim"

Some of the rest of the clan enjoying the warm waters of Verne's solar heated pool-so nice!

The little ones lighting off fireworks with grandpa on the 5th

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Now it is the bigger kids turn

We are so glad to be back in the NW and invited to attend the annual May-Dyer-Foltz, and a hundred other people 4th of July festivities. We have been BBQing with the May's every fourth of July since I was in high school-swimming at their pool. So this year the fun started with a bbq at Dyers, walk down to the May's for a fun swim. Then over to the Foltz's yard for a fabulous fireworks show put on by Brandon and a few others. Everyone pitches in a few fireworks & Brandon rigs the whole show. Seriously it was like watching a professional show, even set to music courtesy of the FOltzes. We set up chairs, let the kids run around, visit with friends & have dessert while we watch the show. The only drawback is that Dave doesn't really like loud noises ever since his few months in the desrert. I guess it reminds him of the mortar attacks they used to get nearly nightly in Mosul. So he was pretty much white knuckling the chair, but was a very good sport. He loves his country so much so it is always special for him to celebrate the fourth. Hard to believe that us Dyer/May's have grown from 2 families with 9 kids 21 years ago to 10 families with 24 kids & still growing! Families are forever and so are good friends!

Sweet Savannah

Savannah had a fun fun birthday this year, she came in with a bang on July 3rd a day before her dad's favorite holiday. He wanted me to hold out for the 4th but I said no way! ha ha! She is the sweetest of our bunch...so loving and always willing to help. Here is a photo recap of her special day/days

Savannah opening her favorite present...horse barn for her horse collection!!

Savannah with her favorite present-a horse barn for her collection

Savannah was very blessed this year to be put into a class with wonderful girls she made friends with-what fun to have them and her cousins to a Hula Party

blowing out candles at her party. We love you Savannah!!

Sisters, Sisters

My sis and her cute family like 2 years ago...sorry it's an old pic!

I just wanted to post about what a fabulous family I have...no joke! This is our 11th move, our 5th move in 6 years, and only the second where I have had family help. Usually when the military moves you, it is to an area where you know no one...maybe one person if you are lucky. Our last move to Virginia we had emailed someone there who helped us with the kids the day the movers were here and brought us dinner one night. Which was wonderful and so much help.

This move has been a completely different story: My sister took the girls the day of the move and my mom came to help with Ben (and little Dave since he insisted he would be with us to "help out"). She stayed until 9:00 that night, even unpacking my kitchen and bringing lunch since we couldn't leave the movers here alone to go get food. The next day my sister-in-law Kelly brought dinner over...we took a slight hiatus from unpacking to welcome my little brother Scott home from his mission to Chile (isn't he a cutie pie-watch out ladies)...
Tuesday I wasn't feeling good at all and my sister who can't take no for an answer, came over and did my laundry, unloaded my dishes and cooked dinner so I could get more unpacking done. Knowing that if it was left up to me the kids would be running around starving in dirty underwear. Today again Kelly took the girls so we didn't have to entertain them and has offered to do it again, and my other sister in law (who has also been sick with the same junk I've got) has planned a day to come over and help me strip wallpaper off my walls. (The previous owners were VERY fond of wallpaper borders). SO I just wanted to say how much I love and appreciate my family-they are the best best best. It has been wonderful to move here and have instant friends, people you can count on and even enjoy being with. You are all wunderbar!!

Fog of Guilt

Yes, I am feeling bloggers guilt so I thought I'd post a quick...I'll get to it soon notice. We've had 2 birthdays, 2 birthday parties for girlie girl friends, a big holiday bash for the 4th, plus a trip to Seattle to see family & go to a conference. Along with the 1 million and 1 things I am trying to do for the move which is TUESDAY! Anyway, just wanted y'all to know we were alive, well & will post fun pics from all the fun things by Friday.
Tschuss!!

Happy Birthday Boo Boo

From the minute miss Boo refused to announce her arrival...and then 10 days late was dragged out at a whopping 11 lbs 6 oz, we knew she had a strong personality. She is a doll, was an angel baby and is still a joy to be around. This was her trademark grimace, that she gave nearly everyone she met, except those few who she grew to love...family, friends-everyone else she grumped at. And here she is frowning again at about 18 months old...

She had her first "very own" birthday party. The girls have shared parties since their birthdays are only 5 days apart...until this year which was very exciting for bell. She got to pick the theme (nemo) and help with the cake and activities. She tried to help wrap presents...no dice said mean old mom.

The day was capped off with my parents next door neighbors surprising us by offering to let us use their giant waterslide-what a fun end to a really great birthday for our littlest girl. Especially since the temps got into the 100's!
Cake #2, a mermaid, she "had" to have a cake when daddy got home too, so I caved and made two delicious cakes for my girlie girl.
Happy birthday little boo, you are a treasure & a delight....even when you are being persnickity!