Carson Family Reunion 2011

 Tyler on Dad's scooter.  

Tyler put together the first annual Carson Reunion in Las Vegas.  We rented a HUGE house with amazing outdoor pools, games and living areas.  Tyler had collected pictures from everyone and put together a slideshow and packet for everyone to take home.  It was so much fun getting to know each other better as this was our first time all being in one place at one time.  Hopefully, we can do it every year!  Thanks Tyler for all of your planning and hard work.

 Jill & Catherine

 Dallon

 Blaykers, Tori & Rod

 Jillski

 Afton with a wedgey

 Camden

 Caders & Jaxon

 puppy

 Blayke & Tori Jo

 Tyler & Randy

 Dad

 John 'schooling' the kids on a 'canopener'

 Carson & Jackson

 Afton & Catherine

 Carson jumping off the ledge

 Witney trying to climb the rock wall

 Me (after jumping I had the WORST earache)

 Carson and JJ

 Witney

 John & Carson

 Aunt Char & Dad

 Emily

 Fenway Park puzzle time

 Cam and Crew Crew

 The girls and Cam's little butt

 Darrin and Randy

 Darrin & Lisa

Tiff & Aunt Char

face & body

So, I finally broke down and bought one of these suckers.  The one I purchased has a brush for your face and a brush for your body.  I decided to get the body brush since I opt out of being in the sun much and prefer airbrush tans.  Sometimes when the tan is coming off it can leave a weird discoloring so this might just do the trick...I'll let you know.  Primarily, I bought it for my face though.  I have never used a lot of products, makeup etc on my skin so I've never really washed my face either.  

However, with this last baby I had the worst skin and ended up having to have some laser done on my cheeks because of dark spots left by a bacterial infection - SICK!  So, here we are on day 2 of Clarisonic and I have to say I really enjoy washing my face.  It really does feel clean and it has to be doing more than just putting a bunch of product on my face and rinsing it - RIGHT?

River Dogs

 Team Photo

Still amazes me that he can hit that ball

Black and White

John and I took the kids to see this yesterday since it was a rainy day.  It was funny...does anyone know if the tiger is male or female?  I was thinking she was female because of the tigress right?

wheels go round...

 Lily's new transportation!  I found this little number in Jackson outside Pearl Street Bagels for $100 - with gears!  We gave up trying to teach her how to drive a car.  Tribeca anyone?

 Cam decided he too needed new wheels so he traded up to another hand me down (John ran over the handle bars but hopefully he will be on 2 wheels soon).

John's wheels

Swim Kidz

 Cam has gone from drowning to swimming and floating...he couldn't be happier to be independent in the water (imagine that).

 Carson is beginning the butterfly.  During the first stages they call it the dolphin until they really learn to add their arms.  He turned a corner today - things just sort of clicked and he is doing the freestyle!  I had no idea that was what they were teaching him - it looked like the sidestroke and they would say 'put your head on the pillow' but now I realize it was the freestyle.  His strokes are getting so good.  Good Job Carson Bugs!

 Thumbs Up - we are almost done with this session of swimming.  The kids are happy because it is a full-on workout and they would rather just play.

U2

Ticket Review...
In fact, fans’ patience for the year delay paid off as the Irish popsters delivered as stunning a visual concert as has ever been seen along the Wasatch Front during a 2-hour, 20-minute performance. Much has been written about the band’s massive stage structure, dubbed “The Claw,” but, if anything, its utter uniqueness and ability to make a stadium show seem intimate was clearly not over-hyped.

The band returned for a 35-minute, six-song encore, opening with “One” before segueing into “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Where the Streets Have No Name.” For “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” the band members donned jackets that sported LED lights, and Bono sang from a lighted microphone that dropped down from the rafters. Bono even treated the dangling microphone cord like a swing, twirling on it while singing parts of the hauntingly stellar “With or Without You.”

John and I drove up and met our friends.  I have to say it was better than I had expected.  I like how Bono takes a 'position' with conviction when he sings.  John likes the the guitar player.  What blew me away is that there are only 4 band members including Bono - crazy! 

Camden's Birthday Party - Provo Beach Resort

 The Cake - inspired by the Provo Beach Resort where we held his party.

 Shannon and Ivy

 Daddy and Cam

 Icecream and Cake

 Little Miss Ivy

 Party attendees

 Afton and Ivy

 Part of the party package was the mega playground

 these two laughing their butts off - as usual

 Miniature bowling - the balls are so cute.

 Cam is a little surfer boy

so cute

The 'Nanny' and the Poo Pot...

When I have $#@* to do this is where the kids go! 

Cheapest 'nanny' in Utah and it doubles as Bauer's crate - I told John I was good at saving mula!

Guess who is finally using the POO POT (have you read that book? It is so cute and funny).  He has actually been using the potty and having a dry bed ALL NIGHT LONG for a few weeks but I thought I would give it a little while just to make sure it wasn't a fluke.  

I waited until John was in China and then Cam and I went to war.  Camden is seriously the MOST stubborn child - when we would ask him if he wanted us to change his diaper when he was an old guy he would say 'yes'.  When I would finally bribe him onto the potty he refused to get off.  During one of our 2 hour standoffs (him on potty me on floor downloading peeing, pooping and farting apps) I have to say, he ALMOST won.  Mother's Day - we went to my brother's house and again a potty standoff - it usually ends with me screaming at him that we are all in the car leaving (he doesn't care).  My brother is convinced that I am the meanest mom in town.  It was a rough week but I knew I had to do it when John was gone or he would just tell me to wait - that he isn't ready, or he will just figure it out one day.  I was over it.  2 kids in diapers and a puppy is just too much bodily gunk.  

Oh, and poor Crew - I took his bottle away too.  My kids hate me but I think I am going to make up for it tonight at Cam's Birthday Party!  My first REAL effort at fondant and it was so much easier than I thought it was going to be.  I'll post pics of cake and party tomorrow!

Upcoming Vegas Entertainment for Carson Reunion...

Mud

We are redesigning a section of our yard to put in a pergola and firepit.  Our yard has been a MUDHOLE...and Bauer LOVES it.

I, on the other hand, hate it...my floors are a mess.