A Baptism, a birthday, and Halloween!

Here's the little man and Dad.Thanks to all the grandparents for showing up. It was a great day.

The latest family picture right before the baptism.

Birthday boy!

Traditional first birthday cake picture.

First birthday present.

Halloween!

Nine jack-o-lanterns.

The loot.

Finally a good use of a zucchini.

Baby skunk.

Ready to go.

September

Cute as a bug on a rug!!!


BRETT IS 8!!!

He and his friend went to the NASA day at the science museum, it was a busy full day for Dad, who went on this adventure with 6 kids alone. What a trooper.

So it took a few months, but it is finally finished. We have hauled Josh's rusty childhood bike with us on every move since Taft, and here she is all shined up. The bike is a stingrayII from 1983. Marron was thrilled to ride it and even bought the seat with her own Birthday money.

August

So the first day of school was Paige's 5th B-Day! She thought that everyone was at school just for her party.....works for me!!

Here they all are lined up for the first day....so cute!!

We had promised a family back packing trip and finally did it. This is us at the top of our 3 mile hike.

Natures spendor

This was actually taken just before we left. The kids each carried their own sleeping bag and jacket. It was cold that night, but we brought the small tent to help conserve heat, and had 3 dogs sleeping with us. Joshua actually slept without a blanket! Good times.

Summertime Done country!

So this is Dylan Mutten Bustin. We have gone country! Brett is in the white helmet in the background. I am taking the picture with the baby dangling.

Hear are Morgan and Parker with Josh on their first back packing trip!

Marron turned 9 on August 4th, note the new cowgirl hat. She has just started riding lessons. She and Morgan are determined to save and buy themselves a horse. Good luck you two.

This is at Marron with her friends. Her party was at Science Works, we all had a great time!

The gang and friends at the County Fair last week.

What a bounty! Grant suggested that we sale all of our squash to the poor.

He is a very considerate lad.

Dad is 36!!! The kids and I made him this manzanita walking stick. It's not finished, but they all put a lot of love into the project. He is a great Father, and Husband and an all round good guy! We love you!

SUMMER VACATION!!!

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

I took this same pic on the
first day of school too.

Our two kindergarten graduates.

Morgan is 11!(What the heck!!) He and Dad took 3 friends bowling for his birthday. He got a the PSP he wanted. He earned half of the money doing chores and saved for 3 months. He makes us proud.

On the road our first site seeing stop was in Yellowstone.

Second stop MT. Rushmore!

Still at Mt. Rushmore, at a Lakota Indian exhibit with cousins. We were so P.C. that we had the kids doing Indian yells. Classy, we know.

A quick stop at Ft Bridger in Wyoming with of course....our Bridger.

Third we arrived for a gathering with Amy's family, and hiked Mt Timpanogos. I think thats how it's spelled. Sarah and Brad and kids were there also, they're just not in the photo. The kids were great little hikers and good and tired out too!

Fourth stop Lava hot springs Idaho.We soon learned that floating the river with 10 children was not for the faint of heart. I think our friends the Youngs would have to agree.

Grant looks happy, I assure you he was not. He screamed that he was dying, and swore he would never float the river again.

This is Amy with her best friend Rachelle. They left CA and moved to UT weeks after we moved north. Her baby Rylyn is 3 months and Bridger is 8. It was good to see their family again.

This is Amy with her sister Melissa and her Mom, as we were parting.

People said we were crazy to camp and drive with 7 kids, and 2 dogs half way across the country. Well what is new? We had a blast. We have already started talking about next years vacation plans. We asked the kids what their favorite part was and they couldn't pick so we figure they had fun too. We have plans to head south maybe in mid august other than that, we only have staycations planned.

Love to all, Joshua & Amy

Hospital Stay and Field Trips

Brett before his appendectomy

And after

Relaxing with his baby brother after surgery

Morgan came home from camp and was very upset about seeing his brother in the hospital. We wanted to include pictures from Morgan's stay at camp but he he took pictures of the dogs and the scenery, but none of himself.

Marron had a field trip to a pioneer village museum.

Dylan and Grant went on a kindergarten field trip. Here is Dylan with Smokey

Grant loves dinosaurs

We also have chickens. The hens are nice, the rooster not so much.

Paige wishes she could hunt eggs, she loves to hunt eggs.

We are so relieved that Brett is OK. and that T-Ball and Softball are over. School is out in two weeks. I don't know if Amy is as happy as I am about that.

Dylan is 6, Bridger is 6 months, and a Pinewood Derby

Still Undefeated

Morgan's car is the yellow one. He painted a silver bullet on it and it won 1st place.

Same night was Dylans birthday. Amy made breakfast for dinner per Dylan's request. We also had two T-ball games that night.

We had the big celebration on Saturday at the park.

Bridger is also 6 months old now.