Happy 30th Birthday Ben

There were 30 people ready to jump up like a Jack in the Box and scream Surprise, Happy Birthday, to Ben on Saturday.

Whitney did a great job getting all the family and friends together for Ben's 30th birthday party at Mom's and Dad's house. Ben didn't suspect a thing. The secret was not telling my kids for one.

Uncle Spencer and Aunt Jen came from Reno. It is always great seeing them. Spencer came to Tracy before the birthday party and brought the kids.

Spencer let McKenzie hold Leila. She was and still is on cloud nine! It was so nice of Spencer to include her on the present for Ben. She loved making the certificate. Spencer also let her ride in his car to Lodi with them. She was treated to a soda and a candy bar which made the ride that more incredible. She felt grown up and special.

Ben's Step-father, Bob did the BBQing. Mouth-watering chicken! He scored major points with my mom by helping out.

The boys are so cute. Noah and Porter are two months apart.

Porter was being shy and Mommy knows exactly what do to change that.

Where is your Sick Did a Sick Did a Toes.......

And by putting his toes up to his nose, he gets hysterical.

My girls love Uncle Ben. They were so excited about Ben's party it was like it was their party.

Scott had the best idea ever; going to the store and have the kids pick two things each for Ben. It was a blast watching what they picked out.
Ben looks great in Scott's gift!

Lydia was so proud of her gift. She had a hard time letting go for us to pay for it; let alone giving it to Ben. I asked Ben, if he knew who gave it to him, Ben said Lydia. He was right.

OK, what are the odds of us going to a store and Sarah finding the exact parrot that Ben and Whitney brought to her birthday party. I couldn't believe my eyes when she showed me what she had found. She too wanted that present of herself; I think to remind her of the parrots on her birthday.

Porter gave Uncle Ben a gun that shouts out balls.

Ben in all his GLORY.

Spencer took me aside and showed me what Porter and Noah were doing. They are getting ice out of the bucket and throwing it on the ground and saying, "Cold."

*Just adorable*

It literally take us 15 minutes to leave once we get to the car at my parents house. The kids have a blast being chased by Whitney and Ben. And Papa, the human swing, for Porter. He used to do that with Whitney and I; and we loved it just as much as Porter does now.

Woof-tastic

We are Jimmy's personal

"Woof-tastic" Pet Sitting Service

It is our pleasure to take care of such a beautiful, obedient and loving dog.

Our family definitely gets the better end of the deal when Grandma and Papa go on trips. We love their house. They have everything that a family could want in a home. Its my children's paradise!

The first day out of five that we spend there it was very windy. The electricity went out. So we had a mini lesson on electricity and went all around the house looking for things that worked on electricity. IT was a great search and find game. The mega block tower that you see here, was build by all three of us combining our towers to make one. They were proud and wanted a picture taken.

The kids really worked up an appetite building that tower, so it was time to take a lunch break.

My kids love to sing. So we opened up and thumbed through the Primary songbook and started singing. It was the sweetest, most wonderful sound in the house. Porter was singing too. I felt the Spirit so strong during that time.



I had to take a picture of the huge field that we pass by as we drive to Tracy. Actually there are several farming fields. McKenzie happened to ask me about this one. She wanted to know if we could become farmers. And if our garden could be that big someday. She told me that she was thinking about becoming a farmer. Classes to take in college were discussed and how farmers make their money.
McKenzie looks forward to gardening each week.

With the weather getting hotter day by day, its amazing how fast things grow. The spinach tripled in size from last week.

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Lettuce

Peas

Snow Peas

Snow Peas

Beets

Green Onions

Carrots

Red and Yukon Potatoes

The first day that we arrived in Tracy, all the melons sprouts were hardly visible. Four days later and now look.....amazing.

Scott and I were talking and he had asked me if I felt like the garden was our fifth baby. And I did have to agree. Gardening does take a lot of attention.

Cantaloupe

Pumpkins

Watermelons

Tomatoes

Corn

The almond tree

Each year this tree produces so many almonds and the birds just love them. So this year, the birds will starve because we are picking them early and dry them out in the dehydrator.
I do think that the birds have spread the word that the Campbell's have an amazing orchard and all of them come to devour the fruit .

Here is one out of three apricot trees that the Campbell's have.

There are some fruit trees in the orchard that have boars and thick sap on them. Here is Scott working his magic to cure them.


Scott went out tonight with all the girls and Sarah struck it rich with finding all these peas that were hinding. They ran to the kitchen table and devoured them all. I cant get over the difference in taste from growing them in a garden and getting the same exact thing at the market. Hands down...Garden All The Way!



Scott had to thin out the beets so the existing ones will grow to be good size. Too close together they stop growing. Its great to see the progress so far.

The same thing with the carrots...weeding them out. What a difference in size from when we arrived and what four days will do to vegetables in growth.

Look at the size of that Beet! Its screeming......Roast Me Kenna

Its always nice seeing the kids play great together.

Check out this great find. Grandma and Papa found this for FREE! It is handmade and has carpet and curtains inside. The girls just love it.

The kitchen table on the ends have chairs with arms that curve around. Porter thinks that both ends of the table with those chairs are his. I will be frank....he thinks everything that he touchs is his.

The last night at Grandma's and Papa's house. They are having another memorable moment. McKenzie on the bottom bunk and Lydia and Sarah on the air mattress. Their house has several other rooms, but they wanted to be together.

The kids are taking it all in.

It was a sad moment when Sarah said she didnt want to leave. And she wanted to live here. With everything that is here, I know that Sarah is glad that Grandma and Papa live close.