I'm leaving on a jet plane...

Seattle here I come!

Triple Digits

Henderson severe weather alert:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 7 PM MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
(For full weather alert click here. For Henderson forecast click here.)

Need I say more?
Carter and Camden hung out with us for the weekend so that Jeff and Renee could go out of town for a night. After a great mtg (with visitors from South Africa and Canada), we grabbed some KFC, came home to change and tried to keep cool like so:

Cousin Conspiracy VIII: Lessons from the Big Kids

For Cousin Conspiracy VII, click here.
Hi, it's Jhett. Being the youngest cousin, (at least until October when Bryanna is going to be a big sister) I have lots of good examples to look up to. Like at Uncle Jeff's birthday party. (I won't tell you how old he turned but check out how many fingers I'm holding up for a hint.)My cousins felt obligated to teach me some of life's most important lessons for me to pass on when the new little one arrives.
So here are the lessons:

On Dining Etiquette

Lesson #1:
If an adult happens to glance your way while you are dining, always cooperate. Chew with your mouth open so the adults can see that you are really eating your food and not a staple you found on the floor.

Lesson #2:
It's important that you appear to enjoy sitting still and eating your vegetables. This will burst any bubbles of suspicion adults might be forming when they notice your dessert is already gone. Lesson #3:
It's okay to make a mess while eating. This shows the chef you really enjoyed your meal. Lesson #4:
Never ever use utensils when eating. Always use your hands. Utensils are sharp and therefore dangerous. You could poke your neighbor's eye out while reaching over to grab a strawberry off his plate. Lesson #5:
When finished dining, dump your plate on the floor or just leave it on the table. This way the dog can clean up the leftovers and you save Mom and Dad money on dog food.
On Cleaning:
Lesson #1:
When cleaning, try out every item to make sure it works properly. Lesson #2:
Walk carefully. You haven't had that much practice at it and a noisy toy might startle you into tripping. Lesson #3:
It's important to do a thorough job. Don't leave any box unturned. Dump everything into the middle of the room for easier sorting. Lesson #4:
Don't be afraid to ask for a helping hand. Lesson #5:
Learn how to use your watch and keep track of time. It passes quickly when you are busy. Don't be surprised if you don't get everything done before bedtime; you'll likely have to leave a big portion of the mess for tomorrow.
On Cooking:
Lesson #1:
Make the guy do the grocery shopping. Send him with careful instructions. Make sure he knows the cart should be filled with food, not electronics. Lesson #2:
Make sure your cooking space is clean. (See above Lessons 1-5 "On Cleaning".) Lesson #3:
Oven mitts are confusing and really not necessary, since you aren't allowed around anything hot anyway. Ditch the oven mitt and stick with the stirring spoons. Lesson #4:
Tell Mom or Dad whether you want mac & cheese or a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich. ...Make sure you accompany the request with an "I love you" or (if you can't talk yet), give your best smile.
Methods of Transportation
Lesson #1:
Never ride bikes. They are dangerous and you will fall off and get hurt. When an adult tries to force you to ride one, make your legs limp so they can't position you properly on the bike. Lesson #2:
If you are riding your 4-wheeler close to a swimming pool, make sure you yell "HELP" as loud as you can. If you can't talk yet, just scream. Parents appreciate it when you remind them that they need to watch you at all times. When everyone is standing around just to watch you, feel free to start having fun. Lesson #3:
When riding outside, it's important to pretend you can't hear adults. They are probably only calling you inside and if you break your concentration, you might run over somebody. Lesson #4:
If there is an adult around to give you a ride, never turn it down. They love the exercise. Lesson #5:
If your adult chauffeur starts to look grumpy and tired from pulling you around, it's probably because they wish they could get more exercise. Pile more kids in (even if they act reluctant) and make sure they get rides, too.Lesson #6:
Get as much use out of your chauffeur as you can before it breaks down. Carpooling is better for the environment. Lesson #7:
When your ride breaks down, hitch one with the nearest adult. It's not as fun but it's effective and comfortable.
At the End of the Day
Lesson #1:
Check your vitals. If everything is ok, it's time for bed. Lesson #2:
Find a comfortable spot to lie down. This is generally somewhere soft, like a lap or a couch. ...But anywhere will do. That's it for the lessons! So now I know how to be a good example when my new little cousin arrives. In fact I already know some of the lessons pretty well.....

Mother's Day

Hope everyone had a good Mother's Day! We had delicious tortilla soup at Bryan and Shannon's...
"Cheeeeese..."Renee's fan club:
"Good looks courtesy of mom", "I heart hot moms" and "I heart mommy".

Water and Fire

I still have a bit to catch up on from when Kyle was here. Since today is gray and gloomy feeling (although still hot) I decided to brighten it up a bit with a Lake Mead post...
It was a perfect day, at that temperature where you can't even hardly feel the air, it's just right. Dad started out driving...

then Captain Kyle took over.

Our first stop was to see the Hoover Dam from the lake side.

The water was so calm it was like boating on glass! Dad regreted not bringing his ski out.

But we did tube...

We left just as the gray clouds were coming in. The wind picked up as we pulled the boat out and we got a sprinkle of our first rain in a few months.
I call this move this flamingo ballet. It's very effective in maintaining balance.

After the lake Kyle and I went for a romantic dinner at Red Robin. This was interrupted by Dad calling to tell us about our neighbor's house, which was on fire. (Dads will do anything to interrupt romantic dates.)
We drove home to find the fire basically put out. The street was blocked off and looked like this (apparently the Henderson fire department didn't have anything else to do all night because they sent out EVERYone) :

The house was being rented and one of the renters was inside sleeping. When he didn't respond to the banging on the door, the firemen broke down the whole garage door to get in. (The fire was in the garage.) I wouldn't recommend this method for getting up in the morning, even though alarm clocks can be very annoying.

While I was snapping away with my camera, Kyle used to the opportunity to broaden his understanding of the female mind and asked what exactly it is about firemen that so attracts women to the point where they have whole calendars devoted to them? We speculated on this for awhile but couldn't really come up with a solid answer... (The female mind remains a mystery to man because we women probably don't understand it most of the time, either.)