My new gadget

It's no secret I love gadgets.  :)  Out entire house is full of them in fact - from the kitchen's array of cherry pitters, potatoe ricers, and microwave bacon plates to the ridiculous number of electronics fighting for outlets and recharging space - the dueling Droid phones, the obscene number of HP touchpads, and now slates.  I think the only must have gadget of the last decade we haven't yet made the jump to is the kindle.  Call me old fashioned, but I still like paper books. 

Some gadgets of course have worked out better than others... like the #epicfail microwave egg boiler in which I have only managed to literally explode eggs. 

So yesterday, I skeptically, but giddlily none the less, made my way to the Container store to pick up another new gadget.  The Flipfold Jr.  I figured it would be a complete waste of time, but if there was any chance it could bring order to the never ending piles of kids clothes cluttering my laundry room it'd be worth it.  And after folding 4 laundry baskets full of clothes, I have to say I think this one is going to be a keeper. 

It really was quick and easy to use.  So much so that my kids fought over, and folded at least half the shirts.  You heard that right.  The kids - my two 5 year old boys - folded half the shirts.  All by themselves.   And I wasn't going behind them and refolding everything they "helped" with. 

From PJ sets, to shirts, to shorts it folded them all into neat little stacks that fit perfectly and easily into the cubbies we use to keep all their clothes in.  Though I am not sure I am going to be folding shorts with it in the near future (at least not until they get a little bigger) I will definately be pulling it out and folding, or turning it over to the kids to fold!, their shirts and PJs.  Essentially any of the shirts size 6, or youth XS and up it folded brilliantly.  It handled the majority of the size 5's as well, though some of the size 5T - tight PJ's in particluar - were too small in width, or too short in length to be folded properly.  Though as the boys have outgrown most of those sizes anyway it shoudln't be a problem for long.  I am shocked to say I am actually kind of looking forward to that next load of laundry for once and hope that I actually get to fold some of it - it was actually kind of fun!  :)

Kicking Off Summer

Okay, so technically it's not "officially" summer yet - not until June 21st, but given it's been 111 degrees (while we were in Odessa), school's out, and the pool's open - I'd call it summer regardless of what the date on the calendar says.

So we kicked if off the way we intend to spend most of it - at the pool.  Really it's the only thing you can (or want to?) do when the temperature tops the century mark with humidity to match.

We checked out the slides.

And practiced our swimming and diving skills.

Though their form can he, ahem.. comical?, they both remember enough not to drown for the most part.  Ryan I don't really have to worry about - even in the deep end.  Connor I still have to keep an eye on.  He doesn't always remember to come up and breathe... he forgets sometimes that he just can't breathe under water...

Mr. John and Caden came to hang out with us at the pool, too.

The boys really enjoy having friends to play with at the pool.

They also really liked Caden's shark floatie.  :)

They spent most of the time at the pool pretending they were some sort of attack sharks - even when beached for adult swim time.  :)

No doubt about it - it's the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon. 

The End of the Road

Home Sweet Home.

La Sal Mountains from the Needles, Canyonlands, Utah.

Colorado River, Moab, Utah

Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah

The Windows, Arches National Park, Utah

What happens when you tell Connor he can go "a little way up.  SAFELY!"

Arches National Park, Utah

Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

The Gorge, Capitol Reef National Park