Clark turns 14!

And just like that Clark is 14!  Wow!  Every year Lois and Jeff get free tickets to Busch Gardens.  We've never been so decided to go with them this year.  We also decided to go on Clark's birthday.  It was super fun and the lines were just fine. 

My favorite ride, the Griffin.  SO FUN.  SO FREAKY.  SO WORTH IT!


One of the best parts was hanging out with cousins.  We weren't always with them, but for the majority of the day we were.  And we ate meals together too which was fun.






Busch Gardens has different "countries" that you visit.  So fun!




We were kind of mean and tricked Cal and Elden on going on the Verbolten.  It seems like a harmless ride looking at it while standing in line.  But it goes SUPER fast and then even drops at one point.  They weren't very happy about the ride.




Lois and Jeff had sweet parking. Literally right across from the main entrance.  For dinner Clark requested canned soup--like we have sometimes when we go to the temple.  I brought out trusty butane stove to heat up dinner. It was nice eating right by the entrance, then going back in for rides.  Maybe someday I'll feel like I can waste my money on food and snacks at a theme park.






Very fun time at Busch Gardens!  We took Rhett home with us since Lois and Jeff were moving into a new rental that day.  The last ride of the evening Clark and I went over to the Griffin.  At the last moment Lee showed up. I asked him where the kids were and Rhett.  He said they were just by the entrance of the ride and said they would be fine.  Cal does babysit sometimes and is old enough to do so.  I did get a bit nervous as we were buckling up for the ride that is super scary....what happens if we die on this ride?  I was especially worried because we had Rhett with us and it was dark out.  But it all worked out and we didn't die and leave orphans at a park.  Little side story, ha ha.

We celebrate Clark's birthday on Friday.  He opened some presents that morning. 






If I have these picture dates correct, Clark had football practice that afternoon on Friday and we went swimming.




His party that night.... We pretended it was Rhett's birthday as well and sang to him.


The embarrassing photo of mom fixing a teenager's hair, ha ha.


Happy birthday handsome boy!


He wanted a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.  No problem!!!




A bad photo, but Clark received another drone for his birthday. He has fun building them.  Drones are way over my head....


Quite the set-up with a mallet and a soldering gun! We hope you had a great birthday Clark!  It's been a terrific 14 years!


We are going to Disney World in the near future and are wearing three matching shirts with other family members.  This is one of the matching shirts.  Fun, huh!  Two of us families are debt free, house included!


Some love carrots Lee found.  Or they were just cut in the machine wrong.


The end of summer also brought a court of honor for scouts.  Clark and Cal both received new ranks.  And Clark is almost done with his Eagle!


Lastly, we celebrated my friend's birthday. There is a new Olive Garden in Harrisonburg and it's been super busy ever since it opened.  I finally ate at that one for the first time.  It was fun going out for lunch.  And Olive Garden was able to split up my friend's lunch receipt so all of us paid for it.  Pretty cool!


Hope your July was a terrific one!  Lots of fun partying around here for sure!