Anybody reading this?

Still having fun with my new camera. No shortage of kids to pose for shots. You have to look closely, but not TOO close, that is Jordan "bailing" out of the raft. Some think he was tossed out but he claims he jumped out on purpose. He and Jeremy are off to EFY this week.

Jeremy moves on to High School

So, I'm standing by where Jeremy was sitting at his 8th grade graduation and it happens to be by the teachers. Jeremy gets his little promotion / diploma thing, poses for pictures from the folks who will charge us big bucks to get them, he walks around and I'm trying to get him to slow down and take a picture. He's like "dad" in that don't bother me voice. He relents and gives me is best I'm too cool for you to take my picture look. The teachers start cracking up and say that pose and half smirky smile is SOOOOO Jeremy. Funny. Congrats Jeremy. I knew you could do it...and I knew you could smile.

Jeff finished Kindergarten

Jeff is wearing his shirt he made...nice butterflies. The teacher said he was the best "learner" in class. He made great progress this year. Jeremy is up next for his 8th grade graduation. This Wed he moves on and becomes a Freshmen in high school. Wow, two kids in high school.

Memorial Day '09 was spent at Lotus Park checking out the American River. Managed to get Jeremy to ben in a photo. Jeff hamming it up for the camera. We hung there for a few hours throwing and skipping rocks and watching the boaters go by. Then it was home for some barbie que and movies. Good times.

Summer has started and the pool is open. I'm not sure if summer has "officially" started but it was 95 degrees here over the weekend. So time for swimming and trying out the new camera. Brendan also had his 10th birthday a few weeks back. Kids are growing up fast. Fun to read all the other blogs, well, those who are writing and keeping them up (good job Kari) :).

Denise came back from her dream vacation a few weeks back again. Check out this GREAT shot of the Coliseum. I think they had a great time.

Now isn't this CUTE. Leigha Michelle hamming it up for the camera in Cambria.

Great times in Monterey. Family photo on at Dennis the Menace park. Notice Jeff could not be bothered to join us in the picture as he was too busy climbing the smoke stack and standing up. Making us all very nervous. We then visited Mom and Dad in Cambria.

It took only a short 3 weeks...Jordan is busted from driving. How did this happen? What was he thinking? Does he think we would not find out? See previous post on driving is a priveledge and not a right. Well..Jordan met some friends at the movies. They didn't have money for the movies so they were hanging around and got bored. Than a friend said, hey, drop me at my friends house. So boom, Jordan drives two friends around for a few minutes. Ouch. Busted. Than...he was not forthcoming when confronted. Yikes. GROUNDED for 4 weeks. Lets summarize what he is missing - Date night this weekend for Mormon Prom and Sadies Dance are the biggies. We are tough parnets...even grounded from My Space and iPod (I think Apple stock is going down as a result). He does have his buddies calling us saying we are too harsh and lobbying for a break...nope, we are sending a message. Don't mess with us. Plus, we are already spending a bundle in gas money.

Jordan Gets His License...Hide For Your Life

It's official...Jordan is driving among us. Yep, scary on many levels. One, I am old. Two, it's Jordan driving 3) Insurance is outrageous. 4) Jordan thinks he can leave anytime now 5)It's still Jordan. There are upsides however. I don't have to get up at 6:15 and get him to seminary. He's already done a few errands for us. So, as long as he realizes it is a privilege and not a right we'll be ok. :) Why is the preceeding all underlined? Why did he just change. Weird. Signing out now.

Snow day...6 inches of snow fell in Cameron Park and it was a slushy wonderland for a few hours. School would have been a "snow day" but as luck would have it, they were already on a school holiday for President's Day weekend. Bummer for them. The first picture is me waking up Brian to go look at the snow. He eventually got dressed and went outside. I got to use my 4 wheel drive and blasted by a few nieghbors who had their BMWs and sedans stuck in the snow and trying shovel their way out. I shouted something like do you need help? They said no and I said it is twice a year I get to use my 4 wheel drive. I than peeled out and sprayed them with snow...just kidding. I missed them.

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feb 09 037, originally uploaded by mgcc31268.

Now she is cute...even with a fractured elbow

We have had our first broken bone, a fracture really, but it counts. You would think that it would be a bone on one of the five boys, but no, it is on our sweet princess. So here is the story. I was at work--the story is a little sketchy but this is the version I got--Jordan was on the phone, Michael asked him to get leigha who was going down the stairs. This is the sketchy part, Jordan isn't forthcoming with details, whatever happened she got picked up by the one arm on the stairs and crying happened. I called home to say goodnight and heard Leigha crying out in her sleep, so I came home. I couldn't stay at work knowing she was in pain. We all assumed it was Nurse's elbow, we have had that in our home before. So yesterday (28th) I took her to the doctor, they immediately sent us for x-rays--then they wanted more x-rays (should have been a clue), back to the doctor who said she has a fractured elbow and needs to see the Orthopedic surgeon right away, like today. We went over there and he said it didn't look bad enough to need surgery (whew!) but she did get a pretty pink cast (she picked pink, not mommy :) ). We will do more x-rays next week. the cast needs to stay on for at least 3 wks. Leigha is much happier now that the cast in on, her arm doesn't seem as much. I'm very relieved, relieved that she is feeling better and that it as of now does not require surgery. Jordan feels bad so we aren't rubbing it in too much.

Christmas and Denise's Birthday

Wow, did Christmas come and go fast or what? Santa came to the Cummins home and left some goodies for all the boys and girls. Very exciting...although Jeff snuck up early and than when I went to get him he told me all the Santa gifts. Brian and Jeff received a Lightening McQueen work bench. Brian is sporting the safety googles. We had a great breakfast and than went to Nani's house. Jordan drove the entire way. Other than weaving into the right lane a few too many times we made it unharmed. Good job Jordan - maybe a license in '09? We had a great Christmas feast at Nani's and a few more gifts.

For Denise's birthday Denise went, you guessed it, shopping in the am. Than we celebrated her 40th by going out to dinner with the whole family while Jordan babysat the kiddies. Good times. Denise and I than snuck away to Carmel for a day and a half while Kiely helped babysit. Jeff than somehow called 911 and the Sheriff guy showed up. Nice.

Christmas Time Is Almost Here

Jeff and Brian on the big guy in the red suit...they never get tired of this :). Fun times at our annual ward Christmas party. Jordan brought a girl friend and than wouldn't sit at our table. Luckily she finally convinced him to come sit with us. We offered to go on a double date and pay and Jordan is like "heck no." Teenagers...

Monterey Sunset

OK, we just needed a reminder of nice sun set Denise and I saw in our last trip to Monterey.

Very nice...

Thanksgiving Week

There is our 20 pound birds...that turkey looks good too :). Also, Jordan posing for a photo opp.

Thanksgiving week was great at the Cummins' home. I (Mike) went bike riding in Lake Tahoe twice and enjoyed some quiet time (thanks Denise). Got to ride in a light snow storm on the Wed. Thanksgiving day we played 4 on 4 football in the am with some members of the ward. My team won. Than we came home and Denise slept as she worked the last night. We had a great meal at about 5 pm with watching football and some roller hockey in between. Good times...

Denise and I in Lake Tahoe last weekend. Thanks to Jordan and his friend Cody who baby sat ALL day. Kids were still alive and the house was not burned down. The dishes were even done. Nice...thanks Jordan.

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DSC02327, originally uploaded by mgcc31268.

Jeff having fun in the sand

Halloween

Kids are high on sugar and candy, adults are sneaking bit size chocolate bars, and it is starting to rain. Bummer...round up the children and lets go home and sort the candy. When did the candy bars get so small? Where are the full size bars...how come no one gives out 100,000 any more. OK, now I have given candy to the same kid in the spidy costume 4 times. Time to move on.

Jordan is sitting around brewing becuase he was grounded from going out with his friends. You don't want to know why...but lest just say it starts with a "g" and ends with an "s" and rhymes with braids. Did we mention he is an inch taller than me but has NEVER beat me at basketball? There are a few controversial moments like when I call time out or a foul just at the right time but I prefer to think of that as experience helping lead to the victory. I remember when Ryan finally beat me many moons ago in the Shady Brook court...did we every play after that?

Leigha was a Flower Fairy - yes, cutest girl there, in her age group, with a last name starting with a "C". :)

Brian was a Storm Trooper from Star Wars

Jeff was Mater from Lightening McQueen

Brendan was a Ninja, not a Ninja Turtle as that is so mid 90's. Yep, he had a sword and everything.

Denise is in Gilroy today so I'm cleaning up her den...you know what I mean. Remember her room from high school (at least I've been told and heard rumors).

It is raining and windy up here. Great day to watch college football, read, and create this blog site.

More to follow...my key board Shift button sticks and it's very annoying (the word shift was shortened by a letter f and I almost missed fixing it before posting). Where is the auto spell correct I'm so used too?