Flailing the AXE

Melissa playing GHII...Guitar Hero 2 for those of you that actually have lives...as you can see a line has formed to have the next game. She failed to finish the song, Possum Kingdom by the Toadies, on easy level. We laughed and pointed and she hung her head in shame knowing she will never be the "Complete Loser" as so many before her have achieved by mastering Guitar Hero 2.

July 4th Extravaganza...well kinda?

For some reason when we get together as a family over July 4th, we always end up in the same crappy park to watch fireworks being launched from a lake miles away. Its usually not that bad, and the bonus is there is no traffic getting home. Anyway, here we see the family...all stretched out on the park grass wondering why we are at this crappy park again.


mmmmm...so delicious...I could eat them all up. Well not literally of course...thats just strange....I mean, how could you even consider that...anyways, just getting through the first few layers of.....and the whole disposal of the.........stop looking at me!


My Father telling an inappropriate joke...most likely of the sexual nature.........giggity.


My son getting that joke.

An Assundry of Pictures

Here Simon is asking Charley to sniff the air and see if he can "smell that"...Charley does so, much to his displeasure.


The family at the beach. As you can tell, we are of pasty lineage...notice the shade from a portable beach tent, the hats, and many coats of sun-block....we don't tan, we just burn, peel, and then complain about how we burn and peel. Its a vicious cycle.


This is actually a pretty cool image. The Winnie the Pooh ride at Disneyland broke down half way though and on the way out Melissa snapped some images of the Simon next to some of the characters close up from the ride sans the creepy black light.


The thrill of holding his brother quickley wore off. Here we see "angry" simon getting ready to push his brother of his lap. he mostly listens to us when we ask him not to hurt his brother......mostly.


Simon has been sort of getting into Power Rangers lately...he's not quite sure what it is yet, all he knows is that he is supposed to raise his fist and scream at various times throughout the day. Here, he is showing us all how to do it with his cousin Garrett. Notice Garrett is not dressed up...I guess he recognized that dressing up is just taking it a little too far. Simon........had no problem with it.

Yes, Grandma is old

The entire family gatherd and traveled north to celebrate Grandmothers birthday. She is 80-something-er-other...We paused from destroying the resturaunt and driving the customers out with our abnoxious children long enough to have a photo taken. The resturaunt was called "Carrows", but it seemed more like an elephant's graveyard to me. Lots of old people buying there time with greasy sausages and free butter. On second thought, the more i think about it, that does sound a bit like what i picture heaven to be.......minus the abundance of arthritis.


The Clater Gene is strong with this one.....My youngest son staring at me with amazment when he realizes the man holding him is not actually himself as an adult, but his grandfather. Charles Roland Clater Jr. vs. Charles Daniel Clater.