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.

A Day at the Orchard

We decided to take a trip to Cherry Valley, CA. this past sunday to visit the Grandparents....and pick cherries oddly enough. We had some lunch and then let Simon run around in the orchard like a wild kitty till he got bored. So he ran around like a wild kitty for about 3 minutes. Cherry trees don't participate much in "Duck, Duck, Goose" as he soon learned
.

Just another view of orchard.


Grandma was being hostil when I was trying to document our trip by taking her picture. As you can see, she was a bit perturbed as i snapped this one off, which is fairly intersting because she is basically blind yet somehow knew when I had taken the camera out and when I had put it away...I think she can smell fear.


As you can see this is a "boy" cherry. I was gonna eat this one, but I got a bit creeped out by it....and im done with this comment...


Red Gold.

Blowig the dust off of a 60 year old man

Dan J. Hall (Missy's father) turned 60, so the entire family gathered to explain to him how old he is.


One thing that Miss's family does everytime we get together is take a family picture. This is simon getting candy from the photographer as incentive to smile.


Simon soon realized he must now uphold his end of the bargain much to his dismay. Through a series of trial and error and over months of toil, he found the perfect sad puppy look. I must use his power for my gain!...it must be harnessed and exploited somehow...


After reminding Dan he can now get the "senoir" discount at pretty much every place he goes, we all went to the A's game and settled in at our newly acquired skybox. I have concluded after this event, regular sporting seats are for chumps. Next time I hit a game, I'm bringing Simon to get us into the skybox. As one could plainly see, he has the talent and the drive. His sad face is like currency.


Center field Skybox...private bathroom and kitchen. Its like home, but a baseball game is going on... and there lots are people around me with coked up kids ineracting with my coked up kids...and the only thing to watch is a sport I know nothing about who's game time could easily last up to 4 hours....wow.....if thats not a description of hell perhaps I need to retool my philosophical standings on the subject.
(I keed...I keed....fun was had by all)


Nephews trying to determine the best way to trash the room. I think this is where they were using discarded food items as a makeshift map in order to better illustrate their plan of attack.

Mican's Wedding Day

Dad with Cora (one of my brothers children) outside the Temple....Dad apparently sees something and decided to point to it in hopes that Cora is somehow actually paying attention. Cora caught someones soul and is trying to hear the noise it makes as she squeezes it.


Grandma and Grandpa Gardner with their son (my uncle) Greg. I fear one day I too will live up to the bald legacy.


Brett and Mican surrounded by nephews and nieces. Simon and Charlie are in there somewhere. Just pick the cutest ones and you found them. Granted all the kids are cute, but im talking angelic cute....like so cute it makes you throw up a little in your mouth.


Simon at the reception pointing to his childhood as it floats away.....or perhaps the fish. you can never tell with that kid.


Simon surrounded by lights and dreaming of a time when life wasn't so complicated with playing, sleeping, and learing how everyday objects are created on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood...Damn that Mr. Rogers and all his stealing of children's youth.

Eventful Day

Simon at Disneyland again. This time cooking some sort of fairy dust cookie. It was free, so whatever.....


Simon showing off what else he cooked up later that night. First time using the "Big Boy" toilet....or as "big boy" as a plastic Seasame Street toilet can be. There was some screaming, some tantrums, and some pain, but in the end he is now convinced toilets are for suckers and having someone esle wipe his bum is living on easy street.

Mike and Laura decided they were bored of staring at each other and wanted to tag along as we went out to dinner. The cell phone images dissapointed me oh so much, all grainy and what-not...........
......stupid flanders......