Suggestions?

Well, I'm still basically computer-less but dealing with the sitch. Colin is being nice enough to lend me his laptop when he doesn't have to take it to school. I know it's driving him crazy, but I'm very appreciative.

So, I'm thinking of getting a new digital camera. I'm hoping to get an SLR if I can figure out a way to afford it. Does anyone have any suggestions? Have not really researched this at all...

Do you have one?

Do you want one?

Which one do you have?

What do you like about it?

What do you not like about the model that you have?

What advice would you give to someone purchasing a new camera?

Sorry for all of the questions but if anyone has any advice or suggestions in making this purchase, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks y'all!

boo :(

My laptop computer has no power. It is a work computer so I have no way of getting it or the battery, or the power cord, or whatever the problem is fixed until the end of August. I am assuming it will take AT LEAST a month after that for the computer to be sent back to me.

My desktop sucks. side note- It is located on the top floor of our house. I cannot get the top floor of our house to a decent temperature. It feels like the heater is on. I don't even know if I can hook it up to the Internet. There is no memory left on it. It barely runs. It is 9 years old. Do I have to say anything else?

Colin's laptop is kaput. I don't even know if it is worth fixing.

Colin's other laptop is for school, and he takes it with him to work. (He is letting me borrow it so that I can post this pathetic entry.)

My point is, I may not be able to update my blog. :(
I'm not sure how long this will take me but I do know that being without the Internet is:
1. boring
2. annoying
3. frustrating

I'm sure I'll come up with some amazing solution to this crazy problem, I just hope that it doesn't end up costing me an arm and a leg.

Clegg Reunion at Cherry Hill

This year our Clegg reunion was held at Cherry Hill in Utah. We had a really fun time camping and enjoying the water park. All four of us were able to go. The reunion seemed to have a pretty good turn out too. Ryan did not want to leave on Sunday morning.

I'm not really that pleased with the pictures that I took. For one thing, I've totally lost my camera and so I'm using Colin's as a back up. His camera is okay, but I'm more used to mine I guess. Secondly, Ryan wasn't being very cooperative with picture taking. I also found it hard to take pictures and enjoy my time visiting with family simultaneously. Here they are regardless.

PS: I'm sure my other relatives will be posting pictures soon too on their own websites and letting me know about it so those who missed out can get a more complete picture of how the reunion went down this year. YES, THIS IS YOUR HINT!

Ryan, me and Evan at the Cherry Hill water park.

Ryan enjoying some lunch.

Shannon and Colin chatting and relaxing on the lawn chairs at the water park. Evan's taking a little rest that turned into a nice nap!

Evan hanging out in the Pirate's Cove.

Evan inside of the Pirate ship.

Ryan with a cannon on deck of the pirate ship.

My boys firing the cannon at the people down below. It didn't really fire, but occasionally it had some nice steam coming out of it.

Ryan splashing around in the Pirates Cove area.

Evan testing the bounds of the restricted area.

Marsha holding Evan under a waterfall.

Ryan sliding down the slide at the Pirate's Cove. Brady and Tyler are behind him.

Brady's turn.

Paul with his step-son Gabe.

Brady about to ride the trike down the little ramp.

Tessa holding Karen's baby Kali. Kali is the newest member of the Clegg family, at 5 weeks old!

My little family. Colin holding Ryan, Jen holding Evan.

Evan saying "cheese" for the camera.

Evan and Grandpa

Karen holding her newborn baby girl Kali Jean, Jess holding 3 month old Emry Mae, Cheryl holding her second baby girl Kara Noelle. Karen, Jess and Cheryl all are very close in age, each about 9 months or less apart. They had baby girls very close together as well. Emry and Kara are only 10 days apart and Kali came just 2 months later than Emry. We got a picture with their Moms too but I didn't snap it on my camera so check Jess' site for that one.

All of the McNew clan.

Colin, Shane, Justin (in the back)

Jen, Donna, Jess, Cole (in the middle)

Ryan, Evan, Emry (on the laps)

It's hard to take a picture of that many people and have it turn out nicely. Our camera isn't the best for taking pictures at night, so this is the best one I've got. Again, check Jess & Cole's for perhaps a better shot.

UFC BBQ

Colin invited some buddies over to watch UFC 100 at our house on pay-per-view. We had a great time. I really enjoyed putting together a fun barbecue menu and cooking for everyone. The fights were a lot of fun to watch too.


Aloha Kabobs
recipe from Better Homes and Gardens new Grilling cookbook
Prep: 30 minutes
Makes: 10 side-dish servings

10 8-inch wooden skewers
1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
20 red or white pearl onions, peeled (I actually used golden)
2 yellow and or red sweet peppers, but into 1 inch pieces (I used green too)
20 sugar snap peas (I did not use these but used cherub tomatoes instead)
1/4 cup teriyaki or Szechwan glaze

1. Soak the wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes. Drain. Alternately thread pineapple, onions, peppers and peas onto skewers, leaving a 1/4 inch space between pieces.
2. For a charcoal grill, grill kabobs on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 6 to 8 minutes or just until onions are tender and pineapple is heated through, turning once halfway through grilling and brushing frequently with glaze. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce to medium heat. Place kabobs on grill rack over heat. Cover; grill as above
Artichoke and jalapeno dip (from Costco, where else?)

Layered BLT salad

recipe from Kraft Foods summer magazine
PREP 15 min. MAKES 8 servings, 1 1/2 cups each.

what you need
10 cups torn romaine lettuce
2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
2 cups croutons
8 slices Oscar Mayer Bacon, cooked, crumbled
1 cup Kraft 2% Milk Shredded Colby & Monterrey Jack Cheese
1 bottle (8 oz.) Kraft Classic Caesar Dressing

make it
LAYER lettuce, tomatoes, croutons, bacon and cheese in a large bowl.
DRIZZLE with dressing just before serving; toss lightly. (I bought but forgot to use the croutons)

Fresh Fruit

Tri Tip on the grill

Colin preps this with a rub and grills it up, quite tasty!

The whole Spread out for everyone to enjoy.

The full Menu was:

- potato salad

- BLT salad

- Aloha Kabobs

- Watermelon lemonade

- Tri tip

- Jalapeno dip

- salsa and cream cheese dip

- Fresh fruit

- sodas

Swimming Lessons

I decided to sign Ryan up for swimming lessons this year and was very pleased with that choice. He loved getting into the water to swim for a little while each day. He learned how to float on his back by himself. He's learning a little more about the water and that's a great thing. We may even do another session this summer.
Ry took lessons at the pool that I was a life guard at for many years. It was a little strange going back as a patron. But lots of fun!

Here's Ryan with his teacher doing a tummy float.

Back float ride.

Showing me some kind of a trick in the water.

Blowing bubbles in the water.

Ryan with is buddy Maycee.

Hey, look! He's sitting on the steps with the rest of the class like he's supposed to.

Splash Park '09

We've been trying to think of ways to stay busy and cool this summer. The Splash Park is always a hit. I took Ryan, Curen, and Evan out there one day this week. We had a great time!

Fireworks at home

the rocking horse

On Ryan's second birthday, the Dean's brought us out this rocking horse all the way from Maryland. It was Colin's when he was a little boy and Karen and Bruce saved it all this time. They've were waiting to hand it down to Colin when he had a child that could use it. Ryan was a little bit big for it by the time we got it, but he still rode it a little. I think it is so cute and has tons of character. Evan has really enjoyed it and he's been able to have it around for a little longer than Ryan, so he's really gotten some use out of it. I know Karen will be thrilled to see some pictures of Evan on it, but I just had to post the ones of Ryan too. I guess I think it's cool how similar they look and at the same time, they look a different too. Ryan is 26 months in these pictures and Evan is 15 months. So they're about a year apart, Ryan being older when the photos were taken than Evans. However, they're about the same size. Ryan's face looks older but they can wear the same clothes. I know because Evan wears a lot of hand-me-downs and can fit into the stuff that Ryan wore at this age.



Ryan on the rocking horse.
Ryan.
Sorry about the bandanna, I think he was copying Colin who was trying on Halloween "costumes".
Evan riding the rocking horse.
Evan.