Aprilcot Trees

I looked out the window and what did I see, popcorn popping on the "Aprilcot" tree.  Spring has brought me such a nice surprise, blossoms popping right before my eyes. 

My two year old has again won my affections by his latest rendition of  the LDS Primary song Popcorn Popping.   If you have never heard the song you can click on the words Popcorn Popping to hear it. 

How can you not LOVE this face, Dora bandaid and all! 

Alaska and skunks

Mark and his brother and a few other friends went up to Alaska to fish.  They flew to Ketchikan then took a little puddle jumper plane over to Prince of Wales Island.  They fished for Silvers (salmon) for 4 days and despite a few minor injuries...a fly being lodged in one's ear, Ryan's leg getting really banged up and Mark's phone being a casualty of the river...all had a great time.  Mark has been to Alaska a few times before but says he always forgets how gorgeous it really is there. 

While Mark was off in Alaska enjoying himself, I was left home dealing with 4 kids and the skunk that ended up in the trap that Mark forgot he had set the night before he left! 

See the trap right there by the trampoline?

Thank goodness for good friend and neighbor Mike for being home and willing to "take care" of the skunk right away.

I didn't dare get too close to the trap to take a picture but if you look closely in the little holes you can see the black and white fur of the stinky little thing.

7 Months

Sweetest Face EVER!!

Look at those EYES!

Such a happy baby, always flapping her arms and kicking her feet!

How can sweet baby sister already be 7 months old?

Yesterday I noticed that she is getting her first two teeth, two at once, OUCH! 

She is still so darn happy pretty much all the time. 

Still loves her brothers and her dad.

She sits up so well and is figuring out how to scoot herself on her tummy. Not really ready for her to be mobile yet so I hope she doesn't figure out crawling any time soon!

She claps her hands and waves bye-bye, my favorite!

She also says "mama"!!  She has to say "mama" first, she owes me since she looks so much like her dad.

She laughs like an old smoker, but we can't get enough of it!

She drinks out of a sippy cup and eats Cheerios like a champ.

She is like 29inches long which is way off the charts for a girl her age. But we aren't really surprised are we?

She weighs about 18lbs which makes her still my smallest baby, I love it!

I had to buy her some new cold weather clothes.  Dang I love shopping for her, girl clothes are so CUTE. I bought the cutest dress ever too, when she wears it I will show it off with a couple pictures.

Even though she doesn't look a thing like me and I wonder if my genes get eliminated in the baby making process, I sure do love all my sweet babies.  I wouldn't trade them for the world! And I think I am safe in saying, My kids are cuter than your kids!!!!!

Have a safe and Happy Labor Day weekend!

Goofy tradition or rite of passage???

Do anyone else's kids complain as much as mine do about having to take "1st day of School" pictures?
My boys are only good for about two pictures each so I get whatever I can get in 60 seconds!

It's really crazy that Colby is in 4th grade, today he filled out the papers to run for Student Council.  What the heck, that means he is getting older and wiser!

Cameron is in 2nd grade and though he won't admit he likes school.  He got a young new teacher this year and so far so good, hopefully it stays that way all year.  He also has some kids in his class that he hasn't had before so he is making new friends. 

Hayden was so sad that the Bruders had to go back to school and I was sad for him, he really loves the Bruders and is going to miss them.  So I had a Back to School present for him too, his very own Bar-B-Que!  He has been cooking me up lots of yummy food ever since.  He was so proud that his bar-b-que had a propane tank like his dads!  With the first week of school behind us Hayden and Clara and I are adjusting to a new schedule pretty well. I helps that Hayden is the cutest darn kid and is a joy to hang out with.  We do miss the bruders though.

Sleeping Talent

You may not know that my family is full of talented sleepers.
And yes, sleeping is a talent. (at least in our family!)
Just look at how these kids sleep and tell me it doesn't take talent!

My niece Maison wins first prize. 
But she was challenged by Hayden today when he fell asleep like this on the couch at nap time!