Why do I even try?

Yesterday I tried to take
the kids picture for our Christmas card.
(Don't worry, I didn't spoil them, that pictures not posted.)
Anyways, I think I've worn out my kids
because it's getting harder and harder
to get them to cooperate all at the same time!

Lake Dillon, Colorado

Brian, Bode and I just got back from a little get away.
Lake Dillon is at the top of the Rockies about ten minutes from Breckenridge.
It is beautiful! And it is cold!
We had fun doing a little sight seeing
and a little relaxing!

Thanks Mom for watching the kids!
Sure appreciate ya! Sure Love ya!

This was at the Frisco Museum. A little house and some artifacts

from the original mining town way back when.

The original one room school house from the town.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Conversation with Hayley this morning...
Hayley sees a box of tampons in my bathroom and says, "I know what tampons are now."
Me, "Oh yeah, who told you that?"
Hayley, "No one, I saw it on a commercial."
Me, "So what are they for then?"
Hayley, "They're to put in your underwear and they help grown ups move."
Me, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

I could not stop laughing!
I love how literal kids take things.

Happy Halloween!!

Last night we got to enjoy our ward Trunk-Or-Treat!
It was so much fun and the kids got way too much candy!
We had a rock star, some sort of cat, and a couple of cowboys!

I made this as the grand prize for our cake walk.
It was chocolate cake with chunks of peanut butter cookie,
chocolate frosting, surrounded by kit kats and topped with reeses pieces.
Enough candy for one night?!

This was the extent of my costume.
I'm not a big fan of dressing up
but my nails were nice and long,
so I painted them a spooky scene!

Happy Halloween!!

I LOVE FALL!

It has been FREEZING here lately!
So we've (by that I mean I,
because my kids don't seem to mind the cold)
stayed inside and done alot of this...

And even some of this!

I LOVE FALL!

Transformer Buds

Gage and his best buddy Hayden
are really into Transformers.
When I found these shirts and beanies
I just had to get them.
Don't they look cool?

Homeschooling Benefits

Today we got to go on a fun field trip!

We went to McCall's Pumpkin Patch in Moriarty

and we got to spend the day with Grandma Porter!

My kids are so over me telling them to smile so I get what I can anymore

They got to climb a fun hay pyramid!

And Bode was so proud with how high he got!

Hayley and Gage were my only two to make it to the top

Hannah was just fine with staying low

They got to feed some apparently starving goats

I was actually surprised when they weren't scared

And of course, I love having boys!

I tried to make this picture appropriate for a "family" blog

without taking away from the cute-ness


I'm not sure what's going on in this one

apparently just hangin' out

Before & After

Ever since we moved into our house (4 yrs ago),

I have wanted to paint the cabinets to update my kitchen.

Well, I finally talked Brian into the idea

so here is my proof of work for the last week.

I love love love how it turned out!
I even made a new valance, appliance covers, and apron to match.
I feel like I have a brand new kitchen! I'm done!

I'm so LUCKY!

I have the cutest kids in the WORLD!
OK, so I'm a little biased,
but don't they look cute in their Sunday best!

Proud Aunt Bragging

Our niece Abby finished filming her very first feature film

this summer and I'm excited to say the trailer just came out

and it looks like the perfect movie for my kids to enjoy.

Everyone has to go see it.

I think it comes out in February.

(Abby is the twelve year old co-staring next to Arthur)

GOOD JOB ABBY!

Pretty Darn Clever!

SPIDERS ANYONE!

My kids, I should say my boys, were beside themselves when Daddy

brought this new guy home from work.

Brian asked them if they wanted to touch it, and so without hesitation

Bode reaches in and full hand grabs it!

I wasn't quick enough with my camera:(

AHHHH!

We quickly explained that touching meant more of a one-finger-pet than a full-hand-grab!

Explora/Homeschool Fun!

I have Hayley and Gage in a homeschool science class at our local science museum. They have been learning alot and having a lot of fun.

I just hang out at the museum with the other two and they have fun doing all the different exhibits.

I think this one has to be a favorite of all the kids. The air holds a ball up but for some reason the kids think its for their face!

Gage learning to walk on stilts!

These mega-sized bubbles are the greatest!

Bode has a SECRET!

Can you guess what it is?

That's right! I'm a BIG BOY! wearing underwear!

So I do a little dance!

And I strut my stuff!

We're so proud of Bode for finally getting potty trained.

And I realized this is the first time in 7 1/2 years I haven't had a kid in diapers.

And my beauties!

Did I mention... I HATE BUGS!

The girls we're playing outside last night after dinner when all of the sudden we hear Hayley and her "blood curtling" scream. She had apparently sat down next to this little guy!

Since he was dead the kids all wanted to touch it and Gage even picked it up.

GROSS!

Springer, NM

This weekend we were able to go up to Springer to visit Sean & Beka.
(Brian grew up with Sean and his brothers) They have close to 500 acres there.
We were able to go on quite the walk and it was really neat to explore.

I think this is my favorite picture from the day!

Hayley was ahead of me on the walk but when she spotted this log,
she ran back to me and asked,
"Can we take pictures on that log?"
And of course she had to pose!

(This is Sean & Beka's oldest Taylor. Hayley and Taylor had just finished putting on make-up in case you were wondering about the purple)

They have this old abandoned house on their property

that was built way back when, it was awesome!

This is their little guy Jordan who was such a ham in front of the camera!

I guess this old tub was here just for me!

Gage loves to climb on everything!

Sean and a few tag-a-longs gathering eggs!

In the middle of the tour we came around the corner
to find a lovely little SKUNK!

It turned out to be a really fun day!
Sean and Beka were awesome to let us come at the last minute.
I hope they had as much fun as we did!

I really do have good kids!

I was doing some laundry this afternoon and when I emerged this is what I found.

Not sure who they're in training with, because that is SOOOO NOT ME!

Hayley had Hannah being her backup singer/dancer. It was pretty cute!

We love to jump!

Lately my kids think it is such a treat when I jump with them.

They all get really excited and every one of them has to be jumping with me.

(I guess the girls thought they were helping me by sticking their arms out too)

Suprise!

Hannah got a haircut! And I LOVE it!

Here are the before and aftersThe kids always have fun out at Grandma's. Of course the boys couldn't resist the tree well full of water. Well, neither could the girls but I took this picture before the girls joined in.

We also all got to do some riding.

"You can take the girl out of the Honky Tonk but you can't take the Honky Tonk out of the girl!"

Fun day for everyone! Thanks Grandma!

Good Friends!

Last night we had a nice visit from our friends the Wamboldts. I went to high school with Ashlee, we were married a week apart and have had our four kids pretty close to each other. We even were lucky enough to live walking distance from each other for a few years. We have a lot of fun memories together. I love having friends that we can be apart from for nearly two years but feel like we haven't missed a beat when we get together.

Their oldest Noah is almost a year older than Hayley, and we arranged their marriage almost the day we had Hayley. The kids have always agreed is the funny thing. Noah now lives 8 hours away from us (and has for about 2 years now) but Hayley still tells people that Noah is her boyfriend. It's the cutest thing!

Last night they put together a little dance routine dressed as a cowboy and his damsel in distress (I guess)



My camera and picture fetish have rubbed off a little with Hayley. She took plenty of pictures to remember the night by.



They both kept acting shy. Too cute!

And just for old times sake. Here are some pictures of them at ages 2 & 3.

Their first kiss and I caught it on camera.

These are going to make a great slideshow at their wedding reception :^)