Surefire Royalty

Burke: "Mom, is Blakelyn really a princess?"
Me: "Yes."

Family Time

Now that we are 10 hours away from the closest family rather than 15 or 39, we expect to have more visits from the ones we love. The pressure is on!

It is hard to really appreciate this photo. It was taken in the dark at the end of a really great game of sardines. Our boys beg for a good game of sardines frequently but we have discovered something interesting since we have been in this new house...we've got a bunch of Scaredy-cats! It was good to have a bunch of adults so all the boys could have a partner ( I just had to suck it up and stop being scared). Theron hid behind this plant and strangely this was one of the most difficult finds. The other thing that we have discovered playing in this house is when the lights are all out...it is really really DARK!

Papa couldn't resist buying the pink camouflage fleece outfit for Blakelyn. We all know she has got to keep up with the brothers. She still need to grow into it a little.

Blake with Grandma Judy. Blake is our first blond baby. If she looks like her daddy, then she'll look like her grandma. This could be a foreshadowing of what she will look like when she is in her prime.

Baby Blessing

At the beginning of December we got a visit from lots of family for a special day for Blakelyn.

In our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) babies are blessed by their fathers or another man who has the priesthood. During this blessing Blakelyn's name was presented and blessings from Heavenly Father were given to her.

Trav's mom crocheted the booties Blake is wearing and the blanket.

We were glad that my parents and brothers were able to come. It was really neat to have my dad and two of my brothers, Solon and Simeon, standing in the blessing circle.

It was great to have Travis' parents and his brother, Rob, with us for the blessing. Randy and Rob were also able to stand in the circle for the blessing. I liked what I felt when I looked at all the priesthood brethren standing there holding my baby girl.

Theron on being a good home owner

Driving home from the library today...

Referring to a yard with a swing set, monkey bars, and a merry-go-round, Theron said: "Wow, look at that yard!"
Isaac: "Lucky!"
Theron: "Lucky?! Look at how rundown that house is! That's like the most rundown house ever! They should get an F in the homing department."

Brutal.

Bonding

Quality bonding time with the computer...I mean brothers.

Surgery

This would have been a great photo for Halloween! Isaac had surgery last week. He had four baby teeth removed because they refused to come out on their own. He also had two extra teeth hanging out up in his gums causing a traffic jam. The surgeon took those two teeth out as well. Now he talks funny, has really bad breath, hardly eats anything, and has sutures hanging down that make him look a little scary. Especially when he does this. I am considering having my front teeth removed as a new form of dieting. Though I don't think the results would be quite so favorable for me. I might end up being a toothless but skinny babe. I guess a little chub won't hurt me.

Isaac on Hawaii

Me: "You guys are lucky. There are lots of kids in this world who don't even know what Legos are."
Isaac: "Yeah, like kids in Hawaii."

One Month Old

Someone slow down the clock!

Burke:On being puffed up

Burke: "Mommy, your tummy's puffed up."
Me: "My tummy's puffed up? Are you sure?"
B: "Yeah, your tummy's puffed up."
Me: "Are you sure? Look. Is it puffed up or is it puffed down?"
B: "Yeah, it's puffed down...(thinking)...but not all the way."

Well, it has only been three weeks. At least I'm a little puffed down...according to a three year old.

Pet People

I guess I pegged the neighbors slightly wrong. I think I'll peg them as animal people rather than pet people. Ironically, we have been staring at an empty pasture since the day after my last post. The cows have gone to the butcher. Maybe the neighbors should be labeled meat people.

Backyard Bliss

We are not pet people. We never have been pet people. Others often tell us that we'll HAVE to get a dog for all of these boys. We usually just smile and think, "Nope."

So...I am grateful for neighbors like ours who ARE pet people. Or at least animal people. It takes a little of the pressure off of us. Our next door neighbors have cows. We have an apple tree. At their convenience and leisure the boys can pay attention to the cows but we have no responsibility for them. Just the way I like it. The perks but not the pain.

Theron takes a moment to bare his soul to his new friends.

Then he's off to cause trouble with the brothers. It may be his favorite past time.

I think they welcomed it this time but not always.

And where is Isaac during all of this backyard fun? Inside reading a book, of course!

Sleeping Beauty

Afternoon Bonding

Charlie and I had a fun time building a motorcycle with Zoobs. I'm not just making it up either. The proof is in the quote:
"Mom, I love you. Your help rocks! I mean you are helping me a lot!"
Love you, too, Charlie boy!

Tsk Tsk!!

Maybe it's time to invest in a binki.

Handy man

One garage with...

one really big...

...problem.

One guy with....

...one really big...

...solution.

Happy Birthday Isaac

Yet another breakfast in bed for the birthday boy!

Every 9 year old needs their own pink Barbi car. Well, that's what we told him before he opened it. He didn't laugh.

We're glad your our boy Isaac! Happy Birthday! We love you!

Country Mercantile

Our good friends clued us into this fun place...the Country Mercantile.

The boys enjoyed racing through the corn maze.

They tried to eat the corn they found...not such a good idea. I think it had been growing a tad bit too long.

It was a great day for a little hay climbing.

The downside was that the pumpkins were so scrawny.

Poor Burke fell asleep in the car and had to go with me to the pharmacy instead of to the pumpkin patch. He woke up in the car while sitting outside of Albertson's grocery store and said, "It's taking a long time to get to the pumpkin patch." Uh-oh! Fortunately, my mom and I spotted the "pumpkin patch" on the sidewalk to Albertson's and whisked Burke right over to the "patch" to pick out his pumpkin. Good thing for this bad mom he doesn't know what he missed. I think I was more sad for him than he was.