Sunday morning

By some miracle we were all ready this morning for church with a half hour to spare. Since we all looked mostly nice, I herded everyone outside for some pictures. Two two year olds are kinda wiggly and my 6 year old hates her picture being taken but still some cute pictures.


Afton

The handsome boys in the house

Me and my boy (along with the debut of my snazzy new glasses)

One of the sweetest (and most curious/ troublesome) girls I know... Miss Afton


Our three girls and a dog (Lizzie would only be in the picture if the dog could be in it too). If you notice Lilly's face that is what she does when she sees a camera out. You know, squint your eyes so much you can't see and then just sit there and smile a big cheesy grin :)

I had to include this one because I think the chubbiness of a two year olds face and hands is one of the cutest things.

1st and 3rd

As of today I now have a 1st and 3rd grader. This is big news because it means that I have two kids gone FULL DAY!!!!! I miss them..... Plus those older kids are amazing at entertaining and helping with their little sisters. Yes, less kids at home make more work for mom in taking care of the little ones.

Does this mean I will actually have to go get the diapers myself.....? :)

Anyways, here are my 1st and 3rd grader....




Ethan (3rd grade) -He is tremendously tall for his age and is as tall as most 6th graders at his school. More than twice this summer people asked him if he was going into 5th or 6th grade.
- He still loves to play Star Wars on the piano and recently has started to learn the theme from Nightmare Before Christmas.
- Is such a good kid at school and really likes reading and Math. In fact, on the days when we go to the library I can count on a book in his hand for the rest of the day.



Lizzie (1st grade)- Just in the past few months I can't say Lizzie is our difficult one anymore (a 8 year old with a little bit more attitude has currently taken that slot). She has really changed a lot recently(both in temperment and heighth). We still have our head butt moments but for the most part she is a great girl.
- She still makes me laugh at all the big words she knows and the sayings she comes up with.
For example, just yesterday I told her to change a shirt because it wasn't modest. She changed and said "Mom, this one isn't modest either, it is just brown." :)
-Is still the "artist" and just recently has learned to draw her own princess dresses. Before she would have me draw it and she would color it in and add a head and arms. Now she does it all and they turn out beautiful as you can see below. I especially like how she made the feet (in purple shoes of course) flip up like in a dance or something :)

Then sometimes there are those pictures that catch you off guard. This picture makes me catch my breath. I know to most people it is just a simple picture of Lizzie walking to school but to a mom here is one more reminder that my kids are growing up way too fast and exploring more and more the world away from home.

A&L

Only because I am incredibly behind on our photo albums I will post a few things on here to help me remember until I can one day catch up. So this post is mostly for me :)




My cute little bear cubs (Afton and Lilly)are almost 2 1/2. Seriously where has the time gone. Here is a what they are up to at this age....

Lilly
- feels the need to always shut doors, toilet lids, cupboards, etc. If she sees them open, they quickly become shut before she can concentrate on something else. Sometimes Jim and I will secretly open a door just because we know it will bug her until she gets it closed :)
- Is extremely shy around people she doesn't know well or hasn't warmed up to BUT when she is home she does NOT STOP TALKING. All day long she talks and talks, and talks, and talks.
- Picks the exact same book every night for her bedtime story. It is Toy Story 3 and it is a library book that I have renewed to its max.
- REALLY likes her chocolate milk right now and insists on having it every morning for breakfast with a straw. At some meals she won't even touch her food but drinks plenty of chocolate milk
-LOVES TV especially if Toy Story, Up, Tom and Jerry or Curious George is on
-Loves to sing Twinkle Twinkle, ABC's, (these first two she can sing all of them by herself) 5 little monkeys swinging in a tree and Princess Pat
-Will say a sentence over and over again until you repeat it back to her correctly. Unfortunately at this age it is hard to understand everything she says so it can take awhile on both ends of the conversation :)

Afton
- has the cutest smile in the world!
- is always up for giving hugs and kisses and will randomly throughout the day just say "Hi Mom." I love it! She also loves to cuddle
- Is extremely curious about everything and how things work or come apart.
- Is my sensitive girl and if she is doing something wrong all I have to say is "Afton" a little stern and her poor guilty face shows so much.
- Loves to eat and gets so excited when I say it is lunchtime or snack time. She has been known to actually starts giggling in excitement at the prospect of food.
-Has curly hair (although this picture doesn't do it justice) which I love but don't know what to do with except put a barrette in it every day.
-Loves to wear one of Lizzie's purple "princess dresses". She will even take her naps in it and wants to wear it at the table to eat but I say no to that one.





Next week we will highlight Ethan and Lizzie as they start school

Jim "Adventure" Day

Yesterday we spent the day as a family (including dog) up in the Uintahs. I am not much of a camper anymore but will totally go for day trips.
A day like yesterday I think is how Jim imagines heaven but with doughnuts and bread also.

We went up in the canyon and had lunch with tons of sheep which was awesome.



Then we went to a place called Christmas Meadows. It was BEAUTIFUL. We were the only ones there. The kids loved playing in the water and throwing rocks in. Jim was a little further down the river fishing.





Doing what kids should be doing- EXPLORING


Of course we had to stop at this sign. If you look closely you can see Jim's legs as he is behind her holding her up :)

Thanksgiving Point

Back in April we bought a membership to Thanksgiving Point. Between all the different places to visit there, we have already gone enough times to make it well worth our money. It has been a great place to go when we just need a little distraction during the day. It is only 10 minutes away so.... perfect. Here are a few pictures from the other day when we went to Farm Country.

A mini-van full of children before we left for Thanksgiving Point



Afton meets a goat

Ethan on a horse

Cute little Afton


Lilly Bill