Uh-Oh!

I only had one errand to do today. Just a simple trip to mail one thing at the post office.

My 3 crazy kids were playing as they waited for me outside. I picked up Brenner and headed out the door just in time to see Dave's little Nissan work-pick-up (that the kids love playing in because Dave only drives it on occasion) slowly backing out the 3rd garage. I ran, holding Brenner in one arm, chasing the Nissan which had Kyler and Lexi inside. As I sprinted beside it I grabbed the open door thinking I could slow the truck but quickly realized my one-arm-supermom-hold was no match for it's increasing velocity down the driveway. I yelled at Kyler and Lexi to jump out and roll before it got going too fast and either hit the fence or went out into the road and possibly into the small ditch on the other side. They both jumped out and the Nissan came to a stop at the edge of the yard and the alfalfa field. No harm done. But boy was I shaking like crazy! I don't know why it scared me so bad, I guess because it was out of my control and I was powerless to save my kids (not that they ended up needing to be saved after all, whew!). I'm just very thankful Porter was beside the truck and not behind it when they put it in nuetral!

After the post office the kids talked me in to stopping for World-Famous shakes at the Emporium. We made it out with only 3 instead of 4 because one of them got knocked on the floor by a child I won't name, and the employees were so busy with lines of tourists that I had to wipe it up with a towel and run behind the counter several times to rinse it out and keep wiping up the strawberry marshmallow dream. So embarrassing. I hadn't gotten ready for the day yet, wearing a baseball hat, and my kids were in mismatched clothes, one of them in barefeet (I had piggy-backed him in the store). We were a sight indeed!

Two of the kids ended up not wanting their shakes after a couple slurps so we decided to take one to Dave (since his was the one that ended up on the floor). He wasn't at either worksite we tried. I had forgotten my cell phone so I couldn't even call him to tell him we were bringing him a surprise and needed to know his location. We were striking out all over the place. And poor Brenner just wanted to be home, poor crying baby.

So after our lovely outing we came home. After times like this I remember all the other trips to town that are way crazier than today and I know why some days we just stay home...

Spontaneous Date-Night with 4 Kids

Last night, spur-of-the-moment we let the kids stay up later than bedtime and loaded up with pillows and blankets and went to the drive-in. We told them it wasn't a kid movie like a cartoon or anything, but for fun they could come with us and have a sleep-over in the car. The great thing about kids is that they thought that sounded like GREAT fun! And it WAS so fun because of their excitement to be doing something out of the ordinary. They loved setting up their pillows and blankets in the car and played for a little bit in the backseats while the movie started. Since it was so late and way past their bedtime they fell asleep pretty quick (only after some minor trauma that the AC wasn't on and our car was getting stuffy with 6 people in it and no circulating air). After they were asleep it seemed almost like a real date and was so fun to be with my wonderful husband. I'll take it when I can! Fun memory.

Aw, Shucks!

We had THE best corn on the cob last night. My kids LOVE shucking corn. I'm so glad because I don't like doing that part. Isn't it great that kids have fun at most everything they do? We love corn on the cob, that is one of the best parts of summer at our house.

Bike Trouble

Poor Kyler has had so many problems with his bike this summer. First the tire popped and he couldn't ride it until it was replaced. Now the pedal has spun off and is stripped so Dave couldn't even get it to screw back on. So the solution? He's taken to riding my bike. He was beyond excited to show me that he could ride it! What an adventurous soul!Isn't he cute?!

Our Comings and Goings...

Okay, it's been so long since I've been able to post! Seriously, everytime I've turned on the computer the last week or so one of my kids has needed something. I'm trying to be a better mom and not say "Just a minute" so many times, so I haven't been able to sit for long and blog. But with this great ticket thing (see post below) I told them they could have a ticket if I could sit at the computer for 1 hour while Brenner is asleep and post all these things I've been wanting to post. I only feel a little bit guilty... (hehe)

Anyway, we've done a few fun things this last couple weeks. Has anyone been to the Candy Drop in Star Valley on the 24th of July? It was a BLAST! We all loved it. After a pot-luck dinner the kids played on the playsets and swings and had a train ride in this cool homemade 4-wheeler train... Then this airplane flies overhead and drops candy for all the kids to run and pick up. It was a hoot watching all the kids (and parents) run after the candy. And fun to watch the candy fall out of the sky.
Then there were huge fireworks that explode right overhead. It was AWESOME. My kids LOVED it. It was probably one of the funnest things we've done all summer. Thanks to Dave's brother Darrin and his wife Kris for inviting us to come!

The kids had a great afternoon last week at Dave's parent's house playing with cousins on their fun water slide. I had a nice time visiting with Bev and Kara while we watched the kids play.My two boys ran away before I got this picture but what cute cousins sitting in a row drying out in the sun.We were also able to go to a Family Reunion on Dave's Dad's side last Saturday. We haven't seen all those relatives for years, since before we had kids, so it was great to go to that. And my sister is blessing her baby this Sunday so we're looking forward to seeing more family this weekend. Summer is such a great time!

I've been doing some school shopping online because I tried last week to do a little school shopping with 4 kids and it was a disaster! Brenner screamed the whole time so we didn't get a whole lot done. I ordered some backpacks for Kyler and Lexi that came today and it has made them so SUPER excited for school to start.

Oh, and I am going private as soon as I can type in everyone's names. I was so happy that you will all keep blogging with me, and also to find some old and new friends via the blogging world! Thanks everyone! And if there is anyone else interested in an invite please leave me your email address today. See you on the other side!

2 Months

Has another month gone by already?! Brenner sadly got his 2 month shots yesterday. Lexi got her kindergarten shots too so we had 2 sad kids yesterday. But the thoughts of a blizzard from Dairy Queen helped Lexi survive. And thankfully Tylonel helped Brenner get through it. Shots are always a nice thing to have over and done with.

Just for my record, here are Brenner's 2 month stats:

Weight: 14 lbs 9 oz (95 percentile - yikes!)
Height: 24 inches (85 percentile)

We love his chubby cheeks and thighs, they are the greatest! We call him our little chunky monkey and love every inch of him. I tried 3 different times to get a 2-month-bear picture of him yesterday but every time I set him down he would cry. I had to still include a picture because it shows his rubber-band thighs. I LOVE them! And I got a good photo today. Happy 2-month birthday Brenner!
The acid reflux medicine wasn't making a huge difference for him so I stopped giving it to him a few days ago. I just don't like the thoughts of him being on daily medication if he doesn't need to be. We've tried giving him only Nutramigin Enfamil formula and he absolutely hates it. It about made me cry for days every time it was time to feed him because I knew it was going to be a fight before he would settle down and drink an ounce or two and then wake up crying a half an hour later because he was starving again. So now I'm rededicated to breastfeeding but cutting out all dairy. So I'm a soy girl for the next few months and am trying not to gag, but if it will help him I can put up with the sacrifice. I hope it works! He's seemed a little more peaceful since I started, but he has with everything else too for the first day or two. So we'll see. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

One more thing that has helped immensely is this swing. It was in my parent's storage, I think it's yours, Ty and Nat, so a huge THANK YOU to you for letting me borrow it (I hope thats alright!) Brenner loves it for brief moments throughout the day. He's even fallen asleep in it a couple times which has been a miraculous thing.

One funny thing that Kyler said about Brenner today was, "When he's happy he's alot cuter, and when he's sleeping he's SO much cuter!" I think we all feel a little that way about Brenner sometimes too! It's a little easier to think he's cute when he's happy and smiling, and even easier when he's peacefully asleep! But he's always, always loved, even when he's being not-so-cute.

And finally, my 4 wonderful kids. What a lucky mom I am!

Tickets

We started the era of 'the tickets' at our house yesterday. It is AWESOME! (I saw it a few days ago on somebody's blog, hooray for the wonderful sharing in the blogging world!) It has worked so great so far (I know it's only been one day... but grateful for small miracles!) This is how it works... My kids earn one ticket for making their beds, eating all their food, picking up their clothes, putting away their clean laundry, wearing their seatbelt, or anything we've been struggling to get them to do on a daily basis. Then, they can trade in those tickets for a piece of gum, a TV show, etc. Bigger things that they really want require more tickets... like a cookie is 5 tickets, inviting a friend over is 5 tickets, a trip to the ice cream store is 5 tickets, a new toy is 25 tickets. My kids have been begging for things to do to earn more tickets. It has been so fun! I've had them asking if they can pull weeds, sweep the floor, put things away for me, etc. My house is spotless because everything has been picked up and put where it goes! And they haven't been fighting or yelling or whining because if they do their tickets get ripped in half and put in the garbage. Brilliant! I love it!

Have any of you done something similar that has worked wonders in your household?

Eskimo Kisses

I love that I caught this moment on camera! Porter climbed up to be by Brenner to give him an eskimo kiss. I love it.
"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero." --Marc Brown


"I love my brother, my brother loves me.
My friend, my hero, he always will be.
In sundry ways our uniqueness is clear.
He likes to go far, but I favor near.
He likes to play sports and being outside.
I prefer music and playing inside.
Sometimes we fight and yell at each other,
But he is my friend for he is my brother."
--Michele Cobb
I love that my boys can grow up together and I hope they are always best friends and each other's heroes.

Going Private...

Okay, I had some catch-up to do! I wanted to remember some of these things about our summer since it's all flown by in a haze for me this year, so hence the million posts I just did. I don't want summer to end! We've already started thinking about school supplies, class lists, school-shopping, etc for the upcoming school year. I'm thankful we have a few lazy hazy weeks of summer left.

And... I've decided to join the side of the private bloggers. I've been debating like a lot of you about what to do. I think I'll try it for awhile and see how it goes. I just get worried about how many hits there are per day and I wonder who's out there sharing my life that I don't know! So please leave me your email address and I'll send you an invite. I really love blogging with all of you, it has been so fun! I hope you continue with me!

And now Good-night! I've got to sleep while my baby is sleeping. All too soon he'll wake up again. Sleep tight!

Cousins

My brother Tyson and his wife Natalie and their 3 kids visited from Minnesota this last week. It was great being able to spend time with them and we really treasure it because we don't get to see them very often!

We BBQ'd and the kids jumped on the trampoline...
This is one of my favorite pictures of them drying off after slipping-and-sliding. One of the highlights of the night was Ty going down the slip and slide in his clothes and doing a flip at the end. The kids thought it was hilarious! My kids got quite a kick out of their uncle Ty and they had a blast with their cousins.
Can't have a BBQ without s'mores so I had to throw in this picture of Porter. I think he could live on marshmallows!
Kinzi and Lexi in matching "Girls Have More Fun" shirts from grandma...

7 little cousins sitting in a row... (missing 2 cousins, Sophia and Lincoln, and almost a 3rd little cousin who is coming in September - can't wait to get a picture of them all together one day!)
We spent a fun, hot afternoon at the zoo. Here they all climbed the fence to look at the big one-winged pelican. What a perfect photo-op!
My cute Kyler with the mini-goat...
Aunt Natalie with Kinzi, Ezra, and Lexi on the Ferris Wheel...
Grandma with Kyler and Isaac...
Grandpa and Porter...
Our three Power Rangers...
Some snowcones and lemonade to help us cool off after a fun day...
What a cute family!We had a lot of fun, Ty and Nat, and can't wait for you to visit again! Thanks for the laughs and the fun memories. We love you guys!

Olympian Gymnast

Kyler's new thing is doing the Chinese Splits! Ouch! It makes me hurt just to see him. He thinks it's funny that I think it looks so painful. He is such a little gymnast doing one-handed cartwheels all over the house and front-flips, side-flips, seat-flips, knee-flips, you name it he does it on the trampoline. Be sure to watch for him in the 2016 Olympics.

7 Weeks

Brenner is 7 weeks old this week. Wow it goes by fast but seems like a lifetime at the same time. How is that possible? He looks so big now when he sits on the kids' laps and sometimes wiggles so much they really have to hold on to him.

Here he is last week at 6 weeks. He started smiling more and more last week and it has been so fun. I've tried to catch it on camera but can't quite get it. The poor thing even tries to smile at us in between cries if we talk to him while he's crying. This morning he was crying as I changed his diaper and I started talking to him and he tried to goo at me while crying and snorted. It scared him and he looked startled. I thought it was so funny. I also love it when he crinkles up his nose and laughs in his sleep, I can't help but think he must be dreaming of laughing with his little friends from heaven. One thing that always makes him happy is to kick in the water while having a bath. He never cries while he's soaking in the warm water in his little tub. He's getting so big he can already fit in 6 month clothes! He's also been using his hands more and more to hang on tight to our shirts or clenched around my hair. He's liking his toys a little more and kicks and smiles while watching them light up or watching his crib mobile turn around. The kids still love him and want to hold him and kiss him all day. He lights up our lives and home just by being in it. We love you little Brenner!

Boys Will Be Boys

Porter has learned how to do front flips on the trampoline this summer. It scares me to death because most of the time his head barely clears the tramp on his way around. I'm so afraid he's going to get hurt but there's no stopping him. He even tried doing a flip off his dresser and cried and cried when he misjudged how far away the big bean-bag-pillow was and landed on the floor. Thankfully he hasn't tried it again since. Boys are just a different species than girls! I hope they survive all their nonstop rambunctious adventures!

Two-Story Fort

My kids love to make forts out of blankets, tables, chairs, mattresses, etc. It seems to have been more of a winter activity because I haven't had to walk around one for quite awhile. But one morning last week they were quite busy and I walked in to see this 2-story luxury model in my bedroom. Wow! They are quite the little builders thanks to Kyler's muscles lifting that other table up for the second story. That kid can do anything I tell you!

"4-Wheeler-ing"

Dave and the kids go for a 4-wheeler ride almost every night after dinner. (I think it's so cute that Kyler calls it 'four-wheelering'). I love sitting on the back porch watching them or having some quiet time inside with Brenner. One night I heard them in the backyard laughing their heads off so I looked out and saw them up on this little dirt pile. The kids thought it was a hoot! Dave loves making them squeal.
Dave's parents and his brother Darrin also came last weekend to go riding up in the mountains behind our house. After their ride they came back and took the kids too. It was great! We loved having them stay for dinner after too. It's so fun to have family close enough to come do fun things with us.

Babies Don't Keep

My sweet sister-in-law Cortney posted the following excerpt on her blog from the book "I Am A Mother" by Jayne Clayson Johnson. I absolutely love that book and this was one of my favorite parts too! She and my brother Jason also worked together to take these cute photos of Brenner while they were visiting over the 4th of July weekend. I love how they turned out. Thanks a million you two!

"Likewise, I believe that God is more concerned with the 'big picture' in our lives, more concerned that we love our children and less concerned that we provide them with two or three music lessons; more concerned that we spend time with them and less concerned about how many hours we volunteer with the PTA; more concerned that we talk with our teenagers and less concerned that we finish the laundry.

"Don't waste your time trying to do it all! If you do, you may miss the best parts. Motherhood is the ideal time to 'live in the moment' because it is the perfect time to see life in action, to witness your child taking his first step, picking her first flower, walking out the door for his first day of school, or leaving with a fine young man on her first date. These things will never happen again.

"I love this oft-quoted proverb which seems to applicable to my life right now:

"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow,
For Babies grow up, I've learned, to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.
--Author Unknown"
(I Am A Mother, 87-88)