Watch Your Tounge!

So the other day Rebekah was asking me all about robbers. I don't know what spawned this curiousity in buglars, but there it is. So at dinner that night Emma licked Aaron's face, (I don't know why she did this either, sometimes I don't understand everything they do). And I strictly scolded Emma for licking her brother and told her to never do that again.

And then Rebekah chimed in with a good admonition for all of us,

"If you lick other people a robber will steal your tounge."

Good Advice, If you ask me.

Quotable Kids Part IV

If you read the previous post, then you'd know I've been feeling a little guilty for not writing down all the funny things our 3 yr. old has been saying lately. Here are two little treasures:

While reading a story together Bekah said to Mom, "His name is Mark cuz he likes to Mark stuff, huh Mom?"

While driving down the road Bekah saw an advertisement with a man that looked like Uncle Justin on a bus stop bench. (It was Ryan Pool, the relator), Bekah - "That man is Uncle Justin's brother and they put his picture on that chair because he died." Mom -"He died?" Bekah - "No. He just moved into a new house."

I love 3 yr. old logic. I may not like the obnoxious tantrums, the fierce streak of independence, or hearing the work NO a hundred times a day. But I love her cute little logic and the way she's starting to make sense of the world around her.

Quotable Kids Part III

When it comes to raising kids, my mother-in-law gave me some really good advice . . . she said write everything down! And I've tried to do just that. It's true there are many things that have now been forgotten because I thought, "Oh, I'll remember that - at least until I can right it down later tonight or tomorrow when I have time." And then guess what, it's gone, gone, gone ... and for the life of me I cannot remember what they said that was so cute, so hilarious, or so precious. I'd blame my mommy's brain (it's already crammed with my schedule, Mike's schedule, and 4 little monsters'), BUT Mike does it too.

So here's a little taste of what I've been writing down during the past few days:

While driving in the car, Emma to Mom, "MOM! Turn up the radio! I love this song ... I don't know it, but I like it!"

Aaron to Bekah while playing with toys, "Bekah, hurry the boat is about to leave, hurry Bekah it's going to toot in 5 seconds."

And probably one of the most profound things I've ever heard Aaron say (so far),
"I wouldn't be here (on Earth) without you Dad."

It's true.
If nothing else Mom and Dad did 5 things right. 1. We found eachother! 2. Emma
3. Aaron 4. Rebekah and 5. Moriah!

Rebekah's been saying the funniest things lately, and because I've neglected to write them down, they're gone . . . better start carrying a notebook around everywhere.
(It'd be a good idea.)

Aaron knows what I'm blogging about right now, so he's insisting I write down that he just said,
"Michael can I have a cookie? Mom, write it down."
Okay Aaron there it is. Now go to bed, it's 10 o'clock!





(It's Saturday)

Just Cuz

Sometimes the only reason you snap a picture of your kids

is because they are just that cute and you can't resist!

Back 2 School

Goodbye Preschool! Hello Kindergarten

Emma gives Aaron a hug goodbye before she heads over to her 2nd grade.

He LOVES kindergarten! And he's doing so well.

We're proud of you Aaron! I thought I might cry a few times,

but I held it together. I remember I was ready to turn cartwheels when Emma started.

I'm still excited for him, but this was a little bit harder, in some ways he seems too little to be going to school, but in other ways he's grown up so much - every time we have a conversation his topics and the way he communicates now reminds me he's definitely a little kindergartener!

Aaron you're growing up . . . stop it!

He's so excited!
He started school with one missing tooth.

During his first week he lost another one!
Now he can stick his tounge through this gap in his bottom teeth ...
it's pretty cute.

Aaron walking with Emma on her first day of 2nd Grade.
(They started on different days) ... at first I thought that would be a little annoying,
but it was actually really nice - they each got their own special first days!
I love watching them walk to school together!
This picture especially tugs at my heart.
I LOVE them SO much . . . but I must admit,
the house it a little quieter now that we've started school,
you won't hear any complaints here.

Dress Up?

So as I've already talked about in previous posts,

we like to play dress up in our house.

Sometimes it's princess dresses and tu-tus and

sometimes it's this: (Too cute either way)!

Summer Fun

Don't cry Mo...it wasn't a very long Summer, but we packed in a ton of FUN!

As we prepare to go back to school on Monday I thought it would be a good idea to recap our Summer of 2010. Time to get back into the swing of things...emails, blogging, keeping in touch - No we didn't fall of the face of the earth,

we've just been very busy enjoying our short lived Summer.

See...

Trips to parks!

A family favorite...Geocaching!
This particular geocaching took place in Copperton.

That little town kind of gives me the creeps - it's like a place devoid of any progress and untouched by time...it's weird. But I still love to go there every now and then. The park has a very special meaning to us. And the little houses have so much personality.

Mike (purposely) found a geocache with a "Travel Bug." Yay!
Here's to helping the little guy get to where he's trying to go.

The biggest TIME-SUCKER of all...building the shed!

When it's done it will be awesome...complete with deck/playhouse area for the kids,

which will include a climbing wall and slide or fireman's pole.

Every time I help Mike with a construction project

I'm reminded of how much I love using power tools!

Don't get any ideas Ken :)

We've spent time with friends and family! Always a favorite past time.

We've had so many friends over this Summer!

It's been nice to just play!

Mommy and Daddy introduced the kids to camping!

This particular camp we lovingly refer to as "Camp Cheese Ball."

And yes the kids took care of that giant tub of cheese balls in 24 hours!

Did they get a tummy ache? Yes they did!!

Mo had her first licorice!

Which she ended up wearing more of instead of actually eating.

Did you know you could suck on a stick of licorice until it dissolves in your mouth?

Now you do.

Ahhh, the things kids teach us!

Valuable information! Okay maybe not, but priceless memories to us!

We visited Baby Zuri (the elephant) at the zoo!

Pink Tigers - Things got a little wild!

Aunt Coco took Bekah to the zoo for her work party.

Each day we spent a good amount of our time bug-hunting and

Aaron found about a million rolly-pollies!

Can I just send out my apologies to all the many little creepy-crawlies that ended up in my children's bug catchers...you served your front and back yard well and your sacrifice will never be forgotten. Thank you for giving up your already short lived life in sake of children's curiosity!

We've had Family Barbeques in the park.

In fact "The Park" any park seems to be very common occurance in our summer activities!

We usually visit at least two a week! Oh parks, what would we do without you!?

The kids need somewhere to release all their energy.

We took some hikes with Aunt Coco!

We visited the Museum of Ancient Life, a.k.a. "The Dinosaur Museum."

(& The Aquarium & Raging Waters - Pics to come later)

Rebekah took a little neighborhood dance class

and Emma and Aaron are enjoying an Art Class together.

I know Summer isn't technically over,

and we still have some other fun things planned!

But for now we're going to try and get back in the groove!

As for Mike - he stays busy with shed and YMs, Boy Scouts and camps.

He will be going back to school at the end of August...Oh Boy! Time to finish his degree,

we've put it off far too long, but basement, back yard, shed,

and 4 kids kind of got us a little side tracked.

And I'm going to serve on the PTA Board this year as the Public Relations Commissioner...

Wish me luck! Mo continues to LOVE attention and when I say that I mean it. She likes me to hold her all the time!!! And if I'm fortunate to get her interested in a toy or book I can't make eye contact with her...because if she sees me walk through the room she immediately starts crying and wants to be picked up again. Oh well, an old friend had some good advice:

One day on Facebook I posted this - "I wonder if my baby will let me get any work done today?"

My old friend commented - "Your baby is your work, enjoy her...just turn the dishes over."

I love that advice and someday I may just end up doing that!

Hope everyone's having a wonderful, fun-filled summer!