Photo Shoot

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Today our preschool group went on a field trip to the city fire department. The kids were so energetic & excited about the entire thing, racing between all 3 engines to take a turn "driving" & getting buckled in to every seat available. We got to see the flashing lights, hear the siren, and check out all of the gear that goes along when the firemen are called out. Ethan told me this afternoon that when he grows up, he doesn't want to be a basketball player anymore...he wants to be a fireman.

Firefighters get their gear on in 30 seconds...I'm as amazed as Brecken:

Practicing a very important safety tip:

Learning about all the different compartments on a fire engine:

Thanks firefighters. We appreciate you!

7 Months

Hard to believe that 7 months ago I was doing this.

He is such a little man,

I have no idea where my baby went!

A Boy & A Cookie...

Weekend Visits

The weekend included visits from Jeff's parents

& also my sister, nieces, & nephew.

The boys were really excited to have so much family around

& have been asking where everyone went.

The weekend went too fast...

~Thursday~

Jeff had the day off work,

the weather was BEAUTIFUL...

We had a picnic at a park

& the teeter totter was a bit difficult

for 2 boys that weigh the same-

But Jeff helped them & they got it figured out.

See the merry-go-round on the right?

Jeff pushed the boys round & round-

Ethan fell face first over one of the rails

& held on for dear life.

Jeff grabbed him just in time-

he almost did a face plant in the sand!

Ethan didn't go back on the merry-go-round.

They all climbed to the top of the jungle gym-

Ethan swung down from them like they were monkey bars.

When we got home,

I sent Jeff, Ethan, & Kamden to the golf course.

Owen & I enjoyed a quiet hour & a half.

Thursday was a great day.

If You Need A Laugh...

Krazy Kamden...

Sometimes Kamden says some pretty funny things. For awhile, when he would get in trouble, he'd ask if I was going to tell Santa. So, one day at my parents' house, I'd had about all I could handle & I told him I was going to call Santa. I walked over to the phone, picked it up, and he lost it. He started crying & apologizing right away, he was VERY concerned that I was going to tell on him. Maybe that's mean, but whatever works, right?

This morning, though, he asked if I was going to tell Darth Vader...the boys have been into Star Wars lately & they watched all 3 movies with Jeff while they were sick over the weekend.

Kamden groggily climbed into my bed one morning & then started wimpering & whining...when I asked him what was wrong, he said his legs had an owie. I asked him how they got an owie & he said from the sidewalk. I think he must've been dreaming because he hasn't gotten hurt on the sidewalk for quite a while.

When I was younger, we used to watch a movie called The Kingdom Chums Original Top 10-it was an animated video with characters that sing a song about each of the Ten Commandments. The boys love this movie & constantly sing the songs. Every time Kamden says the prayer, he is sure to remember to "Please bless the Kingdom Chums". If we are saying the prayer & forget to bless them, he is quick to remind us!

Kamden got my lip gloss, put some on, & said "Now I'm a girl!" to which Ethan replied, "No you're not, you're still a boy." But Kamden said "No, now I'm the mom!"

Kamden yelled "Ugh! That is driving me nuts!" so I asked him what was driving him nuts...he pointed to Owen who was being fussy & said "That! Owen is driving me nuts. You better not drive me nuts, Owen!"

Our Valentine's Day this year was pretty low-key...especially since all 4 of my Valentines were sick. We had pink heart shaped pancakes for breakfast on Saturday & the boys remembered to set out their Valentine Monsters that night. We spent Sunday resting & that evening Ethan helped me make heart shaped pizzas & breadsticks which we ate by candlelight...poor Kamden had a fever & slept right through it all. Today Owen & Kamden went to the doctor-Kamden is at the tailend of an ear infection & Owen is in the middle of one. Jeff & Ethan are feeling better & I am very thankful I haven't gotten it...yet. Hopefully Owen's prescription does the trick & he can get the sleep he needs, which means I'll get the sleep I need.

1 sick kid+1 sick kid+1 sick kid=

1 sleepless night
2 exhausted parents
3 unhappy boys

It all started Sunday evening when Ethan began running a fever and got worse Monday with a cough and cold. I thought he was better and I was feeling pretty lucky that no one else had gotten sick...then yesterday Owen started coughing, followed by Ethan relapsing with a worse cough but no fever. Then Kamden decided he wanted in on the fun so he got a cough as well. He gagged on his mucus last night, threw up in his bed, which resulted in him sleeping in our bed along with Owen who couldn't seem to relax enough to sleep very well.
Ethan is pretty bummed-today is the Valentine party at preschool and we spent yesterday morning making Valentines and he got all excited...but we will just have to have a Valentine party of our own-if any of us can stay awake for one. In the meantime-I am taking my vitamins and doing my best not to get sick so that I can have the energy to take care of them. I once read a book that told about a mom that would put all of her kids together in the same bed whenever one of them got sick so that all of them would get sick at the same time...I can't decide if I would rather have it all at once and get it over and done with, or have one sick at a time but have it drag out. I guess I will ponder this today while I am getting liquids down them along with cough medicine and vitamins, reminding them to cover their mouths, wash their hands, and trying to get them to rest. Little boys don't like to slow down for much, especially not to rest-no matter how tired their mother is!

On My Mind...

The other night I read this: "...for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me." (Alma 28:3) And in church on Sunday, someone referenced President Hinckley's quote to"Try a little harder to be a little better."And I started feeling like I need to do better on both of those things. I need to be more aware of the blessings I've been given & do my best to better myself. I keep thinking of the people in Haiti & the things they must be going through & the simple neccessities they are doing without-things I take for granted every day. Like when Ethan was running a fever Sunday night & all day yesterday...I'm thankful for medicine that is readily available to help me care for my children. I'm grateful that my family is healthy & that we are together.
Jeff's cousin is visiting Thailand (you can read all about it here) & she talked about doing her laundry in a tub. This made me think about my attitude toward laundry...how it NEVER ENDS. But at least I have a washer & dryer to make it easier on me, but their everyday life consists of washing their clothes by hand.
I'm grateful, especially in this economy, that my husband has a job & can provide for us. I'm thankful that our needs are met & that I'm able to be home with our children. We are so blessed. Especially when I read about other people's struggles like Stephanie, Sara, & Natalie-this makes me so much more thankful that we are in good health & that we are together.

Other things on my mind that aren't quite so deep:
At this very moment, Ethan & Kamden are sitting on the couch together. Ethan is reading "Five Green & Speckled Frogs" to his little brother. It is just like the song & Kamden is joining in on the parts that he knows. They have also been really into "Three Billy Goats Gruff" & when I read it to them they will say the goats' parts in their little, MIDDLE, & BIG Billy Goat voices. Kamden also gets scared of the Troll hiding under the bridge.

The boys made these "Valentine Monsters"...they are going to set them out on the 13th, then when they wake up on Valentine's Day they will look in their monster's mouth for treats & goodies. They are pretty excited about Valentine's Day!

We have been playing Hide & Go Seek a lot...still waiting for the weather to warm up...so this helps keep the boys entertained & get some energy out. On Saturday I had the BEST hiding spot & it took Jeff & the boys FOREVER to find me. I was pretty proud of myself. Kamden, however, wasn't so hard to find...

He figures if he can't see us, we can't see him.

Owen is...

growiNG...

Today Owen had his 6 month check up. He is 17 pounds and 13 ounces. He loves to eat, eat, eat, but you probably couldn't tell. He is in the 50th percentile for weight & the 90th percentile for height. He is 28 inches tall. He can roll from his back to his tummy but is still working on tummy to back. He can sit for a few seconds before toppling over. He might only be 6 months old, but he sure knows how to get what he wants. He already has the back-arching down & pretty much has us wrapped around his finger. We sure love our growing boy!