Winter Fun and the Bathtub

I just realized that I haven't taken nudie pictures of my kids in the bath for a while, so we got out the camera this morning for a photo shoot. The only problem was that Tanner was having more fun spitting water on Parker's head than posing for the camera. He's getting ready to do that in the third picture. Here are the pictures, and don't worry, they are censored.





We also got a little bit of snow the other day, and Luke and Tanner had a ball playing in the little that didn't melt right away. They loved jumping on the tramp and eating the pieces of snow that broke off as they jumped.

Thanksgiving Memories

So, as you can tell, I'm not very consistent yet with this blogging thing, but it's coming. We just got back from Thanksgiving at my parent's house in Fruitland. It was a lot of fun. Shane helped out with the kids so I got to play with my mom and sisters, which was a lot of fun.

I had a ball shopping the day after Thanksgiving. We got up at 4 a.m. to head off to Wally-World for some toys, then ran to Boise for shopping at Target, Kmart, Fred Meyer and the mall. Because I may have a kid read this blog, I won't disclose the exact nature of the deals we found, but boy, did I get lucky!! If any of you want to see a fun Christmas morning, come to my house this year. My kids are going to love it. We were home by 11 a.m., which Shane was grateful for, and I even got a small nap in. It was a lot of fun. Thanks Bobbi, Dev, and Mom, for a fun morning.


Minus the stomach bugs and sore throats running rampant through the family, the kids had a blast. My parents have their home backed up to a small hill, which drops off to a small stream running behind their house. The kids found out they could play on the hill, and some of them were hardly seen for the rest of the vacation. They built a slide in the sand, a bench to sit on, pathways, and who knows what else. Mom and Dad have very sandy soil, so when the kids came in, you had to shake them off to avoid the sand being tracked in. But that wasn't enough. We found even after shaking them off, the sand continued to come out of their shoes and clothes when they came into the house. We'd take their shoes and bang them together outside, and a huge dust cloud would eminate from their shoes, covering everything around you. But boy did they have fun.

We took some family pictures there, too, and as soon as I get copies of those pictures, we'll try and post some.

Tag - I'm It (7 Random Things About Me, Casey)

Well, a friend of Shane's has a blog that we frequent, and after reading one of his wife's posts, I found out that I have been "tagged." I am assuming that means I get to do the same thing that she did: list 7 random things about me. So here goes nothing.

1. I love to read: While I eat, brush my teeth, cook dinner, feed Parker. And it can be just about anything, even Shane's boring potato magazines, as long as I've got something to read. I love chocolate, playing the piano, singing, making up songs about my kids (which they hate), and working in my yard (if I could do it uninterrupted by children it would be even better). Maybe I need to work more on teaching them how to work in the yard so they could do it with me. I love playing soccer with Josh, and teaching Luke words in Spanish. I love chasing Tanner when he grabs something he knows he shouldn't have, looks at me with that mischievious glint in his eye, and says, "Chase me, Mom!" I love throwing Parker into the air and hearing him giggle like babies do. I love it when Kaitlin asks me to curl her hair. And I love it when Shane and I get to work together on anything without kids.

2. I hate snakes: they are disgusting, ugly, yucky things and I would probably freak right out if I came face to face with one. I hate oatmeal, yet I make my kids eat it at least once a week. They probably haven't noticed yet, but when they eat it before school, I rarely have my own bowl on the table. I wait until they leave for school and then I get something else to eat. I hate having to clean the toilet in my bathroom, which is why I don't clean my bathroom as often as it needs it. Maybe when my boys learn how to aim ....

3. I really like trying to get my life organized. I'm a great list maker, and if job charts and stickers were popular and acceptable for adults to have, I'd make one for myself and give myself a sticker every time I completed a task. Now if only I could keep organized.... My kids come along and my organization goes out the window. And let's face it. If it comes down to playing outside with kids, or cleaning the bathroom, who would choose the bathroom?

4. I really enjoy watching football and basketball. If I could go every weekend and watch our hometown team play, or even watch it on TV when I wanted, I could handle that. My dad watched sports a lot when I was growing up, and still does, and I guess some of that rubbed off on me. I don't get into rankings, and I don't have a really favorite team, but I just love to watch. Watching Kaitlin play basketball last year and this year makes me want to go out and play. I'm sure that I would make a fool out of myself, but it's almost more than I can take to watch her play and not run out on the court to show her how it's done.

5. I am not a "girly girl", as my daughter would say, but I like to paint my toenails. I don't really care to have my fingernails painted, but it's kind of fun to paint my toenails. I really need to given in to this like a little more and buy several shades of nail polish, but I don't. I don't wear earrings any more because my babies would pull on them and it hurt. I don't wear a whole bunch of makeup anymore, not that I really wore very much to begin with, but I don't really care to wear foundation or lipstick (except for a few occasions), but I really like to doll up my toes and wear them in sandals.

6. I love Shane!! I have the best hubby in the world. Shane can clean a house and get kids working faster than I even dream about. I come home after having to be gone to a meeting or something at night, or on a weekend, and the whole house will be clean. He never complains when my house is more cluttered than it needs to be, he just steps in and gets to work. It always makes me feel guilty that I can't get it done like he does. He is great about wrestling with the kids, playing with them outside, and teaching them how to work and function inside. I really love that guy!!


7. I could live in the mountains for the rest of my life and be very happy. I love camping with my family and sitting around the fire, exploring through the trees, and hiking in the hills. I got to ride a motorcycle at our Bake family reunion, and I think I could get into that, too. I would love to just take a boat or canoe out almost every day and leisurely float down a river. I really enjoy being in the mountains with all that that entails (minus the snakes) and just enjoying the beauty of nature.

Well, I think that's it for now. By the way, Bobbi, Tiffany, Megan, Crystal, and Janine - Tag, you're it now!!

Youd 50th Anniversary

Here are some pictures taken at Grandma and Grandpa Youd's 50th Anniversary celebration. To see all of the pictures taken go to:
http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee290/youd07/

Family Pictures

We finally endured the torture and set aside a day for family pictures. As you will see, there is a reason we only do this once every two years. (Before you think it, No.. I did not wear sun glasses. My transitions had darkened and I did not notice it until later. I'm hoping I can con Cody into working some of his digital magic=-) Anyway, enjoy the show!

Shane

The Goblins Were Out!!

Well, we survived Halloween. Between parties at school, trunk-or-treating at the church, and the carnival that followed, it made for a long day. The kids had a fun time at their parties, and loved the trunk or treating and carnival. The boys took off by themselves, which hardly ever happens, to play the games at the carnival. They would find us to show us their prizes, and then go off again. Even Tanner got to play games and won a prize. It was a fun night. Kaitlin dressed up as a boy, and looked so different that Parker would cry when she tried to hold him. Josh was dracula, Luke was a vampire ninja, Tanner was a puppy, and Parker was a tiger. We were so glad that Parker would leave his hood on. He normally won't keep things on his head. Shane even got into the spirit of things by dressing as a convict for work and the party at the church. He looked pretty rough with this "pinstripe" mustache and beard.

We also carved pumpkins the night before, and that was a lot of fun, mostly because we got to hear Luke and Josh squeal about putting their hands in pumpkin innards. They all designed their own faces, and only had help cutting from Mom. Dad took care of baby and toddler duty so that Tanner and Parker would keep out of the way.




Parker is also crawling everywhere now and pulling himself up on anything he can reach. He is not always steady as he stands there, but he is getting better. He loves playing outside, as do all my boys, in the leaves. Tanner even helped me rake one day.