So Long, Farewell...

Are my kids really that old that they can get on a big ol' plane and fly BY THEMSELVES to Grandma & Grandpa's house? Well, that's just what they did this morning!! As we were packing them up last night, Barrett was wishing he could tag along in Hunter's suitcase... I seriously thought about it- I mean, $25 for a second suitcase (filled with a rascal) seems like a great deal to me! ha ha. Just kiddin'-- he's going to be my little buddy for the next few weeks!

So Hunter, Brock, and Hannah were SOOOOO excited this morning when they woke up. They are off for 2 weeks at Grammy & Papa's in So. Cal., for summer camps, swimming, and lots of fun. Then they'll drive north and meet up with Nana & Papa for a few fun filled days at their house in Sacramento. Then they'll take off w/ Nana & Papa for our family reunion in Yellowstone. This little family of 4 will meet them there towards the middle of July. Our house will seem so empty and quiet without them- but I am sure Barrett will make up the difference!

Until then, to my kids... (because I know they'll be reading this):

*Travel Safe

*Use your manners

*Be nice to each other

*Wear clean underwear

*Clean up after yourselves

*Wear your seatbelt

*Share

*Be happy

*Don't hit, bite, kick, or scream

*Kiss each other goodnight for us, and...

*****HAVE THE BEST TIME EVER with your Grandparents! *****

We love you!

Cutest thing EVER!

Aren't these the cutest thing ever? Love, Love, Love baby feet with itty bitty shoes!!!

Thunderstorm!!

There's nothing like a good old fashioned thunderstorm to bring a family together. It's a dang good thing we have a large master bedroom. 6 of us slept in there last night!

The only one not in the room w/ us was Barrett... what a good kid!

He was sound asleep in his crib upstairs:

So if I could have taken a picture of last night's sky-

it would have looked like this:

My normally pretty brave boys were scared silly!! Hunter wanted total shelter, so he took his place under the bench at the foot of our bed.

Brock got "evacuated" from twilight camp and had to take shelter with the other scouts in a barn with lots of manure and hay (not good for allergies, or anyone for that matter!) for an hour before they could drive home. ***or at least that's what he told me! It could have been 10 minutes, thanks Christy for calming them down!!*** Either way, he was scared for his life and greatful to be home and away from all windows on dad's side of the bed.

Hannah just wanted to be by mom... notice the newborn positioner she has placed underneath her back- silly girl!

And Bauer, he was in his crib in the office (connected to our room) and happy as can be. He actually slept quite well-- 10 pm to 6:30 am! YEAH! That's the first night I've felt like I've gotten a full night's sleep in 4 months! :)

Here's our protector... what a guy! Love you sexy husband of mine!

It all quieted down by about 1 am or so. But we just let them stay. The three older kids leave on Sunday morning for a trip to their grandparent's for 2 1/2 weeks! Fun times for them! We're going to miss them though! Glad we could cuddle for a few minutes before I kicked you out of my bed and onto the floor like a good mom should. Love you!

Summer Swimming...

Barrett playing in the sand

Hannah's cute toothless grin

So it's already begun- the swim season. Notice there are not, nor will there be any pictures of the mama... just the cute kids! Enjoy!

Brock the fish!

Hunter w/ a big 'ol wad of gum in his mouth... yep, in the pool.

Bauer hangin' out in his carseat... love him!

Happy Summer!!

Potty Training Progress...

So yeah, we're trying to potty train Barrett, 2 1/2 year old punk. He's been doing pretty well- until this morning. He had disappeared for a few minutes and I called his name:
Me: "Barrett!"
B: "Where are you?" (he always says that when I call his name because he knows that's my next statement.)
Me: "Where are you? What are you doing?"
B: "Mommy, I go poo poo."
Me: (knowing the little potty was downstairs) "Where did you go potty Barrett?"
B: "In Hunter's Room."
Hunter: "WHAAAAAT????"

That'll teach you to close your door Hunter.

French Fries, Mashed Potatoes, Potato Cakes and Boob Suckers...

Yep- those are the many faces of the ever famous Russett Potato. (Or is there an "e" on the end?!) So, you know all the first 3 potato products, but did you know that potatoes can SUCK the infection out of a breast that has mastitis? Oh yes- it is true! I am a living, walking testimony of the healing powers of potatoes!
Seriously now... I felt myself coming down with breast infection #2 (with THIS baby) last night. So, I tried to beat it by pumping myself totally empty and going straight to bed. Woke up at 2:30 am in major pain! Came out to the computer to look for homeopathic remedies... and lo and behold, someone said to slice up a raw potato and stick it in your bra. Hey, I thought- What can it hurt to sleep with a potato? So... I did it! And guess what? It worked!!! I am not joking! (Combined w/ pumping a LOT, and antibiotics this morning... but last time it put me in bed for 3 days straight!)
So ladies... next time you find yourself with Mastitis, get your self a potato and stick it in your bra! (If you're flat chested, stick the whole thing in, they'll never know!) Feelin' good!!!

Busy Busy week!

Wow, it's been a full one! Last week of school, lots of sports, just lots of stuff going on! Today we had Hunter's playoff baseball game, Brock's arena football game, a dip in the pool, and a date for mom and dad (and Bauer too!). It's been a full week, but a fun one! Here's a few highlights:

Hunter's "Tigers" baseball team made the playoffs and they beat the Rangers today. They will play Monday night against the Athletics in the Semi-finals. Hunter has 4 very close school friends on the Athletics, so it'll be a fun game! If they beat them (we beat them in regular season), he'll play in the championship game Tues. night. Today Hunter got a great hit that set off a 7 run hitting streak... he earned the game ball! Way to go Hunter! Proud of you!!!

WAY TO GO Bud... Game ball! You deserve it!

Brock played arena football today. It was pretty fun. Their team lost, but they played well and had a good time. Brock is offensive guard. He's a tough one to get by! It's kinda hard to get good pics through the plexiglass, but here's what I got: Way to go Brock! He plays again Tues. night as well! It'll be a busy night!

And here's a new pic of each of the kids... I got a new toy- a Canon Rebel XTI digital SLR camera. LOVE IT! My sis Kelly has had one for years, and loves it. Brother Ty got one for Christmas... I figured it was about time to stop missing all the first smiles and action shots in sports. Goodbye red-eye and poor pictures! Hello photoshop addiction!

Bauer... 16 weeks old.

Barrett- 2 1/2 year old "Chocolate Milk Rascal"

Hannah- just turned 6

Brock~~ 9 in August

Hunter, 10 1/2-- #1 Laker fan... besides dad!

Love my family!!! XOOX

Laugh or Cry?

It was one of those Sundays... you know, the one where everything seems to be crazy and nothing goes right!? Well, it was that way through Sacrament Meeting, but once we got Barrett to nursery, things calmed down.
We had to take Barrett out DURING the opening prayer today. We knew we were in trouble! When he came back in, he grabbed the bag of cheez-its and ripped it open- spilling the contents EVERYWHERE... including in my shoe! I rolled my eyes and looked at Bill as I bent down to pick them up. He just started cracking up- which made me start to laugh and we were just trying to laugh instead of cry! What are we to do with this kid? He is a tazmanian devil. Rascal, I tell ya, rascal. Sundays are like that with no naps... makes for an interesting day!

Speaking of tasmanian devil, my oldest brother Tyler and his wife Whitney had their new baby girl on Friday. Little Miss "M" was born at 1:23 pm weighing 7 lbs. 9 oz. and measuring 21 " long. Miss M is their second child, and Mr. A is about to turn into a tasmanian devil himself. He is 3 weeks younger than Barrett and his world is about to get turned upside down. So, in turn- he'll turn his mom's world upside down. Isn't it fun how the viscious circle goes?! Miss M is beautiful and I can't wait to hold her in 6 short weeks at our family reunion! Congrats Ty & Whit! We love you!!!

Off to bed tonight-- hope you like the new look of the blog. It's Patriotic, for the summer... makes me feel like goin' out and having a BBQ right now... at 10:41 pm. Better not- Goodnight!