Smile

Things are crazy around our house, well it's always crazy and chaotic but now we have school, soccer, dance, piano, and football, I feel like I am a taxi driver! I love it though, I would rather be running around crazy and having fun than sitting at home looking at my dirty floors. This lil guy is such an easy going boy, I think they have to be though lol. We just love making our lil guy smile....

2 months

Big Girl Sophie

Sophie is a big girl now, at 28 months she is POTTY TRAINED!!! I am a firm believer they just do it when they are ready as long as you have been explaining and showing them how to do it. I am sure if I really pushed her she would have sooner but that would have stressed us both out I think. All summer we tried it and talked about it, then last week she started taking off her diaper and going by herself, so I decided it was time. She has done well even while running errands for 3 hours!!! Let's hope she keeps it up :) We are so proud of you Sophie girl, we love you so much!

President Lincoln

Brielle and I were doing homework and she had to color the pennies brown. She asked who was on the penny and I told her President Lincoln. She said "I know! My teacher told me, everyone thinks he is this amazing person but I don't... He's dead!"
I guess she doesn't realize her Mom and Grandpa love history!

Self Esteem

Last night during our dinner I asked TJ if he could help me with my workouts. I am not a morning person and when my baby is waking up all the time the last thing I want to do is wake up earlier than I already do! Lately Sophie has been sneaking out the front door and causing all sorts of mischief when I am not in the same room with her so doing it during the day is hard unless it's a video. So I asked him if the 3 nights he is home he could put the kids to bed while I worked out on the elliptical.
Brielle asked "Why do you work out?" We told her to stay healthy and strong.
Hunter then pipes in "To get skinny and not be a fatty!"
I snapped at him, I felt bad but I had a few comments made to me when I was younger and in my awkward chubby stage, still to this day it hangs around my thoughts. I do not want my girls to ever think that it's all about being skinny. Nor do I want my boys making girls feel bad about themselves. I know they hear it and see it all around them but I will try my hardest to keep them thinking positive things about themselves. It's important to be healthy and just because you have a little extra doesn't mean you're not beautiful!

GO UTES GO

Gotta love when our team wins, GO UTES :)

Rodeo parade

I totally take back the statement that parades are lame in St. George, we went to the Rodeo parade to watch our Nieces that were dancing in it. It lasted over an hour, and the kids got so much candy and had so much fun with their cousins.




Landri is 1 month older than Sophie and was a little timid when it came to grabbing candy. Sophie put her hand around her and would tell her when it was coming and push her towards it. It's so much fun watching the 4 babies that were born within months of each other grow up together!

Can I carry you?

Can I Carry You?
© Brad Anderson
I guess that I can hold you
one more time before you grow.
And tell you that I love you
so that you will always know.
Please let me tie your shoe again.
One day you'll tie your own.
And when you think back to this time
I hope it's love I've shown.
Can I help you put your coat on?
Can I please cut up your meat?
Can I pull you in the wagon?
Can I pick you out a treat?
One day you might just care for me,
so let me care for you.
I want to be a part
of every little thing you do.
Tonight could I please wash your hair?
Can I put toys in the bath?
Can I help you count your small ten toes
before I teach you math?
Before you join a baseball team
can I pitch you one more ball?
And one more time can I stand near
to make sure you don't fall?
Let's take another space-ship ride
Up to the Planet Zoor.
Before our Cardboard Rocket
doesn't fit us anymore.
Please let me help you up the hill.
while you're still too small to climb.
And let me read you stories
while you're young and have the time.
I know the day will come
when you will do these things alone.
Will you recall the shoulder rides
and all the balls we've thrown?
I want you to grow stronger
than your Dad could ever be.
And when you find success
there will be no soul more proud than me.
So will you let me carry you?
One day you'll walk alone.
I cannot bear to miss one day
from now until you've grown.

We moved into our house 4 years ago and every year since then the kids measure how much they have grown. TJ and I off course stay them same but it's fun looking at all the marks. Sophie always looks up to see how much she needs to "gow" to catch up :)

Saturdays = SOCCER!!!!

I love being a Soccer Mom! I know to some that may seem silly but I love sitting on the sidelines watching them play their hearts out. I love watching their eye's light up and their big smiles when they get a goal, the thumbs up I sometimes get, seeing them interact with other's for a common goal, the beads of sweat on their foreheads and flushed faces, the look, the determination and sometimes the disappointment. It's family time for us, it teaches them to support each other, it gives them an hour to shine. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, you can't always control that, but you can give it your all and have fun. We have many talks on the way home from games and practices, deep meaningful talks that forever will be embedded in their minds, and in my memories.
Now don't get me wrong, it's not always pleasant, there are meltdowns, like today, Sophie took off her shirt because it was over 100 degree's outside and she loves to be naked, when I had to wrangle her back in it she screamed her head off for what seemed like eternity. She finally laid down on the field and surrendered. We were all sweating to death and ornery because it was nap time. There are times when we are scrabbling around looking for a missing cleat or a shirt is dirty because it didn't get put in the clothes hamper. There are times when you just want to stay home and forget about it or go home and lock yourself in your room because all the kids were complete animals and you wonder where you are going wrong. But most the time these faces that seem to be growing up so fast are worth those crazy moments. Most the time there is no where else I would rather be.

Cowboy day

The 2nd graders got to dress up as cowboys and make trail mix while watching a movie in celebration of the Rodeo in town. I drove the kids to school and as we were driving Hunter's friends August noticed no one was dressed up, the closer we got to school the more nervous he got and then Hunter started to freak, what if they were the only ones! I told them it was an easy fix and just to take off their hats and vest and scarf in Auggies case but I wasn't very convincing I guess. Auggie yelled "The babies (kindergartners) are the only ones dressed up!" Then they saw a few of their friends and everything was alright! Oh to be young again and only have the worries of wondering if you are the only one who dressed up! :)

Kids parade

St. George's parades are kinda lame but it's something fun to do together, and who doesn't like a few pieces of free taffy? The funny thing, the floats were nicer than the ones on the 24th of July! We did get to see Batman, Robin and the batmobile!

Kids Night Rodeo

Some of our favorite things on our traditional night with Grandpa Ken at the Rodeo!


Eating yummy treats

Chatting with good friends


Looking cute in your cowboy gear



Brielle loves the "Radio" and every year always begs for a horse all the way home.

In Callaway's case...... sleep, eat, and then sleeping again.