Baby food.

I think we might need a bath after this!





I have started feeding Sadie baby food...yummy yummy! She started with rice cereal and has progressed to green beans, carrots, pears, apple sauce and peaches. She does not really like peaches. Her favorite I think (at least she eats it the best) is green beans. This age is so fun...she is doing something new every day. She has just recently in the last few days discovered her tongue...I have desperately tried to get a picture of it but she has not been cooperating. It is so funny to see her stick her tongue out, so cute.

Team work!

This story is what all moms wait for...its the once a day, once a week or once a month little comment, act of kindness or cute smile that keeps us all going during all those in between times!

So Riley is 8, going to be 9 in a few months and we have been letting him stay home by himself for short periods of time and occasionally letting one of the girls stay with him. Well on Tuesday night we had curriculum night and couldn't get a babysitter so we decided that since we were only one street away that we would let all three kids stay home and we would take Sadie with us. We gave them the rules...it was after dinner so we suggested that they all find a spot to watch tv and just rest for an hour until we came home. Offered a secret treat (ring pops) if they were all good and didn't make to big of a mess and then headed up to the school. I didn't have time to clean up dinner so I had left it out.

We came home to an amazing site...our three kids had worked together (we did some team work they said) to clean up dinner, put food in bags in the refrigerator, wash crock pot and all other dishes, cleaned up the table and living room, pj on and everyone was watching tv quietly when we walked in...I was so happy! Paige asked Ryan how much he was going to pay Riley for babysitting the girls and before Ryan could say anything Riley said I don't want to be paid, I wanted to do it for mom. Riley you are so thoughtful and I am so thankful for your example! I will be living on this moment for a while!

Tonight he said I was the rudest mom ever because no one Else's mom makes them read every night...so I am writing this down as proof that through all the drama and day to day trials I go through as a mother, my kids have a way of telling me to hang in there and letting me know that I am doing a good job. I sure wish these little reminders came more often :-)


I bought donuts the next morning to say Thank You!


I wrote each of them a Thank You note, they all really liked it!

We hope U R having fun!

hey babe...we hope UR having fun!(like my catchy way of incorporating your "work trip" with the UR, United Rentals :-)). I made the signs and the kids did the dots with erasers. Sadie accidently decorated hers...the paint was still wet when I was trying to take her picture.

In case you are really missing home and since I know you so well I know you are :-) ha ha....this is what you have been missing. Paige picked an amazing outfit this morning to wear to school...you would have just died! It was very short brown gymnastics shorts, white tank top with a knit belt over the top and black platform flip flops....Paiger, I love how you always know exactly what you want to wear, you are a fashion queen! Hayley got to pick out of the treasure box for the first time. I think I need to implement that system at home....an entire week of being good and she got a plastic top and some smartees. The first of many Fridays where the kids run home frantically from school wanting $2 for a booster juice. Every time you put Sadie down she is rocking and when she hears herself scream she starts laughing and screaming louder, it is so funny! Paige and Ashley cleaned out the fish bowl...and they didn't even kill any of the fish (very close though). How long can a fish live in that green net without water...Paige was just wondering? I wish I could record the totally hysterical comments Paige randomly makes on a daily basis. I love your funny personality! A few trips to Valero for a Dr. Pepper to keep my sanity, a bit of typing and I had a melt down at bedtime last night because no one was being nice to me :-(. As far as Riley goes, not much to report...the kid is never home but when he is his new thing is farting noises! Ya I know, it must be a 3rd grade thing. Not sure there is anything more annoying than getting on the phone and having him come up behind you doing that. Try explaining that to your VT. He can do it with his armpits, behind his knee, on his arm and I am sure a few other places that I don't want to know.

I think we are going to have a late night tonight with some friends over and then try to go to Big Surf tomorrow. We miss you and Hope UR having fun!

The rocking pose!

That fish bowl looks nasty.

Never seen me sitting there have you? (By the way, I think Hayley is a professional photographer...I dont think I have ever looked so hot! Ya right...J/K

The fashion queen!

Who are they?

As I am sure this is just the beginning but I have to say I think it is kind of fun. I love the madness and the drama now but in a few years I am sure it won't be as funny! :-) All was calm, Sadie was napping, Riley was at a friends, I was doing laundry, Ryan was doing what he does on Saturday afternoons, nothing (just kidding babe!) and the girls had a few friends over doing crafts and singing/dancing. As I was hanging up laundry in my closet I saw a group of boys run in front of the window...shirts tied around there heads so you could only see there eyes...hysterical. Who thinks of that and how in the world did they get them to stay on? I probably don't want to know what they are scheming up :-). So they snuck by my window, very sly, and started to spy on the girls...when they girls realized they were being spyed on they started running and screaming and then spying turned into chasing. It was great! I made the boys pose so I could take there picture.

Sadie's 6 months old!

Big smiles..how stinking cute is she!


Playing with her toys for some tummy time.

Her exercauser...wow there sure is a lot to do on that thing!

Funny face.

Sadie practicing sitting up.

The kids are trying to make her laugh but she is about to fall over looking at them standing on the couch.

On her way down...still looks so stinking cute!

Poor girl...got 4 vaccinations today. 3 shots and 1 oral.

She was wiped out...cranky and fussy all day and up all night. The next day she had little knots on her legs where she got the shots...so sad.

6 month stats:
Weight: 15 lbs 6 oz.
Length: 26.5 inches.
Head: 16 inches
Diapers: Size 3 (just switched)

I can not believe six months have passed so fast. It feels like I just brought her home from the hospital yesterday. This is such a fun age...she is learning to sit up, rolling when ever she feels like it, graping things, reaching for things, slobbering like crazy, starting to eat baby food and about a million other totally cute things. We started feeding her rice cereal and she didn't really seem to be into to it so yesterday I fed her some green beans and she ate the entire jar in about 2 minutes...so I guess we know she knows how to eat she is just going to be picky! We have been sitting her on the floor to help her learn balance and she sit up great for a few minutes but when she gets tired she falls over and the kids think it is so funny (sorry Sadie :-(). She loves her exercauser and still loves her Binky. In the last two weeks she has packed on the weight...she has grown out of size 2 diapers and into 3 and her 3-6 month clothes are starting to get a big tight.

She still doesn't really choose to eat...she will eat a few ounces for a couple of feedings and then eat 6 ounces the next. The doctor says she just knows what she wants, when she wants it. She does take awesome naps. She takes 1-2 hour nap in the a.m. and a 3-4 hour nap in the afternoon. Not sleeping through the night yet but we sure are getting close. She totally belly laughs and is smiling all the time until she wants to eat and watch out, you better fed her right that second :-).

Back to school 2008

Smile it's your first day of school!

I think Hayley's back weighs more than she does.

Riley is annoyed becuse we are waisting his playground time.

Paige and Mrs. Tenney.

Yes, I am the worst picture taker...everyone the kids are in the sun.

Enough pictures already.

Hayley and Hannah, again the sun in there face.

The first day of school is always fun but can be a bit scary too! Hayley started all day kindergarten today. She is so excited to go all day. Most of her friends are going to half day so that is a little sad but she really wanted to go to all day and was more than ready since she will be 6 in a few months. She wanted to eat in the cafeteria on the first day and after that excitement was over she has brought her lunch the last few days...must not have been all it was cracked up to be. Bean burros were on the menu for the first day and that is what she wanted...when Ryan asked her how it was she said she got PBJ instead. She said in a quiet voice "I didn't want to be farting in class, dad". Funny...my baby is growing up.

Paige started 2nd grade. She has Mrs. Tenney (Riley's teacher from last year) and is out in the portables. Her teacher already won her heart over...when we went to meet the teacher night Mrs. Tenney had made the kids shirts for spirit day and a bunch of hair bows and the let the girls pick a bow to match there shirt. That is right up Paige's alley, fashion!

Riley started 3rd grade....I think it is started to sink in that this year is not going to be all fun and games. Still wants to go early to school but not to excited about all the work that is coming. He has Mr. Compton as his teacher and he thinks she is so nice. Riley is still Mr. Social...he chats up all the teachers as he walk to school and is nice enough to pick up Hayley from kindergarten every day and walk her home.

Lake Powell

Hole in the rock! You can barely see the hole but it is at the very top of the picture.

2008 Top 10 memories from Lake Powell:

1. Climbing sand hill.

2. Gina's desserts.

3. Guffy loosing his throne in scum.

4. Fan kicking.

5. Sacrament meeting.

6. The endless amount of candy.

7. Stories from when they were kids (don't know how Jane survived).

8. Hole in the rock.

9. Sunset boat rides with Ryan.

10. Dancing.

Hi!

Fred feeding the carp ice cream at Dangling rope.

The last leg of the hill...making a run for the water.

A group of us cooling off after sand hill.

Boat ride

Steph and I

Everybody eating ice cream at Dangling Rope!

Ryan fan kicking!

Jacksons split jump with a fan kick...impressive.

Everyone getting ready to drop it!

Jacksons back flip down

The rest of us running down.

Got stopped for construction on the way up there.

Hi

Brandon fan kicking, so close but not quite there!

Go Bridget...you got it and you have the shortest legs out of everyone!

Another wonderful trip to Lake Powell...every year we get invited to go with the Wright's on their families annual Lake Powell trip. It is a great time. We get a break from our kids, they get a break from us (which they probably need more :-)) and enjoy some time with friends. We play cards, wakeboard all day and all night, tube, eat, layout, read, chat, eat some more, well you get the idea here. Basically do whatever we want for 5 days and sleep as much as we want...its like we are newlyweds again! We come back refreshed and ready to take on life with a new and improved attitude!

This year will all the snow fall last winter the water level at Lake Powell is higher than it has been in five years. A cut off for boats was opened up and a few scenic spots we were able to get to with the water being so high.

We went to "sand hill", not sure if that is the real name but that is what I am going to call it....I really should call it impossible hill because that is what it felt like. It was a sandy hill about 1/2 mile to 3/4 of a mile long. Basically people pull there boat up to the shore and climb to the top. The top is shaded and there are names all over the walls. I didn't bring my camera because I could barely walk up :-). About 1/2 way up it gets so steep the only way you can walk it is on your hands and knees. You feel like you are going to die when you get up there...unless you are Janene (who said, "you guys want me to run down and get you some water" as we all sat there about to pass out"). On the way down Jackson did I think we counted them on video later 10 back flips down the steep part and Guffy did a rolling crash dive. The last 100 yards or so the sand is so hot you cannot run fast enough to the water.

On Sunday after sacrament meeting (always one of the best sacrament meetings ever) we also take a boat ride and then to Dangling Rope Marine. This year we decided to go to "hole in the rock". The picture does not do it justice. I cannot imagine living during this time period...are challenges in life do not even compare. Hole in the rock is a place where Mormon pioneers used dynamite to blast a hole in the rock and then with ropes lowered there wagons down this steep rocky terrain to make a quicker path to Utah (still took 2 years). I didn't climb up it, but a few other people did and about half way up there is a big sign giving tons of information about the pioneers and what they went through....wish I would have went now but I wasn't feeling it then :-).

Another great memory from this years trip is the dancing. If you know the Wrights they hysterical! Anytime a song comes on they can all drop a beat, and I mean drop it. Anytime another boat would come around or we would pull up to the marina we would crank the music and every last one of them would get and drop it like its hot. Especially Jamie, Jackson and Guffy...they have moves I could not even dream about trying to do. The other boats all stare like we are crazy and it is so funny.

Another tradition is fan string kicking....sounds a little odd I know but it is hysterical. Everyone sits around the living room and takes turns trying to kick the short string attached to the fan. Long legs or short it doesn't matter...every has to try. Sounds weird but it is so funny...this has been going on for many years but I decided to take a picture of it this year as proof. No one would believe we actually sat around and tried to do this. Also I snapped a picture of Jackson doing a split kick jump...I know amazing huh.