From the Mouth of BUB!!!

So lately, I have been a huge slacker by sleeping in on these lazy summer days. Well, the past couple of days our cute number 4 has been coming in to visit me. On Tuesday, he came in and layed down with me - tossed and turned for a while then he said, "Mom, I am going to get us some 'water with ice'!!!"(that is his most favorite thing) - I said , "Okay, Bub, you do that." Hoping he would go downstairs and forget about me-- I sent him on his merry way. A minute later he comes back carrying two cups of 'water with ice'. "Here you go Mommy," he says. I say 'thank you' and take a drink. He gets up and leaves. Thinking, he is done with me... I lay there a little longer. A couple of minutes later, he is back... he climbs up on the bed, puts a 'fiber one' bar on my chest and says, "Mommy, I got you some breakfast, now can I have my breakfast?'' I turn and look at this sweet boy and happily go downstairs to share a bowl of cereal (thats what he wanted) with my favorite 4 year old!!! How sweet is that???... So sweet,..... I let the next days' encounter roll off my chest. The next day.... he comes in again.... he lays down with me... we are talking about nothing... I turn over and look at him and he says with surprise, "Mommy, you look HORRIBLE!" I start laughing and promptly say "Thanks, Bub!!" and I get up to get him breakfast!!! Either way.... on both days I got up with a smile on my face!!!

Later that same day he says, "Mom, why did I have to get a baby sister?" I tell him that Heavenly Father wanted his little sister to be a part of our family and that we all love her. Not convinced that is a good enough reason, he says, "Well, I don't want her-- she screams at me!" "Can't she be a part of a different family?" I tell him that he is stuck with her and that some day he will like her. He quickly and in a 'matter of fact' way, replies, "No I won't." I just laughed and thought how much I need to write down these funny things he says!!! He cracks me up!! What a cutie!!!

Two Priesthood Holders!!!

Our oldest son received the Priesthood today!!! What a special day it was for him and for us as proud parents!! He is such a good boy who always tries to choose the right!!! I can always count on him to help me and to help his brothers and sisters!! He is a fine example to his family and everyone he comes in contact with. He has a strong testimony of the gospel and I know he will be an honorable priesthood holder!!! We love you and are so proud of you!!!

2500 Miles!!!

We just returned from our trip to Montana to visit family and friends. We had a great time- we even survived driving up there without Shane. He was back east doing some schooling.... so I decided to take the adventure without him. He met us up there for the last couple days and drove us home!!! Thank Goodness!!! I will just break up our trip according to the location to make it easier....

First Stop... UTAH!!

Oh, how we love beautiful Utah!!!.... On the way there we decided to stop at the Oquirrh Mountain LDS Temple Open House. It was a great experience-- it is a beautiful Temple and the kids enjoyed getting to see the inside of one. #2 said of the visit, "Mom, right when I walked through the doors, I could just feel something ... it just felt good!" I was grateful we made the detour to let the kids see and feel the beauty of the Temple. We stayed with our long time friend's the Moon's-- our kids have been buddies for about 8 years now-- they pick up right where they leave off...they waste no time getting crazy and have lots of fun together. We had an INTERESTING night that first night.... #5 went to sleep about 11:30pm only to awake an hour later screaming like a 'stuck pig' I couldn't get her to stop crying.... so at 1:00am ... we get in the car to drive around so she will be quiet..... we drive for about 40 minutes and she is asleep... until I turn off the car... she is wide awake again..... so its back in the house we go... she isn't 'screaming' this time.... but annoyingly fussy, mad and not sleeping... about 3:00am she almost goes to sleep... hurray!!!... until #3 comes running into our room.... 'Mom, I am going to throw up!' Which she promptly did!!! Luckily she made it to the bathroom... so for the next hour and 1/2 we go back and forth into the bathroom where she continues to puke and puke and puke... it was GREAT!!!! All the while, little sister is greeting us with a curious smile every time we go in and out of the room..... Then, by about 4:00am she seems to be done puking... We begin to drift off between 4 and 5 then..... at 6:00 the herd wakes up and there seems to be a stampede going through the house!!!!! Needless to say... I was ready to get back in the car and head home... I was pretty frustrated and tired!!! Alas, I decided to stick it out and carry on!!! One interesting side note... the property right behind our friends was owned by the Rouche Family... apparently President John Taylor died in the house that is there... CRAZY!!! In the slide show... the kids are doing a ZIP line... it is on that property and right next to the house he died in.... Interesting Fact, eh????

Next Stop.... Helena!!

We spent the next couple of days in Helena with my Dad .... it was full of deer watching, boating at the Gates of the Mountains, pellet gun shooting contests, birthday cake (#1 turned 12 while there), shopping, the Thunderbirds Air Force Show, hot tubbing, four wheeling, and lots and lots of BEAUTIFUL SCENERY!!! I LOVE MONTANA MOUNTAINS... My grandpa was also there and it was a treat to be able to spend some time with him as well!! We had a great time!!!

Next Stop.... Polson!!!

We arrived in Polson ready for some R&R.... and that is what we got.... we had lots of lazy days filled with a whole lot of 'nothing'!!! Good ol' country living!!!! ....The kids spent their time doing lots of fun things... they built bird houses, built shelves, caught toads, watched movies, played in the beautiful (although FRIGID!!!) Flathead Lake, watched baby birds and got attacked by Mother Bird, mowed grandma's huge lawn, watered Grandma's garden, fed horses and ate bacon, eggs and pancakes for breakfast.... we had so much fun!!! I love hanging out in the country!!! The kids really love it too!!! The sky really does seem bigger in Montana!! We picked Shane up in Missoula... he was able to spend a day up there with us before we headed home!!!

Next Stop.... Dillon!!!

We decided to stop at Aunt Jamie and Dustin's to visit them and ride their horses... it has been a long time since we have ridden.. the kids don't even remember riding the last time... it was so fun!!!...Too short for all of us... we could have ridden for hours... but we had to head home... we decided last minute to leave #3 up there for a week to play with her 'girl cousin's'!!! She was in 7th Heaven!!! She was so excited... I was sad to leave her and was hoping she might be a little sad to be left... but, no... it was 'Bye, Mom!!' and off she ran!!

Next Stop... Idaho Falls!!!

We stopped here to celebrate the 4th of July!!! We were able to see MY most favorite cousins and stay at my Aunt an Uncle's house!!! I just love that family!!! Always tons of fun and 'wet your pants' laughter for hours!!! What a hoot they are!!!

Next Stop.... Flying J to pick up COUSINS!!!

My boys have been so excited to have two of their cousins come home with us to stay for a couple of weeks!!! Now we have 7 kids in the house and 5 of them are crazy boys... they have been so good they have had so much fun!!! #3 says she is 'tired of boys'!! I could keep them here forever... they are great kids and are no trouble at all!!!

LAST STOP..... HOME!!!!!

Hurray!!! We made it safe and sound...!!! We had a great trip and loved seeing everyone!!! It was, however, very nice to be home!!!!

Hope you enjoy the slideshow!!!! On the Sidebar to the Right....click on the pictures to make it bigger!!!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Since it is Father's Day.... I decided to thank the father's in my life. I have the great privelage of recognizing 4 fathers today!!!

To the Father who brought me into this world....

Thank you for passing on your good genes to me!! And especially for all of the fun memories over the years!! I am thankful you have passed on your love

of the great outdoors to me!!

To the Father who was there for me during all of those difficult 'growing up' years and ever since!!! Thank you for teaching me many valuable lessons and putting up with my teenage wonderfulness!! Also, thank you for always cooking us such yummy food and always making us laugh!!!

To the Father of my Husband....Thank you for raising such a fine son that has turned out to be an especially fine husband. He loves and respects you more than you know. I have so much respect for your quiet goodness!! Thank you for also being a father to me that I have admired and loved for the past 14 years!!

And lastly... Thank you to the Father of my children... Never in my wildest dreams did I know what a wonderful father you were going to turn out to be!! You have exceeded my highest expectations!! Also, thank you for being the love of my life! Our children are so lucky to have you as their Dad!!! I love you!

I hope you all have a wonderful Father's Day!!! We Love You!!!

Slide Fun and 'Other' Frequent Movements!!!

Since I have been spending 6 hours in the pool everyday teaching swimming lessons.... I thought I would post a video of pool fun!!! Our number 5 is the star of this one... her and her cuteness!!! She LOVES the water.... and the slide!!! But, if you listen closely- you will hear the ever present call of number 4... He is on the 'potty' yelling one of his numerous daily calls, 'I'm Done!!!' He still hasn't become proficient in 'wiping' his own 'behind' yet.....so...we get the 'I'm Done' call at least a couple times a day.... isn't one BM/day pretty standard for most people??? I swear he goes at least 2 or 3 times EVERY DAY!!! At least we know he is getting enough fiber..... If no one comes to his call he gets louder and louder and keeps at it... anyway... how great it will be when he can wipe himself!!!! Hope you enjoy the video!!!!

IT'S OVER!!!

School's out for the summer.... whhoooohoooo!!!! I am sure it will be great until about... next Wednesday... then I will be wishing it was back in again. Here are some of the 'end of year' treats that we got to enjoy because of our FANTASTIC KIDS!!!! We are so proud of each of their accomplishments!!!

This is #1's band concert-- he has become quite the trumpet player!!

.... This is #1's award ceremony

This is #2's award ceremony....

This is #3's award ceremony.....

This is #4's preschool graduation song.....

More preschool graduation.... the pledge of alligence!! He thinks he is suppose to repeat everyone!!! Ha Ha Ha!!!

Had to put a video of #5... we are teaching her to carry the family water supply!!! Ha!!

We have a few FOOTBALL videos to show you next time!!!

Muscle Rub Anyone???

While I was at an awards ceremony for #1 on Thursday, Miss Boo (#5) was being her mischievous little self at a friend's house, getting into cupboards and drawers and making messes. Evidently she found some 'muscle rub' and decided to taste it. She has been known to eat strange things in her day, like desitin diaper ointment, chapstick, makeup, ect. etc. After reading the label, we decided to call poison control and see if we should be worried. Well, after about 15 minutes of waiting... they told us to take her to the ER and have her checked out. Not knowing how much she actually ate, if any, I was hesitant to take her... Well.... not just hesitant.... I had a preschool graduation for #4 that started immediately... so being a bad Mom... I went to his graduation and then after much deliberating and persuasion by my own Mother... I took her in to the hospital. After about an hour of waiting... so much for this being a big emergency.... they gave her some charcoal... yum... yum... !! It was awful--- I have never seen anything so black-- and to force at least a 1/2 of a cup of it down her was nasty. I was surprised she didn't puke it out all over me. After that they took her blood... next, they said they would be back in TWO HOURS to take her blood again..... what was I suppose to do with Miss Busy for TWO more hours in that hospital room???? At least they could have given her a sedative... just kidding.... anyway trying to keep her on a hospital bed is like trying to keep a wild animal on your lap ---- IT DOESN'T WORK!!!! So I decided to walk the halls of the hospital until she fell asleep in the stroller. About a 1/2 hour after I got back and she was peacefully asleep-- the pathologist came back and said... "It's time to draw her blood again!" BUG!!! Oh well... she was nice and peaceful for a minute. Somewhere in the midst of all of this I talked Shane into coming to the hospital to hang out with us... it was nice to have his help!! Anyway... the end result was after yummy charcoal, two blood tests and five hours...... she was fine... no toxin's in her blood-- We did, however, get a lecture on 'child proofing' our home!!! Let that be a lesson to you to keep your MUSCLE RUB out of reach!!!! Fun Times!!!