Raccoons

Poor Mark!!! He is not very chipper today because of exhibit A...

Zoe has been scaring the raccoons off, which is GREAT! But, she scared one in our garage, and it ran up and found a way into our attic.

So Mark was up all night last night, worried that it was going to find a way into our house.

He is such a good dad. Keeping us all safe while we sleep. I didn't even know there was a problem.

Was there a mix up?

Who is this toothless girls who tries to block me from taking a picture, but smiles anyway?

Today she has made me question whether or not she is mine!....

I was giving out cookies for an after school snack, which in my defense doesn't happen very often.

I usually offer apples, bananas, brussel sprouts...back off ok?!?

Anyway, I had cookies. Kasidee tells me she doesn't like sugar. She continued to tell me that she threw away the cookies I put in her lunch (Yes, I gave them cookies in their lunch too. I've come to terms that I am not the best mother, and now I am embracing it.) and only ate the blueberries.

"I just don't like sugar mom, it isn't very good for you."

She is definitely not my child, or her father's for that matter. Was there a mix-up at the hospital? There couldn't have been that many 1 lb. 2 oz. babies in the nursery on May 29th!

Pearl Jam fan

Calling all Parker fans...

The other day, I was driving in the car with all 5 little monsters. The new Pearl Jam song came on the radio. I told Parker about how Pearl Jam is one of Mark's favorite bands and how he went to their concert. Mark happened to run into his brother at the concert (neither of them knew the other was going to be there).

Parker wasn't totally understanding why that was funny, so I elaborated by dramatizing..."What are you doing here? What are you doing here?"

Parker started cracking up laughing....

When did he get old enough to understand jokes, and laugh with me about something funny?

And, who doesn't love a picture of a boy with his dog. Poor Zoe, she is so patient!

Squeals

Reilynn has really started talking a lot. She tells us long stories with her squeaks and squeals. It has been fun watching her grow so fast. She is wearing 12 month clothes and she is only 4 1/2 months old. I can't believe how big she it getting!

She's all sweet and innocent squeaks and squeals, until she gets hungry, and then LOOK OUT!

She gets that from her mom!

It's a good thing she is so stinkin' cute!

Addison Elle

Lately, I have been able to spend more quality time with this special little girl.
She keeps me laughing all day long.

Even though I get looks like this, I still have to giggle.

I mean, who isn't going to chuckle when they see the next Charlie's Angel. Look out bad guys, she's comin' to get y'all.

Ok, maybe she's not that scary.

But we sure love her! She adds so much love and joy to our home! Thanks Addison for being you!

Date Night

Mark and I went out on a date last Friday. Ironically we went and saw the movie Date Night. While all of the chaos was going on on screen, a little chaos was going on at home as well.

Our babysitter called us a little panicked because the police were on their way over. Kasidee had called 911 and they were sending out a police car to check out the situation. Luckily, Mark called the police station from the theater and got the whole mess figured out...but there is never a dull moment at our house! The poor babysitter, I don't know if she will come back. Please come back, we are trying to teach our kids not to invite the police over to the party next time.

Cowboy up

Our primary just did a fun activity for all of the kids. They had a Hoe-Down!

The kids all dressed up and went from room to room singing songs and playing games.

Everyone had a really good time.

Parker was the little helper in this class. He filled his pockets with all of his troubles (golf balls)that he wasn't letting go. They were taught about forgiveness. They even filled the primary room with hay. The kids got to search out prizes in the stack. Does it get any better than that?!?

Bailey didn't want to be left out, even though she technically isn't in Primary yet. She sat down right next to her big sister to listen.

We only had one pair of boots that were the appropriate size. Addison didn't care, she wore these adult size boots the whole activity (relay races and all).

They got to sing campfire songs around a campfire. CUTE!!! My kids have been singing "I said a boom-a-chicka-boom" ever since. It brought back a lot of fun girls' camp memories!

Addison wore the only cowgirl costume we had, so Kasidee was more than willing to be the cow. (:

This cowboy doesn't mess around. He was sweating before the games even began. It's tough being so ruggedly handsome!

Sunday best

This was a week after Easter Sunday when everyone got to where their new Easter get-ups. They all looked so cute, but I couldn't seem to get a picture!!! I tried everything...Bribing, whistling, dancing, jumping up and down, YELLING...
Come to find out, all it took was...DAD! He walked out the door, made a silly face, and I got everyone looking in the same general direction.
I don't ask for much. No one picking their nose, eyes open, heads up. I don't think I am being that unreasonable.
Thank goodness for dads!!! They make every one's lives happier and brighter!

Reilynn, 4 months old. Wow, where has the time gone!

Addison, can she really be only 3?!?

Toothless Kasidee, almost 7!!! Ok, I just had a little heart-attack!

Parker. Ok, I just had a full heart-attack! I am going to have two 7 year olds!

(Look at those freckles, could he get any cuter!) I mean...HANDSOMER!!!
By the way, we still have 5 little monsters. I didn't forget Bailey @ Target, Wal-Mart, or Costco (the only stores I go to), she just wouldn't pose for a picture and we were late for church.

How could anyone not love these chubby cheeks...drool and all?!?!? You just want to pinch and kiss them...I know I do.

Addison agrees with me! She loves her little sister so much.

Bailey begs to hold her. They are almost the same size. It takes all of Bailey's little arm muscles to hold Reilynn up.

Parker has learned how to make her smile and talk to him. It is fun to see them interact.

Boys vs. Girls

Addison had one of her good friends over the other day, and this is what I found...

"Let's play soldiers."

"Ok. I get to be the mom."

"I am going to get you, you better run."

"Son, be careful, you are going to hurt yourself."

"Here comes the big monsters, KILL 'EM!!!"
"Or, we could jump on their backs and fly around."

"Don't worry ma'am, you are perfectly safe. I killed everything."

"I'll kiss everything all better, I won't let the big bad soldier hurt you again."

Jesus loves the Easter Bunny

The Easter bunny wrote a note to the kids this year expaining why he still set out one of the gifts that they had already found. (The Easter bunny needs to find a better hiding spot!!)

This is how he ended his letter...

"Remember the most important part of Easter is Jesus. (pause) Love, the Easter bunny"

This is how Parker and Kasidee both read it:

"Remember the most important part of Easter is (pause) Jesus loves the Easter bunny."

I think they learned the true meaning of Easter all on their own this year!

Starting off right...

A friend of mine has a fun tradition of going to the local feed store and getting baby chicks, ducks, and a bunny for Easter. They keep them around for a couple weeks, and then take them back to the feed store.
So this year, we got to have a egg hunt with little fury friends. The kids LOVED it! Aren't the little chicks cute...they die them bright Easter colors.

Easter Morning

The Easter bunny leaves trails of candy to each kids Easter basket. In the past, it has always been jelly beans. But who really likes jelly beans, not me, so the Easter bunny was nice this year and left trails of M & M's. MUCH BETTER!!! Thanks Easter bunny!

Another Hunt

Angie and Greg invited us over for a fun Easter Egg hunt between conferene sessions. Uncle Greg and Mark had just as much fun hiding all the eggs as the kids did finding them. We love having family so close!

Cattle Branding

This little monster is the reason we have started branding our children like cattle.

It's very simple really. Everyone has a brand seared into their skin. It lets everyone know that #23 needs to be returned back to our house if found.

Ok, I will clarify, because I'm sure everyone is very confused.

On Saturday morning, I had just finished feeding Reilynn, and Mark and I were talking in our room. P, K, A, and I thought B, were playing the Wii. Our doorbell rang. It was like 8am. Who in the world could it be this early! Oh, it was our neighbor returning Bailey from CLEAR DOWN THE STREET!!! I was in my jammies, unruly curly hair in every direction, and a baby on my hip. Yes, I know, I am fulfilling my hick-trailer roots. (Not that there is anything wrong with living in a trailer, let's just get that staight right now!!!)

The neighbor returned Bailey without so much as a smile of understanding, and walked away. Why couldn't it have been the neighbors that know me?!?!? This is the neighbor that has a handicapped daughter that rides her big tricycle around our cul-de-sac and my dog (the vicious poodle) tries to attack her with her bark. And no this isn't the same neighbor who has the 2 perfect children...it's another one.

My neighbors LOVE me!!!

Anyway, so I decided we are going to brand our children...the cattle ranchers have a good thing going! (Ok, so we just went to IKEA's play area yesturday, but I still think it is a good idea.)

It's not very often...

when all 4 monsters are playing together,

no one is fighting, screaming, or crying,
and I just had to document it.