Thank you

Justin is getting so much more understandable, almost daily. He still can't say the "f" sound, it sounds like an "s", so if he says "oss"...it is really "off". Anyhow, I am sitting here typing while he is coloring with markers and he asks me to take the lids on/off. Every time I do, he says, "Thank you, mom". He is so polite, almost all of the time. He's so good at saying, "Thanks, Dad/Mom". It's great to see him just picking up on the word and always saying it. It wasn't me, I promise.

Hogle Zoo

Okay...I need to start this post out with a yes, I am finally back into blogging all the time. Why, you ask?! Because I got a new camera and I am LOVING taking pictures again. I can't take enough pictures. Any excuse to use it, is fine with me. So, you get lots more posts (notice there are more this month than all of 2009, well, close enough anyhow!)

Tuesday we decided to head off to the Hogle Zoo. On the way back from lake Powell, Justin was singing a song he made up about animals. I have NO idea what he was doing, except I heard him doing his "song voice" and signing/singing animal names. Then says, "mom, Zoo!! Go see amimals!!" James seconded (is that a word?) the motion and so on Tuesday, we went. We go every year for Justin's birthday because he loves it so much. I had 2 extra boys (daycare kids during the summer) so it was me and 5 boys. Really though, going anywhere with James is a breeze. He's a natural with kids and is going to make an amazing father some day. He has passed his training requirements. He's awesome with his brothers.


The kids standing by the Ball of Water!!


I loved seeing this. Jonah was helping Justin get up, because it was too high. They love each other!!


Justin and Jonah in the egg.


James and Kyle

Kyle is so cute!!


Kyle had climbed onto some rocks, like the big boys and wanted to walk on them. So James came over and was helping Kyle walk. It shows the love James has for his brother. So patient.

James and Justin

Lake Powell 2009

About a month ago, we decided we needed a break. We hadn't been on a vacation in a long time and even longer since a vacation with JUST our little family. Off we headed to Lake Powell. I had never been before and didn't really know what to expect. I knew you parked on the beach, next to the water, pitch your tent and enjoy the scenery, heat, sand and water. Water, I mean, what isn't there to love with that word?!

We learned some fun facts:
-Justin loves to say "oh gosh!!" for everything new that happens!
-Justin had a panic attack because the wind knocked down our tent. He thought it was broken and was so upset, it took hours to calm him down that we would be able to fix it.
-Babies hate port-a-cribs. Why do we use them?
-Justin learned to swim, well for a 3 year old in a life jacket. He can "tread" water on his own, stay upright in the water and swim to what he wants. It's a beginning!
-Justin is absolutely fearless in the water.
-James is great at knee-boarding!
-Laying in hard sand is NOT comfortable
-Kyle loves to just run in circles on his own. Crazy boy.
-All the boys in our family LOVE LOVE LOVE licorice.
-Sand and water are great entertainers for kids. Content for hours.






I'll continue and post more pictures over the next few days. All in all, it was a great trip with only a few things forgotten. We rented a boat, a little Sea-Doo boat. It's like two wave-runner engines in one. It has 4 seats and was PERFECT for our family. James got to go knee-boarding, tubing and lots of swimming. Justin couldn't stay in the water long-enough and was extremely upset when we had to leave the "beach". Kyle was happy and content to sit in the sand and play with buckets. The boys did great we all had a relaxing weekend.

Baby Toys & Boys

I was talking with a friend, last week, and we were talking about toys for kids. I offered to let her borrow our exer-saucer for her 5 month old little girl. So Justin and I dug out the toys that go on it and got it ready to take to her house. This is what I came into the room to see. Silly boys! I guess you never get too old to play with baby toys.

Bounteous Garden

I love fresh food from the garden. Here is my spinach, my first lettuce and first zucchini. Don't they look awesome, if I do say so myself! This square foot gardening thing is fun.

Kyle is growing up so quickly

Here are some fun pictures of Kyle I took. He is growing up so quickly and is becoming more and more fun. His new favorite thing is to spin himself in a circle and giggle the whole time. He loves to give hugs and kisses to anyone who will accept them. and how can you NOT want to accept them from such a snuggler! His top two teeth are in now and you can definitely see them in these pictures.

Fourth of July 2009

We had a great, relaxing, easy-going Fourth of July. It was the first year in a long time that we have spent it here in Utah, so that made me sad. Normally we go to Michigan to be with my family, so I hope they all had a good time without us. We did get to go boating with our friends. I of course, did not take the camera. Justin had a great time jumping off the boat into the cold water. He loved the tube ride and Kyle even liked the water.

After boating, we had dinner with Kenny and Sarah, Kevin's brother and sis-in-law. Then we saw the Provo fireworks. Here are some pictures of the event.