Cousins

We had fun swimming and riding bikes and playing with our cousins. Love you lots.

Babbity's Birthday

Babs is still excited to receive a Carebear after 5 years of this strange obsession. You in the know remember how she cried with joy at opening yet another Carebear that one Christmas?? And I don't know why this is underlined, but whatever.Not all of us are as excited about attending a party for someone else.

This one is a ham.

Ready for cake here. What's taking you so long all ready?

Didn't catch everyone, but it was fun to have extended's come up and join the fun.

There is always a lot of help at opening time.

Harry Potter legos. Oh yeah.

She wanted a "special" cake this time. Thanks all you overachieving friends. I now have a new standard to live up to. Plain old in the pan won't fly anymore. This cake is in honor of her new obsession which is to capture every creature that is foolish enough to venture within her range. Except spiders. She still has her phobia of them. Lucky spiders. The dragonflies have been the favorite catches and in our summer school stuff we were able to look them up and find out about their life cycle and what they eat etc. She now wants to be an entomologist. Special thanks to SIL for imparting decorating skills.

Success!! She likes it :)

More fond gazing at her Carebear. I love this girl. And while I think everything she does is funny, I think she is really a lot like me. I seem to remember having mason jars full of grasshoppers and one entire visit to the sand dunes was comprised of my determination to catch one of those sneaky, fast lizards. Who cares about riding 4 wheelers when there are lizards? She is definitely out of the same mold. She is very sweet and sassy at the same time. She is a good, and bossy big sister and can have such compassion. Look at that smile. So cute. Especially in her silkie pajamas that she delights in. Thanks Nancy via a cute cousin:)

We were also able to celebrate a few days earlier with our cousins from California and went to Kangaroo zoo. It was really fun and we love them. I didn't get any pictures there, but will post some pictures from their visit soon. Happy birthday Babs. We love you.

Bekickification

So I am just having a little remembery of one day while as a missionary just having a baaaaaaad day. They have them, you know, missionaries-even though it can be one of the most spiritual times of life.

Anyway. We were walking home, I think someone had not shown up for an appointment-which is often as-per-usual, but we were taking it kind of hard for whatever reason. We were walking and came to a field and decided to just take a break and recover emotions before continuing on. Sister Butler stopped and looked around and then just kicked the head off this dandelion as hard as she could. It flew across the field at a ridiculous rate. Her face registered shock at how very far and long it flew.

I couldn't help it. I busted up laughing. My emotions go like that a lot. Extreme sad can change to incoherent laughter at a moments notice. Nervousness and my emotion about a lesson translates into complete blubbering idiot when I give it. It's just how I am.

We started running around decapitating every dandelion we could find. And it felt good. It was pretty rural, I hope we weren't seen. And maybe you didn't know this, but dandelions have a very satisfying stem that pops off with just the right tension and sound to bring joy to a very bummed out couple of girls. They have to be pretty tall though. We giggled and cavorted for quite a few minutes and christened our new release as "bekickification".

I'd like to bekickify the crappity crap out of life sometimes and am quite annoyed with myself that I have weed and feeded my lawn. So I have remedied my bad day today with a view of this little beauty:


Thanks little Babs and chicken-creatures for a smile on my face. And of course my other children. I just haven't been able to capture them in a picture in their cute/funny stuff lately.
Chickens are seriously funny-unless you have a phobia. Sorry phobia friends. Love you anyway. Just so glad for the little things that buoy us up :)

I have access to dad's phone pics, therefore inundation alert!!!

Rub-a-dub-dub three cute girls in a tub...I know, I know. Cheesy mom, but coot kids.

Yes, I am posting Halloween pics in June. What of it???
Blurry, but you get the idea. Our new favorite "activity" for family night.

Running around with cattails from the local swamp.

They love to play in this tree. Don't ask me why. It is infested with ants.

Train fun at Union station. P.S. these railings don't really fit children. I almost had a hernia.

The guhluls (Goosie talk) wanted a picture on the pink one.

One of many visits to the zoo.

For our anniversary which is also the anniversary of the children being sealed to us, we purchased season passes to Lagoon. Fitting, since that is one place we went on our honeymoon, and it would be nearly impossible to do anything sans kids. Don'tcha think?

Claus looks pleased, but I think Bryguy is psyching himself up.

Soooo happy (and tired) that you get the rare head loll half asleep smile.

They would take turns condescending to have Goosie along. It seemed to be the cool thing to go by themselves. Of course Babs is trying to figure everything out.

These two are buds. It makes me happy.

Bitty is a daredevil. I think she looks way to little for that seat!

We are quite the spectacle. Lots of staring involved. This is Bryguy's "I'm tired, but I'm trying to keep it together-face" Have you heard about that other blog about children too big for their strollers?? Yeah. I think this picture would qualify.

Not Halloween. Just when summer wouldn't come and we were inside on a rainy day. Babs is continuing her hoarding. She wouldn't let me yardsale this costume that fits a two year old 'cause "See mom! I still fit!"

Claus is almost always this cheerful. What a cute guy.

Thinks he is soooo funny. And he is.

A roly poly pink lacy angel...in a car.

For such a daredevil, she quickly puts on her frilly side. I love her smile.

That's all for now. You have endured well if you made it to the end of this.

splashpaddinit

No, he wasn't clobbered in the face, this is the result of a nasty mosquito-who prevailed despite layers of spray. You just don't think of spraying kids in the eye. Silly me. I don't know how to protect those eyelids/brows without blinding the poor boy. Let me know any ideas....????






Still game, despite said eye. I got several mean looks, as though I whopped him a good one.

This boy can't keep his finger out of his tooth hole. I guess that's better than other places, but still... swim kid! Leave your gaping hole alone for half a sec :)

Pretending to be a seal. Very flattering.

In conclusion, much fun was had by all. Thank you mother nature for the first 80 degree day in a very long time.