Funny Story

Conversation between me and Braxton:

Cameron was hitting me on the belly while I was cleaning him up from breakfast.

Braxton: "Don't hit her belly, there is a baby in there" (which there is not!!!)
Me: "Are you kidding me, there is not!"
Braxton: "I'll tell you where there is a baby--in your head."
Me: "What is that supposed to mean?"
Braxton: "There is a baby in your head because you are thinking about having another baby, I just know it. I just know it."

I was laughing my head off and wondered where he could have possibly come up with that. He is hilarious :)

Happy #4 Jelly

On Tuesday Dakota got to choose one friend to go swimming at the Clearfield Aquatic Center. It is a really fun place with a play place, water slide, and lazy river. Shane and I even quite enjoyed ourselves.

This is Dakota's 4th Birthday Party. He got loaded up as usual and had a great day. It started off bright and early with breakfast in bed and was non stop from there. He had a picnic with some of his friends in the afternoon, had his favorite dinner-chicken pillows-, and finished off with cousins and family over for presents and cake and ice cream. It was a really good time and he is having a great time playing with his toys this morning.

Muffins in bed or as he says "there is no room in the bed for all of us, so it is Breakfast by the side of the bed"

Yes, my son was given the name Dakota when he was born, and maybe someday he will go by that, but since he was born we have called him many other names except Dakota. It started with calling him "baby D" for the first two years of his life, which wore off as he was not a baby anymore. Then later, and at the same time, Braxton and I called him Baby Angelico for some strange reason, which evolved into Jelly. Now Braxton often calls him "J". Luckily he answers to mostly anything we call him.

Every time one of my children has a birthday I always reflect on the day he was born. Bringing home a healthy newborn was quite a shock for me and Shane. He woke up every 45 minutes that first night, which was something I am sure we never did with our one month old Braxton, and we were EXHAUSTED to say the least. Shane wondered if there was something wrong with him, I assured him that he was fine, just adjusting, while also thinking this was tough. After that he started to sleep in his car seat and slept wonderfully. I am sure my doctor wouldn't approve, but I surely got more sleep and was a better mom because of it. He has been a pure joy since then. He is patient, easy going and very kind. He is a definite rule follower. Never deviating, and sure to let us know. He gets along great with most children. He has a bit of a temper and sometimes says he wont be my friend anymore, but I love him so much and am happy to have him in my life.

Can anyone tell me why I cant get this thing to go into paragraphs?

Firestation Fieldtrip

Braxton's Kindergarten walked to the fire station for a tour on Wednesday and I was lucky enough to be able to go with them. Braxton did not walk by me for even one minute, but I got to watch him with his friends and see him dressed up like a fireman (sorry its a little blurry). It was pretty fun.

I LOVE SPRING!!!

I love all the beautiful colors that grow in my yard in the spring. I get so excited when I see the tulips blooming and the grass start to green up. I just had to take some photos and share my love for all that I have been given. How great it is to raise my family in this great town and to have a husband who prides himself on a good looking yard. My children are the greatest things growing in my yard and I am loving all the picnics with them and the neighbor children. Cameron is thinking he is big enough to go in and out and although his brothers do (way to often), I have been spending a lot of time out there keeping an eye on him.

I have felt very busy this week with Dakota's birthday and Braxton's fieldtrip, but I have had time to sit back and enjoy the great weather, so I must not be too busy. It is funny how my concept of busy has changed since being in college and literally busy all the time to feeling busy because we have had too many play dates this week :), I suppose it is all in the perspective. I was laying in bed thinking that this morning how on that movie Ratatouille (spelling?) the famous critic says they need a little dose of perspective, that was just how I feel this week.

Happy Easter

I can't even believe that I have only three children and we end up with loot like this. THREE BOWLS. I suppose that is what happens when they have three sets of grandparents. One huge bowl from each house. The Easter bunny hid this dart tag in the oven. They thought that was pretty great.

Shane in full attack mode. I am sure the Easter Bunny intended on this being for Shane as much as the boys.

When the boys woke up Dakota was so excited, I don't even think he was this excited on Christmas. He ran around the kitchen screaming and jumping. It was awesome. Experiencing life through the eyes of a child makes all the effort worth it. Shane often says how much he doesn't like the holidays, but it is those moments of pure joy that make us look forward to them each year.

Construction worker Batboy!!

I had to laugh at this when I saw how great Dakota looked!

Egg Dying

This year we dyed eggs with Marley. The boys had so much fun and loved spending time with Marley. Surprisingly I even volunteered to have it at my house. I am slightly crazy about things being spilled on my floor and the thought of egg dye about puts me over the top, but they did fabulous and didn't even have any spills. Cameron just sat in his chair and watched this time, but the next day when we did it at Shane's dad's house he had a fit every time I took away an egg to do another one. He is getting a little bit of fire in him and I am not sure I want him to grow up so fast.

Dakota sported this hot look with his shirt wide open and a cheezer smile.

Conference Fun

We fixed each other's hair while listening to conference to keep the boys busy. We gave the boys "fohawks" and they gave me three ponytails and a lot of mouse and hairspray. It was really fun. Braxton said "Mom I am the oldest and have the shortest fohawk and Cameron is the youngest and his is the longest." He is quite the observer. Dakota is so funny whenever I fix his hair (which is seldom) he is so paranoid if someone touches it or else rubs against it he makes sure it still looks good.

Fun for Free

I was inspired by a friends blog to have fun for free. They built a tent in their living room and had a day of camping, picnics, and movies. Dakota wanted to go mini golfing and I didn't feel like forking over $30 for us to go golfing for 1/2 hour so we built one in our house. We had five holes, each one someone else's genius, and had hours of fun. We even played it the next day with my mom and dad. The kids loved showing off their handy work and of course the grandparents were very impressed.




This one was Braxton's doing. He had created it outside last fall and just moved it into the house and named it moose hollow.

This one was Dakota and Shane's. We had to go through 2 tunnel's, up the ramp and into the bean bag.

This was mine. Over two humps and into the hole. Simple and yet challenging.

Sorry about not turning the photos. I am just happy to say I did this all by myself. :)

Little things

When I started this blog I promised myself I would try to put the little things my kids do that I think are amazing as well as the important stuff, so I am going to put snippets into our lives and the wonderful things they say.
Braxton met some new friends at Tara's new house last week. He has become pretty fond of these three brothers. They are very nice, and he loves to ride bikes with them. My boys take thier scooters and bikes and everyone just uses them. Well they have 1 bike to share and they just take turns, which might I say is pretty impressive for 3 boys. Anyway Braxton said "Mom did you see that they only have one bike." "Yes, they are pretty good at sharing aren't they", I said. Then he said the cutest, most thoughtful thing. "Well we have that black scooter at home that we don't use anymore, could we bring it and give it to them"
Lets just say it was a proud mother moment. All that teaching we do everyday and sometimes they give us back so much more than we could ever hoped for. :)