A walk, cute kids, an anniversary, and a lesson learned.

A walk:

We explored another of Michigan's beautiful parks last week. It was so fun to be out in nature. The kids are at their happiest when we are out in the woods exploring!

Cute kids:

Sophie and Nora "sleeping". They get so tired as soon as we mention it is time for scriptures and prayers!

Just a classic Nora picture. She is in her own little world sometimes!

Our sweet little guy in his Sunday best
(the shirt is still a bit big in the collar - but he's cute enough to pull it off!)

An anniversary:

picture courtesy of Sophie :)

Brian and I celebrated our 7th anniversary on the 29th. Our friends watched the kids in the morning so we could go out and look for something. We ended up getting this at Goodwill:

Nice anniversary present I know - but it was only 20 bucks and we couldn't resist!

A lesson learned:

Last night we had watermelon for our Family Night treat.... Nora was up FOUR times last night going potty and Sophie wet the bed! No more watermelon right before bedtime.

Home again

I just got back last night from Girls Camp. I left early Tuesday morning and got home late Thursday night. Which means my wonderful (and brave) husband got to stay home with our {adorable} children for three full days and two nights all alone! But he rocks so it was no big deal - except for the fact that he has tons to do right now for school. I decided to leave the camera home for him so I could see what they did while I was gone - so I have no picture from Girls Camp... but considering it was 90 degrees with 90% humidity and I think I have twice as many sweat glands as normal people, I'm not sure I would have posted any pictures of myself anyway. Unfortunately when I got home and checked the camera I saw that Brian hadn't taken any pictures. But he did keep all the kids alive and happy - no easy task - so I can't complain. It was so fun to spend time with the Young Women and get to know them better - but it's good to be home.
{AND my house was even clean when I came back! I know - he's awesome.}

Here's the camp where we were at.... at least the entrance of it. It's really big and has all kinds of activities like horseback riding, repelling, swimming, canoeing, and the camp provides all the meals and snacks. There are showers and bathrooms - which are yucky - but better than nothing!
NOT the girls camp I went to growing up!
(But I think tents are better than stuffy cabins with no air conditioner!)

So lucky...

What parents wouldn't count themselves blessed to see these three faces every day?

Our dad

A little pop quiz for my kids about their dad...

Sophie:
What is dad's favorite food: chicken roll-ups
What is his favorite color: blue
What is dad's job: school
What does dad like to do: watch basketball
What do you like to do with dad: play hide & seek
Where does he like to go: The donut store
If you could get dad a present, what would you get? A GPS
What makes daddy happy: his birthday, and when we are good
What is the best thing about dad: He loves me
What is special about him: sometimes he helps me clean up


Nora:
What is dad's favorite food: maybe cake
What is his favorite color: blue
What is dad's job: be on the computer
What does dad like to do: I don't know, maybe we should go ask him?
What do you like to do with dad: play in the backyard
Where does he like to go: probably the beach or on vacation
If you could get dad a present, what would you get for him? A slip 'n slide
What makes daddy happy: playing with us and having children
What is the best thing about dad: He's funny
What is special about him: he plays in floods!

We are so happy to have Brian as the father of our home. My kids are darn lucky. And so am I. Happy Father's Day! We love you.

Hold Everything!

Remember my post from yesterday that said we were busy with lots of things going on and lots of things to get ready for??? Last night our whole basement flooded! Thanks to a wonderful landlord, his son and grandson and incredible neighbors who were helping us until the wee hours of the morning things are under control. Have I mentioned how lucky we are to have such great neighbors? I feel so blessed to have friends who would put their own needs aside to help us last night. The Seedall's (who we share our duplex with) had 2 inches of water in their own basement and still spent most of their time in ours (once their stuff was off the ground theirs was beyond help until the water went down and their pump was working.) And my neighbor Angela (who is 8 months pregnant and has a baby shower today!!) stayed up way too late moving stuff and bringing towels over, and her husband Tim was up later than me helping out. THANKS EVERYONE!! We got so much rain it was crazy. I got home from the store at 9 and it started raining about 915.... Just before I was going to bed at 11:00 I thought I'd check the office - where Miles sleeps - to see if there was any water. There was a tiny bit in one corner and by the time I had Miles moved upstairs water was pouring into our laundry room! It was a long night - and bound to be a long day as well - but I can't feel bad because it could've been worse, we had so much help and what matters most (our family) are all safe and sound!

Just a quick one...

We are busy at our house with lots to prepare for and plenty to keep us busy each day. Here is a quick peek at a few of the goings-on at our house lately!

This is Miles' trademark smile... he tucks his lips in and looks oh - so mischevious

(this particular day he had been sampling our supply of magic markers)
He is a busy guy - climbing up the bunk beds, up, over and around the kitchen table and he makes a break for the birdbath down the street whenever he can. He's fast!

Nora can play in our front yard for very long periods of time looking for bugs. She mostly loves caterpillars, butterflies, dragonflies, worms, fireflies, potato bugs, nightcrawlers, beetles.....

Pretty much everything - except spiders. She's found that these bricks are a jackpot for bugs!

Sophie went to the dentist yesterday (she had one small cavity that needed to be filled - I felt so bad she had one and have resolved to do better at flossing her teeth every night - what a chore!) She was very brave and the dentist was very nice - and fast. The worst part has been that she totally chewed up her bottom lip when it was numb from the anesthetic! The inside of her bottom lip is all chewed up with one big gash in it. Poor girl.

Well, that's all for now....

I'm a bad person

How else do I explain completely forgetting to post a birthday greeting to these cute people on their birthdays?? I make no excuses for myself. But I may need to abandon doing birthday posts altogether. I hate to think of making anybody sad (because I'm sure their days were ruined by not being on my blog, right?) :) Anyway - a BIG HUGE HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY to these very special kids.
I'm one lucky aunt.

My nephew Lex! He and Sophie have a lot in common.

My nephew Ro - we think you are a very special kid!

My niece Ellie - who is a cute and silly girl, Sophie still talks about when we visited her last summer.

And my niece Madalyn! I hate that we don't know her very well because we moved to Michigan when she was 3 months old (and her mom doesn't update her blog....hint, hint Becca!)
But she is sooo adorable, and we hope to get to know her better soon.

We love you all and think and talk about ALL of our family members often!

Right Now

Sophie is doing this:

(catching floating cotton)

Miles is begging for more of these:

(otter pops)

and Nora thinks she just saw a snake:

(she didn't)

Huff Family Visit - Part 2!

Here are more pictures of the great week we had with the Huff family!

We spent a fun evening at Lake Lansing....

Cute Ava - Nora kept calling her "Avey"

Emily and Owen building a sand castle

Miles playing in the water

We also went to a park here that has a splash pad. It was so fun!

Owen looks pretty excited in this picture!

And we spent a day at Lake Michigan! It was beautiful - not really warm but not cold either.

Me and my kiddos

Miles kept doing this:

Which resulted in this:

Racing on the beach. Owen has such a great run - so macho. Nora's winning in this picture but she did cheat.... she kept sneaking forward at the starting line.

My girls love to explore. They are always wandering, searching for things and examining everything. It's pretty cute.

We played a little frisbee...

Emily

Matt went into the water for this one!

Brian

Chasing the kids

Pretty Ava

Thanks again guys! We had so much fun having you at our home with us.

A few of the other "highlights" of the week:

* Brian backing into Matt & Emily's rental car - oops!

* Matt dropping popcorn, a drink and Ava in the movie theater (she was okay)

* Sophie falling off of a paddle boat into Lake Lansing only seconds after me telling her to be careful or she might fall in - and the ensuing drama that followed.
*Owen promising not to hurt anyone with his "strong body"
*Ava mimicking Miles' "rarrr!"
* Matt's yummy cooking (and cleaning up!)
* Me almost dropping a watermelon at the grocery store - completely sprawling out on the floor to save it - which I did! It was yummy, too.

Huff family visit - part 1...

We have been so lucky this past week to have Brian's sister Emily, along with her husband Matt and their two kids Owen and Ava, come and visit us!

The day after they arrived we went out to the country and had a great time. One of the High Councilmen in our ward had invited all the families to come out to his home and see some baby sheep and chickens. We ended up staying for hotdogs and a buggy ride from a nearby Amish neighbor. Really!! Matt described it best as: surreal and peaceful. And I might add AWESOME! Brian teases me because I read these fictional Amish books and find the Amish people very interesting - so I was thrilled to ride in their buggy and talk with them (although I didn't say much - I think I was in shock - like when you see a celebrity) This couple were very kind - as you can see in the second picture Ava had warmed up real quick!

Ava and Miles had a great time splashing in the bird bath!

Here is Miles near the end of the evening...

And here is Nora - just being Nora...

And Sophie posing amidst the sheep poop...
notice how she's trying to not let her feet touch!
Three cute cousins!

Miles discovered he was quite the little climber. He climbed multiple fences like this one - but this is when he got to the top all by himself.

Emily and Ava watching the mommy and baby sheep

The Huff's

Owen and Nora hanging out after a fun day!

I have to charge my camera battery before I upload the other pictures. We had so much fun having them here - we kept forgetting who the guests were because they were so generous and helpful. We miss you already and can't wait to see you again!
Stay tuned for the Huff family visit - part 2!!