Addie's first pony tail!

Addie wouldn't leave her headbands on her head anymore so I decided she might have enough hair for a decent looking pony tail, and she did! I did have to chase her around trying to get it in. She was so mad. But once it is in she leaves it alone.

 It is so cute! Staucie was two before she had enough hair on top. Her Aunt Brittany calls it her little firework.

 She kept saying "cheese" for the camera and I was trying to capture her little wink that she does too. It is so funny! Here is the smile.

 And then this is what she does with her eye. She scrunches up her nose and gives a big cheesy grin and sorta says, "Cheese." Yes, she is adorable! My sister, Tyne, made this face at this same age and my dad nick-named her "Snooker," because of it. I might call her snooker too, except for that whole "Snookie" thing which has totally ruined it!

Swimming Lessons!

Staucie and Parker had swimming lessons for the first time this year. They went to Miss Lori's house and she was awesome!



The first time we took the 4 kids to the pool this year, they all cried and were scared of the water. Swimming lessons was 4 days a week for 2 weeks and when they were done they felt like pros!

They can jump off the side of the pool. They are practicing their strokes and going under water now! It's a miracle for my scardy cats!

I am glad they have an opportunity to learn to swim, go under water, etc. I don't know how to swim and I have to plug my nose to go under. I am glad they are learning to blow out their nose the right way.

Next year we will put Bensen in swim lessons too.

This year I took Addie to her Aunt Brittany's because I knew she would just run and run. Bensen came with me and hardly moved while on my lap.

Every Saturday we have been going to the pool. Staucie and Parker wear their floaties and think they can "swim" now. Parker loves to go under water and even opens his eyes. Bensen is of course clingy, and Addie just wants to run. We decided this last Saturday that we need 3 adults. One for Staucie and Parker, who want to play in the big pool. One for Bensen, who wants to play in the little pool or hang onto you. And one to chase Addie around, who runs back and forth to the pools and is in and out of the water and all over the place (she is a lot of work). Hopefully, next year will be less work :)

What to do with ruined wrapping paper...

While Daniel was in charge (sorry Daniel) the kids unrolled a brand new roll of wrapping paper and wrinkled it all to death. For awhile I couldn't decide if I should throw it away. I finally decided to get rid of it, and put it by the stairs in a big ball. Before I took it down, Bensen unrolled it and then Addie and him ran around on it and thought it was great. It gave me an idea. So, we drew roads and houses all over the back of it to drive cars on. Parker was awesome at helping me color in the roads. Staucie spent the time beautifying her house. It had a rainbow and water around it. Bensen was good at messing it up, of course. It was fun, and then we threw it away when they were done with it.

Daniel/Daddy's Happy Birthday

We celebrated Daniel/Daddy's birthday on June 2nd. He came home form work, we fed him a good, homecooked meal with some of his favorites, we sang Happy Birthday, the kids gave him the pictures they colored for him, we ate cake, and then he went to scouts...

Happy Birthday Daddy!

He wanted nothing for his birthday because he didn't want to spend any money. I love when Daniel has a birthday because then we are the same age for a few months! We love our Daddy/Hubby. He is so good to all of his and we are grateful for all he does.

MOO, BAA, LA LA LA!

Addie loves having books read to her. Her favorite is Moo, Baa, La La La! It was her Easter gift so I am glad she likes it. I love when she gets a book and runs straight at me with it, but I especially love when she turns around and backs up to sit on my lap. And it is even cuter when she starts from too far away. AdOrAbLe! Don't you just love the one-year-old stage? They just do the cutest things and are easily entertained.

Bitter old lady

don't read. not uplifting.

me. I am the bitter old lady. I feel like we have been banished to Texas. I know that I shouldn't be bitter. I have the perfect family. I have a wonderful husband, 4 beautiful, healthy children. And Daniel has a job and we have a new house. Life sounds perfect.

I also know that if I don't change my attitude that I will never learn whatever it is I am supposed to be learning while being banished to Houston and living with this heat, humidity, and worst of all, endless big bugs.

But the worst part of it all, the reason I am bitter about it, is because my family is so far away. It costs too much money to visit each other and when we do, it is like once a year, or less. So, why do some families get to live right by each other and some don't. Maybe some don't even care, but my bestest friends include my sister, my mom, my brothers, and my dad.

I know that in the grand scheme of things it won't matter because we are all sealed and will be together forever. But why can't I endure life while living next to my sister? my mom?

When I cry to Daniel about these things he gives me nice logical explanations. Yah, yah, yah. I know these things, but I cry about it anyways.

I think I am just going to be stuck like this forever for all my murmuring. How do you get to the point where you are just happy about everything and never complain about life? I am obviously far from, especially since my life is pretty near perfect. I just want to see my family more often, that's all...

I am trying to visit my sister when she has her baby. Daniel said I could fly there for a quick weekend trip. Not long enough. I wish I could take all the kids and stay for 2 weeks. It has been 2 years since we have seen some of our family there. I am going to start praying for it to rain money or free airline tickets. Tomorrow I will be trying to win $1,000 on a radio show. That will pay for some of us.

I just want to love my sister's baby for a few days and see our family out there. That's all. I can't imagine it would rain cash or airline tickets since we can't even get real rain down here. No rain and Houston under pays their employees. We felt like we were doing better financially in Utah of all places. How can my husband have such a good job, but it still be barely enough to support us. Ridiculous. At least a mortgage payment is less than rent... Look I was positive. ha. Oh and he has a job where way too many Americans are without.

I am grateful for all that I have. I truly am. My life is how I have always wanted it to be. I just want to live in a different location. Closer to the West Coast. That's it for my bitter ramblings. We will move on to my cute kids from here on out...

Staucie's Preschool Graduation

Staucie graduated from her last day of preschool, EVER, on May 31st. So sad for me.

Miss Candy and Staucie. Miss Candy and Staucie's best friend in the class, Aiden.

The class.

Miss Candy.

Aiden, Staucie, Jackson, Olivia (Candy's daughter), Molly, Elisabeth.

She loved Miss Candy's class this year and had a blast. She was a LOT less shy this year than she was last year. I am not excited for Kindergarten. It is ALL DAY. It is just not right. It will be so sad to send her off and to be away from her all day, 5 days a week.

Staucie's last day of school was so fun!

After being at school for an hour Miss Candy took them all to Waterway Square to eat lunch and play. I picked up Parker an hour early from his preschool and we met Staucie there. They had a blast.

Addie had a blast running around. I had a hard time keeping up with her while Bensen clung to me, and trying to keep an eye on the other two.

Poor Bensen is always too nervous of "strangers" to ever play. I feel so bad for the kid. Hopefully he will start to grow out of it soon. But it is not looking promising. (When he was a baby, he would start crying when Uncle Matt would come over. Now he doesn't cry, but he hides. Poor thing.)

Addie, of course, had no fear. Once these little one-year-olds learn to walk/run they think they can do everything by themselves. I just wish she would hold my hand!

On the go!

Just watching.

Parker, Staucie, and Staucie's best friend, Aiden.

It was fun, but always hard for me :) It was hard to get any pictures too!

Boys...

Oh, to have boys. I am so grateful to have these two little stinkers, but they are becoming more "boy" everyday. For example, today Parker found a poopy diaper (it was next to Addie's door while she was napping. I couldn't throw it in the diaper genie yet) and started throwing it at Staucie and Bensen and thought it was hillarious. Other "bathroom humor" is also funny to him. I don't like to think about what is to come as they get older. Things my brothers did keep coming back to me...

I know they look sweet and innocent in this picture, but don't let them fool you. Ha ha. They are [still] adorable. My dad's line when I first added boy number two to the mix, "What one doesn't think of, the other one will." I know this is true because I had two brothers just like my two boys. So, the question is, what about those mothers who have more than 2 boys???? yikes.

So, Here's to Mothers of Boys!

To be outside, you must be wet

We are starting to play in the backyard with the kiddie pool now instead of the front yard with the bikes. Some evenings have still cooled down enough to run around after dinner.

This was the first time we got the pool out this year. This was a couple/few weeks ago...??

Two boys. So you need two hoses.

And then, of course, one had a brilliant idea to squirt their sister.
And when the other one noticed, he joined in too.

So, mom decided the pool was full enough and took the hoses.

So they splashed around.

Then Addie woke up, so she came out too. Look at Bensen's cute grin!

Four little monkeys.

Where'd they go?

Addie is done.

The rest of the time she just enjoyed walking around freely.

Happy Summer!

(Ugh. I am melting. I wish I could wear less layers when going outside to water the lawn. So HUMID!)