Halloween Preview

Bensen is wearing Parker's dinosaur hat.

Parker Quote

Parker: "I do it. I do it."

Parker: "I can't do it."

Making Pizza, Bensen is Sitting, and Bundled Up

For dinner the other night I decided that we would each make our very own pizza. I put out a bunch of toppings and they spread on their sauce, sprinkled on cheese (which ended up in one big pile that Daniel and I helped to spread out), and picked what toppings to put on it. The kids really enjoyed creating their pizzas and putting whatever they wanted on it. Daniel wanted to stop Staucie from putting on onions and mushrooms, but I wouldn't let him. He also tried to talk her into pineapple on her pizza. She must be her mother's daughter who believes fruit doesn't go on this kind of pizza.

They are eating their pizzas while our pizzas are cooking.

Bensen ate Kix.

Too bad this picture is blurry :)

Crazy smile.
Mmm... which one next?
Ta Da! Bensen is sitting!

Sitting is a huge milestone for my children who just don't care to stay in one spot once they are strong enough to move around. Bensen is sitting all the time now as he army crawls around. I am still waiting for him to crawl instead of army crawl. He does practice sometimes, but he is really fast the other way.

He is also pulling himself up to stand, but is not stable.

And these two...

They are the best of friends. I am sure it is really hot outside :)

Pumpkin Painting

For Family Night a little bit ago, we painted pumpkins. Bensen was actually already in bed because he wasn't feeling well. I painted his pumpkin for him. The kids LOVED it. I think we might do it again before Halloween is over. It is better than carving because there are no pumpkin guts to clean out and the kids can do all the creating.

Parker...Bensen...Staucie

Bensen - 9 Months

Bensen is 9 months now. The time flies. He is very active. Army crawling everywhere and climbing everything. He goes and goes. He had is well-check appointment this last week and he weighed 17 pounds, which I thought was a lot until they said it was only in the 7%. But his length is in the 25%. I tried to take some pictures of him, but he didn't hold still for long. And this one is dark.

Bye bye, Mommy.

Then I tried to take a picture of all the kids...

It wasn't working the way I wanted...

None of them are looking the same direction.

Parker got bored.

And then they all did...

Maybe another time.

Choose This Day

Choose This Day

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Shea

My little brother Shea... Shea I wanted you to know how much I love you. There are a few people in my life that make me want to be the best I can. You are a very big part of that. You are one of the reasons I wake up in the morning, one of the reasons I breath, live, pray, work, read my scriptures, go to the temple, pray some more, and try to be a better person everyday. I know that someday I will be in Heaven with you by my side.

You are a part of who I was, who I am, and who I want to be. You are in every childhood memory. All the joy I remember from growing up in our family has to do with you. My life would not be complete without you. I am so grateful that I was blessed with you as a brother. My little brother, who may be taller, but is still little to me.

Everyday you are in my prayers, my thoughts, and my reason for being. I pray that your body will be strong and will fight off the cancer. I love you.

Sidewalk Chalk

The kids were outside and we were inside watching General Conference (they got restless so we sent them outside so we could hear).

Staucie: "Mommy, Parker colored on the house."
Mommy: "Parker, don't color on the house."
Staucie: "Mommy, Parker colored on himself."
Daddy: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."

Excuse me, but I think that is still considered part of the house.

Well, not only did the kids color on everything that they possibly could, including themselves, they also decided to take off their shoes (Parker still had his socks on) and run through the grass which was very muddy since it has been raining for days. I told Daniel that he got to clean them up and then I said, "By the way they are running through mud." When they asked to go outside Daniel said no, so Staucie asked me. I said, "Ask Daddy." She said, "No, Daddy said no." Anyways, they ended up outside and Daniel was super happy to clean them up since he didn't even want them to go out in the first place :)

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

Great Grandma Dougherty!

We love you and miss you!

Outside, Finally

We have been able to play outside without dying of heat. Yesterday was a little too hot, but some of the days lately have been a lot cooler because of the rain. And two of the days the kids wore jackets because the breeze was cool. One of the days it rained all day but in the late afternoon it had stopped and we walked down the street and splashed in puddles.

Swung around poles.
Bensen kicked his feet in the stroller while watching the kids and enjoying the fresh air.

On a different day, one of our neighbors was out skateboarding and Staucie and Parker loved watching him, especially Staucie. Then he started jumping off the back of a trailer which almost gave me a heart attack because I didn't want to see him fall. Staucie commented loudly every time he jumped off. She would say, "Whoa! He jumped big!" She kept stopping to watch him and saying "wow" and "whoa" loudly with every jump. It was really cute. I never want to see my kids do something like that. I will be yelling at them to not do it every time. Daniel will have to watch those things :)

Parker checking out a puddle.

More puddles.
Squirting water into the back of Staucie's bike.

Takes lots of concentration.

She is hard to get pictures of because she won't hold still.

Vroom!

Aaahh, the baby. He was tired but wouldn't take a nap, which is like most days.

Cars and Trucks

Most of the time that Staucie is at school Parker and I spend our time playing with cars and trucks. He really likes parking them. He doesn't think I do a good job at parking so he usually re-parks what I do. I have decided that naming him Parker was a good idea. Parker the car parker. Ha. He is a cutie and I enjoy my alone time with him. I think he really enjoys it too.