Some things they do

 Going to the store with Addie is not my favorite thing to do right now. She always wants out of the cart like her brothers, but she runs away. She is getting better at staying close. She climbs out of the cart, or if I try and buckle her she squirms and screams into positions that hurt her. She is just crazy. And then my favorite is when people, like a cashier, tell me that I am a bad mom for letting my one-year-old run around because her two-year-old would never do that or her two-yr-old would get a beating. Okay, thank you. I will not be beating my cute one-year-old.

(All these pics are from my phone)

I was trying to get a picture of Bensen holding Addie's hand while they were walking in the grocery store, but Addie would let go every time I took a picture, of course.

 Daddy reading to Addie.

 Waiting for Daddy at Wal-Mart. It kept them from running away or crying from boredom :)

They were coloring, cutting, or just playing with crayons. Addie doesn't understand the reasoning for no shoes on the table.

 This is what happens when I don't strap Addie in her high chair for lunch. They were on and off the table. At one point they were dancing on the table until Addie slipped in her socks. Anyone want to eat at our table? I will get out the Clorox wipes first.

Addie did not want her oatmeal for breakfast. I added bananas and then it was okay. I just think it is cute when she hides.

 The weather has been cooling down. This was a Sunday. We went for a walk while Daniel was sleeping. Bensen jumped in the stroller when I decided to take a picture.

 Addie loves to climb into the car to play. She does not want to be buckled into her car seat though. She arches her back and screams. Don't you just love that stage ;)

 Practicing our baseball moves at the store.

 A humid morning at the park while the other two were at school. The mosquitoes were not fun.

 Getting ready for Halloween....

Addie is now 17 months, And some other things...

The weather is starting to cool down. It feels so much better now. Sometimes the afternoons still feel too hot but maybe that's because I am pushing 3 kids in a stroller to pick up Staucie from school and it makes me sweat on most of the days and then I just want to go inside to some air conditioning. So we mostly play outside in the mornings or evenings still.

 Addie is adventurous. She is never afraid to run away from me or to climb and jump off anything. She is scary at the park because I never know what she is going to try and climb and/or jump off of. The park is a lot of work. 


She has also recently CHIPPED her front TOOTH. We are not even sure when it happened but I am not surprised. She is so funny. She "jumps" off of things, but it is really like falling on her face. Sometimes when they are being naughty and jumping off the couches onto the pillows, Addie will miss the pillow. She is tough. She likes to climb onto the dishwasher door and help me unload it. She never wants to load it. She much prefers to just keep taking things out.

 Bensen and Addie like to get on the table. I think they must like me telling them "No" a lot because they like to do things that make me say "No." ha ha. 

 Addie really likes shoes. She loves them. She is always having me help her put on different shoes all day. She has many to choose from. Staucie has lots of heeled dress up shoes that she loves too. She is getting good at running in them.

 She loves to sport the sunglasses that Tami gave her. (And btw, my walls back there, are not bare anymore. yea!)

 Wrestling with dad never gets old and just gets more exciting now that there are 4 kids to jump on him and sit on his face.

 Cheese.

 Addie is also super good at throwing fits. She lays herself down where ever she is. Even outside on the sidewalk. She screams and her legs go stiff and her toes point. When you are holding her while she does this, her legs squeeze your side. Also, when she is mad she puts her arms straight up so you can't pick her up and throws her head back and arches so you cannot hold her. This usually happens when I am trying to catch her from running away, making her go in the house, trying to put her in the car, etc. She is impossible to buckle in her car seat. She screams real loud and arches real good. I have to buckle her in her car seat at least 3 times a day to take or pick Staucie up from school so it can get real frustrating, but I feel bad for her too. :)


I don't remember why she was mad at me in this picture, but she ran away and laid herself on the floor and screamed. I took a picture because I think it is funny. She is adorable and full of life. She is so happy to be alive and is most of the time so happy as she bounces around and chatters. She can say: No, Mine, Go, Baby, Mommy, Daddy, Staucie, Milk, Ball. I am so sad that she continues to grow so fast.

Love all my kids. They are all so fun to watch grow. They do and say silly, intelligent, and crazy things all the time. Thank you kiddies for being mine!

I had a birthday and I did not shout for joy...

...because, I turned 30 on September 10th. Now, I know some may say, "it's not a big deal." Well maybe you are still in your 20's. Thirty is when you start feeling old. I think when you are in your 20's you still feel the same as when you were sixteen. But now my body is feeling and looking older for sure. Boo. I miss being in my 20's. Now I will just get older.

For my Birthday, Daniel took me on a date the night before because Brittany, his sister, said she would babysit as a gift to me and I said, "heck yes!" We went to dinner and a movie which was all I wanted for my birthday. Then my birthday was on Saturday and I got to sleep in. While I slept in and showered, Daniel and the kids decorated, bought flowers and a cake mix, made a cake, did the dishes, and bought me a Dr. Pepper from my favorite gas station. He had bought me a refill mug too for my Dr. Peppers. And then I got to go out to lunch with some friends. And spent a nice evening at home with my little family. It was a great day. Thanks Daniel.

 My kids are cute!

And then after my birthday, Daniel made me go to the doctors, which I HATE doing. But I guess it would be nice to get this joint pain under control. I find out the results of my blood tests on Monday. It's great being old! :)

First Day of School 2011

Staucie started her first day of Kindergarten on Monday, August 22, 2011. It is ALL day Kindergarten. I just don't feel that these little ones need to be away from me ALL day. I wish it was half day for Kindergartners. But our miss Staucie has loved it. She was already a morning person and is usually awake when it is time to get ready. I feed her breakfast and pack her lunch. And then throw them all in the car at 7:15am and drive to the school. We get back at about 8:00am. She has school from 7:45am - 2:45pm. We leave at about 2:15 to go get her. We park nearby and walk to get her so we don't have to wait in the car line. We are tired of the car and it is only September. But we will do anything for our Staucie. We haven't been doing the bus because she would be on it for an hour each way. Maybe someday when she is older. We will see... She is a sweetheart and we miss her during the day.

 Parker started is second year of Preschool with Miss Candy on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. He loves it! In this picture, he shows how he does not like the sun. I did move him into the shade, but he is still squinting. Cutie. Hopefully he will do well this year and be ready to start Kindergarten next year! He goes twice a week. (which means more of being in the car.)

My babies are growing up. What a different life it is to have to be responsible now. I can't have lazy mornings. We have to get up and get someone to school now. The time has flown by and we are entering a new part of life. I am glad the kids are enjoying this school year so far. All I want is for them to be happy. That's what all "this" is for :)

California (Part 2)

After being at my parents' house for a week, Daniel/Daddy came! Daniel's parents picked him up at the airport and brought him to us. His parents stayed for a couple days to play with us. When Daniel came there were even more things to do, like dirt bikes, quads, etc. (things that my mom and I didn't know how to do.)

 Parker wanted to learn how to drive it himself...

 Grandma Lees and Staucie

 He figured it out pretty quickly.

 Little bike for Bensen.

 Bensen tried too...

 Grandpa Lees taking off.

 Big boy Parker. He loved it!

 Staucie learned how to ride it all by herself too.

 Grandpa Lees taking Bensen for a ride.

 Staucie.

 Bensen going for a ride with Daddy on the little dirt bike.

 The weather was Fab-u-lous.

Look at Addie's hair. She loved going for a ride on the Ranger. If she was grouchy we would take her for a ride and it would make her happy.

 Helping Grandpa Randall bring back the arrows he shot.

 Making smores.

 It looks like we are running from a bear!

 My dad.

 Daniel's parents.

I tried to get a picture of all of us. ha ha! You can see Daniel's parents following on the quad behind us.

 Playing "Pooh sticks" down at the river.

 Taking grouchy Addie for a walk up the road. She would throw a fit if I tried to steer her back to everyone else.

 They made me nervous leaning over the edge to look for their sticks coming under the road/bridge.

 Parking taking Bensen for a ride.

 My first time riding the mini dirt bike. I think I screamed the whole time and kept it in first gear. My brothers think I don't belong in the family...

 Daniel and Parker riding together.

 Shea and Daniel.

 Shea's bike was so loud. He came up both weekends I was there to hang out. It was really fun to hang out with him.

 Parker was so cute on the quad. He never wanted to get off.

 Shea giving Staucie a ride.

 I made my mom ride the little quad.

 Addie loved going for rides on the Power Wheel, if you can't tell. They are both adorable!

 More "Pooh Sticks."

 Target practice. Daniel and Shea.

 Checking out what they hit.

 Then Shea made me shoot the .22, I had never shot a hand gun before. He is giving me instructions.

Believe it or not, there were other things we did that I did not get pictures of :)

It was so fun to go to my parents' in the summer. It had been a long time. The weather was perfect and we spent a lot of time outside. I hope we can visit both Daniel's parents and my parents next summer.

It was also nice to not be pregnant or to have a new baby.

Happy Summer! Too bad it is over...