Love My Family!!!

Halloween 2011

Thanksgiving and the New Backyard

I know it's now April, but I'm a little behind so bear with me! Last Thanksgiving my parents and my brother Tyson came for a visit. While they were here I put them to work in the backyard! I forgot to take any "before" pictures, but just imagine dirt covering the whole yard. We dug trenches and put in the sprinkler and drip system and then laid out the flower beds, rocks, and sod. WHEW!
Just this last weekend we also built some trellises and added vines so that when you look out the window you see something other than the cement wall.The boys had the Fox 10 helicopter come to their school and my dad was here, so he was able to take them. The boys were so excited.
When the yardwork was finished the boys took off and went to an auto show.And let's not forget sweet Brynlee! Grandma bought her a baby stroller to help her learn how to walk. She was all over the house in no time!!!
Thanks for all your help and hard work Grandma and Grandpa Loudon and Uncle Tyson!!! We love you and our backyard!

Happy Halloween!

Starting school

Caden and Blake started school a few weeks ago. I think Blake is so excited not to get left behind this year. They are both loving their school. When they get home I try to ask about their day but all I can get from them is about lunch and recess. I hope they're learning something!


The kids were so excited to ride the bus together. After the first day of school I waiting at the bus stop for them. To make a long story short, neither of them got off the bus and the bus drove away. I was panicking and another mom helped me call the school. After a few minutes the principal gets on the phone and says that they located Blake (he got off at some random stop and was with some random woman) and they hadn't located Caden yet, but they would get back to me. WHAT!!?? I started sobbing and then the bus pulled back around and Caden was still on it. He just hadn't gotten off. Then we had to pick Blake up at the stranger's house. I got a call from the principal that evening making sure I was ok.

Next day in the morning I got on the bus with the boys and told the bus driver to remember their faces and make sure they got home to me. After school, only Caden gets off the bus, but no Blake. I jump on the bus.... no more kids. They radioed the school and it turns out that Blake accidentally got in the parent pick-up line, so he waited as all the other kids got picked up and was the last one standing before his teacher realized that he was supposed to be on the bus! So I went to the school to get Blake and the principal was there to meet me. He was really apologetic, but two days in a row, come on!

Third time's a charm, right?? Third day of school I'm waiting to pick the kids up and the bus pulls up. I see the principal get off the bus and escort my kids to me!

Blake is 5!!

Blake's birthday was the beginning of August. Just 3 days after we moved into the new house! I was scrambling the night before his birthday to find the box with all of his presents!


Blake had so much fun on his birthday that he crashed in the pantry!!
I can't believe Blake is five now. Blake is so sweet and caring. He's also incredible strong! He likes to wrestle around with Caden and show him that's he's not so little! Blake weighs more than Caden! Caden's a little taller, so they're a pretty even match. Blake is such a wonderful kid and is always the first in line if I need a hug. We're so happy Heavenly Father sent him to us. We love you Blake. Happy Birthday!

Growing so fast!

As soon as Brynlee learned to roll over she quickly became a steam roller. She would steam roll all over the house and go from room to room. One day I put her down in the living room and went into the kitchen to get breakfast for the kids. When I came back out she was gone! I looked all over, and I finally found her playing under the couch!
Brynlee got a hold of one of Caden's projects for school and got marker all over her mouth! Are they looking for someone to play the Joker in the next Batman movie???

Brynlee has always loved her bath, but she especially loved when she found her feet!! So cute!
This is Brynlee at around 4 months.
5 months...sucking thumb meets teething.