Kanyon turns TEN! What???

I am in denial about having a Ten year old. Where did those years go?? Oh yeah, I remember... Medical school, Residency, Moving 5 times a few of them cross country and three other kids to add to the mix. I am SO happy Kanyon was our first child. He is such a great example to his younger siblings and takes good care of us all. You don't get a better, more agreeable peacemaker than Kanyon! We love you Kanyon. Even if you do make us feel old!
















































Kanyon chose to go eat at
Kobe for his Birthday.



















He even tried Sushi
















Ivy's pretty good with chopsticks.
(other than she knocked the bowl she was using on the floor and broke it. oops)

















I braved the sushi too for the first time.
















Ice cream for desert. It was a great day!

I want to be Amish!

Really I do! I guess with the way the economy is right now we may all become Amish by default. You know.. grow our own food, hang our clothes to dry, have a nice peaceful life away from the rat race.. I love going to "Amishville" (as I call it) just to get out of the world a little bit. I secretly dream of wearing a bonnet, big dress and no makeup. I would do it! Really I would! Russ and I drove the kids to Amishville the other day where I snapped these shots. I think I convinced my kids to even go Amish. Of course I didn't tell them that there was no TV or Game Boys... They can find that all out after I turn them Amish.

Missing the mountains...

Russ and I LOVE the outdoors. We both could camp/hike EVERY weekend if possible. Living in the Midwest makes us realize how much we miss the mountains. It is pretty funny going on a "hike" that is pretty lame and flat. But we still got out in the great outdoors and had a good time.

Down and Derby

The boys raced their pine wood derby cars the other day. We didn't win but we sure had a great time!

Salon Ivy

I guess I have taught Ivy the joys of having cute hair.. She thought she needed to help Grandma out a little. She worked really hard and made sure she got it just the way she wanted it. If only grandma's eyes weren't covered so she could see Ivy's nice work..































































































































How did I go so many years without a girl?

Seriously?

Opening Saul's backpack Friday.. I thought it felt extra heavy... Yes, that is 4 novels he carries around in there just in case he gets a spare moment to read. This is his THIRD time reading the Harry Potter series. I never thought I would be worried about one of my kids reading TOO much. I am going to have to invest in a chiropractor for Saul's back. Tonight I was taking the kids on a walk and Saul couldn't believe I wouldn't let him bring a book to read on the way. Or, too "read when we get wherever we are walking" Is his life really that bad that he wants to escape it every chance he gets??

Little Miss Perfect

So right now I am very perplexed. Last night I got pulled into this new show called Little Miss Perfect. It's like watching a train wreck.. You know its going to be horrible but you can't look away. I caught the show just as one of the Mom's was leaving (because their girl didn't win) and she was saying "those judges aren't the ones that have to go home and tell their little girl that the judges didn't think she was pretty enough" AHHH! The little girl was just walking around just happy to be there and didn't care at all. Russ sat down next to me and said "this is high quality t.v." I KNOW! I found my self horrified and amazed at the same time. But I couldn't stop watching until I saw which one of these overly primped little beauties won. Actually last night it was a Mother Daughter pageant. Don't even get me started on the Mom's! Anyway, back to why I am perplexed.. I am perplexed at why I kept thinking during the show and said out loud to Russ. "Ivy would totally win" and "I would be that Mom, I know I would.. That is why we could never put Ivy through that." But, I still think hmmmmmmmmm....

Tagged

My sister in law tagged me. I was supposed to find my 6th folder and the 6th picture in it. pretty funny that this was the picture. I was worried that it would be something embarrassing or something.

This was taken last summer. Little stinker. Tagged your it. Whoever wants too..

Long Trip....

I decided last weekend that since the kids were out of school Friday and Russ was out of town that I would torture myself and drive the kids to Ohio (10hrs away). I have such great friends there and one really good friend who has been sick in hospital. I thought I would rather be in a car driving with kids strapped in then stay at home alone all weekend looking for something to do. The trip went fine in fact the kids did amazing on the ride. I pride myself in what good kids I have (not because of anything I have done- they all just got their fathers disposition, thankfully!) Eli even stood on the side of the road and shielded me with a pillow so I could relieve my self next to the car. (too much info? sorry.) We Love, love, love our friends there and had a great time. Our kids are all about the same age so they run crazy. It was a nice break. Pictures below..

But I had to post this funny conversation we had on our way home. The sun was shining beautiful rays through the clouds and it got us talking about heaven....

Saul: "In heaven all your dreams come true"

Eli: "Well, I had a dream and Mom said a bad word in it..."

Saul: "No, Eli a dream is....you know.. like, you know how you want the new Pokemon platinum game?!"

Eli: "YES!!"

Saul: "It is like that kind of dream. Heavenly Father makes all your dreams come true. Except the violent ones.. Oh, and the inappropriate ones."

(for the record, I don't say bad words. I can't help what he dreams about)
































Ivy and Abby, double trouble! (notice the lipstick on Abby's face)

TWO much...

Ivy turned TWO last week and I can hardly believe it. We were on a trip to Ohio (yes, me alone with 4 kids. More on that later) When we got back we decided to have a little party for her and Russ since his Birthday is one day before hers. Ivy loves her friend Sami so we invited her family over and had cake. You should have seen Ivy when opening her presents. She oood and ahhd like an adult not a 2yr old. She really enjoyed every second of it. Luckliy we have not seen any signs of the terrible twos yet. We hope to keep it that way.. Here are some pic's of the fun. Ivy is a sweet, curious little girl who makes friends easy because she is so friendly. She is the cutest little thing and truly has brightened this house and all of our lives.