Cousin's Gift Exchange

**Sorry any non-family readers, I'll try to post something interesting soon. I've been going crazy and Clyde is the best baby! I don't know what I'd do if he wasn't so good.**


Slade buys for Nathan
Kaydence buys for Nick

Maddy buys for Patrick
Nick buys for Taylor
Dylan buys for Kaydence

Grant buys for Samantha
Nathan buys for Colin
Taylor buys for Dylan
Grace buys for Maddy

Samantha buys for Grant
Colin buys for Slade
Patrick buys for Grace

Welcome Clyde!!!!

"I'm finally here everyone"

Our little Clyde arrived at 9:30P.M. on the 29th of august.

He was 6 pounds 9 ounces and 19.75 inches long.

Here he is all snugly the next morning.

With big brother Patrick,

big brother Colin,

and big sister Samantha.

All ready to head home.

Happy to be home!!

Baby Update

As you can see from the picture, I still haven't had the baby.
I'm scheduled to be induced Sunday morning.
The kids can hardly wait.
The boys have been driving stuffed animals around in the new stroller for practice.
I wish they'd practice not being so loud.
This baby better get used to loud noises quick!
What's his name going to be? We don't have a name picked yet.
What names are on the list? What list?
We've been having a REALLY hard time pick any names.
Wish us luck.
We'll post pictures and his name as soon as we have some.

Patrick's Prestigious Award

Today was a big day for Patrick.

He got his first Citizenship award.

(The 1st of the year for his class.)

Colin was disappointed that he didn't get one too

but I think he understands that he'll get a turn soon enough.

Colin is excited that he'll get to have the baby in his picture when it's his turn.

What could make the day even better.....?

Finding a little toad on the way to class!!

Tadpole Update

All the kids have been loving our puddles full of tadpoles. At first it rained a lot and we had big puddles then it didn't rain for days, was really hot, and the puddles started to dry up. The kids were so worried so Dale or I would have to go out every day with the hose to fill up the puddles again. Our hard work is paying off. The tadpoles are growing their legs and loosing their tails. The boys were so excited to find one out of the water today. I'm just glad that we won't have to fill the puddles any more.

The 1st Day of School

Today was the 1st day of school.

The kids were lookin' good in their new clothes.
Samantha is in 3rd grade this year.
I couldn't believe it when we saw the shirt she's wearing,
the dog looks just like our dog Wendy!


Patrick start Kindergarten this year.
(Yes, I bought him the wrong size shirt. The sleeves are too short. Oops!)

Colin's in Kindergarten too.

The boys are so excited to be in different classes.

They told me, "Now everyone will know who we are".

The boys also loved riding the bus for the first time.

I can't believe how big they all are!

5 Year Old Math

Patrick, "If I had $1,000,000.00 and $28.00 I'd have $28,000,000.00!!!

"I have great news everyone"!

That's what Colin rushed in the door yesterday to tell us. What was his great news? "We have tadpoles outside"!! The kids were so excited. The boys have been so worried that it's been raining and they weren't able to find any tadpoles.

OH, Happy Day!!!

The kids have been saving their allowance to buy Webkinz.

After weeks & weeks and a generous donation from Grandma Connie they finally had enough.

So after sitting through a boring doctor's appointment, we went to the Hallmark store.

They scored, Webkinz were on sale, buy 2 get one free.

Samantha with her porcupine Priccers.

Patrick with his Border Collie Missy.

He said he needed a girl so she could marry his Timber Wolf Frisky Fluffy.

The couple is very happy.

Colin with his Rottweiler Bruno.

With their Webkinz savings, they were each able to buy a hermit crab from the pet store.

Here's our awesome "crabitat".

Patrick's hermit crab has the fanciest shell & is the most active so far.

Colin's First Missing Tooth

Colin is so excited to finally loose his first tooth!

Patrick lost his second tooth today also.

Good Old Fashion Red-Neck Fun

This weekend we headed to the race track to watch th mud bogs & the Monster trucks.

Dale drove my Dad's truck in the mud bog & took 2nd place out of 13.

(Each truck got 2 runs. The video of Dale's 2nd run is at the end of the post.)

I didn't get any good pictures of the monster trucks.

There were 4. At first they just drove around & did donuts.

Colin was disgusted they weren't driving over any cars.

They saved that for after the intermission.

I told Dale that I'm going to gain about 50 lbs,

get me some tight jeans & a scanky tank top, & hang out at the race track!

I want a sign that says, "Honey, just because they make it in your size

doesn't mean you should wear it!"

The kids favorite part was the finale.

You just can't beat an old fire truck with a jet engine

burning up an old Winnebago!

Oh Yeah!!

Patrick's Tooth

Patrick lost his 1st tooth yesterday.

He's so excited to be a big boy!

This morning Colin was digging under Patrick's pillow

trying to see what the Tooth Fairy brought.

He kept saying, "Patrick, wake up the Tooth Fairy came!"

Poor Patrick just wanted to sleep and when he did get up

his tooth holder & his money were moved.

At least Colin was able to tell him where they were.

Lake Powell

This is what the kids did almost the whole time. They couldn't get enough of the water or the sand!

Patrick where's your life vest?!

Colin's silly grin.

Wendy wasn't too sure if she liked the water. She did have a ton of fun playing with the other dogs.

Samantha liked hanging out with Maddy.

The trip wouldn't be complete without some cool rock pictures.

Samantha got out of the cool water & rolled in the warm sand.

Colin's sand pile.

Patrick's sand pile.

An awesome rainbow.

Colin looks happy to be heading home.

Patrick sat like this for a long time, we were finally able to talk him into laying down. He fell asleep about 5 minutes from the marina.

Smile Samantha.

What's New At Our House

This is one reason why I've been so slow at updating this blog!

I've been so tiered all I want to do is lay on the couch!

I know these pics aren't so great, my scanner doesn't work &

it's a little hard to get a picture of a picture.
Every things going well. I've only gained 10 pounds!

I'm due August 31st.

(About 2 weeks after school starts!)

The kids are so excited. Samantha's glad it's a boy so she

doesn't have to share her room with a crying baby.

The boy's are so excited the baby gets to sleep in their room.

Before we found out boy/girl

Patrick told me he didn't care what it was he wanted it to sleep in his room.
It didn't take the boys too long to ask how the baby will get out.

The question every parent looks forward too!

After we found out it's a boy Patrick told me that

"Daddy needs to lift up the roof in our room so we can put a crib on top of bunk beds".

I guess that makes sense if you're 5.

The Boys PreSchool Program

Today was the boy's last day of school.
They got to brake the pinata the class made.

Got to love Patrick's Polo shirt with sweat pants! He was very proud of his outfit.
Patrick got to be one of the 5 little monkeys jumping on the bed. Love the tail!

All the kids sang some songs including 50 Nifty United States. Colin & Patrick were singing it for months at home. I love that they know ALL the states!!

The boys made graduation caps and they both got "diplomas" because next year they'll be big Kindergartners.

The whole class with Miss Anna their teacher.

After the program they got to go outside to release their butterflies they watched change from caterpillars.

Colin's didn't want to fly away.