Busy July...

We have been really busy having some summer fun! The 4th was a blast! Unfortunately we ran out of juice with our camera so I don't have pictures. I love summer because it seems so much more laid back; which is good for my OCD self :)

My sister Becca and my Mom and Dad went to the American Idols Live concert. If ya'll know me I am a closet American Idol LOVER! It was a really fun time. Plus I got to have a night away from the kids...which helps my insanity.

Me and my sister...totally yelling and screaming (making fun of the girls around us that were crying and screaming for David Archuletta)



This was a cute shot of Ikey trying to keep up with Princess and G-man. I got a new bike and bike trailer so he is my little riding pal. Yesterday he climbed on the trike and started rolling down our driveway! He is only 14 months old!! Crazy nut is going to die before his second birthday!!

Benny the ELF!!

Isn't Ben such a happy elf?



there, that's better!!!!!!!!



He was SOOOOO glad to be in the parade (insert sarcasm here). He loved hopping through the streets in a felt, overly hot elf suit stealing everyone's candy! I think he is the cutest little elf I've ever seen! Our church asked if he would be a spectacle on this years ward float and he agreed after a little coaxing. His nightmares became real when people started pointing and laughing. I think they were laughing with him. He thinks they were laughing at him!
He was a bit embarrased, so I'll end my post here. The kids thought Daddy was hilarious....he was a trooper and played along.

IKEY'S ANTICS

At dinner Ikey started mimicking Princess and acting like a monkey! It was super cute! OOOOHHH OOOOHH AAAAH AAAAH! :)

Also, he is a climber!! I came down from cleaning the bathrooms upstairs and he was on the table just running his train!



And then this happened

.

.

.

wait for it
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.

.

it was bound to happen . . . .



You guessed it, later when he tried his trick with no one around he fell off the table and scraped the side of his face!

Maybe it will be purple tomorrow. Sigh. Crazy munchkin!

HOME and INTO the GROVE!!!!!

I have neglected my friends! We got back on Sunday from our 2nd vacation in June! It was fun! I must say that my OCD self likes getting back into the routine of things. I've cleaned my house top to bottom and am finishing the laundry. Ben is happy to get back to work and try to catch up.

I really didn't take a lot of pictures of this vacation. We did get a lot of video. The beach was great!! We also went to Les Miserables one of the nights. I really enjoyed that. I counted and I think that is the 3rd time I've seen that. It's just as good the 3rd time as the first. It was great to get to know my little brothers (Rick and James) who just returned from missions. They are so awesome and grown up!

Tonight I'm putting the kids to bed and then weeding! The yard needs a lot of work. YEAH. My roses bloomed while we were gone. Also, our veggie garden is starting to look pretty good. The pumpkin plant that Princess brought home from school is looking the best!

Life is good. I am happy!

We're back!!!

We had a fabulous time in Lake Tahoe! It was so relaxing to be hanging out in the mountains! The resort we stayed at had a million things to do. Ben's family is amazing and we had a wonderful (and chaotic!) time. Between all of us there were 17 kids and 12 adults! I'm sure we were a spectacle everywhere we went. The vacation came to a screeching halt when I started feeling yucky about half way through. I knew it was strep throat. So we called the insurance and luckily they had an office really close to the resort we were staying at. So I am all medicated and feeling much better.

Here are a few pics....

This is a view of the resort



G-man, cousin A, and Princess on the sky tram



Cute one of Ikey



Beautiful Beach! The water was so clear (and cold!!)



Ikey eating MORE sand! That boy loves dirt and sand...funny kid!



After the official vacation ended, we went west to Ben's brother Scott's house...they were really fun to hang out with! We went to a really great Italian restaurant (thanks Kristen for watching all the kids!) and had a couple late nights watching movie rentals. Well, the guys were watching, the girls were snoring :)

We went to this great river that was right by their house. Princess fishing!

Ben and Scott had guy time and rode some dirt bikes



By the end, G-man was just so tired!

We're glad to be home....

Happy Birthday Baby!!!

Ikey had his first birthday! I can't believe that it's been a year since he was placed in my arms. It has just flown by. Ikey has brought our family such joy! He is a beautiful child with a specific purpose for this life. He is happy which in turn makes us all feel better.

He was a big baby weighing almost 10 pounds! He came after only about 3 hours of labor. Fast and furious has been his moto ever since.



He weighed 16 pounds by his 2 month appointment! He rolled for the first time when he was 4 months old and started walking at 10 months old. He had a lot of bumps and bruises but figured how to go up AND down stairs by 11 months!

Here's some shots from the party. He was facinated with the dinosaur flashlight.



All three together



Ikey with cake. What a sweet boy!



Princess and Auntie Becca frosting the cupcakes. YUMMY!

Typical Saturday

Today was filled with regular projects, cleaning and honey do's. The kids loved running around like banshees and terrorizing the cul de sac.

Here's G-man's handy work with our HUGE hairy cat named Syber. He doesn't look happy! The funny thing about it is the cat must of sat there for a good 1/2 hour with that scarf around his neck. Maybe he was cold? Probably just in shock!



Another exciting thing happened! Princess decided she was finally ready to ride her bike without the training wheels. The bike has not had the training wheels on forever but she just avoided it. So, this morning she told Ben that she was ready. She went outside, put on her helmet and knee pads and just flew! I am so proud of my big girl!! She is growing up so fast! I love you so much Princess...


Ikey also enjoyed his lunch way too much. I had to go and help Ben with something and made the mistake of leaving the bowl of oatmeal and applesauce on the tray. He just took care of it. It's easier that way.



I love my kids!!