Ordinary Days

I will just say this. Life is good. Things are really, really good. We are enjoying our routine and simple days.  I love these kids and they teach me so much!

McKay loves his little brother.  He can't keep away from him!  The other day I saw him kissing and licking the back of his head.  There's always something...

Jonah will sit like this and watch his brothers jump on the tramp.

Someone is always in a costume around here.  And Gavin has a thing with weird faces lately.

Gavin knows all of his letters and sounds.  And he's reading a little too!

Jonah is not quite sitting up but when we need room in the cart, he just hangs on and comes along for the ride.

The latest. A brain dump.

Gavin: Cutest Kindergartener around! This kid loves school. I take mental pictures of him turning and waving to me over and over as he walks up the sidewalk to his classroom. There's something awesome about the age where he still will love me in public and yell "I love you, mom!" at me from the playground.  The other day we were driving and Gavin looked at the window and saw the sunset.  "Isn't that beautiful, mom?"  So sweet.  He's learning to read and is pretty sure he's the best student in his class.  He loves a good knock knock joke and is learning to deliver them pretty dang well.  One night over dinner we did jokes for at least 20 minutes straight and he was laughing like I've never seen him.  He's my best helper!

McKay: Still marching to the beat of his own drum, as I'm sure he always will.  He's at a fun age and is turning into a big boy.  He officially stopped napping this month.  Hurray!  Bedtime has been 100% better.  By 8:00pm he's so stinkin' tired that he just lays down and sleeps.  For Mr. Energizer Bunny, this is a great thing.  We have fun one-on-one time while Gavin is at school and Jonah naps.  We cook, we color, we clean, we jump.  He loves mommy school and is starting to identify some letters.  He loves me to jump on the tramp with him.  He always tells me which ninja color I will be and tells me how to do the moves right.  He loves watching Power Rangers and Super Hero Squad. McKay is also a pantry thief whenever we go anywhere.  

Jonah: Happy as ever!  He is loud and so squealy!  A week away from 7 months, he rolls and isn't safe to leave on a bed anymore.  We are making the switch to a bottle.  He was getting lazy eating and I don't know if it wasn't enough or what.  Who am I kidding - I'm getting a little lazy too.  I have moments of guilt but then I look at his 20 pound chubby, rolly deliciousness and think, "I made him that big!  What do I have to feel guilty about?"  I think we did a good job.  He loves his baby food - everything but peas.  He's doing two two-hour naps a day now.  Jonah loves his brothers who can always get a laugh out of him by sticking their fingers under his chin.  He loves to watch them play and I'm sure it will be no time before he gets in on the action.  

Fall Fun

What could be better than fall? I'm looking out my kitchen window at piles of yellow leaves on the ground and still on my trees. (I sure wish that they would come down all at once so we could just rake all at the same time...) Our shady yard during the summer is well worth the work! But things are just pretty and yellow and starting to get chilly. Break out the hot chocolate and winter clothes! Pumpkinland with cousins and Gardener Village with the Nelson's.

Cornbelly's

This is a tradition that's been going since Gavin was one. The kids have been waiting all month and finally we made it and even got to go with Nate, Allison, and their kids. It never disappoints! Highlights included finally making it through the scary dinosaur and doing the fast version of the corn maze. The low was losing McKay for a few minutes. He saw a cool tractor far, far away and ran off while I was beating Brian at tetherball. We'll have to save our competitiveness and just take care of the kids, I guess.

BYU Softball Alumni Day

I was a little hesitant and a lot intimidated by this! I was contacted to come and play with former players. I only know two or three girls who are still around the area here and since they went, I decided I would to. Tammy, Paula and I have kept in touch through slow pitch over the years. After all my worry, it was so worth it! It felt great to get out there again. I didn't feel as old as I am, although I launched a ball into the other dugout which was pretty embarrassing. So other than that... It felt SO GOOD to hit a fast pitch ball. This is what I was most nervous about. But after 15 years, I can still do it. Playing on the REAL field (as opposed to our piece of junk) was awesome. Of course things have changed a lot since I played. I played the last two years before the program was NCAA sponsored. Up until then, we paid to play and didn't even have a bench to sit on. Those girls now are certainly living the high life. It was cool to see the team room and lockers. The amount of money used for these programs is unreal! My softball days at BYU were absolutely a highlight of my life. I learned a lot about myself and made great friends. I would have loved to see Syd, Dana, KC, Kalli and the other girls - but when the time comes around again I will for sure do it again! Thanks to my boys for cheering loud and helping me relive my glory days!

Scared Hitless

We love our neighbors! This is the 3rd year of this softball team and we have a blast. We are all in the same ward and our kids all play together. I know I've said it before, but these people we've met here will be lifelong friends. Second place...again! Darn PWI! We just can't beat them when it counts. But I got to play with Bri and we got our shirt.