Bedtime stories

Every night, Garen gets 2 stories before bed and Maddie gets 2 or 3. Lately, Maddie has wanted to be the one to read Garen his stories. She does a great job and Garen will just sit there and listen. What a good big sister!

Maddie will ask him to find things in the story and then she will take his hand and make him point to the correct answer followed by a good amount of praise. She is so funny, she loves to be the teacher or the person in charge. And notice Garen's belly hanging out-he is getting so big!

Haircut

We decided it was time to cut Garen's hair-since the sides go past his chin when wet. I just wanted it trimmed and still shaggy. But as we cut, it looked so uneven. So we ended up going shorter and shorter. Now he looks so different! But at least his curls will grow back.

He really did like getting it cut-he thought it was fun to sit in the sink.

no more curls

I don't know how to flip this video the right way-Any ideas?

Camping Trip

Last night we got to go camping, just me, Andy, and Maddie. We left Garen with Andy's parents. It was so much fun. We set up camp, went on a nice hike, and then took a ride and looked at deer (we saw about 50 or 60). When it got dark we built a little fire inside a dutch over (since campfires are illegal now). We roasted marshmallows and told stories-Maddie can make up some pretty good stories. About 10:30 we went in the tent and Maddie fell asleep in like 30 seconds. So me and Andy got to go back outside and spend a few more hours looking and the stars and just talking. It was so beautiful up there and it was fun to finally take Maddie-she's been asking all Summer. In the morning, we shot pop cans with Andy's pistol and cleaned up camp. We couldn't stay to long this morning because Andy had to go to work today at 1:00p.m. Maddie enjoyed every minute and she can't wait to go camping again.



putting the tent up


Maddie taking a break on her dad's shoulders when she got tired on our hike



roasting marshmallows and eating s'mores

Andy shooting his gun and Maddie hiding behind him, covering her ears.

Playing Tennis

This morning we all went and played a little tennis. On our way out we all had our hands full with our rackets and the kids and forgot the keys to the car, which were now locked in the house. So before we got to go play, we had to pull the screen of one of the windows, that thankfully I had left unlocked. We had a fun time playing. Maddie really enjoyed it and she's pretty good!

These pictures taken by Maddie

Nice swing

Ball boy

Check out the look on her face. I think she is pretty worried about missing.

Basket Kids

Like Alisha said on her Blog once before, Who needs to buy lots of expensive toys when you could just give them a laundry basket.

What my kids do for fun

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Dancing Princess

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Pretty in Pink

My friend and I finally finished making Maddie's new princess dress today. It's going to be her Halloween costume. The minute she put it on, she was acting just like a little princess. I didn't do to bad on my first big sewing project (of course, I had a huge amount of help from my friend, Brenda).

Last Nights Sunset.

Garen-The climbing machine

Garen's everyday task is to try his hardest to climb on something that shouldn't be climbed on, and then to fall off of it. Here's what he decided to conquer today- the musical play table and Maddie's red chair. And yes, he fell on his head several times. But there is no stopping him.

Eating Spaghetti

Garen-14 months old

Princess Maddie

Yesterday when we went to the hospital to see Levi, Maddie had made a very special card for him all on her own. She found a picture with a fireman "because Levi is a boy", She glued a valentine to in "because she loves him," and she put letter stickers all over it, "because she is going to teach him his letters." I guess I had forgotten to explain that Maddie wouldn't be able to go in and see the baby, since they only let people older then 14 come in. When we got there she was kind of confused and sad that she didn't get to see her new cousin. So, Amber is home now, so we got the chance to stop by today and Maddie got to hold her sweet new cousin.

We were out shopping today and found this Cinderella (Maddie's favorite princess) dress for $7-usually they are $20 or more. She was so excited to dress up and be a "Cinderella dancer girl."

A New Nephew

I now have 15 nieces and nephews. But little Levi is the first nephew on Andy's side. Andy's sister, Amber had Levi early Thursday morning. Since I was in Burley I didn't get to see him till Friday night. He is so tiny and so handsome (he is 5lbs 12oz in the above picture). It will be fun for Maddie and Garen to have a cousin on Andy's side of the family.

Burley Time

On Tuesday, I rode with Sara and her kids to Burley. Mandy and her kids were already there. We went to the good old Burley fair. Of course we had to eat at the Burley West Stake booth, and the kids enjoyed seeing the animals.

Maddie eating her hot dog

Sisters, 4 year old girls, and 1 year old boys

Maddie, Abby, Kaisa, and cows

Grandpa Paul helping Maddie get to the car safely

Garen has discovered how wonderful Popsicles are.

On Wednesday morning we took the kids to the parade. The girls had a great time filling their bags with candy and the boys wanted to run in the rode or take a nap. But we had a fun time.

It was so fun to stay up late and watch movies with my sisters and my mom. Although we spent the majority of our time entertaining the 6 kids, it was fun to be together.

The girls played out side in the pool for hours and Mandy created some Blue's Clues paw prints that we hid on clues and then they had to figure out where the treasure was. In the treasure was some things to paint and some pop-its and some candy.

My mom tried to tire the girls out by taking them to Storybook park for awhile-they head a blast! We also took them to the Mt. View playground.

Joren, Garen, and Colton

Maddie and Garen

Maddie and Abby had fun finding the states they live (or will live) in.

Fun on the slide