Family Pics!

We got our family pictures taken last week, by the most amazing photography. She is very talented and she made getting our pictures taken, a lot of fun. If you are in need of a photographer you can look up Mandi's work on her Website www.nuttallphotography.com. We learned about Mandi, because she happens to be Todd's lovely and talented cousin. Thanks Mandi for taking our pictures!! You're the best.

Sorry for the picture overload, we just couldn't decide which ones to show off. We just think our kids are dang cute, and it's hard for us to narrow them down. I guess you can be glad we didn't put them all on.

I hope you enjoy Jim and Gayle, but don't print them off of here, they are low resolution and we will be sending you some soon!

Ki my Football Star

Ki decided that he wanted to do flag football this year. He did a short camp during the summer and has just started his 6 week season. He is loving it and got to play his 2nd game last night. I forgot the camera his first game. My kids aren't just the natural athletes, but what they lack in ability the make up for in enthusiasm. Ki is right there in the middle of it all, and likes to bounce around. I got several shots of him dancing, (that's what we call it). I'm going to try and edit that part of it and make a fun little video for Ki. Here are some cute shots I got of him and some clips of him pulling off the flags and one of him catching the ball. You're a stud KI!!

1st 2 of him grabbing the flags, and the last one is of him catching the ball. In the second one you can see a quick example of his "dancing"

Ki' First Pinewood Derby!

So this was finally the big year for Todd. He loves everything about the scouting program, but especially the Pinewood Derby. He actually bought one when Ki was still a baby, hoping to get some time to work on it. You might be thinking Oh he is one of those dads, Nope! That would not be Todd. He loves everything about creating, even when it is working with and teaching his kids how to build and create. I'm not sure there is a more patient man out there. Because Todd and I are both leaders we built one as well for the leader race. So, since 3 of us were doing them, we got them for Kelten and Taylar as well, it became a family affair. The kids all had to draw there design onto the wood. Todd cut it out and they were in charge of sanding. They got them pretty darn smooth. They did need some guidance on the spray paint, but were able to do the hand painting on their own. They all tried to put their wheels in but the wood on the bottom kept cracking, so Todd and I helped there, though it kept cracking on me as well. Thank Goodness for hot glue guns. We got them all weighted down, to the perfect ounces, and we were ready to go.

It was an exciting night for all the Cub Scouts, which in turn made it crazy in the gym where we had it set up. We had 21 boys enter then all the siblings, parents and some grandparents. Can I say LOUDNESS and CONFUSION, is what we were experiencing. It was fun crazy though. There are defiantly things we now have learned that we want to change next year, but over all it was a great success and the boys appeared to be having a blast. Our Ki got into the final 6, and No Todd and I were not scoring so it was not rigged. Actually a computer program scored it, it was pretty cool. Ki didn't end up in the final 3, but it didn't stop him from having fun. They can't wait until next year.Prep day, Todd got them all cut out and the kids were working on sanding and fine tuning their designs.This is Ki's carTaylar's She had to have a Lighting bolt.Kelten's, just wanted bumps all over, it was like cutting out a Roller Coaster.This is mine, I figured if I was going to end up being the only girl leader with a car, I was going to make it really girly. It was cuter without all the stuff on it, but it just didn't weigh enough, so the junk went on to bring it up to 5 oz.
Then you have Todd's. He was so in heaven building his.The 5 together!
I took a ton of pictures, then when I got home and was going through them, I realized I forgot to change my shutter speed, so they all came out blurry, dang-it! Oh Well, we'll always having the memories, right?

When I picked up Taylar from Girl Scouts today, she handed me a paper and guess what it was?
The Girl Scouts are doing a Powder Puff Pinewood Derby in November. They are suppose to bring their Dad's or favorite guy in their life to help them. Taylar is so excited. We came home to see if Todd was off and yeah he is. He is going to be in heaven 2 Pinewood Derby's in one year!

Knightin's First Day of School!

Knightin got into the Headstart program, this is to help him with comprehension and he will be getting some speech therapy as well. He had his first day of school on Tues. and loved ever minute. The first day was a get to know you day. They invited the parents to come spend the morning with them. So I got to see how it is all ran. Knightin got to have story time, play time, snacks, got to paint his hand, make a picture frame, play with play dough, play in water. they have a play house, kitchen, cars, animals, and all kind of other toys. He loves the bathroom they have toilets and sinks just his size. He got to wash his own hands, brush his teeth and wash his own dishes after lunch. They will be teaching him all kinds of practical skills, along with letters, numbers, computers and etc. They have play outside time which was great. Lots of toys focused on that age group. This is going to be so good for him. He still played mostly by himself, but they know that lack of social is one of my concerns, so I know it will get better over the year. I have to say, even though it is a child's heaven there, Knightin's highlight of school and what he is continually talking about is the bus. He does the Happy School Bus dance every morning when it shows up. It is too cute!

Random Cute Pics!

Just playing around up the canyon. Some of the faces on TJ I think are so funny. There were cows grazing up there, and were making awfully loud mooing sounds. It was freaking TJ and Knightin out. They were so unsure of the whole morning there. They did finally calm down after we saw the cows. I guess the sounds are so scary after you know where they come from!

A Blog about Tanyda Jade (TJ)

I really don't like being pregnant, even with my first I was so ready to get her out of me. As early as possible and still have them healthy, is always my hope. I guess I should enjoy and savor every moment and realize that when they get here the craziness begins, but nope out is what I want. After Taylar was born my doctor had no problem telling me that he would induce the week early. Ki I didn't need it, Kelten I needed it, but my doctor was on his honeymoon of all things and the on call doctor wouldn't induce. So, 3 days late, after my doctor gets home, the induction was scheduled. Halloween was to be the day. I didn't want him to be born on Halloween, but the idea of having to wait another day was worse. Kelten didn't wait for the induction, I went into labor earlier that morning and after Todd and I had finished delivering our paper route, yes I'm stubborn and crazy (who wants to find a substitute an hour before the papers have to go out) I went into the hospital and delivered Kelten a couple of hours later. Knightin was kind to me and came early as well, but then TJ, she didn't want to come early, so the induction was scheduled. So the doctor says to me, "You can be induced on Wed." I reply, "Wednesday, are you kidding? Can't we do it just one day early?" I'm sorry they won't let me, unless we have good cause, why do you ask?" Well, it's Sept. 11th, I can't say that, that is a day I would wish upon my child to be her birthday" So he responds, "that's OK we can do it on Thursday." Ahhhhh, noooo I can't wait another day, lets do it!" She came on her own anyway, it was destined to be! Crazy girl.

She just turned 2 on Friday, where has the time gone. She has been such a fun addition to our family. She is our little clown, and our puffy little chunky cheeks. Happy Birthday Sweet girl!!!

I haven't sown clothing items in a very long time, but I was tired of all the dresses for one, looking like everyone elses, but also that they all end up too short, way to fast. I wanted to be able to control the length. The only way to do this is to make your own. So, the sewing machine came out and here is the proof that I can still sew, even if not all that great. At least it turned out good enough that I'll let her wear it in public.

TJ got some big girl underware for her birthday, since potty training will be happening soon, and she had to put them on. So here is my girl modeling her new Elmo panties and a taco face, PRICELESS!!


I had given my sister a chair massage and hadn't put it away yet, and we came into the living room to Knightin sitting on the chair and TJ pumping out lotion and rubbing it on his back, too cute! Of course, I wasn't able to get my camera quick enough for that, but TJ did humor me and let me get some shots of her on the chair.

Potty Trained!!!

So, I have not been very excited about potty training Knightin. He has not been as quick at learning things as my other children so far and has shown no signs of the desire to want to be potty trained, but I decided that I am tired of having to buy diapers and very much ready to be done with that stage of my life. I told myself when TJ turns 2 I'll try to potty train her on the earlier side and Knightin will be 3 1/2. So we'll do them together. I decided to try the Potty training in less then a day method, so I haven't done TJ yet, I kind of needed to do one at a time. Knightin didn't follow any of the book examples, didn't want reward treats after the first couple, he wouldn't respond to all the little role plays, and prompts, but it is all good. He had he first accident and completely freaked out and I think that is pretty much all it took. We had 2 accidents that day and 1 the next day and has been great since then. Even outside today he came banging at the door saying "Mommy need to go Potty." What a good boy. Then on top of it all we did as the book suggested and put him in under ware for bedtime too, I was really nervous about this, but did it anyway. He has woke up dry every night, 7 nights now. I know that we will probably still have an accident here and there, but we are done with diapers with him (cross our fingers for no reverting, I know it happens all the time). Now it's time for TJ, I'm starting in another week or so. I'll pray for the same success!

Knightin sitting on his Potty chair for the first drill.

Excited to have his first treats after a successful potty!

Proud of his big boy under ware.

So, this first day we spent a lot of time naked, since he couldn't quite get a hang of getting his under ware up. So I'm busy getting things done that afternoon and come into the kitchen to this. I thought it was hilarious. Buck naked with my flip flops on. Sorry Honey, I had to take a picture!

Few days later, accident free, and wearing his new boxer briefs, too cute!



These next 3 are just a some cute pictures I caught of Knightin and TJ in the last week!

Is that not the cutest cheesy smile?

Fort

We have all this old wood out in our backyard, we were keeping it to use for something, but the weather has done a job on it, and now it just sits there waiting for us to take it to the dump. We haven't been in a big hurry, since the kids think that it is great having the wood there to play with, even with its many spiders, black widows, grasshoppers, praying mantis, and wasp. They are getting amazingly good at avoiding the pitfalls of living in a dirt and weed patch. (next year, we will have grass, yeah!) Our kids use this wood to build whatever they can, they have built Tee pees, forts and lately grasshopper cities. They go around catching grasshoppers and putting them in the city, then spend the rest of the time trying to keep them in. Hey, at least it keeps them entertained. They also catch Praying mantises and put them in with the grasshoppers, then watch them as they eat the grasshoppers, so OK my kids are a little morbid, but hey, we have a few less grasshoppers and heaven knows we need a few less. They only have thousands and thousands left to catch and be rid of.. ( for those of you who have not heard we are having grasshoppers in Plague proportions, it is awful.) So anyway the other day I decided, why don't I go help my kids make a fort. So together out of all our garbage wood, we put together a really crazy crooked fort, and they absolutely love it. I figure we could at least put together one of those ones you see on TV, where all the wood is different sizes, and it looks like it is about ready to fall over, and we did! And for a bonus, my kids think I'm the coolest mom right now, which I have to relish in until that bubble is burst.

So here is pictures of our fabulous fort!

Here is an updated picture of the progress on our carport. The roof felt and shingles will be started this week. Almost water proof.

So if your are a female reading this, you will understand when I talk about having bad hair days and good hair days. Some days it doesn't matter what we do, our hair just doesn't do what we want it to do, and other days we walk out of the house head held high, knowing we look HOT! As I was doing an up-do for Tay last week for church, it ended up being one of the good hair days for her. Everything just fell into place and her hair looked great. She loved it and walked a little brighter. Some may not appreciate it, but we thought it turned out too cute!