Beautiful Hair

I finally learned how to French braid!  Chandra asks for me to do the sea shell braid (shown) or the Elsa braid (a French braid that goes over her shoulder) several times a week. 

Happy Birthday Bracken---6 Years Old!

We spoiled Bracken on his birthday!  He got his favorite breakfast of crepes, Shay and Glade over for lunch (another of his favorites, hamburgers), a full blown ninja birthday party, and pepperoni pizza for dinner.  He got to play with his new tiny remote control car and legoes as much as he wanted...and he didn't wash any dishes. :)  What more can you ask for?!

  
 

We had a fun and wild Ninja Party!  Full of ninja games, treats, crafts and karate moves.   

Happy Birthday big 6 Year Old! (Chandra really was falling asleep in this picture.  It was a big day for her too. They played hard all day and crashed that night.)

Ode to the Remote Control Helicopter

Rob and Sue bought this remote control helicopter for Brian over a year ago for Christmas.  I've got to admit, at first I thought it was a funny present for an adult.  But Brian and the kids have LOVED this helicopter.  Brian would get it out several times a week for ten minutes or so.  The kids would hold out books or their hands for him to land on, or try to blow it off course.  He'd fly it right by my face and give me a scare.  It had so many crash landings we were amazed it lasted for so long.  It broke at least five times and Brian would go to his friend Aaron's house and use his tools to fix it. It recently took it's last crash landing, and Bracken claimed it for his "electronics workshop." Lot's of fun!

Fun in Richfield

My parents were able to go on a 10 day vacation and cruise to Puerto Rico.  My kids and I got to hang out in Richfield with Seth, Sarah, Dallin and Tyson part of the time they were gone.  We had so much fun! 

Dallin was so sweet with Chandra.  He'd help her get her coat and mud boots on each morning and let her feed the animals and gather the eggs with him.  He gave her "bull rides" and took her out to jump on the trampoline with him.  Thanks Dallin!

 The boys played on the trampoline for hours.  It was so nice outside that Kinsey got to go outside and play too!

 Chandra told me so many times, "I wish I lived on a farm.  I wish I had animals.  I want a dog and chickens and bugs." In the picture above she was gathering dead grass and plants from the yard to be a bed for a puppy.

 The kids decided to put on a circus.  They called Jack Khyl and Shirley Mallot, some of my family's neighbors and closes friends, to come and watch. They popped popcorn for snacks and had us sit in front of the trampoline to watch the circus.  They did tight rope balancing, Chandra was a beautiful ballerina, the boys showed off their flips, tricks and bull riding.

 Chandra was the popcorn girl.  She pulled this box full of bags of popcorn around calling, "Popcorn for sale! Free popcorn!" Side note, but Sarah is amazing with all my kids and so sweet with Chandra. She did Chandra's hair in fancy braids, snuggled her, read her stories, and just gave her constant love and attention.  Chandra happily absorbed every bit of love and attention.

Dallin is a little obsessed with bull riding. He told us the name of every bull he pretended to ride.  He rode the ball for his bull, then pretended to be the bull for Bracken and Tyson to ride.  And boy, he can buck!

I love Sarah!  She's such a great sister and has really become a friend in the last couple of years.  Chandra loves her too. :)

Sarah and the boys planned a surprise birthday for Bracken.  Complete with brownies, ice cream and games! Thanks for the fun guys. 

Almost 6 Months

We love this little girl and her beautiful smiles!

Bracken lost his first tooth!

Bracken lost his first tooth!  He came to me one day freaking out a bit because he said his tooth was wiggly.  When I realized it really was super loose I let him know it was okay and explained that his little tooth was going to fall out to make room for the big tooth coming in.  I was surprised how nostalgic and a little sad it made me feel, realizing that my little boy is big enough to start losing his baby teeth.

He wanted to keep his tooth, so he wrote a note to the tooth fairy saying, "Can I please keep my tooth and have a treat?" The fairy was super generous and left his tooth and gave him a 50 cent piece. :) Bracken was delighted.