Doggie

{Check out the picture of him licking his nose!}

We have a pet, two actually... Twitch and Rosie our super cute Leopard Geckos. Hayden got Twitch for Christmas last year {well he got hermit crabs but we returned those for the gecko} Twitch had a near death experience when Andy squished his shoulder/leg with the edge of the ottoman. We nursed "him" back to life, it took a few weeks but "he" eventually grew strong enough to hunt "his" crickets...

A few months later, the Simpsons gave Brynley her own Leopard Gecko for her birthday - they took her to go pick it out, she chose one and named it Rosie. {We were hoping it was a boy as we thought Twitch was a boy and therefore, no baby making!!} Recently we discovered the Rosie is infact a boy - but Twitch is a girl, uh oh... We believe twitch is pregnant...



We love these little guys - the other night Zac and Brynley took turns letting Twitch crawl around on their heads.
Why the post title of Doggie you may ask? Because sweet Mia is OBSESSED with the geckos. She wanders into the office at least 15 to 20 times a day to stand on her tippy toes and watch the "doggies" she just squeals, "doggies!!!!" as she walks up to them and just watches them. She absolutely LOVES them! not sure why she calls them doggies...

Family Night Bowling

Last week we went bowling with the kids. We always love bowling together - it's fun to see the kids actually improve each time we go {sine we go one or two times a year!} We had a blast together, even Mia didn't mind just hanging out!

Zac may have beat the other kid's scores but he had a little help ;)

Is it bad that the only picture I got of Brynley included her sckirt being tucked up inside of her undershorts? I couldn't help but post it!

Hayden had some SWEET moves, his form is priceless!
She had this little chip stuck to her lip for a about 15 minutes! It was so funny I didn't take it off!

This girl melts my heart...

I cannot even explain the joy I feel every morning when I get Mia out of her bed. She lays in bed {for who knows how long as she is totally silent!} until I come in to get her - usually around 8:15 or 8:30 {oh yah!}... She greets me with the World's biggest grin and just cuddles into my shoulder as I pick her up. Wow... I feel so lucky to be her mama! She has been such a trooper lately as I drag her all over the place, often skipping a nap here and there - and yet she mostly doesn't mind one bit. I love the one on one time I get to spend with her, since she is my last baby I have to soak in every second of it!

Mia has a favorite blanket, she ADORES this thing. She loves to hold the corner and stroke her nose with it, and sometimes she even gives me the joy of the nose stroke as she reaches it out and strokes my nose for me! {Honestly, I'm not sure of the appeal for her as it does nothing for me, lol!} I have been stressed trying to find another similar blanket because I cannot even imagine what would ensue if said blanket were to get lost. Unfortunately, I got this blanket 6 years ago when I was pregnant with Brynley. Andy went on a hunt and finally found an almost new one on Ebay. We snatched it up and now we have two, phew! We pretty much bring the blanket everywhere as we know it will always make her happy! Even now, in the 114 degree weather, she is cuddled up with it in the car/stroller all day!

Her nose stroking reminds me of my cute Cousin Eric as a baby who loved to stroke his ear with the corner of a pillow - it's totally the same!

Mia had crashed in the car the other day and I wanted her awake as I really needed her to nap later. I figured if I laid her on the couch she would for sure wake up, but no. She was out!

Playing Peek a boo with her blanket!

Isn't she beautiful???? She is so happy {except when I'm trying to make dinner and all she wants to do is play with me!!!!}. Other than that, she might be the perfect baby. I can say that right? And I get to cuddle her all day long if that's what I want to do - if only I had the time to do just that!

Our First Pack Meeting!

Hayden had his first pack meeting last week, it was so much fun! The whole family went and I am so glad we did.... I am new to the whole scout world and had no idea what went on at a pack meeting - there were different chants and flag ceremonies and awards. Zac and Brynley got a kick out of it and Mia just toddled around charming those around her.

I will say that Hayden was extremely lucky to enter scouts right before day camp. They passed off a lot of awards at day camp and were given those awards at Pack Mtg. In addtion Hayden earned a few things on our sabbatical and he earned his Bobcat! There was a little ceremony for the boys earning their bobcat, Brother Breinholdt told them they would have to drink Bobcat blood... Hayden's face was Priceless! {The first photo somewhat shows his face - click on it to see it larger!} Everyone was dying watching him shake and his mouth was perced in such a funny way. I sooo wished I had brought my camera, grrr... Luckily, my friend Joy took a few photos of Hayden and her son, but they do not do it justice. Hayden actually jugged the "V8", which really surprised me, but he thought it was pretty good!

Hayden is super excited to be involved in Cub Scouts and he has FABULOUS leaders {I hope they are never released!} I on the other hand, have no idea what I am doing and am kind of flying by the seat of my pants with this whole thing!

Zac Starts Preschool

My handsome man all ready to go!

Zac has been super excited to start preschool and he finally started this week! He's attending at one of my friend's houses {Kim Keith}. We LOVE Kim! She was his nursery leader at church for the last year and half and I knew he would just love going to preschool with her. He is at school Tuesday and Thursday from 9 - Noon... The first day he did great, went right in and had a blast... Day 2 was not so good. He got super nervous as I took him in and by the time we got to teh classroom, he was hysterically crying. Poor little dude. Kim took him right on her lap and I left as he was crying out for me. I texted Kim to see if I needed to come back and get him and within about 5 or 6 minutes he calmed down and had a great time!

Zac does this every time he gets nervous or shy - he puts his hands on his face, it's so funny!

I have been a bit nervous for school to start, only because Zac had to be potty trained. With our sabbatical this summer and being on the road, we didn't really do much potty training. So, when we got back in town I knew I had about 10 days to get er done! It wasn't going as well as I had hoped until the day before school started and I think it finally "clicked", yippy!!! It has been 5 days now of no accidents and no diapers, woohoo!!!! *knock on wood* I think that means he's done, right?

First Day of School!!!

Kindergarten - 2011


We have been anticipating this day for a long time! Hayden and Brynley were super excited to start school today. Hayden is in 3rd Grade with Ms. Turley {the teacher he didn't want but is now excited about!} and Brynley is in Kindergarten with Mrs. Silveira. They were both anxious to get up and get dressed after picking out their outfits last night - I wish I would have coordinated them for photos but I let them choose!


Neither of them were scared at all and just went right to their lines when the bell rang - they then headed inside. Well I assume Hayden did, Andy took him to the 3rd grade play ground and left. I guess Hayden was fine and said he didn't need him to stick around!

And this is the sum total of the photos Andy got of Hayden playing before school, what?



Mia just hung out waiting for school to start

Andy, Zac, Mia and I headed to the Farmhouse for breakfast but of course the line was way too long and Liberty Market was crowded as well so we went to The Good Egg. We had a fun time, just the four of us - there was no fighting at the table and we had a great breakfast! We then ran some errands and did some grocery shopping. By the time we got home, it was time for Zac and Mia to take a nap... Now the house is quiet for the first time in what seems like forever!!! I can't wait to hear all about how today went!

A beautiful day for a baptism...

A handsome young man taking a huge step in his life...


Though the day before the baptism had us stuck in the Honolulu Airport - having a flight delayed and then almost canceled - we made it home from Hawaii with 8 hours to spare! I was a bit nervous that we wouldn't make it home but we rolled in the driveway around 2:30am, for a 10:30am baptism!

Thanks to Aunt Shelly for having the house clean when we got home and to Meredith for making cupcakes for the event and to Barro's Pizza for having 8 large pizzas ready at noon for us, and to my new friend Kim of Cakepops 101, and to the Booher Girls who made chocolate chip cookies for a fundraiser - it was a relatively un stressful day {all things considered}. I didn't have to make any food - yay! I had a bit of a hard time with the whole pizza thing {I would have had a much more elaborate menu} but Hayden requested it and so his wish was granted. And considering we were going to be in Maui for the 9 days leading up to the day - it relieved the stress considerably!

Andy and Hayden all ready to go

Some of Hayden's cute friends who attended today

A fun bunch of cute cousins {who are about to move down the street from us, woohoo!!!}

Hayden has had amazing Primary teachers, this is his current teacher along with his old teacher!

Lovin' my cute family! {Can you tell I got two whole hours of sleep!}

With Meredith's Family - I had only seen Mia for about an hour since getting back in town, I think she still wasn't sure about who I was!

With Dad and Debbie

So glad to have Andy's parents here!

With Aunt Shelly {our hero for taking care of our three oldest for 9 days!!!} and Uncle Joe and Grandma - who also helped but Aunt Shelly was the main caretaker!


I had notecard for the guests to write on for a memory book of the day.

Gorgeous {and tasty!} Cakepops courtesy of my new friend Kim from Cakepops 101 - these were a huge hit. Kim also teaches classes which I have convinced a few friends to take with me in a few months! We also had the cutest tiny white cupcakes with banana frosting made by Meredith - yum, some fantastic chocolate chip cookies and ice cream sundaes!

My sweet baby girl... Who was inadvertantly left in the car in the garage with the doors closed after the baptism... 15 minutes after we got home I was rushing around getting food read and I had a horrible feeling that something was wrong with Mia. I asked Andy where she was and he didn't know. I ran to the garage to find her in a closed - extremely hot - car. It was over 100 degrees outside. She was tear stained and panicking. I was a wreck for a few minutes but she seems to be ok!

Some of the kids eating before getting into the pool!

Eating our pizza feast, which included Barro's Pizza {our favorite!} and garlin butter from Papa John's! {Hayden's request!} Thanks to Uncle Steve who picked up 20 packets of the stuff from Papa John's!

Hayden was over the moon about his new scriptures form Dad and Debbie!

Aunt Shelly and Uncle Joe got him this cute picture and a tie tack. Grandma and Andy's parents gave him money for his mission fund, Jackson {Hayden's very first friend - got him a cute tie and the Myer's family gave him an awesome journal for recording spiritual experiences! It was a fantastic day! We missed a few friends who are normally staples at our events due to sickness and being out of town...

This is where we found Zac half of the time - in the toy basket - so weird!