Summer days

It is finally warming up here enough to play in the water!

We met up with some friends at one of the many splash pads in the area.

These are some of Chelsea's friends...Chelsea was off with Brinly.

 You can see Michael in the background.

Brinly wandered around the splash pad, trying to avoid the water....

...while her cute friend Clara couldn't seem to get enough!

And Michael? Well, he had a blast.

The...terrible ONES?!

I was in the bathroom, getting ready for the day. 

When I finished, I went to go pick up my clothes, and realized they were no longer there. 

That's when I found miss STINKER....

Does she look like she thinks she's in trouble?

Nah...she knows she's cute. 

Could YOU get upset at this gesture?!

On Saturday, our ward had its annual "Day at the Park".  Some of the members who have boats, volunteer to give boat rides. 

We got to ride in this pretty fancy-schmancy  boat. 

I want one...

...so does Michael....

our "captain" took us out on the columbia river to a place called "Bird Island". It's a bird refuge. It's hard to see all the birds with the trees and bushes that surround the island, but you could definitely hear them! 

"Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!" (Nemo reference...)

There were some pelicans and a few deer there too! It is against the law to set foot on this island, and even dock a boat here. Pretty neat experience!

Spring head!

I was exhausted from a long week and little sleep, so I took a nap.

The kids didn't mind...

They had dad to play with!

Just in case you didn't get enough...

here's the view from the back!

He's just so purdy!

Overheard at our house...

Michael and I were reading from an Eyewitness book, called "The Natural World".

Me reading from book: "Some animals are unlikely to become prey. Michael, do you know what 'prey' means?"

Michael: "Yeeeeaaaahh..." (like that was the silliest question he'd ever heard....)

Me: "what?"

Michael: "When you talk to Heavenly Father!"


This morning Brinly was jabbering away...

Michael: "MOM! Brinly knows how to speak SPANISH!"

Me: "Oh? What did she say?"

Michael: (Laughing) "I don't know, Mom! I don't speak Spanish!"

Mother's day

I was truly spoiled this year for Mother's day.

First, there was the Mother's-day-tea at Michael's preschool.

I loved getting time to spend with him, all alone. 

He served me a plate of treats, and then served himself. What a gentleman!

He decorated this beautiful flower pot, which had a picture of him now, and from the beginning of the year.

Then the kids sang some song and surprised us with a special "THANK YOU!" 

(that's what the paper plates are supposed to spell....)

Then, the next morning...

I got to eat donuts with Chelsea at her school!

It's harder to get pictures at school....

around all the friends...

while eating sticky donuts...

and needing to rush off to the CROWDED book fair in the library.

But, we got this one!

For the actual Mother's day, the kids and Dan brought me breakfast in bed:

a bowl of fruit

a blue berry  muffin

and an english muffin sandwhich (eggs, cheese, and bacon, YUM!)

We don't have church until 1:00, and the weather was BEAUTIFUL, so we went to feed the ducks at the park.

Brinly LOVED riding on Dad's shoulders...

She's a great driver!

Despite the challenges, frustrations, tears, and exhaustion...

I love the

laughter...

smiles...

kisses...

hugs...

cuddles...

and plain joy I get from being a MOM! 

Are you there?

I don't know what my problem is.

I've got lots to tell you about.

lots of pictures to show.

Yet, I am only updating this blog, MAYBE once a month.

Are you still there? Have you given up on us?

We're here! I promise! I'm scheduling lots of posts today, so hopefully we can keep you entertained for a short while.

 Okay...forget the entertainment part, but at least you will know we still exist!

In the meantime, here are some "randoms":

RANDOM #1

This is what happens when I am teaching piano lessons:

The kids get Spikey hair...and some fun playtime with Dad. 

RANDOM #2:

These are the boys from Michael's play group. 6 boys! They are such crack-ups. 

During snack time, they like to play a game called:

"My Mom calls me...." 

When one of the other moms told me about this, I was worried. I mean, I don't name call my kids, of course, but sometimes I don't hide my frustrations or anger very well....who knows what they were saying.

Today, I understand.

I heard the following today, with the boys trying to out talk each other, with the most funny thing they could think of:

"My Mom calls me.....hair in my pants!" followed by hysterical, LOUD laughter.

"My mom calls me...cup in my mouth!" more, LOUD laughter

"My mom calls me...hey, why do you have an eyeball in your pants?" LOUD laughter....

"My mom calls me...why do you havea treat in your underwear?" yup...you guessed it....LOTS of LOUD laughter....I think it was the word "underwear".

Silly boys. :) 

RANDOM #3

We're still enjoying our piano. A lot.

Times THREE! 

Check out those curled fingers, and that reach!

This was a particularly rambunctious piece performed by Brinly. 

...Think, Jerry Lee Lewis....

We will be back with more!

Our baby girl...growing up

We love our Brinly. 

She's always making us laugh. 

Take this clip for instance:

For a while, she would sniff in and out like this after eating every bite.

 It cracked us up every time...as you can hear... 

Sadly, this phase has passed.

Then one day, she discovered a new trick!

How very lady-like.

 I like how someone encourages her to keep going in the middle of the clip.

 Lovely.

And lastly, she is our earliest WALKER! At 10 1/2 months, she walks!

Unfortunately, as cute as this is, this picture doesn't do the experience justice. 

you can't hear her squeals of delight.

you can't see her toddle like a drunken fool.

So, lucky for you, we have video footage!