Blake's fun run!

Blake finally got to go on a Jeep trip in Moab Utah. He LOVED that!! He and his brother Grant spent 3 days going on different trails. He came back rested, relaxed and having had a TON of fun!

PSA - Some tips I learned as a young mother....

This morning while talking to my Mom, I realized I've learned some things along this journey called motherhood. I thought I'd share some of the things I learned about taking young children to church, mostly because they're funny.

When attending church, don't sit in the row with the light switch for the chapel, especially if your husband is the ward clerk and you're alone with more than one child. Ok, yes if you really must know back in the day when the ward clerk sat on the stand BJ turned off the lights while I was taking care of Clint. I know, it was a rookie mistake. But I learned, I really never sat on that row again! I mean really who puts those light switches there anyway?? They should be under lock and key, because as soon as the lights go out everyone turns to look in that direction to see who turned them off. Everyone except the young mother with the newborn that is. She doesn't notice for a minute or two, then she quickly turns the lights back on and quickly leaves the meeting while she listens to the rest in the foyer eating Goldfish.

Next lesson - don't let said toddler lay on the floor underneath the pews. I know it seems harmless enough. It's carpeted, it takes up less room than the pew. He doesn't kick the bench that way and it's less noisy. However, again while taking care of the baby there is that off chance that he might G.I. Joe crawl underneath all the benches up to the front of the chapel and run down the aisle back to your seat. It wouldn't be so bad if everyone didn't know who he belonged to or if he didn't return to you. Even worse, he might do it while you're speaking and Grandma and Grandpa are watching him. Then what are you supposed to do? Better to just teach them to sit on the seat like everyone else as painful as that can be at times. The only break is when they do it the first time and your in the hospital after just having the baby. Then people can only blame the father, I mean he never really watches the kid anyway right?

OK, the last lesson for the day is try to not let them fight in nursery class. I know it's not like you send them in there telling them to beat up on the new kids. But it is awfully embarrassing to have them come and get you and tell you that he can't stay in nursery that day because he was fighting. If he's good next week they'll allow him to stay. All I can say is hopefully that was just bad peer pressure. It starts younger than you think. I thought it was more of a teenager problem, but no apparently it starts at 2.

It's about time for an update!

We anxiously awaited BJ's arrival from Chile. The kids made signs, some friends made more signs. He came home during work and school hours, so not too many people were able to come to the airport, but there was still a crowd. We figured there was enough of us to overtake the security guard who wasn't even armed. But when Anna started to run towards BJ, he was not happy!

BJ was tired after a long night of flying and trying to listen to English again. He wanted biscuits and gravy - such a southern boy! We took him to Crackerl Barrel for breakfast. We saw a girl from high school. She didn't really understand why BJ couldn't give her a hug...we all hugged her to try to make up for it!

Parker didn't leave BJ alone for a second. He became his shadow. I don't think BJ has to worry about adjusting to living without a companion. Parker was happy to fill in. Now that BJ's back at BYU, we all miss him again. The best part is that he has a cell phone he can use to call us - well text us maybe! We do hear from him and he sounds like he's doing well. He's trying to adjust to being a student rather than a missionary. They're supposed to grow up right??

Brooke and Lila's Winter formal

Brooke and Lila went to their school's winter formal Friday. They were gorgeous - ok, so I'm biased!

New Pictures of Clint

Here's some new pictures of Clint. This is Clint and Andrew before Clint left the MTC. I LOVE this picture. Although it's one of the few pics we have of Andrew without a goofy expression!


This is a picture of Clint upon arrival in Colorado with his Mission President and his wife. He looks happy!

Queen of Denile

Blake and Anna went to a Daddy Daughter date this weekend. They had to dress up as a famous Dad and daughter. So they went as Cleopatra and Pharoah. (I mean how many Hannah Montanas and Billy Ray Cyrus's can there be??) Anna was beautiful of course, and Blake did his best to look mean and evil! They had a great time. The highlight of the night according to the other 11 year old girls was when Blake fell - I mean slid on the bubble machine residue on the gym floor. They LOVED that! According to Blake he was just trying to make the other people who slipped feel better. Note to self: bubble machines and hardwood floors don't mix!

Alex is home!

Alex arrived home from his mission in Hawaii! I borrowed pictures from Amy so I could post them!