we took the plunge... here are our new family pets!!

here are the kids playing with a "small" cockroach. As you can imagine, I am not such a big fan of the cockroach species and could live very happily without them near my home.



I am not sure if these super fun centipedes are out in force for the summer or what, but we have been seeing them like crazy. Once again as you can imagine I am not a big fan of this animal. Actually I get really nervous around them. You have to chop them into pieces to kill them. If you just step on them, they don't die, they just keep trying to bite you. Yuck!! click on this picture to pull it up big and get an upclose look of this thing.



Before you call CPS on me for this video..... I was about to say that if they bite you they hurt like crazy.... which was cut off by camiron slipping out one of our other sliding glass doors to get a "hands on" meeting with this fun guy. At the end you will see her head in the left side- and then the video stops while I make an all out dash to get to her before she gets to the centipede. Don't worry- she is safe, and he is dead.

missing a tooth anyone??

Camiron might have found your tooth if you are missing it.... 7 new ones have shown up in her mouth in the last 2 months (3 molars and 4 front teeth). Unfortunately I don't think the torture is over since i think her last 4 may be working on coming in as well. Ugh- poor girl.

too cute

I love a good beach bum

cease fire in swim negotiations...

Braden started out scared to death of his swim lessons. It was pulling teeth to try and get him to go. as soon as he would wake up he would ask if he had swim that day. When i would say yes, he would start crying... cry all morning... on the way to swim... and through the WHOLE lesson. his poor teacher Mr. Curtis. But Mr. Curtis was really great about it and we have turned a corner this week. He is no longer crying, and is actually trying to do some things. he isn't scared to put his head under the water- and "bobs" where you reach down and pick up a ring off the ground is now his favorite thing. Crazy for a kid who wouldn't put his face in a week ago.
I had to share some of his "negotiation tactics" though because he is just too smart for his own good!!
B- molly (he is really into calling me molly these days) Molly- will there be other kids in my class today?
Me- yea, the other kids will be there- why?
b- good. if the other kids are there, i don't have to have as many turns then right? b/c i don't want to go that many times.


B- molly- i think Mr. Curtis is at the airport.
m- at the airport? why
b- he works at the airport- remember?!
m- oh yea (he does have a night job at the airport). I don't think he is at the airport braden, he will be at his house.
b- no i think he is at the airport. if he is at the airport then we don't have swim today. lets go to his house so we can see that he is at the airport so that when he is at the airport then we can go home b/c we won't have swim.
m- hmm.. wow that is a big plan.
b- yea, that is the plan. i made that plan.


B- molly, tell Mr. Curtis that i don't want to do the superman today.
or the bobs
or the back float thing
or put my face in. "K"
or go in the deep side.
or the bobs. Ok molly? will you tell him.

M- Do you like your teacher Mr. Curtis?
B. yea I like Mr. Curtis. But I don't like the superman. Or the bobs. or going on my back. or putting my face in.
m- oh, but you do like Mr. Curtis.
B- yea, but tell him i don't want to do those things.

Mr. Curtis- Ok Braden, your turn.
B- its not my turn. Its that girls turn. (pointing at a girl in the class)
Mr. Curtis- no sorry bud, it is your turn.
B- no it isn't my turn. Then it is that girls turn. i think that she wants to go first. I think if she goes then she will be happy. But if i go then i won't be happy. (all said while crying)
Mr. Curtis- dragging him off the stairs. sorry your turn bud.

B- I don't think i can swim today.
m- why?
b- b/c i am sore. See my arms are sore. And my head, its too sore. And i think i have a fever. So i can't swim.
M- wow you sure are sore.
B- yea, and my stomach is sore. So I don't think i can eat the rest of my breakfast, because my arm is too sore.


Lets just say he keeps the other moms on the sides laughing!

these are all from the first week...




Here he is now:

4th of july extravaganza

We kicked off our 4th of July with the annual bike parade at the church. All the kids decorate their bikes and cruise around the parking lot a few times. They have a great time. The lowlights this year: Troy got called into work that morning and missed it. The highlights- the red car that Erika took both of the kids for a ride in. Braden followed her around like a puppy the whole day until he got a ride!










This was followed up by a bbq and fireworks with some friends from moms club. The kids ran around like crazy playing in a little swimming pool while the guys bbq'd.
We watched the fireworks from beach at iriquois point which was perfect. close enough to see, far enough for the little kids to not be scared. We had a great time- thanks so much heather and travis for having us over!

Happy Birthday my big 3 year old!

On June 20th Braden turned the big 3. I have heard 3 is harder than 2. I really can't imagine that this is possible because well 2 with Braden was... we will say an adventure. So i may need a lot of luck, prayers and strength to get through 3 if it is more difficult. But I wanted to mention some of the most special things about Braden and what we have learned from him!

Braden- you are such a loving, mean big brother! You love Camiron with all your heart and are there to protect her from anything and anyone else. (anyone but you that is). You love her to death, and sometimes try to squeeze her to death :) Thank you for taking such good care of your sister, trying to protect her and even on occasion share with her. We have had so many giggles watching the 2 of you learn to play together this past year.

You have so many friends that love to play with you and talk about you. You are so full of adventure and are the first to try anything new. Other kids can't help but want to be around you knowing that you will lead them into something fun (even if the moms may not like the adventures you create).

This past year you have really grown up and are willing to stay on your own in nursery at church and home with a babysitter when needed. All the older kids love to watch you, and you like to help care for Camiron when we are gone.

You have a complete obsession with trucks - especially garbage trucks and scoopers. If we pass a truck when driving you can tell me the exact name of the truck and what it does. (ie- no mom that is a side loader garbage truck, not a front loader. Or that is an excavator, not a backhoe). I am so glad i have you around to teach me these things!

you have some great one liners that always keep us laughing. Your speaking has just taken off this year and you love to talk on the phone or in person. You may start out a little shy around new grownups but always warm up quickly. You like to show off for new grownups by hitting mom or dad- you still aren't quite sure what to do with all that excitement! you love to end sentences with garbage truck or poop. Somehow these are very versitile words for you and can be used in any sentence. You listen to everything that is said around you and are very aware of the world.

You love all sports, especially if mom or dad will play them with you.

We love you so much and feel so blessed to have you in our family. Thank you for all the laughs, hugs, kisses, and fun you have given us this year. We have loved seeing you become a little boy with your own personality and strengths this last year.

a few beach shots

it has been so long since i have put up some beach pics... so i thought i would add a few of the kids and friends at the beach. Braden is still into digging and trucks at the beach- but Camiron has turned into quite the little water baby. She loves swimming around and it doesn't seem to bother her much to get her face wet! Unfortunately the kids seem to run in separate directions the entire time we are there. I don't know who is more exhausted- me or them!

catch up

just had to put up a couple of pics that have passed me by!
a few of a fun family hike where we came upon a little man made teepee. the kids (meaning braden, camiron and troy) thought is was so much fun. we didn't make it any farther on the hike than this.

and we wanted to send our love out to the McCormicks who were here back in May. We had a great time with them! miss you already!