Happy Father's Day!

We kind of skipped Father's Day this year. Not that we normally do much, but Ron really got the short end of the stick this year! We made cards for Ron and all our grandpa's. They never made it in the mail. I ran out of envelopes AND I wanted to get a picture of the kids together to put in with them. ...still haven't taken that picture!! This was the card we made for Ron. You'll have to click on it to make it bigger so you can read it.  I got a pretty good laugh out of it!

Father's Day ended up pretty hectic around here.  Landon woke up with pink eye.  I had to teach in primary and Ron had to be there early for a meeting with the Stake President. The plan was for me to meet Ron there and send Landon home with him after sacrament.  Our plan didn't work.  They split our branch on Sunday and Ron was called to be the 2nd counselor in the new

STANLEY BRANCH!! 

He had to stay after to get set apart and have his first of MANY meetings to come!!  He didn't even get a Father's Day Dinner.  We ended up staying after for the branch potluck.   

Either way...the kids still love their Dad and we're grateful for all he does!!

Mud Lake, ND

Okay...not really!  But there is a lake and the kids were VERY muddy!!

Our friends, the Jackson's, just bought this land.  In all the rain we've gotten its made some giant mud holes.  She thought it would be fun to take the kids out to play in the mud and invited us to go with them!

My kids didn't know what to think when I told them NOT to wear shoes and to
GO play IN the MUD!
 It took some warming up, but it didn't take long before they were muddy from head to toe...some more than others!

Payden even enjoyed himself...

Landon couldn't get enough of it!!

 He didn't even care about lunch time!!

 And this boy is ALWAYS ready to eat something!!

He did squeeze in a few few bites...

But Mr. Hugh was the fun-est to watch!! 

He'd literally DIVE and belly flop right in!!

I learned this week that Madilyn

IS.A.GIRL.

She tried to like it, especially because Dakota did, but she just couldn't handle it!

So she changed and kept Payden company!

She was more up to climbing the dirt mound and looking for secret hide outs!!

We are grateful for our new friends!

We look forward to more fun times with them!!

MR. ROLLIE POLLIE...

 is now 4 months old!

Not much has changed. 

He eats when he wants.

He sleeps when he wants.

He laughs and smiles and rolls arounds.

He's still the best little baby!

IF my scale is accurate, he weights 18.5 lbs!!

(we'll try again when I get a new battery!)

But he IS almost 26 inches long!!

Betsy the Bird

The kids have been having fun with the kids in the neighborhood.  The other day they found a baby bird.  The mama bird never came back for her.  They took it upon themselves to save the little bird. They named her Betsy. They made her a little nest in a bucket. 

They dug for worms.

They squished them.

They tried to get her to eat them...but she never would. 

Landon didn't care too much about the worms...or the bird. He was just excited to DIG!!

Madilyn wanted to feed the bird a worm like the other girls but freaked out as soon as she touched it!! She DID NOT LIKE it!!  But she found this cute little guy and had a fun time with him!

Unfortunately Betsy only lasted a couple days.

They buried her in the neighbors garden.

Madilyn and Landon are the youngest in the neighborhood, but they've made some fun friends!!  We are all sad (even Triton) that the next door neighbors are moving next month! 

That DOG!!

By the way.  I.HATE.DOGS! Yes. Even mine.

Wait, does that mean I claim him??  He definitely claims me. 

He ALWAYS snuggles up next to ME on the couch.

 He ALWAYS sits ON MY FEET.  No, not next to them ON THEM when I'm getting ready for the day or working in the kitchen. 

He follows me going UP the stairs. 

 He follows me DOWN the stairs. 

He follows me when I'm putting away laundry. 

The only time he isn't RIGHT there...is when the kids leave the house doors open and escapes and runs away. 

BUT...I can see why he's always with me.  If not...he's tortured with things like this:

He is the kids' BABY!

He get WRAPPED up and DRAGGED around and  THROWN around (literally).

I'm not ready to admit it.  But he really is a good dog. 

He's potty trained...except for when I forget to take him out. 

AND

He is VERY tolerant of the kids...until he's had his limit.  

Now...if only we could stop the RUNNING away!  Its really embarrassing when neighbors bring him back home!!

First Cereal!

Payden has been the best nurser!

 I haven't had a single problem getting him to nurse. 

 He's actually the first to refuse a bottle.

 I tried doing them when going to town and then again to give him water when he was sick to help get the gunk out of his throat.

Its actually been pretty nice, but in all honesty I get tired of nursing!! 

 I always indroduce cereal as soon as possible. 

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to when...Payden was NOT a fan!!

This was his first attempt with rice. 

...maybe its not so bad...

Nope! IT IS!!

He did a little better with oatmeal the next day. But not much. 

 Looks like we'll be waiting another month!!

It's Raining It's Pouring!

We get some pretty good summer thunderstorms here!

 I LOVE IT!!

As soon as Madilyn sees the rain she's out there in it with her umbrella...

and Landon's not far behind her.