History . . . by Dallin

So tonight, Dallin and I were reading Tuck Everlasting - one of my all time favorites - and he started using a half southern/half hillbilly accent when he was speaking for the characters. I asked him why he was talking like that, and he said, "That's how they talked then. In the olden days, that's how they all talked back then."

The other night, he was asking me questions about when I was younger, and asked me if there was color back then. Completely confused, I asked him what he was talking about. He said, "You know, like in the old movies that are black and white, because there was no color back then. Everything in the whole world was just black and white." Even as I tried to explain that it was just black and white in the movies, but the world was full of color, he didn't believe me because it was on TV and, well, we all know if it's on TV, it's gotta be true.

Funny Girls

Ok., a couple weeks ago I posted a blog about Kennedi crawling. Which she is continuing to do, but I guess I need to clarify when I use the word crawl. She can get anywhere she wants, but she has her own way of doing it. She takes both her front arms and sort of hops forward with them landing at the same time, like a bunny rabbit, and then crawls with her left leg and drags her right leg (still in sitting position) forward, and then starts the whole process over again. She's kind of half rabbit, half turtle - so I guess she ends up at with an average speed between her front and back ends. Here is a video - not the best, but it's a pretty cute crawl.



One of the things I enjoy most as a Mom is watching my children enjoy each other (maybe because it's so rare=) The other day, Talie took a handful of chocolate chips and placed one on the kitchen floor in front of Kennedi, who instantly put it in her mouth - of course. Then
Talie scooted back and placed another chocolate chip on the floor - which, again, was quickly gobbled up. Talie continued to go around the whole house, with Kennedi closely behind. The end result was a very happy Kennedi. And, who says chocolate doesn't make a girl happy?

Ashlynn is known in our house for her little one liners that keep us laughing. She loves princess movies (ok., I know, what little girl doesn't), but Snow White used to be her favorite. She would watch it and when the wicked Queen turned into the old lady, Ashy would hide behind the couch and peek around the side to catch little glimpses. The other day, she asked, "Mom, witches are extinct, right?"

She also lost another tooth and asked, "Mom, is there really a tooth fairy?" I asked her why she wondered, and she said, "Well, I was thinking, parents stay up late, and they could just put the money under the pillow."

Ok., one last one. The other day, she said, "Mom, I know what you and Dad do every night after you tuck us in. You watch movies and eat candy." Boy will she be disappointed when she becomes a parent.

Although Ashy is funny, she is not the only one that makes us laugh. We went four wheeling a couple of weeks ago for FHE. We went to Rampart Range, which is full of dirt trails meandering through trees - kind of a natural forest area. We got out of the car, and Talie looked around and said, "Mom, this is cool, but who would plant a bunch of trees in the middle of all these four wheeler trails?" Yes, her hair is naturally blond.

My little genius =)

Ok., so I know that everyone thinks their kids are amazing. And don't get me wrong, I love my kids and think they're definitely great, but I am also a bit of a realist, and realize that they will never be the next Einstein, or Michael Jordan. Knowing this, I thought it would be fun to teach Peyton, my two year old, the answers to generic questions that people will ask him in the grocery store or in the halls at church. You know the ones, they don't really expect him to answer, and then when he answers them and answers them correctly, he'll not only knock their crocks off 'em, but he'll also appear to possibly be the next - I don't know - John Grisham. It was a fun little project, and I hope you will enjoy the results as much as we have. (I have to end by saying that we have enjoyed hearing his answers so much, that he has gotten to the point that - after the 5th or so time - we'll ask him a question, and he'll just look at us and say, "No."=)


By the way, he usually gets the last question right, maybe just suffering from a little stage fright.

Indianna JOOONES!

Peyton has seen a few of the Indianna Jones movies with us on family movies nights, and is quite hooked. After the last viewing, he came home and was ecstatic to discover that we had a real, live, Indianna Jones' HAT! (a cowboy hat from last year's Halloween). Now he runs around the house with it on, telling everyone that he's, Indianna Jooones. Then he will put the hat on Kennedi and say, "Kenneni like Indianna Jooones!"

Ashy turns 6!

When Ashy turned 4, Benson used to say that she would always be his little 3yr. old. Well, now she's 6! Crazy how time flies! For her birthday, she came home from morning Kindergarten and made her very own birthday cake (with only a little help from Mom), and then we went to Chick-filet for dinner with Aunt Kim, Uncle Jeff, and Morgan, and came back home for her delicious birthday cake and presents!

Yummy Cake! Chef Ashy! (Mint Chocolate Brownie Trifle)

The thing Ashy wanted most was a robe. (And Uncle Jeff, in the background, is excitedly waiting to see what Ashy will open next!)

Right before Ashy blew out the candles, she lost her 3rd tooth. What a great day: Chick-filet, birthday presents, AND a visit from the Tooth Fairy!(And a great day for mom, she got to pull it out=).


My kids think they get a family birthday and a friend party. Aaahh, we've created a monster! Ashy had a Camping Birthday Party. She made little tent invitations, Dad set up the family tent, and we told ghost stories, roasted hot dogs, smores, made mud pies (complete with worms), and went fishing for goody bags.

Mmm Mmm, mud pie!

She's a 10!

Talie has made it to the double digits! When I was a kid, when you turned 10, you were a BIG kid. So now we have a BIG kid in our house! Talie is very independent and planned this party on her own. She specifically wanted her party on her REAL birthday (pheww, only one party day=). She made cute little apron invitations and had a Cooking Birthday Party. She is our new, very talented, family cook and LOVES it! (so does Mom.) Talie is blessed to have a great group of friends and they came over and designed aprons, gobbled pizza, and frosted and devoured cupcakes. We were even lucky enough to have a friend from Carolina that moved to Longmont, CO drive all the way down to be here for it. Thanks Savannah! ( and Lori and Jacob!).

So now, not only is she a 10, but she is 10 as well!

Just awaiting pictures. Someone borrowed my camera that day, and we had to use Kim's phone (thanks Kim), now we're just waiting to down load them.

The Slugger

Dallin played his 3rd year of baseball this year, but his 1st season of modified kid pitch. Nothing is more fun than watching your kid work hard at something and do good! Dallin even got to pitch one game, and received the MVP ball that game for pitching and for hitting two great hits. It did get a little hot some days, but I've never enjoyed watching baseball before this.

Dallin, so focused on the hitter, awaiting his next move.

Nice form, buddy! An action shot of a sometimes not so active game (no offense, baseball lovers=).

Since Dallin played soccer this year, I guess I'm officially a soccer mom. - You can tell I'm not used to the bright Colorado sun yet, I push my sun glasses up and then forget that I have them on.

And she's OFF!

Today we took Kennedi to the doctor, and she is only 15lbs. at 9months. This leaves her in the 60th% for height and 5th% for weight (which is unheard of with our kiddos). When the doctor and I discussed whether or not we should be concerned, she said, "Well maybe she'll be tall and skinny like you." I laughed and told her that she was the first person that had ever called me tall=). Even though being tall is not a matter of opinion, It still brightened my day.


Well Kennedi is officially crawling! At 9 months, she has been scooting around and pulling herself up to a standing position for about a month now, but has just mastered the art of crawling within the last couple of days! Sunday, she crawled over to me as I was working in the kitchen, and she discovered a stray chocolate chip abandoned by an older sibling. Aaahh, the joys of freedom!

When Kennedi wants something, she turns her mouth into a circle, saying, "ooh, ooh", and twists her wrist back and forth.
Whenever Kennedi pulls herself up to stand, a HUGE grin fills her face, and she gives a giggle of pride. Soo cute.
One of Kennedi's many new hobbies since taking up crawling: dumping the baskets off of the changing table and tearing the clothes out one by one. Now she and Peyton are partners in crime.