Chicken

So out of the blue, Alice started calling her number 2 diapers "chicken". One day I was changing her diaper and she was saying "chicken, chicken" over and over again. Ever since then everytime she goes, she says, "Mommy, I have chicken, Mama." All of her questions always start with "Mommy" and end with "Mama". I love it. Other diaper quirks include requiring "medicine" (diaper rash cream) EVERY time I change her.

Just this week she used the little girl potty for the first time. She took right to it, but it isn't really something I am overly anxious to fully encourage. Sometimes I get it out for something fun for her to do.

Cousins: Best Friends

Nathan, Alice, Ruby, Hailey, Sarah and Emma

There is round one: Ruby, Sarah and Hailey who were all born within nine months of each other and then there is round two: Alice and Emma born eight days a part and Nathan only trails by four months. Such a fun bunch of kiddos.

Sarah, Ruby and Hailey are all going to be in the same grade.

They love each other and look so forward to any chance they have to be together.

Ruby and Sarah

Little Nathan

Ruby and Sarah goin' crazy playing

Little Carson

This weekend was nice. We took a little three hour drive to Pasco, WA to see our nephew Carson for the first time. He is sweet as can be, and all my siblings besides Braden and Amanda were able to come. It was really fun for the cousins to be together, which I'm sure is evident from the pictures. Thanks to our hosts, Robb and Heather!

P.S. Lynz...can't wait to take pics of Max

He came from Mimi...

My girl Mimi deserves a post about how great she is. You've no doubt heard a lot about her on this blog...she was the founder of the organization that raised $35,000 for a friend that she visit teaches. Her kids are all over this, and her family picture is below. She just posted niceties about me on her blog, so I have to get her back, and it is long overdue...even if we are the only ones who really care about our gushing posts. Most of you don't know me to be a gusher, so eat it up lady! She edited down her post because she didn't want it to sound like she was in love with me. If the below comment sounds like that, it is because I AM!

Mimi: Pantene commercial hair grows on your head. You are photogenic, you are an optimist with the power to make all things that you are optimistic about happen, you don't take no for an answer, you are always right (I am too, isn't it great?), you get to wear the pants in your marriage...I ENVY that, you were an EFY counselor...they never even called me in for an interview and I totally applied, you have SISTERS...FIVE!, you are patient times 100, you are unassuming in ways that make things that bug me roll right off you. You are such a positive person and I love you!

Where did he come from?

I ask the question because that is a Mimi-ism. But honestly, where did this kid come from?! He is so cute in these pictures! I'm even posting them before I edit because they are so cute. Meet Jensen.

More fun in the leaves after church...

So in the northwest, the leaves are always beautiful from a distance. However, they are usuall all heavy and wet and slimy and sluggy. It is so fun right now because it has been really dry and so the kids couldn't resist playing after church today. Ellie and Alice were just fine to watch as they enjoyed a treat together.

Late for church, let's play in the leaves!

Chris has meetings all morning on Sundays, so the girls and I arrive on our own to church and meet him there. We were running late today, and since there is a 20 minute period of time during which the doors are closed and it is discouraged for people to come in and out (just while we take the sacrament/bread and water). Anyway, so I didn't rush the girls inside. The were drawn straight to the leaves and it has been dry here, so they were able to play in them without getting all wet and dirty. I know it might seem odd that I would have my camera at church, but it is part of my calling to document everything and I had plans to get pictures of the primary practicing their musical program since I can't take pictures of the actual performance.

Our Favorite McDonalds

Not the restaurant! The family! Mimi, John, Jensen and Ellie are a family staple. We have to get a regular dose, or we get all bent out of shape. Alice even shouts, "nie nite Mimi!" on her way up to bed. We are so lucky to have found such nice people to hang out with! They have kids the same ages as ours (close enough) and Chris and John have fun paintballing and Mimi and I have fun, well mostly talking! Sometimes we are lucky enough to hang out all together and other times we get a chance to go out as couples. There's never enough McDonalds! Here is a beautiful picture I snapped of them after church today.

I LOVE Michael Jackson!

We were invited to this fun party for Halloween this year. It was at a gorgeous lake house that our Stake President has been building for like ten years. The garages combined I'm sure are bigger than our house, it is quite the place. It was fun to walk through the whole thing and see the master plan of someone's dream home all built and beautiful. Obviously, Chris got dressed up as Michael Jackson. He wanted me to be a little boy next to him, but come on...how inappropriate! You have to consider the company you are going to be in, not to mention, I have a major goal of always wearing fake eyelashes on Halloween! Who wants to dress up as a little boy?

Sorry there aren't any pictures of me. I meant to have the babysitter take some, but forgot. I wasn't impressive. I wore Alice's kitty ears, painted my face the same as hers and wore all black. No big deal. A total disappointment for my Halloween enthusiast husband.