Time flies when you're having fun!

We must be having alot of fun, because time sure is flying by.  I swear it was Christmas just yesterday, and now we're getting ready for the beach!
I've been a neglectful blogger lately, so I'm attempting to catch up.
Here's the latest........

Caroline turned 10 months.

She's so happy crawling around, that she's had no interest in standing or trying to walk.  Which is totally fine with me.

She loves being outside, especially in her swing.  Loves Daisy.  Loves to eat.  Loves being chased by her brothers.  Loves ripping apart wet wipes with her teeth.  Loves playing with my necklaces.  Loves her silky blankies.  And loves it when her brothers get home from school. 

And she hates getting dressed.  Hates getting her nails trimmed.  Hates getting water poured over her head.  And hates it when Mom leaves the room. 

We went to the Drive-Ins one fabulously cool spring evening.  Saw the second Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie and loved it.  And we loved taking the new truck, too.

Brian & I signed on to hike the Grand Canyon, rim to rim, in one day, later in May.  With a group of friends.  Most of whom are triathletes.  So we're desperately trying to get in shape so we don't humiliate ourselves.  I don't know what we were thinking.

Max hit his very first home-run!

Way to go Max!!!

Jake got an A on his book report diarama, of which he was extremely proud.

It's awesome, isn't it?

Speaking of books, I just finished 'Escape' by Carolyn Jessop, for my Book Club.  She's the one who escaped from her polygamist husband in Colorado City.  If everything is how she says it is, that's some seriously whacked business.

Now I'm reading 'Water for Elephants'.

Gus spends his days either at preschool, running around the neighborhood with his buddies, or coming up with some kind of imaginative & messy project, one right after the other.  It's hard to keep up.  One minute he's making sprinkles soup for Dolphin's lunch.....

And then the next minute he & Jasper are making orange juice on the front porch........

He's one busy guy.

We made Rice Krispy treat nests.  And getting excited for Easter.

I finally finished my garden, and I'm in love with it.  Gardening is such great therapy.  But Turbo the tortoise is now banished to the pool area after he mowed down all of my canteloupe plants.  Anyone want a tortoise?

It was 'mis-matched day' at school.

Max and his best buddy Noah, won our school's Battle of the Books contest.  Now they're getting ready for the district competition next week.

We had a big 50th Anniversary party for the office.

Brian was a little glad to have it overwith.  It was alot of work.  But I think it all went really well.

I had to take a picture of Zane's front teeth......or rather,  one tooth, and one hugely-bulging-gum-front-tooth-trying-to-bust-out-of-there-for-months-now.

And Marlee got asked to Prom!  So now we're on the hunt for a non-skanky Prom dress.  Wish us luck!

Spring Break!

Summer break is just around the corner & I'm just now blogging about Spring Break!  Sheesh!!!    I need a nanny.  

So we took all of our loinfruits to Utah for a little skiing.

It's one of those 'vacations' where you need a real vacation afterwards.

Marlee tried snowboarding that first day, and spent alot of time like this....

Poor baby's not used to falling.

We spent the day at Snowbasin with the Garns.

Check out the Snowbasin lodge!  It was deluxe!

The first few nights we stayed at the Grand America, which we love!

Here's Caroline in the lobby, ready to head to ski daycare.

We crashed at the Heatons for the rest of the trip.  The kids had a blast.  And we met up with the Brians and Christensens and Barneys for dinner a couple of times.  We're so lucky to have such great friends!

Then we made the Heaton boys ditch school to come skiing with us at Brighton.  Totally twisted their arms. :)

We skiied with Gus & Zane the whole day.  I have to admit, it was way fun.  These little guys improved a ton during this trip.

Zane was rockin' by that last day!

On Sunday, we slept in, then hit Temple Square.

Here's Max in the Visitor's Center trying to figure out how he can make something like this at home.

The only family picture we have of this trip.

Taken by a cute sister missionary from Romania.

We were a little too early for the tulips, darn it!  They're my favorite.

When it was time to head home, we did the usual.

I drive with the older kids, while Brian flies home with the baby.

This time we stayed a night with the Proctors (my sister & her fam) in Farmington, then drove home.  Fun, fun times!

Laugh of the Week

Gus taking Orca Whale on a walk around our neighborhood.

When they came back, he told me that Orca Whale was tired.

I told him I think Orca Whale might need a bath in the washing machine, his white underbelly was now black.  And he said it was OK, because Orca Whale likes the color black.

He kills me!

Oh, but it's so true......

Caroline is spoiled.

This is her "Mom, what are you doing & why aren't you picking me up" face.

It's no big surprise.  She's our little princess & she knows it.  And I'm helpless to do anything about it.

She wants me, and only me, and I secretly love it.

She's already learned that being loud is the only way to be heard around here.

And look out if you take something away from her that she wanted!

Man, am I in for it!

"Oh calm down, Tiger Mother"

This is what Marlee likes to say to me or Brian when we get after her about something. 

Teenagers are so much fun.

This is like an  I Spy  picture.

Can you find Marlee among all the mess?

We put it off as long as we could, but she's finally legal.

This was a great day for Mars.  Driver's license and took her final for her on-line American History class.  The blasted thing's done!  Such a relief for her!

I can't wait to put her to work running errands for me.

 

Yesterday she wanted pizza after she got home from track, and Jake was dying for some Filibertos (Yuck) , so she, Jake & Max got in the car & drove off.  My three children.  Driving away.  Without me.  It was plain weird.

April Fools Fun

I had these waiting for the kids when they got home from school.  Just some chocolate bonbons I had made.  With sprinkles.  What kid can pass up sprinkles, right?  First Zane.  Then Max.  Then Jake.  They all fell for it.  My chocolate-dipped cottonballs!

It was another April Fools victory for mom & dad. 
Last year, Brian had the boys flying out the door, half-asleep, "late for school".  They were running down the street before they realized they'd been had.  When they noticed that it was still kind of dark outside.  They stopped running, and turned around.... to see dad on the front porch, with the video camera, laughing his head off. 
It was so great.