Say Cheese

Talmage and just a couple of his puppies
5 years old!


Grant - a sneaky shot by the photographer, otherwise he would not look nearly that happy.
4 years old!


Sandra - so expressive, even with her bribe of the puppy.
2 years old


Mhari, just too cute!
Only 4 months old!


Daddy and the boys!

Mommy and the girls!

All together!

It was such an event taking our family photo with 4 kids. It could've been worse. I guess it's hard knowing how beautiful my kids can smile and yet see them refuse to do so at the picture place, arrggg. I'm glad to have the updates and now I get to rearrange my family wall to make room for Mhari.

It is always amazing to me to see the growth over the year as we continue to update the kids pictures. Even with the growing it's funny to look back and see how they have just looked like themselves for quite some time, just a little older now. They really do grow up so fast.

Green Thumb

When I was growing up my father used to make us plant a garden. It was torture. I know it sounds horrible doesn't it :). We lived in a desert and we ended up turning a rock river bed into our garden. There was lots of moving rocks and red faces that year. We even fenced it in to keep the dogs out. I remember watering it and seeing our vegetables grow, but that's about it. He grew up on a farm and I'm sure that he and my mom had good intentions of having a good garden, but I don't remember it really happening that way. Maybe they wanted to teach us about work and surviving off the land. Or maybe they did it because the prophet had said to have a garden. I'm not sure why, but it has never been a fond memory for me, mostly because I remember dying plants and hot dry summers (or the work that went into making it happen). I'm sure my perspective is off because I was young and I didn't want to do it (maybe it worked and I just forgot).
Well, it is my turn to be the parent and learn about gardening. Jeff and I have yet to try a garden in all of our 7 years of marriage, but have wanted to grow our own food so this is the year of the garden! We are doing square foot gardening and have an 8x4 foot planter with all of our yummy food trying to grow. Monday for FHE we had the kids help plant our vegetables. They have been very excited about having a garden so that was also motivating to help this garden happen. We have tomato, broccoli, and bell pepper plants and pumpkin, cucumber, corn, carrots, squash, cantaloupe, letuce, and watermelon seeds. I would post photos for you, but our camara died so those will have to wait for a new camara to be purchased. The kids even helped make signs for the garden so we know which food is planted where. They are so cute.
It is exciting to grow our own food and we hope we end up with a green thumb from our gardening experience! Once we get a new camara and when our food starts growing I'll be happy to update on the progress of our garden. Let me know if you have any good gardening tips (you know like, don't kill your plants, don't over water, or how to get rid of bugs when they start eating my food, etc). Wish me luck!

Our 4 month old!

Here is Mhari at 4 months. We just had her well check today so I figured I'd post her stats and some fun photos!


Daddy and Mhari


Mommy and Mhari :).

So she's really 4 1/2 months old now, but here's how big our little baby is:
19 lbs 14 oz (just 2 oz away from 20 lbs!)
27.5 inches long

Mhari rolled for the first time on the 7th of April and is really good now at rolling from her tummy to back. She also loves the bath and splashing! She is a sweet baby and we are happy she is doing so well. Next up, solid food!

In the Brick Yard

Jeff had someone who was wanting to get rid of his bricks and we would be able to use them, so we had some brick hauling to do. Needless to say the boys wanted to help.


My kids constantly surprise me with how willing and able they are at helping (when they want). They helped Jeff with a load of 300 bricks or so of their own free will. Jeff was grateful for the help since he had to load it up by himself.


By the end of the unloading there was a large brick pad (waiting to be put to good use) and two hot little boys. Sandra wanted to help too, but had more fun walking in the way than actually helping with the bricks. She was happy to point out all of the bugs that were found in the moving of the bricks. That afternoon the kids were treated to snow cones because of all of their hard work! I think they liked helping so much because they were helping Daddy and maybe because they got to move bricks too. It's hard to say :)

Cabinets

This is what our cabinets looked like when we moved in. They are not horrible, but they did not create the feeling I was wanting. They were well worn and just the tone of the cabinets with my yellow walls didn't quite fit. Jeff and I talked about lots of options, but finally decided to paint them. Jeff was such a good sport and got most of it done while I was in phx with the kids. He also had a fun time asking lots of different ladies their opinion on the color to paint because I wasn't here to help pick it. Thanks for all of the advice and help with the color. I'm sure there are several of you out there that have heard about these cabinets and their progress.
It turned out that painting was a little harder (time consuming) than Jeff orignially thought or they might have been done when we got back from our trip. Isn't that the way projects go :). I must say that from the beginning photo to what they look like now I'm very happy! Thanks for all your hard work honey :).


I don't think they look worn anymore . . .



Here you can see the crown molding that we added (it just needs a little bit of putty, but otherwise is so wonderful!)

This picture shows off the red in the paint color. It is a nice dark brown tone, but the red makes it interesting. I don't know that pictures do it justice, but I'm happy. Now it's time for a new sink and countertops, what about flooring, hummm. It's hard to update something without the rest needing it too. What do you think of the cabinets?

Grant

Here are two awesome boys named Grant! I think it's funny how they even kind of look alike. They are both big for their age too. When our families play together the kids call the younger Grant Baby Grant to distinguish between the two. They are so smart that way. I wonder what will happen when he's not a baby and he's as big as my Grant :).

While thinking of this name similarity I have found it interesting over the years how many names have doubled up in my friends and family such as: Carol, Joalene, Joe, Amanda, sisters named Christa and Holly, Savannah, Dallin, Spencer, and Grant (I'm sure I'm missing some more in there too). I'm sure it's more than just coincidence (especially when the list is that long already). I'm glad to have met so many wonderful people and enjoy all of these names in common. It gives me a bond before we really know each other too well :)

Washing

The Car . . .


The Mailbox . . .


The Bushes . . .

and the Kids!

We had a fun family night washing the car. The kids were really helpful! They figured that once the car was done they could find lots of other things to wash too. We had a great time playing with the kids outside. Spraying kids with water is so entertaining! Mhari was so good and napped the whole time and our cars were so clean afterwards what could be better! What fun things do you do with your kids? It's always great to have new ideas and new ways to play!

Little Friends

Hey what's that on the piano?



There's another one on the floor . . .



and they are in families on the table. These little animals seem to be invading my home . . .





oh, it's Talmage having fun :). My kids, Talmage especially, love little animals. Grandma was kind enough to give them more so they have been found in all sorts of locations around the house recently. Talmage arranged them by families on the kitchen table during quiet time the other day. He likes to pretend they are Mommies and Daddies and that they have babies. He is a very sweet little boy! He has been a great first child and is (usually) very loving with his little brother and sisters. Our family is blessed by him and his little creative personality!

Is it true?

So I've been letting my kids enjoy looking at the pictures from our trip. I was able to get a head shot of all of my family. Every time they see my sister, Christa's, picture they say Mommy. First it was just Sandra so I didn't think anything of it. Then Talmage and Grant both said it too. Is it true, do we really look that much alike? I guess if my kids can't tell I should take that as a yes (or they just aren't that observant). I'll leave it to you to give me an opinion. I know we are sisters and all, but would you mistake her for me? I have always thought she is beautiful I don't mind looking like her if that is truley the case :).