found it!

Here are Sam and Charlotte finger painting. Does cleanup and prep for this always take longer than the actual process?



Here's younger brother Isaac sliding down the mattress, a favorite pasttime.



Ben is the only one who will really run through the sprinklers. The other kids pretend, screaming as they get sprinkled with the least amount of water. But Ben gets in there. He loves water. We often turn on the hose outside and he'll water the lawn for 10 minutes or so. I know, good for the grass too. As Charlotte prefers to run bare bumed through the sprinklers, we don't have too many pictures of her available.



Here's our ever faithful guard kitty

Ben's up gotta run

We've lost the camera...

I can't find the camera and I don't want to update unless I have pictures to add. We found the best park in Riverton. It has 10 slides and 8 swings. Charlotte was in heaven. I've been taking a typing class and so now of course I can't stand typing without the backspace key...We've inherited a stray cat whom we've named Bobcat. He's 10 times sweeter than Maddie, though I think Maddie's realized now she has competition. He's not allowed in the house, but he's there almost every time we go outside. Do you think it could have something to do with the fact that we feed him almost every day?


Doug starts an AutoCad class this week, 4 hours a day two days a week. Not looking forward to it. We're very excited to be staying here in Alpine for another year. Looking for places to live is miserable, especially with a cat. We'd like to congratulate Marjorie and Mike Godek on the arrival of little Claire. She already has more hair than Ben does.

I've found a new favorite show. Jon and Kate plus 8. If that show doesn't make you feel better about your life, I don't know what will. Plus the kids are just so darn cute.

Mothers Day

For Mother's Day I wsa treated to breakfast in bed. Doug tried to let me sleep in, but someone who will remain nameless did not allow that to happen. We had a nice family lunch with my extended family and just enjoyed being a family. There are days when I never thought my family would come, but now they're here and even better than I imagined them. I am blessed with 2 wonderfully smart and healthy children and a husband who is my best friend and greatest support. My kids wouldn't be who they are without their dad. I'll admit I don't love every minute of being a mother, but I am so grateful for the life I have.

The Zoo

We finally made it to Hogle Zoo and were pleasantly surprised. Honestly our expectations were so low because I grew up with the Wild Animal Park and the San Diego Zoo. Ben enjoyed the trip the most out of all of us. Charlotte had fun seeing the monkeys and the birds.





And yes her shoes are on the wrong feet! She likes to do them herself. She is a BIG girl!

Update

Ben has decided to talk. Today he hid behind a door and said boo. It was hilarious. His new favorite toys are chunky cardboard books that have pictures of animals and bugs. He'll bring them to you and sit on the ground so that you can read them right then and there. He's not patient about it. Now he babbles which is adorable! He'll dump out his bowl of cereal just so he can say All Gone! He can imitate an elephant by making his arm a trunk and going brrrrrr. And his owl imprerssion is pretty good too.

Charlotte enjoys telling stories to herself and saying prayers for Dora and Boots so that they can find whatever Swiper has swiped from them. She loves the Dora video Auntie Cami got her for her birthday. Yesterday she poked Doug in the stomach and said A Little bit Pudgy. She then poked it again and said a little bit pudgers. Daddy's feelings were a little bit hurt......


We had a great time having Doug's family over for our monthly dinner tonight. We sure love having family around. We hope Uncle Steve doesn't die from his allergies.

Charlotte's 3! and some other fun moments

This goofy girl is now 3 years old. I can hardly believe it. She's been birthdayed out. She got 3 different partys and yet managed just 3 pictures. We'll say it was because we were too busy enjoying it. Most of them are videos and I'm too lazy right now to upload them. She played her first game of musical chairs and the concept was completely lost on her. She loved blowing out her candles and getting balloons. I think she blew out 4 sets of candles.



She got a helmet so that she can now be safe riding her bike. Isn't she strong?


Here's the clan playing musical chairs (or strollers...)

Ben has not enjoyed all the attention being on Charlotte.




Here's one last picture of Charlotte

Easter

So many firsts. This is the first year Charlotte really seemed to understand Easter. Sure, last year she walked around and collected the eggs, but it just wasn't the same. I think we hid eggs 6 different times. Daddy had to hide them, then Charlotte, then Mommy. She didn't even care about the candy inside. I'm having a hard time connecting Easter and Jesus and the Easter bunny, so we just did them on separate days.
Here's Ben ready for the hunt

Of course Maddie had to help find them!


Daddy and Charlotte searching together

My favorite part actually was being together with family. I don't always love everything about Utah, but I love having so much family around to give so much love to my children.

Here's the kids enjoying the spoils