Braggin' Wagon Wednesday: Dare to Compare

Is it me or do I have the cutest kids EVER?! I know, I'm biased, but you can't deny their cuteness! Anyway, recently it dawned on me that Ivy is the exact same age Dexter was when Ivy was born. Can you imagine if I had another baby right now?! I can't! Whew, so far I've dodged that bullet! Anyway, this realization is weird to me because Ivy still seems like such a baby, whereas Dex didn't. By this age he'd already almost bit off his tongue by jumping off the coffee table. Ivy can't even jump yet, let alone climb up on the coffee table! So I thought I'd let you decide if Ivy still seems babyish compared to her brothers when they were her age. Since you don't see her everyday, and don't know her like I do, maybe you can be a better judge than I. Here goes, dare to compare.

Corbin - 2 months (I don't have digital newborn pics)

Dexy - Birth

Ivy - birth

Corbin - 6 months

Dex - 6 months

Ivy - 6 months

Corbin - 1 year

Dex - 1 year

Ivy - 1 year

Corbin - 19/20 months (ish)

Dexter - 19/20 months (ish)

Ivy - 19/20 months (ish)

What do you think? Baby or big girl?

The Dad's in My Life

For Father's Day, I thought I'd do a little tribute to the 3 most prominent dads in my life. I know I didn't do this for Mother's day, and I apologize to the mother's for that, but at least you got your gifts on time, which is more than I can say for the fathers. So in no particular order, here are the dad's in my life.

First, of course, my Dad

This is my dad. He is wonderful. He is the first dad I have ever known, and is a great example for what a dad should be. He helped raise and provide for 7 children with my mom, and did a great job. The picture in my mind that I see when I think of my dad is him sitting in a rocking chair, reading a book, with a cat sitting in his lap. He has always been a big reader for as long as I remember, and had a big collection of western and fantasy books in our house. He is also a big teaser. I have so many memories of whisker pies, tickle attacks on my "ribbies" (which by the way, I call my own kids ribs while I tickle them), and laughing and screaming until my mom couldn't take the noise anymore. I remember the teasing continuing at church during sacrament meeting until mom threatened to separate us. He definitely always made life fun. Thanks Dad, for making growing up a lot more tolerable! You put up with a lot of stuff from this child, and I greatly appreciate all the lessons you taught me, and everything you have done for me. Thanks for showing me what it means to be a wonderful father so that I could look for those characteristics in my own husband! Thanks for being a great man, and a wonderful dad! I feel honored that you are my dad!

Second, Scott's Dad, Ross

Not the second dad I have ever known, but a great one! Although he is very different from my own dad, Ross is also a great example of what a father should be. He's extremely patient, kind, and quiet. When Scott and I were dating I would say, "Why is your dad so quiet?" I thought it was because he didn't like me, but it turns out, he's just a quiet guy. I soon learned that once I got to know him a little better he seemed a little more outgoing and has a great sense of humor (very similar to Scott). He's also very giving. He's always quick to help us with anything we need, whether it be putting in a sprinkler system, giving us financial advice, and even buying our house when no one else would! He's also more than willing to share the Bear Lake trailers with us plus all the fun toys there, and even encourages us to take advantage of his generosity (which we try to do as often as we can). Thanks Ross, for being such a wonderful example to Scott and helping to shape him into the man that he is. I truly appreciate everything you have done for us in these last 7 years (and Scott's entire life), it is a pleasure to call you my father-in-law.

Third, my husband, Scott

Last, but definitely not least, is Scott. What can I say about the person I love most in the entire world. I couldn't ask for a better husband and father to my children. I can't imagine ever living my life with anyone else. Scott is an amazing father. He is fun and plays with the kids and tells them he loves them everyday. He is compassionate and patient with them, even when they are being completely ridiculous and illogical (as all children sometimes are). He changes diapers, and cleans up under-roos when there has been an "accident". I mean really, what is better than that?! He helps put the kids to bed every night, making sure they brush their teeth, even the back ones! He fixes all their broken toys, replaces batteries, and plays Lego Star Wars with Corbin, even when its the last thing he wants to do. All the kids think he was put on this earth just to play from the minute he walks in the door after work, until the minute they go to bed at night, and he's happy to oblige. Thanks Scott, for being such a fantastic father to our children. I know you are setting such a wonderful example for our boys so that they too can be fantastic. I appreciate all the things that you do for our family that I did and didn't name. You AMAZE me! I love you with all my heart!

Happy Father's Day!

Braggin' Wagon Wednesday: Journaling

This isn't so much a braggin' blog as it is a wake-up call to myself.

When I turned 13 years old I received a journal for my birthday, so I started writing in it. I got hooked. I kept it up pretty consistently for the next 13 or so years. I started a ridiculous collection of small journals filled with my scribbled ramblings, and was very proud of them.

The first page I ever wrote...It's pretty embarrassing.

There are embarrassing moments recorded, and lots of spelling and grammatical errors, and so many things that make me laugh myself sick. I also have some wonderful memories in the pages of those journals, like meeting Scott, marrying Scott, and having my first baby. These specific pages are precious to me, and I hope someday might be precious to my kids and grandkids.

Then I had more children and life got crazy and busy and other things seemed more important....like sleep. I stopped writing in a journal. It started out slowly, by not writing for several weeks, but then weeks turned to months, and now the months have turned to years. I didn't even think about it. Not even for a second, there was just too much going on. But then last night as I was lying in bed struggling to fall asleep, I had that familiar urge that I haven't felt for a long time. I want to write again. It made me feel a little sick to my stomach, thinking of everything I've missed. I'm so disappointed in myself for letting it fall between the cracks.

I decided that I have to do something about it. The longer I go without doing it, the more stuff I will miss out on recording. I'm a little nervous since it has been so long and I have a lot of catching up to do, but I think I'm up for the challenge. So starting today, I'm going to catch up and then try to write once a week again. I just have to find the journal I left off with first, which may be quite difficult, since while looking this morning I discovered how unorganized I am because I only found 9 books and I can think of at least 3 that are missing. The search continues.....Wish me luck!

These are a few of my favorite journals...I like to get the cute ones.

Cute to Evil in 2 seconds FLAT!

This is Dexter. He is three. He is as cute as cute can be. He is cuddly and affectionate. He totally loves his mamma. He's silly and funny and makes us all laugh. He's daring and crazy, and makes my heart race. He makes me happy.

This is Dexter. He is three. He is as evil as evil can be. He is grumpy and emotional. He totally knows how to push his mom's buttons. He is mean and angry and makes us all cry. He picks on his siblings and makes my heart hurt. He makes me mad.

All that being said, I have a little secret. Dex and I have something that I don't have with the other two......he takes after me!

Cute and evil- he gets it from his mamma!

Braggin' Wagon Wednesday: A Birthday in Lava Hot Springs

This year for Scott's 29th birthday, he and I took a little vacay over to Lava Hot Springs. Grandma Marde came to Boise and babysat the kiddos for us so we could get away, and it was awesome. Thanks Grandma, the kids miss you already!

Anyway, while were in Lava we discovered why we have such a great relationship. We are DORKS! And we aren't afraid to make complete fools out of ourselves as long as we do it together! We seriously had a blast, and will look fondly on this trip for years to come. Enjoy some of our highlights, and don't judge us too harshly!

I gave Scott new stickers for his cube, it was getting pretty disgusting after nearly a year of use, and you can't just get a new one, since its the insides that count!

The newly stickered original rubik's cube

Scott's "cubes", he got the 4x4 for his birthday also, and can already solve it!

Hanging out in the surprisingly hot, hot pools. Okay, it wasn't a surprise, it is called "LAVA hot springs", and they totally warn you about the temp before you get in, so.....pretend I never said that.

Inside the hot pools, you can't even tell that its like 110 degrees!

Cooling off after a dip in the hot pools

Cooling down, being a dork

Having too much fun with bubbles in our jetted tub!

What do you think it used to be? Drinking fountain, or toilet?

I think you know what we think!

Being silly with the bull statue

Okay, Scott turned 29 on this trip, but he's still a teenage boy on the inside! This is why I said don't judge us.

The make-out worthy sunset outside our motel room

The river that people can tube down....we didn't, I was afraid.

"L" Mountain. We wanted to hike up to it, apparently there isn't a trail. LAME!

"L" Mountain at night

Check out the "Rochelle Salt" we found in the pharmacy section of the tiny little museum. Apparently used as a laxative, not "Rochelle Repellent" as Scott guessed.

If you need a vacation, and want to go somewhere unexpectedly fun (and not rediculously expensive), I'd definitely recommend Lava. It was such a cute, teeny, tiny, little town, with lots of fun stuff to do!

Braggin' Wagon Wednesday: Cubing skills

Today I wanted to brag a little bit about my newly improved cubing skills. I probably shouldn't brag about it, because it is quite a geeky skill to have, but who cares, its cool! My best ever time is 51 seconds with an average of about 1 minute 15 seconds. Here's a quick video of me solving it in about 1 minute 11 seconds.

Now here's Scotty with his even more amazing cubing skills. He's getting dang fast with an average speed of47 seconds, and best of 41. I am envious! Check him out and be amazed!

Ps.....Happy Birthday Van!!!

Having a sense of accomplishment, when I didn't do a single thing!

We only had two plans for Memorial Day. Finish our patio, and visit a cemetery. It rained off and on all day. We kept our plans anyway. We went to the cemetery and walked in the rain and looked at all the old head stones. The oldest we saw was from 1901. We would have gone to visit loved ones passed, but all of them are buried in Utah, and its a long drive, so we did this instead so the kids would understand what memorial day is about. I thought it was cool, but Corbin was BORED out of his mind and kept asking to go home, plus it was pouring rain after about 15 minutes. We didn't last very long and didn't get any pictures because I didn't want the camera to get wet from the rain.

The second half of the day was spent in the backyard. Also in the rain. It'll be two years in August since we put our grass in our backyard. At that time we left a big open space to extend our patio, and said, "Maybe next summer." Well that summer came and went and we didn't put in a patio. The kids played in the dirt constantly, and we couldn't take it anymore, so last month we got on the ball and started working on it. Yesterday we finished.

NOTE: By "WE" I mean "SCOTT" because I didn't do a darn thing except yell at the boys every two seconds for almost two years to get out of the dirt.

Check out his hard work!

August of '08 (AKA, Before) Look how amazing the grass looks!

Today (AKA, After) Doesn't it look fantastic!

The beginning (April '10)

He got halfway done last month, now he's getting ready to finish.

We had to put up the camping tent thing because of the rain. Didn't want to work in the mud! (I actually helped with that part)

Underway, Corbin was a big help most of the time.

Almost done.

We had to replace some grass because the weed killer stuff we put down ran into the grass.

looking good!

And done! Nice job, Babe. You are my hero!