Random Photos from the Summer

I need some roasted green chile in the worst way, so I improvised.

Our kids like beans, a lot. They think it's fun to sort and clean them too.

What a great big sister. Sarah loves to read to her siblings.

David cut down this tree limb that was hanging over our front yard. It looked so much smaller when it was up high. I took this far away picture so you could an idea of the size of that thing.

This is the "before" picture of our blue bathroom and our next project. As of today, the old floor is out, the blue tub is gone, and the blue toilet just came out tonight. So far, we only have the new tub in, but flooring and a new toilet are coming this week (I hope).

Look closely. David is IN the exersaucer with Rachel.

One of the few times he slows down during the day - nap time.

Awwwww...

David and I went bowling with our good friends Martin and Carrie and had great double-date night.

David found this awesome jacket that someone had left at the bowling alley who-knows-how-long-ago. He called it lucky and wore it for a few sets. He actually got a strike this time. =)

Chillin.... we had the entire place to ourselves. No joke. Who knew that 6pm on a Friday night would be so quiet at the Orchard Lanes? I guess everyone comes later for the cosmic bowling (w/ black lights and disco balls).

First day of homeschool - at "recess" 

The next Gerber baby? =)

New tub, in process

What kid doesn't love painting?

Last Friday, this little guy wore the same pair of underwear all day long. So I took a picture and bragged about it to my mom. Then 5 minutes later he peed his pants. Oh well. (And, there's the finished tub in the background...we've only used it once because the floor is all ripped up and it's kinda dirty in that room).

County Fair & Other Random September Activities

Here's a Halloween preview: 

 I bought these costumes last year. They still fit (or rather - they finally fit) so we're using them again. Sarah says she wants to be Winnie the Pooh and the kids decided that baby David should be Roo. I'm searching e-bay for a good deal on those.

 Kathryn is constantly asking if she can hold the baby.

 And feed him...

 Then sit with him again.

 Joseph likes to feed him too. Can you guess what he's eating? Pinto beans...there's nothing like training them early to eat rice and beans all week long. =)

 Flying a kite. This dollar store wonder has served us well.

 Kathryn wanted to do it too, but the wind was so strong she would have lost the kite, so David let her "hold" the string for this picture and she was happy

 Grandma Carol came to visit us the week of Labor Day. She brought Joseph some new clothes for his birthday (see his shirt) and some headbands for the girls.

 Trying to get all the kids to look and smile at the camera is nearly impossible, I think.

 Here's Joseph with his bike at the Labor Day picnic. They had a bike parade -- all the kids from the ward (church group) got to decorate their bikes then show them off before we started eating.

 Sarah's bike.

 Kathryn is saying "Let me see" (meaning, the picture that I am taking).

 "CHEEEESE"

 "Hi baby!" said in a very high-pitched, loud voice.

 Look how long he is stretched from arm to arm of the chair.

Now...the Country Fair! The kids have been waiting all week for this -- ever since David mentioned that we could go there for their special "Daddy time" this week.

 First to see the animals...sheep, goats, cows, horses, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, guinea pigs, and turtles.

 The pigs were really big and just generally "scary" for Kathryn, so she kept her ears covered the whole time we looked at the large animals. She liked the geese and rabbits though. At our house when something is scary (like in a movie, for example) the kids don't cover their eyes, they cover their ears. Don't ask me why.

 This picture was literally 10 seconds before he nodded off to sleep. He mostly slept the whole time and just rode in the stroller. Such an easy baby!
After the animals we looked at all the arts, crafts, and fair booths. The kids got tons of free coloring books, stickers, and other goodies. Then, we went to the rides. They immediately wanted to ride the "pony ride" aka the carousel.

 Sarah and Joseph haven't been on a carousel since we lived in Nashville. This was Kathryn's first time on any sort of ride. At first I thought it was going to go well. She went with me and sat on the horse and was really excited about that. THEN, it started to move and she flipped out! She was clinging to me for dear life. Poor thing.

 This little boy wasn't sure if he wanted to share "his" car with Joseph.

 Kathryn thought these cars were fun. This was her favorite ride.

David woke up and smiled.

Then, they went on the helicopters. This was Joseph and Sarah's new favorite ride. Sorry carousel. They wanted to ride again...but we quickly distracted them by offering to go look for more free trinkets in the craft barn.
When did carnival rides get so expensive? At 3 tickets per ride x 3 kids and 3 different rides = too much$$ (And these were just the "cheap" kiddie rides!) At first we told them they could only choose 2 rides, but somehow those ticket people know that you'll have a few tickets left over, so you'll have to buy just one or two more tickets so you can use those remaining ones. Oh well, I'm glad they had such a good time. Thank heavens the county fair only comes around once a year! (Shhhh...don't tell the kids that it's still there on Saturday).