Here comes the neighborhood.

Well, Disneyland, we're givin' y'all a run fer yer money now. Well, it'll be a while yet until we have quite their resources, but we have just put in a sandbox and a see-saw in the back yard.
Here is an update photo of Laura and company. Thankfully, in just about a month (a bit more really, but don't tell Laura) they will be parting company.

Here is Joseph. In the background you can see the teeter totter and the play structure. It is able to withstand them, as I have had it Missionary tested and approved (I don't have those pictures, unfortunately). The play structure had been given to us a year ago by Chad's neighbor. The kids love it.

Here is Ethan in the new sand box. The kids have had fun. Tomorrow I imagine Ethan will be excited. We just had a bit of rain today so tomorrow the sand will be slightly damp. Great for building sand castles.
All the neighborhood kids love to come over and play here now. One day Laura looked out and 4 neighbor boys were in the sand box, but all our kids were inside the house.

Well, That's it for now!
Ty

Super Heroes!

Yep, here they are. I know, they look just like ordinary kids, but come 7:00 or later (that is to say past their bed time) and their minds become somewhat droopy and agitated they become superheroes!

Here is Abby. The older 3 were all practicing karate in the living room and Abby decided that she wanted to join in on the fun. Note the unzipped pajamas. That is so that she can access her bellybutton. If she has any power at all I believe that it must be associated with that button.

Next up, Joseph. Getting this guy to pose was difficult. I caught this pose just a split second after he shot that yellow balloon at me that you see in the top picture. When he is a superhero he is always Superman, Spiderman, or Batman. The only ones he really knows, although he has not seen any movie of them (except, maybe a highly edited version of Superman IV).

Ethan, as you can see, has the pose down. He is sane enough to not really try to fly like superman. An that is who he pretends to be. No muckin' around with second best.

Emma is hilarious and really the whole reason for this posting. You see, she has a really very original alter ego. She is TISSUE GIRL. That's right. With lightening speed she is able to shoot toilet paper out of her hands. (Just beware the enemy with a spray bottle) She has gone around the house from time to time rescuing people and performing small acts of kindness all in the guide of Tissue Girl.

Faithful mascot #1. Actually, I just was excited that I caught a picture of a bird actually doing something interesting. Not just sitting there, like, umm... most of my pictures show.

This little guy is the last of his kind to hang out here. Our neighbors cut down their walnut tree last year and all our squirrels high tailed it except for this one. He must prefer juniper berries or something. Anyway, we are glad to have him around.

Ty

A Rummy Tumm Tumm

Well, this has been a week full of bellies. As you may know, Abby's favorite body part is her bellybutton. When she found a pen, well, what else? She kindly displayed her artwork while I took a picture.

Here is Joseph's belly incident. Apparently food tastes better if it is first transfered to the skin. I don't know if her was successful in his attempt or not.

And finally, here is the belly we have all been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for. Laura officially reached her third trimester this week. Yeah! We can feel little kicks and things now. Barely.

This picture was just too cute to pass up. Emma and Abby were taking a bath together (don't ask me why the hoppy ball was taking a bath too, I haven't a clue) and this was one of the pictures that Abby was smiling in.

Yes, love hurts. As do knives. Ethan has borrowed my pocket knives on occasion throughout the past year and has show himself to be very responsible. Nary an incident due to carelessness or to foolishness. So, we gave him a pocket knife. He did wonderful for 2 weeks. Always put away or in his pocket. Very responsible. Unfortunately, he did something foolish (our fault I guess). Against our warnings, he stuck the point directly into a piece of wood and it closed on his fingers. Much blood and crying and 3 stitches later he is fine. But it still hurts. Now what do we do about the knife?

Bye.

Ethan's Birthday!

Well, This isn't Ethan, but I got the picture out of order. Isn't Joseph a handsome kid? I don't know why he had a zoned out expression, probably one too many shots of the flash gone off.

Here he is! The birthday boy! He wanted a tool birthday, so his cake is in the shape of a toolbox. Lucky for me that just means a decorated rectangle. At least it wasn't a dancing elephant party.

One, two, three, blow! I dont remember if it was one breath or two, but because of all the little kids, I would not be surprised of it was more on the line of 12 breaths.

Emma had given Ethan this Nerf flying disk thing that is supposed to turn into a football while it flies. What really happens is that as soon as it touches anything with any amount of force, it explodes into a football with wings. Not an easy thing to catch, unless you're Harry Potter.

We went to the park after the festivities, played on the play equipment, etc... Emma decided to show off for the camera. Funny how she can be an utter goof-ball and still be pretty.

Abby. Cute as ever with her main source of nourishment. I am sure that she was on her way to get it replenished when I took this.

At the party we painted bird houses, opened presents, pumped the kids full of sugar and sent them home to their parents. They (the kids, not the parents, except for us) had a lot of fun.

That's it!

Ty

Ode to a camel

Oops. Wrong picture. Not a camel.

Oh Camel! Noblest of creatures! Mighty and strong.

Friend of man, docile and calm.

You who befriends us with a smile.

A rather towering friend at that.

Hey! Do you see what that dirt bag is doing to my daughter!

True story. We found this camel just outside of Grandview. I had to stop and get some pictures, and it seemed friendly enough, so I let Emma out to pet it, with somewhat disastrous results. Luckily, I got a hold of Emma before she got over the fence. Both she and Joseph were hysterical for about 5 or 10 minutes. The camel had claimed her hood as spoils of war, but I drove the van down about 40 feet and the camel stood in front of it, allowing me to hop out of the car and run back, reach my hand under the fence and get the hood.

Now it seems funny. To everyone but Emma that is.

Here is Abby last night (or maybe the night before) sharing a tortilla with the dog. Disgusting, but funny.

The End

Well, This is the end of our break. I know, I know, I shouldn't complain about having to go back to work after having a 2 week break, but it is so nice I could probably weather my way through a bit more.

We had a fun time this week between sledding, building snowmen and snow forts, then seeing them all melted by the following day. We all had a slumber party in our living room after watching a Scoobydoo movie on New Years.

A couple of days ago we went and visited great grandma and great grandpa. I had fun taking pictures of the birds.

Sledding with the kids on the old bridge over the rail road tracks. The bridge, once a thrill for driving, is now open only to pedestrian traffic. The kids had a lot of fun.

Ducks on the river.

This finch allowed me to get fairly close.

But not too close! Here she is taking off!

Finch on the feeder out at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Okay, so this picture is a bit blurry, but it is a classic Joseph expression

Two of my beautiful children expressing their love for me.

Abby was outside petting the neighbors dogs through the fence.

Ethan posed for me under the tree in our front yard.

It was a great break!

Christmas is coming...has come... and gone.

Looks like a parade to me.

Emma Helping Abby on the tricycle.

Abby likes my camera.

Joseph on his bike.

Ethan on his new Bike.

Here are the little girl Pics. Top is a profile, below is a face with one hand up near the mouth, and the other arm and legs extended toward you.

Midway through Christmas break and a lot has happened, not the least of which is Laura's youngest sister getting married. Yeah! It had been a long two year wait for Becky while Spencer served a mission in Japan, but, she resisted all other offers, and now they are happily on their way to a happily ever after.

They were married in Boise, Laura's family (us included) terrorized the hallways of Extended Stay America for about 3 days, without having to pay extra damage costs. Laura was bustin' her bellybutton with excitement at seeing her family after a year and a half drought.

Speaking of busting bellybuttons, Laura is performing another umbilical miracle. We have ultrasounds of number 5 and (drum roll please) ...its a girl! We have thought of Madeline, Molly, and Bethany as names. Our current pick is Bethany. We will see how long it lasts.

Christmas was fun. Ethan and Joseph got bicycles and Emma a doll house. The boys also got nerf darts for their dart guns (visitors beware). That Ethan is a good shot! We had a gunfight and I can't tell you how many times I was pinged in the forehead.

One week left of vacation. We will see what fun we think up.