2 months

Today Henry is 2 months old!  I can't believe how fast time has flown!  He is still such a sweet baby.  He puts up with his brothers touching him and loving him a little too much at times.  He's very patient when his brothers need my attention.  He remains a good sleeper and only wakes up once or twice a night.  Henry has also started smiling more and loves looking at faces.  My friend, Kensie, came over a few weeks ago to take some pictures of Henry. It's amazing the changes that a few weeks can make though... he's already bigger!  Here are some of my favorites... which was really hard because I love them all!

Stats: 11 lbs. 8 oz, 23 inches

Happy 2 months Henry!

Girls of 28

Let me introduce you to the best apartment of girls ever.  Southridge #28. Lori, Tanya, Jeanine and Heather. 

Some said that we were haters (and that we ate mashed po-hate-os, drank hater-ade, even lived in twenty-hate)... but really we just enjoyed each others company.  Don't get me wrong... I had great roommates other years but this was the best.  Minimal drama.  Maximum fun.

One day at the beginning of the year we decided to make a list of apartment goals.  I don't remember what was on that list except one thing: We would all get asked to Homecoming.  I don't think any of us had ever gone before so we were determined that we would all go.  Obviously we didn't have any control over this (because we certainly weren't going to be asking boys to go!) but it was our goal nonetheless.  One night after FHE Rich randomly asked me to go so we figured that at least one of us was going... but that's a whole other story entirely isn't it?  But guess what?  The very next night we really able to cross that off our list when an apartment of boys asked our apartment to go with them.  It was a blast--scavenger hunts, bus rides, hot-dog-on-a-stick, a game of sardines, dinner, dancing in the Wilk Ballroom, and then home for a game of MadGab and dessert.  I don't think I've ever had more fun at a dance!

 Heather, Tanya, Jeanine, and Lori snuggled up in our cold apartment after Homecoming 2001

I believe that Heather and I made some other goals for the BYU football team later that year during the U of U game... which we of course had no control over but also came true.  It was a good year for goal making!

Like many college apartments we had a quote wall of all the witty things that were said in our little home.  We, however, also had a secret quote wall.  These were things that could be out for the general public to see.... and so probably couldn't be put on this blog either.  I think Tanya and Heather probably had more quotes there than anyone... but I could be mistaken :)

In addition to our quote wall we started a Grateful List.  What started out as one piece of notebook paper on the door ended up being two entire doors filled with things we were grateful for.  It was a wonderful reminder as we left home each day. And I just have to add that I think Lori wins... her name was written and check marked more than any other thing on the list.  Appropriately, most of those check marks came from Wes :)

Another thing that made this group of girls so wonderful was apartment prayer.  I had been in apartments in previous years in which we attempted to have weekly scripture study or apartment prayer... but it never lasted very long.  I am positive that there were few, if any, days that we missed our apartment prayer that school year.  The credit for that has to go to Tanya.  Tanya and Lori were the early birds and before they left every morning Tanya dragged me out of bed and across the hall into Lori and Heather's room, Heather would roll out of bed and we would all kneel for prayer.  How could we not have a great year with a tradition like that?

Somehow we all still coexisted when some of us were a little neater than others.  None of us were slobs by any means but when we cleaned the apartment we would make a pile for each person so that we could carry it upstairs all at once.  It was always a little contest to see who had the biggest pile (aka most stuff lying around downstairs)... and, if I recall correctly, it was usually between Lori and I.  Since Heather recently posted about her need for order I find it especially fitting to post this memory.  It's amazing that she and Tanya put up with us!

We were there for each other for late night talks concerning, among other things, boys.  For first kisses and boys holding our hands...  heck, we even serenaded a couple during dinner!

Heather, Jeanine, Tanya, Lori up on Lori's bunk

We helped each other study, cooked together occasionally, held "How-to-Host-a-Murder" dinner parties,had picnics on the lawn, and played "Southridge Survivor."

Tanya, Heather, Lori, Jeanine having a picnic on the Southridge lawn

We read together {The Little Prince}, celebrated birthdays, wrote bogus maintenance requests for the office,  and watched classic movies {The Scarlett Pimpernel... Tanya's favorite}.

Heather, Tanya, Jeanine, Lori

fall 2001

I've been wanting to do this post for quite some time now... and just never got around to it.  But lately I've been thinking of these girls a lot.  None of us could've predicted how life would turn out--there has been heartache and loss along with unbelievable joy.  But one thing is for certain: My life was changed for the better by knowing these incredible women.

Zoo Fun

Last Saturday--our last weekend before the start of school--we decided to take the boys to the zoo.  It was soo hot again so maybe it wasn't the best choice!  I think the boys had fun though!  It's been a while since we have gone to the children's zoo so that was our first stop.

The boys had fun climbing.

Petting the goats.

And we even visited the lorakeets this time!

But the most fun of all--we played in the water!

It seems that every time we visit the children's zoo it's just too cold to go in the water but that day was perfect!  The boys had so much fun... and it kept them nice and cool for the remainder of our stay at the zoo... maybe I should have hopped in too!

Back to School

 Well the time has arrived... the end of summer and the beginning of school.  On Monday we had our 2nd annual Back-to-school feast.

The boys chose our fresh Alaskan salmon (thanks for bringing it down here mom!) with brown rice, fresh fruit, corn-on-the-cob (not pictures because William doesn't like corn... crazy kid!) and some sparkling cider. It was delicious!  And we introduced our new theme for the school year:

We are hoping that if the boys focus on serving one another (and others) that there will be more love at home.  We shall see.

This year brought a lot of firsts.  The two older boys are both in school.  Kind of crazy.  James started half-day pre-K.

 Doesn't he look so handsome!  He picked out this new shirt all on his own!

He was so excited for school that he hardly slept!  I think he was a little nervous but he did great!  He didn't act a bit phased at all when I had to leave (which is good because I still had to take William to school!)  I think that he'll do great with his teacher, Ms. Logan.  His favorite part of today was playing on the playground.

James didn't seem too thrilled to be taking a picture.  I think he was nervous and wanting to concentrate on his puzzle.

William started first grade this year!

 William did not want to take a picture this morning.  I think he looks great in his new shirt too... I'm just surprised that he chose a polo!  I love it!

He also started a new school... again!  Poor kid has been to three schools in 3 years!  (Pre-K is it's own school, then he moved up to the elementary school for Kindergarten, and since we moved we're in new boundaries so he begins another school).   It didn't seem to phase him at all though.  And he still knows friends from Pre-K and t-ball that go to this new school.  In fact, 2 boys from t-ball were in his class! He was very confident walking into his classroom and I think he is going to love his teacher, Mrs. Rother.

I don't think William was too happy about me taking his picture!

Alex now gets to be the big brother for a few hours a day.  He loves it!  Can you tell?

He is pretty thrilled to no have anyone telling him what he can and cannot play with.  I'm sure that he and Henry will be great little helpers in the mornings.

It was so calm and peaceful this morning... Alex played with all the toys that his brothers usually ban him from and Henry slept.  So nice!

I am looking forward to being on a schedule again and only having to take 2 little boys shopping with me instead of 4!

sweet rain

It has been a dry, hot summer.  The last time we saw rain was the day of the tornado back in May... and it wasn't much.  Last Saturday the temperature was up to 115!  That's just disgusting.  And so our stake fasted and prayed for rain last weekend.  And our prayers were answered.

Alexander was so excited that he ran around and played in the rain at Grandma's house.  It seems that it has rained a little bit every day since.

In fact, our little town got hit again by a big storm.  It looked like another tornado hit it... but it was just some crazy strong winds!  Luckily we were unaffected... but many of our friends were without power for the next day! We are so grateful for the cooler (in the 90s) weather and some much needed rain!

It's a big black train!

Choo! Choo! Choo! What's coming down the track?

Choo! Choo! Choo! It's something big and black.

See it steaming as it chugs along.

Hear it ringing as it says, "Ding, Dong."

Choo! Choo! Choo! There it goes again

Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo!

It's a big black train!

Who Whooooo, Who Whooo

It's a big black train!

  

Last Saturday we took the boys to the Oklahoma Railway Museum.  To be honest, there wasn't a whole lot to see but the boys had a blast.  They loved getting up in the train cars and running around.

It was so hot (our car said 115) so we didn't stay very long.  It was an outdoor museum and we were all sweating our guts out!  Alexander was climbing up the stairs onto one of the cars and burned his hands because it was so hot!
On the way to and from the Railway Museum we passed a few other museums that the boys wanted to check out... so we may be visiting quite a few in the coming months!

stairs

My boys love having stairs!  They love to see how high up they can jump from.  James is, not surprisingly, the most daring.  Just yesterday they were jumping onto an old crib mattress and I overheard this conversation:

James: "If you jump from this high you can be in my club."

William: "What does it feel like?"

James: "It doesn't hurt."

William: "But what does it feel like?"

Finally William jumped and declared, "That was fun!"  And then they discussed James' club, where it was, etc.  Too funny.

Their new favorite thing is to take the old crib mattress  and slide down.

 

Who needs a roller coaster when you have stairs?

Happy Helper

William has learned to make cinnamon toast (which is what he and James want most often for breakfast).  I love it now that my kids are a little older because they can take care of themselves in the morning and let me sleep in a little bit!

Knight-in-training

Alex loves to go outside (even in the horrible heat we've been having), grab his shield and hop on his trusty steed.  He is getting too big!  He actually likes Henry now--gives him lots of loves and tries to say his name. I think he'll love having some more one-on-one time when his brothers head to school next week.

School Time

One of the things on our summer list was to have some 'school time'.  I really wish I had been more consistent with it but when we did pull out our workbooks the boys had a great time!

Summer's End

As summer rapidly comes to a close we are trying to get everything marked off of our 'to do' list.  A few weekends ago, while our Tulsa cousins were here, we had a great water balloon fight.  The kids had a great time!  Even Lisa got in on the fun.

A big thanks goes to Rich who spent a long time out in the heat filling up those balloons.  (Thankfully they were playing on the trampoline so the balloons didn't pop really easily--making them last a lot longer!)

ps. I think I'm finally done with updates!  My last one can be found here.

Cousins

Jamesy and Annie just love each other.  This made me laugh.... but it made me laugh even more a few minutes later when Anna was trying to pull James!

Friday = Fun day!

Friday was packed full of fun. One of the local news channels was came to our town to feature it.  In the afternoon the news team came to the library for a fun story time.  They read stories and talked with the kids.  A little later there was a huge community picnic to thank all those who helped our town after the tornado in May.  It was great fun... and totally free!  The boys had a blast jumping in the bounce house.

We enjoyed our free dinner in our awesome sunglasses that they were passing out.

 
Henry slept the entire time... probably because it was so stinking HOT!  When Rich got home we went over to watch a Redhawks baseball game.  Henry slept the whole time there too!

The boys usually play on the playground and watch very little of the game... but Rich and I can watch the game so everyone is happy.

William started rolling down the hill.  Then James joined in.  Pretty soon all the kids at the playground were rolling down the hill!

Alex thought he wanted to roll down the hill as well.  But he only got as far as laying down on the grass!

The boys had so much fun that we stayed longer than we ever have before.  Who knows--maybe one day we'll stay for an entire game!