First Camping Trip of the Year

Last weekend we took our first camping trip of year.  Macie was so excited!  For the last couple weeks she's been asking to go camping because she watches our neighbors pull out with their campers.  So when I told her our plans for going camping with our friends, the Johnsons, she jumped into my arms and gave me a huge hug!  And all day long, she kept asking me if it was time to go.  She could not wait, which made it more fun for me.  We went up to Reed's uncle's property by Ashton, which is always beautiful.  The kids had a blast, and the first thing Branson did when we got there was eat a whole handful of dirt.  Luckily he hated it, and after I washed it out of his mouth, he didn't try it again. 

Eating a roasted marshmallow.........something Macie was looking forward to for days.

Trying to figure out how to use a fork.

Playing in the dirt with Aubree.

Branson kept trying to crawl up on this 4-wheeler........made Daddy proud.

I think he looks like such a Denning in this picture!

Dirty face.

Father & Son.  Notice Branson doesn't have any shoes on in any of these pictures.  NOTHING will stay on his feet, I don't know what it is.  Next time we're going to get him some lace-up boots before we go, we'll see if that helps!

Kids in the hammock.......that Reed and I broke about an hour later.  Looks like we'll be going again soon so we can fix it. :)

Belly shot......about 23 1/2 weeks. 

All three girls on the Johnson's little 4-wheeler.  Macie was OBSESSED with it!  I think she was on it most of the morning.  Looks like we need to bring ours next time, so Kyle can have a break from giving rides to Macie.

More playing in the dirt.

Macie and Aubree.

Johnsons on the paddle boat. 

Looking Innocent.......or guilty, I can't tell.

Reed and Zak.

Truck ride home....they both crashed as soon as we got off the gravel road. 

At War with the Birds!

In the past, meaning our last house, we've had issues with the black birds.  I've come to REALLY despise them.  At our last house it was the poop, and the screaming baby birds outside the window at 5 in the morning.  We had a bunch of really huge trees all around the house, and there were so many birds that EVERYTHING was covered in their poop. 

This year, I still hate them.  All spring we've been battling the things getting into the BBQ grill, and I'm about to go crazy!  EVERY time I go to grill, which is about every other day, I open it up to find it stuffed with twigs!  Every time!  So we heard that the fake owls would do the trick, but no.  The birds were a little leery at first, but after a couple days didn't even notice them.  So I covered up the holes they were getting into on the sides of the grill, and that seemed to work for a while.  But now they have found a way to get in through the bottom!  The worst part is that they started using my potted plants to put in the nest!  I walked out to water my cherry tomatoes, basil, and jalapeno plants, and they were just stubs....no leaves.  I thought bugs did it, until I opened up the grill and it smelled like basil!  I was so mad!

The other day Reed found a nest with eggs under the deck.  I didn't feel the least bit bad letting Macie play with it...because the last thing I want around here is more starlings!  Might sound a little heartless, but we've had it with these dumb birds!

The green stuff in this picture is my basil plant.

And this is my jalapeno.....

The cute fake owl that I never thought I'd have!  I used these things were just tacky decorations, haha.  Now I know. 

Close up of the owl that is not doing his job.

Macie with her nest of eggs.  It was so funny, I was explaining to her about the eggs, and that they were blackbird eggs.  But Macie thought that they were eggs for the birds to eat.  She said, "And they stir them and cook them?"  Pretty cute. 

"No, I not tired."

These are just a few pictures that I caught of Macie after she told me she wasn't tired.  When she's tired she gets really grouchy, like her mom, so I would ask her if she was tired.  She said, "No, I not tired."  But she obviously was. :)

Our baby is a ........

Girl!  Macie was right.  She would NEVER let us tell her otherwise, so I'm glad it turned out this way.  I just have to say though, I've never been wrong on my guesses......yet.  We went and got our 20 weeks ultrasound(well, 21 week actually), and everything looks great.  I feel very blessed to have another baby growing inside me.  But I'm not gonna lie, I'm also very overwhelmed.  Every time I think I can handle it and start to feel more at peace with the whole situation, someone lets me know how hard three is and how crazy I am for having them so close!  I KNOW it will be crazy.....it's already crazy.  I have been scared since before I found out I was pregnant.  I knew I was supposed to and going to have another baby soon, and it terrified me, because I still had a baby.  But I felt that's what needed to happen.....for some reason.  So that is what's happening, ready or not. :)

Branson is One Year Old!

Last Friday (April 29) our baby turned one!  We had a good time celebrating his birthday, but I'm not sure he really knew what was going on.  When he was opening his presents he did good with pulling stuff out of bags, but wasn't into opening up anything that was wrapped.  Of course Macie gave him LOTS of help opening and playing with his gifts.  He got lots of clothes, which is always exciting for ME, and some new toys that he loves. 

After dinner we had some friends and family over for cake and ice cream, and I made Branson his own little cake to tear into, just like I did Macie when she turned one.  Branson is a lot more wild than Macie ever was, so I thought he would dig right in.......but he didn't.  Just like Macie, he didn't like the frosting on his hands.  Oh well, he warmed up to the idea a little after he tasted it, but not much.  Reed tried to get him into it by sticking both hands into the cake, but Branson just shook it off his hands with a disgusted look. 

So here is some fun facts about Branson at One Year Old: 

-He's very cuddly, especially with women, and loves to give big hugs and kisses.  And when he kisses you it has to be a very slobbery, long, open mouth one on the LIPS.  Has to be on the lips, he's very adamant about this:)
-His favorite thing to do is get into the garbages...especially the kitchen one.  I forgot to tie the cabinet under the sink's doors shut one day, so when I was using the bathroom he got into it it and pulled out a moldy bread and ate it. 
-He also loves to eat anything I am trying to sweep up, no matter what it is or how long it's been there.  (mother of the year)
-He shuts his whole arms in the kitchen and bathroom drawers daily.
-He LOVES to splash in the toilet, and it's so hard to keep him from doing it with a potty training sister around. 
-He loves pulling all the toilet paper off the roll, and tearing it up into tiny pieces. 
-If the door isn't shut, he empties the bottom two drawers in my bathroom and is starting to be able to reach the next ones up too. 
-Ok, he LOVES to make huge messes, all day long, however he can make them.  If there is any way he can make a mess, he will.  He is a little tornado, but he makes up for it with hugs and kisses and huge smiles. 
-He sleeps through the night.
-He is now on a sippy (with a hard spout) and did so well switching over!
-He takes two good naps a day, and goes to bed at about 7:30 at night. 
-He wakes up at 6:30 in the morning, no matter what time he goes to bed, so does Macie. 
-He loves strawberries, but can't have them because they give him a really bad diaper rash. 
-At dinner time I can't put more than one piece of food in from of him because he sorts through it, chucking whatever he doesn't want over his shoulder, and eats the one thing that is left in front of him.  Even if all of it is the same, he still sorts it like this!
-He loves playing with his sister, when she isn't torturing him.  And loves playing with his Daddy. 
-He's a terror at church.
-He doesn't really talk, just grunts a lot.  He can say no no no (of course) and mama and Daah (dad). 
-He crawls really fast!
-And he is walking really well along the furniture and walls, but is still scared to take any steps by himself. 
-He can stand by himself when he doesn't realize what is happening. 
-And he's starting to CLIMB!

We really do love him to death.  He's so busy and curious and SWEET.  He's got lots of personality, and I can't wait to see what he can do on his next birthday.

This is Macie trying to give Aunt Sonja a kiss with her frosting face. 

Easter 2011

We had a great Easter this year.  The weather was actually nice all weekend, and we got to see the kids get excited about the eggs and baskets.....well, mostly just Macie.  Easter Sunday is always my favorite Sunday of the year.  I always feel the spirit so strongly at church, and especially when we sing the hymns.  This year was a little different since we were trying to quiet Macie and wrestle with Branson all Sacrament Meeting long, but it was still good. 

Saturday's weather was amazing compared to what we've been having, so it was fun to be outside for awhile.  We planned on going to an egg hunt at 12:30, so I got Macie all excited to go and find the eggs and get candy and prizes.  Well, we got there a few minutes early and the hunt was already over!  I guess they couldn't hold the kids back.....and the parents.  But Macie wasn't as upset because Grandma & Grandpa showed up with some candy that she got to carry around in her basket.  Then Reed and I were able to go to the temple while Reed's brother Casey and his wife Cindy watched our kids.  After that we dyed Easter eggs at Reed's parents. 

Sunday morning the kids, especially Macie had a ball finding eggs and eating treats!  Here are some pictures of Easter morning, but I forgot to get some of them all ready for church in their Easter outfits....oh well. 

Macie finding her basket.

Branson with his spoils.

Macie & daddy.

 

She was so excited for all the treats!

And I had to get a close-up of her dyed fingers.  She kept getting the eggs out of the dye with her hands.  Luckily it came off in the bath before church.