4th of July

We had a really fun 4th of July this year. During the day we went boating on the Ririe Reservoir with my sister Sonja and her friend Isaac. Macie loved it, but Branson was tired the whole time, and didn't really have that much fun. In the evening we had Root beer Floats with Reed' s Mom, Grandma Ruth, and Casey & Cindy, and headed out to the Menan fireworks.  They were a lot better than I thought they'd be, I was impressed!  Of course they weren't like Idaho Falls, but we parked close, got a great spot, and were home in no time.  Macie loved them, and Branson seemed to like them too....for the first few minutes.  But both kids did great, and it was a really nice evening. 

Macie riding in the tube with Aunt Sonja.

Me and Macie in the tube......she really liked it.

Reed driving.

Waiting for another turn.

Branson being a stinker in the boat.

Branson with Grandma Donna and Grandma Ruth.

Reed waiting for the fireworks.

Me and Macie waiting.

Branson trying to play with the tripod.


And here are a few pictures from the firework show.  It was fun to mess around with firework shots, I'd never done them before. 

Father's Day

I am so lucky to have Reed as the father of my children. He is such a great husband and Dad, and we couldn't really ask for anything more. On Father's Day our day was a little busy, so we had a nice breakfast instead of dinner. Macie made cards for her Daddy and grandpas, and we gave Reed his man-sized baby blanket. I attempted one last year, but had no idea how to sew with minky. This year's turned out a little better. :) I know it's a month late, but Happy Father's Day Reed, we love you!

Daddy and kids at breakfast.

New baby blanket for Reed :)

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. :)