Four Jingle Bells

Taught the kids to play Risk.  Spencer would play every day.  I really need to get through a full game with him but that game lasts hours!! We had a picnic one day for dinner when Blake was working late.  When the kids were younger, I used to die when he worked late, but they are getting to be so big and helpful.   The girls and William and I went to the school carnival.  I am not a huge fan of the carnivals but the kids have fun.  They got face painted, prizes and games.  I didn't get a picture, but William was just dying to play the basketball game, which he did a horrible job at, but he was so excited. I was packing to move to the new house and looked in the toy bin and saw this army guy fist bumping me.  I think he was encouraging me to not give up. ha Brooke was a huge help during the packing.  She helped me  a little bit every day. In 2002, we bought the mug on the left.  We had another one ...

We were super thrilled to see the grass and have 60 degrees so we got the pools out.  The kids came home from school and jumped in. Spencer said it was too cold and read Army books.=) Spencer defeated me at checkers for the first time.  He is the king of patience in that game.  He will just wait me out until I am forced to move a piece so that he can steal it.  It's a fun time.  Especially since he isn't bawling his eyes out every time he loses. Blake made this bench for me over the summer and I finally painted it.  I just love that he is handy that way. I have plenty of projects for him in his future. This is baby Jane.  She is the baby of my friend Karen, who is a dream mother.  We went to a church thing and she fell asleep holding my hand.  Reminded me of my sweet babies. William just can't keep up!   The kids like to pick each other up and swing in a blanket. It's pretty funny.  They call it sack of p...

\ We went to a museum and William had to be camoflauged. It was pretty funny.  They loved running around. William climbed up and down this tower a ton of times.  He is getting so big!  Isn't Brooke just a cutie.  She's got so much personality. Someone recently described her as "powerful" and that is the perfect word.  William loved these flowers from the yard.  Doesn't he just look like spring time with his hair cut?  Spencer does a decent job of helping William and teaching him and playing with him.  I love their growing relationship.  This chip looks like a heart, said Brooke.  I got exceptionally behind on dishes during this crazy month.  I turned on the Michael Jackson Pandora station and pushed through.  I want this blog to be our real life, not just the high moments!  One of our favorite missionaries, Elder Brooks, was transferred.  We sure loved him.  He taught our friend Dan...