kisses

The other day, I was putting sunscreen on this face---
I grabbed him by the shoulders and said ever so seriously, "Luke, you have GOT TO STOP getting so cute. If you don't stop, girls are going to fight over who can kiss you on the lips!" Luke smiled slightly and shrugged while saying, "Mom! I can't help it!"

Kissing has been a big part of our family conversation lately. For FHE a couple of weeks ago, we were eating ice cream cones around the table and we started practice kissing on our ice cream. Zack was making a mess of his and got ice cream all over his face (watch out, ladies!) Daddy made us all laugh by attacking his cone and eating in one bite. After all the fun and games, Aaron explained to the boys that if they are good, they will probably get a pretty girl. If they aren't nice and don't follow rules, they will end up with someone not-so-pretty. About an hour after this conversation, Zack was breaking some rule or another. Ben said rather strictly, "Zack, you are going to marry an ugly wife." Zack turned around, smirked and said, "Oh yeah, Ben? Well your wife is going to marry an ugly husband." I don't even know if he understood what he was saying, but that's going to go down in the books as one of Zack's best quotes ever.

Little Simon has been obsessed with kissing too. He is making the CUTEST kissy-face with a loud pucker sound. He does it a lot when he's eating and sometimes after one of us give a kiss, he will make the sound over and over (he's not quite puckering when you try to kiss him... just after the fact.) I've tried to grab the camera when he's in the kissing mood, but I have yet to capture it on film. This short little clip has him doing it once, which is not enough. I need to get it before he grows out of it (which could be any day now.) He's also started the big spitting phase. He's goes from spitting to kissing and then back again, which makes for an awesome combination. Oh, how we love this big boy!

my little firecracker

Me: We'll put the #9 candle on your cake along with eight others you'll have to blow out.

Ben: Now every time someone says the word EIGHT, it sounds really strange to me.

Nine years ago tonight I was wearing a flowered gown holding the cutest little newborn in Provo, UT. We could see fireworks outside our hospital room window. The country was celebrating and so were we. My first baby came two weeks early and what a surprise it was! I was thrilled about the day he chose to make his Earthy debut. He was darling and sweet and so perfect.
Nine years later I look at him with the same kind of awe. This kid is darling, sweet and as close to perfect as little boys can get. He wants so badly to do the right thing. He is a great example to his brothers (and to his parents.) He is everything I could have ever asked for-- and then some. He is kind, competitive, mature, understanding, silly, caring, fun-loving, responsible, helpful, trustworthy, brave, loyal..... He is such a cute little boy scout! I am not surprised he's already nine. The time has gone by quickly, but Benjamin has never been a baby. I often wonder how long it will take his body to grow into his old soul.
I can't wait to see where life takes him. I am so proud to be his mama.

The case of the missing baby

I hate to brag........... but I need to announce that I am mighty talented at keeping caught up on laundry. I never have a spotless house, but my laundry room is very organized and usually always empty. I do laundry on Tuesdays and Fridays. Tuesdays I wash clothes... Fridays I do towels, rugs and sheets. I always change all the bed sheets every Friday. There is just something wonderful about having crisp, clean sheets for the weekend. Some weeks my Tuesdays are busy, so I have to do ALL the laundry before the weekend. Today was one of those days. We've washed and folded about 8 loads today. The kids and I have been sitting in the same place folding clean clothes and watching old home videos. Simon (thankfully) was asleep for most of it. He has a special talent of destroying anything in his reach. He's a clever baby, that one. His brothers are also pretty clever and found a way to keep him from knocking down their tall towers of folded laundry..

The funny thing about this situation is not that Simon was under a clothes hamper for 30 minutes, but that I didn't realize he was under there for 30 minutes. I was happily folding clothes and watching classic footage of chubby Luke at 8 months, when I realized that I currently own a chubby 8 month old baby--- who had been awake from his nap for some time. I started to panic and said, "WHERE is Simon?" My boys giggled, "Mom, he's playing under the hamper!"

When I insisted that the hamper come OFF of the baby, the baby started to cry. He liked his quiet life of hamper solitude.

But he quickly realized that the outside world is okay too.

Who needs a baby sitter when you have a mini jail to keep them busy (and out of trouble?)

ferris wheels, rollercoasters & throw-up

Yesterday we adventured out to Vegas' indoor theme park.

Ben never failed to wave..

These were all taken on the tea-cup ferris wheel.

A lot of guys picked up on cute Cindy, but this was the only one who stole her heart.

Simon was an awesome baby and stayed happy ALL day long in his stroller.

keeping "safe" with their tiny buckles.

Ben was BIG ENOUGH to ride all the scary rides. It was so fun to see the thrill in his eyes and listen to his excitement after the riding the humongous rollercoasters. I wanted to initiate him on his first big-kid ride, but I suppose Aunt Cindy is second best.

at the end of a LONG day and after 30+ kiddie rides, Zack's tummy had had enough and he threw-up all his insides.

I felt like a terrible mother laughing (because it WASN'T funny) but this child is totally a get-it-done-himself kind of kid and had no problems pulling himself up on this tall garbage can do to the deed.

He wanted to lay in the stroller for the rest of the time, but didn't want me to take a picture of him laying in the stroller. (cause he aint no baby.)

He fell asleep on the drive home and didn't wake up until morning. The first thing he said when he got up was, "Can someone get me a bowl? My legs feel all wiggly." Luke got him a bowl, and I quickly traded it for one without holes. Poor kid has used it several times this morning... Him don't likey amusement parks anymore.

back tracking...

I can't seem to stay updated, no matter how hard I try. With a husband who is often gone and an extended family who lives far away, my blog and I have developed a strong relationship. It was always there for me when I was feeling lonely or frustrated and the first place I would go when I was happy and grateful. I am sure I will come back to it after my sister leaves. Having Cindy live with us for the summer has been therapeutic for me. Not only is she extremely helpful with the kids, but she's always around to talk. And oh how I love to talk! We've enjoyed many a conversations late at night, by the pool, at the park, on long drives, while watching the Bachelorette and over a steaming stove.

We've converted her to the little town of Blue Diamond.. where there is always a burro waiting to be fed.

Everyone was excited to see the airplanes take off... except for Zack.

She has to try harder in order to beat any of us in bananagrams.

We've made more smores this summer than we can count. It's become one of our nightly rituals.

Aaron will come home late from work or church and peek his head out the door and say, "I wondered if you guys were out here..."

Last weekend Aaron got to join in the fun and accompany us to the drive in.

We saw Toy Story 3 and Prince of Persia... both worth seeing. Toy Story didn't make me cry, but it gave me a solid lump in my throat.

It left Zack feeling rather sleepy. (notice the shorts that were 5 sizes too big. he was holding them up all night.)

And Simon feeling rather sweaty--- so much so that his clothes had to come off.

I think she's had a fun time here, but I know she's anxious to get back to her social college life...

I don't know what I am going to do when Aunt Cindy leaves.. we'll probably all go a little crazy.