Eat Your Veggies!

Jaymeson has been eating extra veggies recently and asking me constantly what each veggie does for his body.  It's been a good chance to brush up on my nutrition classes, but it's been especially beneficial because he's been getting more and more excited about eating his vegetables!  The other night he found out that vegetables can make him stronger.  He started shovelling as many in as possible and even stated that he wouldn't have any dessert, just carrots.  About half way through the meal, he ran outside, picked up the Little Tykes car on the back deck and shouted, "Look Mom, it's already working!  I'm already way stronger!"  He then ran in and started eating more cucumber.

Puppies

Saryn is playing "puppies" with the boys.

I love it when she does this.  She opens up an entire world of imagination for them.  They normally play really nicely together, but when Saryn gets involved they play for hours as happily as can be! 

They have built up a "kennel" and run in and out of their "dog runs".  They have been playing fetch as well.  They might need a nap soon.  I love seeing my kids play together more than anything!

Aunty Beryl

We are so lucky because we have an Aunty Beryl! We have always been so lucky to have her.  My kids know that when she is coming there are treats involved. They have learned from her, they love her, and they look up to her.  In fact, she's so amazing, we named Kienna after her!  

This last week alone, she and my Gran came up for my sisters homecoming.    Together they mended clothing, sewed scripture bags for my girls and taught Kaia to crochet flowers in just one day!! 

Today I was putting the kids to bed and Jaymeson told me that he wishes Aunty Beryl was still here because she is so awesome and she loves us so much.  He knows this because of everything she does for us!  Benson knows that she is awesome because "if she did a dance party, she would do a double backflip!"  That's pretty amazing for a woman in her mid-70's.  She might be my "great aunt" by definition, but she's a fantastic aunt by all accounts!

Whenever I Hear...

Whenever I hear the song of a bird, or look at the blue, blue sky;

Whenever I feel the rain on my face, or the wind as it rushes by;

Whenever I touch a velvet rose, or walk by our lilac tree;

I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me.

This primary song is one of my very favorites and I've sung it to my kids as they go to bed for years.  I was just singing it to Lanaya when Saryn reminded me that about a year ago, Benson would cry whenever he heard the song because it meant it was time for bed.  

I remember having some family over when It was bedtime and Jarett said, "Do you want to see me make him cry?"

My sister Hayley said she was wondering what he would be willing to do to make his child cry instantly.  Of course, he just started singing this song.  :)

Brooklyn

Benson just saw this CD cover and said to me, "That looks like Brookie!"  I don't know if he meant his second cousin or his aunt, but it made me laugh either way!

Heritage Mayhem

We've had a lot of fun at Heritage Park today.  I just can't believe how big our family is.  We have two cousins with us in these pictures... But a baby in my arms that isn't in them.  We even got to come in our 15 passenger van - and still had a whole bench unused.  Lol!

Favorite quotes of the day go to Benson

1. When he saw a Mountie.  "That guy looks like Woody!" (Referring to the hat)

2. As we ran to catch the last train "Mom!  Keep the baby safe!!"

He also made us laugh pretty hard when he ran ahead to the candy store and came back out with a sucker in his mouth before we even got there.  No one had noticed the theft and we actually had to explain why we were paying for merchandise that we didn't have with us.

  Lanaya's first train ride!!

Smiles

Lanaya had her first full faced smile on July 25 (6 and a half weeks after she was born).  We have loved seeing them ever since.  She gathers quite a crowd when she shows us her big, happy grin!

Out of the mouth of Benson

Yesterday, the boys were wrestling and being silly, as boys do, and Jay started to move away from Benson.  Then Benson decided to consol Jay.

"Jay, let's talk!  I know that you're afraid of me, but I'm not going to destroy you!"

Jay had about 3 seconds before:

"I'm going to destroy you!!!" Followed by a big pounce.  

This morning, Benson put on a button-up shirt.  I did the first two buttons and he do the second.  He did the same yesterday, but it took him about 10 minutes of focus.  Today he did both in about 30 seconds.  I was super impressed, as was he.  He walked around cheering,

"I do'd it!  I surely do'd it!!"

Last night he walked around with a bag clip using it as a microphone.  I could seriously follow this boy around all day just to see and hear the funny things he does.

Brothers to the rescue!

Lanaya was fussing this morning.  I swaddled her and was rocking her to sleep.  Benson runs in with his special monkey blanket and says, "She just needs my blanky Mama.  She surely do." He proceeded to spread it out on the floor so I could wrap her in it.  Believe it or not, she calmed down immediately.  He knows what she needs!

In the monkey blanket...fast asleep within a couple minutes!

A couple days ago, I was video taping Lanaya and she started to fuss.  I was about to turn off the camera to pick her up and realized that Jaymeson started singing to soothe her.  I decided to video tape it.  He made up a lullabye just for her!!  It even started to calm her down (although it started to bring me to tears).  It goes something along these lines (he's sung it a few times since and it gets different added parts each time).

You don't need to cry - The Lord loves you.  You don't need to cry because Jesus does too.  You don't need to cry because The Lord and Jesus love you!

Also, this morning Jaymeson picked out a dress for Lanaya to wear.  As I was about to put it on I heard his same to her, "Prepare to be beautiful!"  He's so sweet.

I "surely" love my boys!

Flathead Lake

For a good seven years now, Jarett's parents and descendents have gone to Kalispell area for a week as a family and we've always had a blast!  This year was no exception.   Camping near Polson has always been a highlight for all my kids, Jarett and myself.  It was a little harder this year with a 6 week old baby, but she did well enough.  If I was to do it again, I probably would've stayed home, but I still had a lot of fun.

Jarett was in the lake swimming more than anyone else.  He swam "lengths", bathed, surfed, tubed and played as much as possible.  Actually, one time Jaymeson was watching Jarett and commented "Wow Dad, you're a pretty good swimmer for your age!"  Luckily Jarett was a little too far out to hear, but I laughed pretty hard.

The kids all loved playing with their cousins and I loved visiting with all the women (and beating them all in an arm wrestle). 

One highlight that will be reflected on for years to come will be the hail storm that came in so fast that it caught people under the camp shelter (time roof and wooden pillars) and in the boat.  I was nursing at the picnic table and couldn't move (soon was protected by my mother-in-law and Jarett).  The people in the boat had some kids screaming, some laughing and some certain they weren't going to make it.  The men held the tube over everyone and tried to calm them until the storm passed.  Luckily, everyone was just fine and besides a little flash flood through a couple tents, all was perfectly fine!

I'm looking forward to next years retreat even more as I'll be a more active participant, but being forced to sit, watch and read isn't that bad either.  Love this family that I married into!!

Canteloupe

Jaymeson wrote a letter to his cousin Carson today.  As we were finishing it, he asked me where the cantaloupes were.

"Cantaloupe?"

"Not the kind you eat mom, the kind you put letters in."

Jerry

Apparently my kids haven't heard I Jerry Seinfeld.  We just had this conversation:

"Have you guys heard Jerry Seinfeld talk about the Luge?"

"Who's Jerry Seinfeld?"

"He's a comedian, like Brian Regan."

"He has a funny name."

"Seinfeld?  Yeah, I guess that's funny."

"No.  Jerry."

"Jerry is a common name, Kienna."

"I know, but it's also the name of the Papaya on VeggieTales."

"Kienna, he's a squash."

"I know, a papaya squash."

Sigh.  I give up.  This girl is as full of nonsense as her father.

Misc.

I love watching babies sleep.  They're so peaceful and sweet.  This morning I was watching Lanaya and she kept smiling in her sleep.  Just sweet little grins as she started to wake up.  It warms a mother's heart.

Last night I went to a baby shower and so Jarett fed the kids alone.  Kienna burped and Kaia told her not to do so.  Kienna responded, "Why not?  It's just Dad!"

Yesterday morning, we had poached eggs for breakfast.  It was lovely.  Not just because we love a good poached egg on toast with a little cheese, but it was great to sit down as a family and have breakfast.  I might have to do that more often!

Benson got up today with his old

Baby blanket in hand.  I wrapped it around him "like a baby" (his favorite) and got to snuggle him for a bit.  He told me that he saw my bed was made and then continued to talk and talk about it.  It was so funny.  "Mom, you made it a mess because it was night time.  Then you made it again.  You make it every day.  Jaymeson and I try our best.  We make it a mess at night and then we remake it, but we just try our best.  And the sometimes you have to help us.  But we just have to try our best."

Jaymeson lost his first tooth!!  He was so excited because all he wanted was a nickle so he could have a whole dollar.  He was 95 cents, so that's all he could dream of.  Being the sweet boy that he is, however, he got a nickle before it fell out and then upped his requirements to a "real golden dollar" (aka a loonie).  Luckily the tooth fairy knew this and brought him a loonie AND a toonie - on he same night that he lost it (despite his sisters warnings to not get his hopes up too high because we have a forgetful tooth fairy in our house...)

My kids frequently "draw" pictures on Jarett's back and see if he can guess what they are.  He has guessed correctly once (Jaymeson drew a house).  Not the best at the game.  The kids frequently get exasperated with him saying, "Dad!!  It's a flower!" Or whatever it is.  Just the other night Benson (age 3) was drawing on his back.  Jarett starts guessing the random things he always does (a cow on the moon kind of things).  Benson says (with many hand movements), "Dad, I drew a person... With a big head... It's Mommy!"

Jarett and the girls are doing a triathlon tomorrow.  I'm really proud of them.  I was hoping to do one too, but Jarett has told me that I need to be able to stay awake at night for more than 15 minutes before I'm allowed to do any triathlons.  Fair enough.  Babies are exhausting.  I suppose next year is a more intelligent time to do it.

Jaymeson has been begging me to play "LIFE" with him.  He won by a landslide.  After each turn he would say, "I'm rich mom, am I?"  "I'm good at this, am I?"  Might have to work on grammar AND vanity...  (He just listed all his Pokemon to me and then asked, "I have a lot of Pokemon, do I?"  I guess grammar will come first.)