The other afternoon we were out swinging in the back yard. Amelia was in a little car swing flying high in the sky...
Me: Millie, where are you driving to in your car?
Amelia: Salt Lake City.
Me: Oh! What are you going to do there?
A: Get married in the temple.
Me: Really? Who will you be marrying?
A: My mother-in-law
Yesterday we started off the day way too early at a soccer game and then as Mike and the boys tried to hit a bday party in between soccer games, Amelia and I headed to the E.R. Joys. We've got the flu and had to sit there for Millie to get breathing treatments and a lot of medicine. She was a model patient!
Came home. Slept FOREVER. She and I woke up in time for dinner and then she sat out in the beautiful weather while Jacob read to her. So sweet.
As they kept busy in the front doing this, Andrew had a major league baseball game in the back, in which he played all the characters complete with conversations. Here he demonstrates Babe Ruth.
And after looking at the above pics, I realized how necessary a haircut was and this morning gave Andrew his first haircut by ME! (and then Amelia and I crashed again.)
I wish I could save some of this weather in a bottle and occasionally pull it out in July and August. It truly feels life giving. A cool gentle breeze with the smell of barbeques and blossoms. Mmm.
Hope you're sitting down. This is a super (everybody scream...super is my word for the week) long post. Lots of pictures. Had to catch up on what's been going on around here.
Poppy (Mike's dad) is talented in the woodcarving area. He made these awesome cars and blocks for the kids for Christmas. Beautiful. Thank you, Poppy!
Went hiking with cousins and a friend over Christmas Break. Had a little picnic and enjoyed the gorgeous weather.
These cinnamon rolls were meant for serious bartering. Incredible. Came from friend's recipe titled "Clone of Cinnabon" and I'm telling you what. They were delicious. I love that in this picture Mike caught the boys picking at the flour. The crazy kids love to lick it. yuck!
Trip to the mall playground. Thought it would be a nice quiet outing. Ummm...28 kids there running around. We didn't last long, but Amelia loved the slide.
I think my boys are the coolest fort builders. They built this out of garden edgers and sticks.
Amelia sneaks in while Andrew makes repairs and then wonders how long til he notices her and hauls her out. This would happen over and over and she thought it was so funny. He is actually repairing the last section she snuck through, and does not know that she just walked right in through the entrance. I was greatly amused. (Oh- and if you look closely, there is a jar of caterpillars and leaves. Isn't being a kid so great!)
Me and Doons. I LOVE him! I love watching and listening to him play. I'll miss him when he goes to kindergarten.
Back at the ranch. Another boy moment. Andrew rigs up own parachute and decides to put it to the test.
Climbs to highest point he can find.
Makes the leap and then repeatedly tells us how cool and awesome it was. Repeats process. Is this dangerous? Yes, I'm sure. Especially when he began jumping with two large sticks for his "bracers." Mom put an end to that. Ahh, boys.
Mike took the boys out golfing on MLK day. They loved it. You must notice the polo shirts. The boys took care to "dress the right way." Thank you Jacob/fashion consultant.
Andrew was Robin Hood today. He was extremely proud of the clothesline he set up and insisted that I come out a take a picture, "because it really does look like the real Sherwood Forest, Mom. I even put clothes on it, but some of the clip things were really hard."
While making dinner I heard Jacob and Amelia laughing. Found them in the bathroom with Amelia intently putting "make-up" all over Jacob and combing his hair. He was such a good sport, and even though Amelia would occasionally laugh, she was very intent on what she was doing. 
Andrew has friend over for playdate. They play cowboys, on a ship. He reads the map and she punches in the calculations to send them to Africa.
...or I'm just feeling guilty for not doing Family Home Evening for a while..
around 8:30 the boys were still up (past their bedtime) and wanted me to run out back and check out what they were working on this evening. They had dug a fire pit and set up a play tent. They had also found some marshmallows stashed in a cupboard and begged to be able to roast some into deliciousness.
So out we went. 
I was laughing because the roasting sticks the boys chose were ridiculous. They were almost an inch in diameter. The marshmallow would barely fit around it. Funny funny boys.
Mike was so great to tough out the nasty smoke in order to coax the not-quite-dead-wood the boys had chosen, to burn.
Last night the boys and Mike decided it was high time they perfected the art of tripods and headstands.
And they're up!
Andrew seemed to be a lost cause. 
We were all laughing about it, good-naturedly (not sure if that is spelled correctly) and Mike did his best to support the jello man, but later on Andrew was found upstairs sobbing uncontrollably because he wasn't able to do it. Mike had a good soothing talk with him, and let him know that practice was the key. 
First thing this morning Andrew announced he was ready to walk on his hands!
When I showed Andy this picture right after taking it, he said (quickly assuming a karate stance and tough guy voice), "Oh yeah...I'm like - you want a piece 'o me?! And they're like - yeah, if you're a pizza." (still tough guy face for a few more moments to prove himself to his imaginary audience..)
And just for more kicks and giggles, I decided to throw a picture in of our family bike ride today. We stopped at a playground and while Andy, Amelia, and I amused ourselves, Dad and Jacob did some high adventure ravine riding. Watch out now.
Jake runs away (again), but is soon distracted by something better to do with his time. Andrew and Amelia soon join in.
