MONSTER TRUCK NIGHT!!!

Welcome to Monster Truck Rally night. It was fun for the kids, although I guess I did expect alot more for the buck if you get what I mean. Carter and Mom rode in a Monster truck, which was probably the highlight for Carter. Mason was excited about the show the first while, but then I think it got a little old for him. Taylor was totally bored unless the Monster Trucks were out. She would point to them and say, "vvrroooommm!" That was very cute and she kept plugging her ears, which was also very cute. I think everyone had a really long Saturday, so staying up late was not as fun as we thought it might be. :) Those who know me know that I am a little obsessive about bedtime--vitally important in this house...so these nights are rare! Just thought I would share a few pictures of our fun night!!

here's hoping

This is a test of my videos post, they haven't been working, so here is another shot. This is sideways because I am still figuring out my camera. Trying to get to Mason's tooth is what is going on. :) Everyone have a great day.

North Dakota..isn't bad at all :)

These pictures don't give today justice. It was absolutely beautiful here today. The trees are covered in ice and snow and it is too cold to melt, so it just sits on the trees. It was wonderful to drive around base today and just have a gorgeous site to look at. North Dakota doesn't have the best reputation, but days like this make you appreciate the beauty that can be found here. We really do enjoy being here and will miss it when we leave this spring. So here is what we got to see all day today out our backyard.

Taylor's New Words

Taylor is an amazing 20 months old and she has been so quiet her whole life. Carter by this point in his life was so talkative. I don't know if I was given that blessing because of Mason's non-verbal ways, but it was great. I was starting to get worried about little Taylor who is very watched over by two big brothers. They fill in any blanks about her wants right away without giving her a chance to sign, talk, or anything really. Mason will often ask for a drink for himself, take a sip and then passes it on to her. Well, little Miss Quiet may not be for much longer. I was in the process of dinner and things needed to simmer so I went and sat on our couch and began to talk with Mike. She ran up to me and pointed to the kitchen and said, "Go Cook!" I just started laughing!! Now when she is hungry she just runs to the kitchen and points to the stove, "cook." I think it is so funny, mostly because I am never told to go cook in my house.
I am so grateful for Taylor's new found vocabulary. Carter talks enough for Mason, Carter and Taylor, but I wouldn't have it any other way. We sometimes have to tell him to wait his turn to talk, but never tell him to stop talking. It is such a blessing to hear sweet little words, ideas, wants, needs, and anything else they come up with. Mason communicates in his own right, but to have him talk would be such a miraculous blessing. So my challenge to all the parents today is to enjoy the talking...as much as it may be some days. :)

Some Random photos from the last few days of 2007!

Mason 1st tooth of 2008!

Mason lost his second tooth today and we were not going to let this one get away. His first tooth was lost when it fell out while no adult was around. We don't know if he swallowed it or what. Well, today this little guy was ready and so daddy worked some magic with some floss. Mason was laughing the whole time. To bad we won't be able to pin down our other children like that. :) He wouldn't let us take a picture after, but I guess we will take what we can get. :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!

Merry Christmas to ALL!!

Well, the day has come and gone and we had a really good time. I will post more pictures in the next couple of days, but wanted to get something up for now. Our computer went crash and we just got that all fixed finally.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day and Christmas Season. Love to all!!!
This is after our PJ's on Christmas Eve. The kids were pretty good about taking a picture this year...you should see us some years. :)

Movie Clip of Taylor's Baby

Hopefully this works. Taylor was so tired yesterday that she fell asleep before we got home from our Christmas visit's and was too tired to open any more gifts when we got home. So Carter remembered quite quickly that she had some to open this morning. This video is after she got her baby doll from Aunt Heather and Uncle Matt. She even shared some of her blankets with the baby. It is just a short little clip, but I thought it was very cute.

Check out my Slide Show!

Mason, Mason, Mason

Mason gets a post all his own. This was the many shots at trying to get one picture to put on his Christmas cards for the teachers this year. WOW!! He was not that pleased about this task. Two shirts, and a ton of pictures later we found a winner. Today I see some I could have used, but hey in the heat of it, you don't think some of them look that great, when they are perfectly fine. I forgot to rotate some of these and didn't want to start over...so sorry about the side ways veiw on a bunch! We finally got him to sit down by giving him a picture of his para, he sat and smiled and 'talked' about her for a bit. I just got kick out of some of these and couldn't help but post them all. Have fun...dont' feel bad if you dont' watch the whole slide show!

My kids are so darn cute!! I can't stand it sometimes. :)

These are just a couple of Carter's Christmas projects from school. He is doing really well in school and loves being there. Even though sometimes he is too smart for his own good. Such as...Teacher Kathy, " Carter we don't throw snow." Carter answered, " My mommy lets me throw snow." While he proceeds to throw snow. Teacher Kathy, " Well, there are school rules and home rules, at school we are not allowed to throw snow." Carter almost had to go inside. because he continued. :) Well, after a talk with mom and dad the next day he got a big thumbs up for remembering not to throw snow!! :) LOVE LITTLE BOYS!!! Of course, I am able to tell the teachers that every once in awhile we get, "My teachers let me do this." :) Man he is a stinker, but he sure is cute!!!!
Taylor is normally napping while Carter is at school and today wasn't any different. Except she got a couple blankets and curled up in the bean bag before we even got her too bed.. How can you beat a sight like this? I LOVE IT!!!

Special Visitors!!

Mikes parents drove him back home from Utah ( I flew--lucky me!). It is always wonderful to have people visit us here in ND. Since there isn't much motivation--besides well us!! :) The kids enjoyed their special surprise visitors. We were very happy that they decided to stay longer than originally planned. I think the kids loved it too. :)
Thanks for visiting mom and dad!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I will post more pictures of their trip when they get back and can email me their camera full.

Wedding....

Congratulations to Kasey and Chelsi Craven!!!!! We were SSSOOO excited to go and spend some time in Utah. It was our time away from the kids and it was wonderful! I love having a chance to go to weddings...It was a great experience to be reminded of the beginnings of a life together. I will never forget how much I love Mike, but I love that chance to reflect on what brought you together in the first place. It has been 7 years for us, and we have been through so much together, we are excited for the many more together. Which technically were two little sisters that couldn't mind their business. Thanks Chelsi and Kellie. :) We love both Chelsi and Kasey and wish we could have stayed longer. Although our cake feeding still beat your's. :) Maybe I will post of a picture of that one day.
LOVE YOU GUYS, CONGRATS!!!!

I love going and seeing the beautiful temples scattered across the mountains and in SLC. We don't get the chance to go as much as we would like too, and I love the peace that it brings just seeing the temple.

I think Mason likes movies?

Tonight we decided that for our Family Night together we would go Christmas shopping for others. Mom and Dad saw a couple things we couldn't pass up. The Santa Claus 1&2. Mason and Carter both LOVE the first. We just have it on a VHS that is on its last leg. So we decided, what the hay, lets get them. Mason saw them and wanted to hold them all through the store, we had a couple more places to go and he got irritated with having to leave them. We got home and he wouldnt get out of the van without the movies in hand. So we get all our treasures from the back, Carter, Taylor etc, come in the house and find.... Mason on the couch, movies, remote and a big smile/whine. If it wasn't a school night he would have watched them tonight. Sleep is a big deal for this mommy and we were already off our schedule of bedtime. So I was the bad guy and told him no. Which then gave me the priviledge of not having to get him ready for bed since he wanted nothing to do with me. He even stopped at Taylor's doorway just to yell at me and make sure I knew he was not happy with me. Of course, his smile can't hide for too long, so yelling and smiling are hand in hand.
He will be even more ticked tomorrow after school when he realizes he has therapy and can't watch then either. I promise I will let the poor kids watch them soon! :) Tomorrow night probably.
I decided that I wanted to post this little experience before I went to bed, otherwise I would probably forget tomorrow. I think we have something planned for every hour of the day. Have a great day everyone!!!

Winter Wonderland!!!

We got a very large dose of snow over the weekend. Mike and Carter were out working hard today clearing off the last of the snow drifts in the driveway. Carter of course, needed his hot cocoa to sustain him through. Daddy couldn't miss out on that!!

Taylor and I joined them for a very short lived moment. Her hands got too cold and she wanted in. Then she kept sneaking outside just to play for a quick second. So she took her toy out and brought some snow in to try out. I once told Carter not to eat the snow, now I just tell him to eat the clean looking snow. :) What is childhood if you can't eat a bit of snow?