My little Ally-gal

Ally is growing up too fast. She has been such a happy and pleasant little girl to have around. You always hear how hard girls are and how dramatic they can be, and we haven't experienced it until recently. Ally has started to get an attitude where she likes to tell me no and melts down at the drop of a hat. But she is still really sweet and so cute. She loves to play with my phone and on the computer, she's really good at figuring them out. She talks all the time, has lots of questions, and points out the obvious. She's full of information. I love her to pieces.

Lots of times when we go camping with our friends Ally is the only girl, so she likes to do her share of boy things, like playing with trucks, catching bugs, riding 4-wheelers and so on. But she is also a very girly-girl. While she WILL NOT wear dress ups, she loves to have her hair done, finger nails painted, play with make-up, and be pretty. She got these fingernails in her Easter basket and loves to play with them.


Ethan and Ally spend so much time at Becky's and Josh and Keira are some of their best friends. We like to have them come play at our house too so I can get to know them more. It's nice to let Josh and Keira play with Ethan and Ally's toys instead of just sharing theirs all the time. These kids get along so well, I am so happy that they can be friends.


Ally wasn't very excited about having this picture taken. She loves to ride her bike with Ethan. For a long time she didn't know how do push back on the pedals to put the brake on and would just drag her foot to stop. It was working pretty good for her until we were going down a little hill one day and she got going a little fast and tried to slow down with her foot and skinned her toe all up. This kind of scared her away from her bike for awhile and rides her trike a lot too. I taught her how to use the brakes though so hopefully we won't have that accident again. She absolutely loved those snow boots. I finally had to put them away because they were her go-to shoes, she wanted to wear them all they time.


Ally loves to have friends over to play. She loves Ella, and Ella loves Ally too. Ella loves to do whatever Ally is doing, and it so cute to watch them play. Ally loves to mother Ella and take care of her. I thought they looked so funny on this day, all dressed up, and ready for something.


Nice. I was so sad when Ally came and showed me that she had gotten her hair stuck in the comb. I thought we were going to have to cut it off. Luckily I was able to get it all untangled and only had to pull out a few hairs.


Ally at Newspaper Rock, on one of our camping trips.


This video is hilarious. The kids were begging us to fill up a swimming pool, or turn on the sprinklers, or something because they wanted to get wet. It's just funny because it shows that girly attitude that I'm learning about, where emotions change like the flip of a switch.

I cut the movie off too soon, but Javan said "I thought you said you wanted to get wet." Then Ally said, "Well, I didn't want to." Isn't this just typical of women, we say one thing, but mean another. Why can't they figure it out.

Ally had some cavities that she had to have filled. I know, the daughter of a hygienist is supposed to have great teeth with no cavities, but she is also the daughter of a mom that LOVES candy. My family can testify to that. So I guess it's a good thing I work in the dental field. Ally did excellent in the chair for me, 10 times better than Ethan did, but she was pretty nervous to have Dr. Goodwine work on her. She did great though. I'm very proud of her.


Ally's painted bread sandwich, she loved yellow on that day.


Ally and Cydnee playing at Spring Creek Ranch over Memorial Day weekend.


In the cattle chute at the ranch.


Now that the weather is warm Ally loves to be outside. One of her favorite things is swinging and she always wants Javan or I to push her on the swing. They love to jump on the trampoline or play in the sand.


She loves to show us her "tricks" and dances around the yard and house. She recently learned to do a somersault and is very proud of it. She likes to show it off.

Happy Father's Day!

Just like on Mother's Day, we have lots of father's and grandpa's too. We are so thankful for the examples, and role models they are to us and our children. We feel so blessed to be a part of their lives and to have them be such an important part of ours. We are lucky to live so close to all of them and be able to spend time with them. We love you Grandpa Glade, Grandpa Kelly, Grandpa Mike, and Grandpa Craig!





And to Javan, the father of my children. Thank you for giving me these 3 beautiful spirits, and for loving them. Thank you for working hard so we can live the way we do and have the things we have. Thank you for playing hard too. Thank you for teaching our kids all your little lessons. Thank you for being a dad that tells stories. We all love you sooooo much. Hope you had a Happy Father's Day!


(Note: Ethan fell and hit his head on the concrete at Grandpa Kelly's and wasn't feeling too good. So he's not looking real chipper in the pictures.)

Trip to "Avada"

Last week my kids, my mom and I took a trip out to see my brother Nate and his family in Nevada. It's about 800 miles one way. I had planned on going by myself but my mom and dad weren't comfortable with me going alone so my mom decided to go with me. She has been out a couple of times but has always flown. I thought it would probably be cheaper to drive, and my mom said she will never drive it again. I am glad she went though, she was lots of help taking care of the kids while I drove. It would have been a lot harder on my own.

On the way to Nevada we had been driving all day and Ethan and Ally asked a million times if we were almost there. The had fallen asleep and Ethan woke up just as we were pulling into Fernley and asked again if we were almost there. I said "yep, we're here." Ethan got so excited and started yelling, "Ally, wake up, we're here, we're already at Avada." He had forgotten so quickly how long we had been in the car. I just thought it was funny that he said we were "already" there.

We had a good time visiting though. We don't get to see Nate and Adalia very often so it was fun to spend some time with them and see their new house. The kids had a great time playing with each other too. Ryan loved the house and was so good and was so independant and just crawled around and played by himself the whole time. He does not do that at our house. He was such a good boy, even for the long hours in the car.

Dale had worked a graveyard shift (she's an RN) the night we got there. We wanted to let her have an easy going day and not make her take us out somewhere so we took the kids to the park to play, which is always a hit.

Ethan, Paige, and Eden made friends with some other kids and played tag for quite awhile. Ethan gets worn out trying to keep up with the older kids and had to take a breather.


Ally and Ledger playing on the little slide.


All the kids. Ethan wasn't very happy that it was time to go. And the sun was in their eyes.


After the park we came home to rest. Ryan was pretty stoked that he found this ball of yarn, and that we let him play with it.


The kids played in the pool in the back yard.


The next day we went to Lake Tahoe. It was kind of an over cast day and the water was pretty chilly but we still had a good time. This is a picture looking out on the lake, it was really pretty.


Then I turned 180 to get a picture of the mountains, that still had snow on them. See the dark clouds.


Ally at Lake Tahoe, she wasn't up for getting in the water but had fun playing in the sand and laying under the blanket.


The kids playing in the sand, Ledger didn't want to sit down for the picture.


Ryan loved the beach. And loved eating the sand. The sand was different than I had ever seen. It was really coarse, it was nice cause it didn't stick to you, it brushed off really easy.


Ryan playing with the sand toys.


Nate taught Paige and Ethan how to bury their feet in the sand. Ethan thought that was a pretty cool trick.


Grandma and Ryan relaxing at the beach.


All of us at Lake Tahoe.


Just as we were getting ready to leave a huge flock of geese flew in, there were hundreds all along the beach. It was so cool. We started feeding them some popcorn and pretzels. The kids loved it. Then as we turned to leave there was a park ranger sitting behind us. I thought we were going to get in trouble but he didn't say anything.


Then we drove into California to Emerald Bay State Park to view a beautiful lookout of Lake Tahoe and a huge waterfall. Oh my gosh, it was so pretty.


Ethan climbing all over the rocks at Emerald Bay.


The next day we took the kids swimming at the Fernley City swimming pool. Again they made some friends to play tag and keep away with.


They had a fun kiddie pool that Ethan and Ally loved. It was only 2 feet deep so they could touch and had a blast. They were starting to get brave by the end and were going under and laying on their backs.


On our last night we went bowling, it was Cosmic Rock-A-Bowl night. The bowling alley was dark and they had a disco light going and loud music playing. Ryan was freaking out, he didn't like the flashing lights and loud music. He had a death grip on my mom and I. By the end of the night he was doing okay though.

Ethan was proud that he could bowl all by himself. Doesn't he have good form? He bowled a 72.


Ally wanted me to help her bowl. We had pretty good form too. We bowled a 63, she probably could have done better on her own.


Uncle Nate using Ally for his bowling ball.


All the kids after a cosmic bowling game.


1,866 miles
1 very close run-out-of-gas incident
lots of rain and road construction
6 kids happy to see each other
fun visit to see family
great trip

Thanks Nate and Dale for a fun visit. We had a great time. Wish we could have stayed longer. We'll just have to come again. Love ya!

"Oh, my shots!"

This morning I took Ryan and Ethan to the doctor. Ryan had a well baby check up and Ethan need to get his immunizations for kindergarten. Ethan has known he had to get them for quite awhile and has been quite distraught about it. Every time we talk about it he would tear up. Anyway, this morning he was really nervous and scared. I had to hold him on my lap and hold his arms down to get it done. He cried but did very well. When we were leaving he wanted me to carry him. I said "Sorry bud, I have to carry Ryan's car seat, but I can hold your hand." He was still pretty sad and kind of sobbing and said "Mom, I think I need a little wheelchair." He made it out to the car just fine, but for the rest of the day everything he did he would wince and say "oh, my shots". We had to run several errands after their appointment and he told several people "I had 5 kindergarten shots today." He was pretty proud, once they were over. Funny boy!

Fishin'

Last Monday for Family Home Evening we went out to the 4th reservoir to go fishing. Ethan has been begging Javan to take him for weeks now. It was pretty slow for the first half hour or so and Ethan and Ally were getting impatient. Especially since the people right next to us were reelin' 'em in right and left. But once they started hitting we could barely keep the line bated.

Ethan and Ally trying to catch a big one. Ally only lasts for a few minutes, then she's on to other things.


My cute family enjoying some fishing. Javan was looking at these picture with me and said "Why do I look so mean in the picture?" Hum, could it be that he complains every time I try and take a picture. Stinker.


Ethan reeling in a fish.


This is one of the fish Ethan caught. It swallowed the hook and died in its removal process, hence all the blood. So we got to keep that one. Ethan wanted to keep all the fish we caught and was upset with Javan when he would let them go. He kept saying "We only caught one fish." He wasn't going to count the ones we caught and released, only the ones we kept. He was a little confused.



Ally reeling in a big fish.


Ally wasn't even about to touch the fish once she reeled it in. I about had her talked into just holding the line so I could get a picture but then the fish started to move and scared her away. She put her hands behind her back just to be sure that we couldn't somehow trick her into touching it.


Since Ryan is on the move now I have to hold him all the time when we are out places so he won't get into things. He is such a wiggly little guy too. I took him for a little walk while everyone was fishing and sat him on my shoulders, he thought it was really fun to hit the top of my head and pull my hair. He's a stinker too.


Since we did keep the one fish we brought it home and cooked it for dinner. This Javan cleaning out it guts on the front lawn. Nice. Javan and Ethan are quite the little seafood lovers and quite enjoyed their grilled trout. Ally wouldn't even taste it. I already know that I don't like it.


Good times.

9 Months Old!

This is just getting crazy. I know I say it every month but I seriously can't believe another month has already gone by. Ryan is already 9 months old. He is changing so much and getting so big.

I think in the 8 month post I said that Ryan was trying hard to crawl. Well shortly after that he got it figured out. He actually learned really quickly. For the first few days he would do an army-type scooting, then he would get up on his hands and knees and lunge forward, this moved along him pretty good but would kind of take his breath away when he did it. Then he figured out the true crawling, and could even go to sitting within just a few days. I was quite impressed with how quickly he picked it up. It seems like Ethan and Ally took longer to figure it out.

This little video is a good sampling of his different types of crawling, with some help from Ethan. (Video taken on May 20, 2009)


Ryan jabbers and talks all the time. He can say "da da", and "ma ma", and "ba ba", "Ethan" and "Ally", no, just kidding. But he really says "da da" and "ma ma". He can wave bye-bye and does it all the time until I try and get him to do it when we are leaving some place.


You can't really tell in these pictures but Ryan is getting some curl in his hair. I have kept it short up until now, but if it's going to get curly I might let it grow a little more and see what happens with it. I'll have to take a picture of the back so everyone can see the curl, it's pretty cute. It's also turning really blonde, he'll be a toe head by the end of summer.


Over Memorial Day weekend my brother Dave and his family came down to spend the weekend. We went out to Spring Creek (my uncle's ranch) and had a work day, fixin' fence and other projects. It rained off and on most of the weekend and was pretty muddy and cold. But we still had a good time. This is Ryan sitting in the cattle chute.


The next day we went on a little hike to see some Indian ruins. Ethan caught this lizard. Ryan thought it looked pretty tasty. The kids thought it was hilarious that he was trying to eat it, so they kept teasing him with it.


"Say cheese!" Here's Ryan's cute little scrunched-nose smile. I love this funny smile that shows off his little teeth. He now has 4 teeth on top and 2 on bottom. He has certainly been putting them to use and has become quite the biter lately. The other night he was crawling over to get my glass of water and I put my arm out to block him, he got ticked and grabbed my arm and bit me. My word, I couldn't believe it. Since then he has bitten Ethan and Ally on the face when they were bothering him. He drew blood on Ethan's cheek. I hasn't stopped them from pestering him though. But look at the sweet little boy, it's hard to believe that he could be so mean, isn't it.


Last weekend we went out to Recapture with Mike and Shan's family to canoe and take the boat out on the water. The water was still pretty cold but Ryan didn't mind. He sat and splashed for quite awhile. He also found some rocks in the water that he quite liked to eat.


After the dam we went up to Mike and Shan cabin for dinner. Ryan had a good time crawling around and playing with this banana chair.


Ryan loves to be outside. The grass doesn't seem to bother him at all. He loves crawling around and exploring and tasting things. Now that Ryan is crawling Ethan and Ally are learning that they can't leave their toys and small objects laying around anymore. He, like any baby, is a little human vacuum. And I am learning (or remembering) that I have to clean up more now too. And for those who know me this is not something I like to do.


This little video was taken on his 9 month birthday (June 3), you'll see that his crawling has improved quite a bit. It's been fun to watch Ryan progress and grow, even though it makes me sad.

Note to viewers: Foreign object was promptly removed from Ryan's mouth upon completion of video clip.

My 3 little monsters. As much as Ethan and Ally torment Ryan he loves to play with them and gets so excited when they come around, as long as they don't get too close.