Ellie turns 2

Last weekend we celebrated Ellie's birthday. Everyone met a the the Pizza place in Newport for a little pizza, games, and cake and ice cream. It was crazy but we all managed to live to tell the tale.

Lex and Ellie were "stage" girls

Game: Pin the baseball on the mit

Chris

Evan

Lexie

Mexican?

We went to the temple sealing of a couple we know on Friday night and then to the reception at the stake center across from the temple. Doug's mom and sister were there. Here Alexis is saying hi to Kaytie's boy Spencer.

For some reason there was a sombreo in the boys bathroom. Doug just had to get pictures. I guess we have mexicans in the family.

Alexis

Crazy Chris

Evan

And the cartel leader himself: Doug

Family Home Evening

So Doug was in charge of the activity for family home evening last week. Of course it was physical and I'm not so sure about family bonding so much as family beating.

First Doug tried to teach the boys to tie a knot
Here is Ben learning

Now Christopher's turn

Then there was the tug of war game. I finally got in to help, but what can I say Doug was just to big for us to pull down. Love ya dear :)

Poor Ben and Chris tried

Then came the true fight. Pillow fight that is. Everyone sure did love hitting each other. I had to knock down Ben a few times to teach him to respect his elders.

Show of muscles before the fight started. I wonder who will win.

Even Alexis wanted to be involved. That is until the pillows really started to fly and then she wanted out.

All in all a good night.

My little baby is growing up

A week ago we celebrated Ben's 9th birthday. Time sure does fly. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. It was Labor Day. I was at work and Doug was home canning some pears for me. Wasn't he sweet? Anyway... I felt like crap and as soon as I was done facing the shelves (I worked at Broulim's (a grocery store) in Rexburg, ID) I called Doug and had him come pick me up because he had driven me that day. I left work and went home to rest. Doug had a feeling that maybe I needed to go to the hospital, but I was 5 weeks early for my delivery date and I didn't feel like I was having contractions. I just felt like crap. He called the hospital anyway and they suggested we come on in. Imagine everyone's surprise when they announce that I am dilated to a 5. Yes you read right I was halfway there and 5 weeks early. So they give me a shot to hopefully stop the contractions that I didn't know I was having. My doctor came in said "Why didn't anyone tell me her water broke?" and then told me I was having a baby. Then everyone got busy hooking me up and inducing my after they had already tried to stop the contractions. I got a shot of Demeral and slept through the next few hours until they said push and after some work out came Benjamin alien head and all. His head was so big that they had to suction him to help get him out and his head paid the price. Thankfully it all settled back to a circle shape. Still big though. The next day and told my boss that on labor day I went into labor and would not be back to work. What a day!

Evan wanted to give Ben a gift so he went though his toys and gave Ben his play dough toy and a planner. Wasn't that sweet? Needless to say later Evan received his things back. It was the thought that counted though.

His most loved gift: A radio airplane from grandma. Put together but not flown yet. That thing is bigger than a thought and more complicated.

His most needed gift from Jason and Lela: New socks. I direct you to his heel in this next picture. Can't really see one? Well that is because he has worn through the sock long ago. Thanks Jason and Lela!

First day of school

Okay, so I'm a tad late with my updates. Benjamin and Christopher started school on September 1st this year. Benjamin entered fourth grade and Christopher first. They are growing up so fast.

Backpack load from the side. Not as big as last year but then this year they have Wal Mart bags in addition to their backpack.

Are we sure we are ready for the first day? Not so sure.

Let's go fly a kite

Last week we had a windy day so we decided to break out the kites. Each of the boys had a cheap one that they tried to do. They were cheap! Here Chris is running to try and get his to go up. It flopped back down.

Evan had the hardest time of it. Why won't mine go up?


Ben finally got his to go, but it was touch and go. The thing liked to swing to either side and nose dive down.

Then Doug broke out the big guns. On a trip to South Carolina he picked up two huge kites for Ben and Chris. We tried to fly them at the Oregon Coast last year but had no luck. Don't know why he thought they would work now, but the one he brought out did. This one happened to be Christopher's so he got to do the flying. Amazing!

It looks so majestic.

Spokane Indians Baseball Game

Doug's work is very good to it's employees. At the summer work party prizes are handed out. A fellow worker of Doug's won tickets to see the Indians vs Hawkes baseball game. Unfortunately he was unable to go and offered them to anyone at work who could go. Doug ran to the man's office and took the tickets. There were six tickets and because Lex is so small we didn't have to have one for her so we took my dad. The game was great. The weather perfect and our team won. The kids were even well behaved during most of the game. This was my first baseball game. Ben and Chris had gone last year with Doug and Uncle Roy.

We had great seats right behind home plate.

Alexis is ready for the game to begin. Look at her just perched on her seat.

See? I did go. Me and Lex before the game

Grandpa and Evan enjoying the game

Ben, Chris and Grandpa ready for the game to begin. It was also free rally towel night. You can see Christopher's on his lap.