The Haircut

This is the before....

This is after....

On Christmas Eve, we had just finished our family home evening lesson and the kids were playing for a few minutes before bed. Shelbi disappeared upstairs and returned a few minutes later with a noticeable hair cut. I gasped...and nearly cried! I said, "Oh, Shelbi! What did you do?" (the whole time thinking this was a scrapbooking moment). Her reply was, "Mom, my hair was hanging down and it was bothering me. So, I had to cut it." And now.....she looks older! I'm still adjusting to the bangs, but she loves them (I had them fixed, by the way). Hopefully, this is a one time event!

Turning 7

I know they share a birthday, but I felt that I needed to give them some individual attention! Gavin turned 7 and we celebrated his birthday by going swimming at the Rec Center. Gavin wanted a Spongebob cake for his birthday, which I made for him (with the help of my cake fairy). I thought the cakes turned out really cute! I also spelled his name out on cupcakes.

Dallin got home from Vegas on Friday night, so we got up Saturday morning and headed to Rapid City to finish the birthday celebration. The kids really wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese. We spent about 2 1/2 hours playing games (they even got to see Chuck E) and then headed out for dinner. The kids had a great time! We love you Gav! Happy Birthday!

The Big 5

She's five! I can hardly believe that much time has passed!
This year Shelbi wanted a Kai-Lan birthday cake. So, I was ambitious and made her one with the help of my cake fairy! I also made cupcakes and spelled her name out with them.

For her birthday, Shelbi went swimming at the Rec Center (huge thanks to my young women for taking her). She had a little party at her school and opened a few gifts. We decided we would save the big celebration for when Dallin got home (he was in Vegas at a conference). Happy birthday to the best 5 year old ever! Shelbi is a huge help with Kamron. She has started reading and tries her hardest to think up cooler games than Gavin. She is such a great girl! We love you, Shelbs!

Farm words in Sacrament Meeting

Today was a beautiful day. I was spiritually prepared to attend my meetings (I was teaching in Young Women's today so I had been doing some extra praying). After the sacrament was passed, I doled out the snacks I had brought for the kids: Halloween marshmallows. As I was handing some to Kam (who was sitting on Dallin's lap), the bag tipped and marshmallows scattered the floor at our feet. I sighed and just as I was leaning over to pick them up, I heard, "Damn it!" It was Kam dropping a farm word. I started laughing and had to lean over to stifle the snorting threatening to come out! I know. I shouldn't have been laughing. But his voice is so cute and he is so innocent. Dallin was laughing too and commented that at least he used it in the correct context at the right time. I know he learned it from me (sorry, Charlene). I blame it on the cats. I have dropped more farm words myself over the past two months (since we have had the cats) than I think I have over the past year! Sometimes they drive me crazy. Honestly, they are part dog, part meerkat. If I wasn't so worried about mice, I might consider donating them! Until then, I will try to keep my farm words under my breath (I'd say give them altogether, but honestly I don't think that is an attainable goal at this time!), and teach my kids to do the same! (Damn cats!)!

Family photos

My BFF here in Gillette took some family pictures for us the other day. They turned out so cute! The weather has been beautiful lately, so we went to the park. She got some really cute pics of the kids. When I get them, I will post them, but this is one that she took that I LOVE!

Thanks, Carene!

Adding to our family

After some careful thought and great consideration, Dallin and I decided that in lieu of more kids, we would adopt 2 kittens! Actually, we've seen several mice in some of our window wells and I am not looking forward to the fact that they may get inside my house....again. We decided we wanted some Siamese cats, so I called our local animal shelter and asked if they had any kittens. They had 2 Siamese kittens that were 5 weeks old. Obviously, they are not full Siamese (that's okay). Asher (the boy) looks like a white tiger. He has beautiful stripes in his fur. Bella (the girl) has a light spot on her nose, toe, and the tip of her tail. Both have Siamese markings also.

Meet Asher....















and Bella....















We've had them for about a month and I haven't taken pictures of them before now because I couldn't decide if I wanted to keep them. Why? I know....they're really cute. But, since having them I've discovered that I am a control freak. I CANNOT control these kittens! And, if I don't watch them when I let them out of the bathroom (They stay in our basement bathroom which is large and not often used) they will sometimes PEE on my floor. Grrrr! But, over the past week, I have seen some great improvement from them and have had a change of heart. And really.....do I want to deal with cat pee and maybe have to clean my carpets every week or do I want the disgustingness (yes that's my word) of having a mouse in my house? I choose the cat pee. I have a shampooer. I can clean. I can't deal with mice! And, they better be good mousers too!

Bella and Asher have cute personalities too. Bella is really gun shy. Probably because Kam keeps picking her up and then he tosses her when we catch him holding her. Not so fun for her. Asher will get this look on his face (or in his eyes) and then he'll leap at you! If you're laying on the floor this is not a fun experience. Both scale my legs to sit on my shoulders. I think I'm their "person" and honestly.....I kind of like that! So, welcome to the family!

It's a slippery slope!

Kamron + a shoe box + stairs = nothing but bumps all the way down! Kam has been playing with a shoe box the past several days, scooting himself around the house saying, "Vroom!" It's been really cute and I've hesitated throwing away the box that gives him such joy. A few times, he's even positioned himself at the top of our stairs and we've quickly discouraged his attempts at going down. It's a shoe box! I doubt it will do much better than the lego tub that Gavin tried! That being said, I was making my bed the other morning when I heard shhhick, boom, boom (and on every boom a small yelp escaping). I quickly ran to the stairs, already knowing what must have happened. Sure enough, I discovered Kam and the shoe box at the bottom of the stairs. Kam was VERY upset (completely fine, but a little traumatized!). I think the tumble scared him! I guess I need to teach him about the pillow cases! Gavin was 4 before he tried something like that! Does this mean I am raising adrenaline junkie boys? (because Shelbi is SO not that daring)! Probably. They get it from their dad! Admittedly, I was laughing as I walked down the stairs to comfort Kam. Where has my baby gone?!