Family Pictures

I finally have internet!! Get ready for tons of posts!

I had this great idea back in August that we would do family pictures down on the beach. Well... we had a rough start and then on the way down to the beach we thought we would snap a few... which were the only ones that turned out. . . because once we got down to the beach the girls just wanted to play in the muddy sand. . . and Charli peed in her cute little skirt. . . so I had to start laughing at that and I gave up. I'm glad we got a couple decent pictures and I will have to think of a different photo spot for next time. I don't know how people get cute beach pics with kids all dressed nice and staying that way.

Finally-- Pictures

These pictures were taken on Charli's 3rd birthday. My poor girls. I literally was stalking them around the house for 2 hours, taking hundreds of pictures. That's what happens when you get a new camera and learn how to sew!

Back to School

So... today was my first day back at school as a junior high math teacher...and I'm so bummed that I didn't bring my camera to update the last 5 months...I actually have time, internet, and no kids pushing buttons on the computer! I guess this is a good time for a quick blog makeover. I love prep times as a substitute! Subbing is great at this stage of my life because it gives me just enough to remember that I'm grateful to be a stay-at-home most of the time mom. But, it's nice to get out of the house and have a break from the norm too. I don't miss the waking up at 6 am and commuting though.

Baby Food

A few weeks ago (when these pics were taken, Kennedi was not liking baby food so much. We had to get creative. Charli growls, Kennedi laughs, and I shove the food in her mouth. Well, now that doesn't work. After 20 minutes of this repeated attempt, Kennedi laughs a tight lipped laugh with eyes that say "try it.. I dare you" and grabs the bowl and spoon, rubs the food in her hair and it's lots of fun! (She is currently sitting next to me trying to eat the buttons on my sweater) We love this cute little stinker! No teeth and she insists on eating what we are eating. I guess the 30 extra tubs of baby food are going to Melinda's upcoming baby shower?

Trip to the Zoo

Charli and Kennedi took a trip to the zoo with the Hunt cousins. It was so fun! Charli ran up and down the hill 5 times or more. She loved it! Unfortunately, Kennedi had kind of a bad experience for her first time at the zoo... no that's not oreo spit up on her face...yes... it is bird poop. How a bird managed to poop on her face underneath the stroller is beyond me. The poor little thing thought it was hilarious when everyone started pointing and laughing and taking pictures.

Little Miss Kennedi is ALL over the place! She's rolling and scooting like crazy. I found her getting into my bag. A couple nights ago, she rolled underneath Charli's bed and got stuck crying.

Charli the Chef

So, Charli loves to help cook in the kitchen. A couple of weeks ago-- I was multi-tasking and not paying close attention to what she was up to. . . until I heard the microwave going. I rushed into the kitchen to find that she was doing some cooking of her own. She had put her baby's "food" (plastic donuts,apples, bananas) in the microwave to get warm. Luckily, the food hadn't started to melt yet. I felt so bad because I yelled at her, but then she explained that she was just trying to take care of her baby. So, we had a good laugh and took some pictures!

February Fun

These are some of the fun things that we have been doing in February.

Winter Fun

Snow Box: Charli had a fun winter play day indoors. We filled up a plastic box with snow and added some food coloring to it. We pulled out the beach bag and let her have at it. She loved it!

Ice-cicles: Outside of the kitchen window, there are ice-cicles and Charli loves knocking them down and sucking on them.
Ice Skating: For our Thurgood Family get together we went ice skating at the rec center in Bountiful. Charli was quite the little skater; she would "run" on the ice as we held her hands. Johnny was a pro- he could skate around holding Charli. I had to hold on to the side and hold her hand.. even then I struggled. I was excited that after an hour, I could turn around on my skates and do a 180. Come on, it's the little things for some of us. Charli and her cousin BreeAnna liked to hang out on the bleachers. Is that cute or what?

Bear Lake Polar Plunge

Johnny participated in the Bear Lake Polar Plunge this year. I have video of it- but I'm not sure how to upload it from our video camera. However, he is on Youtube- search for Bear Lake Polar Plunge and you can watch him jumping in. I totally would have been right by his side, but someone had to watch the kids, right? And when he was done, he went right back to work in the office sporting this awesome getup- soaking wet shorts and a pair of snow boots. Love it! (Luckily he came home for lunch and a change of clothes very soon after)

Happy Ending

This is slightly belated. . . but I had to finish off my story of Puerto Rico with a happy ending. We found THE best beach, no coral, and SUN!!! I even got a little bit of a tan and a tiny bit of burn! And then the next day we had to go home. Thanks to my awesome mom (who flew red-eye to New York to raise our stand-by priority to get us home) I was reunited with my girls. Yea!

The Picture that Saved My Life

So. . . a couple of nights ago we awoke to the sound of popping and flashing light outside our window-- it was an electric box on the powerline outside the window that was sparking and flames were shooting up. After a few minutes it stopped...the power company was out fixing it a few hours later. I thought that was our scary experience... then the next night we heard a gun shot outside our window. But no- the WORST moment was yet to come... Today we ventured outside of where we should probably be and found an awesome cove of coral reef and a deserted shore. Tommy and Johnny, the dare and brave warriors that they are decided to chase some crabs down on a levy on this sort of coral cliff. Melissa was taking a bathroom break, luckily...and I paused to take some pictures of the breathtaking scenery. I was taking this (first)picture. . . when....a huge wave came and crashed at my feet.. I was thinking woah-camera! Holding it up out of the way and then I looked down about 10 feet and saw Tommy and Johnny bracing for another crashing wave... the next thing I knew... Tommy is swept to the edge of this killer coral reef and I'm thinking...Johnny! It seriously could have been SO much worse... but we are just so thankful that some BAD cuts/scrapes on the toes/stomach/back/hands/knees/elbows and a lost shoe were the outcome. If Melissa and I had been down there with them...we would have been washed away. So... I hope that you appreciate these pictures...I do.

When the park ranger guy saw the guys, he stopped and exclaimed "what happened?!" And the guys had to throw off the tough macho stuff to get all doctored up. I think he used a whole bottle of hydrogen peroxide, a whole lot of holy **** and ***** ******!!!! He also told us some comforting tales of couples who had gone on similar outings and the girlfriend finds the boyfriend floating up to shore hours later...So again... lessons were learned today. We will SO be going to church tomorrow!!

PUERTO RICO

Warm sunny beaches??? Not so lucky this time I guess. We are making the best of the rainy overcast weather. Rainforests-- apparently they are so green and beautiful because it can really come down-- we were SOAKED--but had a great time hiking/showering in one. The beaches are deserted--but we're die hards- we're enjoying this vacation rain or shine. The first day we had some awesome waves. We'll enjoy the humid rain for now-- we'll be coming back soon to snow it looks like.

Rockin around the Christmas Tree