Paradise

Anatomy of a perfect day, 11 year old style. . . You get to sluff school ( your mom is a sucker for a big smile and those baby blues) and you go fly fishing with your Mom and your Grandpa. You spend the whole day in waders and you get to eat lots of junk food. You get to hear all about Grandpa when he was a kid. On the last cast of the day you and grandpa hook the biggest fish of your life ( with a little help) and, after 25 minutes of fighting and gentle coaxing, YOU LAND IT!

That is the face of a very happy little boy. He worked hard for this one!

Anatomy of a perfect day, Mom style. . . You get to leave the little kids home (because you have the coolest Mom in the world and she volunteer's to keep them the whole day) and spend the whole day fly fishing with your dad and your oldest son. You get to turn off your cell phone, drive through 3 canyons, spend the whole day outside, and see over 15 birds of prey in one spot. You get to catch lots of fish, listen to pheasants, watch a red tail hawk ride a thermal with your son (who happens to be as excited about it as you are) and best off all, you get to have this view, and snap this picture. My parents are the greatest. Look at Hyatt soaking it all in.

Spooky.

Happy Birthday Hyatt!

I can't believe he is 11. It really feels like about 3 years ago that we brought him home and wondered how in the world we were ever going to be able to take care of a baby. This kid is the greatest. It is so fun to have him around. He has turned into such an amazing guy. He is brilliant, speaks two languages and is a straight "A" student. He is funny, totally sarcastic and mean. He is a great big brother, he helps with everything, and now even babysits. He is so good looking that I am slightly worried. He is a well rounded kid, a great athlete, and a talented outdoors man. He is just the perfect kid, if I do say so myself. Now, someone remind me that I said all of this when he turns 16.
I love this picture because it shows something very special about Hyatt. He is very gracious. Look at his little face. The only thing he wanted for his birthday this year was a long board. That's it. If you will look at the presents on the counter you can see that there is nothing that looks like a long board. He has that cute look that says " Well, they didn't come through this year, but I love them anyway, and I will try to smile and be thankful." He is genuinely like this all the time.

This is the face he made when Matt told him there was one more thing we forgot in the garage.

And this is the face he made when he remembered that his Dad ALWAYS hooks him up.

Happy Birthday Hyatt, we love you!!!

Mama Said There Would Be Days Like This

Does this ever happen to you?
You spend the whole morning running back and forth from school because someone forgot something, or someone needs a clean shirt because they spilled white-out on theirs. Then you run to the grocery store and end up forgetting the one thing that you really needed, so you have to go back. Then you run home because you have to get the stuff ready for the Young Women's activity ready, and you only have 30 minutes before the older kids get home from school. Then you go back to school for the 4th time to run the carpool. Then you help with all of the homework, get the stuff ready for scouts, do 4 loads of laundry, run someone to football practice, and cook dinner. Then you go to mutual, and when you come home all of the dirty dishes are still in the sink, so while your husband puts the older kids to bed you clean up the kitchen for the 3rd time that day, and when it is all clean you take the baby up to give him a bath. Then you come back down stairs to make a bottle and send 2 quick emails. Just as you have finished up the emails you hear a happy squeal coming from the kitchen. "How sweet," you think to yourself, he is all clean and happy and playing quietly with his toys in the kitchen.
WRONG!!!
He is clean, he is happy, he is playing quietly, BUT NOT WITH HIS TOYS!

So you let him play. For way too long. Because you are too tired to argue, and in your delirium, it is sadly funny that someone left the lid slightly ajar on the top of the huge canister of flour. How can a face like this be anything but adorable. So when he is done you give him one more bath, clean the kitchen one more time, and after you tuck him into bed you take a deep breath, and pray for the strength to do it all over again tomorrow. The funny thing is, I wouldn't trade these days for anything.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Brady and Cole have had the best time this year in Flag Football. They have two great coaches that are so much fun. They are the smallest kids on the team, it is so weird! They are the only first graders though, all the other kids are in second grade, but still, I am so used to having Hyatt who is always the tallest no matter what age group the kids are. Cole scored this week, and I wish I would have captured the look on his face, he was so proud of himself! I wish football season was longer. ( Don't any of you tell my husband that I just said that!)

Look Who's One Year Old!!

Baby Griffin is One Year Old! I can't believe it. This has been the quickest year ever. We had the whole gang over (and I mean GANG, the boy cousins are all like a little wolf pack when they get together) for the traditional destruction of a cake and presents. Griffin was very timid about the cake, but he figured it out eventually.

Look at that face. I swear, I sometimes think I could have four more.

We had two cakes, one for Griff, and one for the rest of us.

Lots of cute gifts. Thanks everyone for coming, and for being such great Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. We love you all.

This little guy has been the sweetest, most adorable little thing. He is so mellow. I am sure by this time next year he will be as crazy as the rest of the group, but today he is just an angel. We love you Griff Monster, Happy Birthday!!

No Girls Allowed!

This is why Griffin was born a boy, and I will never have a girl. How would a girl survive this kind of chaos? The boys (of course) had to get in on the cake destroying action. Coleman started it off with a face plant into the cake. . .

Brady wanted to try some too. . .

Then Matt pushed Hyatt's whole face into the cake. Little boys, big boys, it doesn't matter, they are all BOYS!

Then my mom leaned over to try and save Griffin from all the chaos, and he reached up and got her too! You have to be brave to hang out with this group.