Lunch Special: Crawdads 'N River Rock

Brynie loves the creek just as much as the boys do.

The rocks are delicious!

Breakfast for the "Neigh"bors

A few mornings ago, I saw Grant cleaning out the produce drawer of most of a BIG Costco bag of carrots. I decided not to say anything. I mean - really - $5.99 for all those carrots; that's a small price to pay for the adventure he was on.

I snapped a few shots from our living room window. In his jammies, in the rain, no shoes on...

One came,
then two,
then three.
I don't even know why, exactly, but it sort of makes me teary. He thought of it all on his own. He has a good heart.

Nephite Wardrobe Basics

Grant (out of the blue, after putting his candy necklace on his head): "Hey Mom, I'm Nephi!"
It's hard to say what all the Crunchers are getting out of their favorite books (obedience? kindness? bravery? Hard to say.) But they know the basic Nephite dress code.
Head bands, baby! No Nephite is complete without one!
Our Zabriskie buddies Papa Z and B.G. ("Big Grant") give the real life illustration on how they should be worn in "With Mine Own Hand" at BYU Education Week 2008.

Bathing Beauty

Bryn loves her bath. It's her favorite time of day. Sort of reminds me of a couple of other 10½ month olds...

This'll Embarrass Him When He's 16

But it's cute for now! One of my former Laurels just finished a college photography class. For part of her final, she needed to photograph some kids, and asked me to bring the boys. I was pretty sure this would be a disaster. When we showed up, I realized I had even forgotten to bring bribing treats. Oh boy. Not a chance in the world of cooperation....until....Grant's little friend from nursery showed up.


Holding hands, hugs, smiles, perfect compliance.... Evan and I just keep looking at these pictures, wondering, who is that boy? Can't possibly be our son. I guess we just never had the right motivation when doing our family pictures.
And by the end - the permanent forced/pained smile going on.
I think Cole might be immune to girls.

Dear Mom,

I just wanted to apologize for spreading our toys out from one end of the house to the other when we were little. I see, now, how truly annoying that must have been! A complete disaster that takes kids minutes to create takes all day to pick up. I'm sorry we made you do all that work!
I guess the boys will finally understand why it drives me crazy when they have little mess makers of their own. Until then.....
this is our lovely living room. Watch where you step.

Love,
Sue

Blackberry Vegetable

Here's a shot from our Labor Day weekend in Bremerton (on Puget Sound) with cousins at the Blackberry Festival (which the boys kept arguing with us that it was actually the Blackberry "vegetable." Okay. I guess that makes more sense to them. What on earth is a "festival?"
We decided to support Breast Cancer Awareness by buying little umbrellas at their booth, because you can NEVER have too many umbrellas. Then we rode the big slide.Evan's absolutely incredible bake/cook of a sister made this blackberry pie to celebrate. It says "Evan Bean Pres." It's a sibling thing.
Thanks for letting us come visit, Young Family!!!!

Off To The Races!

What's so special about a picture of Brynie racing cars on the track with her brothers?

Oh yah - she's goin' hands free these days (just barely 10 months old.)

There's a distinct scream....

...I've come to know well. There is not a more blood curdling cry for help than when the boys get stung (often 2-3 stings at a time.) I HATE these yellow jackets!!! They're very aggressive, and they're everywhere! We don't even go out on our deck anymore. Yes, we spray. It doesn't matter - they are some super genetically superior type, and their nests are often in the ground, under plants, and they leave such nasty welts on my boys. Most people talk about about getting stung once or twice in their lives....not our boys. More like once or twice a week. And the only remedy we've found - yes, popsicles seem to be the only thing that help the pain.
Hmmm, do you think all those popsicle sticks laying around might be attracting them?

2009 Summer Spectacular - Part 7: Idaho!

Our all-too-brief stay in Idaho was marked by lots of cousins. Here's a few of the cousins hanging out on the trampoline. And under the trampoline (with candy). And jumping high on the trampoline (also on a sugar high). Of course there was ping pong. And ping pong on a sugar high. Everybody loves Bryn. We may get plenty of rain in the northwest but we don't have gutters to play in.
Hi Ho Brynnie!
Bonding with Grandma. Bonding with a sno-cone.
And I just love my boys.
Finally, the obligatory (only slightly retouched) family photo.