Keenan thoughts

While eating some delicious, homemade (yup, I had to through that in there) cupcakes - Keenan decided He needed to have them at his birthday party. Keenan is already planning his birthday party for this summer....
Dad: Why do you have a birthday?
Keenan: Because Heavenly Father and Jesus wanted to give us a day to change numbers.
Not quite the answer Shaun was looking for, but very funny:)

Goin Toothless :}

When Elek was born my Mom told me "I needed to dress up Elek's birth story because it was kinda boring." Well, six years and a full mouth later Elek has a eventful story to tell....

About nine months ago living in Maryland Elek's bottom tooth started to get discolored. I figured it would get loose and Elek would pick at it and the tooth would be gone. But that never happened. On New Years Eve the family had a party. During the party my sister-in-law asked about Elek's tooth. So we were chattin about it-Brianna asked if Elek would let her wiggle it. She promptly promised him a dollar if she got the tooth out. Brianna also set Elek straight about the Tooth Fairy. (His cousin told him the fairy was really just your parents pretending. I think I was more sad then Elek was about this because we hadn't even had a chance to have the Tooth Fairy yet -I was so disappointed.) So Elek sat on her lap and watched a movie while she wiggled that tooth. Then Grandma decided the tooth would come out quite nicely with needle nose pliers. What!!! I had serious reservations about this, but decided to let Elek choose. The next thing I know - Grandpa has a pink pair of needle nose pliers in Elek's questioning mouth. Elek's little head did a tight bob and the tooth was being held up in those pliers grip! Elek's (and my) eyes were huge and Elek was off to gleefully tell everyone he "lost" a tooth and that he was a dollar richer and the promise of money from the tooth fairy.

I just love that hole in his mouth. It makes me smile every time I look at him:) I started to reflect on when the boys were babies and they got their first teeth. I just love those toothy smiles. I guess I'm just a sucker for hole-y smiles!

Ahh:)

Ignore dinner
Play on the computer
Go to the store ALONE
Drive and talk on the phone WITHOUT comments about the conversation from the kids
Watch my Three cuties help each other play the wii
Husband does the laundry
Husband shovels driveway again
Read a book
Make a cute little blanket for Camden. (maybe I can get those receiving blankets away from him..)
Eat yummy treats...lots of chocolate:)

Check!!!

It's a good day!

In the throng of Holiday Cheer

Here it is almost Christmas.... I thought I would take a moment to list the things I'm enjoying about Christmas: in no particular order :)
~Christmas lights!!!
~The Christmas tree lit up in my dark living room:)
~Christmas baking...yum
~My boys excitement while picking out the right gifts for their brothers and parents
~The *glow* of colored lights
~Secret Santa- The boys love Secret Santa and his treats. They always shout, "Thank You Secret Santa!!" into the dark:) and there is lots of giggling:)
~Christmas dishes that I love and they fit in the cupboard with my regular dishes!
~Elek' s cuteness -learning how to wrap presents "all by himself " He did a really great job!
~Shaun's hard work and diligence to support our family
~My Sisters-They are just wonderful
~All day yesterday Keenan was growing up- He just looked so old, with his perfect spiky hair and blue hoodie. (He grew two inches literally over night-none of his pants fit, thank goodness for being a middle child and having the next size available)
~Camden's never failing ability to get hurt and bruised, but never having to go to the ER(keeping fingers crossed on that last part). His face is sporting three good and crazy bruises and dried blood in his nose from colliding into his brothers hand that was holding a 8lb hand weight.
~Elek entertaining His brothers while standing in two eternally long lines at Jo Ann's.
~The rejuvenating effects of Diet Coke on a long run around kind of a day
~Two fantastic Grandma's
~My mother in law who took care of my kids all day while I threw up because of a migraine and made us dinner before we went home.
~Christmas cards- I love getting Christmas cards. Hearing from old friends. And knowing one day I'll send them out too-and they'll be adorable! well, maybe! hehe:)
~Cute matching suits for my boys that have lasted since November 08. I got creative and switched out the white shirts for red ones with reindeer Christmas ties! Silly, but I love it:)
~And since it's that time - Kid bed times:) Good night all!

October pumpkins and costumes

As the kids get older pumpkin carving gets funner and more involved. First the boys had paint and were painting then carving and those little light bright pegs. At one point I looked up and saw Camden. I said "well aren't you lucky! When Elek was Camden's age all eyes were on him! But here is Camden hacking away at his pumpkin with a carving knife." He made it through without cutting himself and He was so Proud!

The day before Halloween main st does a little "store front" trick or treating. This is the cousins we started with...

This is the group of cousins we finished with:) Yes, there are two babies sleeping in that stroller!

Ward trunk or treat party. Pie eating contest. Yummm - eat with only my face-perfect!

Halloween highlights

-The kids all wanted to wear the same costumes as last year so we let them:)

-We tried to go to a pumpkin patch, but it was so, so very cold and wet-we left. I miss Lariland!! Maybe we'll find something better next year.

-The main st was my favorite this year. I love this old part of town:) And its small town-ness:)

-On Halloween we trick or treated with different cousins after the trunk or treat. Super fun!

-Free taco bell taco's. Yummy!

Randoms over the last THREE months=)

Well, I finally uploaded two cameras and I'm on the computer that has all the picts...so I've squeezed in everything until October:)

First funny pictures from our insane move:

The great guys that came to help us last minute. What fantastic neighbors. I miss that little cud-d-sac!

Camden being bored and entertained with pictures..say cheese...:)

The reason why we didn't get a hotel room and sleept a few hrs in the car.

My boys are good sleepers in their own beds. Great. Remove them from those beds to say ANYWHERE and not so great! We pulled off about one and Camden was screaming his head off. I can't remember what his issue was, but I refused to pay for a room when I had to hold him and then worry about all the people trying to sleep around us and still only sleep a few hours! But the new day was sunny and we were off... again:)

Love this pict! hehe:) Camden was trying to reach eleks head so he could"play" and keenan is completely passed out too you can barely see his ear and side of head:) I don't think you can see it in this pict, but keenan was storing all his stuffed animals on top the tv box. haha:)

Someone asked me if we really travel with our kids all "packed up like this" well the answer is -yes! If you can't make a second trip yep we shove it all in. Keenan loved climbing over to get to his seat. And if there is too much stuff between them -they can't touch each other!

Welcome to Missouri! what were we thinking... the freeway was actually washed out and I was going about 10mph - when I was going!

Much better. We can move here.

This picture reminds me of driving after this storm. The roads were still wet, but I was speeding up with two or three other people. I was behind a small pickup and to the right. I wanted to pass the pick up, but there was a car coming up behind me. I let him pass me then scooted to the left. Then I'm not sure what happened the car in front of me may have hydroplaned an bit. It was horrible to watch a car fling from side to side, over correct repeatedly then get tossed to the medium only to flip over and amazingly be grabbed by barbed wire stuff in mid air and thrown back to the grown backwards. I was completely shocked and filled with sadness for them and desperate gratitude it wasn't me and my babes. I was stunned crying thinking what do I do. At this point I was barely coasting past the pickup and looked at him. He was getting his cell out, dialing. I prayed everyone was okay and kept going. I decided I couldn't help with three children on the side of the freeway and I still feel guilty I didn't stop. Crazy story...

Eleks first day of school:) When people ask Him what grade he is in. He'll say, "I'm not in a grade. I'm in Kindergarten." Technically I guess He's right:)

When we built the downstairs we intended this to be a closet. Every one said what a "wonderful" TV cabinet this would be. We tried it...not so great, but Camden found a way to enjoy it! (the couch is turned because we were seeing if we liked it better if we turned the whole room around)

The first grandchild on Shauns side to be baptised.

What happens when food is out at a "Haney" event:)

Look who's TWO! Probably deserved its own post. However, at this rate I better put it in:)

This was an interesting birthday theme:} Bouncy balls! Camden loves them, my first choice, Micky mouse wasn't going so well so we had to switch -birthday time was here! So Bouncy Ball theme here we come! Note: plastic balls in cake taste horrible!!!

My Dear Camden;) You had a blast on your birthday!

You are such a good sport with your brothers and love playing with them - no matter what. I doesn't matter if they take your toys or try not to play -you forgive them and keep coming back with excitement to be with them. I love the way you say le'lek and eenan, I get a grin just thinking of the way you say their names:) You typically will forgo the first letter in any word which makes me stop and listen to you more, because it is so cute:) You currently carry around two cars -one for each hand and they have to be able to hook to each other back to back! If one falls you say "I ot it." We love watching you run around in your little underwear-your so proud, and I am too:) The other day I watched you run up to your cousin and show him your cars as the two of you shared a few words in two yr old language. I'm amazed at how big you are and how loving your smile is:) We love you Camden boy:)

The kids made these "bouncy ball" hats and insisted we take a picture:)

This is just because it so funny! We shoot those little popper things and for some reason it was scarring the snot out of Camden. He has been around them before with out a problem, but this time it was really getting him!

Since being here we got a visit from this little cutie and her mom-who is also a real cutie:) I wanted to get a picture of her Monkey-ness. She likes to hold everything with here feet! It cracks me up!

We took our house off the market. But before deciding to -I would look out my back windows and would just think of how much I love this view. It is so beautiful. I love the way the sun sets back here just over the tree line. I love the color the light gets in the evening. I love that each of my kids have now had a chance to play in this huge open area. I love watching the harvesting machine that collects the crop-and I wanted to always remember how much I love this spot.

Petting Farm - MD aug 09

Enchanted Forest-MD


Camden looking so big:)


Elek realized the donkey was eating hay. So He tried to make it alittle "easier" for the donkey. I use the word easier very loosly, nothin like getting hay slowly shoved towards your nose to make you scoot away!

This little guy really like the pile of hay brought to him.

Give a goat a handful of food... and you get a line of goats!

Camden kept trying to be brave and feed the sheep and goats, but he usually would get scared and drop the food just before they could get it.

Maybe it's the Alankan Cowgirl in me, but I love when my kids climb the fence...oh the memories:)

This goat was a little scary looking. He has green eyes and would just look at you until you gave it food.

The boys loved getting on top this plat form with the baby goats.

Deciding if they should go up here. I had a picture of Elek and Keenan up here with two goats. On the edge of the photo you could see one of the goats trying to eat Keenan's shirt! Too Funny:)

Love the goats toung sticking out!