The list...

Out of frustration, I started making a list. Not a Christmas list...but a list of things that have broken this past year by the hands of Ty and Crew. Here's the list:

-microwave
-hot chocolate maker
-laptop
-new computer hard drive
-toilet tank
-Chase's DS
-ihome
-home phones

Interestingly, after making the list I felt a huge sense of appreciation for them. Maybe because if I didn't have Ty and Crew...I would trade any and all of these "things" for them. The few years spent wanting them has made these few years of having them so much better. So, as I think abt. the real meaning of Christmas this year, the Grinch said it best..."Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!” This Christmas I'm especially grateful for my family...for Ty for his sweet grin, Crew for his persistence (which will get him far in life), Faith for her willingness to help when needed, Chase for his sensitive side and Kirk for working hard and always being there for us. Merry Christmas!

Crew lost...again

Just wanted to jot this experience, memory down. A few weekends ago Kirk and I decided to load the kids up to see Santa at the mall. Usually we have our stroller in the car but didn't b/c we'd just done a Costco run. So, we ventured off to the mall w/no stroller...and only a parent can know how valueable/pricless a stroller is...especially at a crowded mall.

So we got to the mall and the kids sat on Santa's lap....first Ty and Crew then Faith and Chase. While Chase and Faith were hanging w/Santa, Ty and Crew were playing on the side of Santa's "stage". Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ty playing...but no Crew. I asked Kirk where Crew was. He couldn't be found. He was gone...just like that. Now we've had wanderers before...Chase was known for this when he was little but he'd get lost b/c he wasn't paying attention. Crew, on the other hand, gets lost b/c he tries. It's like he knows he's not supposed to be separated from us but he's going to run away anyway. After abt. 10 minutes (and that feels like an eternity for a parent) he was found...halfway across the mall running towards the outside doors (according to the old couple that found him). The appreciation I felt towards the people that kept him from going outside was so great...but the relief I felt when I saw he was safe was even greater. I was so overcome w/tears that I couldn't talk. Thank you old couple...whoever you are. And as for Crew...one word, LEASH (a short one).

Early Fall

Chase started football in late August. He wasn't very excited in the beginning, but started to enjoy it by mid season. His team had a slow start, losing their first three games. They made a strong comeback after those losses to win three straight! Go #62!

Chase is in the center in black.

Chase in the center...#62.


We were proud of Chase for getting in on tackles...it can be intimidating for a skinny guy.

Laura, Stella and me enjoying Chase's game.

Faith and Crew. Notice Faith's glove. She spotted this gem at Claire's in the mall. All her friends ask her if they can wear it...isn't it lovely?

Crew slurping down a slushy at his cousin's football game.

Ty climbed up to finish Kirk's dinner. Notice Crew peering over the counter...I'm guessing he kicked Ty off his spot soon after this was taken.

Faith and her friend, Eden. Faith up to her usual goofy self.

The climbing duo.

Faith and her cousin, Bo.

Group bath after swimming in the pool for the last time.

Chase and Faith's first day of school. They were both SO excited to go.

Today

Ty and Crew crawled out of their cribs during naptime today. Wish their sleep blankets were just a little tighter around the legs. So, crib tents are a must now. Kirk thinks maybe naptime for them is over. NO WAY! Our two turkeys will be taking naps until preschool (or kindergarten if needed).

Then, Crew decided to follow Chase and his friends outside and got lost (Chase says his friends didn't shut the door). Our little 6 yr old neighbor girl was holding Crew's hand and bringing him home by the time I noticed he was gone. According to her, he'd made it to the street entering our neighborhood...almost to a 50 mph road. I shudder to think abt. what could've happened. I called her mom to tell her again how much I appreciated her daughter's help. Her mom said she told her she'd saved a baby's life today. It made me tear up a bit. She did!

And finally, Faith and I did a little grocery shopping tonight. While we were gone, Kirk put Chase in charge of watching T and C. Ummm, big mistake! While Chase was watching TV, the partners in crime got on the kitchen counter, turned the faucet on and sprayed down the kitchen and family room (where Chase was watching TV). There was so much water the shop vac had to be used to suck it all up. I wondered how on earth Chase didn't notice water being sprayed into the very room he was in? And...of course, where was their dad? Kirk says he was in his office "working" and says he heard the water on but thought I'd gotten home and was in the kitchen using the faucet.

I think I'll say my prayers tonight...for thanks, inspiration and patience.

Summer

We had a fun and fleeting summer. Where'd it go? Although I'm looking forward to the holidays, I already miss the warm summer days and nights. Here's what we did...

Faith went on a photo shoot w/my sis. Laura. Thanks Laura for always taking the awesomest pictures! Another favorite. Visit her photo blog, laurafarrisphotography.blogspot.com

We went to one of the best places on earth, Stanley. Here are the kids and their cousins at Redfish Lake.

Ty and Crew listening to Chase's Ipod on the way to Stanley. When it comes to traveling....whatever makes them happy, ya know!

Chase at Redfish.

Chase turned 10 in July. He is starting to mature (mentally...not physically yet, thank heavens). He really is a tender hearted little guy who loves his younger brothers...and they love him. He still gives me hugs and kisses and tells me he loves me...does that have to end? Sometimes I wish I could freeze time...I'd choose now. I love this kid!

We took a trip to Yellowstone over the 4th of July w/Kirk's family. We had a great time checking out the wild life and enjoying the scenery. Thanks Johnson's and my sis. in law Becky who planned the whole thing! When is the next family trip?

Old Faithful

Grandpa Johnson and some of the grandkids. They love their grandpa!

Before we headed to Yellowstone, we hung out at the Johnson reunion in Star Valley. Here's Faith w/some of her cute girl cousins.

Relaxing at the reunion...someone must have been watching Ty and Crew!

This picture might need a little explaining. Faith and I went to the Jonas Brothers concert w/some of my nieces and their friend. Here are the girls enjoying their front row seats. Faith was in HEAVEN!

Who's your favorite? I heard this question asked several times that night. There were so many young girls w/their moms.

Faith and Kiya before the concert.

Marlee, Kiya, Faith and Sheridan.

Ty and Crew spent a lot of time this summer trying on ALL my shoes. Here's Ty.

My sis. Laura had a baby girl, Stella, in June. She's a doll...and so very kissable.

We spent hours swimming at our neighborhood pool. Here are Faith and Kiya on suntan rock (named by Chase).

Duct tape...not duck tape

Since I've been using a lot of duct tape, I've been spelling it a lot too...and spelling it wrong. It's spelled w/a t, not a k.

Just a matter of time...again

I know I still need to post our summer pic.'s. When I get back from sunny San Diego I'll work on posting them. For now I thought I'd quickly share what I knew would inevitably happen...yes, the taking off of a diaper full of poop.

Today Ty and Crew were quitely playing in their room so I thought, yes, I can get a few things done. So I did...and so did Crew. Notice a common theme here...yes, CREW! While "playing", he took off all his clothes and his poopy duck taped diaper and climbed into his crib. The smell is coming back to me while I'm typing. I came into their room and found Crew in his crib, clothsless and diaperless, w/poop smeared all over the crib and himself. Ty was minding his own business playing w/toys (with all of his clothes on).

Can I just say, I KNOW kids come to us w/their own distinct personalities. Ty and Crew couldn't be more different. I still consider myself lucky to have gotten them here together. Life would be too easy w/o them!

Just a matter of time...

It happened today...and it was not surprise. Kirk decided to wash the car today and take Ty, Crew and Faith with him. He buckled Ty in his carseat but came in the house for a minute before he went back to buckle Crew. In that short amount of time Crew found the keys (which had been left in the middle console by me...shame on me) and put them in the ignition. He then turned the car on enough to allow him to put the car in neutral. When Kirk went back outside, Crew, Ty and Faith (who was in the passenger seat looking helpless) were slowly rolling backwards out of the garage. The car was halfway out when Kirk moved Crew over and put the car back in park. Of course I blamed Kirk for not buckling Crew...and of course Kirk blamed me for leaving the keys in the car. So, we're both at fault and both glad nothing major happened. Lesson learned...must have eyes on Crew at ALL times!

Ridiculous...I know

I know it's been forever since I've posted to my blog. No excuses. I need to sort through our summer pic.'s and then upload them...I'm working on that so check back soon. I will say that Crew is CRAZY...there, that's one big excuse why I haven't had time to blog.

Some of the things Crew does that make it hard for me to get much done are:

Climb on all of our counters...kitchen, bathroom and upstairs bar. He pulls out the bottom drawer and then pulls himself up on the counter. This is a problem...just ask Chase whose DS no longer works due to water damage. (Crew climbed on the bar upstairs then turned on the faucet and moved the faucet onto the counter...which got water on Chase's DS not to mention lots of other things).

He takes his already duck taped diaper off.

He takes the childproof doorknob covers off.

He also takes the duck tape off the childproof doorknobs.

He takes my curling irons out of my bathroom and hides by an outlet to plug them in.

Oh yea, the best is when he gets our car keys, goes into the garage, one of the older kids lets him in the car and he puts the key into the ignition...this is his all time favorite thing to to.

CRAZY KID! Anyone have any advice???

Summer so far

We've had a fun summer so far. Here's what we've been up to lately:

Faith's been laughing a lot. She has such a fun personality. She's a bit sassy at times. She's lucky she has several good friends that live in our neighborhood. She's been busy playing w/them, helping w/the babies and swimming in our neighborhood pool (sometimes 2 or 3 times a day).

I'm one of the activity day leaders for church. Faith isn't quite old enough to be in the group yet, but since I'm a leader, she often comes to our activities. We recently visited the Boise temple. The girls loved this activity. We ate lunch there and talked abt. how lucky we are to have a temple close by. The temple grounds were so beautiful!

Crew is SO busy. He figures out how to get most anything he wants. And, he got it...donuts.


I went on a field trip w/Chase and his class recently. We went to the Birds of Prey and then stopped at a park and ate lunch. He had a great year....thanks to his teacher, Mrs. Nixon.


Here are some of Chase's friends...Nick and Jackson. I think boys are all goofy at this age.


Here is the horse whisperer w/his horse.


Kingston is an arabian horse...he's pretty when he runs. He puts his tail up in the air (kinda hard to see here).


We went to Utah to visit family and go to our nephew's baby blessing. Here are some of the Johnson clan at the Legacy pool.

Here are Ty and Crew on the way home. Wish they liked watching movies.

On the way home from our Ut. trip, we stopped in at my parents' and took a spin in the golf cart. Crew is especially a fan. The minute we pull up to my parent's place he wants to go for a ride.

Ty and Crew...19 months

I took Ty and Crew over to my sister Laura's house Friday so she could take a few pictures of them. They haven't had their picture taken for awhile and I thought I'd see if we could get a few. Check out Laura's blog to see what she got:

http://laurafarrisphotography.blogspot.com/

As you can see from Laura's post...it didn't go so well. Ty started crying immediately followed quickly by Crew. Before Crew broke down he managed to give Ty a kiss for comfort. I love 'em both.

The Latest...

Here are a few recent pictures: (I am frustrated w/the spacing b/t each picture. I've decided I'm not going to spend any more time trying the fix this...maybe later).

One of Ty and Crew's favorite past times. Ty was laughing here...guess he thought Crew looked funny.

They love to sit here and spray eachother w/the water bottle.

Faith got to be a cheerleader for a day. Here she is at the high school doing her cheer.

Faith just finished her soccer season. She did GREAT!

She turned 7 on April 3. As I said in my last post, she's been planning her party since last year. She'd plan my day if I'd let her. I wish I were more like her. She had specific things in mind for her party w/her friends...she planned the whole thing. We expect great things from her. We love you Faith.

One of Faith's friends gave her a Jonas Brothers CD...she listens to it EVERY day.

Faith and her friends at her party.

Easter morning.

I love this kid. Even though sometimes he drives me crazy, he's a really good kid. He's VERY kind to Ty and Crew...they LOVE him to pieces. Lately they've been wanting Chase to pick them up. When he does, they'll lay their heads down on his shoulder and snuggle w/him. Here he is about to dye Easter eggs.

Chase and his cousins dying eggs.

My sis. Noelle and her daughter, Josie.

And my sis. Tara w/Crew and Faith. Tara's the "cool" aunt. The kiddies all love her.

Faith, Chase and I went to Pocatello last month. Faith and I watched my nieces Kiya and Marlee in one of their dance competitions. Here's Kiya (right before her dance), Faith and me. They are AWESOME dancers!!! Both my nieces are so talented.

After the competition we went out to eat. Here's Faith and Kiya...they LOVE hanging out.

And here's Marlee and Faith...Faith thinks her cousins walk on water.

Chase had to make a robot for science. He really took ownership of this project and did most of it himself. He named his robot BOB. My favorite part was the green heart he made. Bob didn't make it back from school in one piece...but at least he made it there in one piece. May he rest in peace.

Kirk went to Vegas for work so I decided to go for a quick weekend w/him. Some of our friends came too. We got hooked up w/a cabana at The Palms pool. Here we met Kevin from the "Office". He was very nice...had to laugh though, he was w/a group of young, very young girls who were giggling and laughing. Hmmmm.

Inside the cabana.

The whole group after Le Reve.