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???