Classic Blameshifting

Mom: Adam, did you color on the picture frame?
Adam: No. Dallin did it.
Mom: Oh, that's sad. We don't color on anything but paper, do we?
Adam: OK, Mom. Sorry, Mom...Dallin says he's sorry.
Mom: Will you ask Dallin not to do that again?
Adam: Dallin says he won't do it again.
Mom: Good. Thank you, Adam.

Scorpion Hunting

I just experienced my first scorpion hunt at my brother-in-law's house. I can't believe we've lived here for almost nine years and this is my first time. There's something freaky about that moment when a big, fluorescent scorpion appears in the beam of the UV flashlight. It's even more freaky when it starts to scuttle away and your husband tries to squash it with his flip flop.
Of course, the boys thought it was great fun, huddling around Mitch and exclaiming over each new sighting (according to Dallin, they spotted five and killed four).

Photo Shoot

Mitch and I took some pictures of the kids over the weekend. Here are some favorites:

Brandt at 7 weeks old

Here he is wearing Mitch's own vintage 70's baby outfit

A smile

Here's Adam kissing Brandt

Just Adam

Adam prefers not to wear a shirt

Caleb is making Dallin laugh (which isn't very hard to do)

Dallin

Caleb

These two are practically inseparable. Best friends for sure.



I love these kids with all my heart. Well, except for the part in Mitch's possession.

Family Reunion

We recently got together with Mitch's side of the family in the mountains of Colorado. We had a wonderful time reconnecting with these people.


We rode the alpine slide, swam in the pool, rafted down the river, crafted together, played games, and ate together. Our kids love hanging out with cousins. I'm sure we made some lasting memories.

This was the view from our balcony.



Family photo.


The boys.

How Much Stuff Can You Fit in Your Pockets?

A pair of scissors fell out of Caleb's pocket when he bounced onto the couch yesterday. Of course, after that I made him empty his pockets. Here's what he had inside:

1 Luke Skywalker action figure with light sabre, 1 Bakugan action figure, 21 plastic gold coins, 2 stubby pencils, 9 army guys, 1 paper clip, 1 home-made toothpick from a recent camping trip, 1 22 shell, 1 9 mm shell, 6 pennies, 2 dimes, 1 toy missile, 2 toy daggers, 2 penny racer cars, the Batmobile, 9 Legos, 1 empty candy container, 1 gold medal on a ribbon necklace, 2 sword toothpicks, wallet with money inside, 8 miniature Star Wars action figures, 2 orange plastic beads, 1 2-foot length of yarn, 1 rock, 2 packets of salt, 2 pepper packets, 1 sugar packet, 1 nub of red licorice, 2 screws of different sizes, 1 safety pin, 10 flowers (crumbled and dried), 1 starlight mint candy, 1 bent nail, and 1 burned match


This is no joke. And they weren't even cargo shorts! This kid is a bona-fide pack rat. After this eye-opening exercise we made a goal that Caleb would restrict himself to 10 items per pocket. In time, we'll move to 5, and so on. And no nails, screws, or scissors, please!