Brandon and Jennifer

Tending Babies

These are the sweet boys I tend during the week... Ryder and Kicen. They're both 3 months old. William is such a good helper. He gives them their binkies, feeds them bottles, pats their backs, and wipes their mouth with a burp cloth... it's so funny, he just does whatever he sees me do. Will was just brushing Ryder's hair. Ryder thought it was weird and wasn't having it, so he had to stop. Then he tried to brush mine... he just got the brush tangled in mine. :)

Nov 17, 2010

Bishop's Night

I love moments like this, and I never want to forget. I add this to my blog not at all to boast, but so I can remember this awesome night. We had FHE about compassion and I told the story of Heber J. Grant. He was very poor and gave his new winter coat his mother had made him to another little boy his age who needed it more.

In our ward we have a goal to collect 30 toys for the D.I. Bishop's Night. It's where parents can go to get toys for their kids for Christmas who otherwise couldn't afford to give them any.

After FHE the girls all went to their rooms to find a gently used toy of theirs to give to another child for the Bishop's Night drive.

Abbee grabbed her football she got for her birthday last July. Brandon thought Will could give one of his nice tractors he also just got for his birthday in August. Baylee had an un-opened princess puzzle. Kalyssa gave her Barbie computer... she hesitated giving it away cause she, "still plays with it while she plays school" with her sisters. After I reminded her of Heber and his example, she said she definitely could give her computer to another little girl too.
Our Bishop is also collecting cash donations to help a family in need this year in our area. The girls gave tooth fairy money and other cash they had in their piggy banks to donate. It is so rewarding to see when your children grasp what you're trying to teach them, and to hear them pray for those families in their prayers.

Nov 15, 2010

Check-Up Time

Now that William is 15 months old he is due for more shots. He needed 3 at this doctor visit. :( The nurses are so good at getting it over with fast... he didn't cry long at all. He's lying on the exam table after it's all over... playing with his John Deere tool... all better.

Nov 15, 2010

A New Coat

Will turned 15 months old today, and this is his 1st toddler coat! His hoodie sweater won't cut it in this 40 degree weather we've had this week. Brrr! Winter is here!

Brandon and I went shopping after taking these photos... he looked so cute... drowning in it being in his car seat and looked like such a little man walking through the parking lot with his new puffy coat. lol. I loved it.

Nov 11, 2010

William and his cousin Taylee play in our sandbox. I was taking pictures cause I'm still laughing to myself about his coat. He's so cute, and reminds me of a penguin... a big body with no arms or legs...
Nov 13, 2010

Kids With A Camera

The girls played house and had the idea to act like they were at a portrait studio and used my camera to take the pictures of their "families". They chose my red table cloth as the backdrop and took turns using the camera. Baylee took some of the first photos, and as the professional photographer she was, she'd make comments like, "Oh, you have such a cute family" as they posed for her.

Taylee

Some are out of focus...

Makayla and Abbee

Kalyssa, Makayla, and Abbee

Makayla seems jolly...

This one is so sweet.

Baylee and her baby

The photographer got the camera upside down.

Makayla found her own camera in the toy box.

The adorable self portraits...

lol.

Nov 7, 2010

Family Photo Day

In an effort to save money, I had my sister Mary come over on Sunday for dinner and to take our family pictures in front of our barn. No perfect photo shop Christmas cards going out this year, that's for sure... but that's okay, it's life. Getting all the kids to smile and look at the camera all at the same time was a joke... especially with a 1 year old. Plus, I had no patience for the wind that was blowing our hair EVERYWHERE. It was comedy and we laughed a lot.

I LOVE how all the kids individual pictures turned out though! They're super cute! I'll post them later.

How many people does it take to get Will to smile?

I'm trying to get William to smile in his individual picture... or just look at me at least. He wasn't having it.

I'm taking pictures of the girls, and I think William is so glad he's done!

My family pictures are all done and Mary didn't want her's in front of our barn, so we went down to the river to see what else we could find.

Mary is scoping out the area for a good fall tree for her family shots. We totally laughed about the one on the right, I took a quick picture of her to see if this spot would be good. Nah, it wasn't.

No luck on a spot down by the river. We walked back to Mary's Suburban and some of the cows had surrounded it. They were sticking their heads threw the open windows... some had licked other windows... Makayla stepped in cow shiz... so yeah, Mary was real impressed. lol.

Here is the best family photo we got of them... I think it's cute. :)

This was my favorite! Too cute!

Nate thought he'd tickle Mary for this one.

Most of the herd had followed us, so the kids wanted to check them out.

This cow let Taylee touch it's nose. Taylee is a natural with animals.

Nov 7, 2010

Will Gives Kisses!

I love this! We were sitting in sacrament meeting at church October 17th, William was sitting on Brandon's lap and he leaned in to give Brandon a kiss! Totally out of the blue. So we went for more, and he kept giving them to us... with his mouth wide open and lots of slobber. But I was so excited. :)

It's been a few weeks since he's been giving kisses, but this is the first picture I have of him doing it. He looks so precious here.

These are William's "Grandpa Kevin" overalls. Brandon's dad wears overalls all the time, so we nicknamed them that.

Nov 5, 2010

Doll Stroller

Missy, you can hurt Brandon for this one!!! Will was pushing around this doll stroller with legos in it. Brandon was holding Ryder and thought it would be funny to put him in the stroller, and then HE took these pictures.... so sorry!

Will pushed him around and Ryder is so good all the time, he didn't seem to mind.

Nov 4, 2010

Movie Night

Makayla, Taylee, Kalyssa, and William

My two nieces came over Wednesday evening to watch an early movie and play. They watched Ice Age and had popcorn, but had to go home at 8:30... it was a school night.

Nov 3, 2010

CTR

Baylee received her check from selling her lamb at the county fair. She's worked hard all summer, and was very blessed in the whole experience. She was happy to pay her tithing when we approached her with the idea. We had Family Home Evening about the commandment of tithing that night. Baylee is a great example to her younger siblings, and we're so proud of her. :)

Nov 1, 2010

Why?

Why does he do this? He must think there's gonna be a famine! Ever since he could feed himself he's done this. He has half a cheese stick, and half a hot dog in his mouth right here.