A Twenty Five Percent Chance

With kids so young, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get everyone to look nice for the camera all at the same time.  In fact, most of the time we just give up.  Bless Emma, she almost always looks perfect. These pictures were taken within ten seconds of each other.  Goes to show the highs and lows of having little kids.

The Antics of Molly

I do not know if all parades are moving away from throwing candy, but the one in Idaho Falls certainly is moving away from it.  Instead of throwing candy, they have people throwing and handing out coupons.  Not living in the area, the coupons were completely useless to us, and I had built my kids hopes up for coming home with a ton of candy -- they even had little bags ready for their loot.  It was a bust.  I did not like the parade much this year.  Luckily, there's always Molly.  She LOVED the music and dancing and jumping and when I could tear my eyes away from another silly coupon, Molly was usually doing something much more entertaining than anything that was happening on a silly float.

Cousin Campout

The best part of Grandpa Camp is the Cousin Campout!  This year there were not very many cousins, and so we stuffed them all in one tent.  Five kids.  Three man tent.  Luckily my niece Dannah was crazy well prepared and even brought out a movie on her laptop to settle the kids down and get ready for a good night snooze!

Fun With The Bronsons

While we were in Idaho we stopped at the Bronsons home, which is about 30 minutes from my parents.    Nathan and I have known each other since the third grade.  I did not like him much growing up, mainly because he was a boy.  But in Jr. High, High School and at BYU, he was my best friend.  

He agreed to let the kids ride one of his calmest horses.  They had a good time going around the yard, but one day I am going to have to get these city girls on a real trail ride!  Nathan also had some dogs, chickens and a rope swing in his back yard.  The girls had a blast!

Hell's Half Acre

While we were in Idaho Garry wanted to take the kids on a hike -- but an easy one and one with a paved trail that would accommodate Braden's stroller and that was not too far away.  What better place than Hell's Half Acre?  Located between Idaho Falls and Blackfoot, it's a really old lava flow, not from a volcano but rather from a crevice from which the lava came out of the earth.  The kids can go and see lava rocks and old caves.  They had a great time hiking with their grandparents!

One More Thing

In my blog yesterday, I forgot one of Braden's favorite, favorite words.  Ball.  I took this picture about a week after Braden started walking consistently.  We were at Emma's soccer game and my brand new walker dribbled the soccer ball to the middle of the field during half time.  I was sitting with my friend Shauna and she told me to take a picture at this baby who could barely walk but knew exactly what to do with a soccer ball!

Say Again?

Braden is becoming quite the talker.  He can say my name (loudly, usually at 6 AM), he can say Molly's name, his own name, bye-bye, hello, uh-oh, thank you (dank do) and this week he has picked up everyone's favorite -- no.

Which has made nap time a little harder because he can express his preference.  Today I told him it was time for a nap.  He answered with a guttural "uh-uh".  Which is pretty universal for no.  But just in case I did not understand, he looked at me and said, "No, no."  And just in case I did not get that, he started nodding his head emphatically no.  And just in case I did not understand that, he tried to wiggle out of my arms and run away.

Nonetheless, he's still napping happily as I type.