More camping pictures...

Thanks to Susan I have a couple more pictures from camping. There was one with all of the kids but I didn't want to post it without everyone's permission. We had an awesome time!

The Great Outdoors

Last weekend we went camping with some friends to Hawley Lake. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I hadn't been there in years and forgot how gorgeous it was - almost like a painting. The kids had so much fun - they ran around building forts, playing pinecone wars, fishing and playing games. Alexander caught a fairly large crawdad with his bare hands - I swear that kid is going to grow up to be the Crocodile Hunter. He has no fear! Last week he caught a corn snake at my parents house. The snake was atleast 4 feet long and Alexander picked it up like it was plastic! Anyway, it was so much fun to be camping with such a great group of people. Everyone got along and watched out for each other. We ended up having to go home a day early because Evan was teething and not sleeping at night and Max got sick. It was quite a ride home...and nice to be back in our own beds.

Alexander says his favorite part of the trip was fishing on the lake with Joe, Thomas & Robert (see the great picture Joe took)

Max's favorite part was teaching Gracie to say "bubbles"

Ben says his favorite part was "all of it"

Ian's favorite part was watching the kids have fun together and helping Max fish (thanks to Kathi & Scott for lending us the Tweety Bird fishing pole)

Mine was the great company and good food

Mini Me

My 9 year-old wanted me to post something else and as soon as I wrote in the title he knew what it would be about. You've all heard "like father, like son", well that phrase really rings true in our family - especially where Alexander is concerned. Last night Alexander and I were playing "Settlers of Cataan" and Alexander did a really sneaky move (he traded with me then used the Monopoly card to get his cards back). It was a total Ian move. I was a little irked...he ended up winning the game! Anyway, as I watch my boys grow up it's fun to recognize parts of Ian and I in them. I love that they have some of our great qualities and cringe when I recognize some not so great qualities...It has also became clear to me how lucky my boys are to have such great role models in their dad and grandpas. I feel like it's so important for boys to have postive male role models to emulate and look up to. My favorite quality that Xander has inherited from his dad is his story telling. Just ask Ian to tell you about something that's happened to him and he'll have you rolling in minutes...Alexander is the same...it's like watching a carbon copy...

He's also inherited Ian's athletic ability, artistic ability, sense of humor, fashion sense, taste in music and much, much more.

Those last 10 lbs...

I have been trying to lose the last 10 lbs. of my baby weight for a few months now and I just can't understand why it won't come off! After I had my 3rd baby the weight melted off...so I just figured if I did the same thing this time around - you know...exercise, lift weights, ect. it would melt off again. Not the case. Hmmm...this might have something to do with my chocolate addiction...Yesterday at Target they had dark chocolate cherry filled Hershey kisses - those of you who are also a slave to the dark demon (Adrienne, Trina, dad...) know I could NOT resist... and they were on CLEARANCE!!!! It was a sign.

Well, I woke up today and lifted weights and was generally feeling good about myself until I stepped on the scale...I grumply plopped on the couch and declared, "I think I am in a bad mood today" to which my husband asked "why?" "Because I can't lose any weight - no matter how many times I forgo sleep to exercise, the extra pounds won't come off!" My husband looks at me and asks, "What's in your hand?"

TEETH!!!

By the fourth boy you'd think we'd have teething down. I don't even remember my other kids teething so it must not have been a big deal. My normally content 6 month old has been fussy and just down right grumpy for the last few weeks. He hasn't been sleeping well - but we just figured it was because he got his 6 month shots recently. I stuck my finger in his mouth the other day and low and behold not one but TWO teeth! Poor little guy...no wonder he has been doing what my other children have dubbed the "teradactyl cry" - it's somewhere between a high-pitched scream and cry all rolled into one ear-splitting experience.









The most frustrating thing is that he'll go from soundly sleeping....to total screaming (see picture below.....



My husband searched online for teething remedies - the only thing that seems to help is a cold wash cloth in the mouth. Oh and the BEST part is my teething baby only wants - you guessed it - ME!!! I just keep repeating in my mind "this too shall pass..."