Evergreen State Fair

 Here we are at the fair!

 We walked through ALL sorts of farm animals

 and even held some.

 We went on the merry-go-round

(Just like the Berenstain Bears did)

 motorbikes

 monster slides

 and parachute swings.

 (Kitt observed)

But showing up all of those other attractions was the man who showed the kids how to make rope.  He sent Pepper and Tabor off with a rope they watched him make.  I kept asking if I could hold it for them, they kept saying no.  Rope making is fun, who knew?

Life is a Picnic

At least for these two.

I don't think it is quite that simple.  I am pretty sure our neighbors despise us.  I don't think this because of the note on the front door that read "please tell your kids not to throw rocks over the fence into my yard" it is because of our noise level and all around chaotic lifestyle. 

Example #1: All of our windows are cracked open and Pepper is throwing a super LOUD tantrum.  I have her look out the window so I could point all of the neighbors she is disturbing.  Guess who was in our front yard?  Tabor, watering the flowers with a gallon of milk.  I should probably refer to it as milking the flowers.

and then there was the time...

Example #2:  Kitt has an ear infection and has not been sleeping well.  So I spent about 10 minutes (at tops) in her room trying to rock her to sleep.  I decide to leave Kitt while I go check on Pepper and Tabor.  I look around and can't find them in the house.  I notice the door is open.  I run out.  They are both butt naked (they didn't even have the decency to leave thier undies on) whacking one of our good trees with a big stick.

Yes neighbors, it's true.  I have no control over my children.

primping with grandma

 Literally, every single time we see "Grandma Vicki" she does Peppers hair.  When we lived with her last year, it was a morning ritual.  Ribbon & bows have always been included but lately they have gotten even fancier and added flowers.

Just one last thought... If a child put on their own shoes, isn't there a 50/50 chance they will get the shoes on the right feet?  Pepper puts her shoes on the wrong feet at least 9 times out of 10.

beekeepers

Our friends moved out of state and left us their beehive!  I am ecstatic!  Now we just have to figure out what we are doing.

(we moved them at night so all the bees were back in the hive.  We covered their opening with duct tape, so all those angry bees couldn't get out during the move)

Ensign Ranch

My kids are blessed to have lots of cousins their age on both sides of the family.  They walked around in groups and the adults were constantly counting heads.  Nobody got lost, nobody got hurt. Phew!  Pepper was tent control.  She would go in our tent and decide who would be allowed in. We are working on including everyone... even the "not big kids". While we were at ensign ranch, the kids rode horses.  The workers let Robert and I lead the horse.  It is the first time they have been on a horse that went somewhere other then circles.  Both kids LOVED it.  The last picture is of Rosie while her mom was cooking.  With an i-phone she quickly became popular.  At least with Pepper and Hailey.

when does it stop?

These two are always getting into things.  I have to keep a constant eye on them.   Seriously, CONSTANT.  They get into the refrigerator, Roberts tools, wires under the desk, toilet, my sewing machine, hamster cage, the paint, the car, the camera and in this case my make-up. I think they are adorable but they are a handful. I hear cupboards banging.  Got to go.

 fun with cousins at the ocean

 Tabor found and caught this little tiny crab all by himself.  He was so proud!

 I have nephews that are identical twins.  It is hard for me to physically tell them apart.  But I do know that whenever Pepper is playing with one of them... it is Ben.  So, here is Ben and Pepper.

Here is my little chub-nut

celebrating good eaters

I can't say that my kids are the quietest or most well mannered, but I can say they rock at eating healthy foods.  They will eat anything.  My kids eat a wider variety of foods then I do.  I add a few tomatoes to the top of my salad just so they don't know that leaving them off is an option (I really don't love fresh tomatoes).  Today they ate flax-seed, blueberries & almonds in their oatmeal, snacked on pistachios and had turkey, tomato, avocado salad for lunch. This is pretty average for them.  Luckily they are naive and don't know that the majority of this world is eating chicken nuggets and french fries on a regular basis. 

(don't you worry, we do use our red robin card on our birthdays so we can have steak fries) 

this little girl

Every once in a while we all find a reason to be grumpy, but not Kitt. She is all smiles.  Thank you Kitt for changing my grumpy face into a smiley one.

happy happy birthday...

I have a list of things I have been wanting to do.  For my birthday I thought I would check a few of those things off. Blueberry picking = check.  Now I am off to the hair salon!   

farm animals

I have had a lifetime obsession with cows and goats.  They are so useful and cute, how can I resist?  Someday I will have my own.  Someday.