Favorite Aunt?!?!?!

OK, so on Ryker's birthday, Lindsey had to go visiting teaching, and not wanting to pass an opportunity for the girls not to be begging to play with Kamrie for just one day, I offered to keep the kids while she went. Then I got this great idea that I should take birthday pictures of Ryker. So, I left him with the girls in the front room and went into Henry's room to hang a blanket over the crib for a backdrop. It seriously took one minute. I came out to get Ryker and he was not in the room with the girls. That's when I noticed that the front door was open. I hurried outside, and this is what I saw. "Where are you going?" I yelled out to him. "home" he replied so matter-of-factly that I started cracking up. Then I took the picture. Then he started waving and smiling for the camera. Then the girls went and brought him back in the house. What a kid!!! You have to admit he is absolutely darling, charming, handsome, and cute.

4 Months

How can my baby boy be four months already? He is such a delight and brings so much joy to our family. He is a pretty easy going kid...you'd have to be if you were being held, kissed, and mugged for most of your waking moments. The girls have yet to get tired of holding Henry. And they still last a few short minutes. Although, if I have to get dinner or laundry or something, they are really good about "tending" him.

Henry is such a smiley guy and basks in the attention that is showered on him, laughing, smiling, and blowing bubbles. He talks, babbles, and shrieks. He laughs and laughs at peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake. And he loves to be the flying Junior Birdman. {scout song from Woodbadge...leave it to Nate to come up with that one} He sleeps anywhere...even his crib. {major accomplishment for this clingy mom and subsequent four previous clingy children} He takes a bottle. {we even got to go to the temple two weeks ago for our ward conference temple trip :)} He likes to hear his name. He gets fussy at night and likes to rock back and forth in front of the tv. He is absolutely delightful. We love him bunches.

Heart Breakers

I bought these tshirts the other day for the boys. I think they pretty much sum it up. Clay and Henry{ok, ok...it was me} just had to wear theirs today. No waiting until Valentine's for them. Sam will wait...if he wears it at all. {he's not much for boasting} In fact, the mention of girls makes him grin sheepishly and turn red around his neck. He really is a heartbreaker.

Christmas Eve

Picture A Christmas

Henry was starting to give Grandma a complex. He was turned right around staring at her. Not even the doting sister in the background could divert his attention. It was pretty cute.

Christmas Eve was a really good time. We went to Grandma & Grandpa Lester's house for dinner and the nativity. There is something really sweet about having a real baby to play baby Jesus. Henry seemed to understand his role, and played it very seriously. He had an air of reverence and wonder about him. He lay quietly in the manger while the other kids played their parts. {Camera not available at that time.}

ps. found some of Craig's photos that I had upoaded to my computer

When we came home the kids opened their Christmas Eve present. {pjs...surprise, surprise} My boys have already caught on, and can't wait to see what pjs I've picked out for them.
I love the pictures we took.

Logging Truck

Aunt Lindsey gave this tshirt to Henry when he was born. It's perfect. The logging business is in his blood {South & Jones}, and part of his name {uncle burton}.

New Year's Weekend

We love to play in the snow. If only we had a little more than a skiff.

Saturday after New Years we had a family get together and played on the machines in Ron's field. Everyone had a good, cold time. The pictures are proof.

This was right at the end when the snow machines and the sleds just weren't quite enough. This little snow machine is a favorite and probably has more miles than the big one. Every once in awhile, I look at something and think...that was a good purchase. I had that thought Saturday as the girls took turns. I also wondered where the helmets were that we bought to wear while they are riding.
All bundled up and ready to ride.

Sam's not into this being pulled behind the four-wheeler on a sled thing. He's into the real deal. He wants to RIDE!!! And he's actually pretty good at it.

Goofy.

Here are the three "enjoying" their ride.But they all seemed pretty happy when they were done. See all the snow on the hats and in the fur? Imagine that being kicked up into your face at a balmy 18 degrees plus the windchill. No wonder the pink cheeks.

Lexi covered up!!!

Kayson couldn't see, but that didn't matter...he loves the machines.

Even Grandma & Grandpa joined in on the fun.

I really love this one.

Photoshoot for Christmas---New Year's Cards

Since my camera was on the fritz and I didn't get on the ball quick enough to schedule a photographer, I waited until today to take pictures for Christmas cards. (make that New Year's cards) with my amazing new camera!!!!! Canon 50D. Gotta learn how to use the thing now. SO, I caught my goofball daughters. Emma made me promise that I would only take 6 pictures. I had to take a few more. I love the lighting in my living room, but I had to put them on stools on a table to get them out of the direct sunlight. Funny, huh? Genuine laughing smiles. Love it.

What is it with sticking the tongue out? It's much cuter on a baby boy.

Then there's my little HB. He's such a character. He loves attention, and will sometimes initiate the interaction by smiling so hard that he squirms. It's so cute. He's also pretty content to watch what's going on. As you can imagine, there is plenty going on to watch.

This picture says, "I'm done smiling at you...you can't make me smile...in fact, I'm not even going to look at you."

Love the bubbles. He is always blowing bubbles with his drool.

And the tongue. He's always sticking his tongue out. Especially when he smiles.

Yes, I do have two other children who are now in school, and until they got their haircut on Tuesday night, they were looking pretty shaggy. Now is the challenge of capturing them in the daylight hours. Goal: Have the card ready for the printer before Saturday.

PS Got it done!!! As soon as we walked in the door from school, I had them change and fix their handsome, freshly cut hair, and of course that took 1/2 hour, but then we got some great ones. Unfortunately, I had to tell them to stick their tongues out. They were being too nice.

I love how chummy Clay is. The first thing he did was put his arm around Sam for the picture.

Then I have him put his arm down, and Sam leans away. He's more like me.