FHE

Though 8 months pregnant, we enjoyed a hike to Cascade Springs on a Monday evening.
The boardwalks and bridges provide for a unique experience among the flora and fauna of the high mountain springs.

Snake grass is an amazing natural novelty for young and old alike.
On the way home we stopped at a Redbox and rented Mall Cop. With some help, the children prepared movie snacks.
Something about the parents' room makes movies better.

Year in Pics

My Kids Make Me Laugh

We did "comparenations" for FHE. The children took turns acting like someone else while the rest of us guessed at the name. They all acted very silly when pretending to be their dad. Not so when pretending to be their mom. When they were asked if their mom ever joked, Ada said, "Yes, she told a joke on her birthday."

Gavyn is at the age that provides for the most frequent funny comments. Today he insisted that the weather was perfect for bear hunting and that we must go immediately. When asked where we might go, he quickly suggested: "Up to Lehi, Canyon Fork or Squaw Mountain; unless we are going to shoot some deers too. Then we could just go to the park." Also, last night after Gavyn kept insisting that he wrestle his giant cousin Caleb, I relented and allowed Gavyn to give his best effort at applying some jiu-jitsu submission holds on the goliath. Caleb was too big, strong and experienced. Still, Gavyn persisted until he got really hurt and started to "get sweaty eyes." He quickly ran to me and whispered in my ear that he was done and now just wanted to get in Mommy's bed and watch Little Bear.

Mabel wants to be exactly like Gavyn. Lately that has meant that when she walks past her dad she has to stop for a moment to deliver a jiu-jitsu punch-punch combination with a roundhouse kick. It is so cute!

Emma is the tallest and fastest kid on her soccer team. She is also the most timid. So, she usually likes to run along beside the ball and let others kick it. However, she will occasionally kick the ball if no one seems to be around. I am always yelling at her to be more aggressive. Yesterday, she felt alone enough to really deliver a blow. Unfortunately, a kid some 15 yards away just stood there awed as her kick hit him square in the face, bloodied his nose and mouth, blackened his eyes and knocked him off his feet. She came running to me with a smile to ask with great delight: "Did you see that?"