Peas Please

The other day I decided to try peas for my little big man. He fussed and made silly grumpy faces the whole time I fed him. So I ran and grabbed my camera to document how much he didn't like peas. As soon as he saw the camera, this is what I got:

So much for the grumpy faces, I guess!

Visit with an old Friend

More than ten years ago two crazy, hardworking sister missionaries were sick and homebound in Riga and in their delerium decided to stuff their dresses with pillows to see what they would look like pregnant. One wrote "5-year projection" on the back of the photo (yeah I was on my mission when cameras still used FILM!) and sent it home. Sure enough, both young ladies were pregnant with their first kids five years later.

I have come across that photo many times since and set it aside so I wouldn't lose it. Unfortunately, I can't find it. I do, however, have the negatives and may just have to get another one printed.

It's been way too long since Megan and I have seen each other and we had a fantastic visit a few weeks ago. She made a fabulous lunch and I failed to tell her in advance that Jon had just started a very strict diet/detox and I watched her enjoy a yummy-looking chicken, artichoke, and quinoa salad. We both now have three little kiddos at home - one of her dear twins returned to heaven after being born at 28 weeks. The kids played marvelously and we spent the day catching up.

Of course, I snapped just a few casual shots of sweet little Crew - who is technically six weeks older than my little Z, and weighs all of 10 pounds. The last time I saw him was in the hospital at a whopping two pounds, so he looked so huge and healthy to me. Thanks, mana masa for the visit. We need to do it again soon!

My 18-pound hunk with his little buddy, Crew. I love the look on Crew's face!

Megan and her little miracle

Sweet, baby Crew.

Typical Day or The First of lots more Posts....

This is a typical day for my little guys....just hanging on the grass at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We love summer!

Bad Blogger

Every now and then, I just need a post like this to recommit myself to my original "journal writing goal of three times a week" that has become my blog. I have so many pictures and several posts already composed in my head. I promise (to myself mostly) that this week I will work on getting caught up. We've got a trip to St. George I barely touched on, a bunch of fun pictures of the silly three boys I wrestle with daily, an award I recently received, our 18th car in 8 years of marriage, and a reorganized LDS ward that took me out of my favorite calling of all time. Stay tuned....

We'll Miss Hans

Last night, my sister-in-law Jenny and her husband Mike had to let their little dog Hans go. Earlier in the week, he had been acting lethargic and they took him to the vet to find out he had a type of anemia where his blood cells attack themselves. After a transfusion he wasn't doing better and following a lot of prayers, they decided to put him down.

When we told Luke, he said, "I will miss Hans, he was my best pal." Then he sobbed with his head in his hands for a really long time. He still tears up whenever he thinks of his little friend. We will all miss the sweet miniature schnauzer that was the first to bless the Fuller side of the family. Here are some pictures I found of him as a puppy with baby Luke.

We love and miss you little buddy!

All Over the Place

I haven't been as good of a blogger as I should lately. Summer came up and bit me by surprise and suddenly, yard work, kids activities, baby, dog, laundry, dishes, cleaning, and dieting are making me feel a little scattered. We have an enormous pile of "pooh dirt" on the street that I have been attacking for the last couple days, weeds are choking me and everything in the yard, the garden needs some attention, Jon and I are attacking the weight loss issue, and don't even talk to me about dishes or laundry!

I wouldn't give up anything on my plate; I guess I just need to find a better balance. I find myself looking for the daily little victories, like making the kitchen look good or losing a pound or two, or looking to the little things that make me so happy. Tuesday I visited a friend and our kids had a marvelous marathon play date. It was a great day! My sister and I got together a couple nights this week, which doesn't happen nearly as often as it should. And yesterday another good friend came by to visit with her little girl. Seeing people I care about really brings me joy.

I have a full list today with some photo-editing from a shoot a few days ago, grocery shopping, yard work, laundry, laundry, and more laundry. I just might drop all of it and go see a friend.

Summer Charts

I feel like I haven't been doing the best job as a parent teaching my children the value of work. Lately I have been trying to figure out how to help them have a better understanding of the house and all the jobs that need to get done around here. The free ride ends today!

I've made daily schedules and haven't been very good at sticking with them, so I thought, this first Monday out of school, I would try something a little different. I made these job charts for each boy and everyday, they are simply expected to do their jobs before they can play with friends, play video games, etc...

I also want to put together some "extra" jobs that they can earn rewards, cash, or toys, but I'll need a trial period with these before I get anything else started.

Anyone have anything that works great for their under-motivated little workers?

(Papers, and the little star and paint elements are from Weeds and Wildflowers Seeing Stars and Juicy Fruit kits. I just made the little stars out of the fun papers.)

Abby Photoshoot

My friend BriAnna let me take pictures of her sweet little girl yesterday. It was part of my "Pay It Forward" post oh so long ago. Here is my favorite shot of the day. I posted a few more on my photography blog and will be throwing a few more online later today. One thing I realized with this little shoot. I REALLY need a girl!

2 Down 18 to Go

Five Months Old

He's five months today. Growing so fast and being so sweet are his specialties!

First Solids

This was actually a couple weeks ago, but the big boy love his rice. He is getting much better and can devour a few tablespoons-full in no time. I've even started adding it to his bottles. Yes, I said bottles. Mama is almost done nursing - wahooo!! And for you la leche leaguers, I don't wanna hear it! All kidding aside, five months is by far the longest I have breastfed, and I am ready to get my body back now. Yep, pure selfish intentions. And maybe, just maybe that last 15 will FINALLY come off!

Of course, Harry got into the action.
Give me more, Mom!

Fingers, Toes, and Talking

The Half-Sleepover

My sister and her hubby went to the Eagles concert last weekend and we got to babysit the girls. They were so excited to come over and have a half-sleepover with the boys. They called it a half sleepover because Amy and Scott came to get them in the middle of the night.

We traded them babysitting for this weekend and we went to see Angels and Demons - which we enjoyed, but that is another post. The trading babysitting thing is one of our better ideas as parents. We love having the cousins over and they had a blast. Right before we put the kiddos to bed, they lined up on the loveseat with their stuffed friends.

Lexi and Her Pals

One of my Laurels is leaving us to go live in the fabulous Bay Area where her dad just got a job. So, she asked me to take some photos of her with her friends, Alee and Kaylie. We had a ball at Thanksgiving Point, in the "free" areas. Here are a few of my faves.

Mr. Giggles

Whenever I pull out the camera, Harry gets into the action. After I took Rocco's pictures, he sat on this rock and just started giggling at himself.

How Cute is this Kid?

My inlaws' super-fun neighbors have a little chunka hunk of their own and for his momma's first mother's day, I offered to shoot a few shots of the little man. He is eight months old, a whopping 23 lbs., and just too yummy for words. The last one is just a quick snapshot of the two babies. Z had just woken up, so he wasn't so animated.

Happy Mother's Day!

My Chunky Hunk

I Just realized I never did a four month post for the chunky hunk in my life, so here we are at four and a half. He's giggling, rolling, "talking" and getting more rolls everyday!

8 Years Together

Happy anniversary Amy and Scott! Congrats on eight great years! We love ya!

Tiera's First Haircut

We took our little girl to PetSmart for her first schnauzer haircut. They did a great job and it was very reasonably priced. She looks so grown up and yes, that is a pink heart tag- it even says "princess." The boys picked it out for her and I managed to find time to be-dazzle her pink camouflage collar with some little jewels. Spoiled.

Tulip Festival

We went to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point last week. It's one of my favorite events each year there. The kids were very cute and Amy and I snapped our little photo hearts out. We enjoyed a delicious sundae at the end of the day thanks to Grandma. What a fun day!

Introducing Our Little Girl

I still have so much to catch up on, but here's our sweet little girl - Tiera Jasmine Butterball. (Pronounced TEE-ra YAZ-meen-a) Butterball is what the birth parents' owners called her since she was the fattest of the litter.

We've had her a week now and she is doing well on the potty training, getting used to the boys and their moods of either playing with her or completely ignoring and/or running away from her. She hangs out with Jon every second he is home. She's nine weeks old and Jon's sister Emily and her hubby Troy adopted her brother Garren. As a kid growing up with miniature schnauzers, it's really fun having four in the family now, including Jenny's Hans & Greta, Garren and our little Tyra. Yep, the German breed gets German names. No shedding, no slobber, and little poop. That's the best kinda dog!