Prenatal checkup balloons

Definitely not ideal to bring the whole crew with me for my week 26 checkup.

But thanks to my midwife's fabulous ballooning skills, the kids were happy.

Home!

After 16 days, we are finally home! Had a fabulous time in Spokane. The 11 hrs of driving wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. The UNPACKING, however, might take more time than the driving! I decided to finally get ALL my belongings OUT of my parents' house. Everything. Yearbooks, clothes, crap I'm not sure what to do with... But that's my job, not theirs. So when they move someday (which I bet isn't too far in the future. That house is too massive and far away from everything) they won't have to worry about MY stuff, and neither will I. Unlike most of my siblings, who still store lots of stuff in their big basement storage room. It was a miracle to fit everything in the car It feels good to have that done! And to be home and back to reality. Looking forward to doing this roadtrip again next Summer with FOUR kids! 

bulk shopping

Are you aware that Costco now offers small children in bulk?

That's right.
Head to your nearest warehouse and they'll fill your cart with little people.

Warning: they'll want every sample, they'll be messy with it, and then they'll want more.. 

The Barbie debate

I always planned to definitelydefinitely keep Barbie dolls out of my house. Not that they're the devil, but simply because there are far better toys to play with.

However, just today, Brianna discovered my stash of old Barbies - complete with their antique travel case and full wardrobe - in the shadows of my parents' basement. And she fell in love. 
She spent the whole morning playing with them, taking Lily and Courtney along for the ride, of course.
Bennett - pictured face down on the bed - did NOT approve. He wanted them to play tag with him and they refused of course. Funny how he naturally rejects their girly toys. I don't encourage or discourage his involvement with stereotypical feminine fun.
He's just - as much as I disdain this cliche - "ALL BOY."
Anyway, so the girls love the Barbies... and Brianna is begging to take the stash back to Bountiful with us next week. I'd be more content to let those big-boobed tiny-waisted high-heeled bimbos continue to sit and rot in the basement for another 20 years. But maybe I'm being too dramatic and over-thinking this? Will playing with Barbies really turn my daughters into superficial materialistic divas with body image issues and unrealistic standards of beauty?!  Or are they just being little girls, playing instinctively and happily with dolls...

I think body image has less to do with "the media" and "toys" and more to do with what SHOULD be the prevalent influences in a child's life - their parents, home life, family, etc. So many like to blame these outside influences, instead of looking at how their own behavior and choices affect their child.  For example, when I hear Brianna say, "look at my Barbie, she's so beautiful!" I can choose to ask, "why is she beautiful?" and help coach her into, "she's beautiful because she's kind to others and strong and makes good choices and always tries her very best." Stuff like that. The good brainwashing. 

I do NOT want to be one of those uptight feminists. And I definitely don't want my daughters to be that way. I see those women as perpetually unhappy. And what is most every parent's goal? To see their children grow up to be truly happy. 

So while you'll never see me at Toys R Us buying the latest greatest Barbie.... these little nostalgic dolls and their antique wooden travel case might find a place in on our van on the way home  (after I go through and discard some of their most atrocious fashion pieces. Those 80's tube top dresses are where I definitely draw the line!)

Nonny dates

__________________________________________________________

 Got this photo texted from my mom, saying: "This is how    they look ALL the time on     NONNY dates:)" 

Yeah. Right. 

Perfect little angels.

Just glad they came back aliveand had a great time!

The Downtown Y in Spokane has the most fantastic kids pool!   

Same piano I learned to play on...

So sweet to see him pounding the keys!  Pretty sure its at least 40 yrs old....  My favorite is the "player piano" feature. I loved pretending I was playing it as a kid while the player piano did some awesome song on it.
Bennett looks so OLD in this picture! Maybe it's the new haircut from his Aunt Meredith (had to pin him down, screaming, as usual). Or maybe it's because it's becoming more REAL that he'll be a big bro soon. Baby girl has been kicking around like crazy lately!!

Because this is how we spend our days at Nonnys...

Isn't she loooooovely.... isn't she woooondeeerrrful......

It was love at first kick.  Now it's love at first sight! I can.not.wait. to snuggle our new little girl. Due early November.
Courtney just looked over my shoulder while posting this and said, "hey, iz a piture of mah sizta!!"  I'm so excited for my girls to have another sister. I grew up with lots of sisters and I think it's nothing but a blessing.
As for Bennett.... Brian said, "I'm just going to have to focus on spending more quality MAN time with him."  :)

Greenbluff Cherry Pickin

With Linds and twins

Being Nonny's buddy is tiring

Exhausted after "Enchanted    Forest Camp" at the Corbin    Arts Center with Lily!  

Backyard camping

I'm so glad Brian really enjoys the whole "backyard camping" thing. Cuz I'm pretty darn happy to stay inside on my own comfy bed. Party pooper, I know.   If having him do this role wasn't an option, and the kids begged me to set up the tent contraption and attempt to sleep out there.... I'd do it. Heaven knows I've endured much more uncomfortable things than this in the name of making them happy.  But I'm glad Brian actually WANTS to do it.

oh these two....

First (real) lost tooth!

For several years, I've seen other moms post these types of pictures on Facebook. I never understood the big deal. It was like, "...aaaaand your kid has a hole in their mouth. Congratulations."

Face paint courtesy of Kayville 4th carnival.

But now that it's MY little girl with the wiggly tooth falling out... this is front-cover Des News material.  Seriously.

I just wish I knew where that darn tooth fell out at! It was wiggly for a couple days, and I told her not to touch it. I had hoped it would wait until we got to Spokane next week, because Nonny LOVES to pull teeth (not even joking. So quirky, and frightening as a child).  I wanted my mom to have the honor of pulling out the little thing. But Brianna came up to me in shock, saying the tooth fairy had already taken the tooth away! Hmph! That sneaky fairy.  

Brianna was surprisingly 100% okay with this. Even though Nonny had informed her that tooth fairies in Spokane pay out significantly more than Utah fairies. Oh well - we'll be there for 10 days. Maybe another one will get wiggly!

Happy 4th!

Kaysville parade.