The Perfect Socks

This morning Brayden said to me, "I wish I could go to a sock factory or wherever they make socks so that I could have them make me some of my own custom socks. Socks that fit just perfect and they are made just for my feet." I was trying pretty hard not to laugh because he was very serious and, if you were around for our morning routine, you would understand how socks can sometimes be very bothersome. We've gone through many pairs of socks to try and find the perfect ones. According to Brayden, Hanes crew socks are the closest we can get I guess. The seams tend to bother in some, while some just don't hug his feet the way they should. I'm guessing this too will pass...

From the College Era

This is me with my friend Megan. We got to spend some time with their family last Saturday and it was soooo nice! Our husbands met for the first time ever, and we've both had one more baby since we last saw each other!! We were roommates at BYU-Idaho (formerly known as Ricks College) and then we both went on to BYU-Hawaii and studied education. We've had so many fun memories together...whether skiing Targhee, spending the weekend in Jackson Hole or bowling at midnight (thank you Annie for the hook-ups!) to spending everyday at the beach...
now we find ourselves still in touch after all these times are behind us and we are creating even more lasting memories with our own families. Her little guy Sawyer is pictured here with Kai and Saydria. We spent the whole day together, but didn't get the cameras out until it was time to part ways. It was just a really enjoyable visit, although it seemed to go by too quickly.
Saydria and Emerson disappeared into their own little playland for quite sometime. Saydria is already trying to plan a time for when we can see them again! Megs and I are, too! Here's Jason, Megan and Saywer. We look forward to seeing you again! We will be sure to stay in touch until then!

Hiking and campfire

Trying to get the perfect amount of brown on the marshmallow. This is something that Mom does for everyone in the family when we are home, but Mom was off-duty as marshmallow roaster this evening, until towards the end... :)
Zippin' away, waiting for the hike to begin! Little Miss stuck to the front of the pack and became buddies with the park ranger for our hike. We learned about 16 different trees on our 1/2 mile hike through the trail-laden forest, and this little girl never lost enthusiasm for a single stick.
Roasted, toasted, barely warm or not at all, we love the marshmallows!

We welcome the hotness and sparkly days

Enjoying a little "ocean" experience at the science museum.
The boys were covering their eyes almost all the way to the parking lot after walking out of the museum. "It's so shiny!" and "It's sparkling sun!" were a couple of my favorite phrases leaving the building.
This is what you do with a new weed whacker box. As soon as Cole manifested himself at one end, he'd back up to sneak out the other so Brayden couldn't ever get him. Backyard entertainment at its best.

"A day with my Buddy!" said Kai.

Here are Kai and Sai waiting ever so patiently for their turn to explore the submarine. They jumped in line and had a fun time waiting behind about 20 other kids. Their enthusiasm never tired as they kept wondering to one another what kind of buttons were inside and all the things that they could do while in the half-sunken vessel. I reminded them to give me a big smile in the window and wave so that I could take their pictures from outside.
Kai remembered to check on Mommy and make sure that his picture was taken! Sai remembered that he needed to say "Cheese" to Aunt Stephanie.
After ocean explorations it was on to space. The terrific twosome walked Cole and I through the dizzying black hole over and over until I couldn't take it anymore. They would have done it a dozen more times, except Mommy/Auntie was getting seriously dizzy in the tunnel. (It's a gated bridge surrounded by a dark tunnel that spins quite rapidly and you can see the "stars" moving all around you, believe me, it makes me feel yucky.) Onward to the spaceship, where they explored more fantastic buttons and even a little motion like they were ready to take off. This was their first time in it and it was loud at first and they weren't quite sure what to expect, but after their initial test run, the boys could pass for shuttle experts. :)

Conversation with Kai

Kevin: "Momma ran her little butt off yesterday and she's tired."

Kai: "She ran her butt off?!"

Kevin: "Yes."

Kai: "Did the people at the race pick up her butt and give it back to her?"

Kevin: "Yes."

Kai: "And then Mom put her butt back on?"

Kevin: "Yes."

A socialite?

I just thought a few of you (Meghan, Rachel, Rebecca) might find something that Kevin said to me last night pretty funny. His exact words were "You're quite the socialite!" I definitely think he's using the term loosely. Do pampered chef parties count as being social? You tell me. Okay, I did attend a girls-only hot tub party last week, but that was before he made the comment.

Enjoying the sun

Here's my better half. Although he looks as though he's lounging on the trampoline, he's actually playing one of the kids' favorite games, they call it the "tripping game". They like for either of us to lay in the middle of the tramp and they run around us and we have to grab their little legs and try and trip them. Of course, that sounds just terrible, but our kids are quick and we are the ones that end up getting hurt because we accidentally get kicked or fallen upon.
And this is what Kevin got. Kai traced my body in the driveway and he kept saying "I like the hotness." However, he was referring to the hotness that his feet were feeling from the driveway...
We took the boys and their fig newtons for a bike ride today! Partway through the ride it began to rain and the boys thought it was fun!

COSI

Cole had a great time playing at the water table, even though there weren't many kids at it. A few joined him, but he was busy doing a number of things anyway.
Kids and me taking a lunch break. We brought Grandpa Christensen with us and he and Brayden were somewhere else in the museum. I stayed with these three munchkins in the kids zone since they were more interested in playing there. Brayden and Grandpa had a BLAST!!! (his words) going on the barrel ride (spinning until you get dizzy). I took a picture of him since the top is open on the ride and we could look down in, but as you may or may not have discovered, I'm no photographer.
Cole could have spent all day on the slides! He did the "whole body smile" when we walked up to it every time, trying to say "slide!"
This is when we were watching Brayden get into the barrel ride and spin! This is about as close as I come to professional photography. I thought the reflection of Kai was pretty cool! Thank you Uncle Kazutoshi and Aunt Chine for Saydria's cute little shirt!

Roses and Ashes

Do we really ever stop to smell the roses like a child does?
Cole enjoying himself at Magic Mountain. We love the kiddie play area there, the two littlest ones just go, go, go and the older ones can do other things they enjoy doing.
We went to Uncle Lonnie and Aunt Sarah's house one evening and Cole found their ash bucket next to their wood buring stove...needless to say, he was sneaky enough to get into it and play in it like it was sand. Here's Uncle Lonnie restraining a determined little boy who's been mostly brushed off after the incident.

Lately...

Here's some pics of the kids recently. Brayden reading a good book at bedtime. He shreds through a book a night, but this one is a triple-decker compilation of his favorite series for the time being. We are going to have to start a new series soon because he's just about done with this one.

Saydria built a working fan at a children's museum. As soon as she saw the things that Brayden was creating, she decided to give it a try with Mom. This was more work than playing grocery store and used more critical thinking skills than watching the glass blower in the next room, and definitely more satisfying than mixing paints to make more colors. She was amazed that it worked!
Here is Cole enjoying a bath! He races for the bathroom as soon as he hears the word. Brayden has started spelling it around him so that he doesn't end up bathing with a baby in tow.
Brayden and Kevin built a new treasure box. This one has a secret compartment, I cannot divulge the specifics about it. I fear that I have already done damage by even mentioning the secret compartment. Momma burned his initials into the front of it and I must say, it looks like the job of a paid professional. :) Brayden stained it a beautiful oak color and then he and Dad attached some leather handles to each side. It's definitely a treasure. I'll post the finished product later. (Along with those lava lava quilts, I know, I know.)


Brayden made a working radio at the children's museum. He also created an alarm and the fan. The scientist didn't want to leave this station all day. It was definitely his favorite. He was excited that we ran into his teacher and her daughter at the museum on this day also!