Birthday Girl

Brynnie Girl turned 6 yesterday and according to her that was the longest year ever!!! We actually let her celebrate a day early cuz Tan's at Scout Camp, which he's super stoked about (I've been told its like being trapped in Lord of the Flies) and wasn't going to be here for anything. So Monday we had family over for ice cream sundaes and presents.

Luvvvv this one :)

A new backpack for the big ol' 1st grader

favorite birthday dinner --Waffles with strawberries and whipped cream

On Saturday she got hot pink highlights in her hair but apparently chlorine strips it right out. She got to go to lunch with her Grandma yesterday so I let her wear a little makeup too. She's so cute. She has no problem taking pics when she's all fancied up.

Introducing

. . . baby Clark!!!

When we were in WA my friend gave me this boy babydoll that she had gotten her 3rd child while she was expecting #4. It has proven to be the best hand-me-down toy EVER!!! Huddy loves his baby. The first day we gave it to him we put a diaper on it and about every 45 min he'd come in and say "Oh, I fink he probly pooped. We should change him."

I got out one of Hud's old sleepers and put it on baby Clark and we wrapped him up in a blanket. Clark goes everywhere with Hud--although sometimes he'll come to us and say "Umm, what's hims name again?"

The first night Huddy woke up twice in a panic because Clark was lost in his covers. He is doing such a great job learning to be gentle with babies. Today I put Clark on the bed and he got mad at me. "Mom, Don't you know babies can't bweathe wiff blankets on derr faces?! GOSH!"

(there's a baby in a our ward named Clark and he came in to nursery this Sunday. Hudson fell in love with him and told us he wanted to steal him cuz he's so so so cute. That's how we came up with the name.)

Now we just wait for the real baby and hope he loves him even more. I think he will. I think he'll also be super curious about why and how babies nurse. I'm sure we'll have lots of funnies to share.

Sad

. . . yes that is a bowl balancing perfectly on top of my ginormous belly. I don't think I've ever been able to do that before, nor was it a goal of mine. At least it was full of strawberries and not ice cream. I just reached 20 lbs and with 5 weeks left I'm determined not to let it get much higher, swelling and all.

Do I look huge and tired? Yes, because I feel like I didn't sleep the whole time we were gone. I couldn't wait to get back home to my own bed, especially cuz my feet were swelling by the minute. I feel like the baby grew a TON while we were gone. Poor little guy has been so squirmy lately because he's running out of room. Hopefully he'll come a little early.

Part 2

Highlights from the parade in downtown Coeur d'Alene

Fireworks at Hayden Lake

Seriously people, Why is it so hard to take a good family picture?!

I felt I had to redeem myself after the first batch of "fireworks" I pulled out. Lucky for me we were in Idaho where "real" fireworks are legal. Sparklers were a big hit with my kids and Jared and Tanner had fun lighting off some big-boy works.

Our ridiculously long road trip - part 1

We took a week to drive up to Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area to visit some family and friends for the 4th. We spent the first night in Vancouver, WA with some friends and then drove to Amy and Jared's--17 hours in the car!!! I had bought this party pack of "fireworks" for New Year's but then we moved that night instead and never used them. They were more like party poppers and confetti chaos. But the kids all had fun cuz they got to do all of them. This was just to hold the kiddos over for the real fireworks.

I had my camera on Night setting and some of the pics turned out really bizarre--like where's the missing quarter of Bryson's head?!

I LOVE her facial expressions in these two. Sooo determined to make the fetchin' thing pop!

The Much-Anticipated Fishing Trip w/Uncle Mike and Nathan

(we were able to use this as a bribe/threat many times during the 17 hours we spent in the car. Fortunately the kids did really well and we got to use it as a reward for them)

Tavin hugging his fish, Bryson's first catch

Hud's reelin one in with Nathan, little boys love gross stuff -- like gutting fish

B's 2nd catch, Hud's 2nd catch

Reeling in some more, and. . . it wouldn't be male bonding without blood

Hud looks "special" in this one

Tanner's getting pretty good with the camera too

B driving the boat in with U. Mike, Hud with his BFF Nathan

Tanner's aunt and uncle live in Spokane and had promised to take all the boys fishing. Uncle Mike is a fabulous chiropractor who always makes me feel so much better and adjusts all of us constantly without complaining. I love when we visit him. He also became the boys' new fave. Hudson calls him his "udder Cwampa" and Tan's cousin Nathan (who is the best babysitter EVER!) became Hud's "best friend because he gives me food." [Don't I do that alllll day long too?]