Watching fish, being fish

Yesterday we went with some friends to the Living Planet Aquarium. It was pretty cool! 

 Big octopus.  Jenna kept asking me "Where are his eyes?"  I am like "I have no idea!"

Touching stingrays and leopard sharks.

Logan actually didn't want to touch any animals.  He was just having fun touching the water when one of the stingrays lifted its head right up level to Logan's face. OH he freaked out!! I about died it was hilarious. 

Poor Logan.

Sharks!!!

Measuring up to some penguins.

Then last week we went to Lagoon-a-Beach with my mom.  I am so amazed at Jenna, she just has no fear.  If she were tall enough to go on the big waterslides she would have.  She loves the water.  I have never done swimming lessons (I am terrible) but we do try to teach them ourselves.  She has caught on quickly.  Carter slowly warms up to the water and then he's a fish.  He went down the slide like 50 times.  And then Mr. NO FEAR Logan at the playground is mr. wimpy near the water.  It was kind of nice to see that side of him... it was like, whaaaaat?  Logan won't leave my side?  I know where he is at all times?  He is not running as far away from me as he can??  I'm sure he'll warm up to the water eventually.  Hopefully.

The end.

CRAY-Z for ZUCCHINI

Go Zucchini, Z-U-C-C-H-I-N-I (man that was hard to spell... i'll be real embarrassed if it's wrong) Go Go Zucchini!!!!!

I was waiting and waiting for my first zucchini to be ready (and now there are like 4 sitting on my counter) because I was CRAVING this.

Yeah so dip sliced zucchini in egg, then flour, then fry in butter with salt... TRY IT!!!!!  I never thought I'd say OH YEAH BABY GIVE ME SOME ZUCCHINI but believe me I say that.  I say it lots.

I took a picture of myself eating this, but it turned out pretty creepy so I'm just gonna let that one go...

I am actually behind on a couple things I wanted to post about, I have been searching for some old pictures (Sam and Erin you better be scared... ha ha just kiddin if anyone looks awful in them it is me.)

So until then... FRIED ZUCCHINI, MAN!!!!!  It's totally healthy cause it's a vegetable, I wouldn't lie to you.

Someone's a whole year old!!!

Happy birthday Kaitlyn!!!!!  (Katie-poo.)  She turned 1 on Saturday and of course I can't believe it. 

She is honestly such a good baby.  It's funny when I think of the differences between when I had just Jenna to now Kaitlyn my 4th.  For example NOTHING interfered with Jenna's naptime, it was LAW.  Kaitlyn, yeah I try to be consistent and she is a superb napper, but I don't plan my life around it, you know?  Also with Jenna everytime I nursed her I had to go into another room, I just could not do it in front of other people, even under a blanket.  Kaitlyn... ummm yeah I nursed her everywhere, including at about 5 different restaurants, WHILE I was eating my own meal, that is talent right there! (of course she's been on the bottle for a couple months now.)  Then with Jenna I was very strict about sweets, her first taste of cake was on her first birthday.  Kaitlyn has had her fair share of sweets, I tried to hold off but when she has 3 older siblings who generously share their treats with her... plus a road trip to Arizona and oreos are the only thing keeping her happy... yeah. 

But one thing hasn't changed from my 1st to 4th... I love them to the ends of the earth and back. :) 

Kaitlyn at this age:
-been walking for about a month now.
-so easygoing.
-makes everyone laugh when she wrinkles her nose and and sniffs really hard.
-is a huge water baby, loves loves loves swimming.
-she is not a complainer, things just don't bother her and she doesn't get frustrated easily (for example when she was learning to walk and fell down ALL THE TIME she didn't cry at all, she just kept getting back up.)
-gets lots of comments on her pretty blue eyes.
-says "mama" "dada" "hi" and that's about it... but she certainly jibber jabbers lots.
-LOVES her brothers and sister.  Except when they sit on top of her (Logan).
-has two bottom teeth, one top tooth with another one on the way.
-goes to bed at 7:30 and wakes up around 8... once in a while she will still get up once at night for a bottle... no complaints here though.
-is pretty social but lately is SUPER clingy to mom.
-she's a complete joy and I love her to PIECES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Party with Nate's family. She is so lucky to have so many cousins who love her. :)

Grandma with her oldest and youngest grandchild.

Celebrating with my family. More cake, could it get any better!

My childhood best friend, Haylee (oh man we had some great times), came over with her 15-month-old little girl Brinnley... isn't she cute!!

Haylee had some important news to tell me... she's having another baby!!!!! Congrats Haylee!!!! :)

Seriously my family is hilarious. My brother Preston was practicing for marching band and if you could only see what that triggered... my dad took the funniest video ever that I really need to get a copy of... but here is a good picture.

And that was that! Happy Pioneer Day to everyone!

Knock knock, who's there?

So one drawback to having kids is the fact that when someone comes to the door and #1 I am not presentable/decent… or #2 I look like I just woke up and it’s 3 in the afternoon (see #1)… or #3 I just don’t feel like answering and risking another door to door salesman (shoot me now!)… it is pretty hard to pretend like no one is home when the person on the other side is hearing,

“MOOOMMMMM SOMEONE IS AT THE DOOOOOORRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

And then, “I get to open the door!” “No I get to open the door!!”

And then, “But we can’t open the door without mom!!!!!”

And then, “LOGAN DON’T OPEN THE DOOR! WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR MOM!”

And then SCREAMING: “NO! I DO IT!!!”

And then the sounds of a physical struggle, more screaming, and "OW!  I'M TELLING!!!!"  "WELL I'M GONNA TELL ON YOU!"

And then me yelling, “GUYS DON’T GET THE DOOR WE ARE NOT HOME!!!!!!!”

Ha ha, I don’t say that, but I want to.

So please, drop on by any given day and you just might be in for a show. Drama, comedy, and even horror, because some days I could seriously pass for a man.  Come on down, we have no shame here!

Ducks and dinosaurs

There is nothing that makes me happier than watching my kids have fun. Even if it's as low key as going to the park and feeding the ducks. I love soaking in their innocence, their joy. I love these little kids.

We went to the free (i love free!) day at the dinosaur park. We hadn't been for like 3 years so the kids were a little wary... they asked like 10 times "but, are they real?"

Gotta be one of my favorite pictures ever...

I'm so lucky I get to take these creatures home, tame them, and kiss them goodnight. :)