Laura: 5 years old
Girl. Loves her new lipgloss and trying to be the mommy...

I am not a good party planner, especially when our location plans weren't what we thought they would be for L's birthday. So we improvised. We invited 3 of L's friends: Victoria, Lily and Warren, to come to the Children Museum and then have fudgecicles afterward in the backyard. Awesome. They painted in the art garden, dressed up at the castle, played school and banged on drums. And I didn't have to plan any of it or clean up any of the mess. I didn't even have to bake a cake! Brent made a yummy lemon cake with, of course, pink frosting for Laura's actual birthday on Sunday.

I know it's cliche' but when did she get to be so big?

Ryan: 10 months
Boy. Likes cars and balls. And making lots of noise.

Ryan finally got his first two teeth while we were in Idaho a few weeks ago. It's seemed like he's been teething for the last six months straight but he finally has something to show for all that drooling and chewing.

Ryan's crawling around and squealing and of course sticking everything in his mouth:) He's also pulling up on anything that will hold still and occasionally, when he's not paying attention he'll let go for a few seconds. You can tell in the above pic that he's had a black eye for the last week. The chair won that round.
This last picture captures where he's at right now: trying desperately, on tippy-toes, to see everthing and be into everything. He wants so bad to keep up with his sisters!

He's in the delicious, not a toddler yet, but not a little baby anymore stage. Just chubby rolls, messy meals, infectious chuckles, and still lots of naps.

You know you're in Idaho when...



The hay bailer in the front yard keeps the kids entertained for a half an hour.

They still throw candy at the fourth of July parade, the temperatures were only around 87, and the Ray's carwash boys can dance better than the cheerleaders...

Staying and playing in the pool, the sandbox, on the swingset, and with the cousins is better than going anywhere else.

I came down to Idaho to take care of my three wonderful neices while my sister has her baby. Except that she's still pregnant. Bah on hospitals that are too full to let women come be induced. So here we are. But what a great way to wait for a little miracle.