Random Pictures

Okay, this post is just some random picture from our life lately. In case any of you are wondering, I know that the baby banner says "I've arrived" but it lies. It looks like we aren't going to have a June baby. I honestly am not feeling anxious at all, but I do think it is funny how stressed out other people seem to be feeling about the situation. So here are the pictures.

A couple of weeks ago Britton watched while I cut Brandon's hair and then William's hair. When I finished she walked up to the chair, grabbed the drape and wanted me to cut her hair. Of course she wanted me to use the clippers, she tried doing it herself so it is a good thing the clippers were off. She was starting to a little mullet so I thought I would try to even her out a little. I must say that Caitlyn's hair was easier for the first haircut because it hadn't started curling yet.
Before......
After. Still curly.
I'm so cute! The funny thing is, with the trim she looks more like my baby pictures, but with brown hair. So I guess there is a little of me in the kids after all.
One of our good friends from Brandon's work, Emily, left for a new job so we had to go say goodbye to her. We will miss you Emily.
The kids were enjoying the sun, can you tell that we don't get enough of it? I'm not sure why Caitlyn's arms are crossed but I love the fact that William rolled up his pant legs.
I was letting Britton wander around while I read a chapter to the kids and she decided that she needed to crawl into bed with Caitlyn. The first time she stayed there the whole time. After this picture she got in trouble for hitting her sister so she had to hang out in her crib but I just love that she crawled in with Caitlyn.
The little fashionista. Britton is big into copying Caitlyn lately. So Caitlyn got out one of my old tutus so Britton had to have one also. I don't know why she grabbed my Sunday shoes but she clomped around in them for awhile. It does make quite the statement.

More Running and Father's Day

I feel like I am behind. Brandon ran another race, just a week after the half marathon, and since there was a kids 1 mile run he thought it would be fun for William and Caitlyn to run also. So he ran the 5k of the Scenic River Classic and then came home and got me and the kids so they could run. Of course we forgot our camera. I was a little worried about Caitlyn because she hadn't ever gone an entire mile at one time. William has, because he likes to go to the track with Brandon every now and then. But parents were allowed to run with their kids so Brandon ran with Caitlyn. Brandon won his age group and both the kids finished so I guess it was a success.William was excited to wear a number and the fact that he got a medal for finishing.

When the kids lined up at the beginning they were right in front. This was only a problem because there were bigger kids behind them. I wasn't close enough to tell Brandon to move them before it started and I was really afraid that Caitlyn would get pushed down. She was okay, but William got run over. Don't you love his bloody elbow? He even had a scrape on his nose and both knees were scraped and bruised. But he finished the race so I was pretty proud of him.
Run a race one day, Father's day the next makes for a pretty full weekend. William was really excited to give Brandon his gift, The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, and all of the kids made him cards. We went up to my parents' house for dinner and Brandon said that he had a good day. Love you tons babe!

Dam Half Marathon

Brandon decided to run the Teton Dam Half Marathon this year. He tried to convince some family members to run the marathon relay with him like they did a couple of years ago, but what with no training, babies and other obligations it didn't work out. I offered to run the last leg of the relay since the finish line is just down from the hospital but he just laughed. Something about me not liking to run added to the fact that I was 37 and a half weeks pregnant. He offered to do the whole day on his own but that made me feel like a bad wifey so the kids and I stayed in Teton while Brandon worked Friday night and had to get himself up Saturday morning. But he made it on time and he beat his goal, he wanted to finish no later than 2 hours. Who is that handsome guy running down the street? I was lucky and found a spot just down from the finish line that didn't have too many spectators so I could actually see him turn the corner and get a picture.
Hey, he noticed me! Not that hard to notice a largely pregnant woman standing in the middle of the road with a camera.
Here he is at the end of the race.
Brandon finished third in his age group. He said it is a good thing he is getting old. I didn't get a picture of him being handed his award, the little yellow thing because one sign said the awards ceremony started at noon and the other said 12:30 so we barely got to the park in time for Brandon to get it and there is no way I was able to walk to that end of the park in time. I did hear the announcer completely screw up Brandon's name though. I think it is funny that people struggle with our last name, it is a word in the English language. I've read it in books, seen it on maps, and even heard it in songs. So the announcer was so focused on Isle that he called Brandon "Brando" and then asked how to say Isle while he pronounced it incorrectly. Mom told me not to feel bad since people seem to struggle with Luke also.
Yes Brandon knew better, but he forgot a second pair of shoes so he wore his race shoes all day Saturday. He was rewarded with a large blister on his right foot, under his big toe and extending in between his toes. I hope you can see it. He said that he had a great experience and his training seemed to pay off. He also said that he was glad that it wasn't too hot because it was more comfortable running, and the wind kept him drier. I guess that is one good thing to say about the windy weather in Rexburg.

What's been happening

There has been a lot going on in our house and I haven't been keeping up the blog. We finally had some nice days so the kids could break out the kites that they got from the Easter bunny. It of course rained and snowed since then. I started a distance learning class so I could actually do the recertification process for my teaching certificate and I took the final this week so unless something incredibly horrible happens in the mail I will be able to send in my paperwork. Britton is officially in nursery, I'm very excited about that, and Caitlyn gave her first talk in Primary and she did a great job. We are down to two weeks for the baby, which is crazy to me and a little scary. Of course we had other things going on and for that we have a ton of pictures so bear with me.

William had some problems at school and at home with having major meltdowns and not being able to make the choice to calm down. So we had a chart for him to fill out, he had to go an entire day without completely melting down, choosing to calm himself down and making those good choices, and he filled out the entire thing. He still has his days, but it isn't almost everyday like it was, but he got to choose an activity for a reward and he chose bowling.
So happy to be bowling. He told me that he wants to go bowling for his birthday.
Caitlyn wasn't so sure about the bowling, she said that she had too many turns.


Brandon took advantage of the bumpers that were up for the kids. He got at least one strike off the bumpers.
Britton thought that it should always be her turn.

Happy family.
William's last day of kindergarten. He had a great year and is very excited about going to first grade. It has been nice that we haven't had to remember to get him to school in the middle of the morning and pick him up. Of course what with my class and not picking him up I haven't been getting as much exercise.
We had a nice day and went to the zoo with my mom and sister Clarice and her kids. The kids were really excited to see their cousins. Britton loved all of the animals, and absolutely loved the little petting zoo with the goats.
Hanging out with the chicken.

In the nest.

Brandon ran a half marathon, I'll do a different post on that, but the kids and I spent a night at my Mom and Dad's so I could meet Brandon at the finish line. William and Caitlyn were just excited to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's. My mom was excited because the marathon was running right past their house and she even made hot chocolate for volunteers at the water station outside. Next year she plans on getting doughnuts and apple cider, so if you are going to volunteer for the Teton Dam Marathon, request mile ten. Britton fell in love with my parents' cats and I managed to get some pictures.
Do you like the hat? Yes, this is June in Idaho. My parents seriously have the best cats, I don't know of any other cat that would take this treatment from an 18 month old and actually come back for more. Britton thought it was so great to hold Tabby.
Caitlyn hanging out with the kitty.
Look how content the cat looks, and she came up to the girls.

Because Brandon was running in a race, Caitlyn thought that we needed to go to the track and run a race. I say we, but I didn't actually run. I just took the picture.
Britton enjoyed her time at the track, except for the constant tripping. Her knees are pretty scraped up.
Runners take your mark. Brandon did his best to help them get the best form.
Running......
Running.......
Running..... I think Brandon would have down better in the race if he didn't have to pick up Britton.
Britton is ready. Of course in her world you run the opposite direction when they say go.
It was such a nice day that we had a tea party picnic in the back yard, complete with cupcakes. Britton didn't seem to mind that she didn't get a tea cup, Caitlyn's little set only has two, but they all seemed to enjoy it. I don't know why Caitlyn is wearing a long sleeved shirt, she had a short sleeved one on and then decided to change. The temp actually got up to the 70s this day, but she has long sleeves and tights on. Crazy girl.

A Great Idea

My kids tend to go to bed early, mainly for my sanity because of the hours that Brandon works, and so if they get through the bedtime routine without mishaps I will read a chapter from a book while the kids lay in bed. William and Caitlyn don't have to actually fall asleep, but they do have to be quiet and listen, and stay in their beds. Last night Caitlyn kept telling me that she couldn't sleep while I was reading, so I just kept telling her that all she had to do was listen. After the second or third time telling her that she looked up at me and said, "Mommy, I have a great idea. I'll ask Heavenly Father and Jesus to help me sleep." I told her that sounded like a good thing to do and finished the chapter. After the chapter was done I started doing the dishes. William came out and asked, "Mommy, how do I ask Heavenly Father and Jesus to help me go to sleep?" So I told him it is just like other prayers, reminded him how to start a prayer, ask for help sleeping, and then end the way a prayer ends. He headed back to bed but Caitlyn came around the corner and asked the same thing. So I told her the same thing and she headed to bed. I finished off the dishes and then went to look in on them and blow them some kisses. Caitlyn popped her head up and said, in the cutest little voice, "Mommy, I was like 'Heavenly Father, help me go to sleep, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." Then she smiled sweetly, giggled and put her head back down. I just thought it was cute that Caitlyn immediately thought to ask Heavenly Father and Jesus for help. Of course at other times I think that they are purposely cute so it is harder to get upset with them when they are doing things they shouldn't. But apparently something is getting through.