Killer Bunnies

I come from a family who likes games, In fact it is guaranteed that when we get together as a family there will be a marathon of game playing that lasts hours!  So it's no surprise that my kids like to play games and they have just discover the joys of Killer Bunnies.  It's actually a pretty complicated and witty game that has a lot of random rules but the kids love it and usually aren't frustrated by it's complication.  

K likes to have fun and comes in and out of the game as she chooses.

D takes it very seriously,  he is out to win.  He definitely gets the most into it.

G loves to use his weapons.  He attacks at every possible moment, but he is good at alternating his target.  He still needs help so we play on the same team unless I need to go and keep  L and P out of trouble.

Let the Celebrations begin!!!

 Cameron's birthday marks the start of a long stream of birthdays in our family.  This year we tried really hard to make things special for him.  I wanted to plan a big party but he likes things simple and wanted to just have a family celebration.  As is tradition at our house, we put up balloons and a birthday banner, then waited for Daddy to get out of the shower...  Notice some of us wait better then others... Peter and Lilly really wanted those balloons and Katelyn and Dallin are scribbling away to finish their cards for Daddy.

 The kids all made birthday cards and we made him a coupon book with exciting promises like back tickles and helping to make dinner or play with the babies.

 Finally Daddy came out and it was time to celebrate!!!   we got to eat Special cereal... they only get sugary cereal like lucky charms, or peanut butter crunch on special days, Sunday being one of those days.

 Unfortunately he still had to go into work that day, but he came home early and I had made arrangements to go on a date,  It was a great day!!!

First Day of School

I can't believe how fast the summer has gone or how fast the kids are growing!!!  D is starting 2nd Grade, G Kindergarten and K 3rd Grade.  It's crazy I totally remember being their age.
This is the first year that my kids weren't super duper excited about starting school... I guess we had too much fun this summer...

 Actually this little guy was excited enough for all three of them.  He has been waiting a long time to be at the same school as 2 of his all time favorite people.  He was thrilled to drive in the Jaffers van and to ride the bus home.  Doesn't he look handsome?

She is getting so grown up, I love her so much!  She wouldn't let me fix her hair this morning, she wanted to do it herself, which I realize that most girls her age do their own hair but it made me kind of sad. 

Dallin is probably the least excited for school.  he loved every minute of summer and was sad to see it end... plus I think he was sad to say goodbye to the Xbox,  we have a very strict rule of no electronics on school days.  Good bye Xbox, we will see you on Saturdays until next summer!

 Lilly was so sad to see the kids go.

Peter didn't seem to mind everyone leaving, as long as he was able to run around outside to his little heart's content.

I usually like to drive the kids to school on the first day, I love walking them into their new classrooms and saying one last goodbye but trying to navigate my way into 3 classrooms with 2 toddler in tote was  bit over whelming. so we said goodbye at the corner where my friends Robyn and Greg Jaffers picks them up for school everyday.
Peter

fighting sleep... or just sleeping and fighting

  This is what happens when we skip naps.  Which, with afternoon church, happens more often then I would like it to.  The kids were watching a movie while I made dinner. Lilly didn't make it through the movie.

This is Peter's fight face,  I'm not sure where he learned it but it's pretty adorable... until he gets bigger and actually tries to fight people...hmmm....

our newest addition

  on my way to out stake woman's conference I passed a some neighbors selling little bunnies, I called Cameron to tell him about it, thinking that the kids would have a fun time looking at the bunnies, I ended the conversation with "I really don't think we want a bunny right now"

When I came home from the conference, everyone was gone and Cameron had forgotten his phone.  I noticed a brand new rabbit water bottle but there wasn't a bunny in sight. so I wasn't sure what to think. When the kids got home they ran to the back yard to show me our new pet hiding behind the toy box on our back patio. He is awfully cute...

With our previous bunny we made the mistake of letting him roam free in the back yard most of the time and he eventually dug under the fence and hasn't been seen for 2+ years... we like to imagine that he found a nice home somewhere and is loving life.  With little Nibbles we have a pretty strict rule that if he is out of his hutch someone has to be outside with him and that someone has to be older then 2.

our last bunny also like to chew up cords and books whenever he was inside so we have a rule that Nibbles has to sit on someone's lap when he is indoors, and again 1 year olds are not to be left alone with the bunny. not that they don't love the bunny, the problem is they love his too much. I like to think of this as practice for when we bring home a newborn in a few weeks.

 Lilly gets especially upset when it's not her turn to hold Nibbles, she is pretty sure she should have all the turns. which makes me nervous for when she has a new little brother.

 I think as far as pets go rabbits are my favorite, you can love them and cuddle them unlike a fish, but they aren't in your face like cats tend to be, they also don't bark through the night like some dogs do.

 so far Nibbles seems to tolerate the extra love from his two greatest admirers. hopefully that doesn't change.

 we are all pretty excited about our newest addition.

Double Trouble

Don't let those innocent looking faces fool you.  These two can get into a lot of mischief together.  One of the things I've learned about twins is, if one doesn't think of it, the other will. 

It all started with an innocent basil plant, minding it's own business, Peter helped me put it on the table outside to get some extra sunshine.

Next thing I know Lilly has something that's bothering her on the bottom of her foot...

Peter trying to hurry and clean up the evidence.

the picking up method isn't working so well so they try the spread it out and maybe she won't notice method. which is also their solution for cleaning their trays when they are finished eating.

That's when mom comes out with the cleaning supplies, Peter is more then happy the "help"

Lilly "helps" with the finishing touches while singing the "clean up everybody" song. we sing that song a lot as we clean bookshelves, kitchen cabinets, and toy bins that have been cleared out.
It's a good thing these two are so cute.

Over the river and through the woods...

... To grandmother's house we go!   Cameron had a month long rotation in DC and after it was determined that dragging 5 kids, two of which are one, around DC would be a nightmare, we decided to spend a few weeks visiting grandparents,  I mean if you can't be with daddy, you may as well be with his family. Right?  We had a GREAT time, here are a few of the highlights:

 Grandpa Great was Lilly's best friend during our trip to Florida. she loved climbing up on his lap first thing in the morning, and pretty much anytime of the day. Grandpa didn't seem to mind.

 Don't let this cute innocent looking face fool you.  This little guy caused a multitude of messes, He is by far my messiest kid and grandma's house was no different.

 He also happens to be a pro at stealing licorice from Grandpa Bill,  how can you resist such a cute little guy?

 On Saint Patrick's day we set a trap for our friendly Leprechaun but he was too sneaky for us, he did leave us a "taste of the rainbow" for our efforts.  I'm pretty sure we'll catch him next year.

 The little ones had a great time discovering the awesome toys at grandma's house. Many of them are ones Cameron played with as a child.

True to tradition, grandma baked cookies with the kids.  Snicker doodles got the highest vote.  

Everyone knows the best part of making cookies is licking the beaters, and we knew just the person for the job...

 Grandma and Grandpa have acquired quite the little farm since we last visited, 2 donkeys, and a bunch of chickens, apparently the cat and goats had a run in with the neighborhood cougar .. or maybe it was a bear... I can't remember which.  in any case the kids had a great time feeding the animals that survived and in case you were wondering, no we did not let the kids camp out in the back yard... or even go out past dusk...

The weather was completely unpredictable while we visiting, often when the weather was suppose to be bright and sunny we got buckets of rain, so grandma made some playdoh for the kids to play with on the rainy days,  it was a hit!

 You can't have a farm without a tractor!... okay so it's actually a riding lawn mower, but it's still way up there in the category of AWESOMENESS!

not as fun to play with the mower when you have to share the seat but we still managed to have a good time.