Bowties

The other day while sitting on the potty Loreli told me that Jack and her needed to wear bowties. So I  grabbed a few of Jack's bowties and she found the perfect ones for each of them to wear. Even though this picture is horrid, they are still so cute! I love Jack's huge smile and gappy little teeth. 

Happy Friday y'all!

Rule 23

Quite a while back I started compiling a little list of rules.  These are not rules for the kids, or rules of the road but rules of life.  For example: Rule 1- Life is not fair; Rule 2- Never touch, disturb or move a sleeping or happy baby; Rule 6- Do not put anything on a chair or the floor that you do not want sat on/stepped on and broken.

We had the unfortunate opportunity to add another rule to our book.  Rule 23- Always turn your water off if you are leaving your house for more than the night.

 It all started when a 3 dollar valve decided to stop being a valve and to be a faucet instead.  This valve broke and water was shooting past the valve stem.

This is what it did to that room

It's not like I just completely remodeled this bathroom 10 months ago, so you know, not a biggie.

As most people know, houses are not built water tight, unless they are houseboats, do those ever flood?  And would that even be a concern?  Oh no, my boat is wet!  Anyway, since the problem originated in the main floor bathroom, houses are not water tight, and since the finished part of our basement was directly below this spot, the problem went downward.

 I know it is hard to tell what you are looking at, but this is our finished basement.  Including the other bathroom that was recently completely remodeled. 

Oh well, thank goodness for rule 18- Get Insurance!  They paid out quite a bit for all the damages, more than enough to repair them, but now I have to do stuff.

Anyone want to buy a house?

There was a little silver lining in this

We found a rather cute munchkin stuffed behind the sheet rock.  Just kidding.  We had to pull up the carpet in the upstairs hallway and there was this rather gorgeous oak flooring staring back at us.  So we are just going to pull up all the carpet and go with the wood.  

Sorry for the poor quality photos we are functioning with only a phone camera right now (rule 28- digital cameras don't like bubble baths)

3 Suns Rise

While out performing my new responsibilities this morning and it was 8 below out with a wind chill factor of "what on earth am I doing outside!?", there appeared a rather strange phenomenon.  I would love an explanation from any  pseudo-astronomers or meteorologists that may be in the audience today.

 Pretty neat eh?  And I'd say that these are pretty good pictures coming from my work phone.

Hooray!

It was Shea's birthday on Sunday! Since church is now at 9:00am the kids and Shea were able to take naps after we came home and I got to do a little birthday decorating.

Loreli helped make the banner. She was so proud!

Shea's birthday treat requests: cake with strawberry filling, rice crispies and fruit.

Loreli decorating the white board.

And sadly enough I don't have any pictures of gift openings or cake eating because our little camera took a dive in the tub and the video camera takes poor photos. Alas, here are some candle blowing photos.

Shea couldn't handle 27 candles on his own, so he called in the reinforcement.

 Happy birthday Shea!

Christmas Blast

As aforementioned by Kathryn, it has been way too busy around here as of late, thus leaving the family blog somewhat unattended.  In way of catch up let me regale you with yule-time tales.

When was the last time you played a good game of world domination?  It has been a long time for me.  Good times too. And it only took 3 1/2 hours.

King of the WORLD!

 We also had a gingerbread house build off.  For anyone who knows me, or has been around while I construct a gingerbread (or graham cracker) house, it is never a house.  I don't know why, but I don't like making houses.  I made a windmill once, a 5th wheel, Notre Dame, and this year it was a track hoe.

In this picture take notice of the Santa Clause picture hanging behind us, Yeah Jack painted that.  Big Jack that is.  Short tangent:  My father is not know as "grandpa" to the grandkids, he is known as "Jack". So to eliminate any confusion, my father LaMont, or Monty, the grandpa is Jack, not to be mistaken for Jack, Baby Jack, Buddy Jack, Jack Danger, or Little Jack; all of which are my first born son.  Any questions?- Right back to the picture.  Isn't that friggin' awesome?

 We discovered that this Jack really likes pretzel logs and taking them away is not a good idea.

And presents were enjoyed by all

 This back pack very well may be Loreli's prized possession now. Thanks Matt & Kristen!

Christmas traditions very from family to family and knowing our family it is easy to guess that our most favorite Christmas tradition involves pain, competition and attacking each other in various form in the snow.

Kyle fits right in

 It was a very enjoyable time, except for that intense burning you get in your lungs when you have to sprint for your life (or 20 bucks) through knee high snow, then through a creek, then up a hill while carrying a box in 10 degree weather and you haven't done any aerobic exercise in 5 months.

Ahhhh.  I love Christmas!

We're alive!

We're alive despite our lack of blogging. Here's a little picture-less update since our last post: after giving his 2 week notice Shea was "released" from his job so we went to Star Valley a week earlier than planned. We had a wonderful Christmas and wish our trip could have been longer because upon our return home we found water in our basement. So our basement which was once finished is now unfinished. Thank goodness for home owners insurance! Loreli got a cold a few days after returning home which she has now shared with both Jack and Shea. So I've been wiping noses, making lots of gatorade while tending to restless babies. And Shea began his new job with Whiting on the 2nd! Lots of fun times and not so fun times in the last month, but that's life. 

Here are a few pictures of our sickly kids. 

These crummy pictures are from our video camera because our little camera took a swim in the tub. So bear with us.

Sickly, but still happy!