Meeting Baby Grady - September 4

We went to Lubbock today to meet Grady Hubert Thomson, my brother and sister-in-law's newest addition. He was born two days ago and the kids have been very anxious to see him!

So sweet...

Wyatt's Roads - August 30

Wyatt has been fascinated with roads for the past several months. He is always watching when we go on trips to see how many lanes there are on the highways and where the roads connect to each other.

Since we returned from our trip to Idaho he has spent a great deal of time outside drawing large and rather detailed roads all over the driveway.

Overpasses, underpasses, lane merges, entrance ramps...this road has it all!

Our First Day of School - August 25

Today was the first official day of school at the Griffis Academy. The kids enjoyed our traditional pencil brownie cake for dessert. Here are some other highlights from the day...

Wyatt is in 1st grade this year. His day is a little more structured than last year, especially since Sabrina is doing school with us this year. He loved getting to do some of his lessons outside!
Sabrina is in kindergarten. She feels like such a big girl getting to do lessons with Wyatt and practiced writing her numbers today.

Colter is going to preschool at church five mornings a week and then doing a few lessons at home with Wyatt and Sabrina in the early afternoon. He loves the swings on the playground!

Monique is going to preschool three mornings a week. She loves her new teacher, Ms. 'Doza (her name for Mrs. Mendoza) and experiencing structure outside of our home is really good for her. She was very proud of the blue bouncy ball she got today!

Zane is also going to preschool two mornings each week. This gives me two mornings to just focus on Wyatt and Sabrina which is going to be very helpful as they get into the routine of school. He loves his big school backpack, even though it is as big as he is!

Visiting Grangeville - August 17-19

Just a few of the highlights from our time in Idaho...

playing in the Lochsa River...

picnics and playtime at both of the local parks...

visiting Daddy's new hospital and clinic...

picking (and eating!) huckleberries...

and stopping to visit an ancient cedar grove as we started on the drive back.

Danny vs. The Mule Deer - August 15

As you can tell from the pictures, our trip to Idaho started out with a bang - well actually it was a very loud bump! We were driving through downtown Colorado Springs at about 11:00 in the evening when Danny saw two large mule deer bucks in the middle of the interstate. He swerved slightly to avoid hitting one, which spooked the other who ran straight for our van. Monique, Zane and I were all sleeping so we missed the excitement. We pulled off at the next exit to check the damage and then continued on to Denver. The next day we were able to get a new headlight put in and will wait to get the rest of the damage fixed after we get back home. Hopefully the rest of our trip will be much less eventful!

Just the two of them... - August 11

Monique and Zane have had lots of fun this week being the only two at home...

They especially enjoyed their long playtime in the bathtub...

and eating yummy snacks!

Saying Goodbye - August 8

Buckled up and ready for some fun...

Zane was not please at all that he was being left behind. He had his backpack packed and was ready to go...

These three... - August 7

will be leaving tomorrow for a fun-filled week in Colorado with Gigi and G-pa. I'm sure going to miss them!

Baby's First Picture - August 3

Here it is - baby's first picture. We still aren't certain yet if it's a boy or a girl, but both Danny and my ob are thinking it MIGHT be a girl. We'll do another ultrasound at our hospital here (so the kids can see it) later this month.

80 Years Young - July 31-August 1

We celebrated my grandfather's 80th birthday with a family dinner and birthday reception. It was a fun weekend and a great chance to tell him thanks for all he means for our family.

Happy Birthday, Dedaddy!

Back Together - July 29

After spending some one-on-one time with Noni and Papa over the past couple of weeks, all of the kids are finally back together again. They certainly missed each other!

A Birthday Kiss - July 25

We celebrated Abi's 2nd birthday today and Zane couldn't leave without giving his cousin a birthday kiss!

What do you buy... - July 24

a little boy who really doesn't need any more toys...a snowcone machine!

Cute...and She Knows It! - July 21

Is she not just the cutest thing in the whole world? The problem is that she knows it...and she knows that we know it...and she especially knows that her daddy knows it!

Zane's Choo Train Party - July 19

Zane had lots of fun at his "choo-choo train" party!

He couldn't stop looking at his "choo-choo train boon"!

That is until he saw the "choo-choo train" on his cupcakes and decided those were even better than the balloon!

We discovered that Zane is not a big icing fan, but he loves the cake. He turned his cupcake over, ate the bottom part and left the rest (or fed it to Papa!).

He's not crying - just being a little camera shy!

It was the perfect "choo-choo train" party for our little boy!

Paisano Mission Trip - July 12-15

We drove down to Paisano Baptist Camp near Alpine for a family mission trip with several other members from our church. We worked to clean up the camp and get things ready for their camp meetings later this month. Here are some of our favorite pictures from our family mission trip...

Colter enjoyed helping put the hymnals out in the tabernacle.

Danny and the kids slept outside one night. It was the first night sleeping outside for several of them!

We enjoyed some great music and worship together!

While we were there our family had the chance to meet up with Monica, my best friend from high school, and her family.

The kids loved playing card games during our work breaks.

There were great rocks to climb around the camp.

Sweeping out the tabernacle was a big job!

One night we took a trip to the McDonald Observatory. We saw some beautiful views of the nighttime sky!

It was a great trip with just the right balance of work and play to make the kids want to go back next year!

Zane at (almost) Two - July 10

I love this picture of Zane at "almost two". He is ready for church with Jay-Jay, his Bible, his backpack and of course that goofy grin! Here are some other interesting tidbits about Zane...

1. Whenever one of his siblings gets up to go to the bathroom at bedtime he sits on his potty, too - diaper, pjs and all!
2. He loves to draw circles on the magna-doodle.
3. He has the cutest little camera smile!
4. He is climbing and sliding on the playground like a big boy.
5. He likes to meow and pretend to be a kitty cat.
6. Danny taught him how to "box" his brothers. Now he "boxes" anyone whenever he can!
7. His favorite phrase is "Yeah, dude!" He learned it from Colter.
8. He loves to help with anything - folding laundry, fixing supper - he wants to "Hep Mama!"
9. He climbs on the bathroom counter so he can brush his teeth like the big kids.
10. When he can't find me he walks around the house saying "Where are you, Mama?"

Laundry Baskets - July 7

What is it about laundry baskets that make them such perfect playthings? : )

Big Sister - July 6

Sabrina had been outside playing this morning with Wyatt and Colter. She came in for a drink and was headed back outside when Zane said, "Nina! Nina!" It was very clear that he was asking her to stay inside and play with him. She stopped and turned around to come back inside and play with her baby brother. A few minutes later this is the scene I saw in the playroom - Zane playing dolls with his big sister. Sabrina is such a good big sister and Zane loves her so very much!

"Daddy said we could!" - July 4

It was nap time for Monique and Zane. Danny was working outside in the yard and the three oldest kids were outside with him. I walked out the back door and was greeted by this sight. Before I could even say anything they all said, "Daddy said we could!" Seeing my kids in the backyard, stripped down to their underwear splashing in a big tub of water has to be one of the funnier sights I have seen in a while!

Soapy Slide - July 2

Danny made the swimming pool extra fun for the kids this afternoon when he put it under our slide and poured some dish soap on the slide. The kids were sliding "super fast" and making huge splashes!

They were all smiles about their bubbly pool!