Caleb is just over 7 weeks old now. I can’t believe how fast time goes when I am very busy. Caleb is now sleeping 4-7 hour stetches a night which is nice. He loves to take a bath, go for a walk, or be held. Caleb is the fussiest baby we have had. He cries if he is awake and it is hard to calm him down. When he is happy he tries to smile and make baby noises. The kids still love him to death and sometimes it is too much for Caleb. Caleb is wearing 3-6 and 6-9 month clothes. I can still squeeze him into is 0-3 month pj’s. I need to pull out the bigger ones though. This is our first baby that has had baby rolls on the thighs. It is so cute! Caleb is a great joy and we love him tons!

I have been potty training the twins for the past week. It all started last Monday the 17th. I decided it was about time they didn’t wear diapers anymore. So I was only going to potty train Jayden first and then Braxton. Well, Braxton insisted he wear underwear because Jayden was wear panties. We spent the day in the bathroom on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday was getting better and by Friday they were telling me when they needed to go potty. We had tons of accidents and a few days where nothing got done, but it was all worth it. The twins went Friday, Saturday, and Sunday without any accidents. We had one on Monday and today. I am so excited for them. They only wear diapers for naptime and bedtime now. This will cut down on diaper expenses now. I thought potty training them was going to be horrible, but it wasn’t that bad and it was well worth it!!

WOW!!! Kip and I have now been married for 5 years. We both think it seems much longer. Maybe that is because a lot has happened in those five years. We have had four kids. Kip has had three jobs. I finished school. We have bought two new cars, a swing set, and a trampoline all because of the kids. We have started a business which keeps us way to busy, tried the South Beach Diet which lasted 4 weeks, and drove a long time for many vacations. Kip and I have left the kids alone for a total of 4 nights without us and I am not sure if we have slept through the night in the past 3 years. Well, what can I say expect for the fact that we are very happy and glad to be married to each other. We love our life and kids and enjoy being a family!

I’ve really missed seeing everyone this year. We should try to get together more often. Dad has mentioned to me a couple of times that I might want to take the initiative and plan the next re-union. So here is my attempt. I’ve put a lot of thought in to where we might want to have a family reunion next year. I was hoping to find a place that is near to everyone. I think I’ve found the place!

Bear Lake: The crown jewel is Bear Lake, a large scenic lake often called “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its intense turquoise blue water. As visitors catch their first glimpse of the lake, they marvel at its color and wonder what makes the lake so blue. Sitting on one of its many white, sandy beaches, you can imagine yourself on your own little island.

 

 

 It’s basically like going to the beach but in the Rockies. It has nice sandy beaches that gently incline into the water perfect for toddlers! It’s best to go in late summer, say August, so the water is warmer. Early summer the water is really cold.

Approximate times to get there:

From Utah: 3 hours
From Laramie: 5 hours
From Wright: 8 hours
From Colstrip: 10 hours
From South Dakota: 10 hours
From California: 11 hours

Okay, so it’s not exactly in the middle. Some have to travel further than others. It is about in the middle between Mom, Eric, Buffy and Dad.

Anyways, what do you all think? Leave me a comment or email.

Caleb is five weeks old today. WOW!! Time sure flies when life is busy and there is nothing else to do but take care of the kids, house, and just plain life in general. Here are some great pictures of Caleb that we took on Monday. He loves to be outside in the evenings which seems to keep him calm. Caleb is a fussy baby or at least we think so. He cries more than all the other kids did. Although he is doing great at night. I only have to get up twice to feed him. I can’t wait until he sleeps through the night so I can sleep through the night. He is also starting to smile when we talk to him. Caleb is really strong of 5 weeks old and loves to hold his head up and roll to his side already. The kids love to attack Caleb anytime he is on the floor or in his car-seat. Sage still loves to hold him and Braxton always asks where he is when he wakes up in the morning. Caleb is so much fun to have around and we are glad he is in our family.

So, before we had Caleb the weather had been pretty nice. The kids had been swimming and playing in water a ton. The kids love to turn the water on and let it run down the driveway. They take their watering cans and fill them up and water different things. Most of the time it is weeds or the cars. One time Braxton was filling up his can and stuck the hose down in and his watering can started spraying water which all the kids found very exciting. Since we have had Caleb the weather hasn’t been warm enough to swim so these pictures are a little over a month old.

Braxton is constantly getting into trouble. Although I think it has to do with the fact that he is the only boy around with the girls and the girls are always leaving him out. I can’t remember why he was in the time out coner but Kip and I thought it was pretty funny how he went and stood with his nose to the wall. Now, he is not the only child who gets into trouble. We find the girls doing all kinds of things also. I caught Jayden throwing a ball at Caleb’s head today. That was a time out. Sage was jumping on Kip’s feet today and didn’t stop when asked so she went to time out. The only reason we have a picture of Braxton is because he puts his nose to the wall the the girls just sit in the corner.