Our Little Man

Dallin's School picture turned out soooo cute! I remember hating mine especially the frist, second, third and fourth grade ones. With the missing teeth, then with the ugly bangs, then the new buck teeth growing in and then the mullet haircut (that I will never live down with some family members) YUCK! We all have to go through that though right? For those who need a quick laugh and a walk down memory lane here they are in all their glory...LOL! and it wouldn't be fair to only humiliate myself so just for giggles here is what Dustin looked like back in the day... Anyway, Dallin is so cute and grown up. No missing teeth yet, but he asks at least once a week when they will be falling out. He is doing awesome in school. He usually tackles ALL of his homework for the ENTIRE week in one night. He loves to read and is great when it comes to explaining things to his brothers. They love to sit and watch him do his math and spelling. I want to cry every morning when he "hikes" to the bus stop with his friends. The other day Dustin's mom was down and we were out front talking when he walked up the hill with his friends. He was talking to them like a little adult, acting all cool and totally with it. I couldn't help wanting to say, Yep that's my kid! Love Him!

Alex and the underware drawer...

Alex, Alex, Alex...what will he think of next? The past few weeks I've been finding stuff (you name it) in Alex's underwear drawer every time I go in to put laundry away or make beds. Most of it is harmless and just toys he wants to keep away from his brothers, but lately he's been hiding food, candy, weird stuff. This is what I found yesterday. A licked empty frosting container with the spoon still in it, a pack of gum that he took from my purse without asking and the chewed pieces of gum to go with it---YUCK! and an empty skittles wrapper. First I laughed, then I worried...what if this is some sort of a cry for more privacy and nutrition, then I took a picture, had Dustin have a long talk about things that belonged to him and what to do with them and then we cleaned out the drawer and put his p.j's and underwear away. The parental chat was short lived however. The next day Julie brought over chocolate shakes for everyone (Thanks Julie---Yummy) and the next thing I know all the shakes are missing!!! So I set off on a milkshake hunt and didn't have to look very far before I found my little Alex leaning over his underware drawer with everyone's milkshake lined up in a neat little row with only the straws sticking out. He had a HUGE grin on his face---I now know what to get him for Christmas...a row of milkshakes! Unfortunately I had to burst his bubble and explain why it wasn't nice to take other peoples shakes and why it was not healthy. He was not happy with this at all and followed up with a lot of crying and stomping. I know this is just a phase, but I thought it was cute and very ingenious. Hey you have to be creative when you have little brothers with curious minds and sticky hands right?
On a lighter note, Alex's latest movie study is Spy Kids. I love to watch him "study" the show and then act it out later and pretend he's one of the characters. So cute! It's also hilarious when at very random moments he will recite lines from the movies and they fit right into whatever we are talking about. Like the other day Derrick dropped his spoon on the floor and Alex says to him, "Watch is butter-fingers!" I laughed out loud before I could help myself!

Happy Anniversary!

Dustin and I have been married for nine whole years! I can't even believe it's been that long. I still consider us that young couple that didn't have a clue! :P (This is our engagement picture) Seriously---overalls??? What was I thinking and why didn't anyone say anything? Dustin looks like a baby. Were we really that young? Fun memories. Love ya Dusty---thanks for choosing me!

All is safely gatherd in...

At least the peaches anyway! I totally lucked out with an awesome sister-in-law who's Mom and Dad took the time to grow some fabulous peaches and she was kind enough to share with me! Thanks again C.J. for taking care of the fam' once again! I so appreciate it and will think of you when I need a quick salad on Sundays! :D Juli, The boys and I drove up to Fillmore yesterday for Tyson's missions report and she loaded us up with all of this gorgeous fruit and I mean tons and tons! I had no idea how I was going to get it all into bottles with Dustin in Atlanta, but a true angel in "mother-in-laws" clothing and an apron around her neck, showed up on my door-step to swoop in and save the day! I had no idea she was coming [hence me answering the door in basically my underwear -- seriously I have got to learn to get dressed the second I get up or it's never going to happen! :D] and she canned up most of what I had and then headed home. It was like a dream it went so fast, and now I can dream tonight instead of staying up until all hours doing it myself. I have no idea what to say except thank you for seeing a need and filling it. No questions asked, expecting nothing in return. You saved my day and I am truly grateful! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! The peaches are beautiful in their jars (68 to be exact) and it's such a nice feeling to have them on the shelf! (If they make it to the shelf that is, I love looking at them on the counter!) Thanks again everyone for your never-ending support and love.
Tyson's homecoming was great! He did an awesome job reporting and being with family is always special. The food was yummy too! Those "Kelson Women" can cook! I'm glad I consider myself one, maybe it will rub off on me someday! It was so fun to see Becky and her family back together after two LONG years!


In other news Zeke is cutting teeth---AGAIN!!! He's been fevery and cranky and not much fun. I hope this ends soon! (Another reason I am grateful to RaeAnn for helping me with peaches. There is no way Zeke would have stood for me standing there instead of holding him.) Derrick's new funny words are "Yallet" [Wallet] and "Icky Bank" [Piggy Bank]. He is totally obsessed with money right now---he finds it everywhere and loves to carry it in his "Yallet!" Also the other day during a particular stressful moment he was bawling because he couldn't find the Buzz Lighyear underwear and I was busy. I yelled down the hall, "Derrick use the eyes that God gave you and look for them!" He came running up and said, "Mom God did NOT give me my eyeballs! Heavenly Father did!" I laughed out loud!
Dallin is doing awesome in school! I can't believe how smart he is! I am in awe at how much he knows and learns every day.
Alex's current drama still "Hook". He goes around growling at all of us and telling me that I've lost my marbles! Hilarious that kid! :D

Fabulous Fall!

I am officially through with summer. I know it's still hot and doesn't quite look like fall in sunny St. George yet, but that doesn't mean I still can't move onto fall with the rest of the northern part of the state! :D And so here are a few of my favorite things about fall! I've been trying to really take note and think about all that I love about each season, here is what I've come up with so far...

1. cool morning air

2. the smell of cinnamon

3. fall decorations in all the stores---I love that the whole store seems to have a theme and it all matches from the candy at the checkout to the paper towels!

4. good dinners. Now that it's not so hot I am in the mood to think about food---i'm sure my family will be happy about this!

5. Fall-ish smells---in stores, outside, all over

6. wearing jackets and jeans

7. the kids in school---love it that they are busy and entertained!

8. Fall leaves---this might be my favorite of the fall things! I am always amazed at how trees surprise us each year with those fun colors!

9. cold weather and a good reason to stay in and watch a movie--who doesn't love Hope Floats or The Holiday? The best movies come out in the fall too!

10. caramel popcorn---yummy

11. a perfectly good reason to eat a doughnut and root beer---only good in October, although I must admit I cheated and snuck one last week!

12. Hunting season---I know I say I HATE this, but I actually do look forward to seeing a smile on Dustin's face and the kid that comes out in him when he's with his Dad and brothers. I hope my kids have that to look forward to when they are older. It's fun gabbing with the girls too!

13. Watching the world change from the green grass to the orange leaves. It's funny how people seem to change with it. No more need to be gone all the time, people seem happier with cool weather and something to look forward to.

14. School parades and parties. I always looked forward to this time of year when I was in elementary school---so much was going on!

15. Decorating my house! I love changing all the decorations and giving everything a good dusting. Funny how a little change lifts your spirits.


I also just got a little part time job and JoAnn's Crafts and Fabrics! I am way excited. Hopefully I'll have enough self control to end up with a little extra $$$ for Christmas too! Wish me luck!

Growth Spurt

Lately I have really been noticing all the changes in my kids. They seem to be growing so fast! They are getting so much bigger, and smarter, and funnier --- where does the time go?

I think it's so weird what school does to a small boy. He comes home a changed person every day. You can just see (and hear when he tells me all the goings on of the day) the growth in him. I'm amazed by this. His funny word right now is "air-hot balloon" "Mom I saw another air-hot balloon while I was on the bus going to school!"

Alex is so funny! He's the never ending actor at our house. Every time I sneak a peek at him he's imitating some funny character...it's hilarious. When he knows I'm looking he pulls one of these faces. I would love to know a smidgen of what goes on inside that head of his! P.S. He found another "Clone-Trooper" helmet at the DI the other day---he was over the moon. More funny pictures of that are sure to follow. His favorite show right now is "Hook" he studies it, memorizes all the songs and is enamored with the pirates.
Derrick has got to be going through a growth spurt right now. I find him sleeping everywhere --- except his bed. I also noticed his feet are getting bigger and he eats constantly! I have also been finding random lights on in the middle of the night when I get up with Zeke, and usually Derrick is on the floor asleep. I have got to get that kid a nightlight. I think he wakes up, gets scared, get's up turns on the light (sometimes in the bathroom, sometimes his bedroom, even Dallin and Alex's once and then doesn't quite make it back to his bed. Weird!
P.S. The picture on the left was taken with my new camera, the picture on the right with my old one. I am loving having a few (tons) more mega-pixels to work with!!!!
Zeke is turning into a toddler. His baby days are fast approaching the end. Before you know it he'll figure out how to tell me "no" too! LOL! He's walking all over the place, loves to play in my make-up [all my blush and eye-shadow are now in bits because he's dropped them on the tile floor---grumble, grumble], and he tries hard to keep up with his brothers, a very daunting task if you ask me. :D

I hope they stay little a while longer, there is so much to going on all the time I sometimes feel like I'm missing it!

Note to self: Take time to notice the little things in life!