Noooo!!!

Note the title of this post. That would be Charlie's favorite word and now my new favorite word. We both just yell no at each other all day every day. It's great fun. This is just one of his many naughty moments captured on camera. The reason a picture was taken is because Randy was home. I really don't think his naughtiness is cute anymore. I'm totally over it.

Charlie took a bottle of glitter and dumped it out on Mabel's art table.

Then he cried.

Then he went to time out.

Not as bad as a week ago when he dumped a bottle of glue on the art table and then it dripped down onto the carpet. THAT was fun cleaning times. AHHHHHHHHH!!! Okay, I just had to get that out.

Crafty Katie

Here it is. The beginning of my mega star career as a... person who makes and does super crafty things. Woohoo! I've always wanted to be one of those people. So here is my amazing blanket that I made for Faye.

Please hold the oohs and aahs until the end.
Here is my nursing cover, also for Faye. What a stylish little girl.

And here is my super cute bag.

Am I fancy or what? I am so proud of me. I seriously have no idea how to sew. I just guess. My next project should be a pioneer skirt. I have the material but... I kind of burned out. So let me work up that craft vibe and I will get back to it.

I also learned how to make salsa and can it this summer. Mmmm...salsa. It is way yummy! Who knows what I will do next? Guess you'll just have to keep reading to find out.

We Love You Faye!

First of all, I'd like you to note how we can hardly get a picture of Faye without her thumb in her mouth. Secondly, isn't it so darn cute?!!! Now to the topic of serious discussion. Can you be loved to death? This is a serious issue that my sweet Faye faces every day.

Here is big sister, Mabel, pausing for a nice picture. But as soon as the camera is off, out come the, "Oooooooooh BABY's!" Mabel probably says and screams that at Faye about 87 times a day. Covering Faye with kisses, pats, and endlessly annoying baby talk.

Ahhh, here is the sweet, unsuspecting Faye taking a brake from basking in big sister's love. Then, out of nowhere, BOOM. Big brother Charlie, (not pictured) goes for the toes. Head butts and open mouthed slobber kisses are Charlie's specialties.

When Faye does tummy time, Charlie likes to ride her like a horse. That's what little sister's are for, right? And then there are the eyes. I am waiting for a scientific experiment to prove that there are actually magnets in babies' eyes that attract older sibling fingers. I can hardly keep Charlie's fingers out of her eyes. She will be lucky to make it to age one with her eyesight intact. Good luck Faye! Mommy is trying.

But at the end of the day, there is always safety in Daddy's arms.

I love you Nauvoo

So we finally made it back to Nauvoo. I think it has been 3 years. I looooooove Nauvoo. We made it a quick trip, but it was still pretty fun. After the 1 1/2 car ride, we headed to pioneer pastimes to let the kids get their wiggles out. Apparently, pioneer children enjoyed riding on sheep. Interesting...

Pioneer children also enjoyed cooking,

cleaning,
teddy bear races,

and according to Faye, sticking their tongues out.

We went to the Relief Society garden. Mabel stood next to one of the statues.

On our wagon ride through the outskirts of town, all three of our kids fell asleep. Nice.

We also purchased some pioneer bonnets. Here are the kids trying them out on the ride home.

It was too short of a visit. We only drove by the temple and didn't make it to any of the houses. But at least we made it. Maybe in three more years our kids will appreciate it more and we can spend some more time. Nauvoo is probably my most favorite place ever. Ahhhhh (sigh).

4th of July

We were privileged with two 4th of Julys. At the Moran reunion we did tattoos, glow sticks, and lots of sparklers.

Here is Faye enjoying the festivities with aunt Heather

With 7 children running around crazy with sparklers, we were pretty lucky with only one casualty. Cousin Chloe burned her little finger on a sparkler, but she didn't need to go to the hospital, so darn it, I think we did pretty well.

4th of July with the Teed's included a parade and fireworks. No, this isn't a picture of Randy and I...it's actually Ricky and Samantha with Grandma Teed in there.

Mabel with cousin Caleb.

A valuable lesson was learned this year. If your fireworks say CAUTION: Flying flaming balls,

it in fact means that balls of flame will fly through the air. One of our fireworks started out a spraying fountain and we thought that was it...until it exploded and the balls of flame started flying everywhere. WHOOPS! We were actually very lucky no one got hurt.

Charlie with cousin Caleb

I'm booooored!

You have now entered the super fun zone. There is no boredom allowed. We took a trip to the John Deere Pavilion in Moline. If you think the best part is that it's free...you haven't been inside! We thought Mabel would have the most fun in our family. WRONG. Charlie was in Heaven. Lots of giant machinery that you can climb on and push buttons=FUN. In the evening we went to Happy Joes jungle bungle where the kids played on the jungle and the adults played games and ate, taco pizza. (drool)

Tuesday was half price day at the zoo. We rode the train and saw most of the animals before the children demanded that we go to McDonald's for lunch.

Now, if you decide to stay home, there is still plenty of fun to be had.

Trampoline jumping

binky stealing

pool swimming

karaoke singing

and playground playing.

Good times were had by all.

Vacation from H...

...eaven. No, seriously it was actually a wonderful family reunion! This was Faye for 6 of the 12 hours of the car ride back to the Midwest. And this was also Faye for 6 of the 12 hours on the car ride back home. Isn't she an angel?

Happy cousins.
Happy family.

The cousins all got along really well. The adults...we actually got along too. It was a successful gathering with lots of taco pizza and soda. The weather cooperated and we got in a hot badminton tournament and lots of outdoor activities, woohoo!