The Scoop

Well, hmmm....lately....we've kept pretty busy I guess. I love the fall time. I love the colors and the smells and the crispness of the air. Not a huge fan of the upcoming snow, but I am a fan of the upcoming holidays. Love it, love it. Anyway, I thought I'd just update a few of the random things that have been happening here in our little family. Hunter turns 4 in a couple of weeks. I can hardly believe it. My little baby is turning into quite the little man. You can admit it.....he's one of the most handsome kids you've ever seen. ANYWAY, regardless of any of the struggles that I have with this little guy, he'll always be my good-hearted Hunter. He's always had a special heart. That doesn't change with age. I love watching him grow and learn new things. Sometimes my heart aches and I wish he'd slow down with that, but I still love seeing all that he can do. He's incredibly smart and has a giggle that could make anybody smile. He's also amazing at sports. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen. I'm positive those aren't my genes. I sure love him.

And then there's my other little man. Talk about polar opposites. Hunter and Tanner couldn't be any more different in regards to looks OR personality. Tanner's my tough guy. As a matter of fact, I'm regularly concerned that I'll be taking him to the ER, but he manages to walk away from every episode. And bleeding or bruised, he simply doesn't care. He's high energy and delightful to watch. Everything is done with enormous intensity. He has a smile that lights up a room. It changes his whole countenance and melts a mom's heart. He's talking up a storm. Hunter has helped in this department I'm sure. Sometimes I forget my kids are so young because they communicate so well. He has the atheletic genes too. He's going to be incredibly quick on his feet. I really wish he'd participate in my slow down plan too, but time just flies by. It's hard to believe that I can love my children more every day, but I do.
And little miss Haylee. She's my little girl. She's beautiful and smart and causing all sorts of trouble since learning to crawl and pull herself up next to things. She hasn't quite made it on her feet (at least not both of them). She smiles and laughs all day long. She only complains when she's hungry or wants me to know that it's cuddle time. I love it that she wants to cuddle. She'll crawl to my feet and just lay there whining until I pick her up. Then, she's miraculously well. I get the huge two-teethed grin and she buries her head in my chest. She's starting to babble. She has a lot to say.....just wish I knew what it was. Hunter informed me today, "Mom! Haylee almost talked!" "Really, bud, what did she say?" "She said, 'da da da dis buh!' Can you believe that!?" It was hard not to laugh. I don't think I managed it very well. She loves her big brothers too. She gets so excited when she sees them and they love her to death. I can't believe there was ever a time when she wasn't mine. I love having my little girl around.

This is Haylee where I usually find her. She crawls through the house to the boys' playroom and stares at all of the toys through the sliding glass door and talks to them. It was a screened in back porch that we made into a playroom. We have a solid door in now, but it's still not sealed off and so the rampant bees always get in. No one's playing much out there right now......soon enough and she can't wait.

The hatchery bought a new John Deere Gator. Daddy always brings it home from work and parks it in our garage and the boys are in heaven. Never in my life have I met two toddlers who love tractors and four wheelers and equipment more than these too. It's almost second nature. Kind of like their Daddy, I guess. I love this picture because their smiles demonstrate their different personalities perfectly. So cute!

And there's our happy girl. She LOVES being outside almost more than our boys. Loves the wind in her face and could care less how cold it is. Probably because she knows I'll bundle her up like the kid on Christmas Story and she won't have to worry about it. Gosh, she's pretty!

Hunter has always been quite the helper, but he loves helping with Haylee the most. I can't believe my three year old can feed his little sister cereal, but he totally can. Is it a little messier than when I do it? Most definitely. But he can get the job done. Well, at least for like 5 minutes until she starts spitting (which she does quite frequently when she eats.....she thinks it's funny). Once he's been hit with oatmeal, it's suddenly my turn again. Smart kid.

Speaking of being the helpful big brother......he's also very protective. The boys love riding in the bucket of the tractor when Kyle's doing stuff around the yard. Unfortunately, Mr. Tanner is lulled to sleep by this sort of thing ALL OF THE TIME. Kyle was discing my garden area and Tanner fell asleep. He fell on Hunter. Hunter was so careful to keep him from hitting his head as they bounced around. He would also put his ear protection back on if it shook loose. He takes care of everybody. It's that heart of gold I was telling you about. Anyway, this is now one of my favorite pictures of all time.

My little brother, Joey, his wife, Sarah, and their daughter, Kennady, came for a visit this past week. They were on their way to Rexburg, but Kennady gets really car sick and so they detoured. She and Haylee had a fun time together. Kennady loved kissing her and "playing" with her. Haylee was just excited she wasn't getting beat up.:)

This is the little face I smile at all day long. She's such a cheese ball. This is the face I get when she crawls up to me, right before the whining to get picked up and cuddled starts. I'm in love with that little scrunch-nosed, "I'm in distress" face. I'm also in love with her hair. It's pure insanity. So's mine, so I can sympathize with the pain and frustration she'll feel later, but right now it's so darn cute.....and indicative of her personality.

Anyway, things are plugging right along here. The kids are getting huge and changing too fast. I can honestly say, however, that I love my job as their Mom.