Six Months

* 22 lbs

*  hello my name is scooter

* Still not a fan of solid food {I think he just hates rice cereal, maybe we need to switch things up}

* almost totally sitting up, we tend to fold in half after a few minutes

* a pro traveler

* if all my babies would sleep like gage, I would have ten {maybe not, but he sleeps like a dream}

* working on my banshee calls {high pitch screeches that boys should not be able to make}

* no teeth yet

* officially mom’s little guy now that the big girls are all in full day school  {shopping anyone?}

* unbearably Adorable!

 

August Birthdays

Yes, that would be two birthdays!  Hannah turned nine on the fifteenth and Haley tuned thirteen on the thirtieth. 

Hannah 

* girly

* creative

* loves to read

* loves to write stories

* new member of the four-eyes club

* pianist extraordinaire

* has a very special relationship with her      Father in Heaven

* loves being a big sister to her new little brother (the sisters are on a case by case basis)

* Not a big fan of most things edible, especially green stuff

* a great friend

* loves to sing and dance, wants to be a super star when she grows up

* loves her teacher this year (mrs. nalepa) of course it is only the third day of school

* fashionista

* a real, honest to goodness sweetheart!

 

Haley

* officially a teenager

* a great friend

* wonderful babysitter (seriously, she’s the best babysitter that I have ever seen!)

* a great missionary

* slightly boy crazy

* techno geek

* hates pasta

* an amazing photographer

* driven

* a good student

* beautiful inside and out

* strong

* LOVES shopping

* a hard worker when it counts (it’s just that most of the time it doesn’t count, I’m told that’s a teenager thing)

* she TOTALLY knows it all (shhh, let her live the dream for a while)

* fun

Gage Five Months

* Still a Chunkers

* Has discovered his hands and is using them quite adeptly these days

* He especially likes them in his mouth

* Has started grabbing things

* Not a huge fan of rice cereal

* Rather fond of the quick delivery method of the bottle (gotta say, Mom’s a fan too!)

* Holy Moly Rolly Polly

* A Jumparoo Champ

* His swing has asked to be retired (Thanks Em!)

* Has become known as “Alex” when “playing” with his sisters

*  Still not a fan of Church or swimming

* Loves to chit chat 

Labor of Love

I have been a little preoccupied as of late.  I have started a new adventure, business, whatever you call it.  It is occupying every little space in my head these days.  Call me crazy, I know.  My new little love is WhipperBerry.  It’s more that just a blog.  It’s a place for good food, photography, design, parties, handmade little treasures, and so much more.  I came up with the idea after becoming quite crafty towards the end of my pregnancy with Gage.  I created a few things for him that I decided I wanted to sell on etsy.com to make a little extra cash.  Then, I realized that I needed a blog to promote my stuff and then it grew from there.  I have enlisted the help from some very talented friends and we are going to try and make a go at creating a super blog.  That’s where ya’ll come in.  I need help spreading the word.  Tell all of your friends about WhipperBerry.  Facebook about it, Tweet about the virtues of WhipperBerry.  I would love to see they name WhipperBerry become as noticeable as Hungry Girl, Pioneer Woman, DesignMom or any other major name out there.  Go to WhipperBerry and grab a button to put on your blog to let people know that your read WhipperBerry.  If you don’t know how, I would be more than happy to walk you through the steps, I promise it’s not hard.  I would really appreciate any help you would be willing to offer.  More than anything, go check it out.  Leave a comment and let me know what you think.  It’s a work in progress, and I would love to hear what you thoughts are. And by all means, if you have an idea and would like to become a WhipperChick, let me know.  We’ll have to chat!

Thank you all for your help!!  I look forward to seeing all of you at WhipperBerry!

Gage Four Months

*Chunky Monkey

*19 lbs

*Sleeps like a Champ!  Seriously, the kid goes to bed at 7:30 or 8:00 and sleeps until 7:30 or 8:30 without a peep!

*Not a big fan of church

*or swimming

*Yes, he has red hair

*Loves his Jamparoo

*Not rolling over yet, he’s just rather content with the world, as is!

*Loves all his Dad’s jokes

*Giggles like nobody’s business

* Rather fond of the the word, Bon Jour

Hannah the Award Winner!

Hannah was honored at the end of the year awards ceremony for the school.  She was one of the few kiddos who were on the A-B Honor Roll!  Way to go Hannah!!

Hannah and her two BFF’s, Madi & Gracie.  All I heard about for the entire year…”Madi this and Gracie that.” These girls are tight!  They were all in Mrs. Lueck and Mrs. Rienwald’s 3rd grade class together.

Emily is also really good friends with Madi’s little sister Brenna.  It’s cool that Hannah and Emily can be such good friends with sisters.  It makes play dates much easier!

Guess Who’s a Graduate!

Emily has graduated from Kindergarten!!  She has loved her year with Mrs. Toffelmire and all of her friends and can’t wait to start the first grade.

Memory Jar

One of my loves in life is traveling! I can’t claim to be a world traveler, but I’ve been a few places.  One thing I have always struggled with, is what to bring home to remember the trip.  For years, I fell into the tourist traps and would buy t-shirt after t-shirt.  Only to bring them home, never use them and then send them to the nearest charity store a year or two later.

My Mother solved this problem years ago.  Whenever we were on a trip or visiting some place special, you would find her bending down and picking up a little pebble, or stick.  I always thought she was crazy, until I grew up and realized the brilliance she was exhibiting. So, that’s what I started doing.  I am always on the hunt for an unusual natural element that I can take home and showcase.  I now have quite the collection and thought I would share…

Pensacola Beach, FL

I fell in love with Pensacola!! The sand was soft and white, it was like walking in powdered sugar.  It even squeaked!  Mr. Mike and I would walk the beach and I gathered shells and sand dollars.  It was heavenly!! 

Seattle & Tacoma, WA

 

Ok, so these aren’t quite natural, but they are so cool.  I love, love, love Seattle and especially Pikes Place Market.  That’s where I got the “I love you more” rock.  I had to get it.  For the longest time, that has been the phrase that my oldest WhipperSnapper and I say to each other, so of course I had to get it.  The glass ladybugs are from the Museum of Glass in Tacoma.  Mr. Mike and I had so much fun at this place! Click on the pictures for more info on both places. 

Laguna Beach, CA

Several years ago we packed up the whole family, grabbed a couple of friends and headed off to Southern California.  Best Weekend ever!!  I brought these shells home from Laguna Beach.

Camping in Southern Utah

Now, I don’t exactly think of myself as the Sarah Palin type but a couple of years ago I went camping in Southern Utah and had a blast shooting.  We were with the teenage girls from my church for a week of Girls Camp and one of the activities was shooting, gotta say, I’m a natural with whatever gun I was shooting with (told ya, I was no Sarah Palin!) If I was, I would be able to tell you all about the type and caliber of the gun, but no, I just had fun blowing holes in stuff. 

St. George, UT

Another fun weekend with friends, hiking, swimming, staying up late, eating way too much, and general Tom Foolery.

This is what I end up with…

A jar full of memories!!

Happy Spot

Gage loves his swing!  Thanks to Emily for loaning us this treasure, it’s the best!

Emily’s Lunch

Emily decided to make some lunch today, normally not a big deal. She does that most of the time. She’s a rather independent little bug. Well, today didn’t go so well.

I think we have all had our fill of carcinogens today, and I think my house is going to STINK for the next ten years!! But, you gotta just laugh!

“But Mom, I pushed the soup button!”

Someone’s Six!

 

*Six going on sixteen

*Doesn’t let anything hold her down

*Free spirit

*Bundle of energy

*Unfiltered

*Loves to play outside

*A little Mommy

*Enthralled with her Brother

*Bossy

*FUN

*Ready to take on the world

*Has never met a stranger

*Knows everyone by name…even the Janitor

*Anything you can do…she can do (and she thinks better)

*A reader

*Super helper

*Shopping buddy

*Problem Solver

*Miso soup lover

*Little Mike

*Six years old

Gage Two Months

*15 lbs. 5 oz.

*22.5 in.

*Smiling like crazy

*Sleeps like a champ

*Loves his swing

*Falling into life with three crazy & busy older sisters rather well

*Loves it when people talk or sing to him, he will talk right back

*Definitely a morning person

*LOVES his sisters

*Likes to watch sports with Dad

*A little camera shy

*Favorite spot…on the freezer

*Is rather fixated with the pictures on the wall

*Not a big fan of shots (I have never seen a kid that RED)

*Likes his silky

* Edible cheeks!