Playing around

I stayed home from church with Dallin and Ashlyn today since we are all a little sick. I got kind of bored (I never stay at home ALL day long), so Ashlyn and I did a photo shoot. I am always behind the camera, so since I was kind of liking my hair today, ha ha, I thought today would be a good day to get in front of the camera. I have a remote that haven't used much so got it out and shot away. Love having one for stuff like this.

Plus I wanted to practice something I read about. The suggestion is for getting smiles, but not huge teethy grins. And what you tell your model is, “Don’t show any teeth for this one, but just think about smiling as you pose.” So I was trying to think about smiling. Silly, I know, but I may try it with people I photograph sometime.

I think Ashlyn was thinking about smiling in this one too. :)

Ok, enough thinking about it. Here is the real thing.

 Whipping the slate clean.

Pink eye and other fun stuff

Pink eye started at our house about a month ago. Tanner had it, then it was gone for a bit, then Nate got it, then Ashlyn, and now Dallin. I hope it will pass me over. Those darn drops are nearly impossible to give to a kid 4 times a day!

Tanner had another soccer game today. He is feeling discouraged. He played a team today that knew how to play soccer well; lots had played several seasons. And the Purple Panthers got whooped again. Bad. Tanner said the kids on the white team are mean. He isn't used to fighting over a ball. If he does it at home he gets in big trouble, so it is tricky. I feel bad, he is there to have fun, and some are there to win. He loves practices where they just play games to learn skills. He gets to the field all energetic and pumped, and by the end of a game defeat is written all over his face. They are 5 years olds! We should start with fun and sportsmanship in athletics. Tanner's coach is doing really great and encourages fun the entire time.

 Tanner is quite the trickster/show off on his scooter.

Do you see what Ashlyn is trying to do? I may have a walker soon. Ok, probably not actually, but this is where it all starts. I give her 2 months. 

Tanner is a faithful helmet wearer. I use scare tactics as needed, and I told him his head could crack open like an egg if he doesn't wear his helmet. If he sees someone not wearing one on their bike or motorcycle he says, "Mom, that guy is not safe/smart. If he crashes he will crack his head open." 

"Yes, Tanner, that is right."

Whatever works right? Right.

PT Class picture

I got to take the 2012 Physical Therapy Class picture this year. These are Nate's classmates who have probably seen him more than I have the last 2 years.

I actually didn't get a perfect shot, out of the 20+ pictures I took someone always had their eyes closed (Nate says it is because I didn't count before I shot. Probably true), so I learned how to swap heads in Photoshop. Can you tell whose? I bet you can't.  Gotta love Photoshop. Shhh, don't tell. :)

At that park

We had a picnic with Jordan and Michaela this evening.

Spence girls sure are cute, if you ask me. This is Capri with Ashlyn. Wish Little Miss Maylee Spence was here for the picture.

 

Soccer season begins

Tanner had his first soccer game today. It is so funny to watch 5 year olds play! I think Tanner had a hard time taking the ball from other kids; he has learned his whole life not to take things, and to share. I am happy that he gets it, but I guess we will have to teach him that in sports it is ok.  

There were 5 kids on each side playing at a time, so as you can see, this is almost all of both teams chasing the ball. They don't understand positions right now so it is a free for all.

 For kick off all of the kids get lined up in the the middle and one kid kicks it to get it going.

 The cheerleaders. Dallin found mounds of mud to play in.

 Tanner constantly had a smile on his face, he was so happy to be there playing.

 Tanner dribbled the ball pretty well when no one was there intimidating him and trying to steal it. He will get the hang of it, and I think he will like playing forward, when they learn positions.

 The kids had a hard time remembering what way to kick the ball so we constantly had to remind them. This is him pointing which way to go. Coach Christie happens to be my good friend, and is doing a great job with the team.

Game over. He wasn't really disappointed, I don't think he knew they lost--by a lot. He was tired by the end though because he played most of the game. It is a team of 8 and they rotate out, but the girls kept wanting to go out. Looks like he will get plenty of play time.

Why is growin' up so sad?

Tanner took off on the school bus today and never even looked back. I don't know what is harder your kids not looking back, or your kids crying because they don't want to leave you. I am glad we've raised a confident and independent boy, but I hope he misses me a little. He was so ready, so excited. Really, I am too, but there is something so sad about your babies getting bigger and less dependent on you, and going out in the world without your constant supervision.

We got to the bus stop and there are all these punk kids with mohawks and dirty mouths. I pulled him aside right there at the bus stop and told him that lots of kids will say mean words and do mean things, but WE don't do that. He has been gone most of the day, and I can't be there to tell him that every time someone does something that I have taught him not too. Ah! I am so nervous for him. I haven't stopped praying for him today. I just hope he remembers what we've taught him and he makes good choices and good friends.

It is very weird with only two kids at home. Going to the store was peaceful. I will definitely like that.

 Miss Ashlyn.

Tanner's 5th Birthday Party

We like to keep parties simple. This year we did dirt cake, you know the pudding-ish stuff with Oreos and gummy worms? And we went to Ross Aquatic Center to play in the water for a couple hours. It was a really great time. Nate and I had just as much fun as Tanner did socializing with his friends' parents. Although two of the pools had some "contamination" (vomit) that they had to clean out for about 45 minutes, which was gross.

Ashlyn is a water baby. She loves to crawl in up to her chin and stick her face right in it. Her brothers didn't do that til recently, and Dallin still doesn't.

This is Mason, Dallin and Tanner's buddy. Ok, Dallin looks like he was putting his face under the water, but he wasn't, he never got up the courage.

 Lazy river

 Ashlyn and Nate.

Ashyln jabbering & the boys' goofiness

I haven't taken many videos of Ashlyn, but the other day she was jabbering. She is one of those that looks right at you and says what she is thinking, and looks at you for validation. Or she just talks to herself. I wonder if she will be chatty.

 I also got this funny one of Tanner singing "Mean" by Taylor Swift with vampire teeth in his mouth. 

 

All this goofiness reminds me, today Tanner spent some of his birthday money at the dollar store. He chose silly blue glasses with a mystery nose attached; he thinks it is a dragon nose. He has barely taken them off today. Tonight we went for a walk, and he rode his bike along side us, and of course he wore his glasses while he rode. We probably could have caused an accident with all the looks he got. He didn't even notice. I SO wish I had my camera. I may have to stage a reenactment. He makes me laugh how he will wear vampire teeth or weird glasses or a cape out in public (I usually let him, I see no harm in it) and it won't even phase him that it is a little strange.

Here is Tanner in the glasses and handcuffs he spent his birthday money on. Funny what things little boys will chose to buy. Glad he is so easy to please. Hope he stays that way.

 And a picture of Dallin after he ate a blue Otter Pop. I can't even begin to tell you about Dallin's goofy quirks, so I will save that for another day. He, by far, makes us laugh the most.

And a little Ashlyn Girl

For some reason "Ashlyn Girl" has stuck. I call her that all the time.

I already had my backdrop up from taking pictures of Dustin, so I had to take a couple of Ashlyn. She just got this pair of sunglasses today.

 Look at this adorable hair! I love that she has hair. It is annoying with headbands these days, so you won't see her in them much. I think we could attempt a pony tail.

Dustin

My friend Sharla let me practice taking pictures of her newborn, Dustin. I have such a hard time with newborns! Why?!? They are naturally adorable, and they don't move, you don't have to necessarily wait for smiles, but they are so hard for me. I need more practice. If you  have a newborn, or will soon, let me take your baby's pictures please! 

Dustin didn't want to let me take pictures of him. : ( Oh well, I stole these few, and like them just fine.

I'd say go to my photography blog but I posted all the pictures of the session here.

Everyday life

I got my camera out just for fun when the kids were playing with blocks. It is kind of fun to capture ordinary life on camera.

Tanner is a tease, and kept jumping in front of the camera. He loves to hear people squealing, even me, maybe especially me. He will walk by and slap my butt. I told Nate he learned it from him, and he needs to stop before Tanner goes around slapping anyone's because it is normal occurrence at our house. lol.

 Ashlyn likes playing with the boys, and knows how to push Dallin's buttons. She had him screaming because she was taking "his" blocks. She has a mischievous side to her.

 

And she is very playful. Always raising her hands up in the air and screaming happily.

See Mickie, my kids are only half dressed too, and this is kind of a normal thing for us. :) Ashlyn's onsie isn't even snapped closed.

Dallin is very possessive and particular. It is his way or no way!

 Ashlyn adores this blanket that her Aunt Michaela made for her. She always snuggles her face in it.

Eskimo kisses

 

I love motherhood.

Did I mention?

• Ashlyn is crawling now. Right around 10 months old like the boys were.
• Tanner has pink eye; probably from all the swimming we did in Texas. You can see a video of Tanner swimming underwater on Melissa's blog. 
• Tanner threw up on the plane, and in my hands (darn little bags on the plane are not wide enough).
• It is Tanner's 5th birthday today. We will celebrate on Monday.
• Nate starts his last semester of classes on Monday! Then 2 clinical affiliations after. Exciting!

Bouncy place

Melissa found a deal on Facebook for this bouncy house place where it has all these blow up toys for kids to jump around on. It was tons of fun.

There was a section for babies too. Ashlyn just kept sinking in the ball pit.

 This one was the favorite, by far. It moved from side to side as the weight shifted.

I love Madeline's face in this one as they were about to get dumped.

There were also these little areas for them to pretend they worked in an restaurant, garage, grocery store and some others. Dallin is in to that.

 We weren't home for naps most days, so we got a lot of this. 

And look who we bumped into. My brother Jesse. He is serving in San Antonio. The zoo was in his area.