If only I could think of them as sleeping....

....instead of RECHARGING!

Austin Glenn

Scars are COOL......

And if things go as well as they did this last year, our kids are going to have lots of them! I am not sure if Anna and I were overprotected as children (thanks mom and dad) or if we're just terrible parents, but all three of the kids have had more stitches than Anna and I combined in just their few years of life.

Kenadee - A large ice patch spoiled her escape from church on a cold Sunday afternoon.

Halle - Equilibrium gave out on her after spinning as fast as she could. Rocking chair got in her heads way as she crashed to the floor.

Carson - While at Anna's sisters house....I am unsure of the exact occurrence.....I just know that a ball was involved and the corner of a wall got in the way.

Family Pictures

I found our photographer on Craigs List. Her name is Bethany Cook and you can find her information at http://setintimephotography.blogspot.com/. She is just starting her business and was looking for people she could practice on. We met her in Old Town Twin Falls and we really had a fun time wandering around the abandoned alleys. I love the brick walls and old painted doors. Things turned out pretty good considering that it was cold and windy and bedtime.

HOT!!!

Carson used to go around saying this word, thinking he knew what it meant. Until yesterday. Now he knows what it means and, sadly, how it feels.

Curt rode his motorcycle to work, and when he got home his little buddy went to the garage to greet him. He got curious about the bike, and touched the pipes. It's a sick feeling to see what is about to happen, yet be too slow to stop it.

After a tearful trip to the emergency room we came home with these expensive accessories.

it looks like he wants me to pick him up but he's actually waving and showing off his new hands. I think he's pretty proud of them.

He has second degree burns on his left hand and right forearm. His hand is a big blister. It makes me cringe every time I change his bandage. But, suprisingly, it hasn't slowed him down too much. As long as we keep his pain under control he acts like his same crazy self.

I feel bad because three of his favorite things will be affected--

Food--He won't be able to eat as fast or as much with only one functioning hand

Baths--He loves bathtime and he won't be able to get wet for 3-4 days. I'll just have to wipe him off and put yummy lotion on so he doesn't start to stink too bad.

Signing--he and the girls have been learning a little sign language and he really enjoys using it. It's a wonderful way to help him communicate, but not so great when his hands won't work.

Poor kiddo.

Spring has brought me such a nice suprise!!!

Welcome to crazy Idaho weather. This was Wednesday morning, April 15. Just three days earlier was Easter and it was gorgeous. You can just tell how disappointed Kenadee and Halle were to have to wake up to this.

But, it didn't stay like this for long. (It was actually all melted off by that night).

On Friday we went to my brother Brian's track meet in Buhl. It was pretty awesome to see him run in such a big meet. His relay teams got first and second, and he was second in the open 800. Way to go Brian, we're proud of you!!!

Brian's Fan Club

Kenadee, Alyvia, Halle, Carson

I wanted to get a picture of him, but he was way too fast, and wasn't going to slow down for a dumb photo oppurtunity.

Friday and Saturday we also had some friends visit from out of town. Chris and Fay Foster live in Idaho Falls, but they just recently had their first baby, Benjamin Robert, and he is struggling with some serious complications. For the last few weeks they've been staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Boise, and they needed a little break. Curt and I were so happy to see them and feel their great strength. I know this isn't what they had in mind as they begin their family, but their son is so lucky to have them as parents. When Chris first called us to let us know that their baby had been born, and then informed us of all of the challenges involved, it really helped me put things in perspective. It was a Sunday morning, and we all know how fun those can be. I was already frazzled and a little less than grateful for my kids. After his phone call I just had to stop and look at my babies. I am so thankful for my family and for all that we have been blessed with. I'm thankful for our knowledge of the gospel, and I'm thankful for the Fosters and their wonderful examples of faith and humility and optimism and strength and love.

Sunday we took a walk at the cemetery and fed the ducks.

Carson

Monday night I took the kids out to Merl and Kathlyn's and we roasted marshmallows. I thought we'd be all fancy and cook our pink strawberry marshmallows, but we found that when they get charred and covered in ashes they taste just the same as the white ones.

Halle, Kenadee, Hannah

Easter

We had such a wonderful Easter, filled with beautiful weather, fun with family, and lots of yummy food. The sweetest part was when Halle came home from Sunbeams and told us about why we have Easter. She can't pronounce all of her letters and without a translator (Kenadee), sometimes she is hard to understand. But, without a doubt we know that she knows that Jesus was resurrected and that He loves us. She was so proud of her picture and has told her story to everyone that has come to our home.

I know this picture isn't great, but we were in the church parking lot and late for sacrament meeting. I knew this would be the only time that their faces would still be clean and hair somewhat fixed.

Grandma Kathlyn graciously agreed to have Easter dinner at her house. Dinner was amazing and its always fun to hang out with Curt's family. Before we ate, the kids were able to have a fun Easter egg hunt. They have the best backyard, and it's even better when there are lots of colorful eggs waiting to be found.

Back: Autumn, Hannah, Meghan, Halle, Kenadee, Madelyn -- Front: Logan, Brett, Connor, Carson

Kenadee

Halle

Carson didn't feel like his basket got as full as the bigger kids, so he had to take matters into his own pudgy hands. He may be small, but he's pretty smart.



Carson