Little wise one

Zachary started a school for his sisters as they were playing in the basement. I overheard the economics lesson:

"If you could buy 6 fish for $12 or 12 fish for $12, which is the better choice"

He followed with lessons in ethics, morals, patriotic duty, and the appropriate treatment of employees. Quite interesting for an eight year old.

Snow Storm #2!

Bobcat Earned: check!

Smile!  C'mon...please?

Finally, he smiles when the camera is OUT OF FOCUS! 

Dressed for his ceremonial dance at pack meeting.

Receiving his Bobcat badge with his Daddy.  

Yay!  Congrats Zac!!!  We love you!

Playing In the Leaves

Payge got her first (memorable) chance to play in the leaves this week.  I wish the other two kiddos had been here as well, but it gets dark early, and so we did this while they were at school.  Next year...

She was hesitant at first, when we told her to go ahead and jump...but soon, all hesitation was gone. 

We had to inspect the slug we found hanging out on the leaf. 

Aaack!  Mom!  There's a leaf stuck in my sweater!

Leaves, comin' atcha!

This rocks.  :D

First Snow

The backyard view.  Sigh. 

 Actually, this post is a little late.  We had our first snow a few weeks ago, enjoyed it, and then it melted.  We were ecstatic to have actually had a bit of autumn weather while here in Utah, because if our memories are working right, having time to play in the leaves  is short lived.  I have a few photos of playing the leaves with Zac as a small munchkin, but I seem to remember colder weather coming much earlier. 

Yes, he was eating the snow...silly boy.

Love her laugh!!

Getting a snowman's head ready!

See this snowball?  I'm going to get you!

 They did finally finish a snowman, but he didn't last long (40 degree weather came!).  I never got a photo because I didn't think he'd disappear that fast.  A day or so later, Payge came running in the house yelling, "Our snowman is gone!  The sun took him!  That wasn't very nice."

my lips!

Payge: I don't have any lips! I licked them off!!

Payge-isms...

Lately, our 3-year-old has made us laugh so many, many times.  I love her point of view!

"Mom, I can't stop laughing (coughing)."

When her teeth are clean after brushing, "Look!  Now they are special!"

Instead of answering, "No." when asked a question, lately she answers with, "No, not at all!"

At the eye doctor (routine check-up, no worries!), the doctor asked her what the picture was of.  She looked at him incredulously, then at me with an "am I supposed to tell him it's a dog if he can't figure it out himself?" look on her face.  She finally told him (because she CAN see, in fact has excellent eye-sight), but had to be convinced that he wasn't just a wee bit crazy for not already knowing the answer.

She asked what Quin (our soon to be born son!) was doing in my tummy.  I explained he was just swimming around..."With GOGGLES?!?!" She exclaimed.

Zac's Baptism

Zac's big day!  We can't believe he's 8, but are so proud of the choices he's made thus far.

Chatting in the luncheon line. 

Grandma T with her littlest grandsons.

Payge insisted that this wasn't a party without balloons!  So, we got balloons!

Family time before hand.

Zac with his Grandpa Browning and cousin.

Stephen's sisters--minus one.

The grandmas!!  Don't let these smiles fool you, there were tears shed!