"YES MOM" chart!

Our "YES Mom" obedience chart has been passed to Quincy.  Miles has a lot of incentives at school to be good and he is not needing our Nephi chart anymore.  So, beginning at the new year, Quincy is now using it.  

Nephi gives thumbs up and obeys.  His brothers give thumbs down and make bad choices.  When we catch Quincy doing something good, he gets to put a thumbs up on the Nephi chart. Quincy did a lot of helping mom, putting things away after I ask the first time, etc...

He gets a prize when he fills it up.  This is the first time he has filled up the chart, so I thought a "big" prize would be good. 

You know Quincy loves Michael Jordan.  Well I just happened to see this short/top set at Ross (the perfect random gifts store) and knew I just had to buy it for him.  It was his first prize.  Usually the prize is ice cream or play doh or something little.  He wants to wear this set all the time and takes off the little short sleeve jacket to eat...(so I don't get anything on it!)

Way to go Quincy!  

Buddies!

Miles and Joshua have been buddies almost as soon as we lived on the same block.  I went through some old photos....where does the time go? 

They are 2 years old here...

3 years old here...

Now they are 5, and still having fun together.  

And now younger brothers are old enough to get in on the fun!  Thanks Nancy for taking such a great pic of them!  

We are so thankful for such wonderful neighbors and friends!!

Our basketball boys!

I thought they would get over this basketball craziness!  When Miles was 3 years old and would only wear clothing/underwear/socks that had a picture of a basketball on it, it seemed a little crazy.  That phase ended, thank goodness.  When Quincy carried around the Michael Jordan videos for months and wanted to sleep with them and take baths with them, it seemed a little crazy.  That phase too has ended.  But boy do the boys still love to play.  And listening to Porter's shreaks today when one of his brothers stole "his" ball...I think we are in for more craziness!

Nature vs. Nurture

I'm not here to debate the fact.  I know that we nurture our kids to help them become who they are supposed to become.  But I also know that they come to this earth with definite personalities in place.  

Allen and I get a kick out of our boys...for lots of reasons!  They all love balls and wrestling with dad, BUT they are very unique too. 

Here's one difference we laugh at:

When you chase Miles, he runs away!

When you chase Quincy, he runs right at you and almost knocks you over!

When you chase Porter, he plays "Possum".  It's hilarious!

We love each of our boys for their unique qualities, but also glad that being part of our family binds us all together. 

Advantage in being #3!

Until today, I have felt a little bad for Quincy and Porter.  I mean, Miles got so much extra attention, etc...being our first child.   I thought about it after I took this picture today, and now I know that being #3 has it's advantages.

Miles would NEVER have gotten an oreo cookie when he was 10 months old!  I guess being furthur down the "child chain" can be good!!! 

Good thing moms learn to lighten up with experience!  Good thing for Porter that is!

Road trip to Albuquerque...

How in the world do you keep 3 boys entertained on a 10 hour road trip?  

The boys did pretty well on our long trip.  Sometimes we were pulling our hair out, but overall everyone did very well. 

If I just couldn't entertain Porter anymore....licorice sure worked!

On the way there we stopped at a hotel with an indoor pool!

We haven't been to ABQ since Miles was 18 months old.  My dad and step mom are so good about coming to see us, but we decided to make the trek this year and we are so glad we did.  The boys had so much fun.  They didn't want to come home!

We went to see an outside light display.  The dinosaur was our favorite!

Our camera man Miles taking pictures with his new REAL digital camera!

The boys finally had their first sopapillas!  They loved them!  Quincy had an issue with a painting hanging in the restaurant...he wouldn't look at the camera because he was "watching" the picture.  (the painting is in the background of the second pic) 

Miles even licked his plate clean..."Look mom, now they don't have to wash it."

We walked around Old Town.  The Native Americans sell their jewelry along the sidewalk and there are lots of fun shops.  We got to spend time with my brother, Uncle J too.  

Porter loved being with Grandpa and Grandma Hansen...and playing with the magazines....and the russian eggs...

The boys LOVED (okay so did I) the big jacuzzi bathtub that Grandpa and Grandma have.

And of course, no trip to ABQ would be complete without MANY trips to Dion's to eat!  

Thanks Allen for putting up with the MANY meals you were forced to eat there!

We had such a great trip!  Thank you Dad and Rog for making the trip so wonderful!  Grandpa took the boys on 2 hour walks almost every day.  They played basketball in the backyard a lot too.  We can't wait to see you all again......but maybe at our house next time okay? 

oh yeah....and bring me some Dion's!!!

Christmas morning!!

Merry Christmas everyone!  We had a lot of fun Christmas morning....we all took a turn of having a flu bug the week before but by Christmas morning only Allen was feeling icky.  The boys loved it and I always love watching them get so excited!  

The famous "shooter guns" that I dreaded getting...but the boys have had tons of fun with them and it's turned out better than expected!

Porter had no idea what was going on and was content to just mess with all of the wrapping paper....and the new kitchen!  All of the boys are really enjoying that gift.  They are my little chefs.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!