To save the life of a Toad

Last night the girls discovered that there were many toads trapped in our window wells in our basement. There was no convincing them that they liked it down there, and they were wondering if they would even make it through the night. So here is our good news story on how we were able to save more than thirty little toads, not frogs. They are happy and free in the yard next to us.

Thomas Butts Drive Me Nuts

It's official, after 10 years of changing diapers, we are done!! By far he was the easiest of the four! It took only 2 days and he already goes by himself with no help and doesn't even have to tell you he needs to go, he just does it. Sitting backwards with a sticker for each time he went to put on the toilet seat was a fabulous idea from Michelle. My big boy - its almost kind of sad.

The Fence

Our summer trip to Utah before moving to Manhattan

Here our a few pictures of our summer in Utah before our big move from Ft. Leavenworth to Ft. Riley. My camera battery went to the pot so a lot of the pictures we took were on someone elses camera or I wasn't able to take any. We had an amazing time. Braum and I got to go to Oregon to visit our best friends Michelle and Lance. We went on Braum's parents boat and watched Braum water ski. Rylie, Brooke and I went on the tube - Rylie was amazing, standing up on it!! We went on a fun camping trip with my family and got to meet Indiana Jones, aka Grandpa, he sent the kids on an amazing and dangerous treasure hunt they had to fight off wild indians, aka Braum, Mike and Brian. Just getting together with family and visiting was a great time. On the 6th of July we arrived here to "home sweet home" in Manhattan.

This is on Fathers Day. We went to my dads farm. They had a colt that was only a few weeks old. It was great to see my dad and let the kids get a chance for a free petting zoo. Out of all the animals Cade's favorite was the chickens.

Kaitlyn and Rylie
bestest cousins

Michelle and Lance, this is for you. Cade is in training for Michelle's signature wink. Braum and I had such a great time when we left the kids with my sisters and went to Oregon to see Michelle and Lance. My camera battery wasn't working so Michelle has the CRAZY pictures, I will get some from her on my computer so you can see them. The white water rafting was amazing. It was a fast four days, we acted like we were 21 all over again.
Luv you guys and miss you!!

This was July 3rd, when my mom's neighbors all pitched in together to do some street fireworks.

Our 10K!!
We have started a new tradition. The morning of the 4th my brother, Braum and I ran 6.3 miles

We missed you Maegan!

The 4th of July
We had a great time on the 4th. We went to a parade in the morning, ate dinner with Braum's family that afternoon, and watched the fireworks with mine at our old stomping ground, Layton High School. My mom is always so good at entertaining the kids, when we were waiting for the fireworks to start she was playing bingo with the kids. Cade didn't like the sound of the firetruck.

The girls have had a blast catching all of the frogs in our back yard here in Manhattan. They have also been taking advantage of all the construction dirt hills around our house, making huge slides out of them. Its been fun to see them have to rely on each other to keep their selves entertained. They are into the Littlest Pet Shop Toys and that motivates them to help around the house so they can earn one. Cade has decided because of all the other crazy things that are going on around him that he should become potty trained; when you are taking your poopy diaper off and and making "pretty" finger paintings of poop on the wall, that is moms way of knowing to potty train the boy or lock him up in a closet :). We are only on day 2 but I think its going to work.

Its good to be home, we are working so hard to get all the stuff done to make it the home we want. Watering a patch of sod, putting up a fence, (we are really excited that our parents are coming tomorrow to help :) ). Unpacking boxes, unpacking boxes, unpacking boxes. Taking the dog out to go to the bathroom on a leash, wiping mud off of her feet. I can't wait until there is nothing to do but laundry, fix the kids breakfast, lunch and dinner, take them to school, play with Cade and all the normal stuff that usually keeps me busy.

Here we are at the krispy creme doughnut shop

Krispy Creme

I just loved the picture of this like Jefferson, I had to copy :)