Wear them out.

The 6 boys are so much fun. The 6 boys are so much noise. The 6 boys have so much energy I think they might implode. A crater marking where Grandma's house was.

The Park is always a good diffuser. Wear them out. Or they will get you.

Didn't know something so cute could be so dangerous did you?

Wait until you're outnumbered, and they're plotting against you.

Apparently Owen lives in his high chair...

This kid loves food.
(who wouldn't when Grandma gives you as many cream puffs as you want?)

This kid loves to rub the food all over himself.

And I love this smile.

(Partnered with the fact that he's a still captive and usually smiley, there are about 3 trillion pictures of Owen covered in various foods to come. Fair warning.)

Boy Love

Means riding together.
Laughing together.

And smashing each other.

Nothing Changes. . .

Jackson (4), Hudson (3) , Carter(2), Sawyer (2) , Owen (1) & Will (3mo).
6 boy cousins in 4 years.

Growing up I remember every time I saw my cousins it was like I'd seen them yesterday (even though it had been months, sometimes years). I love them. They are parts of my favorite family memories. I didn't have any my exact age, but I had a group just older and a group just younger. I still love to see them (and their own families now).

I'm so grateful for my nephews. So grateful that my kids have cousins their ages. So grateful that my sisters are such good moms. So grateful that they come visit (and make the sacrifice of time, money & sanity to do so).

So grateful that every time they see each other its like no time has passed.
(I miss them.)

Wow.... we're behind....

The Pitts

(not what we think of them, we think they're fantastic)

Hyrum, Jenna & my newest favorite nephew - Will.i.am. He's hardcore cute. We got him two sock monkeys for Christmas. They were bigger than he was. (But not cuter...)

The Kings

Cameron, Sawyer (2 yrs old & not in the mood for pictures), Erin & Hudson (3 yrs old)

Traveled from the east, arrived Christmas Eve, brought presents of baby toys for Owen, clothes shopping fun for Kellie and went home with Tivo, blue ray player, bakers twine, yo gabba gabba cars & an immersion blender (among other things) Hudson called the other day and talked to me for a while telling me all about how he wants me to come see him in NYC, it made my week. I love these kids.

The Represented Johnson Men (Ryan & Grandpa/Dad/Stan)

(Missing Kevin - Paraguayan Christmas exceeded ours in fireworks,
but lacked in others, like Prime Rib... Sorry Elder Kevco)

Two of my very favorite people. So alike in so many ways, one of which is both being able to talk like Donald Duck...

(PS - project not neglect my blog is underway...)

Nothing would make this baby any sweeter. . .

except if we slathered him in chocolate. . . (Oh, wait we already did that.)

The best part of Christmas lights at Ethel M's are the chocolate pennies (as my boys call them) Owen got his hands on two of them. . . and his face. . . and his clothes. . .

Family Pictures

It takes a lot of work to get this many people in one picture, (and amazingly all three monkeys are looking...)

Bart's brother Scott and his fiance Kylie were in Wyoming and meeting us in Salt Lake for the Savior of the World show at the Conference Center. (It was wonderful by the way)

We had a 15 minute window where we could get everyone at temple square before we had to drive the boys to Bart's cousin in Centerville, then rush back to the show. We found parking, and while running to make the show, I snapped the heel of one of my boots.
(That would have been a picture worth posting I'm sure...)

Some of our favorite compadres (see those Spanish skills there...)
The Gledhills
minus one German speaking missionary

It's official!!

This announcement is a little overdue...

Bart's brother Scott is engaged! To a great girl.
Kylie & Scott will be married April 10th in the Salt Lake City Temple.

And yes, now there is a Kellie Yeates and a Kylie Yeates.

I'm hereby putting Todd & Brett on notice, no Kerrie Yeates, Kallie Yeates, Kacie Yeates, Kassie Yeates, Katie Yeates, Korie Yeates etc. . . .

Happy Carter

What a great only picture of Jackson huh? Gotta love those no picture phases.

Boy meets reindeer. Love at first sight. Hopefully he's the only one who illegally snuck up the hill and showed Santa's helpers his affection with kisses. Really don't want reindeer flu.

Carter also really loves candy canes, all candy canes and huge candy canes are AWESOME but he was heartbroken when he wasn't allowed to lick it (we draw the line after kissing reindeer).

Love this joyous kid. Santa knows that even at his naughtiest he's still a joy (well almost all the time).

Christmas Tree Setup by Boys

When boys are in charge of setting up the Christmas tree it involves secret walkie talkie communications (on animal flashlights from Aunt Tanna), while hidden in the corner behind the tree.

Pulling tree branches and trying to climb into the tree,

and hiding covertly underneath.

Odd Family Pictures

So we didn't take any real family pictures at Thanksgiving. We ended up with random shots of everyone, but mostly thanks to my boys for the strange additions to each picture.

Carter & Jackson are so cooperative in pictures. We love having them pose for pictures lately. Carter is constantly making weird faces in pictures, and Jackson either has no expression, or looks like he is being tortured.
(pretty much the definition of picture taking with kids. The question is who exactly is being tortured.)

Like usual Owen is just happy as can be. Especially when it involves food. (Notice how 90% of the pictures of Owen involve him eating, what he ate, or the mess he made while eating.)

The Winder Sisters... (who will love that I posted these pictures)
Tanna, Sherrill and Mickie

We had Thanksgiving in Lindon, UT at a banquet hall with the Winder/Gledhill families. It was a fun day, made better with friends, family, yummy food, movies, games and lots of treats.

Mashed Potato, Mashed Potato

We learned very quickly that putting the baby next to the counter was not a great idea. Owen decided that he needed more mashed potatoes and that mom was not fast enough. Can you tell who couldn't have been more thrilled with himself??

Finally Fall. . .

Our boys have missed out on fall, so when we went to Utah for Thanksgiving this year, they took advantage of any chance they had to play in the leaves. Even if the only leaves and climbing trees are outside Aunt Tanya & Uncle Jarod's house.

Even Owen got in on the fun. He didn't know what to do, but loved to sit in them, and be covered just like Carter and would raise his arms up, just like the big boys.

Baby Will

This is my beautiful new nephew William. My sister Jenna & her husband Hyrum had their first baby boy November 20th.

Loving his Daddy at first sight.

Ever Have Leftover Dry Ice?

We make Homemade Root Beer every year for Halloween. One reason because its yummy. Another reason because it takes Dry Ice. Dry Ice is fun. I'm a bit of pyro. I think somewhere in there dry ice is a part of that pyro part of me. So when I buy the dry ice, I "accidentally" buy a little bit more (or a lot more) than I need. This is something I got from my dad when I was little. Take a glass, a tupperware or other container. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap. Enough water to cover the dry ice. The dry ice fog turns to bubbles. The kids get to play in the foggy bubbles.

Bubbles are awesome. Bubbles that pop into smoke are amazing!

(Obviously don't let the kids touch the dry ice, I use a tall container so
they can't reach in as easily...)

Halloween for the Little Ones

Halloween parties are so fun. But the little kids are (preschool & younger) sometimes miss out on the festivities. They don't have a class party at school. So the next best thing is playgroup. And what better excuse to go a little bit overboard than a little kids' Halloween party? We decorated the gym, wore costumes, played fishing for eyeballs, chased balloon ghosts, had facepaint & glow sticks, watched Spookley the Square Pumpkin and ate yummy kid food.

The kids had a blast, thanks to all my friends who helped (especially those that helped clean up!!)

Powdered Sugar is the Best

I haven't laughed this hard in a long time... the boys wanted to try the doughnut game, where you have to catch it in your mouth without using your hands. It was hilarious. You want a good time, string up a couple of these and watch your kids go at it.