The McLinn Family

'Lil Red Wagon + 4 boys..

2012-01-02T15:18:00.001-08:00

2012

2012-01-02T14:14:00.000-08:00

How exciting are we?! The McLinn family celebrated with a wii party, fireworks, glow bracelets, and waaaaay too much sparkling cider...aka 'kid beer.' We definitely broke the fun barrier, my friends;)

Granger is the big...ONE!!

2012-01-02T14:05:00.001-08:00

All I want for Christmas...

2011-12-12T08:51:00.000-08:00

Is my 2 front teeth!!Porter:

Porter lost both of his top front teeth at a restaurant when we were celebrating Grandma Nancy's birthday! A stranger dining next to us gave him a dollar and said, 'I'm kind of a tooth fairy too.' How sweet was that?! It made Port's night...this world is truly filled with kindness. Sometimes you have to look for it, and sometimes it finds you.

Granger:His older brothers got their first two teeth at about 8 months old...little buddy JUST got his! Right in time for Christmas...

Holiday Festivities!

2011-11-28T13:23:00.000-08:00

It all begins...with the tree...

Gingerbread construction with the Myers family:

Hot Cocoa and Churros (One of our 24 days 'til Christmas activities):

Not A Creature Was Stirring:

Baking Goodies For Neighbors and Friends:

Decker's Pre~School Christmas Program:

We spent the beautiful Christmas season with our family and dearest friends. I pray that my children made memories that will last a lifetime...

Grateful Are We...

2011-11-18T15:54:00.002-08:00

We have been so blessed. This Thanksgiving season we were talking with the boys and reflecting on the many things God has given us and I was overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude. For this. For lots of things...friends, extended family, our home...the blessings are immense..but mostly, for this:

"...THE THING I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY HOME, IS WHO I SHARE IT WITH..."

'Ballers'

2011-11-18T15:54:00.001-08:00

Basketball clinics!

PumPkiNs

2011-11-18T15:52:00.000-08:00

Once. Twice. Three? Nope. FOUR times we visited the pumpkin patch this year!! Between field trips, a friend's birthday party, and our family night, we had quite the decorated doorstep this Fall. (Which, was really quite nice considering our garden didn't produce ONE pumpkin!)

Football!

2011-11-18T15:51:00.000-08:00

The good Lord blessed me with 4 beautiful, healthy boys...who love football. Even the baby...whose second word was 'ball.' (Do I even need to mention that it preceded the word 'mama?!')So. Football it is. For the rest of my life. Football.Fun with friends during the game...

Freeeeezing during the game...

Playing the game...

Partying after the game...

A 2nd grader. A 1st grader. A pre~schooler. And a baby.

2011-11-18T15:50:00.002-08:00

Is it just me or does Summer come and go even faster than it used to?! I now officially have....a 2nd grader, a 1st grader, a pre~schooler...and the babe.

Thatcher with his teachers:Mrs. Gillum and Mrs. Cooper

Porter with Mrs. Noyer (Thatcher's teacher from last year...who we adore!)

Decker and his pre~school class

The baby (Tuckered out from watching some serious flag football)

Oh yeah...and can I brag just for a minute and say...I'm SO proud of my boys! They participated in a reading program all Summer, (in between football, baseball, swimming lessons and etc), and were honored during the first week of school! YAY! (Gotta soak up the fact that they actually LIKE to read, while it lasts, right?!)

Eight years ago? Really?

2011-11-18T15:50:00.001-08:00

~Thatcher Ryan McLinn~My handsome, smart, helpful, lover of everything sports...transformers...scary movies...his brothers...his friends, little cowboy with a big heart! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!! Summertime birthday equals fun in the sun...so we did a little tie dye art!GREEN LANTERN...and one of my favorite baby pictures of the little man:

COWBOY UP!

2011-08-15T13:50:00.001-07:00

SO proud of my cowboys...the buck-a-roos won first place in mutton busting and Jr. steer riding. I don't know who had the bigger smile...the boys, or their dad. Total winnings for the night: A shiny new buckle, beautiful chaps, and three chickens. Porter wanted to 'sleep with his buckle' and Thatch didn't hide the disappointment when I told him he couldn't wear his fancy new "prize chaps" to school...and Decker is STILL calling himself the 'Chicken Champ.'

one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish!

2011-07-31T16:47:00.000-07:00

Swimming lessons. Great Grandma Della's Birthday party at the hot springs. Mike and Mimi's pool. Payette River. The boys have grown fins and gills this Summer!!Here's a few of my favorites:

blessed, blessed, and more blessed.

2011-07-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

We had a Summer thunderstorm the other day, (don't ya love those?!), and afterwards, the kiddos spotted a rainbow. I was sitting there on the porch, thinking about the gabazillion things I have to be grateful for, and the words to a song came to mind:
"The only ground I ever owned was sticking to my shoes,
Now I look out my front porch at this panoramic view.
I can sit and watch the fields fill up
With rays of golden sun,
Or watch the moon lay on the fences
Like that's where it was hung.
My blessings are in front of me
It's not about the land...
I'll never beat the view
From my front porch looking in."

Thank-you dear friends, and family for adding to our blessings. Most of all, thank-you LORD.

I have this 'thing' for Football Players...

2011-07-31T12:59:00.000-07:00

Last year, our small town didn't have enough kids Thatcher's age to form a football team, and I wasn't motivated enough to drive an hour to the next town each night for games and practices. He didn't seem to mind, but this year, he informed us he was playing 'no matter what.' As it turns out, they had plenty to form a team...including his little brother.:) They have had so much fun, and have made some special friends. Mom, Decker, Granger, (and especially dad), also had tons of fun cheering and watching our boys!
*As a side note: Thank-you Grandma Nancy, Grandpa John, Great Grandma Della, Mimi&Mike, and Nana&Papa for all the support!!*

Jalapenos!

2011-07-31T12:54:00.000-07:00

A sweet friend of ours owns a delicious Mexican restaurant and we eat there whenever possible! This Summer, she invited us to an exclusive meet and greet with all of the local Rodeo Queens and Miss Rodeo America. My little BUCKAROOS were, um, thrilled...to say the least. Their hats were autographed. Their smiles were huge. WE LOVE IRMA!!

MY BIG BROTHERS...

2011-07-31T12:53:00.000-07:00

ROCK! Granger is such a fan of his big bros, and they adore him, in return!
Snuggling

Rocking

Sharing (Thanks for the popsicle, Nana!)

Down By The River...

2011-07-31T12:50:00.000-07:00

We are so fortunate to live right on the banks of the Payette River, where we spend most of our time during the Summer months. The boys enjoy floating the river, fishing, swimming, and attempting to teach their goat to swim. ;)

Stitched.

2011-07-31T12:39:00.001-07:00

Old Mother Hubbard was here, so off to the grocery store we went. When we got home and started unloading, a glass bottle fell out of it's sack, rolled out the truck door, and broke into a few pieces on the ground. One of those pieces bounced up and cut the top of Decker's foot. My tough, brave, little man didn't shed a tear. Not one. Not even on the way to the E.R. Not even during the hour long wait in the E.R. Not even when they irrigated the wound, gave him several shots, and then stitched him up, in the E.R. But, Mommy cried. And then cried again, when she got the bill from the E.R. :)

Small Town Fun...

2011-07-31T12:38:00.002-07:00

CAR SHOW AND CRUISE NIGHT!

(With Cousin Karson)
CHERRY FESTIVAL!

Guess Who..

2011-07-31T12:38:00.001-07:00

Kinda, Sorta, REALLY, Likes licorice?!:)

happy 4th of july!

2011-07-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

Toothless Porter!

2011-05-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

And...they are gone! His first two teeth- only days apart- have been surrendered to the tooth fairy! And he couldn't be happier...especially since he got to buy a 'pretty sweet toy' with the moolah she left him!:)

And then there were 7...

2011-05-29T11:06:00.001-07:00

We have a heck of a time keeping kittens around here, (apparently they are a coyote's favorite food), and the kids are heartbroken everytime one goes missing. But...I think for now, we have a supply that ought to last us a while! Great Grandma Della gave the boys a cat...and a few weeks later, that cat turned into s e v e n. So, we have a pile o' kittens and the boys are thrilled. Me? Not so much. :) On the bright side, I suppose we will see a lot less mice around these parts!

Awards...

2011-05-29T11:01:00.002-07:00

Surprisingly, when the boys' names were announced at the end-of-the-year awards assembly, it wasn't for the 'rowdiest,' or the 'wildest,' or even the 'naughtiest!' :) Thatcher earned an award for AR reading, and Porter for outstanding student and good citizenship. I am so proud of my little boyfriends!

Nothing says SUMMER like baseball...

2011-05-29T11:01:00.001-07:00

This year Daddy coached Port and Deck's team...Highlights: a home-run, a couple outs, hitting without the tee...and Decker getting nailed in the nose by a fast-ball. Thatcher is old enough to play baseball now...and loved every minute of it. When he wasn't chasing butterflies or watching airplanes while in the outfield...he made some pretty good plays! All in all, VERY entertaining...but hey, I AM thier Mother.:)

April!

2011-04-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

A trip to Grandpa John's ranch in Ola:

Would you let YOUR children leave with this man?!:

After having not seen my brother in over a year, the kiddos were thrilled by a surprise visit by Uncle Barry!! They had a fun evening together...long hair, pink aviators, and all.
Can't get enough of this baby!:

Easter:(Church and Fish'n)

Granger and Decker:
I bent down to kiss Grang, and he tasted like grape...and his chin and lips were completely sticky. (Not sure if you can grasp the extent of his stickiness or not in this picture). I turned to Decker to ask HOW in the WORLD his baby brother got so messy...but he was to busy sucking his purple lollipop to answer. :) No wonder Granger puts up with all of Decker's unnecessary roughness...it's totally worth it as long as he is going to share his treats! haha

This would be Decker...playing 'Stare Down' with Granger. You know, the game where whoever blinks first, loses?! Yeah, he is cheating.

Thatcher and his best pal:

Thatch and Baylee

New Plymouth Elementary Carnival:

2011-04-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

Spring HAS Sprung!

2011-04-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

So, why not clean-up and update the blog a little?! These last few months have been so special as we welcomed baby Granger into the family...his big brothers adore him and are surprisingly helpful. We have finally adjusted to the new schedule and routine and everyone is well, and happy.

Granger is growing! Smiling, laughing, rolling...
Bathtime!

Hanging out in the 'pouch' while mommy teaches pre-school!

Baby Mullet!!

Brothers and cartoons go SO well together!!

Found My TONGUE!!

Makin' Out With Daddy!

Random happenings that deserve mentioning:
Keegan, a sweet boy in my pre-school class, gave me a box of chocolates for Christmas...I am a choco-holic and was thrilled...but when I got them out of the cupboard...I discovered that I am not the ONLY chocolate lover in this household! They were devoured...save the leftover remnants from the ol', 'take a bite to see what it is' trick! haha

NEW SNOW BOOTS!! Porter was so eager to put on his new boots, that he forgot his pants...

It is so wonderful watching my children learn and grow! I LOVE hearing them read to eachother and their attempts at making signs for their doors and love notes for me! So, when Thatcher handed me a folded up piece of paper with a smile, I was expecting another special note. I opened it and he nearly fell over laughing...yeah, it says "mommy is a gorilla."

Decker's new found love:Yoga on the Wii

Porter's sweet kitty, Lia...who has since surrendered to the coyotes:(

Porter and Decker and their Valentine Parties!

Birthday BOYS!! Porter turned the big 6 on Valentine's Day and Decker 4 just 11 days later...

Port was purdy excited to start AR testing like his big brother...He is SO proud of this note that was sent home...now we just have to get him out of the habit of telling everyone he is 'kinda smarter than Thatcher.' haha

Granger is HERE!!

2011-01-22T11:40:00.001-08:00

Granger Emry McLinn
Born 12-29-10 3:10am 8 lbs 4oz 21" long

Our Little Baller...

2010-12-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

Basketball clinics for Thatcher:

WIN*TER

2010-12-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

Snowman building, tree decorating, goodie baking, sledding...

We are thankful...

2010-12-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

We had a relaxing Thanksgiving at home this year...just us. Many times in the past, we have allowed the holidays to turn into a stressful time...more about how much we can fit into one day...traveling to his parents' and my parents', and his grandparents', and then my grandparents'...but this year we decided to stay in our warm, cozy farmhouse on the river, and count our blessings. And, they are many.

A quick catch-up...

2010-11-18T14:09:00.000-08:00

Update: We have been a busy family these last couple months...it seems like once school starts, time just flies. Ryan has been working a couple side jobs, (much to his dismay,I HAVE to have new baby furniture), and I am still teaching preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays...Thatcher and Porter are loving school and do so well...Decker is as full of 'it' as ever! We are all very excited for our precious baby to get here and are counting down the days!!
Some favorite pictures/stories from the last couple months:
My sweet, sweet, laid back, 'Whatever you want mom.' 'I don't care mommy.'Little PORTER is realizing that he has got to learn to say those Rrrrs! He told me the other day that 'Porter' was not a very good name for him because it has too many rrrrs. But, the funniest thing of all was when the Geico commercial came on with Elmer Fudd trying to shoot the cwwwwazy wwwwabbits and after many attempts at saying, 'Rabbits instead of Wabbits,' Porter suggested to me that maybe next time Elmer Fudd should just say 'Bunnies.' Well that makes sense to me;)

Deckers/Mommy's class picture...(Notice the class clown in front. Yep, that would be my son)

Decker can be found here...same time, same place watching GLEE...

Taken right after he said, "Hey mommy, can you help me get this slimy thing out of my pocket?!" WHY he had a slug in his pocket, is still unknown...

This is a prime and perfect example as to why we keep the Halloween candy out. of. reach...(That is FIVE suckers, if you were wondering)

I promise, my children do own pajamas...I am quite certain he went to bed with them on, too. But, when I woke up one morning, this is what I saw. "I got hot, mom." Well, there ya have it...

I have been searching for the match to a pair of shoes of mine for a couple weeks...I asked all three, (well four), of the boys if they had seen it. "Nope." And then, TA DAAAA! Why, oh why didn't I think to look in the most OBVIOUS of places?! The truck basket?!

Thatcher has been quite the little artist lately...bringing home several masterpieces...this one though, takes the cake...I LOVE that Ryan and I are holding hands, but he has a huuuuuge frown!

One of Thatcher's 100% spelling tests that he is SO proud of...

Fall Fun!

2010-10-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

Thatcher's Halloween Party...
(I thought balloons tied to 'sucker ghosts' would be a grrrreat idea...and then the winds came...hence the shortened strings)

Decker's Halloween Party...
(Rockin' the Spider hats we made!)

Pumpkin Carving...

Lots of baking...Porter is my BIG helper in the kitchen!

Grandparent's Day with Nana and Pops...

Football Parties with Mike and Mimi...

Daddy's Birthday...

Pumpkin Patch with Porter's Class...

Tire Swing Fun...

Sweet Baby #4...

2010-10-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

Baby McLinn...due December 27, 2010

Spaghetti Sauce Party...

2010-09-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

I'm kinda sick of our house smelling so...Italian?!? But hey, we gotta do SOMETHING with all these dang tomatoes!

Mom is my teacher AGAIN?!

2010-09-09T12:08:00.001-07:00

Yep. So sorry Deck. You are stuck with me for a little while longer.:) Decker and Mommy survived their first day back to preschool...Decker was a little bummed that he isn't quite old enough yet to go to 'big kid' school with his brothers. When I heard his comment to Porter about me being his teacher AGAIN...I couldn't help but laugh! His torture is my happiness...I love my job and am so blessed to take my little man to work with me!

Here he is...completely tuckered out from his first day of PRE-SCHOOL:

Good-Bye Uncles...

2010-09-09T11:55:00.001-07:00

We are so proud of our Uncle Taylor! AND our Uncle Mark! They are real soldiers and are going clear across the ocean to fight the bad guys. We wanna be soldiers when we grow up, but mommy says NO WAY! She says we need to choose professions that won't make her worry so much. :) We are so thankful for the sacrifices our Soldier-Heroes make for us, and our beautiful country...Be safe Uncle Mark and Uncle Taylor!! We will miss you lots!

Love,

Thatcher, Porter, Decker and Baby

Saying Good-bye...

Bear World...

2010-09-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Wrangler Butts Drive Me Nuts...

2010-09-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

My Sweet Kindergartener...

2010-09-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

Porter was so excited to start school...he is just two doors down from his big brother and gets to play with him at recess AND ride the bus with him. He looked so big sitting in that chair...I of course started bawling and had to get out of there. :) I was telling my dear friend, and down-the-road-neighbor, Kate, about how sad I was to leave him there. I was explaining to her that it had nothing to do with me worrying about him, but was more about how I will miss all of our days together playing play-doh, reading stories, doing puzzles...and she gave me some wonderful insight: "Miss Emilee, you should be thankful that you were able to stay home with him and DO all those things. Many mothers do not have that luxury. " And there ya have it. I guess sometimes it takes a neighbor to help you put things into perspective. I am one blessed girl.

A First Grader...

2010-09-06T08:27:00.001-07:00

AND a BIRTDAY BOY! Thatcher started his first day of 1st grade on his SEVENTH Birthday! He was so excited...and so cute as he waved goodbye to his little brothers. Here are a few pictures of his b-day celebrations:

The FIRST day of FIRST GRADE!!

A tribute to our kitchen floor...

2010-08-07T08:55:00.001-07:00

I was going through a few pictures taken this Summer...and decided to pay our kitchen floor a small tribute. It is also...the goat's playground, a spot for Decker's special feather display, and a laundry collector... among other things. We are so thankful for our multi-purpose farmhouse kitchen floor.:)

Thatcher's New 'Big Kid' smile...

After the goat got in...

The contents of a tonka dump truck's latest load...

The Return Of Mimi...

2010-08-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

The boys were thrilled to welcome my mom home to IDAHO for good! They love having all of their grandparents close...now if we could only get all of their uncles to oblige!
Some pictures from Mimi's Birthday Bash...(yay for Uncle Taylor and a short 'leave' from his duties in the Marines):

Their Lil' Green Thumbs...

2010-08-07T07:16:00.000-07:00

Canyon County Fair!

2010-08-07T07:06:00.001-07:00

We have been fair-going fools this year...here are the boys enjoying the firehose and some friendly sheep.:)

s m o r e s

2010-07-16T09:19:00.001-07:00

some more smores please...

The 4th!

2010-07-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Independence Day with Ryan's sister and mom, camping in Cascade...

Fireworks on the lake!

Swimming in the lake!

Firework maniacs!

The Definition Of...

2010-07-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

"WEDGIE"

MOVIE STARS

2010-06-30T12:58:00.001-07:00

We recently spent a Saturday morning at the Emmett Firehouse where the boys, and a few other children, were filmed as they learned all about Firemen, Fire Trucks, and Fire hoses. The videos will be utilized as part of a worldwide training series for "Fire Safety." As you can tell by the pictures, the boys thought it was, (and I quote), super-freakin'-cool. What a neat experience! A big THANK-YOU to our dear friend Martin for including us in the festivities!!

The CHERRY Festival

2010-06-30T12:54:00.001-07:00

Our once a year dose of greeeeeasy elephant ears, cotton candy, endless mullets, toothless new "carny" friends, spending $3 per child on 30 seconds of terror and fun, and goooood times: We heart Emmett's CHERRY FESTIVAL!!!

Field Day!

2010-06-30T12:48:00.001-07:00

In Thatcher's own words: "Why can't every day be like the last day of school?" haha If ONLY, little buddy. :) There were relay races and obstacle courses, squirt guns and face painting, hoola hoops and popsicles...a perfect day for fun in the sun and such a wonderful way to say good-bye to friends for the Summer!

Pre-School Graduation!

2010-06-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

As a mother, I could not be more proud of my little pre-schoolers!!! And, as their teacher, I am extra proud of Decker and Porter. They worked hard all year...Porter always trying his best; Decker usually trying his best:)Porter is so very excited to be going to the 'big kid' school with Thatcher, and he is more than ready. Decker, who THINKS he is also going to the 'big kid' school with Thatcher, will be slightly disappointed come September when he is in mom's class yet again.:)

The graduation ceremony was so sweet. The students looked adorable dressed in their special capes and caps. They were all smiles as they wrote their names on the chalkboard for their audience, sang their favorite songs and recited the alphabet. This mommy thing is the best, but having my kids as 'teacher's pets' is pretty great too.

Trouble...

2010-05-24T07:17:00.001-07:00

To cage, or not to cage?

2010-05-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I really wish I had a lock for this thing.;)

Girls, Girls, Girls!

2010-05-24T06:49:00.000-07:00

Macee and Zaylee, (two cute little sisters from Preschool), for reasons unknown, have taking a liking to my ornery boys...here are some precious moments that I cannot wait to remind them of in about...ten years.:)

Little Ballers

2010-05-23T14:44:00.001-07:00

The T-ball season is finally here! Once again daddy is the coach, but this time Thatcher AND Porter are on the team!

The very first game, Port threw the ball to Thatch and got the runner out at 3rd...so exciting and so cute to see the boys as teammates!

Student of the Week!

2010-05-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Our little Thatcher has really enjoyed Kindergarten this year, and has done so well! I'd like to think he gets his brains and cuteness from his mom, and his naughtiness from his dad!;)

When I picked him up from the bus stop one Friday, I asked him how his day went...he gave me the usual responses of, "Fine," and "We didn't do anything." And then he pulled out his bag of popcorn...and then another bag of popcorn, which he handed to his brothers. I only gave him one quarter, so naturally I wondered where he got the other...He said, "Mom, the STUDENT OF THE WEEK always gets a free bag of popcorn." Well, I'd say his day was better than 'fine.' We went out to Jalepenos to celebrate. I am a proud mommy.:)

Happy Easter!

2010-05-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

We have a family tradition...fishing on Easter! I can't think of a better combination...church, fishing, and food.

Birthday Boys!

2010-05-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

This February we celebrated Porter's 5th Birthday, and Decker's 3rd! Complete with a trip to Build-A-Bear, a Po-Jo's party, and Goin' Fishin themed celebration, it was oh so fun...

My Funny Valentines!

2010-02-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

The other day Thatch was telling us all about one of his buds at school. He said, "Did you know Trenton lives on a dairy farm?" "Trenton said his dad is a cow farmer, and I told him MY dad builds houses." And of course...I HAD to ask. "So Thatch, what did you tell him your mom does?" Without skipping a beat, he replied, "Oh. I told him you vacuum." ????!!!

Porter: MOMMMMMY!! Decker kicked me in the tentacles!!
Me: Are you okay? You boys need to simmer down! And Porter, we are human beings...we do not have tentacles.
Porter: Yeah, we do mom. They are under our wieners. (NOT to be confused with testicles.)

We have three red MARVEL chairs that the kiddos drag around in the playroom...they have pictures of all the Marvel heroes on them, from Spidey, to Flash. Decker brought me one of the chairs and said, ever so sweetly, "Look at this Mommy! It's a picture of you!" I studied the picture, and am still not sure if he meant it as a compliment or not. Either he is referring to the red glowing eyes that I apparently have?! (Maybe when I'm angry?!) OR, he means I have a nice rack.?! (Which we all know is quite a stretch...no pun intended.) Just call me...FIRESTAR! haha

WINTER WONDERLAND!

2010-02-02T07:06:00.000-08:00

The first snowfall is always an exciting time at our house, even if it's nothing more than a dust of whiteness! It's hard to believe it was a whole year ago that we were in Louisiana when it snowed there for the first time in 20 years!

Christmas came and went...and it was an extra special Holiday this year because we had so many wonderful visitors throughout the season!!
Mimi came and stayed for a few days...the boys loved their sleepover with her in the loft...and the puppy she got them! There is always lots of giggling, stories, and Chinese food when Mimi comes!

Uncle Taylor got to spend a few weeks home, before deployment. We celebrated his visit at Buffalo Wilds...a perfect place for rowdy rug rats!

Uncle Justin and Uncle Barry came out for some sword fighting, cookies, and tire swing fun. Thatcher, Porter and Decker LOVE to wrestle their Uncles!
Uncle Trevor was here for a week or so too! The boys helped make him a special dinner and were so sad to see him go. They miss their Uncles when they are gone, but lucky for them, Uncle 'Ronnie' (Uncle Ryan) lives close so they get at least one dose of uncle-ism pretty regularly.:)

O Christmas Tree:

Thatcher's School Christmas Party:

MUSICAL CHAIRS AND THE GIFT EXCHANGE

WOW! Who knew tongues could stretch that far? Deck bonked his head and was supposed to be holding the ice on his noggin...but somehow, his tongue became attached to it instead?! And, as you can see, I'm the kind of mean mother that snaps a picture before rushing to my wounded child's aide.:)

Spoiled Rotten:
As always, the boys made out like bandits this Christmas and have been spending these last few weeks playing the Wii, and with all their new games and toys...Thank-you EVERYONE, (Mimi, Pops and Nana, Grandma Nancy, Grandpa John, Nana and Grandpa BOB...and the list goes on!), for the thoughtful gifts! Maybe next year Santa will just sit back and let you take over!;)

All Star:
Ryan is playing city league basketball once again...the boys love to cheer and root for Daddy's team! I can't help but laugh every time they yell, "Go DAAAAAADDY! GO NUMBER 2!!" (Get it? haha)

The boys wanted to celebrate Daddy's first win with a feast...we had ribs:

Playdoh is a great babysitter throughout the cold Winter months! I even braved it and made homemade playdoh this year...oh what fun! (Said in a very sarcastic voice.) Actually, the kids thought it was great, we even added some color and scent, which apparently confused Deck, because he was constantly trying to eat it.:)

All in all, we are so happy to be home in our little farmhouse and are looking forward to this new year and all it has to offer! We have been so blessed. Thank-you friends, and family, who are a big part of those blessings!

Our Fall Festivities!

2010-02-02T06:04:00.000-08:00

Autumn is such a glorious time of year! Living out in the boonies, we are surrounded by the beauty of the season! The boys hung fruit and veggies from the, almost bare, limbs of the trees for the deer, and fed wild bird seed to the turkeys. They are country boys at heart, and even the cooler weather doesn't ever seem to deter them from their outdoor adventures and big ideas!
Fall is also when we start the season of baking! The kiddos love to help mommy bake...and of course, sample the goodies!

Porter, Decker and I volunteer in Thatcher's classroom whenever we can, and his Halloween party was no exception! We had a wonderful time helping the boys and girls make spooky crafts, play creepy games, and we even helped them eat their scary treats!

Carving PuMpKinS!

This year was the second annual McLinn and Family HAYRIDE! Daddy drove the tractor and we piled on the trailer for Christmas carols and 'catching up!' Afterwards, we headed back to the house for taco soup and cornbread!

STICKY CARAMEL APPLES:

When all is said and done, and the Fall Festivities come to an end and CHRISTmas is just around the corner, I like to take a breather with my little buddies, and reflect on that which is of most importance. We truly do have so very much to be thankful for!

Toothless Thatcher

2010-02-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

He pulled the first one, and I pulled the second. He has four more that are loose... Uncle Justin told him that the Tooth Fairy only brings moolah to the boys and girls who leave shiny, white teeth under their pillows. He spent extra time brushing those chompers in hopes for some serious cash!! He was oh-so excited to receive a five dollar bill with the first one, but when the Tooth Fairy only brought him 75 cents in quarters for tooth number 2, he was sure she'd made a mistake.:) After convincing him that leaving it under his pillow for another night or two would not bring in more cash, he decided $5.75 was ok, afterall.:)

MUD PIE

2010-02-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

The Letter 'J'

2010-02-01T20:49:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, there was a naughty, but clever, little boy. When he was sent to his bedroom for time-out, (no doubt in trouble for teasing his little brothers), he would use his charms on his Mother, and be free to roam the land again...
"Mommy!! Coooooome heeeeeere!"
"What Thatcher?! You shouldn't even be talking! You are in time-out! What do you need?!"
"Well! Look at me! I'm the letter J!! (Picture him, on his back, with his feet and legs straight up, and his head slightly lifted for the 'hook' on the bottom), I'm sorry!! I will never JJJJJump on Porter again!"
"Oh buddy! YOU ARE a "J!" You are so...smart!"
"Yep! And since I'm so smart, can I get out of time-out now?"

Now what in the world do you say to that, friends?!

The BIG Day!!!

2010-02-01T20:22:00.000-08:00

The first day of school, was SO exciting for Thatch...and SO sad for mommy!! I will never forget how big and grown-up he looked, sitting there with his crayons, waving good-bye to me. I'm of course thankful that he wasn't bawling,(I cried enough for both of us, anyway), and begging for me to stay, but geeeeez! He could have at least acted a little sad...as if he was gunna miss me just a little!;) I kissed him, told him I'd be there to get him when school was over, and then stood by the door with the other moms...and watched. They colored for a minute, and then Thatcher turned around and for a second I thought he was going to come give me a hug...but no. Instead, he said, loud enough for all the other parents to hear, "Oh! You're still here?!" And that was that. He is definitely not my baby anymore!

On the other hand...I get to hang on to Porter and Decker for just a little while longer! I am Teacher #2 at the preschool Porter attends, and Deck comes along for the ride, so they are stuck with me!:) I have been so blessed with some amazing little spirits. I may be their mother and teacher, but they have taught me more in their little lifetimes, than I've learned in all of mine.

Decker...plum tuckered out!

2010-02-01T20:11:00.001-08:00

The busy Summer ended with some worn-out kiddos...and the terrible two's took their toll on my exhausted baby boy! Here he is, so sweet...snoozing:

Happy Birthday THATCHER!!

2010-02-01T19:49:00.000-08:00

Six years old...every day is an adventure for this little man! We love you little buddy and are so very proud of you!

Sunshine and Summertime

2010-02-01T14:27:00.001-08:00

We had an amazing Summer...

Thatch participated in his first year of Tball and had the best coach ever...DADDY!! Porter and Decker acted as Coach Assistants and were...helpful, to say the least.:)

We are blessed to live right on the river, and have endless opportunities to fish, boat, and swim! Needless to say, I have three sons who have become quite the fishermen!
Just Fish'n:

4th of JULY:

Big Nasty Hillclimb:
Around these parts, the "BIG NASTY" is a h u g e mountain that many brave souls attemp to climb, but only a few succeed. We went with some friends and the boys thought it was great...looking forward to making it a tradition! Here's a picture of the kiddos with some dirt bikin' dudes!

Men At Work:

Shiners:
As you can imagine, with three wild and crazy boys, things tend to get a little rowdy in this family! We are fortunate to have zero broken bones so far, but Thatcher and Porter gave eachother black eyes...

Butterfly Kisses:

Butt Freeze:
Decker spilled his slushy in his carseat and had a bright red butt cheek by the time we got home!

Goin to TRANSFORMERS 2:

Boy's Best Friend(s):

Decker and Pals

Puppy love...Decker and Bailey

Thatcher and Micah

One Summer evening, my older brother Barry showed up on our doorstep with THE cutest little goat! The kids were thrilled to see their uncle and were very curious about his little pygmy friend! Porter asked what the goat's name was, and Barry replied, "Well, what are you going to name it?!" And then it dawned on me...this was OUR goat, apparently. We have really come to love this little surprise pet and Augustus is officially, part of the fam! He is a very social animal, and when the dogs come in, he thinks he needs to, too!

LOOK WHAT WE FOUND!! The kids found a baby bird and put it in Ryan's hat, hoping to raise it through the Summer...yeah. It didn't quite make it.:)

On The Road Again...

2010-02-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

After six wonderful months in the South...we headed back to the Promise Land! We returned to "Ranch McLinn" just in time for Summer fun! We so enjoyed spending time with my mom in Louisiana, and can't wait to visit...but we are definitely Idahoans at heart! The kiddos miss their Mimi, but are glad to be home with their space, their animals, their river, and their trees.

MY SUPERHEROES

2010-02-01T14:03:00.000-08:00

The Angola PRISON Rodeo!

2009-04-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

{My goofballs and I before the Rodeo}
Yep. We allowed, and even encouraged our children to laugh and be entertained at the expense of others this weekend. And, might I add, I can think of very few things that are as funny as watching inmates of the state penitentiary, running in the mud, for their lives, to escape the wrath of a vicious and very upset bull.
We are a RODEO LOVING family, and this was by far, the BEST rodeo we've ever attended! We went with my mom and her husband...and fun was had by all! Unlike the typical rodeo, there were very strict rules, of course. But hey, no alcohol and no cameras is a small price to pay considering the entertainment!

Mr. Independent

2009-04-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

Thatcher has recently discovered some new self confidence. He refuses to let me help him with anything, and in fact, helps me out with many things! His favorite line is, "Hey Mom, did you forget? I'm a big kid."
So, my 'big kid' was making a sandwich for himself the other day and I heard him say, "WOW! We musta got some new miracle whip." I went in the kitchen, thinking maybe he needed some assistance in getting the lid off...and he was GUZZLING a drink. I asked him if he needed help, and he replied, "No Mom. I'm a big kid. But, if you're gunna get freeeeeeken spicy miracle whip, tell me next time so I don't burn my mouth off, okay?" And then he handed me the HORSERADISH bottle...So, whether he likes it or not, he still needs me around, at least until he can distinguish the difference between condiments.

Monster Jam!

2009-03-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

What a NIGHT! I don't think my boys could have been happier...Monster Trucks, Ice Cream, and Eachother...

A Pet For A Day...

2009-03-25T12:23:00.000-07:00

My mom has a pond at the back of her neighborhood. It is the boys' favorite place to hang out. The wildlife is plentiful...turtles, birds, alligators, lizards, etc.
We have been feeding the turtles for the past week or so, and the kiddos have counted 21 of the little guys!
They also, of course, have tried to catch them. Boys will be boys, right? I have no problems watching them, but the other day, they roped me into participating in their endeavors. So, in an attempt to be a great mom, I grabbed a bucket and began fishing for turtles. The task of turtle catching is much more difficult than one would suspect...they are faster than we give them credit for...especially in murky, (disgustingly murky), water.
Long story short, I fell in the nasty pond while trying to catch a turtle. I did however manage to catch the little guy. Thatcher screamed, "All right MOM!! You are AWESOME!" Porter said sweetly, "Mommy, I'm your biggest fan." and Decker said very matter of factly, "Hmmm Mommy. He's little." I told them that they had better appreciate that damn turtle, big or little, because the doctors would probably have to amputate my germy, moss covered, muddy, legs.
Here is a picture of their pet, 'Snappy.' And a picture of another one of their new-found friends.

A SAFARI...in Louisiana!?!

2009-03-09T16:11:00.001-07:00

The Global Wildlife Center is about an hour away from Baton Rouge, so we took the kiddos for some SaFaRi FUN!! We rode a wagon-train and fed the animals right out of our hands!

The GATOR Ranch

2009-03-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

Getting a closer look...

Gator Chase'n

The Gator Wrangler

The Alligator Barn

Learning the difference between Gators and Crocs

The Baby Alligator

Feeding the GIANT Catfish!

Thatcher, taping the gator's mouth shut!

The boys...getting a closer look!

Decker and his alligator skin!

The Family, holding a gator!

Porter and his new friend!

Mardi Gras!

2009-02-26T07:49:00.001-08:00

A parade on the water!

Having fun downtown!

Waiting on the side lines to catch some loot!

The Loot!

Decker Ean is 2!!

2009-02-25T08:21:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday little buddy!! You are our Diego loving, zippety doo da singing, 'Ah MAN!' saying, Porter and Thatcher following, into EVERYTHING, bike riding, tractor obsessing...BEST FRIEND and entertainer! We love you so so so so much!

Decker Ean McLinn
February 25, 2007
9:37 PM
8 lbs 7 oz 21"

This morning he got up, and immediately began ran-sacking the kitchen....I just figured he was hungry, and ready for breakfast, so I offered him some cereal. "NO Mommy! BIRTHDAY!!" I told him HAPPY BIRTHDAY (again) and then offered him some oatmeal. "NO Mommy! BIRTHDAY!" Hmmmm. Then, it dawned on me as he grabbed the cookie jar and said, "BIRTHDAY. YUMMY!" He was expecting to wake up and eat BIRTHDAY CAKE!!! So funny! I think the terrible two's have officially begun!

My Special Valentine!

2009-02-16T07:19:00.000-08:00

Porter Miles McLinn
Born February 14, 2005
8lbs 12oz 20 1/2" long

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PORTER!!
We love you sososososososo much!

Porter you are such a big boy! You are so smart and handsome! You are a good little helper to Mommy, and your brothers adore you! Some of your favorite things are Dinos, Power Rangers, riding your bike WITHOUT training wheels, reading stories, singing songs, (especially Disney & Purple People Eater), doing crafts and practicing your letters, watching Super Why, and baking cookies and eating all the dough!:)

BR ZOO!

2009-02-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

The weather has been soooo lovely here! We've already gone spring/summer clothes shopping and have been window shopping for a new double jogger and bikes!! I know...jumping the gun a little. But hey, we are soooo excited for warm weather adventures and want to be prepared!!

We took advantage of the beautiful weekend, and took the kiddos to the zoo!

New meaning to the words: Saturday Morning Cartoon...

2009-02-07T07:23:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of Ben 10? He's a little boy who has a special watch with buttons, that when pressed, allow Ben to turn into a a number of different aliens with special powers. He uses these powers to fight bad guys and aliens that attack the Earth. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? haha It keeps my boys on the edge of their seats anyway.
Here is Ben 10:

Here is what I woke up to this beautiful Saturday morning:

Yes. These are my children, in their very own Ben 10 outfits. Made with their own little hands, by their own little selves,(with a sharpie), while Mommy slept. I was too impressed to be ticked...thankfully they chose their undershirts rather than their white church shirts to make their little ensembles.

My Funny Valentines

2009-02-06T14:04:00.001-08:00

Thatcher: Mom, you are just going to DIE when I tell you this.
Me: What son? You met a new friend at Sunday School today?
Thatcher: No. I wore my jammies to church.
Me: WHAT??? (Thinking to myself, I know I'm a little rushed on Sunday mornings, and usually tired...but NOT so out of it that I wouldn't notice Super Man Jammies instead of Sunday attire.)
Thatcher: Yep! (While giggling) I sat down at circle time, and something felt funny so I lifted up my sweater, and I saw my jammies pants UNDER my church pants! Do you just want to DIE, because I did! I put my sweater down faaast and nobody saw. Whew.

He is SUCH a little character. There are much worse things than wearing jammies to church, but I love that he got such a kick out of his little mishap!:)

********************************************************************
Road Rash. 'Nuf said.

The only thing funny here, is that after his serious wipe out, he called Ryan to tell him about it, and he blamed it all on Thatcher. Funnily enough, Thatch was at least two feet away and for once, wasn't at fault. I guess he's so used to his ornery big brother, that he just assumed it was him!:)
********************************************************************
Decker is becoming QUITE the little chatterbox. And, a bossy one to boot. So, I asked him to please hush one night as I was trying to get everybody calmed down and ready for bed...not always an easy task....and this was his reply, "Mommy, YOU hush up." Well, how nice. My not-yet-two-year-old already feels comfortable smart mouthing his mother. I am sooo in for it.

Excuse This House

2009-01-16T13:01:00.000-08:00

On any given day, the kids can often be found wearing their favorite superhero costumes, and brawling with one another...I probably should have named our blog the McLinn Madhouse!! (No, these are not their Halloween costumes. These are their 'everyday-I'm-gunna-fight-some-bad-guys-outfits.')

I don't know about you, but I'd MUCH rather play with my kiddos than clean the toilets!:)

Sometimes I get a little stressed out with the everyday household duties that we all have to do...not because I mind them, but because there is NEVER enough time in the day to do ALL the laundry, ALL the cleaning, ALL the cooking, etc. and STILL have time to spend with my little guys....
My mom found this poem for me, and I thought I'd share it:

Some houses try to hide the fact that children shelter there.
Ours boasts of it quite openly,
The signs are everywhere.
For smears are on the windows,
Little smudges on the doors,
I should apologize I guess, for toys strewn on the floor.
But I sat down with the children
And we played and laughed and read,
And if the doorbell doesn't shine,
Their eyes will instead.
For when at times I'm forced to choose
The one job or the other,
I want to be a housewife,
But first I'll be a Mother.

"Blankie"

2008-12-30T07:48:00.001-08:00

In a previous post,(LYNUS), I gave a small tribute to Decker's blankie...which has been really more like a part of him, than a blanket. It continues to slowly fall apart...SO, I had a BRILLIANT idea! I made him a blanket for Christmas that I was just SURE he would love, and love enough to say good riddens to his current, poor excuse for a blanket, (which has gone through three children now.) Decker didn't think my idea was quite as brilliant as I did. It is soft, blue, (his favorite color...which translates to the only color he really knows how to say,)AND it has TRACTORS on it. He has been obsessed with tractors ever since he's been able to point.:)Guess what. He opened his blanket, looked at me, looked at it, and said, "NO." The tractor blanket has been in a corner, unused, since.

Decker, waiting impatiently as his ratty, ol' blankie washes. (Tears often accompany this tri-weekly ritual.)

Potty Training is SO fun!

2008-12-27T08:21:00.001-08:00

Not really. But, it does make for some funny moments. Decker is doing really well...I'm hoping he'll be DONE by his birthday in February. I just HAD to post this picture...he can be found in this spot, with this book, at least 3 times a day. Who knew that the toilet could be such an exciting place to sit?! We share good, quality, MOMMY-DECKER time, as we read and sing songs until the job is done.

'Tis The Season

2008-12-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

We LOVE the holidays, and start our Christmas festivities the day after Thanksgiving. While we were decorating the tree, I asked the kiddos what their favorite thing about Christmas time is, and these were their answers:

Presents
Looking at lights
Hot Chocolate
Building Snowmen
Cutting down our Christmas tree
Throwing snowballs at Mommy (rude!)
Hayrides (Thanks grandma Della!)
Candy canes
Seeing all of our uncles!

And the list goes on!:)

While we didn't get to participate in ALL of the Christmas time fun-filled activities we usually do, (Louisiana is a LONG way from Grandma Della's house and all the boys' uncles),we had a wonderful holiday season. In fact, I think we even started a few new traditions!:)

These are a few pictures from the live nativity we attended at the church!
(Something we'll do EVERY year...the boys LOVED it!)
Before we left:

The kids befriending the animals:

We were here for the first snowfall in Baton Rouge, in 20 years!! Ironically, I had told the boys that snowmen and snowball fights, and skiing were probably out of the question this year because it doesn't snow in Louisiana. Well, when they woke up to snow one morning, Porter reminded me that we should NEVER say NEVER!:)

BRRR! The terrible mother that I am, could NOT find the box/tote with our Winter coats, hats, mittens and etc, that I had brought just-in-case. So, my kiddos froze...we warmed up with hot cocoa later!:)

So, as you can imagine, Louisiana has some AMAZING plantations. What a perfect place to gaze at Christmas lights...
The boys thought this was pretty neat so we got out and HAD to get a picture!

Just one week after the snow melted, the kids enjoyed some Summertime fun in DECEMBER:

Baking is one of our FAVORITE past times! The kids just love adding ingredients, mixing, eating cookie dough, and then seeing and testing the finished product! And, like some of you, I'm sure, we baked our little hearts out this holiday season!

We are FINALLY ready for the BIG day and have really enjoyed the wonderful holiday season and everything that comes with it! We truly do have so much to be thankful for. Wishing you and yours every happiness throughout this Christmas season and always!

Pissed.

2008-12-20T00:02:00.001-08:00

I'm not a big swearer. I mean, I'll admit that the occasional Shi*, Hel*, and Dam* slip out. But I try REALLY hard not to articulate these four letter words in front of the boys. Ryan, well, he doesn't try very hard at all.:)

The following conversation happened between my kiddos and I today:
Thatcher, after stirring up a pile of fire ants, said, "Wow! Those ants are pisssssed!" Then, he covered his mouth and said, "Oops. Sorry Mommy. That is not a nice word, is it.?!" My response was, "No. You KNOW it's not. I don't want to hear it again. Decker is learning new words every day...you don't want to teach him a naughty one, do you?" Then he replied, "No Mommy. I'm sorry." I told him that sometimes words just slip out, but we all need to watch our mouths. Then out of no where, Porter says, while sticking his lips out and going cross eyed,(trying to see his mouth), "Mommy, you don't make any sense, do you? How can we 'watch our mouths'???????

So, I decided, Thatcher gets his potty mouth from his Dad. Porter gets his smarty pants attitude from his dad, and Decker, sweet little Decker, is JUST like his mother.:)

N'awlins

2008-12-08T04:22:00.000-08:00

From the food and sights, to the people and their culture, experiencing New Orleans was like entering a whole new world for our little family! Here are a few of the pictures we took, having a great time together, as my mom and her husband led us on a tour of the city!

Us, visiting #2 on our list of haunted places in Louisiana...Hotel Montelone. (Minus the housekeeper that LOOKED a little scary, it wasn't too spooky.:))

Decker LOVING the trolley (CHOOCHOO) ride!

Thatcher and Porter...just a little early for Mardi Gras!

Party On Bourbon Street!

Spy Games

2008-12-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

The boys are loving the adventures they are having here in Louisiana! They definitely miss the space they had at Ranch McLinn, but are finding new and creative ways to spend their time here at my mom's. In fact, the other day, I sent them out to play while I cleaned up lunch...and this is what I found when I came out:

What is on the other side of the fence? A cute little four year old GIRL, named Hailey. So, they have officially discovered girls.

Goosebumps!

2008-12-05T08:27:00.000-08:00

Apparently my face is having trouble acclimating to the humidity here. Porter noticed..."Jeez mom. Your chin must be cold. It's got goosebumps all over it." So, if any of you have noticed zitty-faced-me in previous posts, please stand corrected. My face has just been chilly.:)

Haunted Louisiana Part 1

2008-12-03T17:20:00.000-08:00

When I was about 13, my parents bought a home and remodeled it. It was a beautiful three story house on a quiet street...and it was haunted. We know of one man that passed away in the home, and there may have been others. A few of my brothers, as well as myself, had several unexplained 'experiences' occur, while living there, and since then, I have been quite certain that there IS such a thing as GHOSTS. Thankfully, we didn't live there long...
Ryan and I are addicted to 'ghost shows.' We love to stay up late and watch Ghost Hunters. Paranormal State. Ghost Adventures. Our fascination has rubbed off on the kiddos too...they are very intrigued, and surprisingly, not afraid. The Monster Quest episode with El Chupacabra, (see previous post, November 2008), caused a couple of sleepless nights, so we were hesitant to let them participate in our Friday night rituals of 'ghost viewing' at first. But, they think of it as a glorified scooby doo. They even beg us to tell them ghost stories each night before we tuck them in. So, the other day we discovered a list of haunted houses/places in Louisiana, and thought, why not visit them?!
Haunted House #1
The Myrtles Plantation St. Francisville, Louisiana
Now a bed-and-breakfast, the Myrtles Plantation is said to house many ghosts and spirits due to 10 murders and 1 suicide that have occurred there since it was built in 1796. Among them are the ghosts of Cleo, a former slave who was hung for poisoning two little girls, the ghosts of the little girls, and William Winter, a former owner who was shot on the front porch.

Other apparitions seen by visitors include ghosts from the slave graveyard on the property, and a ghost that meets guests at the inn's gate and says the plantation is closed.
Here is a picture of us at The Myrtles Plantation.

When we asked the boys what their favorite part about seeing the haunted house was, their response was typical: The candy Mom!:) Here they are enjoying it! (Sorry Deck! Ya moved at the last second!)

The entire experience was pretty amazing. The kids loved 'ghost hunting' on the plantation's grounds. We didn't see any ghosts, but when we walked into the parlor, both Ryan and I simultaneously felt faint...as if the room was crowded, and it wasn't. Weird. We grabbed some brochures on the way out, and I had to laugh when I read this excerpt: After entering the parlor, a psychic once said, 'It was as if I had entered a crowded cocktail party...crowded with spirits.'

"What the Fork?"

2008-12-02T07:48:00.001-08:00

Do any of your kiddos have issues with saying their "Rs?" Mine do...and I'm hoping they'll grow out of it BEFORE they start school. But, for now, it's rather entertaining...Decker asked for a fork this morning at breakfast time, and it reminded me of this story:
When Thatcher was about 3 1/2 and Porter was 2, we were out on a family date, eating some serious buffet, when they started fighting over a fork. Who knows why, I'm sure there was an endless supply of them somewhere, but it apparently, (there was LOTS of giggling going on around us), made for some GREAT entertainment, for the other families anyway, I was mortified! Why? Because this was what could be heard all across the restaurant: (Remember, no "Rs" were pronounced) "I'm gunna FOrK you up Porter!" And then he'd poke his brother with the fork. "NO! I'M gunna FOrK YOU up Thatcher!" And then he'd reach for the fork. It went on for only a few seconds, but doesn't it seem like time stands still when you are embarrassed?! Gotta love 'em!:)

Roomies!

2008-11-30T09:08:00.000-08:00

Porter had a very interesting question...."Mommy, do the Easter Bunny, Santa, The Tooth Fairy, and Heavenly Father all live together?" From a kiddo's perspective, it is really a very reasonable question. We don't SEE any of them. Nobody knows EXACTLY where any of them live. They all DO wonderful things for us when we're not watching. It only makes sense that they would all live under the same roof and share the sleigh, don't ya think?!:)

Boots?

2008-11-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

Last night Ryan and I were going through the newspaper, in an attempt to stratagize our Day-After-Thanksgiving shopping spree. The boys were wide-eyed as they looked through the advertisements with us, so I told them that they could circle a few things, to give Mommy and Daddy some ideas of what they would like for Christmas. I put Decker to bed and when it was time to tuck the older two in, I noticed their newspapers FULL of circles. I picked up one of the pages and saw that in addition to a few toys, there were some ladies BOOTS circled, as well as some golf clubs. Ryan and I, thinking they were just circle happy, were giggling, and asked the boys why in the world they circled those particular items. Porter replied, "Well you guys need things for Christmas too."
I always tell people that in the short time I have been a parent, I have learned more about the person I want to be, than I ever did before I became a mother. I get a crash course in "Life's Lessons" each day from my children. They are such wonderful examples to me of what it means to love unconditionally, to forgive, to be selfless and thoughtful...and the list goes on. We are so blessed.

Don't say the 'C' word!

2008-11-18T10:47:00.001-08:00

A few months ago, for the first time EVER, (haha), Ryan and I used very bad parental judgement. The kids love to watch the show Monster Quest with us, and usually it's nothing too freaky...Big Foot, giant rats in New York...things like that. Well, this particular night, the show was about El Chupacabra. Allow me to enlighten you:

Chupacabra is a creature that resembles a living gargoyle said to exist in parts of Mexico, Texas, and on the island of Puerto Rico.

Translated literally from Spanish as "goat-sucker" (compare with chotacabras, the nightjar), the chupacabra is said to attack small livestock and drink their blood. Descriptions of this creature vary, and no one has produced undisputable evidence of its existence.

Chupacabra are said to prominently appear in three specific forms. The first: a lizard-like being, appearing to have leathery/scaley greenish skin and sharp spines running down its back. It stands approximately 3-4 feet high, and stands/hops in a similar fashion as a kangaroo (in at least one sighting, the creature hopped 20 feet). This variety is said to have a sort of proboscis extending from its mouth, with a forked tongue protruding from it.

The second variety also stands/hops as a kangaroo, and it has coarse fur with greyish facial hair. The head is similar to a dog's, and its mouth has large teeth.

The third form is simply that of a strange breed of wild dog that is mostly hairless, has a pronounced spinal ridge, unusually pronounced eye sockets, teeth, and claws, but is otherwise a typical canine. This animal is said to be the result of interbreeding between several populations of wild dogs, though enthusiasts claim that it might be an example of an extinct dog-like reptile. The account during the year 2000 in Nicaragua of a Chupacabra corpse being found supports the conclusion that it is simply a strange breed of wild dog. The alleged corpse of the animal was found in Tolapa, Nicaragua and forensically analyzed at UNAN-Leon. Pathologists at the University found that it was just a dog; albeit a little unusual looking one. It should be noted that there are very striking morphological differences between different breeds of dogs (which wild dogs are generally descended from) that easily account for the strange characteristics of such an animal.

Some believe the chupacabra is a product of "social hysteria" while others feel this is a weak explanation for the real dead animals resulting from the creature's unexplained attacks. There are many eye-witness accounts dating back many years.

None of the kids seemed afraid at all. In fact, they were actually very interested, sitting on the edge of their seats. At one point, Thatcher started asking lots of questions and I could tell he was very curious, so I told him that it was all probably just make believe. Guess what. That didn't work. For about two weeks, he refused to sleep in his own bed...we finally got him over that, (with a new night light), but he continued to be very obsessed with the creepy things. We reminded him that the only state they've been found in, is Texas. We showed him on a map how far away Idaho is from Texas and that seemed to help. Here's the kicker: We are now in Louisiana, and before coming, we mapped out our road trip with the kids and Thatcher noticed that LA is right next door to TX. NOT good. He sleeps in his own bed, but his questions are relentless. So HOW do they suck the blood Mommy? Do they like people blood too? Where do you think their fur went? If one was gunna get me, could I use Daddy's gun and shoot it? How far could they run in one night? Are they good climbers?

So there ya have it. Our ONE and ONLY mistake as parents....I wish.

Yardsale and Cranberry Juice!

2008-11-18T08:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, so if any of you are familiar with Caldwell, Idaho...where we used to live...you know that a large percentage of the population is Hispanic. You would also know, that a large percentage of Hispanics like to go yard sale'n. Having said that...

Yesterday, the kids and I noticed a roofing crew, (mostly made up of Hispanic men), in my mom's neighbor's yard, getting ready to repair her hurricane damaged roof. As the men busied themselves with the bundles of shingles and toolboxes, Thatcher very loudly said to me, "Hey Mommy! Look! Must be a YARDSALE!!!"

P.S. If you think this story is inappropriate, please disregard it. Personally, I think it's hilarious.

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I recently introduced the kiddos to cranberry juice...one of my favorites. Thatcher was less than impressed. Porter gulped his down, and then said, "Wow! That sure felt funky on my tongue, but I LIKED it!" He is too funny.

Another Milestone!

2008-11-09T19:06:00.000-08:00

A little help from mom and dad, some determination, and lots of encouragement from a big brother....the recipe used to teach my three 1/2 year old how to ride his bike without training wheels! Thatcher learned a few days ago, and Porter wanted to, "Ride SUPER fast, like Thatch." So, after a couple bumps and scrapes...he's got it figured out! Thatcher loves having someone to ride with, and Porter loves the fact that he can (almost) keep up with his big brother! Another milestone...I love being a mom!