This song spoke to me today.

"Mom, can I have an Otter Pop?" Reagan asked.
"Not right now." I said.
"But Moooom! It's Otter Pop Day!"
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"Mom, do you know what is inside [the peach]?" Reagan said to me this morning.
"Yeah."
"It is like a corndog."

"I popped my muscle." -Brad. After he pulled his dresser out to get some things that fell behind.
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"Be who you are, but don't leave a scar." -Aubryn. She was soooo proud of that rhyme she came up with all by herself.

Reagan said while we were driving down the road, "Dad, I need to tell you something."

"Yeah?" Brian said.

"I love you and like you."

"Reagan, what's your favorite flavor?" I asked.
"Candy." he said.
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"I don't like besqitos! They bite me and eat me and go show their mom." -Reagan
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"Mom, Is this the toothpaste Reagan put on his bumb?" -Aubryn

It's a Date!

Brad and I went to a free concert with Jenny Oaks Baker at the downtown amphitheater. It was nice to spend some one-on-one time with Brad. He is such a big help to me. He really tries to be a good kid. I enjoyed visiting with him and not being interrupted once. It could have only gotten better if it wasn't 100 degrees! Wow! I was so hot sitting in the bleachers. We didn't (well, I didn't) last very long. We went home, made cookies together, and went on a walk. It was great being together, just us two.

Precious Moments, Don't Blink

This is a rare photo of Rylan SMILING AT THE CAMERA!!!
And it is over.

Big Day!

Aubryn with her cousin, Maddie.

Aubryn lost her first tooth!!!!!

Crazy, Brave, or Just Plain Stupid

I have taken my kids with me to lots of places lately. I really don’t have much choice besides staying home and I figure it will only get harder, so live it up while I can.

The first was last week when Brian and I went to the home show with all kids in tow. "Everyone put booties on. Don’t touch that. Stay with me. Did you see where [insert any child’s name here] went? Please don’t climb on the bed. Be careful. Ohhh. Wow. That is cool! Because we can’t afford that. Yeah, that looks like fun, but we can’t play on it. Booties off. Shoes on. Are you all buckled up? Lets go to the next one."

Aubryn next to a crib she thought was cool.

Super tiny Brad. This was a door entering a basement 1/2 bath!

Brad the giant.

Next was a free concert in the downtown amphitheater. The Nashville Tribute Band was playing. They have some great songs about the pioneers. It was a beautiful evening. The kids had lots of energy. LOTS. At one point I chased Rylan, grabbed him, and said, "Where do you think you are going?" He replied, "HOME!"

There was more fun stuff to do! Friday Night at Deseret Book Michael McLean was there performing songs from his new album, Mission to Be Happy. Last December Brian and I paid quite a bit for tickets to see him in concert and he was the size of an Army Man toy. Brad thought they would block off the road and he would do his concert outside. I figured it would be crazy full, a mad house. We could stand in the back and slip out early. Would you believe when we arrived that we doubled the attendance, my children and I. Really there were about 5 people there! I thought, "ARE YOU KIDDING!?" as I am sure Bro. McLean thought too.

We enjoyed a personal concert with him! I had him sign a CD for Brian. He learned my kid’s names. About an hour into it Brian showed up (he had been at work) and Bro. McLean made up an impromptu song about our family. He sang personal requests. He told us the stories behind what inspired songs. He sang the first song he ever wrote about his mashed potatoes and peas. He sang a song to a lady named Cathy. And we got pictures. It was pretty darn cool.

Micheal McClean's Song for our Fam from anjie hawks on Vimeo.
Video of Michael McLean singing to our family. The first word you hear is "wife". He was finishing a sentence about the best thing that happened to Brian was his wife. He sang that after singing something about Brian coming to save my life, or help with the kids.

From there we went to the Youth Spectacular. 3000 youth from the area performed a huge production called "Arise." It was held at the Weber State Football Stadium. It was PACKED!! It was 100 degrees. It was long. It was also really good!! My kids were tiered, hot, and thirsty. They climbed all over me and my protruding belly. Brad seemed to really be into it. He did not want to leave. Brian took Rylan down and let him run around. He bought him treats to keep him happy and I was so grateful. About halfway into the show Reagan said (in his loud voice), "MOM!!! We are not watching football!" About a 15 foot radius of people got a good laugh. Someone said, "Is that how you tricked him into coming?" Even with busy children, who I think did well considering the circumstances, I was touched to tears and felt the event was appropriately named a "Spectacular."

Now today. We went to a health fair in the 100 degree weather. Aubryn had 3 balloons, each of them flew away. Each time it was devastating. I took the kids into a sandwich shop that is not geared toward kids while Brian had his hair cut. Reagan spilled not only his full cup of ice water, but Aubryn’s too. She was again devastated and felt it was important to explain to me how it was Reagan’s fault over the next 30 minutes. Reagan didn’t believe me that the chip bag was empty until he dumped the crumbs all over. Rylan refused to eat, but had no trouble using his mouth. He blew through the straw into his water which made great bubbles and splashes. He also protested being in his stroller. Brad figured out a more efficient way to blow into his water. He Blew up a balloon, then attached it to the end of the straw, stuck the straw into the cup of water, and let the air exit the balloon, through the straw and into the bubbly water.

I had my blood pressure taken at the health fair by a tiny hand cuff device I have never seen before. It was 81/50. 81/50!! "Is it always low?" I was asked. Yeah, it is, but seriously, that thing has got to be broken! That or I have learned to be super relaxed while I keep track of/ deal with kids in public places in super crazy heat.

Reagan found some new friends!

Rylan this morning. Slowly waking up.Brian and Reagan after Brian ran a 5k this morning.Aubryn is wiggling her wiggly tooth! She discovered it this morning and is so excited!Getting ready to go to the health fair. Brian is getting shoes on Reagan and I LOVE him for doing that. (Look how easily Brian can bend over. I'm a bit jealous.) Those are Reagan's "Dude Shoes." Below I couldn't help but post Reagan's goofy face here.Checking out some fire fighter tools.

In the fire truck!

"I'm killin' myself today! That's why I got a drink. I thought I was going to resplode." -Aubryn

"Love your mom? Bug your mom." -Aubryn

Double Digit Status

Happy Birthday Brad!! 10 years old!

A few weeks ago I had Reagan with me at some yard sales. He has a good strategy to get what he wants. He just picks it up and heads to the car.

While looking around at one sale there was a mother yelling at her little boy. "[kid's name]!! If you don't want someone to buy your superman you better pick it up and take it in the house!"

Then Reagan chimes in without a thought, "YEAH! Cuz I want to buy it!"

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Today I was cutting Brad's hair out on the back patio. After I was done I had Brad stand up to check my handy work. When I turned around Reagan had begun his own haircut. So, I had to finish it. He had cut it really short in the front. It was hard to make it look okay. I had to cut off all his beautiful summer highlights.

Highlights from our 4th of July Weekend

Brian ran a 5K.
Brad got to be in a parade.
Brad got to hit me in the head with candy.
Aubryn didn’t get run over by a semi or any parade floats while trying to get candy.
Rylan hid his parade candy in my cleavage.
Rylan could only fit one pack of Smarties in my cleavage.
Had a barbeque in the backyard.
Watched a movie (The Spy Next Door) with my kids on blankets in the backyard.
We lit a firework that shot 25 streamer clusters into the air and the kids loved it.
We lit a firework that shot 25 streamer clusters into the air and half of them landed on our neighbor’s roof.
Rylan cried to go to bed during fireworks.
We didn’t have to leave the city’s firework show early to "beat the traffic". We just walked into our house.
We stopped at a random ward to go to church on our way to Bear Lake.
Hair spray leaked all over in my bag.
Roasted GINORMOUS marshmallows and heard every joke we could come up with about them.
Aubryn slept on the kitchen floor and Reagan slept under the snack bar. I don’t know where Brad slept.
Reagan had a tie for the biggest grin ever between riding an ATV and eating the ginormous marshmallow.
Rylan loved riding the ATV, but with Brian only.
Kids played for hours at the beach.
No one got sunburned!!
Ate "Hotdog Chicken Potato Delight".
Watched the guys dig a 4 foot deep trench to discover underground leak.
I forgot to take ONE picture!!!!