forest lakes cabin

We went to my (step) mother in law family's cabin this weekend and had alot of fun! The boys were definitely in their element, playing in the dirt and exploring. Bastien was outside the whole day playing hard and fell asleep once his head hit the pillow at night. He had the most fun "working" with Grandpa and walking to the fire station.

"planting a bird"

face plant into the dirt

hammy downs

It's a good thing Bastien was spoiled with shoes. Otherwise the twins would be shoeless since they've outgrown their shoes that seems like were just bought. I swear Bastien was not this age when he wore these. He mustve been at least 2. Emmy and Japper were way excited when they saw I had 'new' shoes to put on their feet!

look how excited Embry is.

Bastien's playgroup

(First here are some pics I found on my camera. I love that Steven always takes pictures of the kids when he watches them.)

Embry and his skate trick

Daddys are so fun! He set the tent up for Bastien to sleep in one night.

Bastien's playgroup was at our house this morning and it turned out pretty good..at least I think the kids had fun.

playin in Bastien's room

I was a little worried about the girls and whether they'd have fun since I dont have any girl stuff, but they seemed really excited about watching Cinderella!

What we've been doing all summer...

I feel pretty good about how much my kids have been getting out of the house this summer. We've been going to the pool a couple times a week and meeting our friends...I'm glad we set up a certain time to go every week otherwise I probably wouldnt do it, and I love seeing Bastien's face light up when I say..."Guess what?? Today we're going to the pool". But I cant tell him until a few minutes before we go or I wont hear anything else but,"When are we going..you're taking so long" We usually go to our apartment pool, but today we went to a friends pool. I usually bring the twins of course but I had just been at my moms for the day and she watched them while I took Bastien. It was nice since the twins dont actually want to swim whenever we go. They just want to run around the pool, jump in at the other end where I'm not, or throw food and peoples shoes in. I mean that's fun and all, but it was nice little break to just go with Bastien today.

Isn't Jorgen adorable? Yesterday he was stung by a bee and Bastien kept talking about it saying "poor baby jorgen..that bee was so mean" Then later during the day I made him go to his room for doing something naughty and he was clearly upset about it and let out a pretty loud yell. I was like "Uh oh I guess you have to stay in there longer" And he's all "I'm sorry..I wasnt yelling at you I was yelling because I was so sad about Jorgen getting stung by a bee" Nice save buddy!

On the way home from church Bastien asked what his new friend's name was and later he said

"I like my friend Paka..he has cute hair!"

Attitude...

...Embry is FULL of it!

He doesnt even know what he is being upset or sassy about half the time.

He's very dramatic

He gives one mean stink eye..if you know Embry, he's probably given it to you. I love the ones where he's half smiling while he's doing it, cause he knows he's being funny.

If you give him m&ms he'll shove them all in his mouth and say "MO!"

He's one tough little cookie. He has a walk that says he owns the place.

But when Embry's sweet, he's REally Sweet!

And he'll always give "loves" after being a stinker.

and I'm in love with his curls.

One thing I know, is Embry wont ever be without personality!

trouble

Baby Ashton Kutcher and his twin.

A friend sent this to me yesterday saying that she thought baby Ashton (on the right) looked just like Bastien. I think he looks more like Jasper's twin! Bastien and Jasper do look similar though. He has Jasper's lips defintely..but its the eyes and nose, too. Weird. All I gotta say is, if one of my boys actually does end up looking like an older Ashton Kutcher, I think I'm in trouble!

Grandpa Cox

JD Cox, Sr.

November 4th, 1932-August 4th, 2009

My grandpa passed away yesterday morning. He's had cancer these last few years. Things had been pretty rough on him lately. They live in New Mexico and I havent seen him since I was 17. It's sad thinking I dont have any more grandpas alive. I cant imagine how my mom must feel, I cant even fathom the thought of losing my mom or dad..at any age. My grandparents used to live in Mesa a long time ago..so most of my memories of them are of when I was really little ..I'm racking my brain to remember as much as I can. I remember they played skip-bo alot and drank RC cola. And that they used to wrap our birthday presents in cereal boxes. But I think the main thing I'll always remember about them is this one day I was being babysat by them probably when I was 5. I got hurt playing outside their apartment and I was crying and my grandma sat me at the kitchen table next to my grandpa and he was probably just trying to make me laugh, but I remember thinking he was teasing me and I started crying more. Then my grandma gave me Fudge with almonds in it and I felt all better. Maybe I remember this because there was chocolate involved?

My grandpa was a musician for the Army most of his life. I hear he could play a mean french horn. He taught my mom how to play as well.

Here is my mom as a baby with her parents.

Isn't my grandma one classy babe?

My mom and her mom

My mom looks so much like my sister Mary in this picture.