Scout camp

We missed our Maxwell so much!

The other kids and I said goodbye to him Sunday evening, and we didn't see him again until Saturday.  JB went with him the first two days, so Sunday night and Monday night the rest of us stayed overnight at JB's parents so they could help in the early morning hours when I was at work.

Look at that beautiful Bear Lake.

JB the bishop was also there to support the other kids and leaders (he goes for at least a day or two each time), but I was really glad he was there for our first boy's first major camp.

And all reports are that Max did great for the rest of the week! Even during the wilderness survival night under shelters in the hills.

Skipping rocks below.

He says they didn't feed them enough but that he liked almost every meal (hunger always does away with any pickiness), and he earned every merit badge he signed up for.  His Grandpa Deardeuff should be happy to know his rifle shooting was top notch.

The first few days, Andrew and James would ask, "Where's Max?" Then they wanted to talk his ear off when he came home.

Mess maker, mess maker

Make me a mess! Find me a find, catch me a catch!

Millie recently emptied out James's bottom drawer and climbed in. I mean, look at how funny that chubby pink baby is.  (His dresser is in her room/his old room for now)

She also goes right to the dishwasher to climb up. All of our babies did at this age, and they just get so proud of themselves.

She found (or did a brother give her this? Investigation is ongoing) a yogurt cup and smeared it all over her face as she tried to eat it.

And last week she tried brownies and thought that was mighty fine. A very acceptable offering.

I love watching the kick the boys get out of this baby. What a gift she is.  They wake up and ask about her. They laugh at her climbing and mess-making and love to make her laugh.

Silver Lake

A few Saturdays ago, we went up to beautiful Silver Lake. This is a perfect hike with kids (and people like me who don't like steep inclines).

Donuts near the parking lot. Baby sister fell asleep in the car on the way up the canyon, so she was in her carseat in the stroller.

Four mountain goat brothers.

Almost all of the way around the meadows and lake is this boardwalk. It's to protect the watershed and the area, but I like to think it was so that people with strollers can also get into the mountains and enjoy a hike.

Millie woke up pretty soon, so we got her out of the stroller when she squawked.

If the state of Utah wants to put this image on their next calendar, I will allow it.

Part of the way is woodsy, with tall trees. We saw deer. Millie is trying to wiggle out of Ben's arms below. By the way, they all clamor to hold her in pictures.

But many times I win.

James was proud of his sticks or grass or whatever this was.

We really had a nice time. I swear I am not sugarcoating it for a good blog post -- there was no fighting or arguing, no skinned knees or hungry crying; it was beautiful nature and bonding. We should do it again!

Max's birthday

Maxwell David turned 12 years old last week. He got this sharp new suit and shoes from his Nona and Papa.

Gosh he looks tall and handsome.  On Sunday, he graduated primary and was ordained a deacon by his dad.  His papa and two of his uncles were there to help. Next Sunday he will help pass the sacrament for the first time and I am so proud of him.

Andrew found Ben's old suit on Saturday and begged to try it on -- and it fits! He wanted to look just like Max on Max's special Sunday.

Max is a very good big brother. He is patient (most of the time -- and he tries very hard, I can tell), and helpful and he is often called on to do things for his younger siblings while his parents' hands are full.

We were on a walk around the neighborhood and he asked to try carrying Millie in the front pack. I mean, come on, look how cute.

She hurt his back after a block or two though.

Last week he had his well-child checkup, where he got his middle-school shots and his medical form all filled out for his first week-long scout camp (he left today and comes back Saturday!)
He is 63 1/4 inches tall, so we are basically saying he's almost 5 feet 4. It's the high 90s percentile. And he lost almost 10 pounds since last summer's checkup. The doctor checked his weight twice to make sure. His pants and shorts are loose and his legs look so long.  It's all the basketball practice and games and the lawn-mowing jobs.

He had a basketball cake. We gave him some snacks and supplies for scout camp, and an mp3 player and headphones, and he has been listening to music now while he practices basketball.

He is a good kid and we will all miss him this week!

PS
-His first birthday, we got a Costco sheet cake (with the big frosting balloons) and had both families over for dinner in the backyard. My family lived in Utah County at the time.

-His second birthday, I took his toy mower to Harmons and the bakery decorated a cake to look just like it. He was obsessed with mowers.  I had just found out that our second baby was going to be a boy, so we bought some new more-expensive boy shoes because we knew we could pass them down.

-His next birthdays you can read about below.

Third birthday
Fourth birthday
Fifth birthday
Sixth birthday
Seventh birthday
Baptism Day
Ninth Birthday
Tenth birthday
Eleventh birthday

My birthday

Was perfect.

I didn't get to sleep in, and I had to be out in the rain at a crime scene downtown, but not for long.  When I got home, all the kids and JB jumped out and yell SURPRISE!

They had had such a busy morning -- the whole house was spotless, there was a beautiful cake in the kitchen, and the best thing was....drum roll....an organized laundry room WITH my sewing table and all supplies set up in it! These have been in the little boys' room (formerly the extra bedroom), severely limiting any chance to do any sewing mending or crafting after they go to bed. Plus it's next to the ironing board for when I need that (I have been a lazy sewer and didn't want to walk to the laundry room to iron those seams).

My in-laws came over later that afternoon to eat the amazing cake JB made while juggling 5 kids and cleaning and moving all that furniture around (all before noon).

He makes me feel special, and he is so thoughtful. He put together the sweetest birthday card, and he helped my MIL pick out a sun-blocking sun dress I can't wait to wear when we go swimming again.

We took some pictures outside.

And here are my birthday kisses!

Can you believe the cheeser face of that baby? I love this picture so much. I have the sweetest children.

Today is Max's birthday, and I am remembering the time he was probably turning four years old, and he prayed something about how mom's birthday was over and now it was his turn!

Adventures of my own

Today is my 38th birthday, and, I hope fried chicken and mashed potatoes and cake are in my future.

At the beginning of the summer, I bought a hat to protect my skin from the sun, then later at Target I found another one.  I hoped I looked chic in both. Really I look like a mom in her late 30s wearing a hat, and that's fine, I can own it. 

These are pictures I texted my sisters.

(pre cut and color)

And, because I can laugh at myself, I will share the following story from a recent Saturday. Here is how I texted it to others:

Leaving the house today I backed out of the driveway, then ran back to check and make sure I locked the door.

 I hold my chest as I run because otherwise it bounces, right. 

Well, someone was jogging by, so as I ran back to my car clutching my chest I said "sorry!" with a grimace, basically to apologize that I was blocking the sidewalk. 

I got in the car, and she kind of stopped by the tree. 

I think "great, she knows I am leaving and is going to rob my house. So I will wait her out." 

Finally, she ends the standoff by coming to the van window "are you ok? You seemed in distress back there and haven't kept driving." 

Me: 😳😬 "Hehehe, I am fine, how are you? Ok have a good day!"

And then I drove off, feeling sheepish.

Twelve months

This girl is so squishy and cute.

At her checkup, she weighed 20 pounds 15 ounces (the nurse said she's probably 21 pounds with clothes), which is the 48th percentile, and her length is 30 inches, but the nurse put in 29 in the computer from the first measurement, and that was 51st percentile. Head is 76 percentile, everything looks good.

Waves, claps, cheers, babbles, laughs, hi-fives, crawls everywhere, and climbs into anything.

She is starting to stand and balance by herself and it makes the boys (especially Andrew) very excited. "MILLIE IS STANDING!" and then she plops down.

Starting to pull off her bows more and more. I tried a tiny pony-tail but her hair is still too thin and wispy.

She is a GREAT eater. Loves fried eggs, yogurt, bites of PB and Nutella sandwiches, cherries, and anything we are eating. She didn't see a dip in weight between 9 and 12 months like other babies. Not a good drinker unless it's nursing, but I have started offering her water sometimes.  She does like to sleep/nurse. Or sleep on JB if I am not there.  Sleep training is something I just hate. Crying-it-out is so sad.

Some pictures from the last month:

Showing off her flexibility.

Sleeping on me at church.

Starting driving lessons.

I may have mentioned this before, but I don't remember nicknames growing up. My siblings were called by their names almost all of the time - Rebekah gradually became Bekah, but when I am around her or refer to her I still often say Rebekah; Michael was/is never Mike or Mikey; Peter never became Pete, although we tease him as Petey every once in a while.  Stephen was never Steve, that's a different person.  Etc. Although Joseph became Joe. But I honestly don't remember calling them anything other than their name.

So it is fun to live with JB (christened John) and hear all the sweet nicknames he comes up with. Lately Millie's nicknames include Bumis McGee, Tootie, Miller Gracer, Larry H Miller Grace, Millie-girl, Girlie, Chickie and Dolly.

Any way, this Dolly is really sad after yesterday's shots so Imma cut this short. Happy 12 months of Millie Grace!