Strawberries

While in Arizona, we had a great time eating strawberries with Aunt Krystal. Let's see who can stuff their mouths with the biggest strawberry! Always a fun Kear game! :)

I believe the real objective was to see how hight we could top the strawberry with cool whip...then put it in our mouths! :) I think Krystal got it up her nose.

Smashing Fingers

I was getting ready for a Relief Society Presidency Meeting early Monday morning. I had just sent Chloe out the door with a friend, who was going to take her to Preschool, and I was going to hop in the shower. I hear a door shut and Josie start screaming. Now this wasn't a completely unusual happening in our home.

There are always doors being shut and kids screaming...but for some reason I ventured out of the bathroom (and I won't mention in what immodest attire) to see what was the problem. I opened the door and Josie was holding her left pinky finger up at me in the air. I looked at it, and then looked again...because I was not looking at a finger. I wasn't sure how to describe it, but it came to me later that it looked like a piece of gum removed from your mouth. Long, skinny, flat, kind of curved, bumpy, and very red. As I tried my best to pull-myself-together...(mind you, I don't do well with kids, crying, blood and tramatic events all at the same time) I struggled to know what to do. My instincts were to scream, run and get some clothes on, (oh yeah, I wasn't going to reveal my immodest attire...) comfort her, scream, faint, call Matt (he is always the hero in these sort of events) and try and figure out what on earth was attached to her hand in the place of her finger. It was very disgusting and I could tell that it was extremely painful for my dear Josie.

We have had smasked fingers, but this was worse than anything I had ever seen. It wasn't even bleeding, but there were little red spots at the skin where it looked like her pores were bleeding. There was even some skin sort of hanging off the inside of her finger. As time went on, I realized what I needed to do and so I took action.

Matt ended up meeting me at Urgent Care where they X-rayed to see if there were any broken bones. It looked fine, but they were concerned about the tendons.

These pictures were taken later that morning after it had swollen up. It still looks nasty.

So...the good news is, it has all healed up minus the finger nail that fell off. We are waiting patiently for it to grow back.

Poor little Josie. Maybe someday, she will have the opportunity to smash one of her brother's fingers in the door. :)

Juicy Josie kisses

Josie gives the best baby kisses! She really puckers up and even smacks her lips when she is done. Here she is blessing daddy with one of her juicy kisses!

Puckering... Really puckering and going in for the big kiss...
Eyes open smackdown!

Eyes still open and starting to smooch...

Eyes still open and nose smashing smooch...

Eyes closed and yes, still...smooching! (It isn't a Big Red kiss though!)

Oh we love these baby kisses! Ok, we really don't kiss our kids on the lips until they are over a year old and have learned how to pucker up. This was just a sweet moment! Too precious!

Monet

Mason LOVES his baby sister. He struggles a bit with his speech and the way he says Josie is absolutely adorable. He calls her "Monet." It is so cute, and we can't quite figure out how Josie and Monet even sound alike...

One day, Mason wanted to help Josie with her food, so he decided to feed her. She was sweet and let him help her. She adores him just as much.

He blows on it to cool it down.

Have you ever caught yourself making mouth movements with someone you are watching?

Mason, you and Josie even have mirror image bruises on your foreheads.

There is a special bond between siblings and I am so grateful for that bond. I feel it between my own siblings and it is sweet to see the bond between my own children.

A Jumping Bean

There has never been a question as to whether or not Mason can do something, it is a matter of whether or not he will get hurt doing it! Thankfully, count our blessings, he has never seriously injured himself and he is quite coordinated, again thankfully! Most of the time, when I see Mason climbing or living on the edge, I just close my eyes, turn my head, or walk away, because I can't stand the thought of watching him hurt himself! He is a brave man!

This time, he is jumping off the stairs and it was several (plus) stairs. Mind you, I didn't count. I just grabbed the camera, took a picture and ordered him to stop! I need some sort of proof to show him when he is older and wiser. The picture is a little fuzzy, because I didn't really take the time to get a perfect shot.

No, he is never proud of his accomplishments! A real Jumping Bean!

Frog & Toad

Carter had a little music program that his music teacher Mrs. Proctor put on for the whole first grade. The theme went along with the books Frog & Toad. Carter was so excited about it and he talked about it for weeks as they were practicing their songs that they would sing.

The night came and so Carter got his "spring time" clothes on with his tie...it was all part of his costume. Mason seemed to feel the excitement too, so he went and got his tie on with his "polo." The two boys were too cute all dressed up, so we had to take a picture. Mason had to wear his tie to the school. I love the way he is so fashionable!

One of Carter's best friends got to play the part as Toad.

How To Eat A See's Lollipop...

First, determine a destination.

Second, follow the path.

Third, find a nice place to sit.

Fourth, unwrap.

Fifth, place it in your mouth.

Sixth, take it out, look at it, and think about the taste.

Seventh, ask someone next to you if they like it.

Eighth, continue on quietly tasting.

Ninth, Don't be stunned when it is almost gone.

and Finally...THINK

TASTE

DEVOUR but mostly...ENJOY...every single lick!

Because you just never know when it might be your last...

All in all, there is always someone there to support you...and push you along.

So, just hang in there,

and let the Lollipop Sugar Crazies get the best of you!