Stuff I didn't take pictures of

So I am technically challenged.  I did finally figure out how to scan our family picture and then I found it on the computer... but I can't figure out how to edit it or make it bigger.  So, WYSIWYG.

We actually had a family picture taken and it turned out to be an awesome experience!  The critters were really well-behaved and we were in and out in about 20 minutes.  Then we had to celebrate with ice cream, of course.  Hunter and Steelhead opted to get some hot and spicy California Blend veggies - but hey, to each his own.

Believe it or not, we do have other children besides Lemur and Yak.  The other critters just aren't as cute and squishy and as fun to take pictures of as the babies are.  They do dumb and crazy things, but by now they should know better, so I don't take pictures of them.  They are awesome critters though, and stay super busy, and consequentially, keep us busy! 

Steelhead finished off his football season.  I believe they were undefeated.  He had to miss has last game because he was sick.  He has been going to mutual in the ward where his mom lives, and he even went to church by himself last Sunday as they were with her last weekend. 

Martin is gearing up for a busy concert season as he is in Concert Band AND Jazz band.  He really, really enjoys Jazz Band.  They are having a competition in Boise sometime in December and he is excited about that.  He is really enjoying his new silver trumpet that Grandma Panda got him.  He is not really enjoying middle school as he says the "kids are dumb."  He especially is annoyed by the kids who share his faith - but don't act like it.  They swear, tell dirty jokes and are so dumb and that totally bugs him.  He is looking forward to being in High School!

Penguin turned 12 and is really excited to be in Young Womens.  She got to go to the Temple twice in one week; once with the Kuna ward and once with our ward.  She said it was so cool.  She has been to mutual a few times in Kuna.  She did really good on her report card.  She is super excited to come and see her baby brothers when she is with us on weekends.

Bee has tons and tons of homework this year.  I don't know what's up with that.  It seems like she does homework from the time she gest off the bus at 2:50 until she goes to bed.  She is taking piano lessons and is a natural at it - but doesn't really enjoy it.  I told her she can quit taking lessons when she can play the hymns and the primary songs.  :)  Bee is probably going to get braces soon - kind of a bitter sweet thing.  Her teeth are really messed up, but it's not going to be fun having the braces.  The results will be worth it though.

Martin finished his football season and thought it was so much fun.  I think he will be a good football player.  He wants to try wrestling this winter.  Martin is doing great in school.  He worked really hard in cub scouts (thank you mom) to finish his Bear Badge this month.  Now he can get to work on all the electives.  Martin is really good to play with the new puppies every day.  It gives all three of them the needed exercise!

Porcupine did really well on his report card.  When he is here on the weekends, he LOVES it when Monkey is here too.  They play lots of rough and tumble together.  Porcupine is a great reader.

Lemur and Yak:  You'll see lots of pictures of them in the next few posts.

Hunter has only been working 40 hours a week, with Fridays off.  This is ideal for hunting season and doing yard work.  We have lots of yard projects going and they are getting done little by little.  We hope to remodel another bedroom this winter.  Hunter got a super bad sinus infection that set him back a few days.  He is just starting to feel better.  He is happy that his "new" pickup is finally out of the shop - it was in there for about 5 weeks.  There was diesel in the coolant and they couldn't figure out why.  Hopefully the problem is solved!

Zookeeper:  Who knows.  I've been doing everything any other normal mom does.  We launched into the new eScription medical transcription program at work.  It was like learning it all - all over again.  Somedays I felt like my head was going to explode.  I think I'm to old to learn that much new technological stuff at once.  I am a very simple farm girl.  I like things simple, organized and easy.  This program is the opposite of everything.  I am finally starting to get the hang of it and I'm tolerating it.  I can't say I like it yet.  I am trying to get into the holiday spirit.  I'm not sure what's wrong with me the older I get.  I think it is because we have so many kids and I hate shopping and spending money on stuff that no one remember what we got them a few months after Christmas.  I am tired of being creative and trying to come up with cool gifts to make sure the critters have a good Christmas.  I am ready to bag the presents and just enjoy the food, the music, the stories, the lights and the true meaning of Christmas.  Anyone with me on that one?  I am, however, excited to hang up 10 NEW STOCKING that Mare made our family (this was before the sibblings decided to stop giving each other presents - I'm SO GLAD the Horse family had our name this year, and that Mare is so organized and on top of things and got our present done before we decided to not exchange gifts.  How lucky are we?)  So, besides being a mom and a chaufer and a cook and a....... you know.  I haven't been doing much.

New: Moon, passtime, hair cut, talent, and toy.

New Moon:  All right all you Twilight fans, have you seen New Moon yet?  I DID!! I know, unbelievable that Zookeeper actually saw a new release on the weekend it was released, but I suppose stranger things have happened.  My buddies Cow Elk and Mrs. Literature (High School Literature Teacher) and I went to see New Moon Saturday afternoon.  We had so much fun and aaahhhh, the movie was SO GOOD!!!  It was really fun to get out and have a "girls afternoon out."  I can't wait until it comes out in the dollar theatre so I can take all the critters.

New Passtime:  So this is Lemur's favorite new passtime.  He will not stay out of the oven.  He always has to have the oven mits too - once he left them in the oven.  I make sure to check the oven now before I preheat it.

New Hair Cut:  Yak had a few straggly long hairs right on top of his head, so I snip, snipped them yesterday.  He kinda looks like a grown up boy now, darn it.

New Talent:  Yak is doing great sitting up.  Sometimes he gets really excited and wiggles so much he falls over, but then he just rolls over onto his back and is happy until someone sits him up again. 

New Toy:  Cow Elk brough Lemur her mini-tramp-exerciser to borrow for a while.  He was about wearing out the springs on the couch, the pink chair and the beds.  Ever since he got the little tramp he has been jumping like a little jumping bean.  He can catch some pretty good air now!

Some of what we've been up to...

The critters get up between 6 and 6:15: Just as long as they are upstairs for family prayer at 6:25.  Here we have some boys snuggling in, waiting for everyone else to come to prayer.

I was making pancakes, ran to the bathroom for just a minute, and when I came back, there was one more pancake on the griddle.  Guess who is growing up?

Monkey is in Cub Scouts.  Once a month we go to Pack Meeting where the whole family comes and we play games and cheer on the boys who get awards for working on their achievements.

Where there are boys, there is always.... you guessed it.  I'm trying to learn to appreciate boys sense of humor since we have so many boys.  So far, I just do NOT get it.

Monkey received his Bear Badge this month.  We worked super hard to get everything done in time for this Pack Meeting.

Yak grew 2 teeth and I didn't even know he was teething.  He is such a good baby.  If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you might be able to see one of his teeth.

Getting my "Mother's pin" for Adam's Bear Badge.

Yak is also sitting up now!! A little wobbly at first, but he's doing better every day!

Zookeeper is helping the youth in our ward put on a Christmas Pageant written by the Laurels (young women ages 16 & 17).  The text is taken from the Book of Mormon.  One Saturday morning we met at 7:00 at the church, made a big breakfast, and rehearsed for 3 or 4 hours.... so fun!

On the menu for breakfast:  Pancakes - blueberry or chocolate chips, eggs, hash browns, onions, cheese, and sausage. 

Waiting to begin the rehearsal... the boys side of the room.

The girls side of the room.  There is a lot of music and then the whole Christmas Story and stuff.  It is going to be really nice.... if we can get more than 50% of the youth to come to practice!

Playin' Outside

The critters played outside almost all weekend. They came up with another new game: 5,000 - with tennis rackets. Same as 500 with a football, but now bigger and better with larger numbers, and a weapon to hit your sibling with. I love the critters creativity!

Lemur is actually eating a stash of candy that Monkey left in his little play structure. Lemur figured he had hit the mother load!

The walnut tree has provided hours and hours of entertainment for the critters. We had a few extra boys here Saturday and they played out here all afternoon.

Penguin on the swing and Porcupine and Bee up in the tree.

Playing "5,000"

K9 & 10 critters in our family now, + Mom and Dad

We added two more members to our family on Sunday. I would introduce both of them, but only one has a name, so I will introduce you to Jake (on the left). He is Hunters hunting dog. The little black guy is the family dog... name TBA when we have all agreed on a name for him. This could take a while... These dogs are a Lab/Weimaraner mix: Very energetic, good hunting dogs, and loyal family dogs.

Hunters friend Shad has been trying to get Hunter to get a dog for a long time. The critters have been saving their money for a dog for five years and they have been wanting one for just as long. Shad finally convinced Hunter and I to "just come and look at these puppies" on Thursday night. By Friday morning we had decided to get two dogs; one for Hunter and one for the family. So Hunter and Martin started building a dog duplex. In this picture he just needs to put the front on and then "roof it" with shingles, and paint (says Zookeeper).

Of course Lemur had to help and loved every minute of being outside even though it was kinda chilly.

Hunter and Steelhead spent all day Saturday driving around two counties looking for a dog kennel off of Craigs list. We finally found one at 9:00 p.m. and Hunter and I went on a "date" to go get it. It was officially a date because we stopped at Sonic for drinks... love those cream slushies!

Sunday after church, Zookeeper and the critters went to Shad's house and picked up the puppies. Here is Jake.

And a silly picture of no name puppy running through my strawberries... this is going to become an issue next spring, I'm afraid!

Of course the puppies were very curious about their new surroundings and had to check everything out.

All the critters are really excited about finally having a dog(s)! They played with them all afternoon. Lemur isn't too sure about them because they knock him over and then lick him to death and he doesn't really appreciate that too much. The kids played with them so hard all afternoon that the dogs did great their first night - didn't hear them even once.

Smashing Pumpkins

Halloween has come and gone. Monkey, Bee and Martin went with their Dad for the weekend. Hunter, Steelhead and Porcupine went deer hunting. That left Penguin, Yak, Lemur and I at home, all day, by ourselves. So: We slept in, ate breakfast, cleaned the house, then went to the movies. By that time it was late in the day. I had to work at 4:00. The little critters took a nap, Penguin watched another movie while I worked, and then she went to the Ward Trunk-or-Treat with the Elk family. The whole time I was working I felt guilty because I wasn't taking Lemur trick-or-treating and he would have had so much fun. He was pretty happy when the Elk family brought Penguin home and gave him some candy though. It was a pretty boring Halloween, at least for me. I think the critters all had fun though - even if they didn't get a deer. Oh dear.

So Monday after school I had Monkey and Bee smash the pumpkins in the garden so we can till them up.

I told the critters to use what ever they wanted to smash the pumpkins; they chose a sledge hammer and a baseball bat.

This project was right up Monkey's alley, he loves smashing things.

Yummy Breadsticks

Yak got his first taste of mom's homemade breadsticks.

When he'd drop it, he about attacked the person giving it back to him.

Yummy, yummy bread stick!

Working Outside

Lemur loves it when he gets to work outside with Mom or Dad. We have been working on a flower bed/planter in the front yard. We are moving dirt from the back of the house to the front... no we don't have a loader or a tractor, but those things don't build muscles and a wheelbarrow does. Lemur sees what we are doing, grabs his little shovel and wheelbarrow and helps us.

On this day I learned a life's lesson from my 2 1/2-year-old:  When you accidentally dump your load, instead of throwing a fit or quitting, just sit down and enjoy what you've got.

Brotherly Love

My little boys love each other so much. I know I post pictures of them all the time, but I guess I have time to take pictures of the critters during the day.  In the evenings and weekends when everyone is here, I feel like I'm running around like a crazy woman and I forget to pick up the camera. So, here are some more pictures of Yak and Lemur lovin' on each other.

I hope they like each other this much when they are teenagers!