Eden Baby

Baby Eden is now 4 months old. It is gone by so fast and I can't believe how big she is getting, yet at the same time, it seems like she has always been in our family. 

She keeps me entertained by her facial expressions, big smiles and her squeals. She loves to scream the happy, squealy type. She is very vocal and kicks and smiles when she expresses herself- especially at church. She loves to watch her siblings play and acts as if she can't wait to play with them. Several people have watched her for us over the summer so we can be out in the hot sun and they have all commented that they've never seen a calmer, more content and happy baby. 

She has started holding her head up high and

rolling over. One day she did it several times and then I put her on the ottoman for a second to grab Sissy's pajamas and she rolled right off. Since then she hasn't rolled again and it makes me sad to think I scared her rolling ability out of her. I love this happy girl and I get baby hungry holding and playing with her.... which is so ridiculous, I know! I feel like it has taken me this long to realize that each stage never lasts long, for good or bad, and that I need to enjoy every second of this little girls babyhood.
At her check-up, she was almost 5 months old, she weighed 14 pounds 10 ounces. (Carter was 14 pounds, 5 ounces at his two month check up)

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks:

This is a quilt Grandma Tippets made for her- it is so cute.

Baby Eden in the Moby wrap

Carter Turns Five

This is Carter when he was about a month old. I love this picture, one of my favorites of him. A pictures says a thousands words. And, this is proof that we all come to earth with our own personality. 

Carter is like a little bear cub. He likes to jump, wrestle, roll, play and tease. He likes to cuddle, snuggle, hibernate in his bed for hours, give big bear hugs and love, love, love. He has a huge smile and big, beautiful, dark blue, bright eyes that will light up your day. But when things have not gone his way, he is mean and growls like an angry bear and scares everyone around him. He defends himself very well and I hope that defense will be used for good someday in the future. So far, he has proved to be a good protector to our Eden Baby.

Now for his birthday celebration:

For Carter's birthday party, he finally chose to go to a sprinkler park. (There are just SO many options for a five year old boy!)

Sissy had a fun time- anytime she is in her "shimsoup" it's a great day for her!

Carter, Porter, Luke and Sawyer

We all played, got wet and played some more. We had lunch and Carter chose to have sloppy joes which makes me laugh. I never make those because no one eats them in our house, and honestly they aren't that great or healthy either. Anyway, one day, I was in a hurry so I gave it a try for dinner. I think Carter was starving and he gobbled his up and said, "Mom! I love these! This is what I want for my birthday party!" I kept asking him if he was sure that was what he wanted and he assured me that it was. So, I made them... only to see him dump his in the trash without a bite. I asked him why he threw it away and he said, "I hate those Joe things!" I wasn't sure if any of the other kids would eat them, so I used the mini buns. Some did, some didn't. I haven't made them since. And maybe never again. Of course the watermelon and capri suns were a hit! 

Carter wanted an ice cream cake so that's what I made. All the moms were impressed that I could make an ice cream cake. Here is the secret recipe: one layer of cake, one layer of ice cream, another layer of cake then frosting. Viola! Ice cream cake!

Carson is one of Carter's best friends. They can cause lots of trouble together although they have been better as they've gotten older.  I love this picture of them.

Ben gave him a card with money. The giver was just as excited as the receiver for this great gift!

Present time is always a chaotic tornado of activity that is hard for me to keep up with!

Bridger takes a swing at the angry bird pinata.

CANDY!!

It was a great day at the park and everyone had fun. We are so lucky to live in a great neighborhood where our kids have lots of friends. We love our Carter Cole and so happy to celebrate FIVE great years with him in our family!

Bridger and Carter wake boarding

We went to the lake last week and I told Bridger that I would take him to U-Swirl for an ice cream if he tried three times to get up on the wake board. He succeeded! Uncle Tim took us- he is a great wake boarder and slalom skier and taught us how to improve our technique. Bridger was the 536th person behind this boat to get up on a wake board for the first time, and the youngest of all of them. Way to go, Bridger! 

Bridger, Carter and Carson

Carter was a great flagger

The first time, I went in the water with him. He did fine on his own after that. 

Captain Carter with Uncle Tim. Carter has had lots of boat driving this summer

We went to the lake a few days later, and these are from that time:

 Video of Bridger Wake boarding

Another video of Bridger- a better one

Carter and Ben wake boarding together

Afton threw a fit over having to wear her life jacket. Luckily Uncle Tim had a more stylish one.
 Who wouldn't wear a pink and yellow vest with a fuzzy giraffe on it?

Bubba slept in the shaded cubby area underneath the steering wheel almost the whole day.
She is such an easy baby! 

When she woke up she cooed to us all about her dreams

Bridger and Nash in the tube

Carter and Knox in the tube

While we are showing boating, I thought I would throw in our 4th of July ones too. 

We went to Donnelly and Lake Cascade. It was super fun, and super pretty. 

This is our third year going there. We celebrate Ben's birthday and spend lots of time in the water. We all love it and the friends that we get to be with. 

We got there, unpacked and headed to the lake to cool off. 

Zack, Bridger and Royal on the tube. 

Cute "shim soup" as Afton calls it, for Bubba

Forth of July girls with Dad

Afton wore this same dress her first forth of July and I could barely squeeze her in it. Eden had some room to spare and she is a month older while wearing it. 

Carter loves Bishop Williams. He isn't the bishop anymore, but Carter called him Bishop the whole time. Once someone said, "Here, hand this to Kurt." Carter said, "Kurt? Who is Kurt?" 

We said, "Kurt is Bishop Williams' name."

Carter said, "What?! That's his name!" 

He'll probably always just call him Bishop. 

 Carter decided he wanted on the tube too. Carter will only do things when it is his idea and nobody suggests it to him. 

Even though she is smallest of my babes, Eden has big cheeks and it is hard to get those things comfortable with a life jacket. They stick out and jiggle on the moving boat. It is cute. 

 We love the Williams and hang out with them on the boat. Their boat is a great ski boat. 

Afton called Tammi "Grammy" the whole time. 

Sissy with "Grammy"

Royal and Eden. He loves babies and I wanted a picture holding Eden to compare to the one two years ago when he was holding Afton.

Mom and Sissy

Fathers Day 2013

This was our hurry-and-open-presents-because-we-are-late-for-church father's day party.

 Spike ball- a totally fun game

Bronco State shirt as my boys call it

Wyoming Cowboy shirt

New bowtie

And a new Truck!! The black one in the background- I have yet to take a picture of it.

So long, Old Silver!

We bought the black truck from a neighbor whose next door neighbor bought our truck. 

Truck Swap!

I love the truck and tried to convince Ben to switch me for the minivan. 

Darn. It didn't work. :)

Happy Father's day to a dad who is patient, kind, fun and teaches my children well. 

We love you!