4 months old

Lucy is 4 months old (or as Benson said "a 1/3 of a year") She is officially not a newborn anymore and is so alert! She loves to look at things and can reach out a grab things now! She loves to roll over...but gets really mad when she is on her tummy! And she is always playing with her toes (that I like to paint for her) the other day she grabbed her toes and laughed so hard! She was so proud of herself! She really is adorable and looks just like Sammy did this age!

(P.S. I know the top two pictures are ALMOST identical...I just couldn't choose which one I liked and since it's my blog and I get to do what I want...I posted both for you to enjoy!)

The Annual Dirtbag Campout

Some people might think driving to Prescott and sleeping in someones backyard isn't really camping...(okay, let's be honest...I slept inside with Lucy) but we saw some real wildlife! When we were at the park some of the kids were saying "there is a tarantula over here" ...I was thinking yeah right but then Bryson brought this little treasure over... YIKES! Look at that thing...

And there were also tons of praying mantis, frogs, and I got eaten ALIVE by mosquito's..so we pretty much went camping, right?

All the Dirtbags kids

The Dirtbags and their wives (and a few extra kids)...if you are wondering what the Dirtbags are you pretty much don't read my blog but just for a refresher...its Benson's High School friends and that is what they named their little gang :)

It was a super fun trip...we stayed up late playing games (that somehow always gets out of control) and woke up early to Krista's yummy breakfast! I missed the trip last year because I was barely pregnant with Lucy and MISERABLE...and I have never been forgiven for being absent so I am glad I could redeem myself for coming this year!

It was nice to get out of the heat...Thanks Ryan and Krista!

Kindergarten Class President (aka Student of the Week)

Ben has the BEST personality and we have called him the "future student body president" for years (my sister Reagan originated the "nickname" and it has stuck)! He is just a really fun kid and makes friends really easy! This week he was student of the week at school and although I know everyone gets a turn and it was most likely chosen alphabetically we joked that he gave a speech, the class voted and he was chosen as the 1st student of the week!

We had to fill out his little poster and decorated it with some paint and glitter (only blue glitter)! My favorite part was...when I ask him what he wanted to be when he grows up he said "like my dad" (ohhh, so cute!) He loved bringing in his poster...he also got to bring in a show and tell and his favorite book to read to the class! I ask him what his favorite part of being student of the week was and he said "he got to stand up and talk in front of the class everyday"! I guess he has no fear of public speaking!

Lucy's "Applesauce"

Tonight we decided to break out the ol' exersaucer to see if Lucy was big enough for it! When Benson was getting it out Nate decided he wanted an "applesauce" too...I'm not sure why he thought it was called an applesauce but he tends to make up his own name for things (we also ate cantaloupe with dinner that he called his "fill up")! Anyway, Lucy loved the exersaucer and was able to play in the toy room with the older kids running all around her! I am day-dreaming of all the possibilities of the things I can get done while she is playing in her new "applesauce"!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

Samantha started 2nd grade.... she was very excited to go back to school and see her friends! On the first day she told me that she would give me a kiss goodbye at the car because she didn't want to give me a kiss at school (I almost cried but played it off well)! She is looking so grown up and this was the first year she was pretty opinionated on her new school attire...okay, she just really, really, REALLY wanted to wear jellies ( I can't believe those are back in style)!

Ben started KINDERGARTEN (tear, tear)...

He was super excited as well! I am glad I decided to put him in half day (especially since they decided to split the class and he only has 16 kids in his class)! He was very brave and acted like "what's the big deal"...I mean he did go to preschool at the same school for the last 2 years!

Nate started preschool...and this is the only picture I got of him (typical Nate)

Sammy is such a little mother and is beside herself that BOTH her brothers will be at the same school as she is...oh the opportunities to run into them and help them!

Crazy picture...

HOORAY FOR SCHOOL!

Sammy (with all her brave talk of not wanting me to give her a kiss) was pretty reluctant once we got to school...I had to just drop her off at the playground so I could take Ben and Nate! She didn't want me to leave until the bell rang and told me its "hard to be the oldest"!

Ben and his new teacher....

Ben is lucky to have some friends from the ward in his class...

Then off to drop off Nate who also has 2 of his buddies in his class! Good luck Ms Kami and Ms Kathy...I have a feeling these 3 will give them a run for their money!!

Luckily, they seem to know what they are getting themselves into...

The first day of school is so bittersweet! The first day is a fresh start and full of so much potential! But it's so hard to trust STRANGERS with my precious children!

My Little Lucy...

Lucy is already 3 1/2 months old and is seriously the cutest little thing... She is such a good baby and despite my efforts to stunt her development she has started rolling over both ways!

She is a good sport and lets the kids dress her up...we all had a pretty good laugh with the fro wig!

But she really does have a mullet with a bad case of male pattern baldness in the back :)

Now that Samantha is at school all day she has really missed Lucy and makes sure she gets time to hold her in the morning and evening!

In other Lucy news...she is sleeping through the night (about 8pm until 6am), is starting to get a little of a daytime routine (hard to do with the other kids schedules), smiles a ton, and has the cutest laugh in the world!

Happy Birthday to Miss Samantha!

After a long day at the lake and dinner at her FAVORITE restaurant (Serrano's) we came home to open presents... And have apple pie (she wanted that instead of cake)

The next morning she had her bunny rabbit pancake (a long time Bashford tradition)

And the next day...she likes to prolong her Birthday and they ends up being a multi-day celebration...she had her Birthday party with some friends and cousins...

She really wanted a "Spa party" so we did facials, manicures, pedicures, and make up. This is when sister come in handy and luckily I have one sister that does hair and another one who is an aestitician...luckily, they were happy to help and they helped make the party a smashing success...

Sammy getting her facial from Aunt Reagan

Then off to the outdoor oasis to let their masks dry

Most of the girls in the "oasis"...we put a bath bomb in and the water smelled really good!

After our makeovers they had a picnic lunch outside!

After the party Sammy said "Mom, thanks for the party is was more fun than I could even imagine!"

I love my Miss Samantha and boy is she growing up fast! She is such a sweet girl and is honestly the nicest person I have ever known! She is such a huge helper to me and is always willing to do whatever I ask of her! She doesn't have a mean bone in her body and that is such a blessing considering she has 2 little brothers :) She is super smart and can read better then most adults (she can read a whole chapter book *think Junie B Jones* in about 45 mintues) and just read "The Wizard of OZ". She is constantly spilling out little facts and tidbits of info. I am so proud of her and the person she is growing up to be! I wish I could freeze time and keep her just the way she is now!

On Samantha 7th Birthday some of her favorites are...

Food: bean burritos (she asks for one every day)

Activity: tumbling (always doing cartwheels and backbends), reading, and crafts

Book: "The Wizard of OZ" and she loves the fairy book series

dessert: pizzokies and apple pie

Drink: raspberry lemonade

Place: the lake

Friend: Mom

Show: So You Think You Can Dance and WipeOut

A day at the Lake!

Benson and I decided to surprise the kids and spend a day at Roosevelt Lake with Nana and Papa..it just happened to be some one's 7th Birthday.... Samantha LOVES her Nana!

Nate loved driving the boat ;)

Sammy even got up on double ski's!

But she prefers the ski skimmer ( a little horseshoe ski) because she can start standing up and can stay up FOREVER!

This was Nate's 1st time on the boat and he also loved the ski skimmer

The first time Ben tried the ski skimmer his leg was caught on the boat and he couldn't stand up so he ended up eating the water for a little bit so he didn't want to do it ...but once Nate did it he couldn't be shown up so decided to give it another try...

He was glad he gave it another go...he loved it and was very proud of himself!

Benson LOVES the lake is so glad that all of his kids share that same love!