I have a confession to make, hold on to your hats, it's a big one. I've been threatening Sawyer with "the cops"...doooohhh! I know, what kind of mother am I?! It all started when our neighbor's son got taken away by the police (awhile ago), and my kids asked me what he did. I jokingly said, "maybe he was being mean to his mom", and it stuck in little Sawyer's head. So over the past year or two, I've been using this to my advantage, more so recently, since school has been out. It just seems that I always have to be extreme with him, in particular, for some reason. Like when he was two, we were driving down Sweet Water Road (a main road that leads to our home, but not a "busy" road) and Sawyer decided to un-buckle himself in the car. We told him he better buckle himself up or he will walk the rest of the way home. His response was, "ok, I'll walk". Bob and I looked at each other smiling as Bob pulled the truck over on to the side of the road, thinking that this action would scare him into buckling himself back up. Nope, out jumped Sawyer onto the side of the road, with a wave of his little hand, saying, "you can go now, I'll walk home!" We drove forward a few several yards, thinking he would start to scream in terror, but nope, he started screaming for us to leave so he could walk home...alone. Yeah, that brilliant plan worked for our other 2 kids, but not Sawyer. Anyway, I have tried everything to get him to obey me, and stop throwing fits if he doesn't get his way. So one day during a temper tantrum, being as bright as I am and at ends wit, this is how it went down:

Sawyer: Screaming because I wouldn't give him any of "mommies special treat" (chocolate) after finding it in it's hidden place. "Fine, I'm taking my pants off!" (As if that would really get to me)

Me: "Fine, take your pants off, but you'll have to put them back on all by yourself because we are leaving in a few minutes."

Sawyer: "Hmmph"...yanking his pants off. "Ah-ha, I took my pants off!"

Me: "Now put them back on, we're leaving."

Sawyer: "No! You have to help me now."

Me: "Sawyer, I just warned you not to take them off or you'll have to put them back on...all by yourself, so put them on!"

Sawyer: "I need help!!"

Me: "Um, Sawyer, you just took them off by yourself, so you can surely put them back on by yourself, now hurry up, we're leaving!"

Sawyer: Screaming, again, "No I can't!!!"

Me: "Put your pants on or I will call the cops and tell them you're being mean to your mom."

Sawyer: Paused to look at me, making sure I wasn't kidding, then dropped to his bum and yanked those pants on faster than I ever could! "ok mommy! I put them on, don't call the cops!"

I know, he will probably need therapy in the next several years, but so far, this method is STILL working. Sure, he has tested me to see if I actually would, and I have had to call the police (it was officer Bob aka Dad), but he stops and begs me to tell them he'll be good and not to come. Don't underestimate me, I tell him EVERY time that the police are nice people who just don't like it when people and kids are mean to other people, especially their moms. So far, he hasn't run away screaming whenever he sees a police officer. He actually waves to them...maybe he's trying to butter them up for the next phone call. :)

Tubby

I can't believe my baby is almost one year old! I can't deny how much fun I've had already with this cute little person, & to think that Bob was "done" with 3 kids! Gavin is so cute & so fun to have around...I know, every mom says that about her children, but in Gavin's case, it's true. He is the only one of my kids who managed to produce "baby fat", and I've been getting a kick out of it. I mean, come on! Look at those adorable rolls! This is the only time in life when rolls are CUTE, especially with some butt crack showing.

I'd like to tell you how terribly advanced my little tubby is, as most parents do, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. In fact, I might say that I have a, oh how shall I say this, procrastinator (yeah, that sounds good) on my hands. I know he CAN roll, I've seen it when he wants something real bad & no one is around to give it to him, but he just doesn't LIKE/WANT to. I guess I don't blame him when his siblings jump at his beckon call (I wish they would do that for ME). Jessi tells me, "but I don't like his face when he cries, it makes me sad!" Maybe I'll start crying more, 'cuz she obviously enjoys my angry face. Anyhow, I've come to the conclusion that his extra weight & Ballif sized head is hindering his ability to crawl, as well. That most likely is not true, but it makes me feel better. I mean, really, those rolls CAN'T be the easiest to carry around on those small little bones! Trust me, I have the biceps to prove my point, from carrying him. But I'm not too worried, a little embarrassed, yes, when I see babies younger than him zoom past him on the church floor. That just means he'll stay "my little (or big, I should say) baby" longer! He has, however, started talking, and I honestly can't remember off hand when my other kids started talking, so I can't say or not if that is normal or advanced for this age. But every achievement he is making (with his procrastinator attributions) truly delights me. Even if it is only an "uh-oh", or (MY most used around the house) "neh-uh", or "da-da", or "ma-ma". I'll just quit worrying and start enjoying!

I forgot to mention why I put this pic on here. This is Bob's brother's grave, Mark, the one we named Gavin after...Gavin Mark Ballif. I know, how touching. :)

Yellowstone National Park

For Memorial Day weekend we decided to go to Yellowstone, since we hadn't been since I was pregnant with Logen. Despite the LONG drive up there, and Logen's scheduled question "are we almost there?" every 10 minutes, & Sawyer's geographical curiosity question "are we still in Eagle Mountain?" on every pit stop, we had a lot of fun. Pops and Grammy came, too, as well as Mike, Kindra, Kylie & William Jones/Stock. We saw lots of elk and buffalo, 2 bald eagles, a couple of coyotes, a fox, a wolf, & a far away mama bear and her cub climbing the hill...I think that's all. Anyhoo, we all had a great time. I love it up there! Since there was a lot of photos, I put them all in a slide show below this post. (You might want to scroll down to the music thing & pause it since there's music in the slide show.)

Yellowstone slide show

Logen's school program

Logen's kindergarten class put on a "Bug Program" last month, and I have to say I'm quite proud of him. This was right around the time he started getting anxiety about leaving me at school, but I guess as long as I was there, being in front of a ton of people didn't bother him. I really don't get him, sometimes! He desperately wanted to be a black widow, so there you have my sad attempt of a black widow costume. By the end of the program, it was falling apart! Ah well...good times, good job buddy!

Spring Break

I remember Spring Break being warm...don't you?! I guess I shouldn't complain, it could have been worse...like snowing. We kept having to postpone going to Hogle Zoo because

of rain, but we did make it on Friday. It was a little chilly at first, but by the time we left, it started warming up. But it was still fun! This was Gavin's first zoo visit, and quite frankly, he could have cared less. He was just happy to be outside! I love the zoo!

I could sit all day watching the monkeys and gorilla. I just can't get over how human-like they are. Sawyer had a blast and kept saying "let's go check sumfin' else out!" He started a temper tantrum when we were leaving, until we mentioned McDonald's...then life was good again.

Welcome Irish!

I know, I'm really behind on my postings...better late than never, that's my life motto! My little sister had her first baby girl...Irish James Talkington, and what a cutie she is!! Jessi was so excited to be the 1st kid to hold her (thanks Tam). It seems to be that Irish is following in Jessi's footsteps, already, because at 2 weeks old, she was also rushed to the hospital to be poked and prodded over a health scare. Being up at Primary Children's Hospital and looking at Tamie standing over Irish, all hooked up to wires, in her little crib, brought back all those unpleasant memories I buried when I was up there with Jessi at 2 weeks old. My heart broke for Tamie, and Irish. I realized you just can't bury painful memories, because sooner or later they will re-surface and hit you full force with even more pain! It's amazing to actually see a little of the Lord's plan unravel, because had Irish come when Tamie and Jared wanted her to, a couple of years ago, Irish would have not survived. NEC is what she had...I honestly can't tell you much about it, other than babies died from it up until a few years ago, and it's uncommon. But, thankfully, she is home and doing well...and cuter than ever! Nothing says "welcome to motherhood" like being rushed to Primary Children's Hospital in an ambulance, right Tam?!