Content?

It is such an interesting little word. How do you decide whether you are truly content. I found- w/ the help of my friend "M" - that I can be both content and not content all at the same time. So, is that truly content. I find my self counting my blessing; great kids, warm house, gorgeous husband, fun job. But than I'm continually trying to improve my kids and husband, remodel my house or find a bigger one, and find a new club or class to teach. Is that not being content or is it just the natural progression of life. To improve our selves and the world around us. If we were just to stay in a state of content and not take any action toward gratitude and improvement we could not progress, right? Maybe I'm just babbling, but it makes me questions my motives on doing what I do. Which can be good once in a while. Accept, be content, count your blessings, have much gratitude and then get moving to improve and help w/ what we can to make this world a better place. The crusade of a mother.

The oldest.

I'm the oldest, yup, I'm 7. It freaks my mom out to think next year I'll be getting baptized, though I'm really exited about it. I am a little bossy I make sure things are done right, my mom can really count on me. But boy do I love to goof off, I am all boy. I'll be sneaky if need be (especially for candy) though I'm working on being honest (it works better for me when I am). I am as picky as my dad in regards to food. If it looks questionable, I wont touch it. I wont touch a vegie, but I love all fruit (mangoes, strawberries, grapefruit etc.) I am working on taking the initiative but using commonsense, boy is that hard. I'm kinda impulsive like my mom (spaz). I'm an excellent reader, writer, mathematician. I'm gaining confidence memorizing poems in front of my class (wow that's scary). I love riding my dirt bike, jumping on the tramp, drawing, cooking, and building w/ Lego's. I'd like to drive a backhoe and be a cop like my dad. Oh, and I'm already to shy to kiss my mom in public.

The baby.

I may only be 3, but I am not the baby anymore (no my moms not pregnant). I am the littlest man. I can hold my own w/ the rest of 'em.

I ride a bike, I jump high on the tramp, and I go potty by myself. I love rides on the dirt bike & the lawn mower. I don't like cheese, even on my sandwiches, milk on my cereal, or yogurt, yes I'm a Richey. I love carrots and salad, yea, I'm my moms son. Though I prefer my dad when I'm hurt. I'm very detail oriented, in drawing, writing, and cleaning up. I guess they call that "anal retentive". I love to give zurburts, but I don't want them. I read myself to sleep every night and I love to say prayers.

The peacemaker.

Hi I'm K. I'm 5 1/2 and at a phase in my life where I enjoy being the peacemaker. I get a little lazy at times, but I (when persuaded) am grat at doing my part. I love to play hard and tease like crazy. I turn almost any bad situation into laughter and I'm good at getting my mom to laugh and not be mad at me. I don't like mayo on my sandwiches, I only eat apples unless it's blended in a smoothie (then I'll drink anything). I eat just about everything on my plate, even Cesar salad. My favorite meal is my Nana's Shepard's Pie. Lately my drawing skill have skyrocketed and I'm enjoying practicing my letters & numbers. I can memorize a poem and I like yoga. I make up new exercise moves w/ my mom all the time. She says I'm a natural athlete.

They clean up real nice.

Well, I'm 33 and I still don't know when Day light Saving is. Something about Spring forward and Fall Back. Any way instead of being at church 1/2 hr late, we got there 1/2 hr early. Good thing I got my camera back, just in time to get a nice shot of 3 little men that look oh so cute and tidy (Lasts about for 5 minutes).

I feel so blessed to have the Gospel in our lives. I love hearing what the boys learn each week and seeing how they put in to practice what we learn. They do have such sweet spirits. They are loving brothers (don't get me wrong they have their moments). They play well together and with others. I just hope it carries into the teen years.

The bottom of the bag.

So I'm looking for Ry- the other night -to brush teeth and do scripture and prayer. There he is at the kitchen counter w/ an empty bag of Frosted Mini Wheats. Wow, those crumbs must really be something special. He was going to town on those little microscopic morsels like it was chocolate cake. It just cracks me up, what kids come up w/ for an evening snack. And ohhh, what a mess.

Look at that perfect spiral.

K is hangin out at one of Big B's games throwing the ball w/ dad. And what do ya know? He has an excelent arm, check out thar perfect spiral. And he just kept throwing one after the other. He's 5, He's a natrual.WHOOOOhoooo!

Pumpkin yuk!

Nana Gail ( the best grama in the world) came over to help us carve our pumpkins. We are so lucky to have her in our lives. Her fun loving joyful and childlike demeanor is soaked up entirely by her loving grandchildren.

Ode to Pumpkin:

5 Jack'o lanterns on the porch in a row.

With 3 little monkeys smiling in tow.

We worked so hard to carve and scoop.

But 4 days later a heat wave, oooops.

Then there they all sat.

On the front porch, FLAT. like someone went SPLAT.

Melted from the heat of southern exposure.

3 sad little boys w/ out any closure.

So mom gets the shovel, the flat one.

To scrape mush of the porch baked from the sun.

Lesson learned: Don't carve toooooo early.

Who is that masked man?

Batman, a ninja, and a motorcross racer walk into a bar, I mean a party.

Who wins the most adorable masked man ever? Little Ry Batguy of course.

Yes, those are real leaves (7 garbage bags worth) on the floor, of the perfect Haloween Party, at Big B's friends house.

Getting a load of wood.

They are so methodical about it. "Which one should I get?". Heck, it's just going to be incinerated. Hurry it up already, it's 35 degrees outside. But boy they do work well together don't they.

What teamwork. How can I not be proud!!!

Ohhhhh, there are spiders webs on the wood pile. EEEEEK.

Captain Underpants!

K just can't seam to put the dishes away in a timely nontheatrical matter. He usually calls himself "Captain Underpants" (? don't know where that came from) and threatens to get me with his magic wooden spoon. He is definitely the second born. I hear most movies stars and actors are second born. He'd do all his own stunts though.

Theres nothing like your best buddy!

Six Boys is nothing, I did it for a day. AHHHHHH!

Ry w/ his pal. Their actually hugging and not fighting over their favorite toys. Oh hear the angles singing.

Ode to a napkin. Wow, what imaginative fun with a lifeless piece of pulverized tree.

K with his best friend- managing to get lunch in their tummies between crazed laughter and silly faces. What are friends for? And Big B with his buddy creating more fun at the lunch.

I must admit (a mothers secret) when the boys have friends over I actually get stuff done. I think I washed and folded laundry and cleaned the kitchen that afternoon. When they're entertained by their buddies I can watch (making sure nobody brakes anything or anybody, no fires are started, and bedding isn't taken out to the woods to recreate "camping") from a distance and work on my own stuff. Of coarse you can still use a baby monitor hidden where they play and have the base tucked in the corner of the kitchen. Hee, Hee. So, sure I'll watch you kids for ya. Its no trouble at all!!!