Stuck!

This morning, we were at Jen's house enjoying ourselves. Lance and Kyle were playing on the patio with Kaya. We were visiting on the steps when I glanced over and saw Kyle standing there looking at me with his head through the bars. He looked like this:

He was trying to pull his head through, but it wouldn't go. An alarm sort of went up in my head and I thought, "This might be serious." I got closer for a better look. I tried pushing his ears against his head to make it go through easier. We tried turning his head downward, upside-down... the head wouldn't budge through. Christy had been walking by and came over to check it out. She mentioned that we might need some butter. Jen came back with the butter. I heard someone say something about calling 911. Then we began talking about how much the kids would love to see a real firetruck pull up right here! I know Kyle would love it.

All this while Kyle stood calmly listening to all of our ideas with his head stuck through these bars; I couldn't believe how totally fine he was with this.

Then in the midst of our creative ideas ( I was beginning to wonder if it would be that difficult to just get a tool to cut one of those bars off - Jen, maybe we could weld the bar back on!) Kyle reached for a toy that Christy was holding. He couldn't quite reach it, so he stepped through the bars, as we watched with wonder, sucked his tummy in, pulled his shoulders through, and lifted his other foot through, at last to reach the toy. The genius was free!

I can't even tell this story without cracking up. I think Kyle deserves the "Gotcha!" award. I had him climb back through just to get the pictures (with Jen's camera - thanks, Jen!).

Little clown!

How to Get What You Want...

This morning, after a shower and getting ready for the day, I came into the kitchen to find this little one saying something about wanting milk. It was then that I found a jug of chocolate milk already pulled out of the refrigerator and set on the table by little hands. He may as well have put the cup there, too! Kyle got what he wanted this morning. Could you say no to this?

I'm so Cool

Check me out! I can wear my shades indoors and still see!

How to be a Monkey

First, grab a banana and peel it.

Next, chomp the biggest bite you can out out of it.

Monkey business is serious. Chew with your mouth closed, and no monkeyin' around.

Unless you like See-food! Ha Ha!


Gotcha!

In the Limelight

With 2 brothers gone to school and the house all to himself (well, except Mom, and she's always there!), what's a guy left to do? Kyle has a few tips in the following posts.

Just Chillin'

Brothers spending quality time together ... I love it.

Daddy's Gone A-Hunting

Looks like an ordinary hallway to me ... except what is that huge hooflike thing sticking out at the end? Gives me the chills...

Oh! It's just Jared processing the meat from his... WHAT?! Elk?!

Jared just got back from the hunt of his lifetime. Look at that smile! During the Archery hunt, he shot the herd bull on public land near the cabin. He also had several close encounters with bears. From now on, he says he will be carrying Bear Mase when he travels out into the wilderness. He had a great time, and after much diligence and labor, he came upon his dream elk.

He bugled it in until it was only 10 feet away, and he hadn't even pulled back his bow yet! He pulled it back, and the elk ran 25 yards, then stopped to look back. That's when it happened. I guess you could say curiousity killed the elk.

Then the work began. Jared was 2 miles into the mountains and had to hike four trips, plus a trip from his buddy (thanks, Rich!). He figures the elk weighed about 800 lbs.

Was it worth it? For Jared and the boys, not a question! For me... if it puts that smile on Jared's face, and the meat's good, then sure. (The hoof horror in the hallway is gone now.)

Grande Finale at the Grandparent's

Lance enjoyed his last birthday celebration of the year at Gramma Kimmy's and Grampa G.'s yesterday.

Lance has gotten quite good at eating cake, icecream, and extinguishing candles.

Oh!... and opening presents. Whew! I think that sums up the parties for Lance this year!

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

We had our Regional Stake Conference today at the Conference Center. Jared stayed home with the littler ones and Jace and I got to go with our sweet neighbor, Michelle. Jace was excited to go to the place where they have General Conference and he asked if the prophet would be there. I told him , "I don't think so, but there might be a general authority there."

Wrong I was. Our Prophet, President Monsen, concluded the Conference! Later, I heard several people say they knew he would be there, but I never heard that part! It wasn't announced. Maybe they tried to keep it quiet.

Here are some notes from our Prophet's wise counsel:

He focused on the home.

• If we are trying our best, we may have the Spirit with us.


• There should be no disputations or contention in the home.


• We must organize & prepare our home and heart.

Establish our house:

• Make our house a house of Prayer


• Make our house a house of Fasting


• Make our house a house of Faith


• Make our house a house of Study


• Make our house a house of Learning


• Make our house a house of Glory


• Make our house a house of Order


• Make our house a house of God

He told several great stories. One of my favorites was of when he was a boy, and every Fast Sunday when his family returned home starving hungry and ready to eat a meal, his mother would say, "Tommy boy, take this dinner to Mr. ___ up the street."

One Sunday, he asked, "But Mom, why don't we eat our dinner first, and then I can take him his meal?"

"Because, Tommy, the food will taste so much better after you bring it to him."

"And it always did."

Maybe it's time to send Jace out on some dinner errands...