My Wee Little Artists

Some of you may have noticed how talented my children are. Well, I just wanted to brag a little more: My Picasso and Michaelangelo at work. While I was working on some signs for a Primary Acitivity my ward was having, I let my children express themselves with some fingerpaints. It worked a little too well. After some amazing artwork on the cardboard sheet I gave them, they wondered: "Why stop there?" So, they starting doing some body work. Benson worked on his own legs and stomach. Packer worked on his own legs and stomach, then on Benson's back, and soon they were covered in symbols, color, and... well, PAINT!
I'd like to take the credit of my children's artistic abilities, but I have to admit, that Ben is more artistic than I am... so I'll let him have the credit this time.

Decorating via Child Style

During Naptime, I strung the lights on the tree so the kids could decorate it when the got up from their nap. When they woke up to really kick in the spirit Ben & I had them blow the lights on. Last year we bought a remote to turn on and off the lights. So when they blew hard, we pushed the button and on they came! WOW!
Benson & Packer were wonderful helpers in decorating the tree. Above is Packer with the christmas tree aglow in the background.
Packer handling some tiny ornaments.

Benson decorating his self-designated branch. Note how many ornaments on just that one branch. Good work Benson.

Hmmm... Where should I put this ornament? Oooo! Here's a spot! Right next to every other ornament I've hung! Good Work Bens!

After about a week of having the Christmas Tree up and decorated, and blowing the lights on daily, I babysat for my sister-in-law while whe went to get her hair done. Benson told his cousins that the lights came on when you blow on the tree. Unbelieving the cousins wanted him to prove it. Since I had turned off the lights during naptime, they had the opportunity to blow them on. Ben, on the couch at the time reading, had the remote in his pocket, so when all the kids blew together: POOF! Our tree lights twinkled on. "Whoa! How do they do that?!" asked nephew Caleb. Ben answered: "They're Air Powered Lights!" With wide eyes the kids were ecstatic about the amazing lights and started to blow some more with Ben secretly turning them off and on. Finally Ben told them it was enough and to leave the lights on. The kids were sure it was all them.

Here is a close up of Benson's masterpiece branch of christmas decorations. WOW!

O Christmas Tree

Every Day-After-Thanksgiving the Atkin-side of the family all gather and head out to the mountains to chop down a Christmas tree. You never know what you're going to find! Sometimes you end up with a Charlie Brown Tree, sometimes one MUCH bigger than you realize, sometimes skinny, sometimes fat... This year our Christmas tree was a full tree and just about perfect. And boy does it make our house smell good! Above is Ben & Andie hiking around in the cold, fresh, mountain air.


Above: Benson in pursuit of the perfect tree.
While Waiting for Everyone else to pick out their perfect Tree, Benson was waiting by the fire pit that we had built, eating some snacks that Grandma had provided.
"Can I have some Hot Cocoa?" Benson asked his Aunt Amanda.
"Okay, I'll just going to have to put some water on the fire ."
"What?!" cried Benson.
Amanda repeated herself.
"WHAT?!" Benson cried again.
"What?" Asked Amanda confused.
"The fire will go out if you put water on it!" He exclaimed!
Duh Amanda! Everyone knows that!
That Benson, you can't pull the wool over his eyes!

Below: Daddy (Ben) and Packer



My Little Andie bundled up in her Winnie the Pooh Snuggle Suit.
"Cuddley Little Cubby all Stuffed with Fluff, [She's] Winnie the Pooh!... Silly Willy Nilly Ol' Bear!"

Halloween

Ahh, Halloween, a time where we get to dress up as someone or something else and ask people for candy! Weird tradition if you ask me... but hey, who am I to shun tradition? I'm a Train Engineer holding Andie the Leopard

Ben is dressed up as a scary skeleton/reaper. And yes, he did scare his own dad, and his sister.

Andie the Leopard,

Packer the Scarecrow

Benson the Batman-ish Boy
They loved Trick-or-Treating. What kid wouldn't I guess. And now I can't wait for the candy to be all gone so they will stop asking me for "more candy, PLEASE!" Hey, at least they have manners!

Darling Little Children

Tradition has it that my babies will get their pictures Professionally taken when they are 3 mo. and then at least yearly. So, since Andie was 3 months and my boys are making their year marks of 2 (Packer) & 4 (Benson) Here we are with current pictures of the kids. Our photographer was great. The boys laughed hysterically, and she got Andie to even smile a few times. There were so many good ones, but my funds are limited... so here are the ones I chose:

Andie-Girl

My 3 little Hooligans!

Benson Boy

Pack-Man

Big Brothers & Little Sister

"These Are A Few of My Favorite Things"

Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvQ0Sj6Qm_Y or On Youtube, look up Hillary Weeks, These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things, and enjoy! As a Mother -- at least for me... this song is so true. I'm glad someone finally put them into a song. I sing this song almost daily!


Bedtime & Naptime, And Bedtime & Naptime...

Bedtime & Naptime, And Bedtime & Naptime...

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things.

Did I mention It's Nice When the Kids Go To Sleep?

BEST OF BOYS

Benson and Packer, when not poking, hitting, kicking, biting, yelling, chasing, sitting on, or throwing things at each other, are the BEST OF BUDS! Sitting Quietly watching a show together, playing trains, puzzles, drawing, digging, riding bikes, helping Daddy together is what being brothers is all about.

On our Morning Walk the other day:

Benson: "Why is the road made out of Rocks?

Mommy: "Well, what should it be made of?

Benson: "Rainbows."

DUH MOM!

Sunglasses Are Cool

Sunglasses are the COOLEST! Ever since Daddy (Ben) got his eyes lasiked this last May, he's been wearing sunglasses a lot whenever he's outside. Benson & Packer love to be just like their favorite pal: Dad. Here they are showing off their super cool Spiderman sunglasses, camo shades, and Packer's Thomas the Train sunglasses.
During the couple of weeks I spent at the NICU with Andie, Benson & Packer did a lot of traveling too, spending a lot of time at Grandparent's houses. On our way home, Benson fell asleep with his shades on...

Packer has personality exploding from every body part. Here he is showing dad how "cool dude" he is.

He is definitely full of cool!

Blessings

Andie's Blessing Day. She got to wear her first white dress today. Grandma Atkin made it for her, and she looke absolutely beautiful!

There's just something about being in Daddy's or Grandpa's arms that makes you feel secure and safe...making sleep so much more beautiful. Grandpa Lloyd is a pro after 5 baby girls of his own.

Dig Dig Dig!

Packer is always playing in the dirt. Whether we're in the mountains ... (Packer with cousin Brynlie)

Or at a party... (with cousin Max)

Or at home with his Big Brother Benson... Dirt is ALWAYS a good idea.
However, with dirt, comes bath-time. Therefore, bath-time happens more than once a day, and that never ending mountain of laundry... it continues to be never ending!

Baby Girl

Andie is a pretty good baby. She has a soft cry when she does cry(which is really nice -- I recommend the soft crying babies), but she relatively happy most of the time. Pretty alert for how tiny she is. She's a good sleeper, and loves to cuddle - which is so fun! My 2 boys were NOT snugglers. So finally having a snuggler is fun!

She's Home At Last

Andie made it home. And we are all so ecstatic about it! Benson wants to always be holding her. Packer wants to hold her occassionally, but really is just glad that Mommy is back home and things are going back to normal -- well, normal-ish!

Andie is gaining about 3 oz. a week. I know only because I have to take her in to be weighed weekly just to make sure she is gaining. She is!

She has some terriffic brothers to watch out for her.

Child Number Three

Here is number 3. Andie Atkin. When we visited her in the NICU, we had to wash our hands for 5 minutes with a scub brush. Believe you me my hands were amazingly exfoliated after 10 days at the NICU. These pictures were taken a day before she was released home. Note no tubes, or wires streaming around her! She lost quite a bit of weight in the NICU. She dropped to 4 lb. 9 oz. but was back at her birth weight of 5 lb. 4 oz. when she left the hospital.

I don't recommend the NICU. Bake them until their done if you can!

HERE SHE IS

Andie Atkin
Born June 09, 2009
5 lb. 4 oz.
19 inches
She's a keeper!

Andie Atkin was born 5 weeks early, and had to really work hard to breathe, so they moved her to the NICU at Timpanogos Medical Center in Orem. Mommy got to hold her for the first time Friday June 13th (See Friday the 13th isn't always bad) and she continues to make excellent progress. We hope she can come home soon!

Pony Riding

Aunt Amanda and family got a new pony for Easter! Of course we had to go for a ride! Packer & Benson loved riding a horse just their size! She sure is a cute pony. Cousin Jessica named her Honeypie Pony, just like Strawberry Shortcake's pony. Cute!

Pool Fun at Home

We splurged this summer and bought a little pool to play in at our house during the hot summer months. Hopefully it'll be worth the purchase!