Happy Birthday Jude!!

Look at my not-so-little baby boy :)

Dad has decided that when you turn 8 you get a doughnut the size of your head. Jude was really close to finishing that thing too. And Lydia was a bit disappointed in her doughnut that was not quite as big as her head, but still massive. . .

Scouts! A new book, shirt, scriptures, everything he needs!

And new shoes. Size THREE! I truly can not believe he's already 8. Some days I miss my little boy, but mostly I just love having him around. He's such a sweet boy (when he wants to be) and so stinking smart that I just love talking with him. I do moon-walk away when he starts describing Pokemon though. . . that's what his friends are for.

Best Friends

Talia and Emily get along so well- when Talia isn't bonking Emily on the head! It's nice having a friend that understands T and loves her in spite of her :)

Floating Fun

The kids LOVE it when Dad takes them swimming.

Kayla is getting really good at floating and trusting and I can't wait until everyone knows how to swim and we can all just go and I won't have to worry about the babies out-numbering the grown-ups anymore. Jude and Lydia can reach everywhere, but Julia is still so tinesy she has to stay with the babies in the shallower end and she hates it. But sometimes I keep the babies home and Dad just takes the big kids and she gets to be more adventurous.

Poor baby, left all alone.

Talia Megan

This kid always cracks me up with her vibrancy. Never a dull moment.

Makeup!

Lydia and her friend Abigail have been obsessed with makeup lately.

They've gotten a LOT better and don't make quite as big a mess as they used to.

But their creations are still very questionable and silly.

Lost tooth!!

Jude finally lost a tooth!

He'd been wiggling it forever and finally started complaining because he'd bite down on it wrong and hurt himself. So I told him I'd pull it and he freaked out. I basically sat on him and made him let me pull it. And once he finally calmed down he admitted that it felt better to have it out. Trust me kid! I know what's best for you!

Karate

I really enjoy watching Jude do karate. He's not as coordinated or focused as some of the other boys, but he isn't too bad either. He really likes to spar but needs to work on using the moves he's being taught instead of just free-for-all fighting. . .