Cute, family photos, deck progress and PE mishaps

      Charlie is just cute and I can prove it.....

"Muffin, I want a muffin!"

"I. can. al - most reeeaaach."

"That's right, I'm a big girl and can sit up and play with my big girl toys."

Snuggles.

And this photo, well it's just pure perfection!

After church we attempted photos in the backyard.  This isn't too bad considering we only had a tripod, a borrowed camera and Kayli's photo expertise to work with.

       We did take individual photos too but I won't bore you with those, well maybe just one or two.  Guess who's photo's I'm going to share?!

What a doll!!

Once he gave up the gaming device and had a snack McClane finally let us get a cute photo of him.

       Ok, ok, I'll show you the rest of the individual photos.

I love this kid's big smile, he's almost always smiling!

Carter is becoming quite a handsome devil.

Isaac, whole and happy.  I'm glad we captured a photo before he became 'broken'.

Mark is becoming a little too manly for my liking ;-)

And this girl was the least cooperative.  You may notice her hair and clothes are not the same as the group photo and that's because she deleted the photos we took of her Sunday afternoon and only after I threatened to print a silly selfie of her did she finally agree to take another photo.

     Now on to other activities from our week.

       Greg's been working hard on 'our' deck project. He's got all the posts in and is beginning to put in the beams.

Don't let this photo fool you, I only scooped out about 10 shovelfuls before giving the shovel back to Greg.  

Thank goodness Greg is such a hard worker and is willing to do stuff like this because if it was left to me to shovel all 11 holes this deck project wouldn't get done until...  well it just wouldn't get done!

This is where the project is as of tonight.

He's getting excited now that he's past the digging and mess of concrete.

      And poor Isaac had a little mishap in PE today and ended up with a broken left arm.  The initial pain was definitely unpleasant but I think he's enjoying all the attention.

This is Isaac being cheered up by Charlie while waiting at the InstaCare.

That little bump on the top left bone is the buckle fracture he got as a result of a "chubby" kid falling on him while playing a football game during PE.

And these are the kind nurses applying his splint that he'll have to wear until Wednesday when he'll be getting his official cast.  He was a trooper and wasn't too sad when treats started being dropped off this afternoon from more than one neighbor and then his Aunt Kristin stopped by and took him to get a frozen yogurt so it hasn't been all bad.
   

     I did have a moment this morning when I started thinking like my mom.  I got the initial call from the school that Isaac had hurt his arm while I was out on a walk with my girlfriend and all I could think about was all the laundry I still had to do, the beds that were unmade waiting for clean sheets to be applied and lets not forget the fact that I really needed to shower.  I was teasing Isaac before we left to the InstaCare that maybe he could just wait a bit while I took care of all those things, kind of like the time my mom let me lie sick on the couch for three days before she finally gave in and took me to the doctor only to find out I had a severe case of pneumonia and had to be hospitalized for a week.  (She thought I was faking, which wasn't unlike me I'll admit.)  I love ya mom but that's a story I'll share often because that's so typical of you're ways.  Oh the joys of motherhood!  Well that's our week, a bit more photos and adventure then our last few posts.  Maybe by next week we'll have an actual deck to photograph!

Did you miss it?!

     In case you missed it on Instagram and Facebook, Princess Charlie has turned seven months this past week. The time is just flying, as you well know it does, whether you like it or not.

In Color, Princess Charlie!

No color and just as precious!!

     And Greg made some real progress on our deck project and it won't be long before real construction begins. Mark even helped 'a little' digging holes this week.

No photo is complete without the 'pelvic thrust'.

      Hopefully by next week I'll have photos to share of actual decking material being installed :-)

Progress?

     Greg's been busy this week dismantling our deck.  He's also spent a good deal of time drawing plans, measuring, brainstorming and giving himself, as well as me, a headache.  With the deck mostly gone getting in and out of the backyard has been a tiny bit more interesting.  Kayli was sure we were trying to hurt her when she nearly fell trying to leave the house earlier this week.  I guess she didn't see the makeshift board-slide :-)

       Now we're ready for lumber and concrete and praying that we don't go beyond budget!!

The slide of every kids dreams.

    And no post would be complete without at least one or two photos of our little princess. (And the diva/princess!)

They really do take cute selfies together.

She's just begging for an eye mask.

       So there you have it.  I hope by next weekend I can show photos of a little progress on the NEW deck!!

Reunited

    Some how we survived our week without Greg.  It went fairly quickly and aside from a few minor issues that would have happened even with him home, we made it to Friday without any deaths or major battle wounds ;-)

     Here's a photo or four from our Friday afternoon reunion.

The kids were almost more excited about Greg's rental car than they were of his arrival home.

Sugar cookies all the way from.....American Fork.  Greg had planned on buying sugar cookies at a store in St. George but forgot.  Good thing the boys don't know or really care where they came from.

Welcome home hugs!

Sorry it's blurry.

     Here's a bonus photo from earlier in the week of Charlie.  This is for the few people who don't follow me on Instagram or Facebook.

This headband makes a great eye-mask.

    Now that Greg's back we're both ready to get serious about our deck project.  Here's a before photo where demo has already begun.

McClane and the rest of the boys were interested in helping for the first little bit, like any other project, then they lost interest.

     We've already decided what type of material we want and we're pretty set on the square footage we're going for, now we just have to make some purchases and get to work.  I can't wait!!

The littlest Kmetzsch's

    He may demand a turn every time I get on the treadmill but he inevitably ends up playing with the train set. Love it!

McClane loves his trains!

He's definitely a keeper ;-)

     And Charlie is the best model for her big brother, Brock's kindergarten hat project.

George Washington would be proud!

     Charlie's been pretty sickly this past week with a nasty cold/RSV but thankfully she's still been a great little sleeper and has recovered quite nicely.  She weighed in at 16 lbs. 8 oz. at her 6 month appointment, measured about 27 inches and got to postpone her "needles" as they say in Australia, until next week.  She is such a good baby and it was heartbreaking to see her so sick but she was so good even while feeling miserable.  We're so happy she's feeling better and did not require a hospital visit/stay.  Next week should be interesting with Greg gone to St. George for work, pray no one dies and that my sanity can at least be regained by next weekend because I'm quite certain I'll lose it for at least a portion of next week ;-)

Six months and Valentine's Day

     This week our sweet Princess Charlie reached her 6 month birthday and cut her first tooth all in the same week. She is hands down the best baby I've had and even while teething she's been mostly happy and content.  I don't know why I've been so blessed but maybe she's got big plans later in life to push my buttons:-). (Her big sister Kayli knows all those buttons so we'll see what the future brings.)

      Just last night we celebrated Valentine's Day with a yummy ham and mashed potato dinner by candlelight.  I also gifted Greg with a new set of drills because I'm quite serious about building a new deck and replacing the siding on the house this spring.  I don't think he was too upset with his new drills:-)

She's so happy, you would never know she's sitting in a mess that went clear up the back of her.

Seven kids + small kitchen = 'Minor' chaos :-)

He's looking at me with a little worry in his eye.

I think he's ok with my Valentine's gift for him.

The SWEETEST Valentine, hands down!

    Happy Valentine's Day and now let's pray for an early spring so Greg can put those drills to good use.  (But only after a good mountain snow pack has been reached, of course!)

Just photos

    Here's the weeks photo montage....

Morning cuddles with Dad!

This is where Charlie sleeps when Kayli's babysitting, no blanket or bed for that matter.

Sister's spending time together at church.

Thinking can be so exhausting!

McClane loves to smother Charlie and she can't get enough!

Charlie is officially rolling!

And she's pretty darn proud of herself.

Literally wrapped around Daddy's little finger.

     So that's our week of photos and fun ;-)