Washington DC

The Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery...what a sight

The guard standing at his post...there was a reverence and respect that is hard to describe.

Our Nation's house...pretty cool! Coop thought it was neat to see where Pres. Obama lived.

Cooper looking at the Eternal Flame at the graves of JFK and Jackie O.

The view of the Washington Monument from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

My handsome boys at the Vietnam Memorial. Carson is taking a picture of me and saying "cheese!" How cute.

Carson finally bonding with Cheri on the last day of our trip...it only took 6 days Cheri; Yeah!

New York

Here is Carson taking in the view from the Ferry that took us to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty

Heath and Cooper enjoying some bonding time...I love this picture.

We flew into JFK and our driver took us right past ground zero...what a sight! It was different than I expected. I didn't realize how closely things were packed in there. I am surprised that only the towers fell...that a horrible thing for our country but we are picking ourselves up and starting to rebuild. There is one building already about 8 or 9 stories tall. That was enough of New York for Heath and I to see...we much prefer the small town feel!

Thanksgiving Day at Statue of Liberty

This is Travis being Lady Liberty...what a look!

The Statue of Liberty was the only thing Cooper wanted to see! We had tickets that got us into the pedistal...not as high as Coop wanted; kids are always disappointed right? But we loved it. We actually went on Thanksgiving day and it the crowds weren't too bad. We didn't dare try and go into the city with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade going on but we saw the city and it was enough.

Mom's helper

I was in charge of fixing lunch for about 25 people this past weekend and Cooper of course wanted to help. He is such a big helper and I really needed the help. Here he is making a cake! Thanks Coop.

Hunting 2009

There monsters to report this year but Heath still had fun. I graciously bowed out this year...didn't want to show anyone up AGAIN this year;) Heath got this deer in October and also went with Dell, Travis, and Cooper and shot a couple of antelope in Wyoming. Way to fill the freezer again this year love!

Daddy's Little Helpers

This fall we planted a couple of really tall Maple trees so the holes had to be huge! Heath and hurt his back hunting and I am large and pregnant so we weren't much good. Our boys stepped right up and help get those holes dug...and the trees are still alive!

Halloween

This year was a fun but cold Halloween! We went to little Kennadi's 1st birthday party then went and did a little trick-or-treating. Cooper preferred to stay home and pass out candy while Carson preferred to eat the candy! What fun times!

Promise to update

We have been living life in the fast lane, and as you can tell it is almost Christmas and I haven't even posted Halloween! I promise I will update soon since we have done some traveling and had a great couple of months! Look for our update soon!

It's a....BOY!!

Yes...we only grow boys around here! For those who didn't know, we are expecting baby number three in March! We are very excited to have another little one in the family. I was a little let down when we saw "joystick #3" but if this one is anything like my other boys I will have another cuddler on the way! Now, the task of coming up with another name...

Cooper's First Day of Kindergarten

Cooper is in Kindergarten! He really wanted to be the true student by riding the bus to and from school and eating school lunch. He is such a big kid! He goes 2-3 days a week from 8-2:30. We live about a five minute drive from school but since he insists on riding the bus we have to have him at the bus stop at 7:20!! Where they go from our stop I'll never know; at least he is the last pick-up and first drop-off with this bus. He is loving school and tells me all the time that he justs wants to keep learning and learning. You are such a big boy Coop...we love you!!

Here's for you Talmage

I talked to Preston last week which was great since we haven't talked in about 2 months (I hate the phone) and I mentioned to him that we have snakes living in our yard. Talmage stated that him and Avery made a rock garden to catch "garden snakes" so I told him I would send a picture. Sorry this one doesn't have his head...but it's a snake and it's dead (the best way!) This was the 2nd snake we have seen this year...I saw a third the next day but wasn't fast enough to kill it. Then a couple days later we found a snake skin from a snake about 8 inches long!! Coop wanted to keep it...of course I said "NO!" Hopefully we will be snake-free next spring...I hope they freeze this winter! Hope you enjoy the picture Talmage!

Our poor Koda

This is our pretty 4 1/2 year old chocolate lab, Koda. We got her just as Cooper was starting to crawl. She is so good with the boys...lets them do just about anything to her. Anyway, in May we bred her to a black lab hoping to get some good puppies we could sell and add some extra money to the boys' college funds. Yesterday she was having some contractions... which lasted all day...by evening she was fine and had even eaten her food. This morning she was doing the same thing...and by then we knew something wasn't quite right. The vet had told us that once the contractions started we should see puppies within about 1-2 hours. We were working on close to 24 hours! Heath called a different vet (not too happy with the one we were using) and they did an xray. Usually labs have litters of 8-10 puppies...Koda only had one and it was way to big to come out on its own so the vet did an emergency C-section this morning. They got the puppy out but it had died a couple days ago. I feel so bad for her. I have never been a big dog lover but we have had her just as long as our boys...so she is one of our kids. This picture is of her today. She seems a little drugged and I think she knows something is missing. Sorry girl!

Dancing Kings

Cooper has developed quite a love for musicals (I'm starting to rub off on him) and he has learned almost all the songs to "Mama Mia." The movie is not the best singing but he loves to watch it for his quite time movie (which isn't so quite) so that he can sing along. Here are a couple of pictures of him and Carson dancing and singing to the movie!

Kirby Family Reunion

This past month we head to NE Idaho; to Stoddard Creek, for Heath's annual family reunion. Our family was incharge of food and activities for over 70 people. It was alot of work; which Margy (my mother-in-law) did most of it. Brooke (sister-in-law) and I made pinatas with the kids while Heath and Travis were in charge of a BB-gun shootout competition. We had alot of food to cook--that many people eat alot of food, but it was a fun weekend. Here are some pictures.

Cooper...got to love him

We went last week to get Cooper's kindergarten physical done...what an ordeal! He did fine until the doctor told him the nurse was going to come in and give him the shots that would let him go to school; that's when the water works started. I felt really bad for him becuase I could tell he was really scared. We had tried to prepare him for the shots but nothing gets you ready for the real thing. As soon as the nurse walked in with the 4 shots he was to get it was on! Heath had to hold his arms and his face so he couldn't see when the shot came his way. I had to try and hold his legs down while keeping Carson out of the middle of it;trying to grab the shots! Cooper was screaming so loud and the viens were popping out of his head;face so red...you thought we were ambutating his leg! Finally when all the shots were done the nurse left; giving Cooper 4 very cool bandaids...then the shocker...Cooper was so mad that we let the nurse do that and that we held him still for it he said between sobs. "I hate this! I don't want to live with you anymore!" Famous words from my Coop; any time he gets mad at me that is generally what he says but this time I think he meant it; that is until we went and got him a prize for doing so good considering. (Shots are scarey!) When we came out of the room Heath was holding Cooper and there was a mom in the waiting room with her hand over her mouth and a true look or horror on her face!! PRICELESS!! I told the receptionist that the kids that were there at that time were going to come out running and never go to the doctor again. Fun times!! Love you Cooper!!

Before and After (new toy...new look!)

Ouch!!

For Carson's birthday we got him a tricycle (since Heath ran over the last one!). Our driveway is alittle sloped and Carson figured out that if he kept his feet off the pedals (he can't quite reach them anyway) he can go really down it really fast! Well, Heath went inside to get some batteries for a bubble machine, Cooper and I were trying to get the soap in the bubble machine and Carson was getting ready to fly...literally! He went so fast down the driveway and before I knew it he had turned the trike over on himself and had face-planted on the cement! His poor face and lip! See for yourself...I felt like the worst mother ever! I'm so sorry baby...I love you!

Carson turns 2!

I can't believe my baby is 2! It is amazing how fast the time has gone. He is talking up a storm and is into everything...so different than his brother!?! He has such a fun personality and that little dimple below his left eye is my favorite. He adds so much to our family! We had a little family party for Carson and Grandma Linda. It was alot of fun to have family there but Carson hated the singing part! He starting crying and screaming which was hilarious! Happy Birthday little man, we love you!!!

Mounts and more mounts

I love my husband but he is an avid hunter and it is really starting to show. We now have 6 stuffed birds and 8 deer and antelope mounted in my basement alone with 2 elk on the way and about a dozen more ducks waiting to be mounted. At least I don't have to find many decorations for my basement...sometimes the number of eyes watching me as I work gets a little unnerving, but I am proud of Heath and am glad he has a hobby he is passionate about! The European mount (in the picture) is my least favorite mount so I had to dress it up alittle bit for Easter! Looks good doesn't it? (gave him blue eyes to match the family)

New Outfits...handsome boys!

I was one of those teenagers that swore I would never give my kids names that started with the same letter and I would NEVER buy them matching outfits! Well I am 0-2. Cooper and Carson look so much alike...twins only 3 years apart; and don't they look handsome in their matching outfits! You've got to love the "Cheese" factor in these pictures!

Happy Easter

I love Easter...my sweet tooth really comes out when the Cadbury solid milk choclate eggs with the thin candy shell and the Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans hit the shelf! I wonder where my kids got their sweet tooth from?!? Anyway, every year we go to an Easter egg hunt just south of Idaho Falls and the boys did a great job this year again (more candy for mom!!) Take a look...

Playing Catch up...

Life is so busy...most days I am trying to keep my head above water with working from home, laundry, kids, and everything we do on a regular basis! I find that at the end of the day I wonder what I have accomplished...usually nothing of note; the same mail has been on the counter for two days...the chip crumbs from Heath's lunch still on the table...my couch covered in laundry...my boys still wanting me to play trucks and hunting since they have been asking since 9am. Where is the balance? Where do you find the time? Just a question thrown out in the air...

Happy Birthday Cooper

Cooper turning 5!! I can't believe it...it seems so short a time ago when I had him and now he is playing with action figures and being so smart! I just had Parent/Teacher conference with his Pre-school teacher and she says that he is doing so good. He will have no problem in Kindergarten. He loves school and tells me everyday what he has learned! For his birthday we decided every other year to have a "friends" and this year was family-only. He still made a haul however. We had 2 of the 3 sets of grandparents and several other family members. Cooper loves Batman as you can see. Happy Birthday Cooper! We love you!

White is boring

I hate the few white walls I have left in my house so a few weeks ago while Heath was gone I painted the two bathrooms upstaits. Cooper wanted to help and he did a great job. I love you Coop!

My Poor Baby

Carson ended up getting a nasty case of croup (probably from nursery right??). He was sick for almost 3 weeks and was at the doctor's office 4 times. The first two times I knew something else was wrong because he wasn't eating and I knew it was more than the croup...the doctor (my boss) told me there was nothing that I could do; he looked in his ears and lungs and all was well...apparently. The next day his left eardrum ruptured! The next day (Sunday) we took him to an urgent care and the doctor told me not to feel bad that I had missed the ear infection! I was so mad because I had had him into the doctor twice; the last time just the day before it happened. Anyway...we went through two rounds of antibiotics, 2 weeks of literally no sleep and we are finally back to good ol' Carson. Here are some pics of my baby. Grandma Margy sent him some get well pictures that he started to drag around the house once he started to fill better!

Feel the Love!

I love Valentine's Day! Another excuse for me to eat way too much chocolate. We got the boys a little something since they get a little letdown since there is so much time between Christmas and their birthdays. Cooper got a play-do ice cream making shop and Carson got a book, a coloring book and some crayons. I think the boys liked the Play-do...what do you think!?