Back to school, Gag me with a toothbrush

Ready for the first day of school! Hooray!

Second grade here I come!

Loving his new Minecraft backpack.

Let's do this.

Everyday, despite temperatures in the mid 90s, this guy wears long pants, long shirt, AND jacket to and from school.

Finally, two weeks into school he wears shorts and T-shirt to school.

If you look closely, it's not sports and ice cream that Carter likes (me gusta=I like...).
He likes hitting people in the head.  With a baseball, basketball, ice cream.

Caleb had his first birthday!!

For Caleb's birthday, Mommy takes him bright and early for his 12 month old check up....and shots.
Mean mommy.

Those shots have wiped this little guy out.

"Now I am sad"

Napping again.

And again.

It takes too much energy to play with this ball.

Laying on the floor is just as fun as playing, right?

Taking his temperature.  A little warm mommy.

Feeling a little better.  Time to celebrate with some balloons!!

Time for a photo shoot.

A-dor-a-ble

I'm so big now!

"What do you need a balloon for?"
"I don't need one, but I should like one very much."

Happy birthday little brother!

Time for cake!

Hmmm.....I think I like this.

Yes I definitely like this!

Delicious!

Caleb decided to share with the rest of us too.

Visiting Grammy means bonus birthday cake!  Yes!!

Why are all these people singing in the dark?

Don't forget presents!

Grandma and Grandpa Batty sent a present too!

Mmmm.  This ribbon is tasty.  Thanks Grandma!

Caleb was much more interested in the ribbon and the card than he was in opening the present. (Seriously, he spent about 20 minutes playing with the card and ribbon).
Jayden could hardly contain herself.  "Caleb! Open the present now!"

He finally got around to opening the gift.

Yes! A new phone!
Hey does this come with data?

Taking an evening stroll through Ashton Gardens.

Stopping to smell the roses.
These ones are good!

Perching precariously with Grumpy.

Yay America...

Monkey

Caleb's first go on the wiggle cars.  He's not so sure about this...

Loved it!

Second time down is even better!

Wahoo!!!

Caleb found the "Oh crap" handles.  Drive carefully dad.

Practicing walking.

Good teamwork!

Caleb has figured out how to get into trouble.

Trying out the rock wall at the rec center.

Nothing to it!

Caleb supervising daddy working.

Mom's taking the easiest path up the wall.

In polite society, one must always stick one's pinky out when enjoying a pouch of applesauce.

Jayden hogging all the space in the bike trailer.

Singing in the rain....or sprinklers.

Afternoon off for Daddy = a family hike!

Heading off for that lake in the distance.

Daddy pointing out some dinosaur tracks in the rock.

Jayden was so excited when mommy taught her how to tie her jacket around her waist.

She spent the rest of the hike swinging her hips back and forth to make the jacket move.

This is the way to do stake conference.  Who knew pushing chairs around a big empty room could be so fun?

And banging on tables.
The grownups had a hard time concentrating on the speakers with all these cuties around.

Remember that huge moth from the last post?
We found this caterpillar and it turns out, its a hawk moth caterpillar (Hyles Lineata).

We made a little home for it, complete with stick and a variety of leaves to choose from.
(it turns out this little guy LOVES strawberry leaves).

After some research, we discovered that this caterpillar would not spin a cocoon that hangs from a branch.
This kind burrows into the soil and spins it there.  So we redid his home to include plenty of dirt.
He's disappeared under the soil now.  Now we just wait and see if he pops out as a moth.

Caleb loves to help with dishes.

Caleb is not a big fan of cows milk yet.
This day he decided to lick the bottom of the bottle to see if that tasted any better.

Short cut!

Who's that guy on the wall daddy?

Pool time!!

Carter preferred to stay out of the water and just attack people with the water guns.

Splish splash.  We love water!

Drying off in the sun.

A little air guitar to pass the time.

Learning to play saxophone is a lot of work.

Someone found daddy's ties.

No, I want to sit on the top!

Up to no good.

It took mom a long time to convince Carter to slide down the stairs in this box. 
Carter finally agreed, but only after putting his bike helmet on.

This is why Caleb doesn't walk yet.

Making grass whistle with Daddy.

Ready for another hike.
(Mom told Dad to turn a bit so Caleb would be in the picture.  Carter and Jayden decided to follow suit.)

Working those hips again.

Recording observations.

Look!  We found some yellow by-the-roadus!

Time for a rest.

Looking cool up there.

Soaking in the view.

Another handle.

Found you!

Selfie!

Time for a nap.

Dad's too sweaty to be a good pillow.

Rock on Carter.

This is how you brush your teeth mom.

Too far!