Argenta

• Argenta's language has exploded. There is nothing she can't say, and she's SO funny! Her little voice is raspy but high pitched. She's so darling. She truly is so joyful.
• We finally broke her of the bottle and I was afraid she'd starve to death, but it was way more seamless than I expected... as usual.
• Here she said, "hair in my face. take piture of me. I funny." So I did.
• She says the sweetest prayers and calls Xiana, Donna or xshona, Kolton, buppy or tolton, and herself, Genta.  Except that usually when people ask her name she says, "I two."
• She loves to pretend there are "monsters" she's running away from. But sometimes that gets us into trouble because she genuinely gets afraid of said monsters.
• She will not be left out of anything. She thinks it is her right to participate in anything and everything her siblings do. Hell hath no fury like someone shutting the back door on her.
• She continues to be wild, busy, and naughty, but she is just the most cheerful little girl in the world which makes me overlook much of it.  She is a joy.  
• She has finally stopped bullying all the kids in nursery and now plays WITH not BESIDE them. She's growing up, and it seems nothing can be done to stop her. 
• She loves to wrestle Kolton and jumps on his back fearlessly wrapping her little arms around his neck. He laughs and laughs.  
• She bosses Xiana around ordering her to read books and get her things. Xiana mommies her so nicely.  I really am blessed!

Kolton

• Kolton has some pretty distinctive opinions about how his hair should look.  Because of his cal licks, it's a good thing he likes the mohawk.
• This is the third split to the chin this kid has handled.... so far no stitches... although I'm pretty sure he couldn't used them ever time. 
• We have been struggling a lot with getting along and helping Kolton to not come unglued. He is very stubborn and high strung and basically falls apart on the daily.  Brian asked me to speak in church on this talk Parents Prime Gospel Teachers of Their Children (read it, you won't regret it!) and also counseled with me about parenting. When things were so bad that I didn't know how we were going to make it, Brian gave him a blessing.  They both sobbed through it which is shocking to see a 4-yr-old so affected.  Afterwards Kolton hugged both of us and, still crying said, "that's the most I've ever felt the spirit before."  It was life changing.  Literally, life changing.  Then, I read this talk, and   I talked with Kolton about how I could help him, and he sobbed, "I really hate it when you yell at me." I agreed to work on yelling if he would work on listening and not throwing tantrums.  So far, it has been over a month and I have yelled twice. Let me tell you people, that is nothing short of a miracle that I didn't even think was possible. It is DIVINE INTERVENTION 100%! But the really miraculous thing is Kolton.  He is a new kid.  It has been incredibly humbling to discover that here I was worrying about what to do about him, when all along, I needed to change ME! He still falls apart from time to time, but WAY less frequently and for MUCH shorter duration.  Also, he continues to follow up with his blessing in his nightly prayers by asking for help "controlling my temperature (temper)." The whole experience has been educational and life shaping. 
• He LOVES to be read to.
• He still loves tv.
• He loves camping and finding bullets.
• His new obsession is painting wood... shields, swords, sticks, planks, you name it!
• He is so tender beneath his TOUGH exterior, and we love him so very much!

House life.....

Superbowl half time show was as stellar as ever! These cute kids practice the first half and never disappoint!

New hair... so I had a hair debacle where I tried to box dye it dark blonde... but it turned kind of coppery. So I went to Sally's and the lady there told me I had to dye it grey to combat the orange... so I did. Then I wore a hat to work because of my circus freak yellow hair.  Then, I went brown.  Tosh said it will be a while before I will be able to go light again.  But, all's well that ends well because it turns out I like being a brunette.

One of the Star Wars we watched as a family.... only 16 hours worth where my kids were the most attentive I've ever seen them!

Larissa came for a quick trip, so we walked the marina, and it was beautiful. Of course it wouldn't be complete without some park time and Costa Vida.

I got eyelash extensions for our conference in Boise, and I LOVED them. But they also drove me crazy and they were expensive, so they were very short lived for me.  :)

Side by Side

We went for an all day ride one Saturday and were shocked at how much snow the mountains still kept bundled up against their skin.  We got stuck (after many attempts to do just that in my opinion) but with a side by side, it seems you can't get too stuck to get out which is a very important feature if you know Brian. We could see Pyramid Lake for much of the day, and it was beautiful. It always surprises me to look out and see such a majestic view and then see what my camera screen captures and notice the giant discrepancy between actual beauty and containing it.  I guess that's a good metaphor for life: we can enjoy the majestic experience, but it is difficult to capture or to convey. Instead, it's best to treasure it in our minds and hearts.