Talon at six months

Livy taped a pink pom pom (as if it were a wig) to Talon's Head and put him in this car to go for a little ride. He loved her pretend games. This is the beginning of many forced dress up games I am sure.

My toes are almost as good as my fingers!

Eye-to-Eye


Soul-to-Soul

Talon is six months!

March 29th, 2009

Quick notes on Talon:

Finger Obsession—We actually spent MONTHS putting socks on his hands to prevent him from sucking his fingers as he slept, etc. We did it until about 6 months, at which point he became upset by this small form of torture. J We have come to semi-accept he will suck his fingers.
Dive crawling by 6 months, total crawl before he reaches 7 months—most of kids have crawled “for reals” around 8 months. He is trying to join the party for sure.
Eye-to-eye/soul-to-soul –Talon has always loved to see eye-to-eye, nose-to-nose, soul-to soul. It is a precious moment to gaze so closely into his pure soul. He generally grabs my hair so hard and attempts to eat my face or cheeks and it forces me to “stay close or else”
Chews on toes if he’s on his back…whatever he can reach to his mouth!
Interlocks hands while nursing—Being the skinner that Talon is, he regularly interlocks fingers with mine as I hold his hand while I feed him. It honestly is a heavenly and even sacred moment for me to love and hold him this way.

“Skinner” loves to feel face, others or his own, loves to taste and feel skin in general YEP, often is found making zerberts on one’s arm or skin

Bryson's 4th Birthday

Bryson's Cookie Cake---a race BIKE track
Bryson ate about 4 bites and was done with this monster cookie!

Friends and their fun gifts!

Ready, Set, GO!!!!

Bryson's Bike Party included a super fun loop of jumps, zig zags, bumps, bike wash, balloon arch finish, and fast racers. Bryson was on his bigger bike for hours before the party began as I set things up. It was SO fun to watch him ride and his face and body had battle wounds to prove his fun before the party even began. He invited his buddies Nate, Emilie, Jaycee, Tanner, Avery, and of course Olivia, Ellie and Mason. He insisted on a cookie and not a cake, so we did it! Brenda Hatch and crew made an AWESOME balloon arch for the grand finale of the course and then made bikes and helmets out of balloons for party favors! What a day! Dad came of course and made it even more exciting. We are grateful that although busy, he is able to be here for important moments as this one.

Dear My 4 year old Wonder-

I held you a lot last week as your body ached and raged with fever. I had some moments where I felt like I was blessed to feel of your greatness. There is just something about you that I can’t quite explain….greatness is the only word that comes to mind. I am so blessed to be your mom.

You have a gentleness known to few on this earth. Your genuine interest in helping others and in accomplishing good WORKs is awe-inspiring. I love to have you at my side. You love to help me cook, paint, clean….anything. Thank you!!!

You were so excited to turn 4 this year. You could hardly sleep the night before. You woke right up when Daddy went into your bedroom late. We loved the anticipation.

When you woke up the next morning you felt empowered!!!! You were 4 and watch out world! (Not everyone knows they can feel that wayJ) We got you a bigger bike so that you wouldn’t have to pedal till your legs spun off anymore. You love our family bike rides, but after a few miles you are so tuckered out from having to pedal 10 times faster than the rest of us. We still have your little blue “circus bike”. You rode it to school today, as you can get on and off of it easily by yourself. You took your new ‘Lightning McQueen” back pack and it was so cute!!

You have done so well on this new orange bike! Your first fall left a huge knot on your forehead, but you have gotten better since. You didn’t even hesitate to get back on it. Papa Rudd would be so proud! We got this bike second hand (Craigslist) and after a few part adjustments I think you have mastered getting on a bike when your feet hang more than a foot off the ground when you are on the seat. WOW!!!!

All you really wanted for your birthday was chocolate and candy canes. How could I resist such a request? I went out the night before and got both. You of course starting passing out the candy to your siblings much before you thought of hording it. Although as Mason kept trying to steal your M&Ms you realized if you wanted any you’d have to keep it out of sight.

At family prayer tonight you fell back and said very powerfully, “I’m 4 now, yeah! I can do lots of things!” Yes! You can do anything and I am so happy that you see the things you are accomplishing. I wish you would do this more with school work. You don’t always notice the things you DO know and do.

You love your school at Ms. Janette Weidman’s house—aka Emilie’s house. You usually ride your bike to the walk-through when Kristine calls to let me know she is there. I watch you ride off and she waits for you on the other street. Then I pick you all up from school. It is a great system.

Anyhow, Mr. 4 year old, I love you!!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday BBJ!

Mommy

Markers and Marshall Arts

Well, SOMEONE (the girls) left a blue marker out and another SOMEONE (Bryson) found that marker, took it to his room, hid under the crib with his little brother Mason and began coloring on themselves and then went for the back of the door. This picture was taken to show Daddy so he would be prepared when he got home...not because it was hilarious to see their face paint job :).

You may know me. I am Kung Fu Panda!!! Skidoos! After seeing the movie Kung Fu Panda Mason began to squat (or maybe do a fight stance is a better way to put it) and get ready for action.

Soon Bryson and Mason had all sorts of stances made up to show their fighting skills.

Ragnar Relay --Dessert Runners---

After a busy Thursday, our Friday started out sometime around 4:30 AM as we readied our selves and took Talon over to Aunt Joanna's House. Olivia would be at the Hatches for Erica Sweetnam to pick up for school. Ellie, Bryson, and Mason slept at the Rudd Cousins. It was one of those times we knew that all the effort would be worth the fun in the end, but we were tired. Nonetheless, we made our way over to The Bogles after unsuccessfully tanking Talon up. We hugged Jared and Michelle Cox who were staying home from the race (sadly enough) to be with Monica, Michelle's sister who was in the ICU and ended up passing away that very afternoon at 4:30 PM. Our van consisted of we, The Bentleys, Mitch and Amanda Bogle, Jennifer Hall, and Drew Stewart. There is no way we weren't going to have a memorable and great time.

Our Relay was from Prescott, Arizona to Riverview Park in Mesa, Arizona--A total of 202 + Miles. 12 Runners, 2 vans, lots of sugar and fun!!!

After some shifting, I was runner #1 and started the race off with my easiest leg...and wondered why if it was so easy was I working so hard. Then Mitch ran a hilly run leading up to the most beautiful and difficult leg of the whole relay, Brian's. It was never ending up hill with the most beautiful mountians and views of the race. Brian did awesome. Not sure how he pulled it all off as under trained as he seemed to be.

Brian passed off to Drew Stewart, our last minute fill in, and he ran awesome after hardly training at all. Drew passed to Amanda who was awesome and ready. Then Jennifer ended our first runs with her competitive and hilarious ways! It was such a fun van. We sure missed the Cox's and appreciated that they brought us all together.

The second leg was at night. We were able to shower and even rest a little between the legs, which did not happen last year. It was nice to feel like we had closed our eyes a little. My second leg was tricky as it was on a very bumpy, poorly marked trail. By the end I had been scraped by several bushes, cactus, bob wire fences and sprained both my knee and my ankle. If it weren't for Brian getting a hand held flashlight for me I would have really gottten it! I kept my pace around 8:30/mile when I wasn't crawling under trees and in ravines to find the trail. However, my overall time did not reflect this as many of us runners got lost. It was fun...other than the injuries. Brian was looking forward to his downhill run after his first brutal leg. However, they detoured his leg up and around a mountain. Just a 1/2 mile detour uphill, but it was mentally challenging as he was geared up for an easy leg.

We once again got to rest after this leg. When I woke up to get ready, I couldn't move my leg due to my knee. I wasn't sure I could make it for the 8.7 mile leg I had ahead of me. I knew the first 6.7 was uphill and already was going to be challenge. I said a prayer that I would have strength, both to endure and move forward and to make a wise decision. I woke Brian up when the other van called and told him I'd be running with my cell phone in case I needed to be picked up. That mentality didn't last long. I decided that walk or run, I WOULD FINISH!!! I took some of the ALEVE that Jennifer had and took Brian's advice to start slow. The first few miles I was still not sure how I would end up. Then about mile 3 my knee loosened up, the medicine kicked in and I decided to finish tired. No excuses! It was fun. Even when the skinnly little scantliy clad runner passed me with just a few yards to go (grrr!!!!)

A Heart Full of Love

Valentine's Day this year was a day we shared with our Rudd Cousins-Gabby and Sammy and McKensie, Taylor, Conner, Gracie, and Emmy. Brian and Taya enjoyed much needed time together and Derek and Nicole went to San Francisco for the weekend. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with their kids! What a great gift to have them close and to learn from their helpful ways.

The kids and I made Brian an apron for Valentine's Day---A Heart full of Love---their handprints. We love Brian so much and on the brink of tax season I am especially cherising him for his willingness to:

• talk to me about things I am moved by or worried by, and let me cry over them


• play with the kids in REAL ways and let the small things wait (most of the time I'm glad :))


• work, work, work such crazy hours to provide for us


• hold all of us and play Dr. Bentley when we have any serious need or hurt


• honor his priesthood and use it to bless us and our home and others


• love and desire things that are good and edifying


• serve others willingly, even when volunteered by his wife :)

Family Picture Attempt

One Sunday Morning in JANUARY, we decided to sit by this beautiful Ash Tree in our back yard. It's "Autumn" Leaves were about to fall and we wanted to remember them. We sat on the block wall that Brian built and called over Hal Maughan to snap the picture. It wasn't te best result without another to keep the kids smiliing and completely visable, but it's the only one we got of the whole family to date.

5 CUTE Kids