Matty missing his front tooth ... love it!

Jakey had a hard time putting this book down...He's really enjoying
the Percy Jackson series.

Quad riding in the sand dunes is fun.

We always have to buy new sunglasses from
the peddlers on the beach.

Best idea Scott had was to bring bikes.
It made getting around a lot quicker and easier.
Sammy loved being pegged by everyone.

Update on Elder Romney...

Greg has been gone for 3 1/2 months already! The highlight of my week is receiving our Monday e-mails. I have to set the timer for 15 minutes to force myself to do something other than check my computer! It seems I can't focus very well, until I hear from my boy!

Greg loves Costa Rica. He's been humbled, obedient, faithful, and has lost 12 pounds due to his picky eating! He's having a hard time learning to eat things like cow stomach.

He says he can't believe how spoiled we Americans are. It's true.

His only request has been for us to send lots of candy! He finally received his care package this week. It took way too long to reach him...five weeks!

We miss this boy, but we are absolutely loving having a missionary out serving the Lord. He's such an example to our family.

Today Johnny and Scott got the siding up on one side of the house.

The small window up top is my mom's bathroom. The two windows below are in the family room.

It's coming along, slowly but surely. (I wish it were faster and surely.)

I love when the boys work side-by-side with their dad.
John was a big help. Thanks, Johnny!

SAMMY

My baby turns five this year! Five! That just can't be.
That's just crazy.

I love being home with just him, and he loves it, too.
We read stories together, just us.
We take naps together.
He plays in whatever room I'm in... content to be home with just me.
On the days that he doesn't have school,
we call it "a stay-home-with-momma day!"
(and he gets the cookie dough beaters all to himself!!!)

I thought that by the end of seven children, I would be
ready for them all to be gone off to school.
I'm not.

Gosh, I love this little boy. So, so happy I decided to
go for another one at the "older" age of 43!

Christmas 2009

Said by Sammy today...

"I don't 'yike' Mikey anymore, because he's taking a 'yong' time to come home!" (He pronounces his l's with y's.)

Someone is missing their oldest brother!:(

The "King" has been served.
(I think he loves his time as an only child.)