Collin Rhodes

Collin is a great kid! He is exactly like me, but he's a boy (which, if you knew/know me, is just a technicality- I was/am a total tomboy). He's athletic, intelligent, and just a tad bit stubborn. Now that I have Collin, I can totally empathize with my dad- it's really hard raising a mini-version of yourself!!

He loves swimming, and is "one of the guys" with the lifeguards. It's fun watching him and the lifeguards doing tricks off the diving boards at the pool- they treat him like he's just as old as they are. Collin is a great big brother, and is often my "right hand man" while John's at work or at school. I love my BugEBoo!!

Cameron Casey

This is my Cammy! I LOVE this picture from his birthday this year. Every year, I let the kids pick what type of cake they want and what toppings they want on it. Cammy always picks chocolate frosting with M&Ms, and he enjoys it thoroughly =) Cam doesn't like people singing "Happy Birthday" to him or for people to watch him blow out his candles, so we try to be sneaky!

He's a pretty mellow fellow-takes after his dad. And, he gives the best hugs ever! I love snuggling with him in the evening and reading stories to him. I love my Cammy!

Caitlyn

This picture says it all! Caitlyn is our little firecracker!!!! Oh. my. Gosh- she's a nut! She thinks she is one of the big kids, and is constantly trying to keep up with her older brothers. So far, she has chipped her front tooth and fractured her tibia while trying to keep up with the boys. She chipped her tooth in a skateboarding accident, and her tibial fracture resulted from a trampoline accident (she hyperextended it while jumping with Collin and Cameron-oops!) We have since stopped allowing her to jump on the trampoline with them =) She is such a great big sister to Caleigh- she loves giving her kisses! She can be a sweetheart when she want to, but can also be such a little stinker. My boys are pretty quiet and reserved, but Caitlyn is LOUD and WILD!!!! She's so fun! I love my Catie Sue!

Caleigh Elise

Caleigh is our baby girl. She is 3 months old, and such a joy in our lives! She was my smallest baby- she weighed 7.13 (or 15...I don't quite remember), and she is taking her time gaining weight. She's so sweetnatured. She started smiling and cooing at me when I hold her. I missed all those baby gummy smiles! Caitlyn and I painted her toenails a couple days ago- it was so much fun! I was never much of a "girly-girl", but now that I have my two girls, I am learning to be one =)

If I could, I would sit and hold her all day, every day. Whenever I feel stressed out or am having a hard day with the other kids, all I have to do is sit and hold her for a few minutes and all my troubles melt away. I love my little Caleigh Bug!

Operational Changes

To: All Current and Future Members of the Bryant Household
From: Mommy
Re: Changes in Operating Procedures

To Whom it may Concern:

Please be advised of several changes to our standard operating procedures that are effective immediately.

First, all family members old enough to play with toys, cut paper, color, or an any way demark, mess up, or otherwise deface familiar property are now responsible for the immediate remediation of such defacement, mess making, and toy/ cut paper throwing. This is a revision of the current procedure 2.1b which states "mommy is the only one who may clean messes". Apparently, this procedure was voted into place after mommy's last visit to the hospital upon the arrival of Caleigh. As I was not present when this procedure was instated, I am rescinding it and demanding it stricken from the familial record.

Second, all family members possessing the ability to speak must do so. Failure to speak in tones pleasing to mommy's ears (ie whining, yelling, and/or screaming) will result in an immediate dismissal from mommy's presence. Please be advised this is for your own safety as I have very little patience for such nonsense, and nothing unlocks my inner psychopath quite like the sound of whiny and/or loud and obnoxious children.

Finally, arguing with mommy regarding clothing choices, hair styles, and personal hygiene issues will no longer be tolerated. You may not wear the same socks, underwear, dirty shirt, and/or pants you wore yesterday. While I am aware you did not pee on the aforementioned clothing items, and I am very proud of you for staying dry last night, the fact remains they are still dirty. This simple fact necessitates a thorough washing and drying of said clothing items before you will be allowed to wear them again. In addition, your hair must be combed every day before school. I am not aware of any case studies linking parental hair styling with death or serious illness. In the event such research is discovered, I will immediately revise this procedural change. Daily bathing is imperative. Proper bathing procedure includes a thorough washing of one's hair with shampoo. Failure to include shampoo in the hair washing procedure will result in an immediate return to the bathing apparatus and mommy's assistance in carrying out proper hair washing procedure. One of these days you will thank me that you are not the smelly kid at school, but for now it will be in your best interest to simply comply with my requests.

Thank you for your time and attention to these changes. Any questions or concerns can be addressed during normal business hours.

Best Regards,
Mommy

Thinking out loud =)

Not much is going on lately. John's Aunt Edres and his uncle (Farmer Barney) are in town from Pima for the weekend. It is great to see them! They are so fun =)

The kids are enjoying school. The first 6 weeks is over, so we get report cards on Wednesday. The school has all their information online, so I already know they are both doing well, but it will be nice to see it on paper.

Caitlyn and Caleigh are fun to have at home. We have playgroup on Wednesdays. It's an adjustment only having one class, but I'm trying to enjoy it and live in the moment.

John is almost done, and I'm getting antsy. I'm filling out applications for him all over the place (otherwise known as DFW Metroplex and Arizona). I'm pretty sure we'll move closer to the metroplex for a year or two. Life's pretty much one big question mark right now. I've applied for a couple of positions in AZ. I have John's applications in for several positions in Arizona as well. I have applications in at several districts in the Metroplex and John also has applications in with several companies in the Metroplex. I guess the ideal situation would be him finding something else SOON and me going back to work next year. Caitlyn starts Pre-K next year, so we will only have one child in full time daycare. We will not be rich any time soon, and we have a TON of credit card debt, but I think we will be able to get out of credit card/ vehicle debt in 2 years and have a nice down payment for a house saved in another year or two after that. I keep crunching the numbers using a debt repayment calculator. It's fun to plan and set goals about paying off our debt =) Ideally we would have finished school, purchased a house and THEN had 4 kids, but I've always been one to do things my own way. I guess it has worked out ok because we did not get caught up in the subprime/exotic mortgage mess and the housing bubble in AZ will have long since burst by the time we are ready to purchase our own home.

On a lighter note, I love Tina Fey's Sarah Palin character!! Check her out here and here! Also, if you are Mormon or grew up around Mormons you have to check out TAMN. She's a satirical character and the author totally hits the nail on the head with her. Everyone knows a goody two shoes Mormon girl like TAMN.