My sweet boys

Austin has always been a good big brother but it seems like in the last few months that he is really stepping up and playing the part of "big brother" well. He is always willing and usually volunteers to get the boys from school each day. They love to have Austie pick them up. Most days without Ty and Kyler even having to ask he offers to carry their backpacks home. Today as I was watching them walk home from the front window I was so touched by Austin's kindness to his brothers. I raced out and snapped a picture as they were coming into the yard. Of course Ty is too quick for me and he hid! :) ...little stinker... Austin always plays with his little brothers so well. The three of them can often be found in the backyard making huge dirty "boy" messes in the sandbox/mudbox. I don't seem to mind that they get dirty up to 5 times a day...cuz they always are out there having such a good time. Austin is always willing to help Kyler get lunch or a snack or a drink...he is Kyler's go-to man. Austin has been extremely patient in teaching Kyler to play the Wii games. Most kids just want to play and be left alone...but he is very encouraging to Kyler. :)

This is the "Here boys, take your bags and go in and get your snack" schpill he says when they are coming to the front door. {hmmm....looks like Kyler already got his!}

...little stinker again....he is too quick...he is laughing behind that backpack though...he thinks he is pretty clever!This must be the victory dance...yeah everyone got home safe! :)
Austin...you are a FANTASTIC big brother...You Rock!!!

This is what Kyler made the other day when he got home from school. He got his money container out and spelled his name...looks like about $4.30...so if you have that laying around then you can spell Kyler's name too! :) Also this sweet little thing got up and bore his testimony yesterday in sacrament meeting. Of course after he saw Austin get up there he needed to go to...another reason Austin is such an incredible brother...he is always an example to them. So Kyler proudly walked up when is was his turn and dragged the step stool over to the podium and he said "My name is Kyler Fullmer if you don't know me. I want to bear my testimony that Jesus is true. God is true. I know that Jesus made this earth for us." Great testimony huh!! :)

Shawn's Birthday Cake

Shawn's birthday was February 1st. This year he celebrated in Indonesia...alone. Poor guy! I hated that he was alone on his birthday. Although the hotel had a cake and card wishing him a happy birthday in his room when he got back from work that day. I knew I wanted to do something different and special for Shawners when he got home. He doesn't really like chocolate or sweets. He doesn't have a favorite cake...so when I found this idea, I knew that this was perfect for him. One of the few sweets Shawn does like is Hershey Nuggets with Almonds...preferably frozen...then he doesn't taste as much of chocolate. So I made him a Hershey's Nuggets with Almonds birthday cake. He loved it!! It took him a couple days to start eating it...he thought it looked to cool to start pullin' off candies. I told him to just go for it!! It's the cake that lasts and lasts....he is still working on it! Happy Birthday Shawners! We love you!!! :)

Pinewood Derby, Campouts, and Rockets Game

checking in his car

making sure his car is just right

here they come almost to the finish line...Ty's is the orangish one with a blue rock on top

Most Rockin' Car

Tyson participated in his first Pinewood Derby last weekend! He had such a great time. We knew ahead of time that Shawn wouldn't be here so Ty and him cut the car out a few weeks ago and Tyson went to town painting it. Shawn got the wheels on and then the rest was up to me! I added the weights and Ty did the rest. He insisted that this was HIS car and he would do the work, which thrilled me!...and he did. On Saturday morning before the derby he decided to add a rock to the top of his car...he said "I want everyone to know that this is my car...if it had a rock on it they will know!" He was right! He raced well and was a great sport. He came home with the award for the most Rockin' Car. He was so super excited about that! We had a really fun night.
Austin had his first Boy Scout Campout as a Deacon. He totally packed himself, made his own tin foil dinner and he did great. He said he was fine the next day when I picked him up. He had a lot of great things to say about camping and can't wait till the next one! :)

**Kailee was invited with about 20 other students to go sing at the Houston Rockets Game on Saturday. We watched and watched to catch her on TV singing the National Anthem. All they ended up showing was when they lined up on the court and then they went to commercial. Bummer...so we didn't get to see her on TV. Oh well...she had a blast. She called me and told me that Yao Ming is a giant cuz she stood by him and that she got to high-5 all the Golden State Warrior players! :)

Wizard of Oz

The Lollipop Guild Munchkin

The Teacher Munchkin

"flowers" on opening night It was actually hershey kisses and lollipops, which was very appropriate for Ty

Little Stinkers went and changed so fast we didn't get pics of opening night in costume. Oh well...Kailee did a different hair style for each performance. She had a lot of fun with it!

backstage in the black box with dad...
We went to see them at intermission on their last performance and make sure they were holding up ok. They had an 11:30am call on Saturday and they had to stay all day with a quick break for dinner...they didn't get home till 11:00pm

I know I am way late in posting these...sorry to those of you that have asked to see these! {Let me break away for a minute to give you my sob story...Shawn left town, actually the country, the day after the Oz craziness and it has been non-stop since. I have been major taxi mom the last 10 days. Seems like the kids have needed to be everywhere! Also poor little Kyler came down with Tonsillitis this last weekend and was down for 4 days.} Ok sobbing over! Thanks to everyone who came...the kids were so thrilled that there were friends in the audience!! :) They had such a great time...Tyson has been bitten by the acting bug too. He can't wait till he can act again...it is definitely right up his ally!

What does a Geologist do?...

In case you were wondering what a Geologist does...he holds maps! (good job babe)

...he holds more maps...and looks at the camera, too cool to smile.

...he points to stuff written on a paper...and they seem to be paying attention! {I don't think he has ever gotten that kind of feedback at our house!}

...he points at it more seriously

...and finally, this is the face and hand gesture that says "Look, let me tell you about this rock!" {truth be told I don't know what came after 'Look', I just know after 14 1/2 yrs of marriage...Look, was the first word out of his mouth! How? Because of his face and hand gesture!} :)
**I know I am giving Shawners a hard time...he knows why! He earned this one fair and square last night!
Love you babe!!!

Enchanted Rock

Getting ready to leave!
Shawn took the boys camping over Christmas break. They went to Enchanted Rock. It's west of Austin. They loved it! They had such a good time and Shawn loved that all his boys are old enough to go camping and enjoy it! The pictures are so pretty. They had great weather just cold at night! I have to say that I hope this turns into a yearly event...I got the whole house to myself for 3 days while they were gone (Kailee was in Seattle) it was heaven!!! :) :)

Ready for bed the first night
They didn't get to have a campfire...they found out when they got there that there was a burn ban. Bummer...they were pretty bummed about it!!

Being silly on the way up!

Posing for a picture with the "mountain" behind them that they climbed to the top of! ("mountain"...because there are no mountains in Texas!)

Peek-a-Boo

These rocks were huge and Austin was very nervous that they were going to go tumbling any minute...he was a little nervous to even touch them at first for fear he would push them off the "mountain" :)

A little break on the way up...this was a pretty steep climb.

On their way up...almost to the top!

Always willing to pose in Optimus Prime mode!!

Starting up the "mountain"

Hanging out by some granite

Squeezing through!

The boys were sooo tired the 2nd night there...all that hiking wore them out! It was pretty cold too...but the tent heater kept them warm and they all slept good! Shawn and Austin were playing a game and looked over when they heard Kyler make some noise...they saw him pick his nose and eat it! (I know...yuck!!) Then next morning Kyler told Shawn about a dream he had..."I had a dream that last night I ate a hamburger and it came out of my nose...but it was so good!!" :)

One last hike before heading home!!