The Updike's

 Lily - AKA - Lily Belle - 6 1/2 Years Old Love this little girl so much!! Loves school. Loves to be social.  Loves friends. Has the biggest sweet tooth (like her mom). Loves to be creative in her dress. (Our Punky Brewster). Loves to be wild and playful. Our biggest night owl.  She will lay in bed for hours before she finally falls asleep. She is our thinker.  Asks very deep questions.  Can't slip anything past her. Loves to swim.  She is a great swimmer. Loves to read "The Magic Tree house" series every night. Great big sister to her brothers and sister. Gets sidetracked easily when interest isn't quite there. Loves to feel big.  We appreciate her helpfulness.  Lily standing next to her first grade teacher - Mrs. Montgomery  (Lining up for first day of school)

Boston - AKA - Boss Man - 4 1/2 Years Old What would we do without this sweet boy? Love him!  Definite Daddy's boy.  (Mom has to beg him for snuggles because he prefers dad). Interested in learning about weapons.  Loves to talk about them. Dare devil swimmer.  Has great swimming skills. Loves to help mom with any kind of cooking. Loves to whine. (Which drives us crazy). Loves preschool. Loves to make friends. Says "Hi" to everyone. Loves chocolate milk. Our best sleeper.   Loves sports. Loves to wrestle. Loves to tease. Cutest smile around.    (Wrestling with Crew)  So excited to start 2nd year of preschool! Ms. Jeannie, his sweet preschool teacher.

 Crew - AKA - Crewster - 2 1/2 years old Sure love him to pieces!! Loves to annoy, I mean, play with Lily and Boston. Loves to be silly. Loves to write (scribble) and color on paper. Mischievous! Loves to get into things he shouldn't. If we jokingly call him the wrong name, he will speak up and say, "No, I Crewster." My favorite thing that he says is: "Mom, you are the best day ever!" (day? Ha!) Never eats his dinner.  Just lives off of oatmeal, yogurt, milk. Asks for chocolate milk all day long.  "Mom, just 1?" He struggles with bedtime. Hard time going to sleep and ends up in our bed in the middle of the night multiple times a week.  (I secretly love it!  Sweet snuggle bug!) Since he is potty trained, he loves to go to the bathroom a million times a day just so he can flush the toilet. (Especially irksome when he wants to constantly go into public restrooms). Obsessed with his BYU hat.  Loves to wear it everywhere. Loves nursery. L...

 Presley - AKA - Pres : 6 Months Old As always, this sweet baby girl is growing up way too fast!!  We sure love her so much!! Loves to be talked to and loves to make sounds. Loves to eat : Currently eating rice cereal with a few vegetables mixed in. (She eats better when dad feeds her). Loves popsicles that her sister and brothers love to share with her. Will no longer take a pacifier.  She loves this little stuffed monkey now.  She snuggles and sucks on it to get to sleep. Loves the bath. Very content baby for the most part.  Still not interested in sitting up.  I try to prop her up and she just arches her back to lay down. Constant back-to-tummy roller now.  Still a battle to give us a belly laugh but will freely give us her beautiful smile. Still wakes up 2 -3 times per night.  (Still working on sleep training).

I seriously loved camping as a kid.  I remember even packing a week in advance for girls camp because I was so excited . . . And now I love how excited my own children get when we talk about going camping.  They LOVE it!!  And that warms my heart.   Although, I must admit, I honestly detest being in charge of all of the preparations that are in involved with camping. It gives me new appreciation for my own parents that packed 7 little kids for camping.  Phew . . . seriously a major chore!  I know that I over pack . . . but you never know what you are going to need.  It is hot in the day and freezing at night.  And what about rain?  And what if they get all muddy?  I am exhausted just thinking about it.  Ha! But all in all, I do still love camping and hope to go every single year with our kiddos.  The kids love the freedom of running around crazy, picking flowers, and shining their flashlights even if it isn't dark...