Schaddenfreude Jr.

Usually we can never get our oldest kids to smile like this for the camera - never. But lo and behold, there is a new trick:

1. Go out to Salem Lake on bikes.
2. Find the abandoned ropes course you never knew was there despite going to Salem Lake on a pretty regular basis.
3. Let kids climb on rickety stairs associated with said abandoned ropes course.
4. This includes Jay.
5. Watch kids laugh and smile once Jay falls backwards off the steps into a pile of leaves.
6. Feel guilty, but take picture quickly.

Precious Cargo

B lost his third tooth this morning, whilst camping. After returning home, all of us were on the verge of collapse, but knew that we had to find the tooth fairy pillow. After searching in vain for a few minutes, we gave up hope for finding said pillow this evening. However, Barritt quickly improvised a backup method of delivering the tooth to the Tooth Fairy (see below; and yes, that is his tooth in the treasure chest). His tableau is so good, one wonders if he intentionally lost the pillow. In any event, B has honestly indicated to us that he hopes the Tooth-Guarding Ninjas will come alive later tonight to meet the Tooth Fairy - not to scare her, just to make friends.

While you are here, enjoy the other pics of A&B at Stone Mountain Falls (earlier today), and Jay at the Moose Cafe (last week). It's going to be a while before he goes toe to toe with that moose.

Jay, Dining Room, September

Jay is seemingly everywhere at once these days, except when you are trying to find him. If he is not escaping out the front door, he is sitting on the side of the toilet "washing his feet", or attacking a brother's legos, or attacking a sister's painting or "helping" to take the painting tape down. Here are signs of his mischief from a one week period, in just one room of the house. OK, the first picture isn't mischief; it is a gesture that states the obvious: I'm a third kid, I do what I want until it inconveniences one of the other four of you.