Stan is back, which means I'm not sitting around wondering what to do at night, which translates to....no updates on the site....sorry folks, its been awhile.  Stan made it home a couple of days before Halloween and has a month of vacation before starting his next rotation.  Oh the joys of having a live-in spouse again!!!!

I have lots of pictures, so I'll limit myself to just a few words.

Wolf Lodge Nov. 7-11

We had such beautiful weather so we were out playing most of the time, taking advantage of some remarkably warm fall/winterish weather.

Logan after a trip while walking

This is how we roll these days

I am so blessed to be a mother to these 3 boys!!!  Playing outside with them is fun, but grocery shopping...not so fun!

Stan experimenting with the camera

One day we will figure out how to get active toddlers to smile for the camera, it just hasn't happened yet.  On the other hand getting them to smile while eating is quite easy, especially if you enjoy a spaghetti dinner the way Logan does.

We went to the Dinosaur Park in Ogden, UT

They have done a great job creating the dinosaurs and making them seem so lifelike...Garrett loved them, Logan was slightly apprehensive, and Eli slept the afternoon away in the stroller.

Giving the triceratops kisses

Garrett is super in to Dinosaurs right now...every morning he wakes up and tries to recreate a scene from the classic movie Land Before Time.

Here is our recent attempt at getting a good picture of all of the children...seems like a joke these days.  I can hardly get Garrett to sit still for a picture and he's supposed to be the easier one!

Here are the best ones that we were able to come up with

Below is the one picture that Garrett actually had a "real" smile for us

I've even tried bribing Garrett at this point, but smiling for a picture is not what he has in mind...oh well, one day (fingers crossed)

Eli Sitings

Staring at aka playing with his friend, Samuel, who is about 6 weeks older than him

Chilling with dad

We've been doing what we do best...enjoying time together as a family!  Things are great!

I have really enjoyed being able to see friends since we've been back in Utah...especially Mindy and her family.  We had a sleepover, between the two of us we had 5 kids ages 3 and under, it was quite the adventure.  I'd like to think that we wore them out, but...I'm sure they won!

The "big kids" in the back of the van on our way to Tracy Aviary

Logan and Molly exploring

Temple Square

The kids on the ride home

We had fun getting out and enjoying what appears to be our final fall days. We stayed up way too late talking about nothing in particular and just had a great time.  Thanks for coming down Mindy!!!

Breast Cancer Walk

My grammy, mom, brother Tim, myself and the boys did the 5 mile walk for breast cancer one cold, rainy Saturday morning.  Tim carried Eli in the front pack and the boys were pushed in the stroller.  They did pretty well considering they were strapped in for 1 1/2 hours!!!

Before the Walk

1 1/2 hours later

Grammy did finish the walk, she was just taking pictures with me.

Stan leaves San Antonio tomorrow and heads up to an interview in Columbus and then will be home early next week!!!!

I SAW STAN!

I managed to sneak away for a weekend and go to San Antonio to see Stanley.  It was very last minute and very much a neccessity (in my opinion).  I had our mother's help with the older boys, each had one, and I took Eli with me.

I have never actually seen Stan in uniform, so I had to take a picture (which he hated, but he knows he must comply).

We went to Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Eli enjoyed his time and loved seeing his daddy

Recovering from a LONG day

We spent some time with Stan's cousin Brian, his wife Sunni and their kids Tyla, Cade and Chelsea

Stan reading to the girls

Chelsea (the little one) loved Stan and would not leave him...if we asked if she wanted to play with the toys or if I tried to hold her or look at her she would cry.

Everything is bigger in Texas, check out this baby buggy and pacifier

The Alamo

The Riverwalk

It was such a great thing to go and visit Stan and spend some time with him...very rejuvinating for me!!!  Only about 12 more days to go until he is here.

Just Getting By

Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus!!! 

The circus came to town and we paid them a visit.  I dropped Logan off with my brother (thanks Jason) so we could actually enjoy the show.  Logan is at the age where sitting still is not an option.  Garrett was SOOO excited to see all of the animals and LOVED the circus.  He was such a good and happy boy! 

We saw tigers and elephants and lots of clowns!

Nanna and Ashley also joined us for the adventures...as did Eli 

Here's the gang after the entertaining show

Eli's Smiling...Somewhat...It's been difficult catching him on camera as they've been few and far between thus far...but here is the best that I have come up with thus far.

 

One of the greatest things about being back here in Utah has been hooking up with all of my friends that I haven't been able to hang out with in awhile.  It's been fun to get my kids together with their kids and just play.

Mindy and I (plus the nursing children) were able to have a girls night out.  We went to a local band concert (Colors), had a sleepover and just enjoyed the opportunity to chat.

Thanks Mindy for coming to hang out with me...I LOVED it!!!

More fun with the Bennetts at the park...although only Logan is pictured we were all there!

The boys and I are having fun...Stan has left Michigan (is on the plane as I type) and is heading to San Antonio for the next month.  He has thoroughly enjoyed his time in both Tulsa and Grand Rapids and has enjoyed seeing the Yeates and the Huffakers.  We are grateful for their friendship and hospitalitiy.  Good friends sure make life easier!!! 

I saw this on a site today and thought I'd  give it a try.  What do you think?  Is it accurate?

Happy Birthday Garrett

We have a 3 year old...its kind of crazy.  Garrett has been so funny...all day he said, "I am the birthday guy."  It was really cute.

We had a couple of kids from the ward, Garrett's cousins, and Macie and Mavani all the way from Kansas City.  They didn't come specifically for his birthday, just happenned to be here, but it was SOOO fun to see them.

Playing with Play Dough

Food

Presents

Cake

We had a fun day, lots of presents, and lots of tired kids!  We were so happy to have friends come and help celebrate with us.

New Pics of Eli

Eli likes to sleep with his hands folded below his chin or on his chest...it's pretty cute.

We can't kick the baby acne, but think he's pretty cute none-the-less.  He is sleeping pretty well and seems to be a pretty mellow fellow.

Random Photographs

Garrett asleep on the floor at 3 a.m.

apparently he was too tired to put his underwear on or make it back to his room

With the Cristus at Temple Square

Red Butte Gardens

Things are going well here at home.  Stan is finishing up in Tulsa and will then head over to Grand Rapids, MI on Sunday.

Summer is coming to a close and I am not looking forward to the end of our nice weather.  Hopefully fall will be lengthy and we can continue to enjoy the out-of-doors a little while longer.

I took these pictures right before we went to the airport to drop Stan off. 

It will be crazy to see the differences in the boys, especially Eli, the next time Stan is home!

He's done it again!  Stan had to leave us again for another 2 months...we are not looking forward to life w/out him, but we managed to enjoy our time with him while he was here.  Stan took boards Aug. 27 and after that we took off to Wolf Creek and spent a couple of days playing together as a family before he had to leave for Tulsa, OK! 

We rented some 4-wheelers (hands down one of Garrett's favorite things to do right now) for about 5 hours one day.

Even Eli had his first experience riding...He rode in the front pack (besides lunch time, he slept the entire time) and Garrett sat in front of me.  Logan rode attached at the belt loops to Stan.  Nothing better than family fun!

Lunch Time

We took our little grill up and BBQ'd while Eli ate...nothing says entertainment like FOOD.

Eli also joined us for lunch time (after 3 weeks, he is FINALLY starting to wake up)

After lunch, Garrett just had to ride the red 4-wheeler with dad...

...and Logan had to ride by himself

 

Logan enjoyed the 4-wheelers...

...so much that he fell asleep, but not before doing some exciting riding with dad (let's just say its a good thing he was strapped in)

We had a fun day and were all extremely tired after a morning spent playing hard.  Wolf Creek was an enjoyable way to spend some precious moments together right before Stan left.  Before he left though, he was able to get away from the books long enough to join us on some other activities. 

A Bees Game

 

 

Pineview Reservoir

Logan chillin' on the floor

The boys have really been excited to have Eli here...we can't keep them away from him!!!

Things are well...

Please Allow Me To Introduce

Eli Stanley Kimball

Eli joined our family Thursday, Aug. 9 @ 1:33 p.m.  Not to be outdone by his brother's Eli tipped the scale at 9'2 and was 21" long.  We were convinced that by scheduling an induction we could avoid having such a large massed child, but it didn't seem to work out that way.  We love him dearly and have been more than willing to pinch (kindly) his chubby cheeks!

Here are a few pictures of Stan in action (from my vantage point).  The doctor supervised while Stan delivered Eli.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a cool experience for us to have Stan participate in that capacity...a guess we can now start (after 3 years) the "pros/perks" list of benefits to being a medical student

And now w/out further interuption from me...enjoy some (a lot) of pictures of our new little man.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obviously, the birth of this baby was much different for Stan and I because this time we are living near family and actually had more than a handful of visitors while in the hospital. 

And then came the visitors...

The coolest experience was introducing the boys to their new brother.  They have been so excited and welcoming (thus far) of their new brother.  It has been quite precious to witness.

Garrett being a "big boy" and holding Eli all by himself

Logan has surprised me the most with his show of affection towards his new brother

The best family photos we could come up with

More of the new kid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going Home!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are a happy family!  We are doing very well...all are healthy and we excited to have Baby Eli here and are waiting for him to "wake up" and join us.  He is still quite sleepy, but he's precious to us already!  Thank you for all the well wishes.

HE'S BACK

Stan/Daddy is back and we've been spoiled!  We are SOO happy to have him with us so we've been trying to take advantage of having him around as much as possible. 

The boys and I prepared for Stan's arrival...we shopped for balloons, cleaned the house, and made posters and signs before heading off to the airport to pick him up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dad and The Boys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am in love with having Stan home and the boys love having their daddy

We FINALLY had some significant rain here in Utah and apparantly the parking lot for our apartments doesn't drain too well.  As we were watching the storm, Garrett noticed that a nice puddle was forming.  He begged and pleaded to go and play in the puddle so we stripped him down to a swimsuit and let him have at it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 When we came back inside from playing in the puddle Garrett exclaimed...that was so fun mommy!  Cute enough to make me want to make a puddle for him to play in everyday!

Garrett and Logan playing at the park

 My cousin Becky came in to town for a visit, so we spent a lot of time this past weekend visiting with her and my family.  On Saturday we BBQ'd in the mountains and hiked up to Timpanogos Cave...it was a rough hike (I was hoping to induce labor).  The hike from the bottom to the cave is 1 1/2 miles and you gain 1100 ft. in the process...for an old pregnant lady it kicked my butt, but we had fun.

Always a joy when there is water

 

 

 

While we were eating we had a little "friend" come to visit us.  Garrett thought it was pretty fun to feed him and watch him scamper back up the trees with the food.

 Poppa and Logan have become good friends 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The boys did really well on the hike, unfortunately Garrett has been sick so he didn't enjoy it to the fullest.  Logan though...he enjoyed the ride and the scenery from the backpack.

Action Shot

Here's the crew on one of our many "breaks"

The Girls

(Some of) The Boys

Inside the Cave

Monday we went to a waterpark and spent the day playing in the water and eating junk!

Garrett and Stan coming down the slide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's official, we've got a waterslide junkie...Garrett loved it!

The men had to attempt the "big" slides (they don't let pregnant women ride the slides, otherwise I may have tried to convince this baby to come join us, by trying it out also)

Pops

Stan

Dad

What Brave Men!!!

The majority of the clan

Pops and Grammy with Jayke

These will be the final photo captured with me as a large pregnant lady, here I am catching waves with the boys at the edge of the wave pool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logan enjoying the waves 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once again, a large pregnant lady!

Enjoying the Tube

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Becky...she's pretty cool!  Garrett even cried that he "forgot" to give her a hug goodbye so we had to flag down the other car on the side of the road to make sure he was able to say goodbye.

We've had fun, we are glad Stan is home...and now we are off to have a baby!  Love you all