She's in LOVE...

with CHOCOLATE!!

Madie takes after her Mommy in the loving chocolate area. She's our pickiest eater right now but when it comes to chocolate, there is no saying "no".

Will you be...

MY VALENTINE?? Last year Abby and Brandon got to go to a fun sugar cookie decorating party. They had so much fun and I decided to do it this year. I think all the kids had fun! Mindy and Michelle brought their kiddos over and had a great time.

This was Cailee's valentine's hair. They had their class parties the Friday before, so we did fun heart hair for the day!

New pictures!

So we have this awesome photographer Darcy Case who took these amazing pictures of our kids and I just have to share some of them! They new header picture and the pictures down the side are some of the many pictures.

Why this girl doesn't wrestle

I recently went to wrestling matches at Mesa State when my sister Darcee was in town. She has a friend from high school that wrestles on the team. While there, I came up with a million and one reasons why girls, especially this girl shouldn't and won't ever wrestle.

MY TOP TEN REASONS WHY THIS GIRL DOES NOT WRESTLE:

Reason: #1-OBVIOUS reasons of body anatomy...need I say more
Reason: #2-I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP MY HAIR FOR AS LONG AS I CAN. I do not need help losing it, thank you. Have you seen how they rub each others heads on the mat?!? and I'm not talking where the head gear thing is. I wonder if that's why Rulan Gardner is bald?
Reason: #3-ankles should NOT bend that way...seriously come on. How in the world do they walk after that.
Reason: #4-knees should NOT bend that way...refer to #3
Reason: #5-shoulders, even shoulders with muscle (which mine do not have) should NOT bend completely out of socket to "pin" someone.
Reason: #6-the first time someone tried to grab my leg, I'd be half tempted to kick them (just a natural instinct I guess)
Reason: #7-I would not look so good in the uniform...I will not elaborate.
Reason: #8-The first time I got "taken down" I would not be "gettin' back up"
Reason: #9-I would cry and that would just be embarrassing
Reason: #10-repeat reason's 1-9 a million times and add on "Cauliflower Ear" and you get a million AND one

From the mouths of the babes

Brandon was sitting by me at church on Sunday and after one of the speakers was done said to me, "Mom, it's your turn to go speak, but don't cry."

Cailee for some reason has been what I think is obsessed with "death" and one day she had talked about it A LOT and I said, "Cailee, you are way to obsessed with death."
To which she replied, "That's just how I am Mom."

In further conversations about "death" she said, "...and they passed away. See Mom, I didn't say death."


We like to sing the Taylor Swift song that goes:
She wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts,
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers.

Brandon's Version:
She wears short skirts, I wear bleachers...
To which a YO-MAMA joke came about...yo-mama so big she wears the bleachers to the game.

My sister was visiting over the weekend and slept in on Sunday. We were talking about it at the table and Darcee jokingly said, "Seriously who sleeps in until 11:00?!?"
Abby said, "You do." (such a smart little whip)

The Power of Three

When we were home for Thanksgiving my sister in law took this picture of the three girls that are the same age. Every two years she's gotten a picture of them...in the same order! I just love it!

There's also a saying that there is Power in Numbers...here are all my parents grandkids...

NOW THAT'S POWER!

Christmas 2009 and a blast from the past!

CHRISTMAS EVE BLAST FROM THE PAST!

Wow...it seems like years since we've all gotten together, well, probably because it has been. This year I decided to see who was going to be home around Christmas and have a little breakfast to see each other again. It was great to see some of my friends from High School and see where life has taken them. Each a different story, each a different path. Thanks Mom and Blake for helping out with everything and thanks Mom and Dad for letting me use your house!

Me, Kayla, Alison, Kayla's little sis, Tarrin and Karla

CHRISTMAS DAY!!

WARNING...LOTS OF PICTURES AND I LOVE IT!

We spent Christmas Day this year at my parents house. We had so much fun that when we got back home I realized that I hadn't taken any other pictures except Christmas morning and new years eve at my in-laws. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve surrounded by family, food, singing and lots of kids playing! The best part was having almost all of our family there (we missed my brother and sis-in-law and their kiddos). I have been so fortunate to have grown up with both sets of grandparents living close so we got to have them there too!

Christmas morning was wonderful! We actually ended up waking up the kids and Brandon was not to thrilled about that. Blake got him up and asked him if he wanted to go see what Santa brought him, to which he replied, "No, I don't like Santa. I want to go back to sleep." Thankfully he eventually decided to join in the fun! Madie however decided that sleeping in Mommy's arms was a much better idea. She spent most of the time the kids were opening presents in Grandma Ruth's arms once I passed her off. She wasn't sure what to think of everything once she woke up. Opening presents was fun though for all the kids!

Brandon LOVES cars and trains...here he got a Mack lego set from Santa, which he LOVES!


The girls got Mermaid dolls with sea horses from Santa and they LOVED them...they played with them pretty much the rest of the day!



We got the kids a Wii this year! We have really enjoyed having it and it's been fun to see the kids active since we are stuck inside with ALL THE SNOW.

Here's our sweet Madie sitting in her chair from Grandma and Grandpa Lynn. She LOVES sitting on any chair she can find and thought she was pretty big stuff having her own chair! She also loves to wear things around her neck and when she started doing it with cords, ect. at home we decided it was time to get her some necklaces!

Such a pretty princess!

NEW YEARS EVE!

We spent New Years Eve with Blake's parents. (we split the two weeks of vacation in half and spend half with my side and half with Blakes!) The kids got to open their Christmas presents from Grandma and Grandpa that morning. They were definitely excited to have a 2nd Christmas!

Abby opening her pillowcase!

Cailee with her crown necklace!

Brandon got two track sets that are really neat! Did I mention he LOVES cars and trains!?!

The three older kids were watching/helping Grandpa open a gift!

Madie looks a little surprised to have her picture taken! She got a snoopy blow up chair and the kids all had their turn sitting on it!

We are so blessed to have such wonderful families and are so grateful for our Savior who has provided a way for us to be an Eternal Family. We are so blessed to be able to celebrate His birth and the example He was during his time on the earth. I am so grateful to be able to spend this season and time with my family...they are truly my best friends!

I just had to add video of Madie and her pink horse...she's so cute! By the time we ate breakfast she was rockin' it all on her own!

A night full of Cailee and Christmas fun

It seems as Cailee gets older, we get busier and busier. She started taking Ballet lessons from Amy and had her first recital the same night as her school Christmas program. It was a packed night, but so fun to see her breaking out of her shell and performing! It was so fun to watch her up on stage. We only wish Daddy could have been there to see it all. Due to a snow day with school, he had to be at the school giving a final. I got as much as I could on video while trying to hold Madie. It's a bit crazy since she's one...need I say more!

We barely made it to her school program in time. We were literally running on ice. I am so glad we made it though. It was another wonderful program!

Today I'm grateful...

For the gospel...for my Savior...for eternal families.

From the mouths of the babes

The kids and Blake (and sort of me) were playing swords and Cailee and Blake had them. Cailee had "killed off" everyone except Blake and when he got her she didn't die.
Blake said, "Cailee, you're dead."
Cailee said, "No I'm not, Jesus saved me."
I'm so glad she understands the power of our Savior...just never thought it would come out this way!

Cailee and Brandon had Abby by her arms and she was trying to get loose, but couldn't. So she says, "I've got a good one. Watch this...let go of my arms so I can show you." So they proceed to let go to see what she's "going to do" and she runs away and hides behind the table. That sure was a good one!

Brandon was sitting on the toilet the other day and sang such a lovely song:
"Poop and Pee, Poop and Pee, Here I am, Here I am. How are you today sir, Very well I thank you, Here I am, Here I am."
I've never heard this rendition before...what a boy.

Snow Day!!

Today had to be one of the best snow days EVER!!
We had such a great time today outside with our kids.
It snowed so much last night that even Mesa State was cancelled so Blake got to enjoy the day with us. We got everyone bundled up and headed outside...even Madie. She was so excited to be part of the fun! The kids had a blast getting pulled on the sled and running in the snow. Blake built a little hill for them to sled down and it was perfect...they enjoyed every minute of it. I have to admit it was a ton of fun!! I think I enjoyed the hill just as much as the kids. I took Madie down the little hill a few times on the sled and she just smiled and laughed. It was so much fun! Cailee, Abby and Brandon just couldn't wait till it was their turn. I'm so glad we got a snow day to keep the girls home and have a fun time as a family!

FUN TIMES IN THE SNOW!!

When we were all done outside we came in and had some lunch and watched The Polar Express. I think the kids played so hard outside that it really wore them out. They all sat this way pretty much through most of the movie.

Here is a clip of Madie laughing at Cailee playing with her in the snow!

Cute as a Cupcake...you betcha!

Our little Madie turned one November 17th. My where has the time gone. She is so full of life and I sure love having her in mine! Madie loves to smile and make faces. She is so cute when she folds her arms for the prayer and smiles because we are so proud of her. She is determined NOT to walk and that's alright with me. I'm definately not ready for her to grow up any time soon. She loves to play with everything her brother and sisters play with (which they don't always like) and definately loves for them to play with her and make her laugh. She is definately a Mommy's girl and I LOVE that she still cuddles with me. She does not have any teeth yet but is really interested in the foods we are eating and gums everything to death. She finally said "Mama" for the first time a month or so ago. She thought it was the funniest thing to have us try to get her to say it. She either laughed at us or gave us a big smile...it was worth the wait to get to see and hear all her sweet joy!! Her favorite stuffed animal right now is a giraffe we call "Rafie". It's a baby giraffe with BIG sweet eyes and we often find her playing with her after she wakes up in the morning or after her naps.
Madie weighs 18 lbs and some odd ounces, so she's still not quiet big enough to sit forward facing. She doesn't seem to mind though since she has the girls to entertain her from the back seats. She has finally stopped spitting up so much which is HUGE. She does a little sometimes, but NOTHING like she used to. Madie's hair has really grown over the past few months it seems. She has this one area on top that has a cute curl to it and I just love it. The back seems to have a little curl to it too, but the rest is straight.
For Madie's birthday we celebrated with the Voorhies family!! The kids were so cute with Madie and I think Madie felt very special thanks to Cailee, Abby, Brandon and the Voorhies kiddos! They even dressed her up at one point in the night! She was pretty hesitant with her cake and only ended up eating a tiny bit, but LOVED using the frosting as body paint! By the time she was done it was all over her forehead and tummy...I just love it. We did a cupcake theme...it just seemed so fitting. When I was pregnant two of my great friends threw a cupcake theme baby shower and I just fell in love with the idea of cupcakes and now Madie's thing is that she's cute as a cupcake!! So her cake was a flower made out of cupcakes and I made a giant cupcake for every one else. It was a lot of fun!!

We all LOVE you so much Madie!! Happy 1st Birthday!

More of Madie's fun faces!

Madie is so funny. She has a lot of faces she LOVES to make and this is one of them!

This is her "surprised" look, but she uses it for more than being surprised!

The toothfairy and the dentist

I tell you a tale of a little girl named Cailee. She longed to have a loose tooth due to the fact that a lot of her friends were losing teeth. One day she came to me and said she could wiggle one of her bottom teeth. I didn't see it move much, but a little. I told her it would take a little time for it to be loose enough to fall out. So time went on and one day, this sweet little girl had a toy fall on her and hit her in the mouth. While her daddy was investigating the fall, he discovered something white in her mouth behind her two bottom teeth. Low and behold....a tooth. Her tooth had grown in behind instead of pushing her baby tooth out. So as the story goes, a phone call and a visit to her dentist brought two baby teeth home for the toothfairy. She was brave and the toothfairy rewarded her! She was so happy to have money "of her own"! She was so proud to spend her money when she found "just the right thing".

Pick a pumpkin...

Abby's preschool has a family outing once a month and this month we went to Studt's Pumpkin Patch to pick a pumpkin! I think the kids had fun. It was REALLY windy and that made the dust really fly, but other than that I think they had fun trying to find that perfect pumpkin and trying to pick them up!