Brag Post Part2

There are so many things I could share about our loving, sweet, stubborn, handsome, second born. He is so full of life and personality.

Some of our very favorite things about our handsome boy Caleb are-
He puts on a "tough exterior" but really is sweet . He has a very tender heart and tries to cover that up. He really is very sensitive. He still asks me to sing "his song" almost every night. He still lets me hold and cuddle him when no one is around! And he is always saying sweet things to me!

Caleb absolutely loves babies. He always asks to hold and play with someone's baby. He loves Lukas so much and always wants to be involved with taking care of him.
Caleb is also abnormally flexible. He has been since he was a baby. He can do the chinese and girl splits without wincing! (Ouch..I will post pictures soon)
He loves to ride his dirt bike and show off all the amazing skills he has already learned.
He is natural little daredevil. The other day when a friend was over...I heard pitter patters of footsteps on the roof. When I looked outside, he had the tramp pulled over to the roof, had climbed on the roof, and was doing flips off of the roof! (total heart attack)
He loves to ride his bike and be outside as much as possible. He consumes his book reading with books about insects, dinosaurs, trucks, and anything boy!

Caleb is very protective of me. If he sees someone teasing me (even for fun) he is the first to jump in and try to rescue me. He is also very protective of his siblings.
He loves to do what dad is doing, say what dad says (uh-oh) and be where dad is. He shadows Beau as much as he can and loves one on one time with dad.

He is a very confident boy. He can be shy around people he doesn't know, but over all is pretty outgoing.
He has recently informed us that he wants his new nick name to be "Skulls." (and doesn't answer sometimes unless we call him that)

I couldn't imagine another child in Caleb's place. Our family is always laughing at his witty personality. We cherish our sweet "Lumpy" in our family.
Our family is happier , better , and blessed because he is in it!

We love you Lumpster! ( I mean Skulls):))
Our lives wouldn't be complete without you!

Brag Post Part1

Our sweet, kind, loving, first born daughter, has brought so much joy into our home.

She is always looking out for her younger siblings. She is always finding ways to help me out. She is so talented and smart.

I will share just a few examples to help you see what a sweet girl our Savanah is.

Savanah comes in every morning and gets the baby out of bed. Then says "Don't worry mom, just rest." She let's me fall back asleep and takes care of Luke. When she is ready for me to get up instead of saying "Mom the baby is crying...and I am hungry now" she comes in with a large glass of water (every morning) and says "Are you thristy? I was wondering what you are going to make for breakfast? I think Lukas might be hungry. You don't have to get up now, I was just wondering." (ha! Her kind way of saying "feed me and I am done with the baby" while taking care of me)

Savanah just recently got bit by a dog at her "Grandma and Grandpa cows" house. Grandma had told the kids not to play with the dogs, but Grandpa said that it was ok. The dog jumped up to get something in her hand and nipped her. I asked her about it a little later and she whispered "Don't say it loud mom, I don't want Grandma to find out the dog bit me and be mad at Grandpa." (Awwww...so sweet. She is always aware of others feelings like this!)

Savanah is a very smart girl. She loves to learn, read, and play the piano. She is very kind natured. She thinks things through before she acts. She is very sensitive to things of a spiritual nature. She is always reminding us to read our scriptures and say our prayers. She is beautiful! She is a very obedient little girl.

We are so grateful for our sweet sissy.

She makes our lives brighter, our days better, and our family closer in so many ways!

What a blessing she is in our lives!

It's that time again

The kids started school last week on the 20th. (I know, I am so behind...but finally almost caught up on posting) They are both so excited about school. Savanah is grateful school is back in and has always loved school. Caleb has been excited to go all day and get out with Savanah!

Pretty girl

Savanah just barely lost her two top teeth. Right in time for school to start. (Lovely)

Savanah with her 2nd grade teacher

I know Savanah's reply about school would be something like what she said. She said"I love it. Why can't we go to school everyday of the week?"

Caleb w/ his first grade teacher

Caleb is into "this above pose" for pictures lately. I asked him what the peace side means and he said "Ya know mom, it means...I'm cool..duh!"

When I asked if he is loving school he said "Yeah I get three recesses and I have like four girlfriends now. It is so annoying"

It has been nice to be back on a schedule. Set bedtime, set reading time, etc. My house stays clean now too! I was starting to feel like I would never get it back together. But now don't feel so bad realizing that kids being gone all day helps! I miss my kiddos while they are at school, but I am thankful for the time I get w/ Kenny and Luke while they are away!

Kenny starts school next month. She is anxious and excited. We can't wait!

Last Hoorah

(The troops)

We headed out almost two weeks ago, for the last big hoorah of the summer, with our friends the Church's to Zions National Park.
It is sad to admit in the 3 1/2 years we have lived here it was a first time going.
Boy have we missed out!!
This place is super GORG!!


We did a few hikes with kids.
~~1ST HIKE~~

The best part of the hikes are that they were fairly easy. The paths were perfect for the little kids too! It was funny how many sideways glances we received from tourists from other countries. I think they were in "awe" (or quite possibly shock) from how many kids we had!


After the second pool we let the kids play in the water and soak their feet.

After we ate lunch we headed to our next hike

We went as far as you can before the actual "water hike" part. I would love to do that, but with the kids, we figured best to stop. So we found a beautiful quite spot and let the kids play some more in the water!

I loved every minute of the day! We are so blessed to live by such beautiful places. When we were sitting by the water and looking up at the huge mountain ledges, I was so overcome with how lucky we are! What a beautiful land we live in.

(awww...love birds)


Before we left we ,of course, drove through the mountain tunnel and honked the horn the whole time! HA! The kids thought that was great!

We seriously are counting the days when we can go again! We hope to use our year pass often and hit Bryce and a few other National Parks too!

Vacay...Part 4

This was the first day on our vacay that felt like a vacay for me! (besides the reunion) No appointments at all this day! It was nice to relax and take it easy! We played for a good portion of the day here! It was a blast.

(Baby Dylan aka Baby bird)
This lil' rascal is so active and so fun to watch! Can you tell he loved the sand?

Sharla and Jamen

Cute Buster. Always smiling!

Silly sissy...soakin' wet!

We had such a great trip. It ended WAY TO FAST and we didn't get to do as much as we would have liked. But we feel blessed to have gotten as much time as we did to visit. A year is a little too long to wait to go home, we decided, so hopefully we can make it back at least twice this next year!

We miss you all already! Love you!!

Vacay ....Part 3

Beau lives, sleeps, eats, and thinks of nothing else than this trip all year round. We starting planning the meals, etc. after last years for this year. It is his favorite vacation we take. Unfortunately, I didn't get to go with him this year, cause the babe is just still too small for that weather. But hopefully next year.

Beau packed up the gang and headed out Sunday-Wednesday to the White Clouds. He took our two oldest, Savanah and Caleb, his friend Hans and his son Gabe, and Chris and his two oldest kids, Chandler and Gabe. My dad, brother Everett, and his friend Nick met up with them on Monday.

The first day they rode down to Frog Lake. Chris and Beau were the only two who caught a fish, and of course, Beau forgot the camera. He also got a flat tire on his dirt bike, the first day! Bummer. The kids had fun fishing, catching frogs, and playing.

Monday, they hiked into Crater Lake.

Beau said Caleb was like mountain goat. He was the first one down and the first one up. The hike is about 1 mile and 1/2 down hill, but uphill the whole way back.

Everyone caught fish there. Savanah and Caleb both caught their own fish and loved every minute of it.






I think Beau was more excited for everyone else. Listen to him on the movies!


Tuesday they all took it kind-of easy and explored Rail Road Ridge.

Tuesday evening, they all went to the hot springs and enjoyed a soak in the HOT water. the water was extra gren this year and it took some coaxing to get the kids to get in. But once they did, of course, they loved it.

~Other Highlights~
-yummy food/dutch oven
-teaching Caleb how to gut a fish and use a real pole
-having Hans come with Beau and Chris
-Spending time w/ grandpa/Father-in-law
-Beau's special time with both kids

(of course, he didn't take enough pictures of everyone, but I expected that)

I got to spend time with my sisters, mom and two youngest children. I worked most all of Mon-Wed., so I didn't get to see my fam as much as I would have liked. (to check out some sessions, click here. They are not all up yet either!!) Hanna also did a fabulous girls night at her house Tuesday night and that was a lot of fun too!

More to come soon...........

Vacay...Part 2

We had such a blast at our first Recoonion. Can I just tell you that my sister Rebecca seriously did a fabulous job! She really went all out. And we appreciate it so much! She had so much stuff for everyone to do. It really was a great time and we made wonderful memories from it!

~Some of the highlights~

My mom put $40.00 worth of change, shiny glass rocks, and shells in the creek for the kids to dig out. Man, did the kids enjoy it! They played for hours!
So did we!!

and

Loved this so much! I still watch it and giggle! I love that my family is so outgoing, spunky, and not afraid to make each other laugh!!

Another fav...

When I say Becca went all out...I mean she really went all out! She had activities for the kids to do non-stop. From swimming, talent show, bingo, rock painting, treasure hunts, and lots more!
(Yes, that is my son showing his awesome talent of the splits. The kid is flexible)

DIRTBIKIN' AND 4-WHEELIN' FOR THE GUYS

~Also~

Bear Lake on the last day. What a blast! The kids and adults loved it! And it was such a perfect day!

Other fun things
*making up songs around the campfire
*eating delicious meals
*telling "remember when" stories

Thank you so much Rebecca! That was so much fun. I hate that I am next in line to be in charge, cause how do you compete with what you did?

Vacay.... Part1

Finally I have a little extra time to start blogging. I have so much to catch up on...so I am sure I will be posting often. I am excited to have the kids back in school and time to catch up on all your blogs and my own!

This picture was taken at the beginning of our drive. It totally described how I was feeling. "There is sunshine...on a cloudy day.".
Like "YES Finally" our vacation has started!

We started out our vacation by spending the first night in Ogden with my fabulous lil' sister Alison's.

We went and saw my grandparents.

The kids love their great grandparents and had so much fun. My grandma gave Kenny rides the whole time on her new "set of wheels". It was so cute!
It was so nice to be able to visit and talk. We loved every minute of it!

We got to spend the evening with Alison and Brian (her new fiance) and get to know him better. We stayed up late laughing, eating, and chatting. Then the next morning headed out to Soda Springs for our 1st family reunion with my family!