Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Memories in the making (from my phone)

Lots to report! As always. Life is busy. And it keeps getting away from me. I seriously can't keep up! Ill let the pictures from my phone, tell the story in this post.
Avery is standing. She stands on everything. She thinks she's so big. She tries to stand on her own without holding on to anything in the middle of the floor, but doesn't quite have that yet. Sadly, soon enough she will. She's growing up so fast, i wish she would slow down. She also can say quite a few words. She says peek a boo, thank you, dada, mama, bye bye and uh-oh. She reminds me so much of Taylor as a baby. Taylor talked way early and was singing entire primary songs by the time she was 18 months. Taylor started talking and hasn't stopped since. She is our chatter box. I love it.
One last hoo-rah! Our Disneyland passes expired in February. We couldn't resist sneaking in one more trip before they did.
Me and Talan having some one on one time waiting in line for the new Cars ride. A favorite for sure.
Avery's first time meeting one of the Princesses
A whole day at Disneyland is a little much for these two. Why do kids have to grow up so fast? I think Easton and Avery are at two of my favorite ages right now. 
While folding laundry the other day I found Avery on the other side of my bed trying to pull her blankets down. I seriously can't get enough of her.

Taylor and Chase continue to love school. They both have great teachers this year. Not sure if this love of school will last, but I'm grateful for it right now.

Taylor tested into the ELP program at her school. It's an accelerated program they do once a week at her school. Several of her good friends were already in it. She is really loving it.

Some of Chases work I thought that was worth saving. Chase gets a 100% on almost every spelling test. He is so focused and motivated. I hope that never changes.
I love this picture.

The boys have all started Tball and baseball again. Even Easton. I love going to their games. Easton shakes his stuff in the outfield. It's hilarious.

Talan's preschool had a field trip last month. We did a small hike up a desert near by here. I learned so much. Like there's a bush here that when you rub it it smells like rain. I seriously want one in my backyard.

Taylors school does a wax museum in 4th grade. Students pick a famous person from Arizona. Taylor of course picked the olympian gymnast Kerri strat.

Avery's favorite pastime recently is bath time and when we take her out for a run. She is giddy as can be in the water and the stroller. Such a happy baby.
I love watching these two together. I always wanted a older brother. SO glad Avery has one!

My running buddies

Talan loves bath time too!
And cuddling. He is the best when it comes to giving hugs and cuddles.
Took these 3 shopping the other day. Don't think ill do that again anytime soon. But they were pretty cute when they begged me to buy them each a fedora. I think maybe we watch the Disney channel too much??!
Taylor taking Avery for a spin. Seriously can't beat Arizona in the winter and spring time.
Easter Sunday

Chases track and field day. Me and Avery snuck over and watched the kids for a bit.
Late night movie with these two of my very favorite people during spring break.
The boys patiently waiting to go swimming over spring break. They were pretty excited. I love how they already have their goggles on. First swim of the season!
Avery loved it too. it was her Second time swimming. She's definitely a fan.
Chase played basketball with a few friends for the first time this year. He loves sports. Anything that has anything to do with a ball he is game!

Another successful gymnastic meet for Taylor. Last one of the season.
Easton and giraffey outside enjoying the awesome weather we have been having lately.

School spirit day. Go Explorers!

Game time! Headbandz is always a favorite around here. Even Avery got in on the fun the other day.
Talans school had a reptile man come and share some of his pets. For anyone who knows me well, being in the room with this guy and his friends was a big deal! Talan and Easton had no fear what so ever. Look at the size of that snake! Are you kidding me?? Blah
We spend a couple days at the Arizona Youth Museum recently. We love this place. The kids are all about the crafts. Especially Talan he loves to create.
We spend almost every other day at the park. Got to enjoy these cool days while we can. Avery loves to just be able to roam.
And she really loves this little car. Just like each of her brothers did too.
That's all for now. Peace out!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

9 months

Avery is now 9 months old. Almost 9 and a half months to be exact. Its gone by so much faster than any of my other kids. i feel like i blinked and this year just went by.
At 9 months, Avery has her two bottom teeth that she just got last month. She pulls herself up to stand on everything. She loves to climb the stairs and tries to climb on stools and any thing within her reach. She says dada and bye bye. And just recently she has sometimes started to wave goodbye on command. She loves to look at books and will sit and listen to you read her books as long as you will read them to her. She is so petite for her age, which is crazy since she was almost 9 and a half pounds was she was born. Regardless of her petiteness though, she is strong. She is already trying to stand up without holding onto anything in the middle of the floor. Her tongue hangs out of her mouth 90% of the time and when it's not hanging out its probably because she's sucking on her thumb. She also sucks on her tongue when she is sleeping. She is the happiest baby and the sweetest. She is very animated and makes some of the best faces you will ever see. Her duck face is my all time favorite. She absolutely loves to spend time with her brothers and Taylor. If they are out in the backyard she will crawl to the back door and scream at them until they pay attention to her. She is starting to let me rock her to sleep at night and I am loving it.
She melts my heart. I love having this little girlie in our home.

Avery's Duck face
 I love this face

Happy 9 months baby doll!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

double digits

Our Taylor is 10! I can hardly believe it. 10 years ago this girl brought us more than joy then she will ever know and she continues to be such a blessing to us. She was born after 3 hours of pushing and about 14 hours of labor. We went into the hospital around 8:30 pm on March 1st because I was having contradictions that were a few minutes a part. I got my epidural about two hours after we arrived there and around 5:30 that morning I was ready to push. After 3 hours of pushing my doctor came in the room and informed me that she didn't think she was going to come and I would need a c-section. I cried, made sure the baby was OK, and asked for a second opinion. Another doctor came in and said "oh ya we can get her out" and they used some forceps to help her along the way. Around 9:42 that morning, on her exact due date, she was finally here and holding her in my arms was the best feeling I had ever felt to that date. She made me a mom and I loved her in ways that I had never imagined and I still do.
11 days old
 6 weeks old
6 months old

Two years old

Five years old

Taylor is such a great helper and so easy to love. She makes friends where ever we go and we tease her that she has a fan club of boys who like her at her school and in the neighborhood. They door bell ditch us almost ever single day. I'm pretty sure she loves the attention. Taylor loves to sing and write songs, and do tricks on the tramp. She loves to go shopping and to put outfits together. She has always loved playing dress up. She loves ham and cheese melts in tortillas, and spending time with her friends. She is our social butterfly, always has been. Her favorite colors are teal and yellow, she embarrasses easy, and continues to be very passionate about gymnastics. She is loving and kind and very sensitive. She has a tender heart. She is a little mother and loves babies and little kids. She sets the perfect tone in our family. There is no doubt in my mind her being send to our family first was not a accident. We love you our Buggy Wuggy. Happy 10th birthday! You make us so proud. Now stop growing up so fast!
Opening presents from Mom and Dad and her brothers
It was a friend party this year. She wanted a spa party theme. We had 15 girls running around here for 3 hours. We did pedicures, and facials, ate cake and ice cream, jumped on the tramp and watched a movie. I'm tired just thinking about it! It was a very fun party. Taylor was beaming the entire time. Mission accomplished. 





Me and my girl. Love you Tay! Happiest 10th Birthday to you!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

This morning

This morning while I was getting ready Easton was playing with my phone and taking pictures of Avery who was at my feet. I am constantly finding pictures just like this on my phone. I love this stage of life so much. I know even though its crazy and busy and I get stressed out sometimes, one day these kids will be grown and I am really going to miss it. I attended "time out for women" about a year and a half ago and Hilary Weeks was one of the speakers. One of the things she said was "I will know my children for an eternity as adults but only for this small amount of time as children." I love that. Puts things into perspective. At least it does for me.
Easton and Avery at the park a couple of days ago. Love these warm Arizona winter days.
She's on the move! Avery is now officially crawling as of a couple of days ago.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

35

Cort turned 35 today. Hey Cort, when did we get so old??? We did a little family party here at the house for him on the big day and then I made us all a fancy dinner that night when we got home from church. The kids were so excited to celebrate and have him open his presents. I would say the day was a success. Hopefully Cort felt super special cause he totally is!
The birthday boy

Taylor and her dad with his birthday present she made him at school

Easton has always been a daddy's boy. They have a very special connection. He loves his dad.

We all love this guy so much!

35 things I love about Cort
1. He is always willing to help. Doesn't matter if it is setting up chairs at the church last minute, or a stranger with a flat tire on the street when he has somewhere to go, he will stop and lend a hand every single time. He is always willing to give and he never complains about it.
2. He rarely complains about anything. He is one of the busiest and hard working guys I have ever known. He goes to school full time, works two jobs, is currently the Elders Quorum President in our ward, add our 5 kids and me on top of all that and you could say is plate is pretty full. He truly goes and goes until he drops in bed at night and even then he usually will rub my back without me asking him too, which leads me to number 3.
3. He gives great back massages. :)
4. He's empathic and non-judgement. He always gives people the benefit of the doubt.
5. He is very personable and can hold a conversation with just about anyone about anything. He wins people over very easily. He's very easy to love.
6. He's a hard worker. Doesn't matter what he is doing, he works hard at everything he does.
7. He gets up with the kids in the middle of the night. Even when Avery wakes up he will get up go and get her bring her to me and then take her back to her bed once she's done eating. He says it's his favorite to carry her back to her bed after she's eaten cause she's totally in that milk coma.
8. He's athletic. When we were first married he played on several baseball teams and it was always fun to go and watch him play. He is also an incredible runner. Before we had kids, we use to go running together almost every night those are some great memories.
9. He is determined. He sets goals and he achieves them. He has now run 5 marathons, I think. Maybe more and completed a half-iron man and several Tris and half marathons. He also is 3 months away from his doctorate in Pharmacy. I love that he doesn't settle and he follows things thru until the end.
10. He's focused. He once did no sugar for an entire year.
11. He loves coaching our boys in anything and is always willing to do so even though he doesn't have a lot of time to spare, he always makes it work.
12. He's not a gossip. Nothing drives me more crazy then listening to people talk bad about other people. I'm so grateful he doesn't do this.
13. He helps around the house. He does the dishes almost every night. And even after a long 12 hour day at work and school, he will come home and start folding laundry.
14. He's not much of a TV watcher. I wish I didn't like TV so much. Such a waste of time. He rarely sits down and watches shows.
15. He hates confrontations. He is a peace maker.
16. He has the best smile. Truly it lights up entire face.
17. Hes an awesome cook. Hands down he is way better than me in the kitchen. But don't tell him I said that.
18. He is always willing to help me with my little projects, even though I know he doesn't enjoy it, he still does it.
19. He honors his priesthood.
20. He reads scriptures with the kids in the morning.
21. And he makes the kids lunches almost every morning before he heads off to school.
22. He's supportive and supports me with anything I want to do.
23. He is handy. He built Easton's toddler bed from scratch, put paneling up in Taylor and Avery's rooms, painted the entire house, and laid tile in our last house. Really this list could go on and on.
24. He can fix just about anything, from things around the house to the car.
25. Although I know that he hates to drive in the car, he indulges me because he knows how much I love road trips.
26. He is a spiritual giant. He truly tries to do whats right in every situation.
27. He's loyal.
28. I know he doesn't talk about me behind my back. We decided when we were first married that we wouldn't talk about each other to anyone. I know that he doesn't talk about me and I'm so grateful for that.
29. He doesn't look down on others. He doesn't think he's better than anyone and he doesn't try to be. In fact I don't think his mind even works that way.
30. He's easy going. I can sometimes be some what of a worrier, when I worry and stress, he always puts things into perspective for me. He has a positive outlook on life, believing that things will always work out, strangely enough they always do!
31. He can talk anyone into anything. This comes in handy when we are out shopping or trying to get a deal on something. He is my secret weapon as far as getting a good deal goes, for some reason people will tell me no but they rarely say it to Cort.
32. He's fun to be with. There is no one else I would rather hang out with.
33. He's extremely smart.
34. He's honest. There have been times when we haven't been charged for something and he always speaks up and makes sure everything is right.
35. He is an amazing father, he always makes time for the kids.
My family always tells me and him, how lucky I am to have him. I couldn't have made a better choice in choosing you Cort. So glad you choose me too. I love you! Happy 35th!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Happy love day

For Valentine's Day this year we did our annual family Valentine's day dinner by candle light, and the kids each came home with lots of treats and goodies from their classmates and friends at school. At dinner that night we talked about what we love about each member of our family and then me and Cort gave them each a little valentine from us. It was a great day.

Taylor and Chase with their valentine day boxes right before heading off for school. Got to love Pinterest! What did I do before it was around? I think they turned out so cute and they were super easy to make. Simple and cute, I love that combo!

Talans class didn't actually have a party this year, but they did exchange valentines and he was just fine with that. Easton's little play group did have a party and he loved every minute of it, once i got him to go that is! How does a kid go from loving his little play group so much, (see video below) to tears every time I take him within a two week time period??? Hopefully it is a phase and he will be back to normal soon. Regardless hes still the cutest 3 year old i know! ;)
Talan and Easton checking out their loot and Chase and his buddy posing at their class party

And of course, couldn't do a post without our Avery on her very first Valentines, she enjoyed the day too. :)
Lots of love going on around here, so grateful for that.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Flying high gymnastics meet

Saturday Taylor had her first meet of the spring season. And she rocked it! I am amazed at how much she has improved over the last month or so. She is quite the gymnast! There's nothing else she would rather do. She placed in all five events and placed second for her floor routine. Her score for floor was 9.175. Which is an incredibly high score for floor. So proud of you Tay and how hard you work. The sky's the limit for you, not only in your gymnastics but in everything you do!