March Madness

I know it's April....but our March was so full of fun - that I had to get it documented.



Kason had his annual baseball tournament in St. George. We enjoyed 80 degree weather...HEAVENLY!

The kids relished in being outside!

Kason and his team did great - I can't believe it is baseball season already.



Jaicee, Ava, and I actually had a side trip while in St. George. Jaicee had a dance competition on Saturday. But, of course we didn't want to stay home and miss out on all the St. George fun.

So...we drove back home on Friday night, went to her competition Saturday morning, and drove back to St. George that afternoon. Can you say CRAZY??

Family time is so wonderful....I love being with my little family (even when they are teasing and driving each other crazy)!

4 hours 45 minutes and 9 months

The first number is the length of the nap that my sweet Ava took today.

You read it right.....4 hours and 45 minutes! I have never in all my child rearing years (11 in total) had a child take a nap this long.


Here she is waking up from her long slumber

What did I accomplish during this amazingly long nap? I could have finished many unfinished projects, folded the laundry, cleaned my house, organized my closet....the list could go on. But, I didn't do any of it! I was so stunned after 2 1/2 hours that she was still asleep - I just kept expecting her to wake up any minute. So, I didn't want to start anything - when I knew I couldn't finish! And, I kept checking on her every 20 minutes or so to make sure she was still breathing!

So, I have nothing to show for this long nap that Ava gave me. Braden was ecstatic though - because I actually was able to play with him for longer than 10 minutes!



The second number is how old this sweet baby (that napped for nearly 5 hours) is. 9 months...where has the time gone? She has brought us nothing but pure happiness! Here are some of her stats/accomplishments for my own personal record:

20 lbs 5 ounces (yes, that is why we call her "chubba bubba" - check out her thighs in the swimsuit picture)
28 inches long

Just cut her first tooth (I didn't even know...because, of course, she hasn't been fussy)

Just got over double ear infections, with one eardrum bursting. (Didn't know about this one either...still didn't cry)

Doesn't have any motivation to crawl and is content to just sit and play

Loves her sister Jaicee more than anyone else....even her own mom!

Loves baby food...especially peas

Has the cutest squinty-eyed smile when she is being silly

Belly laughs whenever her siblings are around (with the exception of Braden and Halle - because they maul her to death)

Sleeps through the night...and did so after only one night of crying. (My easiest yet)

Jabbers all day long....music to my ears!

Loves the tub

Is so excited when her Dad gets home from work...kicks and flails her arms like crazy until he holds her.

Loves her binki and hates bows in her hair!

Love you baby Ava....thanks for a blissful 9 months and the 5 hour nap!

To Play vs. To Hang Out

It is happening....my boy is turning into a "tween/teenager", or something of the sort.

Do you remember when you got to the stage in life when you would call a friend and not no whether to ask them if they could "play" or "hang out"?

"Playing" just seemed so immature.....but "hanging out" was an unknown phrase.

Well, Kason's conversation on the phone yesterday went like this:

"Hey (insert friend's name), can you plaa......I mean hang out.......uh, can you come over?"

I remember this transition phase in my life, and I am sad that my sweet little boy is starting to lose a little of his childlike innocence.

Oh, how I am not ready for the teenage years!

Wow, Time Flies

Time flies when you are having fun....right? It has been forever since I have posted. It is amazing how I have the best of intentions to get to all of the things on my "to-do" list - but never quite make it to the "blogging section" of the list!

So, a little update.....



We finally made the move.....Braden is in a bed! Seriously, I can't believe he is 3 1/2 and just barely moved to a bed. He has done great and loves his "bump bed". Kason is getting used to sharing a room - something he has never done - and says he likes it because he doesn't get nervous at night anymore. Kason is just like me, he needs someone in the room with him to make him feel safe. (Kind of funny I don't have a picture with Braden in his bed....just all of the other excited kids)

With Braden moved to a bed, that means I finally had to move Ava to her own room. I am not happy about this.....I could let her sleep with me forever! However, Brandon thought it was probably time. Don't worry, I sneak her back into bed with me whenever I can. (It is easy to do at 3 am when Brandon is sleeping soundly) :)



I went to see the amazing BYU Cougarettes in concert with some of my closest "Cougarette friends" Boy, how I love these ladies - and cherish the years we spent together dancing at BYU. I always say, if there was one time in my life I could go back to it would be the years I was at BYU and a part of the Cougarettes. These are some of my favorite life moments, and I love the friendship I made with many incredible woman. The concert was fabulous (of course), the company was wonderful....now, if only we could dance like that still!



We have also been to many basketball games. It is basketball season - you know - and between Kason and Brandon, we all get to watch many games. This is Kason's favorite sport...he WISHES it would last all year long. It is Brandon's favorite sport also....and he MAKES it last all year long with many different city leagues he is a part of, and playing it twice a week on his lunch break! I love watching my boys play!




We also found time to go to the Draper Temple open house. The kids loved that they were able to go inside the temple....and especially loved the baptismal font. Halle is set that she wants to be baptized there! It was a great family experience....except for when Braden was yelping like a dog while in one of the rooms. The room was full of people, the doors closed, and a cute couple was talking about the sacredness of the temple.....and there is my 3 year old yelping like a dog. And it echoed - so, of course he kept doing it!

Phew, the two week wrap up is done. Maybe I can stay on top of it this week, and post regularly.

Or, maybe not!

Sisters!

It is my sweet sister Shaundee's birthday today!

If there is one thing I adore, and just cannot live without it is my sisters!

Who else can you talk to about anything, at all hours of the night, and know you have a non-judgmental listener?

Who can tell you that your shoes aren't that cute - and are starting to resemble "mom shoes"?

Who will babysit and love your kids at any given moment? (especially when you have 5 crazy ones)

Who can make you feel like you are a "model" by paying you a complement.....even when you feel not so cute that day?

Who can make you laugh....when you really want to cry (and probably are crying)?



Who else will go with you to New York, when it is totally impractical?

Only sisters I say!

So, Shaundee.....Happy Birthday to one of my favorite sisters (I say one, because i do have another one I love just as much...you know)!

I hope my girls are lucky enough to have the same relationship that we all have one day!

Oh, and I am so glad you are finally getting as old as I am!!

Caught "Red Handed"

Hmmm....wonder what she has been up to?

Just a little food coloring (or the whole bottle), a sink full of water, and dipping toilet paper - trying to make it red!

Creative, I must say!

Too bad her hands are just getting back to normal, and it has been a week!

Best thing about it....when I saw her hands our conversation went something like this

Me: "Halle, what did you do to your hands?"

Halle: "Nothing mom"

Me: "Really, Halle....how come they are completely red?"

Halle: "I don't know" (said with a totally serious and straight face)

Me: "Halle....where did you do this (now realizing it must be food coloring). Where is the mess??"

Halle: "MOM, I DON'T KNOW"

Me: (Now picking her up and running down stairs - not quite as calm as before - and so frightened at what I might find). HALLE - TELL ME!

She didn't ever spill the beans - but don't worry, I found the remnants....and lets just say it wasn't pretty.

I think she gave herself the best consequence though by having red stained hands. She wore a little shawl for the next few days so that she could hide her hands under it.

Nothing like having your sins exposed to the world!

Oh Yeah...she also lost her first two teeth! She was ecstatic.....me, not so much! I love little baby teeth - I am not ready for the ginormous permanent teeth that come in and don't even fit their faces until they are 11!

Love you Halle!!

Jazz Time

The kids all love going to the Jazz games. It was originally thought that Brandon and I would go to the games together. With only 10 games a season (we share tickets), we figured we could do that.

Um.....when you have lots of kids that doesn't work out most of the time.

No babysitter, kids have to be places, school functions, etc. etc. etc.

So, the kids reap the benefits and LOVE when it is their turn to go.

Kason really loves going to see the game. Jaicee and Halle really love going because they get a treat at halftime. And, Braden even got to go this year.....I think he liked both the treat and the game!



Braden loves the Jazz Bear, and calls him Boozer. I have tried many times to explain that he is not Boozer, but to no avail. Oh well, the Jazz Bear is doing much more to help the Jazz than Boozer is......GO JAZZ!