She's 6

Phew....I have so much to catch up on! Why is life always like this, why can't I stay on top of things?? Oh well, I better start catching up.....



Halle turned 6 years old a couple of weeks ago. She has been anticipating this day for about 4 months. She started counting down when there was 64 days until her birthday. That is a long countdown.

We celebrated with presents, pancakes, balloons, and dinner at Training Table (her choice...and who doesn't want cheese fries for their birthday?)



Her favorite present was the 3 pound bag of bubble gum that her dad got her! (Why do dad's always come through with the favorite present?)

She also celebrated a few days later with 20 of her friends at a local gymnastics place. They had a blast!



I think she would agree that it was a great birthday!

We love you Halle...and have since the moment you entered this world as our little peanut (7 lbs 13 oz is tiny for us). We didn't know if you were a boy or a girl....and were definitely shocked when you were a girl! You haven't stopped surprising us since that moment. We love your spunk, personality, convinction, smiling eyes, beautiful hair, sweet voice, and every little inch of you! Happy Birthday Lou Lou!

NASCAR Time

I know there are many people that love NASCAR races.....but Brandon and I are not some of them. So, imagine my shock when Brandon came home one day and said he wanted to go see a NASCAR race in Phoenix!

"What? Please don't tell me this is going to be added to your hobby list....you already have a few too many of those." I said

He assured me it was just a "once in a lifetime" opportunity. (Hmm....where have I heard that before..)

So, off he went to meet his cousins in Phoenix, AZ for a weekend of racing.



They had VIP passes on pit road, were supposed to meet Kyle Bush (he had to go to the bathroom - so they settled for his girlfriend instead....I am sure they were so disappointed :)), and even had a strict dress code of pants and a shirt with sleeves! Yes, you heard me right...you cannot go on pit road in cut off shorts and a white tank top. Oh, how disappointed Brandon was (yeah right)!



He claims they had a great time, got to see some very interesting people, were amazed at all the RV's in the middle of the race track, and even saw a couple of girls riding motorized coolers! (only at NASCAR).

Easter Bliss

I love Easter. Mainly because it means it is finally spring (or supposed to be)! I love tulips, the crisp warming air, the warm sun (which we have so missed) beating down on our face. All of the pink and white blossoms on the trees. The kids wanting to constantly play outside......

I LOVE SPRING!








Luckily we did have some semi-warm weather for Easter Sunday.....so the kids could find eggs outside for once!

And what is Easter without a good old air soft gun fight???? (WHAT?) There were even casualties this time!

I also love Easter because it is a time that I can reflect on the sacrifice of my Savior, and that He was resurrected. I hope that although Easter is a lot of "fun", my kids will remember the real reason we celebrate this Easter holiday.

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!