FHE Halloween Party

On Monday night we were invited to a friends house for a FHE Halloween Party. Jared wasn't feeling very well so I took the kids and went without him. We had so much fun. Each of the ladies brought food, and believe me, all of it was very delicious. Especially Sami's breadsticks and Kelsey's cookies. The kids painted pumpkins and decorated cookies, and we all just hung out and visited. It was a lot of fun, and a much needed break from the normal everyday!! Thanks Sami (&Phil) for inviting us.

Paige's cookie, she went a little overboard on the sprinkles.
MaKady was super proud of this ghost cookie that she made.

MaKady, Isabelle, & Paige

This is how Lucas spent most of his time.

These are all the fabulous ladies that brought such yummy food.

Tiffany, Kelsey, Sami, Me, Elisha, & Traci

New Nephew

My newest nephew was born last Friday, October 16, 2009. He weighed 7lbs. 4 oz. and was 18 inches long. His name is Orin Albert. He belongs to my brother Henry and his wife Krista. This makes #3 for them, and he is the #16 grandchild on my side.
On Saturday I took the kids to my brothers house so we could see the new little one, and also so we could visit. It was a nice way to spend the day. The kids played with toys and we ate a nice lunch and were just able to sit and visit for a few hours.

I put Lucas next to the new little one so we could compare and see how much Lucas has grown in the last 8 months. He was about the same size as Orin when he was born, and you can tell that now he is just a big tank. My nephew Elmo(3), kept going over and giving Lucas a hug and then he would say "I like this big baby." Then he would tell me that he had a little baby, and that my baby was a big baby, soooooo cute.

This is my neice Aulene (21 months). She put on this frog costume and Paige's shoes and walked around like this for a long time. What a cutie pie she is. So sweet!

Krista's brother Sam was also there visiting. The kids love him, he is just a big teddy bear. You can definately tell how much they love him.

Notes to Heaven

On Sunday October 11, 2009, we gathered at the cemetery as a family as we have the last three years to celebrate Jordan's birthday. He would have been 4 this year. It's such an emotional thing for our family, but we feel like it's important to remember. This year was different than years past. It felt more peaceful and our wounds are starting to heal.

As is becoming tradition we bring balloons and everyone writes a message on one and then we have a family prayer and let our balloons go. I think it's the only time you will see little kids let their balloons go and not cry because they want it back. All the kids know why they let their balloons go and they are happy to send their balloons to Jordan.

We are so grateful for our family. We are grateful for our tests and trials in this life and we can't wait until the day that we can be reunited with Jordan again.

Dad & Lucas waiting for everyone else to get their messages written.
Dad, Emily, & Lucas

Dad & most of the grand kids

Brandon, Trinity, & Paige

My beautiful and strong sister Mary with Lucas

Dad, MaKady, and I

8 Months

Lucas is 8 months old. He is soooo much fun right now. He loves to play and laugh. He smiles when his sisters are around and cries when they leave the room. He reaches for you if he wants you to hold him. He isn't crawling yet, but he rolls across the room if he wants something. He loves eating food. Anything you put in front of him, he will try. He loves green beans (out of the can, not the mashed up babyfood) and he still loves his baby oatmeal, bananas, and squash. He likes snacks too. He loves crackers. The other day when MaKady came in the room he looked at her and smiled, then he said "Hi Dad." MaKady and I laughed so hard. Jared has also taught him how to clap. He holds his arms straight out in front of him and slams his hands together. Sometimes it makes a clapping sound, and sometimes he misses. I love this picture of him. It's just typical of him right now, playing with his toys, happy, and drool dripping down his chin.

Kitchen Helpers

My kids are such big helpers, especially in the kitchen. Anytime I am cooking anything they all gather in there and just watch. Paige really likes to help, but MaKady and Lucas are really content to just taste test for me. We found out that Lucas prefers chocolate to vanilla.

Fall Pictures

When Tabi was here over the weekend she brought her awesome camera and we took a bunch of pictures of the kids. She took a few and I took a few. They all turned out so great. *Warning Picture Overload*

We borrowed this little chair from Sami. Lucas didn't know what to think about it.

I wanted to get a picture of Paige's "angel wing" birthmark. Notice it on her lower shoulder.

I love this look!!

The girls gave Lucas these sunflowers to play with so he would sit still in the chair but then he just wanted to eat them so I took them away.

Mean Mommy!!!

All he wanted was his sunflower!!

30...Here we go!!

On Friday September 11, 2009 I turned 30. I honestly never imagined this day would get here as quickly as it did. Life just seems to be flying by. But on the plus side turning 30 wasn't nearly as overwhelming as I imagined it would be. No, I don't look the way I did when I was 20, but that's okay. I've learned a lot in the last ten years, and I hope that in ten more years I can look back and say that I learned even more. I am starting to get a few wrinkles and I'm not a rich movie star like I imagined (oh, come on, isn't that everyone's dream) but that's okay too. I love my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Here's to aging gracefully!!!

My awesome sister Tabitha brought my one of my favorite things for my birthday. A carmel apple from Rocky Mountain chocolate Factory. We ate if for breakfast. It was so awesome.

I spent the weekend with my family, we had a little bbq and just hung out. It really was a lot of fun.

7 Months Old

Another month has come and gone. Lucas just keeps getting bigger and he learns more each day. This month he has really gotten good at sitting up all by himself. He is still so smiley and happy. He has been grabbing at everything. One day I set him on the dining room table in his bumbo chair like I always do right before I feed him and he turned around in the chair and starting grabbing handfuls of dirt out of my flower pot and throwing them on the floor. When I scolded him, he just grinned and kept doing it.

He is starting to like more food, but not baby food. He will eat bananas and oatmeal, but that is it as far as baby food. He loves green beans straight out of the can, he also loves otter pops. But over all he prefers a bottle.

He is starting to talk a little bit. He has been saying "dada" (you should see Jared's face light up when he says it, it's like watching a little kid opening presents on Christmas morning), he also says "baba", "baby", "hi", and the other day Jared was feeding him bananas and he said "banana" clear as day. He hasn't said it since but it was so adorable the one time.

He hasn't started to crawl or scoot or anything, but I think that is partly because none of us can put him down. He is a little spoiled when it comes to everyone wanting to hold him. When we set him on the floor he will roll over on his stomach and then put his head down and just lay there until someone flips him over or until he gets bored and rolls back over by himself. One of these days I think he will just start crawling, but not yet!

We are enjoying him as always. He is just such a joy to have around!!

This...

Is what happens when I leave the girls in charge to watch their brother for a few minutes.....

He was all worn out. I seriously left them downstairs for 10 minutes and when I came back he was asleep like this. What cute kids!!!