A few hours in the life of my boys...

So these picts are from several days ago, but they are still hilarious to me. These boys decided that after doing their jobs of vacuuming that they would make an obstacle course. It was hilarious video of them running, jumping, rolling and making their way around the vacuum hose.

 

I found Ben stuck in the bathroom. I was just glad the toilet was closed! Honestly, how did he get himself there. The funny thing was he wasn't even crying. I just realized he was missing and then I found him. I was tempted to have him stay there a little longer, but I did rescue him after I took a few photos.

 

He managed to work his way up to the toilet...and enjoy some delicious toilet paper for an appetizer before lunch.

 

Caleb is in a little neighborhood (old ward) preschool. He loves it. The moms take turns teaching a few days a month and it's so fun. I had a BLAST coming up with some activities.

This was the letter M sticker worksheet.

The other day Jared took Jake to get his first library card, since he turned 5. Well, apparently there is no age limit any more so Caleb also came home with his own. He was hilarious though because apparently Jared gave the boys quite the lecture about WHERE the library books are allowed to be in our home. Because Caleb came running inside and showed me this receipt and said, "It says NO library books can go in your room. They MUST stay downstairs on the bookshelf!" It was priceless. I of course took video of him telling me all about him getting his very own "Cwedit Cawd" So funny.

Ben has discovered our back deck. And since the weather has been so great he's been playing out there nearly every day! He walks along EVERYTHING because he's learned quickly his knees don't like to crawl on the rough tile.

He also cruises walking behind his little push toy. It's adorable to see him go racing by!

By Benny! The other boys doing what they do best. Playing imaginatively...doing who knows what, but it's either, playing house "Dad and Big Brother" or "Santa" or "Disneyland" or "Vacation" - I just love these boys. Honestly, my mornings are so enjoyable with them!!!

My Boys - How much have you Loved in your life?

Pretty much I love these boys. I'm so lucky to have three darling boys. I'm just cruising through some pictures and I realize with Alayna in school she misses out on several photo moments...I need to change that! Because lately, she has just blossomed to the most darling obedient little girl. Jared and I both are just loving her. When she's full of sleep and food, she is the BEST 7 year old ever. Honestly, I feel so blessed from day to day to be surrounded by the best kids and hubby. The other thing I've thought about is how our hearts as parents just grow bigger for each child. It's amazing how our love doesn't change or diminish or love your other children less, it just GROWS bigger and bigger. I've loved growing and maturing and watching myself be so filled with love for the people around me. I've been reading a book over the weekend (on the flight to Seattle) Toss the Guilt and Find the Joy, from Merrilee Boyack. She mentioned in the book this question...
"How much have you LOVED in your life?" I realized how sometimes I get distracted on the less important things...(to-do lists, my personal high-expectations, clothing, status, being cool, friends, cool cars, hobbies, etc...ugh...it sounds like highs school...the list could go on and on...forever) And while I get stuck in this place I realize (yet again another wonderful moment shared with me from my darling visiting teacher...)"Put down the mirrior and pick up the magnifying glass" That way we stop worrying about ourselves and look for how we can love, serve or bless others around you.
I've loved these two thoughts this week, because honestly, I needed to be reminded that these are those moments in life where I need to focus on how much I have and how much am I actually LOVING (people and all my blessings) in my life. I realized real quickly that loving comes from looking upon others, giving of myself to lift and care for them. It also starts by enjoying those super simple moments in life....and this is easy to see when you spend time with your kids...enjoying them!

A long awaited update...



Our family from the eyes of Jacob (age 4). Seriously, I love this picture. I love that he took the time to color us all, write our names and give us all belly buttons. Let's just say that this is being saved in the book of memories, forever. I love it.

Besides loving my kids and living regular life I decided I must have gone through a mini-four-kid-off-track-mid-life-crisis....My mini crisis isn't over yet, so these are just a few pictures to catch my avid readers up on my life...

A little paint....(Oh, and I chopped my hair off again! goodbye longer hair, hello familiar short hair!)

Goodbye brown...Hello WHITE...

I will take better pictures in the day time and when it's totally finished, but so far I am IN LOVE with the changes.

For those of you who know me well know that my paint color around my home has driven me crazy for three years now. So at the start of my projects I have painted my ceilings WHITE...I love it. love it. LOVE it. I then painted my kitchen (yes, I painted it again for the third time in 3 years) and painted the main wall...the wall you see in the picture above. It's the same color as my guest bathroom. I LOVE it. I LOVE it in the main room with the white entertainment center. The kitchen still needs a little change and lightening up, but for the most part I'm LOVING the changes. Did I mention I really like the new feel?? Well, I do. I still have to paint the inside of the fireplace nook white, spray paint the canned lights, finish the office and master bedroom ceilings, and some new changes to the kitchen. But for the most part all is done! Oh, besides deciding what type of decor to do on top of the entertainment center...give me some ideas. Don't worry what's on top right now is just random decorations that I placed up there away from kids. (And the decor on the fire place.) I did however add flowers to the flowers in the fireplace.

If you notice carefully Caleb has his pants on backwards. As mothers of young toddlers you all know that that means...He's totally 100% potty trained. Go Caleb! Let's just say after a week he was totally on his own. It's been HEAVENLY!

During potty training I realized quickly that this almost three year old was not taught (by me) how to get dressed by him self. So what did we do...we taught him how! Yes, he accomplished this as well. Shocking I know...what almost three year old doesn't get dressed himself...Jake and Alayna are really good helpers!

Family Home Evening is truly a favorite night around our house. We have added a new fun thing to our scheduled/planned FHE's around here. I recently thought that I miss not reading the Friend magazine regularly. So one night a month (or as often as I remember) we do an activity and read stories and make the kid friendly recipes out of it. Seriously, we are so blessed to have an AMAZING resource to help teach our children the gospel principles. I love it and so do they. I have to admit we are hooked on the pretzels. YUM.

How have you all lived with out this chubby guy. He is such a doll to have around. He's probably around 20 lbs. and growing. He downs 8 oz. every 4 hours with out an trouble. He looks deeply into your eyes and keeps eye contact with you for a really long time. I LOVE this too. (Look at those chubby elbows. So gooey and cute!

Happy baby!

This was darling. In all my adventures of painting I had the windows open and listening to the boys playing outside. I over heard Jake saying, "Now...Bend...Now...Kick...Now Bend...Now Kick..Good job Caleb." It was adorable. I had to lean out to see what they were doing, then I realized he was teaching him how to pump in the swing. I have to give Jake credit, he has taught Caleb how to swing. It really was so precious. These brothers really enjoy being together. I just love watching them be friends, wrestle and show love and concern for one another. This was a good mom moment.

The leprechauns returned again this year!

My other project that I have been up to is organizing my pantry. You know it was bad when Jake said, "Mom, every time I'm in here I think everything is falling on top of me!" So when Jared had to work out of town all day long until midnight, I rushed off to Walmart and purchased new uniform containers (Spent a fortune- I don't recommend that!) Scrubbed, threw away 2 garbage bags full of who knows what was hiding in there, cleaned, consolidated, organized, and beautified this area of the home. And thank heavens for labels. Because seriously, with those clear containers, I need to read to know what's found inside!! ( ha ha ha - this sarcasm is for my sisters who have teased me unmercifully about the need for labels on clear containers.) Either way I love it and it pleased Jared greatly. He's Mr. Organize Pantry Man...so this was GOOD surprise for him to return home too. I'm proud to admit that because of such great organization it has remained clean for a month now! That's a big deal around here.

That's about it folks. Because you are all wondering why in the world have I not blogged, well you guessed it...my computer ONCE again was broken. It's not fixed permanently, but for the time being it's working. So I'm saving all my goods and crossing my fingers that we can solve all my computer issues. Jared is just praying that we can get it fixed because heaven knows an Apple computer is my next laptop in line...Thank to my ipad for my birthday, this has completely sold me on that upcoming decision! Life is good around here. We are "Enjoying and Enduring" that journey of life!

Two "WiLd" Boys

Well, we have finished one day with out Alayna around and let's just say it was all rough play around here. There were fights, bites, and hitting all day. Seriously, tomorrow Jake is for sure taking a nap. These two boys played HARD all day long. I must admit these two really are fun to have around. It's going to be strange when Jake starts preschool in a few weeks because it really will be a quiet house for a few hours! Since I will still be prego I think I just might have to nap for a few hours each day to get enough rest before I welcome yet another baby into this crazy home! Isn't it funny how Caleb is still sucking his thumb. He's about to drive me crazy. No joke, I have removed every sock from his drawers and Jake's drawers. And some how, he STILL finds random socks around. I swear my sisters are planting them around the house. Today at the bus stop he pulled one out of his shirt, as if he stored it there for later. Which is exactly what he did. He is one funny little man. Well, the journey continues in raising and loving these kids. Grateful they are around but it's time to elevate my legs!

Things I love...

Really, this face is hands down my favorite little face around. He loves to give me a CHEESE smile.

Our PINK blossoming tree. Each year at the end of May or first of June it blossoms with bright pink flowers. It's one of our yearly highlights.

Just another picture of our favorite face! I also need to document a few darling things about Caleb. He currently is going under the nick name of "peanut" or if Jared asks him his name he says, "Daddy's buddy." A few weeks ago we taught him his name and if you happen to say, "come here little guy" He says, "No me Caleb! (said more like Kay-up)" or "No me Peanut!" It's actually super adorable. He says, "Bay-bub for Jacob" and "Lay-na for Alayna"
Not to mention the fact he is so snuggly, and loves there is a baby in "mommy's tummy." For those of you that have known all of my children, I dare say that this kid above all others has MORE personality and MORE vocabulary than any of my other kids. Maybe it's because I can't remember them at this age, but he honestly can say ANYTHING. If I say something once and he doesn't understand he says, "What mom?" Then I repeat it and he says, "Oh, mom" Then within minutes he's asking about that thing and using the right words. It's really adorable. A few of his favorites are the "bubble song" or "Pop-norn song" or the "Temple song" He loves to sing. His bedtime routine is adorable because he loves for you to lay down and sing a million songs. Of all my kids he's enjoyed "songs" or "sound" as he calls them. I haven't been great about documenting all of his crazy ways so I just wanted to type up a few so I could remember, but above all he has far more darling sides to his personality than anything else. He's a keeper!

Spending time with cousins and neighbors at fun summer activities.

Legos...We love them. Caleb loves them. And I love how he can actually build fun trains like this. This kid LOVES trains. He loves Thomas the train, and he actually for the first time in his little life will sit and watch a show. He insists it being his, "Thomas train show!" Let's just say, it's the perfect amount of time to leave him entertained while I take a shower! I've waiting two long years for something to entertain him so I could do that with out having to lock him in my bathroom with me so he could be under constant supervision. Gotta love this kid!

I'm a BIG boy now!!

That's right folks...the baby crib is down! Hip Hip Hooray!!

They are sailing in their boat...

Let's just say that this little tike has caused more trouble than any of the other kids to date. He officially has climbed out of his crib and opened every door to escape out of his room during nap time. Not to mention in St. George he learned how to climb out of the porta crib too...So it was inevitable to just break down and make him sleep on a big boy bed. It's amazing how fast this time has come. The funny thing is that all my other kids were already doing this next step in life because I would normally be popping out the next baby in a few weeks. So with that being said, tonight was a great success, he cried and climbed off then after about 20 seconds of crying he climbed back up onto his bed and fell asleep! I'm not too nervous for night time but let's just say I have a feeling naps are going to change and become a nightmare! AHHHHH

Good Night our crazy little monkey man! Just so you all don't panic that paint color is actually darling...it matched the crib bedding but now it clashes with his early birthday present...his matching bed spread with his brother Jacob. Our plans are to switch to have both boys in the big room with the bunk beds and let our only girl have her own room in the old nursery...so hence the darling green can stay! Oh, is it ever possible to not have a new decorating project? It's a good thing I enjoy decorating so much!

"Socks"

Okay, let me explain. We tried to get rid of one bad habit but yet he has started another. Some how Caleb is unable to STOP sucking his thumb. I thought that if we took away his thermal blankets all together it might help him stop. Well, little did I know that when I put him down for a nap that he has taken to his socks.

Seriously, this kid finds any sock anywhere...the funny part about this ridiculous habit is he sticks his fingers inside the sock and sucks his thumb. Really?

You try and take them away and he hides them or he runs away!

Or he wears them on both hands...Seriously, now I'm counting down the days till we only have flip flops around so there won't be any socks to be found!!! If only he wasn't so dang cute!

This picture is for me to always remember Caleb's favorite spot in the house. This kid loves to hang out behind the couch and sit on the window sill. He has a great view of the entire family room and kitchen, and I have to admit he entertains himself really well back there! At least I know he can't be getting into to much trouble back there!