Dear Santa...

So this is on Jake's Christmas list this year....A "real" skateboard. Yeah, last year he asked for a skateboard and Santa decided that a miniature skateboard is what he really meant. I mean that way he couldn't actually get hurt or injured.

Well, this year our "older" neighbor who's 12 has been teaching Jake how to ride his "real" skateboard.

So NOW Jake thinks he must have it! I've been breaking it to him slightly that skateboards are only SEMI-DANGEROUS!!! (To say the least) and that he might have to be around 10 or 12 or 20 to actually own one. Not to mention Head to Toe gear to protect him while riding...Not really sure how this is going to go over in a few weeks...Surprisingly he does pretty well while riding on it, but still...I don't think it's going to be delivered this year.

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!

First Day of Kindergarten!

Is it really true? Is my first little baby boy honestly going away from me??? Seriously, it's breaking my heart! I can't believe he's starting to become MORE independent!  If it were my choice I would wait another few years to ever say goodbye to him. (Caleb agrees with me too!)

But with a smile like this, this kid is ready and really excited to leave home and go to school. 

Jacob has been THRILLED to start school. He laid out his school clothes for days and each day he would ask..."How many more days till I get to go to school?"

 

Cars 2 back pack...He loved it because a lunch box totally velcros to the front. I don't think it can get any cooler than that!! 

A little brother who is going to miss his big brother. When Caleb woke up from his nap this afternoon while Jake was at school he said, "Mom when will Jake be home from school...I miss him already!" It really was so sweet. He wasn't too thrilled that he no longer had a play buddy to entertain him. Lucky kid, he totally got to hang with me!

Before school started we met together with Jake's cousins who also started kindergarten for the first time today! Kennady would have been in this picture but she starts school on traditional school year instead of year round like these boys!

Here go Jake and Isaac to their bus stop. On the first day we let them take the same bus stop. They are so excited because they will ride the same bus to school with him, but ride home a different bus with Alayna. (More adorable pictures of that to come soon!)

Walking to the bus stop.

One sad mommy. I should have not smiled but put my tear face on here. 

Totally excited...except he was a little reserved and nervous I'm sure...He didn't really want to eat lunch, and was a little quiet, nervous. I can't imagine how secretly nervous he was, but overall he realized he would have SO much fun...and that is exactly what he had...SO MUCH FUN!

Yeah, baby, a bus! He told me, "Mom, I've waited 5 years to ride one of these!" 

Goodbye our little boys! I guess I have to allow Jake to grow up and become more independent. Let's just say it breaks my heart to say goodbye...but I guess for his good I will be happy and super excited he can learn, grow and become a more independent little boy!

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!