Happy 30th Jared!

You may be wondering why we are wearing such strange clothing? Well, since it was Jared's 30th birthday I decided to throw an extra special party. Yes, something Jared dis-likes greatly...costume parties. So Happy Birthday, honey!! He was such a trooper and really had a great time. I decided to go with the 80s theme because Jared appreciated this generation, music, clothing, etc. I instructed the fam to dress the part. It really turned out so much fun. Thanks to friends in the neighborhood who had great costumes for Jared and I we had something to wear. (THANKS!) Later that evening after dinner I had put together a "1980s This is your Life" game. It was hilarious to remember back into the days of..."NOT, SIKE, Rainbow Bright, NKOTB, MASH, Neon, LA Gear, Shoulder pads, Pegged paints, Chicago, UB40, U2, Acid wash, etc." We had many laughs back into the future. If any of you are huge 1980s fans visit this ridiculous website http://www.liketotally80s.com/ this helped me plan all the silly things we did!

Riley showed up in a leisure suit with Jared. So they thought they were pretty HOT!

Work it, Todd!

I knew that Krista and Riley would go to town with their costumes. Thanks for supporting the fun theme.

Brian & Ashley thanks for driving all the way out here on such short notice! We even appreciate the fact you dressed up...way to have 80s gear on hand! I just think Brian should have had a boombox on his shoulder. You guys are great!

We convinced Jared to pose for a ladies picture. So thanks hun for being so understanding. In case you can't figure out who we are all because of such great costumes I will label the picture...Left to right...Angela, Krista, Shandra (yes that's her!), Diana, Ashley and Birthday Boy!
Even the kiddos got to learn about the 1980s...side ponytails, high socks, neon colors, the preppy look, pegged pants, etc. It was great!

This is to remember a great trait of Jared. Only my husband would have an opinion about how I placed candles on his cake. I wanted to put them in an orderly manner, so I decided to do a 6x5 layout on the cake. He came over to have us light the cake and said, "Why didn't you do 3x10?" I just had to laugh...along with my sisters...we just had to say, "That is so Jared!" Only he has an opinion about how candles should be on a birthday cake.

If you're wondering, he did "request" that I move the candles into a 3x10 formation. He did end up explaining his silly request. He wanted to view his three decades that he was blowing out. Yes, it makes sense but it just made for a great memory of my hubby I love so much!

Last night was Jared's official birthday. We were lucky to get Randy & Danette to watch the kiddos so we headed off to our favorite Italian Restaurant. Jared LOVES authentic Italian food. So it really doesn't get much better than Michelangelos Ristorante. We have ended up ordering the SAME dishes for the past few years. It's a whole in the wall place found in a basement but the food is the best. If you go here you have to plan on spending a good 2-3 hours of time from the start of the meal to the finish. It takes forever, but let me tell you it is worth the wait. Every bite is heaven! I can't wait to go back again!!! I'm thankful that Jared has introduced me to the yummy ways to Italian food. No wonder the moment I heard him say, "I served my mission in Rome, Italy I was hooked!" I sure love this guy.

The Draper Temple Open House

My family was so excited to finally have this day come. We felt like everyone has been and we were the last to attend. Now that I've been once with Alayna I can't wait to schedule another time to take her. It really was wonderful.

Miss Alayna Mae was wonderful. This happy smile is purely the result of just being in the House of the Lord. At such a young age our children can experience pure joy and happiness that comes directly from knowing our Savior and the love He has for us. She has been praying lately saying, "I know Jesus and Heavenly Father love me, they know my name." Yes they do.

She was overly smiley and happy. I know that it was because of her experience in the Temple. She was overcome for the beauty in the Temple. She loved the quiet and reverent manner to walk around. This is very unlike her natural personality so I was so pleased to see her attentive disposition and interest in the quietness of the Temple. I was so happy to have her share her feelings later that night. Jared and I were asking her what she enjoyed most about the Temple and she said, "It was soooo beautiful" she later reported that she loved the chandelier in the Celestial room she said, "It was so shiny...like they put sparkly cookies all around it!" I don't know about the cookie thing, but it was small little circles of beautiful shine. Her next favorite room was the Brides room. I know she thinks a lot about Princess' but lately she has come to love Jenny Phillips, Daughter of a King song. She is beginning to recognize that she is in fact a Daughter to our Heavenly Father. Helping her understand that in this room is where she will be able to wear her "princess" bridal dress and marry her "prince" - it was really cute.

She was so fun to pick up and whisper special things about the temple in her ear. She was so attentive and wanting to learn about it. She is very excited to have this experience again in a few months to go to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I will never forget the feeling I had as they gathered our group into the Sealing Room. My heart was touched by the Spirit that was strong. The sweet couple that shared their testimony of families being together forever was so simple. I appreciated looking down the row to see not only my sisters, parents, brother in laws, nieces, nephews, but to be sitting by my little family. It was a very touching moment to share with Alayna that because we were married here that we will be together forever even when we die.

Here's to document the five little babies of attending the Temple open house together.
(Logan, Sawyer, Jake, Isaac & Kennady)

My cute cookie monsters. Alayna carried her Draper temple brochure around calling it her, "Temple recommend." Jake carried his around saying, "Temple, Jakey, Temple."

My parents and the 9 grand kids...my mom was in heaven having her darling grand kids there!

The trouble continues...

Yes, this is the life of two little guys together. They have reached new heights with climbing, reaching and grabbing. You'd think that Shandra and I would have the whole house kid proof, WRONG! Each day and week brings on a new problem. Their newest found love is running into the bathroom and turning on the water. They jump in the tub with all their clothes on. Safe? I think not! Thankfully, we hear the water running so it gives us a few clues to what they are up too! This has only resulted in more laundry day after day.

Next, adventure! The other day Shandra taught me how to make homemade granola. (FABULOUS) It was so simple and I just had it continuing to dry out on the counter. I thought it was pushed back far enough from the boys reaching their little hands up to the counter. I could just sense that it was going to make a HUGE mess. Well, a day went by and no problems. Then finally the boys were too quite and entertaining themselves too long with out screaming. So I figured something was up. Yes, the boys were UP and the granola was DOWN. It went Everywhere.

Jacob was too busy shoveling hand fulls into his mouth...look at those HUGE cheeks. Do you notice the very large pile of granola by the sink?

Oh, it was the beloved chairs that brought them to the higher level!! Oh, then there's the granola down on the ground. It honestly covered everywhere.

Isaac was too busy picking up handfuls and throwing it, while Jake was eating it! I had to pull out the camera before clean up happened. What was I going to do with all that granola anyways? It made for a fun play time. I just am learning to love all these new boy adventures. Thanks, Jake and Isaac for the new excitement!!! :0)

A little boy...

When my mother used to say..."I just don't know what you do with a boy." I'm finally learning what she is talking about. Let's just say having one girl first and then a little boy I am learning and experiencing first hand the differences. Now, I understand each child is different but my two children couldn't be more different. Since we have lived in the same house since both children were mobile, I feel I have a good memory of how "child proofing" has gone.

This little boy of ours is one little climber. I know I have posted pictures of him in the past climbing on really pretty much every flat surface imaginable. But today he reached a new level. He hauled over his little chair that is his "right hand partner in crime" to his high chair. He some how finagled his way to the top of the tray. Safe? I don't think so. How many times does the tray accidentally just snap off...too many times for me to think this is a bright idea. I had to take a picture. I can't forget how this little guy managed to reach any height in life! (I have had to resort to locking all the chairs away in a room so he can't climb up too high!) If your wondering what he's doing in this picture, it's him showing me his muscles because, yes he ate his dinner!

Next, quirk I just happened to capture. My kids have been born with a funny quirk. I'll try to explain, maybe other mother have heard of it? So, while changing Jake's diaper I grabbed anything within reach to distract him from the fact that yes, I am changing your diaper...so he would sit still. Well i grabbed a winter hat that was out of place as usual. He was distracted but insisted on wearing it. A few hours past, we returned to his room for nap time. He instantly saw the hat and insisted to wear the hat for his nap. I didn't really care, so I let him. He slept with the hat. Night time came, it was time for bed...we just walked in his room and he insisted on finding, yes a hat. He had to sleep with it. I happened to throw the original snow hat away because as you could imagine a little boy left alone with a hat that had a yarn ball on top pulled it all apart. So he found his Hawaii hat. Yes, this is how he fell asleep. Jake said, "nigh-nigh...my hat...on...my hat..." I just think it's hilarious how my kids get hooked on a strange habit. With Alayna it took weeks, months, years to cure her from one random habit. Jake thankfully doesn't remember past a day to have the funny quirk last!

Mornings...

I think our situation might be unique since most of you don't live life with another family. Alayna has had the hardest time adjusting to the fact that our little family lives downstairs. Yes, we live downstairs...we don't live with the cousins upstairs. No matter how much she wishes we did, we don't. This has increasingly become more of a struggle since she learned how to open door knobs...yes it's been about a two year long battle! We tried child proofing the door, but that only worked for 30 seconds until she knocked and her cousins opened the door.

I have found myself in a cycle that is repeating. About 2 years ago Alayna learned how to "escape" from the basement to the upstairs. This would result in me hiking the stairs and chasing her around upstairs and literally hauling her down kicking and screaming. Another kid added to the mix and yes, this pregnant mommy is not just hauling one kid, but two kids down the stairs kicking and screaming. Oh, the joys. If only Shandra and the kids didn't make it such a fun place for them to be!

Now, speaking of the dreaded morning routine...Recently, given the fact that this baby #3 is draining my energy in the morning I have a VERY hard time getting out of bed. I used to have this wonderful personal morning routine, but for the past 5 months I can't shake the groggy pregnancy tiredness. This only frustrates Alayna more (and me!). She's a chipper happy thing most mornings. So having a sleeping mom and brother is the LAST thing she wants to wake up too. She's so nice she doesn't wake me up...but sometimes she does wake her little sleepy brother up (hence the picture above). She just gets up and wants to go straight up stairs. That's a BIG NO NO. So the other day, I just snapped. I couldn't handle the fact that she went up there. I'd had it. It was 7am in the morning the "upstairs" as we call them were still sleeping. I thought I heard a noise and yes, it was her creeping around trying to find a friend to play with. I rolled myself out of bed and gave a 3 1/2 year old (almost 4 year old) a too grown up lecture. I just can't ban her from upstairs? We walk up there to leave? What type of a consequence is there for her to understand, "We do not go upstairs until....." you get the idea. Anyways, I'm hoping the "grown up" lecture will last...she was successful this morning, so one day down...hopefully many more to go! We've tried the sticker chart, candy, bribery, anything...nothing seems to last. This battle will only last as long as we live here, so I really must appreciate every other fabulous part about living here and just accept the fact that I will have one complaint.

Jared's Dream has Come True!!

Thanks to Jared's job we were able to have a fun date night on Friday. We had great seats which made the game even more enjoyable. Also, since I've turned into quite the lover of playing basketball, I must admit watching really good players is very enjoyable. It even helped that the Jazz blew the Oklahoma City out of the water.

Now, this was the HIGHLIGHT of the night. During half time my cramped prego legs needed to stretch so we went to walk laps around the Delta Center. (Boring I know!) Then as we got half way around we stumbled upon the "Half Time Show" set. For those of you who know Jared, you know that he is a HUGE fan of Channel 2 Sports. Jared is posing with one of his all time favorites radio personalities, David James. The funny story goes as follows: We were outside of the television set, trying to get a good picture of Jared with "DJ" in the back ground. I had to try three different times because the camera guy kept standing up right in front of DJ. So I didn't have proof that Jared really saw him. So after taking several pictures, I notice DJ waving his arms for us to come over. We hopped over and headed towards him. He asked us, "Are you trying to get a picture with Thurl Bailey?" We laughed because we didn't even realize that Thurl Bailey was around, except that he had a super long line waiting to get an autograph and pictures with him. Here was poor David James sitting all alone at the desk. I laughed and told him, "No way, you're the one we want, my husband loves you!" At which point Jared and he started laughing and he insisted on us getting a picture with him. It was great, because we were just laughing the rest of the night thinking he sits all alone next to a semi-Utah-famous-star - Thurl Bailey and he gets no attention. But then we came along and made his night!

Jared's dream has finally come true!

A quick getaway...to Midway!

So if you remember last week I watched Shan's kids when they went away for a few days. Well, it was finally our turn to disappear for a few days. Part of Jared's Christmas bonus from his company, was a night stay at the Homestead. We were excited to get a way and try out a new resort. For some reason I was expecting Hawaii? Why, I don't know. Maybe it's because I can only think about sunshine and NO MORE SNOW! Well, was I unprepared for more snow...and COLD. To say it was freezing was an understatement. As Jared and I were walking into our little condo house I yelled, "I would make a lousy pioneer! I am such a softy." I really had had it. So we were excited to get into our condo to turn on the fireplace that the nice lady had upgraded our room with...but then it didn't work!

I apologize if it's inappropriate to post a picture of our bed...but the only reason I took a picture was to remember how we had the worst nights sleep or our entire life. By 6am Jared and I both started laughing, saying how we had woken up at least every hour because it was the most uncomfortable mattress ever!!! Not only was the mattress horrible but the sheets were as stiff as cardboard! I felt like I was stuck and suffocating the whole night. It was just ridiculous. Yeah, so this is me wishing I was in Hawaii! Where it's warm. But Jared was excited they had a hot tub outside where he could relax after the bad nights sleep. He loved the hot tub because it was outside and it is was snowing. He loved it!

Our cold little condo!

The best thing I had to say about the Homestead was our free breakfast vouchers to Fanny's Grill. The food was AWESOME. It's amazing how a real breakfast fills you up...unlike cold cereal that lasts for ten minutes. Maybe it tasted so good because it was free too!

When we checked out of the Homestead we headed off to Park City for a few hours of shopping. We found some great deals for the kids and their winter clothes for next year. I love good deals! We then ate an early dinner at the Baja Cantina, it was tasty. It was fun too, because we saw my old college roommate from Utah State University, Becky. So we chatted and talked until their food came. That was a fun little reunion. After dinner we headed back to Midway to stay in my parents time share. We LOVE Worldmark condos...we know what to expect and we just can't enjoy them enough. It was a great little get-a-way! Thanks Shan for enduring our two little monkey's. We enjoyed our time away!! I think we should do this monthly!!!

Cute kids...

It's fun to watch Alayna develop her skills over time. She refused for the past three years of her life to have any interest in letters or numbers. Because of the fun Letter Factory DVD's that were recommended to us, she has learned them, sounds, etc. So it's been fun to teach her words, to sound out and put together. She recently has taken off with writing her letters. I pretty much can write any word down and she will copy it. I just had to take a picture of her name and Jacob's. It's fun to watch your kids learn!

Oh, just had to post this gappy tooth smile that is so cute. Also look at that natural mow hawk! Seriously, this kid is so cute. Another thing I need to document is Jake...my climber. I love how he is standing on top of the table! This happens all day everyday. He just needs his side kick Isaac to be up there with him. These boys jump and climb EVERYWHERE. I finally was done for the day saving them and removing them from the counter, table, freezer, etc. That I had to lock the chairs in his bedroom. No more climbing. Wrong...Jake tried to push the table over to the counter! He's too strong for his own good. I wish his body and limbs luck in staying safe. In fact I have to take a picture of his most recent black eye. Yes, he was jumping on his new bed and fell off and his eye landed straight into the handle on his dresser. So it looks like he is wearing bring pink eye shadow! What a tough kid.

My kids have no taste...

Thanks to Grandma Denny Jake has this adorable shirt. Jake calls it his, "Isaac shirt." The shirt is cute because it has two pictures of boys. One is of Isaac and the other is Jake. Thanks. The reason I put that my kids have no taste is because they change their clothes multiple times a day. Yes, even my 19 month old little guy is beginning to accessorize himself with random clothes. He has fallen in love with, "A-nah's...inda-rella..lippers" and Grandma Sukers oh so fashionable hats. Good thing he's such a cute kid he can pull it off. I just have to laugh because they make messes day after day pulling out all the clothing, but I love knowing they are just playing and using their imagination!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Yeah, bring on the German Chocolate cake!!! I really live all year long for my mom to make me my absolute favorite cake. It is the best, despite what Jared thinks about it. For my birthday we attended the Temple, came home to my sister being filmed yet again by another news station and then we got to go out to dinner. The highlight of the night was Texas Roadhouse! Bring on the steak. Besides waiting 1 1/2 hours (we went shopping and passed the time) the food was wonderful as usual. I encourage anyone to try it out. YUMMY!!

Alayna loved knowing we were having a family party, because parties equal staying up late and eating treats! We had a fun night celebrating together. Thanks family for the fun.

Thank you Grandma Denny!

Grandma Denny mailed the kids these darling cake pans. But they are not pans there plastic and flexible. I've never cooked with such things, but the kids thought it was just the best thing yet! I was actually surprised how well they turned out. The kids thought it was the best cake because I didn't even cut it into pieces, they just tore off the pieces they wanted. Thanks for the fun.

My Food Storage Deals on TV!!

Yeah, that's right we have someone famous in the fam! Way to go Shandra. My sister Shandra was on KSL 5 for her business My Food Storage Deals.com. It made for a very fun and exciting day. You can watch her again on KBYU 11 Monday at noon. I think that the KSL clip on her was fantastic. We had a great party here on Friday night to watch her on the news. The moment they did the lead in on her we all screamed and screamed!!! Go to the link and take a look. Or you can view it on the side of my blog.

Here's the link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=172&sid=5404881

Kids...Kids...Kids...Kids...

Yeah, it's that time of year again that I get to watch LOTS of kids. I'm not complaining because it's really fun for me to see what kind of a mom would I be if I had more than two kids...How about SIX kids? I must admit, I'd go to bed earlier and I'd wake up earlier. But isn't that what we've been told to do? I think so. Anyways, a couple of other things I've realized is that I enjoy having the kids all different ages. I was able to use the "buddy" system. The old kids help the younger ones. Somehow we kept the house clean and the dishes done. For me on a normal day that's impossible! But for the past two days I was so happy we were on top of the mess that kids inevitably make!This is Jake's and Isaac's favorite past time...Climbing, jumping, falling and climbing some more! They are really lucky we have a deep freezer that connects the couch and chair to add to their fun of jumping.
You're looking at Jake's new big boy bed! Well, just the mattress. It's actually a funny story. We got a phone call from Todd saying we could get a twin mattress for $20 from RC Willey. Shortly after that we got another phone call from my sister saying that Jake's crib was recalled! So needless to say he's being forced to sleep in a big boy bed. We've yet to try it out yet, but we will here shortly. Until it becomes a bed Jake and Isaac LOVE jumping and falling into it. They really are hilarious!

He's learning to read the newspaper already...just in a funny way!

So with me being in charge of the older kids that have to catch the school bus in the morning. Alayna insisted on walking them to the bus stop each morning! She was so funny because she grabbed my boots and was out the door. If you look closely you can see all the big kids at the corner and Alayna waving goodbye to them.

Cute get up girl friend! Her latest thing has been to say, "Mom, I was just born two years to late!" She is just wishing she could be in kindergarten with Olivia! The poor thing is just tortured everyday not having her cousin home to play with her.

Oh, this is a picture of the activity that Jake and Isaac decided to play when I went to get Alayna in the shower. I was in the middle of making dinner, they climbed up to the counter, grabbed the pepper and started shaking it everywhere! The end result was worse then having to vacuum it up. They both sneezed and rubbed their eyes which made them both start screaming saying while running down the hallway, "My eyes...My eyes!" So they both ended up getting in the bath and having to flush out their eyes.

Oh, and my SEVENTH child arrived today! My have experienced have 18 month old triplets! I think you always need an extra hand. Yes, for about an hour I had seven kids. Thankfully two were at school. But five kids under the age of 5! Now, that's a handful. We successfully got through lunch and all three made it alive till nap time! (I LOVE NAP TIME!) We just love this little Kennady! Krista if you wondering, she's still SMILING!

Kennady had her hair done from her Aunt Laurie...SO CUTE!

And here are my triplets sitting and laughing at Jared who came home for lunch! I got them all to sit on the stairs to try and get a cute picture. This is as good as it got! Cute kids.

So my work as a mother of SEVEN is done. I'm back to my two kids and Kennady for another day, until my mom takes over with her. Either way, three seems a walk in the park compared to SEVEN! Shan and Todd were able to go away for a romantic getaway to Midway...We planned it this way because they get to escape this week and next week it's our turn! So Shandra will be the mother of Six. Lucky her. I hope she survives. I must admit my Mom and Dad came up and helped me at night. I had way to many activities, work, YW basketball, a project, Jared gone working late, etc. It was impossible to do alone, so Thank You for helping out a daughter in need!!

Happy Birthday to Krista!

Krista has officially turned 25! Wow, we are all getting old. A funny thing about my childhood that always bothered me was that my younger sister had her birthday before me. This concept was so disturbing. I remember always feeling upset, sad and jealous because I was older so I should have my birthday first. Instead I would have to wait through her fun, presents, cake and party...then four days later it would finally be my birthday. It probably took about 10 years till my Grandma Aitken once said to me, "It doesn't mean she is older than you it's just that she was born on a different day earlier in the year than you." Finally my age and maturity had finally kicked in and what she said made sense. But I've always remembered it bothering me. It could have been the combination of the birthday thing and that people would always think she and I were twins or that I was younger because she was tall and I was short! Oh, the complexes I was given as a child. No worries now, I clearly understand that she is younger and cute at that! Happy Birthday!!

This had to be the highlight of the night. After dinner and cake we went to the church to play dodge ball and a good game of basketball. Once we tried out dodge ball and it didn't really seem to come together, we tried bball. So with two pregnant ladies and Krista who has never played since Junior High we were a pathetic group at that. The best moment was when Ange "SLOW BREAK" (instead of a fast break!) down the court trying to make a score when we were chasing after her. Krista came to her rescue and said, "Ange, go while no one else is coming!" It was hilarious because she had put her arm around her as if to help gently guide her down the court...very slowly! Anyways, we were stuck laughing so hard at watching the pregnant ladies play basketball! Hey, we had a great work out and it was full of laughs. So fun!