Hot Air Balloon Festival

This is so cool!
Waiting for the balloons to get filled up!

Having a fun EARLY morning once again at the Provo Hot Air Balloon Festival. Thanks to the Murphy's who introduced this GREAT early morning tradition on July 3rd. I really have enjoyed this tradition. It might be early, but it's wonderful and the kids love it.

The boys...

The girls...

Perry Family Summer BBQ

"All because two people fell in love..." is the perfect saying for these pictures. This is my Grandma Lucy (age 82 - I think?) and Grandpa Perry (age 87). These are my dad's parents. A few days back we were able to get together as an entire extended family for a bbq. It was neat to have all of my dad's siblings together and all family members except for like 8 people. This is a rare occasion because the Perry's are scattered in several different states.

My grandparents, Aunt Kathleen, Aunt Nancy, My Dad, Uncle Doug and Uncle Alan.

They entire Perry gang. WOW! I haven't taken the time to count up how many there are of us now. We sure do know how to have a fun time.

All the Great Grand kids! 19 great grand kids were present (Lilly was missing to make it an even 20) and there are TWO sets of twin boys on this side of the family.

This is my Dad's current posterity. We feel like we can never capture the "Perry" family because there are ALWAYS new babies coming in a few months. Krista and Riley are the next to have another little bundle of JOY...we are welcoming our SEVENTH-YES- 7th- BOY (Conner, Logan, Sawyer, Isaac, Jacob, Everett, Caleb and New baby boy Peck) to the Perry family of once all girls! We just laugh because we were once a family of only girls. Now the boys are taking over. We all love it, but my mom pulls for little baby girls every time!

Our little gang...Alayna, Jared, Caleb (6 weeks old), Me and Jakey!

Oh, I have to show this ADORABLE picture! These two kids win the award in our family as the two "Hams" mainly because they are so silly and have quite the personalities. We were so happy to actually capture a cute picture of the two of them together. That's Kennady doing her classic "CHEEEEESE" pose and Jake doing his sweet, "Cheese" face. You just have to love these kids. I'm sure they were extra happy we were letting them have so many yummy cupcakes! That would make me smile too!

6 weeks old and getting chubby!

Look at this chubby baby! Caleb is getting a little bigger than he started out. I love to have such small little babies and then watch them chub up after just a few short weeks.

I might be his mother but I think he has such a sweet little face.

I think he's even adorable when he's crying! He is such a good baby. He loves to sleep during the day. Jared laughed when I said, "No, he's napping right now!" Because Jared thinks he sleeps all day long and there is no way I could have a "schedule" for him. But I'm enjoying whatever sleepy pretend schedule he is on. I'm waiting for a few more hours during the night time to really feel back to normal! We love you baby Caleb.

Strollers?????

Is it just me or do we need to purchase a new stroller? Now that we have a 3rd little baby I think we just might have to give in and buy a double? A sit and stand? or to please Alayna I think she'd LOVE me to buy a triple stroller! I won't appease her and buy a triple but what are your suggestions for a newborn and Jake? Any suggestions are welcome!!! Our morning walks aren't very effective or fast, we are normally left in the dust!

Herriman Fireworks

Last weekend it was Herriman's Towndays. It was as usual a great night. What's better than pizza at the park and fireworks? Not to mention friends and family hanging out on blankets!


If you are wondering if Jacob is on a leash, well YES he is. I am that kind of parent. I must admit that we have lost this little "speedy" boy too many times. For some reason Jared and I lack that parental "keep track of our children" trait. So thanks to so many other inspired parents they help us keep track of our children. So finally had I had to pull back out the "monkey" for Jake to wear at this outing. The only problem is that we have to remember to keep the leash on our wrists. Thankfully, we were successful and he came back home with us again!

The boys fighting with the kid toys!

Ryan, Alayna and Jacob. These three little kids are in my opinion just like brother and sisters. I hope Emily agrees with me when I say they are so dang cute with each other. They really get along so well I love having Alayna know such cute kids that come from a great family! This WILL make a cute wedding photo one day...but who will she pick? Or which one will pick her?

Heaven on Earth!

Thanks to Grandma Suker who let me borrow a new recipe book the other day. I was feeling adventurous and wanting to bake up something (It was cold then not hot like it is today). So I thought, why not white rolls! Yum. Yum. Yum. These rolls are absolutely fabulous. I must admit they turned our perfect every time. I have since made them again, and again. And then my sister made them and they turned out perfectly for her too. So I think the recipe is a keeper. It was SUPER simple and they taste heavenly right out of the oven. I would recommend this recipe to anyone so I'm giving it to all of you to try. Let me know if they work out as well for you too! Good Luck...have some strawberry jam on hand because it's a perfect combo...Here come the next Thanksgiving rolls.

Crescent Rolls – (The Food Nanny – Liz Edmunds)
(makes 2 cookie sheets, 48 rolls, 24 on each pan)

4 T. yeast
½ c. + 2 T. warm Water

Mix together and allow sitting for 10 minutes.

Mix together very well in separate bowl:

6 eggs
1 c. oil
1 c. sugar

Warm milk in the microwave only until warm NOT scalding.
2 c. warm milk

Add egg mixture and warm milk to the yeast mixture. Mix all together until combined.

10-11 c. flour
2 T. salt

Add 1 cup of flour at a time until combined together. Continue to mix/knead for 5 minutes on med-high speed. Allow to raise 2-3 hours.

Separate dough into 6 even balls. Roll out each ball until the size of a dinner plate on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 8 pizza wedge slices. With each wedge, roll down ward wrapping bottom skinny bottom piece down and around to make pretty crescent shape. Place 3 rolls across and 8 down, 24 on each cookie sheet.

Allow to double in size while covered with clean dish towel (about 15 minutes). While raising on top of oven, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake one sheet at a time. Bake 6 minutes on bottom rack and then 5 minutes on middle shelf until light golden brown. (Before you take them out, double check the bottom to make sure they are golden brown, not too light they could be doughy). Once they are perfectly golden brown, brush tops with melted butter once removed.

Happy 4th of July Weekend!

So, I have a house...so now it means I have an extra table to decorate with holiday decorations. I told several people that I always wanted a "changing" seasonal table in our home. So I have found it's location.

I went to Roberts and picked up a few holiday goodies and came back to decorate it. I found Alayna sitting at the counter looking at the table. I said, "Alayna, what are you looking at?" she said, "My favorite new table...I like the little stars, mom!" So with that one comment I knew I had found the right things, I've always heard that kids love decorations for holidays. I think it makes it more "home-ee", if that's a word? Either way enjoy the busy weekend filled with bbq's and fireworks...oh and I can't forget my favorite...Salt Water Taffy! YUM

Always fun...

It's always fun as a new mom to go and share your little bundles of joy with great-grandparents. There is something special about that union, I think it's because great-grandparents are filled with wise wisdom and experience. They know to just cherish and adore these little babies.

I must admit that our little babies have been spoiled with such a loving family. We always make sure to bring our new babies over to visit Grandma Denny and Grandpa. These are Jared's mothers parents. I must admit that a part of me LOVES to share these little ones with Denice because she is the closet relative to Jacqui, Jared's mother. We often speak of how Jacqui is the last one to hold and hug our precious little babies up in heaven before they are sent down to us. Jared and I often wonder what his mother would have been like as a grandmother? Our first response that we come up with is she would have been the grandma that had the bumper sticker that says, "My grandkids are cuter than yours!" Jacqui LOVED her kids more than anything. So we know that she would have LOVED her grandkids even more!!

I am so thankful for Denice because she gives sound good advice, I appreciate it so much because I know it is the closest thing to what Jacqui would tell me. As a young mother I LOVE to hear how I need to not worry about dishes, clean houses, and simply sit back and snuggle and love my kids. One favorite thing she says each time she meets our new little babies is, "Oh, you are so loved...you have been born into a family who loves you so much!" I don't realize until that moment how true that is. These sweet little babies have been so blessed to be born into our family who on all sides love and are excited for them to be born. For that today I am thankful.

Here is Alayna loving the special toys Grandma Denny has for her to play with. One time Alayna said, "Why doesn't Grandma Denny have any toys at her house for me?" After Grandma Denny heard Alayna say that she keeps a special bag near by for her to do puzzles, markers, paper, paper dolls, etc. I must admit it makes for our visits so much more enjoyable.

Then there is Jake. He is too concerned what the kitty cat is doing to engage in really any activity.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

Yesterday events...I thought it would be a fun family outing to attend the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House together. I was so happy to have Randy & Danette attend and Grandma & Grandpa Suker come with us. It was a special experience to be in the temple as an extended family.

The weather was SUPER HOT and so it made picture taking moments very quick.

This was Alayna's 3rd time going to the open house and so knowing her personality I needed to give her something to pay extra attention too. Since we are hanging up pictures VERY slowly in our new house we have yet to pick picture for her room. I told her to recognize all the pictures in the temple, and she could pick anyone she wanted and we'd go get it to hang up in her room. I thought two things, one this was a great memory for her of attending the temple and second it would give me another excuse to hang up some pictures.

As we walked around I kept reminding her and she'd say, "I know mom...I am looking!" in her very I'm doing my own thing way. As the tour was ending we were walking down the very long stairway and she stopped dead in her tracks..."Mom, that is the one I want!" I looked up and here was a HUGE picture of the Savior. Later on I asked her why she picked this picture and she said, "It makes me feel happy...because it's of heaven. When I see it...it will help me remember we can see each other again when we are gone...and I won't miss you anymore...I love the angels...and being with Jesus again!" She has been blessed with a keen ability in recognizing sacred things. I am grateful for her sweet spirit and wanting to live with our Heavenly Father again.

As I walked around the temple holding my sweet little boy Caleb and following behind my little Jacob I couldn't be more thankful for them. Jacob from the very beginning of his life has been very keenly aware of the Savior, our Prophet and the Temples. Though he's still learning reverence during sacrament meeting he over all has a special reverence for sacred things.

Several weeks ago he was in the back seat of the car driving with me on bangerter highway as we passed by the Oquirrh Mountain temple. He had been to the open house a few days before and said, "Mom..Jakey see it...Temple...Special...so special!" It brought instant tears of gratitude to my eyes thinking of how the temple has already touched the heart of my little boy. So as I walked around watching him fold his arms on his own walking around the temple halls, even while we walked up the stairs, I couldn't help but notice this picture several times. My thoughts were of the Savior as a young child, being found in the temple teaching others. I love the youth of my children and how much they teach me of spiritual things. This very same morning Jake sat on the couch next to me as I was feeding Caleb, "Mom, read me Book Normon to me..." I am thankful to have helped remind these special children of the things they once new in heaven. So this picture we have picked for Jacob's room.

I must admit it was a wonderful experience, once again to have attended the open house. We followed the great afternoon by YUMMY food at the Texas Roadhouse...if anyone wants to go, just give me a call...ANYTIME!

Yum, Wow, First, and Cute.

Here is a shout out to Ashley in NY. Since you were not going to attend this family dinner...I was finally given the assignment for dessert. So guess where I turned to...you guessed it..."America's Test Kitchen Recipe Book" I picked Lemon Bars. Let's just say they were WONDERFUL!!! Since it was Father's Day...Jared and Randy's two favorites are lemon or spice cake, I had to go with something lemon. I recommend this recipe to everyone. When I have a second I will post it for you! (It does have a few tedious steps, but it was worth the hassle!) We missed you guys, the regular dinners won't be the same with out you! Lisa & Matt you are always missed!!

Here is to carrying on the family name. Jacob was the first boy in the family to carry on the "Suker" name. This made Grandpa Suker very proud. But now that he has two boys carrying the name he is SUPER excited. Here is to a four generation picture!
(Jared, Caleb - 4 weeks old, Jacob - 2 years, Randy, Harry)

It might have taken a month but we finally got our first family picture. Don't you love how well we coordinate! Missy, these family pictures have nothing on yours! ha ha ha At least we have one picture for posterity, right? It will have to do until we get the real deal. Any suggestions for photographers? THANKS.

I seem to always have to end with a cute new picture of my favorite little guy! How sweet is he?

For the love of KETCHUP!

Thanks to Grandpa Randy (Jared's Dad) he has passed on the LOVE for ketcup! Jacob can't seem to get enough of it...Oh, well I don't care for it so use it up and I won't have to smell it on his sticky little fingers ANYMORE!!!

"My Apple Shurit" says Jakey!

Thank you Uncle Brian and Aunt Ashley! We love our shirts. In fact, they both insisted on sleeping in them and then wearing them today. Jake some how thinks the "heart" is an apple? But hey, little does he know that NYC is the Big Apple! I did take some video of them opening the package, so I'll get around to uploading it. It was pretty funny because Alayna initially wanted the green shirt, just like you wanted to specify! Anyways, THANKS!

Screaming baby Caleb!

Happy baby Caleb! See it's not any too big! You would be surprised how an 8 lb baby can fit in pretty much anything!

The cutest little face of baby Caleb sleeping with Jared! What a cute squishy little face!!!!

Have you ever seen this before?

Here is an EARLY shout out to the worlds largest couch! Seriously, my bro-in-law Todd wins the award for the largest couch. It has 17 seat cushions and 21 back cushions. This truly can fit ALL of our family including the kids...not even squished! I can now see why he was excited to have us move out of his basement!!! He's been dreaming of this "theater" room for FOUR years and FINALLY he gets to enjoy his dream. I'm sure he misses us, but honestly to have a seat to watch a movie at his house will be great. I just had to post this because it's been such a fun thing to experience. When the new paint is up, movie pictures on the wall, popcorn popper up and ready and all the other great ideas he has for this room is finished I will take better pictures but until then, props to Todd for this great room! (or should I say Shandra for letting him fulfill his life long dream?) Either way, it will be LOVED by all of us!!! :)

My sweet baby...

I must admit some of my favorite days in life have been the Sundays I get to stay home with my newborn babies. I love to hold them for the three hours in peace and quiet. I also love the time I'm able to spend, thinking, pondering and writing in my journal on these days. It's amazing how time just passes so quickly in life. I just melt as I hold my little ones and think of the instant love I have for them. It's amazing how humbling it is to hold these sweet little angels.

He has been eating every three hours during the day. At night he does a 4-5 hour stretch then it's on the dot back to three hours. Several people have asked me how three kids are...well, I've lucked out having several people help me. This week will be the adventure, so I will report next week. I haven't had to cook yet...I took a week off from all jobs, activities, etc. Jared's back to work - normal schedule. So bring on bed time and all three kids, cooking, cleaning and all those other things mommies do every day! Wish me luck.

Caleb is a precious little guy. He's content, happy, eats well and I feel sleeps very well for a newborn. He does not enjoy bath time or diaper changes. He's very sensitive to changing his clothing, cold wipes, and baths.

He is very content and alert. He has dark eyes (They remind me of Alayna's eyes) and when he is awake he looks all around. I will keep all my extra mushy thoughts and feelings to my personal journal entries, but let's just say he has a special, extra special place in my heart.

Duck Tape...

My dad thought my kids were being a little too much like kids (NOISY!!!)...so here is another use for duck tape! This is only the beginning of noisy children! I wish you the best of luck!!!

Alayna thought it was funny.

Jake didn't understand it. He kept trying to put the duck tape back on, but the sticky side was stuck on his fingers.