Deals to Meals Appreciation Dinner...

aka...an excuse to go somewhere fancy! Let's just say that Todd works the City Deals website for coupons. He found some coupons for La Caille. We have never been there and we will probably not go back, because of the $$$$$$$$$ (price tag). But with our cheap "dinner" at Italian Village, we went on over to La Caille for appetizers and dessert. I think this is the first time that the four girls and husbands have ever been out to eat to dinner. We had such a FUN time together. I must admit I have the most handsome husband and the most beautiful sisters. I love these gals. Thank you for being such amazing, talented, funny, uplifting and entertaining sisters! I can't just mention them and not my bro-in-law's because honestly, I love them so deeply too! To sum it all up I am one lucky girl to have 8 amazing people to hang out with and have such a fun time. Thanks for the memories!

Krista, Diana, Shandra and Angela

We all had a great night of laughter, tears (me choking on an oyster!), a very small amount of food, a little alcohol (ask Shandra & Riley), talk of going on a cruise together, and laughing some more! We had a great night. Thanks Shan and Todd for a fun (cheap) evening.

Oh, and a little romance! :)

Here's to my next hobby...

Digital Scrapbooking is a delight. Wow, who knew you could have so much fun scrapbooking again? I most certainly did not think I would ever say those words in my home again, "scrapbooking" I just shutter thinking about it! Until, it turned digital did I even have a desire to do it again. Anyways, with the help of friends and my sisters I have entered into the new age. Let's just say I'm hooked. I just ordered tons of pages from Costco, and I am officially caught up with my kids. Really, who can say that? Anyways, I'm excited to get started with some family journals again. Here's to yet another past time. Oh, my baby is getting so big! He is around 14 months now and I can't believe how cute he was so long ago!!

These pages are just the title pages to the kids "Birthday Letters" as we call them. Jared and I write a letter and keep notes on what the kids are up to for the year. It honestly is a darling idea and the kids just love their own personalized books.

Jacob's 3 year old birthday letter.

Alayna's 4 year old birthday letter.

Caleb's New Tricks

I think of all the toys that are age appropriate it would be this little tikes slide. It honestly has been LOVED by all three kids around the 1 year mark. It continues to be loved by all ages of kids but once Caleb learned how to climb up the ladder on it he was off. He loves it! My favorite part about it is he climbs up on top, stops and says, "Mum" in a very direct voice that says, "Look at me mom!" He waits till I acknowledge him and then I give my approval to go down and then he squils with delight as he slides down!

Caleb saying "Mum!!" aka "watch me!"

Here would be his smile of approval with this toy! I told you he loves it!!!

Or, here would be his other position. Him snuggling on my leg trying to get my attention while I am busy on my lap top. (I have recently fallin in LOVE with digital scrapbooking) So let's just say that any spare moment I get (with the three monkies generally not around!) I do it! The kids happened to be watching a show and Caleb was ready for bed so I pulled it out thinking I could squeeze in a few more digital pages before I was needed as a mom again...but until Caleb went to bed it was impossible to accomplish anything! I just had to take a picture of how this little guy is when the laptop is around! Good think I love you more Caleb than digital scrapbooking, that's why I wait for you to go to bed!!! :)

Family Field Trip

Kennecot Copper Mine - Free Day
Jake: "Mom, we are at a big whole in the errrf" aka earth

All 13 grandkids

Here would be the miniture scale of all the BIG tractors outside. All the boys "picked" which one they would like to have. Jake and Isaac picked the same one and let's just say that they both couldn't give in and pick another one. Isaac stood firm and Jake started to cry. He really didn't want to share it or give Isaac the chance to stand by it. We tried to explain they were just looking at them, and wouldn't take them home but sadly this ended in a huge tantrum and screaming crying on the floor.

Finally after several minutes Isaac lost interest in this "pretend" tractor and Jake stood firm. He wouldn't budge. We eventually had to peel him away from the glass. He WANTED that tractor! Sorry little guy there wasn't a gift shop or else I think we would have given in and got you one. But when we arrived home Jake found his cute chubby tractors that I think Brian & Ashley got him for Christmas. So he hasn't let them out of his sight since then. It was a fun little free outing!

Happy Anniversary

Here is to 9 years of marriage...yeah, you read that right! We must be getting old? Or maybe we just married young? Either way, it's been the best journey and adventure yet. To celebrate this adventure we have spaced all our celebrations over the next few weeks. But the first one was yesterday morning going mountain biking. (Thanks to those that watched the monkies!!)

Let's just say, that I was worked over harder than running my 13.2 mile half marathon. Well maybe not that hard but it was a close runner up! Either way it did make for a FUN morning. Jared, don't worry I will go again! I promise. The good news is yesterday I thought for certain I would be SUPER sore...but today has come and I'm great. So maybe running all the miles I do each week it counting for something?

Here's to another great year of spending time together doing FUN things! I love you more than I did the day I married you!!! :)

Wild 4th of July Weekend...

Here are the five little grandkids. We just can't get enough of this group of kiddos.
Logan, Jake, Kennady, Isaac and Sawyer

Here we are sitting enjoying the "candy parade" aka Riverton Parade.

We love the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Provo. For any of you that are reading this we would LOVE to have you join this HUGE crowd next year!

Here's to our attempt of getting all 13 grandkids on one tree branch. All in order of age...Kierra, Conner, Olivia, Alayna, Logan, Sawyer, Isaac, Jake, Kennady, Everett, Caleb, Rigdon and new baby Blake. (Yes, there are a few dad's hiding in the background to hold up the little ones!)

The weekend was fast, long, and really FUN weekend. Let's just say that I am glad to have a clean house and things back in order again. I do love the fireworks and I am sad that we have to wait another year for them again! Oh, I love the summer traditions!

Dinner Questions...

Thanks to my good friend Emily, who really has the BEST parenting, family and fun kid ideas ever. She introduced me to Table Topics. She gave me some for my birthday and my kids LOVED them. So we purchased more when they were on sale at Amazon. Anyways, my kids love this ritual at dinner around the table. I must admit it has developed a sense of "family" and discussion. Our kids have named our dinner table as the "family table" they love asking, "Are we eating at the family table today?" I really hadn't used our "family table" because Jared works most nights until about 6:30-7pm. Which I tend to have dinner done and over with by 6pm. So I used to just throw the food at the kids at the counter and sit there. Until Em, gave me the encouragement to at least do it the two nights Jared was home. So we started there and we now eat dinner at the family table anytime I cook dinner...which changes from week to week. Oh, the other reason I love these questions is because we tell the kids they have to take a bite before we ask another one. And for those of you who know my kids you know that they need all the encouragement they can get to eat ANY food! (Why don't I have this problem??)
Alayna's Question:

Me: "What's the first thing you'd do if you were President of the United States of America?"
Alayna: Deep sigh..."Wow, that's a big job."Me: Yes, it is.
Alayna: But that's for only boys mom not girls.
Me: Well, actually a woman ran for President during the last election.
Alayna: Wow! Really?Me: Yup.
Alayna: another deep sigh, "The first thing I would do if I were the President is I would pray to Heavenly Father and ask Him what I should do first! That's the only way I would know what to do!"
Me: Well, that's an adorable answer. Big sigh and hug from me!
What an adorable answer. Moments and conversations like this honestly just give you that little "pay day" or "pat on the back" as a mom. Here is Jake's answer.

Me: What's the first thing you'd do if you were President of the United States of America?
Jake: Um...long distracted pause, then finally..."I would find Wyatt?
Me: a little confused I asked, "Who's Wyatt, Jake?"
Jake: he laughs and rolls his eyes in that silly Jakey way, like come on mom...then he says, "On, Super Why Mom, he's a Super Hero"
Me: What would he do to help you as President, Jake?
Jake: "He'd look in a book!"
Me: So cute!
For those of you who don't have Super Why playing at your house on a regular basis you learn that the Super Hero's (Wyatt, Princess P, Alpha Pig, and Red) are faced with problems and then they try and solve it by looking in a book! This is a typical Jake answer, something to do with Super Why, Lighting McQueen or BYU Football. I should have guessed he would have tied in the answer to one of his three favorite things in life!

I think that both of my kids would do a good job as president what do you think? First pray, then look in a book! Adorable.

Reading to a 1 yr old...

As each of my children have grown out of the newborn stage I think I have forgotten what to do. Seriously, reading books with Alayna and Jake is a daily event at their ages of 5 and 3. But then there is little Caleb who I would have "thought" would just squirm off my lap and wiggle down. But then one quiet afternoon I picked him up to snuggle and I grabbed a book...Yes, I'm a horrible parent. It was my first book I "read" to just him. Yes, on Sunday he looks at books that I prop up at him during Sacrament meeting to keep him quiet, but to actually read to just him it hasn't happened. So to my surprise he sat so cute and excited on my lap. He LOVED it! I was having such a great time with his excitement that I had to have Jared do the same thing with him today. So as usual I had to snap a photo to document his love and excitement for books! I hope it continues because his other two siblings LOVE books, so I will need his love to continue!

Seriously, here is a cute kid. Well, now that I have crossed this milestone of opening up books and reading to him. I guess it's time to put books in his bedroom now to read to him more at nap and night time.

Here is his other trick. He pushes the stool over to the counter to attempt to climb up. I watch him carefully as he was plotting to make steps out of my kitchen drawers. Jared and I were thinking he was a little out of control, more than the other kids until we found a picture of Jake standing on laundry baskets, his high chair and doing the same things as Caleb. So we were quickly reminded that they ALL do the same things! I guess he's not as aggressive and wild as we thought! That's just ALL of our kids in general. Good thing we LOVE them! :)

Herriman Town Days...

Honestly, does it get any better than the SUMMER HOLIDAYS? I think not. There is something about dressing the kiddos up in red, white and blue and just loving every minute of it. For me, it's the traditions. From early morning until night. I love having those warm hot days of fun outside. Why we haven't incorporated some swimming in it yet I don't know! So Shan & Todd put up that pool!!! Anyways, here we are representing our little family at the Herriman parade on Saturday morning. (Jared was at the church doing the monthly cleaning...way to go honey!) I woke up early at 5:45am to run a long (7 mile) run with Camille. We had debated back and forth to run the Herriman 10k...but when we heard the starting time was 7am...we passed...because we KNOW how HOT it gets...and then to run 6 miles in the heat...NO THANK YOU! So just as we were finishing we were passing all the runners. Oh, boy did it feel great to run, be done and to have done it for FREE! (That paid for our pizza later that night!)

Jake & Isaac enjoying the parade...I love how TALL Isaac is and how SHORT Jake is.

Jake, Isaac, Conner and Olivia. Alayna & Kierra went to a cabin with my parents. They returned for the fireworks but missed the parade.

Here is a cute family picture of us sporting once again the RED, WHITE and BLUE! The fireworks were great again as usual! We can't wait for Riverton next weekend!!!!

Haircuts, Sandwiches and Walking...

The day had to come...I know some of you mothers out there are yelling at me in that "how-dare-you-ever-cut-a-babies" hair kind of voice...but it had to be done! When you realize your little guy has more of a mullet and curls than any "boy haircut" than it must be done. Sorry, I had taken enough. Loved the "old-man" look and "shag" but the buzz had to come eventually!

Goodbye LONG hair!

Hello "dorky" baby as Jared called him! Yes, his hair grows VeRy CrOoKeD...Oh, the joys....What did I uncover? And the teeth...I have to admit this picture just makes me LAUGH and giggle as I look at it. He's just adorable, with or with out hair.We also like to call him Mr. Cheese...

Does he really look that different without all those long locks of hair??

Here is Jake's new Summer look..he informed me that he would like to be referred to as "baldie." As for Alayna I warned her last night that if she did not allow me to "do her hair" today than I would cut her hair too. She reluctantly agreed to letting me do it, she looked adorable. (I just didn't get a picture of it until after she took a bath!)
Here is to a "family sandwich" the kids thought they were so funny tonight when they started jumping and laying on Jared. Then they decided they were going to make a sandwich. Dad's the bread, Alayna is the meat, Jake's the lettuce and Caleb was the cheese. I was the bread but then they changed me to be the one to eat the sandwich and Caleb was the bread. Really does it get any better than some quality family time on a great summer evening? I think not!Yes, he is walking. He officially today has taken off. He also has learned how to get in a standing position from a sitting one. My little guy is getting big!
I also had to document Caleb's favorite words, "No-No" sad but true they are his first words. This would be him going over to the BBQ and trying to touch it...then repeating to us, "no-no!" He also says, done or "dun" and "eh-dun" for all done, and who can't forget, "ah-oh" yes, the Uh-Oh has arrived. Oh, he also points to everything saying, "thisss?". He has turned into a major jabbering baby who really, let's his presence known. He is a handful at home and at church! Ah, you have to love this age from 1 years to 18 months!!! :) (Yes, you did read TONS of sarcasm in that sentence!)

Many things...

Congratulations are in order...Baby Blake Madsen was born today at 3:45pm weighing in at 9 lbs 1 oz...Way to go Shan and Todd he is another chubber and SO adorable.

From one baby to another...well this is my cute baby. We just couldn't get enough of this little thumb sucker. You see he loves his thermal blanket. Now, we have him leave his blankie in his crib. But when baby Rigdon comes to our house Caleb instantly goes over to him and steals away his blanket.

Oh, just so cute!

And the only bad thing with the day... a Green Smoothie gone wrong. So here was my lunch (and sharing with 5 kids and my sister). But sadly I didn't screw on the bottom tight enough so when the frozen yogurt went in it exploded. Not to mention it exploded down the side of the stove. AHHH Thanks to Krista she helped me pull out the stove, clean everywhere. Sadly, the smoothie no longer held any interest to us because we thought we were cleaning up throw up. Really, as gross as it looks it was honestly the most annoying thing I have ever had to clean up. Yucky stuff. So I will take a few days off and I will try it again. I don't know that Krista will ever trust me again with a smoothie.