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!!!

Gardener Village

I can't get enough of his smile...Happy Fall...This is a standard family tradition. It's a MUST in the month of October. My kids look forward to this for days. So we decided to go before it starts getting to chilly! It was beautiful weather. Awesome.

Here is our happy child. Seriously, smile little buddy! But it was a great shot to show our avid readers out there that he got a hair cut. This morning, I looked over at him in his pajamas and realized what a MOP that kid had on his face. So I decided to do the dangerous thing of trimming a 11 month old baby head of hair.

Thankfully he did ok. The crazy thing is that I cut nearly an inch off everywhere. His hair is still super long, but at least it's NOT on his eyes, ears and neck anymore.

This is a genuine smile of complete delight that he heard the Monster Mash song playing. He's adorable.

He of course started dancing. I hope this child doesn't ever loose his love for life. He inspires me everyday to seize the moment and live!

Our cute kiddos enjoying finding all the witches.

Who knew my kids were so into crafts. They kept pointing out these crafty pumpkins all over and asking if I would buy them...um no. But they were really cute.

The hot dog witch.

The bike riding witch.

I was SO glad that Jared left work early to join the fun. For 20 minutes I braved the village alone with the four kids and it...was...intense. Considering Caleb loves to run and dance and see and touch everything! So Jared quickly became GLUED to Caleb. Thankfully, we all made it home safely.

The happy family.

We love October!

Really we LOVE the month of October. If there is any excuse to make sugar cookies for a holiday we are all over it. The kids LOVE these sugar cookies, and so do the neighbors! So we love to make a huge double batch, load up the stroller and go out and deliver. Yum.

The cute kids working together.

 

Seriously, who doesn't love sugar cookies. To be honest, I NEVER have liked them until my darling friend shared a great recipe with me. Since then, sadly I could devour too many to mention. But a few times a year doesn't hurt anyone!

The kids of course picked the largest cookie to frost and eat...the giant haunted house.

My cute little princess.

She LOVES to bake. It's been really fun because lately she's been really hands on in the kitchen. It's been fun to see her actually being capable of cooking and understanding cooking concepts.

So we had a quick visit from our favorite sister-in-law Ashley from Texas. The kids were THRILLED all day looking forward for our visit with her.

Lovely picture of Jake's photography skills.

Costumes...well, this isn't what Alayna is this year, but she had a Halloween dress-up birthday party. I was out of town and this is what Jared came up with. What a good dad to figure something out!

I love this picture of Jake. Lately, my kids have become more and more responsible for themselves. I attempted to make him breakfast one morning and he said, "That's okay mom but I'd like to make my own healthy breakfast!" Well, okay then! So off he went and this is what he came up with. Cereal with strawberries and bananas. I realized my kids can live with out me!

Now, on to our chubby shag haired baby.

I told you he's a chubster!

This is his newest hobby or trick. He has DUCKY lips NON-STOP. It's hilarious. He's forming all sorts of sounds and mumblings and it's so cute to watch him because he keeps pursing his little lips.

My posing boys. They wanted me to take a picture of the beanbags bottom...funny kids.

Our crawling baby.

My favorite boys to hang with all morning long.

These two play so well together. From the moment Alayna leaves on the bus to school till its kindergarten time for Jake they play, play play!

See the ducky lips...

A mother of any boy will appreciate this picture. So I found my kids on the counter rocking out to Pandora toddler music...and then I over hear them saying, "You stink...No you do...It's totally you...I don't stink...You do!" Yeah, so pretty much boys are stinky and they never want to admit that it was them. I was just cracking up at how silly they are together!

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!

Mr. Slowman

I guess I'm starting to realize that boys like toys...I mean, my boys turn everyday toys into BIG BOY toys...pretty much it's adorable. Caleb rides his hot wheel like he's a wild man. It's honestly one of my favorite things to see him be crazy and ride bikes. He plows in to his orange cones and loves to see how far they fly.

Then there is Jake. He's on his way to being another crazy kid too. He recently has started calling his bike is Motorcycle. He insists on always wearing his sunglasses and finger gloves while riding his motorcycle.

Cool Man.

Here is a serious biker in the making.

Caleb's famous hot wheel pose. Just for the record Caleb calls his motorcycle...a MiterSickle. We laugh in hysterics, because it sounds so darling!

Let me introduce you to our newest member of the family....Mr. Slowman. Yeah, the kids are CRAZY outside and so I've become a little more nervous over time of the street we live on. So to help out those fast drivers, we put this Mr. Slowman out and help remind those drives to SLOW DOWN and look out for all the crazy kids on this street!

My favorite Jacob. Seriously, he's adorable.