He did it!!!

Josh Graduated from BYU-I on Friday December 16, 2011. What an awesome day, he did it, and we are so proud of him. He worked very hard to get through school.  It was not an easy task for him to work full time, go to school full time, and keep his family happy but he did it all.  We love him very much and think the world of him. I should say We all made it through with him, because when the dad goes to school and works the days become long and we all have to work together to get through the day. I am not going to lie I am so happy that he is done. At least for now, who knows what next year may hold. Masters anyone?

When the kids saw him after the first ceremony they ran to him and gave him the biggest hugs.

Us

Family that came to the second part of the graduation. Ryan and Lynette's family and Josh's Mom and Dad.

The family shot

This was in the big BYU Idaho Center. There were over 1,200 graduates this semester. Elder Quentin L. Cook came and spoke to all the graduates.

I have to say that we were seated in our seats at 4:30 and we didn't leave until 9:30. I was worried about how the kids would act and how well they would sit for both ceremonies, but they did really good. We did have a break in there to walk to a different building for the second one. It was a long day for all of us but we are so proud and happy for him.  Now onto Real life.   

Finally catching up... I guess thats what happens when you have a life.

We went to Troy and Ann's house for the weekend for two reasons. Nyah was getting baptized and Ryder was getting blessed. It turned out to be an amazing night. The week before for Thanksgiving Bailey broke out with Chicken pox. None of the other kids had so we assumed they would be alright for the big weekend. We got there Friday evening. When we were about an hour away from their house Spencer started saying his tummy hurt. We got him out went to the bathroom and said he felt better after that. Well ten minutes away from their house he threw up. We discovered that he gets car sick his limit is about three hours in the car and then he starts complaining his tummy hurts. This happened to us this summer when we went for a family reunion. So not just a one time thing. Anyway we got there in the evening with a fun mess to clean up and discovered that Ryder the baby was breaking out. Saturday morning Nyah and Rylee both broke out as well. We thought for sure that it wasn't going to happen but after talking to their Bishop he said it was okay if we did it after everyone had left the building. It was such and amazing experience to be a part of that. They ended up baptizing Nyah and blessing Ryder that night with just family members there. They will never forget that night. Hopefully my kids do not get chicken pox so far so good.

All nine of our kids their five and my four. 

Troy, Ryder, and Nyah

Nyah and Hannah
This week Hannah's class went on a field trip to Zions Bank and sang Christmas songs and decorated their tree. Their class worked all week on making different ornaments and filled the Christmas tree at the bank. The bank also surprised them with little cupcakes for them. Sorry the lighting was awful and my camera is crappy which equals not very good pictures.

Hannah's class she is in the blue dress on the front row.

By the tree they decorated.  Now I think I am all caught up until next week.  Like I said before that's what happens when I have a busy life this gets put on the back burner.  

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had fun at my parents house for Thanksgiving. We went down Tuesday night and came home late Saturday night. It was fun to get away for awhile. My brother Troy and Ann and their family came and we stayed up late talking and having fun. We did some cooking on Wed. so there wasn't that much to cook on Thursday.

My mom finishing up with the gravy.

Ann still plating everything.

After dinner my dad and I took these guys for a walk in his back yard down the canyon. They love to go walking down there and beg for someone to go with them every chance they can.

They love to take a different path and see which rocks they can climb up. The older ones try to pick the hardest path back up.

Spencer and I back on top. Don't you love his hat, he insisted on wearing it. At least he was warm I guess. He was told to find a hat when they went on 4-wheel rides and he thought he had to put it on every time he went outside.

There is always a Tea Party (which is really punch) at my moms house for the kids. They love it and have to be on their very best behavior for it. Obviously not for these pictures but that's what happens when you pull out the camera.

Rylee and Kaitlyn

Brody and Spencer what can I say about these two boys the picture says it all.

Makenzie and Bailey

Hannah and Nyah
It's always fun at grandma and grandpas house. We did many other things that week and lots of fun was had. I am also Thankful for everything in my life that I have been blessed with and still receive daily. I am grateful and Thankful for my family and the wonderful friends and examples they are to me and my family. The list could go on and on but I am truly grateful for the people in my life.

Red Ribbon Week

For Red Ribbon week they had an injury day, crazy hair, Hat day, you get the idea. Things that you normally wouldn't wear to school. My kids loved it they loved coming up with different ideas through out the week.

For their injury day they came up with wrapping their arm and two of their fingers. Makenzie also added a bunch of socks to one foot for a broken foot. The wrap we got when Kaitlyn had to have an IV put in.  It worked great for them.  

The kids with their crazy hair. This is what happens when you put curlers in their hair when it is wet and then send them to bed. As you can tell I didn't get a picture everyday but you get the idea. It's fun for them to come up with different things. I think they had more fun planning all of their ideas than actually following through with all of them.

Veterans Day

On Veterans Day the Elementary School puts on a program that is really good. They have always had the Kindergarten classes and the 5th grade classes do the singing part. This year that meant Kaitlyn and Makenzie would both be singing. They do such a good job honoring those that have served and are serving it brings tears to my eyes every year.

Kaitlyn

Makenzie in the middle

Makenzie announcing my cousin and her uncle who is serving and who did serve.

This is my cousin Matt. We had the opportunity to get to know him a little better, when his brother was in an accident and was hospitalized here in town he was serving in Japan. While his brother Daniel was in critical condition he got leave to come visit him and then his leave turned into work over here for a month. He lived with us while he was working and visiting his family at the hospital. It turned out nice to have him come and be honored by the kids. My kids got to know him very well and loved having him around.

Better late than never...

Lets start with Halloween. We carved pumpkins, kids had a school parade, a carnival night, and too many chances to go trick or treating.

Spencer loved his pumpkin it was super easy for him to do. He loved everything about carving pumpkins. He had to make a scary face and the girls followed suit.

Hannah

Kaitlyn

Makenzie

This is the only picture I have of them all together in their costumes. You would think with as many times as they wore them this year I would have way more but I don't. Hannah and Kaitlyn were witches, Makenzie was a Hippie girl, and Spencer a lion.

Kaitlyn turned 6

My baby girl turned six. Where has the time gone? I know I am supposed to be happy that she had a birthday but she is my baby girl she is supposed to stay little forever right? She is my quiet one as long as nobody is bugging her she could play for hours by herself. I asked what her favorite things were this year and she said: playing with cousins, petting dogs, going to the zoo, and riding bikes. Her favorite colors were pink and purple. Her favorite foods were Lasagna, Cheese quesadilla with bacon bits in it, Macaroni, Salad, and Potato soup. On her birthday she asked for Lasagna and as I was dishing up her plate I asked if she wanted salad on her plate and she said "no mom I don't like salad" silly girl. When asking her what kind of cake she wanted she couldn't decide so I was looking some up and she saw a guitar cake and said that's what she wanted so here is my attempt.

She was pretty excited about it and I guess that's all that matters.

It doesn't take much to make her happy and I am so grateful for that. She will always be my baby girl no matter how old she turns. We love her so much and she makes everyone smile daily.

October Snow

So much for fall here comes winter. The first week of October and it snowed. My kids were so excited to get outside and play in the snow. Me not so excited to pull out the snow gear yet, and it takes way longer to get them all dressed in winter clothes only for them to come back in after five minutes asking for hot chocolate. Sadly this was the only picture I got because Makenzie is the only one who stayed outside long enough to want her picture taken.

My kids love playing in the snow and are really excited for the snow to come and stay. I would love to enjoy fall a little longer before we see snow again.

Sick Days

We have had a rough couple of weeks of kids being sick. Kaitlyn started off with Strep Throat but quickly became worse and eventually getting an IV in her arm and pumping fluids in for a couple of hours. She started not feeling well on Saturday and by Sunday she had a fever and was not eating anything I was forcing her to take drinks all day long but my efforts were not enough to keep her from getting dehydrated. Monday morning I got her into to the doctor first thing in the morning and she confirmed it was Strep took some more blood work from her and sent me home with an antibiotic. The doctor also said that after her blood work came back in she would most likely be sending me to the hospital. We came home and she fell asleep and about an hour later the doctor called me back saying I need to bring her in right away and give her an antibiotic shot and then send me to the hospital. We got back to the Doctor's office and they gave her a shot and Kaitlyn started crying when they did that but because she was so dehydrated she didn't even have any tears. I felt awful but the doctor said I could pick between going to the hospital for the night or going to the out patient services and doing it. The only difference is we would be at home for the night. We chose to go that route so she sent us over to get the IV in and we sat in the office for a couple of hours while she got fluids put back in her. They wrapped her had up tight and sent me home with instructions on how to flush the IV and that I needed to do it every couple of hours. Tuesday morning Kaitlyn walked into the doctors office and told her she felt better(which was huge for her since the day before I was carrying her and she wasn't talking to anyone), the doctor still took more blood work to see where her numbers were at before they took her IV out. What a difference fluids can make in your body. Even after getting the fluids in her body she started to perk up a little bit. I am so glad my kids are healthy. Kaitlyn was such a trooper through the whole thing the only time she cried was for the shot.

She was excited to eat Popsicles for the next couple of days too. Even after she was starting to feel better she would ask me if she could just have a Popsicle. Sneaky little girl.

Daddy Daughter Date...

Makenzie and Josh had a Daddy Daughter Date for Activity Days and they had to make a car out of card board. This is what they came up with. They had dinner at a drive-thru window. They also had to go through an obstacle course of sorts and do different things, like eat chocolate doughnuts, and drink milk through a funnel, walk in a straight line after spinning around ten times, and clean the water off their glasses after they got sprayed. Makenzie and Josh had a lot of fun I am glad they got to be a part of it. They came home with an award for their car for the "biggest and baddest." It was fun hearing all of their fun stories.

This little boy had a birthday

My little blond hair, blue eyed boy is growing up. As much as I want him to stay sweet and little he is getting bigger and there is nothing I can do to stop it. He turned four this month and was so excited for his Birthday. Just this month he has shown us how big he thinks he really is by cutting his own hair, riding Makenzie's bike, and plays angry birds like nobody else. He can also be very sweet one minute and then be very mad the next. With the girls there is a lot of building up to the mad/sad stage but not with Spencer. I say all the time how very different he has been compared to the girls and I guess he should be because he is a boy. I love when he is very sweet and cuddly and we are all trying very hard  to tame the mad/sad little boy. He loves his sisters very much and has to do everything they do no matter what it is. He loves to wrestle with his dad and if it doesn't happen daily then he tries to wrestle his sisters, mostly Kaitlyn. He still loves every thing about motorcycles and being outside. He definitely makes all of our lives more interesting but for the better.

Here he is just days before his haircut. Look at all that hair.

Then I gave him a trim and then he decided to take a chunk out all by himself.  He is hiding his face because he didn't want anyone to see it.  Not like we could have missed it.  

After he cut his own hair there was no choice but to shave the rest off. When we cut the rest off the first thing he said was "now I am bald like Uncle Troy." For days people would ask what happen to his hair and he would give them the same response "I'm bald like my Uncle Troy." He was so funny about it my brother Troy would ask him every time he saw him if he wanted his hair cut like his and Spencer would say no way. So it was only fitting when we saw my brother to get their picture together. He ran right up to him and said "Uncle Troy now I am bald like you." So funny.

He also showed us that with some one helping him get on the big pink bike he can ride it. When he wants off he just jumps off to the side.

For his birthday this year it was only fitting to do a motorcycle birthday cake. I saw this cake on family fun.com and out of all the cakes I have made for the kids this one was probably the easiest. Maybe because Josh was there to help me this time but I thought it was pretty easy. The most important part was that he loved it.

Love this picture of him while everyone is singing to him. Look how happy he is. What more can I say we love this little boy.

Bee stings...

While we were visiting my parents Kaitlyn was stung by something right on her lip. Poor girl it got so swollen so fast. She has been stung before and she has never reacted this way to a sting. Of course being away I had no medicine on me only Tylenol so I ran to the store and picked up some Ibuprofen and some Benadryl. Her lip was swollen for a couple of days but by the end of the night it had gone down quit a bit. She was so good about the whole thing. Who needs botox when you can get a bee sting.