We are trying to get back into this . . .

This is our family now.  More to come later.

Baby Katie

Our sweet baby Katie came on June 6, 2011 at 7:24 pm. She weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. The kids adore her and are so sweet with her.

I guess it is time...

I guess it is time to post a blog. We have been so busy, but I will try to give a good update.

School started the end of August. I walked the girls to school and cried when Ashley entered the kindergarten doors. No looking back she just marched in. Brooke of course was more than happy to go back to school. She loves school!! Max and I just hang out now and try to get as much accomplished as I can.

Brooke was baptized in August and we are so happy that she made the decision to be baptized. She was so excited to be baptized.

I have been doing my best getting the kids where they need to go and keeping them well fed and clean. Mike is still working hard at BTJD and enjoys his job.

Right now I'm enjoying sitting at my table while the kids play with moon sand. Not exactly my favorite since it is very MESSY!!! But they have been sitting and talking to each other for the past half hour and are not getting bored so I'll take the mess.!!!

Life

As I sit here with no one around, but me and my thoughts and the noise of fireworks outside I decided that maybe I should take a few minutes to update our blog. There is so much that has happened in the past 6 months: birthdays, our anniversary, other fun holidays like Easter, and Memorial Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day. The list goes on and on. I can't believe how quickly time goes by. As I think about that I get worried and think, "Do my kids know how much I love them?" Do they know that I have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and the atonement and the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?" Do I do enough with them that they'll always remember the fun things we did rather than the nagging of please clean your room or please go practice like I asked you too. This causes me stress and I often feel that I am not filling the role as a mother like they need me too or like I want too. Even though I don't feel adequate in the job I am doing I love my family so much and enjoy being with them.

In June Mike and I celebrated our 11th anniversary. Wow!! It is hard to believe that we have 3 kids and that we lived in Boston for 6 years. We have been through so much and I am happy that I have Mike by my side to help me raise the kids and to be my best friend. He has accomplished so much and I am proud of all that he has done. He always made his family and church a priority and everything else seemed to fall in place after some time.

Brooke is finally starting to get some of her adult teeth in. We have been calling her snaggle tooth for a while, but she takes it all in stride. She will be 8 on August 1 and will be baptized and we are so happy that she has made that decision. She is smart and beautiful and she always has such a quick smile. She'll be starting 3rd grade this fall and is happy that she doesn't have to move to a new school.

Ashley turned 5 and what a crack up!!!! She is hilarious. She picks up on jokes and phrases so quickly. One of her favorite movies is Monsters vs. Aliens. Her favorite line is "in fact I think that jello gave me the wrong phone number. She is looking forward to kindergarten. How do they grow up so quickly?

Max is a hand full. He is all boy. Everything he touches turns into a ball or a sword. I love there little imaginations. Yesterday he was playing with a stick and ended up scratching his eye (the cornea that is) and he was such a trooper. He is what we call our little surfer boy. He is tan and has curly white hair and looks like he belongs on some warm beach. He is definately a momma's boy.

There has obviously been many more things that I could say, but it would take much too long to write. Here are some random pictures so enjoy.

Here are some more pictures.

We're Back!

After a six month hiatus we have decided to return and update our blog. Things are going well. As you can see from the pictures we got a trampoline and can't seem to get the kids off of it. They jump for a few minutes then run to the swings and then run back and jump. It is nice to have them want to be outside so much. Now if we could only get the weather to cooperate.

Brooke finished second grade and was awarded the Golden Falcon Award. She was very proud and gave us a big toothless smile as she received her certificate. Ashley is getting geared up for Kindergarten and asks on a daily basis when we are moving back to Boston. (Sorry kid, we are staying here for a while). Max is learning to communicate and has learned to scream MOMMY!!!! WHERE ARE YOU? in the middle of the night . . . what a pleasant alarm clock. When he gets past this stage we will need to buy a rooster just to keep things real.

For anyone who cares

As I mentioned in our first installment today we have been super busy. Just for and update on the happenings of our family Mike still loves his job!!!! He is very busy, but he really enjoys it. He hopes to have more time to go golfing this year because he did not get to go last year. He loves wrestling with the kids and chasing them around the house. He is very patient and a great husband and father.

I have been busy trying to get my house organized and keeping up with the kids. Mike and I have also been trying to get our house all painted. We have spent many late nights painting, but it is now paying off. We have almost the whole main level of our house painted and it looks awesome. I am in the Orchestra on Temple Square and it has been such a great opportunity for me to play my viola!! I do love it.

Brooke is in the second grade and she loves school. She is doing very well and she is so confident which is great since she really struggled last year. She loves her little brother and sister and they love her so much as well. When she get home from school she is often tackled with hugs from them.

Ashley is in preschool and loves her teacher. She has learned so much this year. She is a riot and is cracking us up constantly. The other day she called her Grandma Wood and said, "Will you come pick me up and take me shopping?" She loves to go shopping!!!

Max is a busy little boy. He loves balls!!! Basketball, football, baseball any ball!!! Yesterday I was at Costco and he had brought in a little basketball. He kept saying hi to everyone and then showing them his ball and saying ball. Then as I was ready to checkout he layed down on the floor with his basketball in hand and yelled touch down, touch down. Obviously we need to help him learn the right lingo for each game.

Happy Pictures

Mike made me a book for Christmas entitled Happy!! We are a happy family and he put some of these pictures into my book. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

My birthday

Mike really wanted to take me to Disneyland for my birthday, but because we bought our house we were not able to go so we did a Disney birthday at home.

More random pictures

Some of these pictures were taken on a family reunion last August.

Excuses, Excuses

So I do have a lot of excuses as to why it has been so long since I have blogged. I think I enjoy looking at other blogs rather than updating my own and we moved yet again. I really do hate moving. Anyhow, we have been in our new house since November and we really do enjoy owning a home. We love having a fenced in backyard with a swing set (trampoline will be coming this spring for sure!!!!) and we love that our kids each have there own bedrooms. We finally have space and it is super great. Here are some pictures of random things.

Are you for real????

Last week I had an experience that made me feel very discouraged. Let me preface the whole situation. I called this woman in the morning because I needed to be fitted for a dress to be in an orchestra. I called her the morning on the day that the fitting was scheduled. Mind you there was no call by date or anything I was just told to call her. So anyhow while talking to her on the phone she started lecturing me that I should call earlier and implied that I was a rude person. I felt upset by the whole situation because all she needed to so was to say I'm sorry but I need advance notice for this. I would have been fine with that. I did not need a lecture!!! The whole day I was thinking to myself get over it everything is fine. Forgive, forget and move on. So I did, but then that night I got there and I was there right on time. I was being very courteous and told her I was sorry. After I tried on the dresses I found what I thought looked great on me. I went out and said I like this and she said well try on a smaller size. I was greatful for that, but then when I came back out to have her make sure that it looked all right she said well your tummy will go down after you get up and chase after your kids more. I was like, "Are you for real????" I did not say anything because I was shocked. I have lost over 30 pounds since January. I still have 5 more to go, but really? I could not believe that she said that. I mean really!!!! I left as soon as I could because I was so shocked. Anyhow it has caused me some grief these past few days and I'm struggling to get over this. I was feeling so great about what I had accomplished and was feeling real great because I'm getting so much faster in my running and I have more energy to chase after the kids and then she implies that I'm fat. Good grief. I need to get over it so if anyone has suggestions on how to move on please feel free to share.

Another funny thing.....

After swimming lessons last night we stayed and played for family swim time.  We had such a great time with the kids.  When it was time to go Brooke had to go to the bathroom.  Since it had been a long time I said, "Ashley why don't you come with us to the bathroom?"  Her reply was this and very loud, "Because I all ready peed in my swimsuit."  Well at that point it was too late to do anything but laugh!!!  Sorry for all those who went swimming while we were there.  When you gotta go you gotta go!!!

Death by Halogen Lamp

While Carol and I were updating the blog, this poor fly flew into the room and was drawn toward the halogen lamp next to the couch.  One moment later, we saw smoke rising from the lamp and the fly had met its end.  Goodbye fly.

We are still alive.

So much has happened since we last posted.  We did make it to Utah.  Yes it was a long drive and yes I would do it again!   The highlight of our trip was stopping in Minnesota and staying with the Teeples.  They were so gracious and we had such a great time!!!!!  

Since coming to Utah we have been so busy.  Mike worked and studied for the Utah BAR while I tried unsuccessfully to unpack and keep the kids happy and busy.  

Mike did take the bar and so today we went hiking at donut falls and then we stayed after the kids swimming lessons to play.  We have had such a fun day.  The kids loved being outdoors.  Max did not want to stay in the back pack we borrowed he wanted to run with the girls.  We did let him down and he was so happy to be free to run and pick up the rocks.  I was amazed at how well he kept up.  

On our way to swimming lessons today we said to Ashley look at the fire truck (which was right out her window, big and yellow, couldn't miss it) and she said exasperated, "but I can't see it"  to which we all laughed.  

Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment.

Funny conversation

On our way home today from church we had quite the conversation with the girls.  Brooke said, "Why is it called a sleepover when you're supposed to stay awake?"  I replied yea they should call it a wake-over.  That got Mike laughing.  Anyhow Brooke started to ask if she could have a sleepover and I said, "Let's wait until we get to Utah and then we can have a slumber party at our new house."  Of course she was excited about this.  Then I said we could have the party downstairs and everyone could sleep in a sleeping bag.  This got the juices flowing and she and Ashley were in the back saying, "We'll do make up and paint our nails and eat m & m's and have a pillow fight."  Ashley said, "and we can play Star Wars and I'll be Luke."  Brooke said, "We'll all have to be Princess Leah because we are all girls."  Ashley said, "but I want to be Luke."  Anyhow Mike and I were laughing so hard because they were throwing out all these fun ideas.  It will be fun to have some space to do some of these things that the girls have only heard of.  

Random pictures!!!

Brooke lost her first tooth.
Best friends!!!!!!  I love this picture.
They sure love dresses.  I have no idea where that love came from!!!
Max is past crawling, but I thought this was cute.

On April 25th we celebrated Max's 1st birthday!!!!  Its so much fun to have these great kids!!

In April we celebrated 2 birthdays!!!!!!  Ashley turned 4 on April 9th.  We celebrated her birthday on the 18th and had a great Star Wars birthday party.  Mike even made light sabers for everyone and they each got to do a Jedi training course and fight Darth Vader.  

This video is from a few months ago but was definitely blogworthy. 

Beach days are returning

The beach is called us, so we answered.