Lucy 6 months

Seriously...I look forward to doing this every month.  I love taking just a few minutes really to take Lucy's picture and just soak up all of her yummy, cuteness!!! These pics were taken right before a nap and she is still so happy and photogenic. 
So different than she was when she was younger...(but let's forget about that!)

Lucy absolutely brightens my day and everyone she meets.  She LOVES to smile and gurgle and talk to people.  Today I took her to the mall and she just stared at everyone...until they looked at her, then she smiled. 

Lucy sits really well now and grabs her toes and rolls around...but not rolling...(does that make sense?) Anyway, she is eating now.  We just started her a week ago and she LOVES food.  She eats everything we have introduced, sweet potatoes, squash, bananas, rice cereal, apple sauce....you name it. 

She is teething right now, so her sleeping isn't great.  It was getting pretty consistent though with one wake a night and going down unassisted.  We swaddled her right up until just about a week ago...then I decided she was just "too old" for that.  We love this little, chunky bear!!!
 

 

These legs!

 

 

Her eyes are beautiful.

 

Conference Sunday

The kids have been very quiet and well behaved this conference go around. I am loving our sweet little family. Especially grateful for sweet Lucy.... Today marks the day I went into labor six months ago....as we timed contractions all during conference in Oct. Glad to have her chilling in my lap and not trying to get out of me!!

Easter

I was super excited about Easter this year. I made dresses for the girls weeks ago and spent way to much time and energy trying to get outfits for me and the boys as well. Then on sat we cleaned and prepared for family to join us for Sunday dinner....only to find Lucy and myself super sick sat night.   I was super bummed out. Luckily the throwing up subsided by the next day but I still didn't feel well enough to have anyone over. So the kids decorated eggs in the am and went off to church. I was so sad to miss church. It is always even better on easter. Jake even taught one of the lessons.

All in all we still had a wonderful day together as a family and a lovely dinner. I am grateful to know that Easter means much more than Easter eggs or Sunday dresses. I am grateful for our Savior and the resurrection. Happy Easter. Happy news we will all live again after this life. Now on to care for poor Spencer... Looks like the stomach bug found a new friend.

Pinewood Derby

This new calling has been so much fun cause I get to do a lot of it with my friends and my family!  Jake was the MC for the night and opened the race up with the boys running out to a flashing strobe light and the phoenix suns music!  It really was cool. Weston got to be involved this race because his friend Brigham made a car but was out of town.  I made a THE RED WAGON myself. I won one race on one track.  haha
Things moved well and we had yummy treats.  I think it was a success.  No one cried or got annoyed...(except me.) But I always do cause I feel a lot of stress being in charge.  Not really my strength being the boss.  I get rather grumpy and bossy cause I would rather be laughing and chilling while someone else is doing the planning and executing.  Luckily no one has complained yet. I am learning a lot about myself and how to be more organized. I am grateful for all the other people who put so much work into their callings.  It really does take a village to raise these kids!!
Plus, I always end up smiling in the
end!!
  
Awards 

 

The pit stop!

Roadkill...Derby Racers and Old Tires for dessert. 

 

 

The winner of the night! Zack built an awesome skateboard and WON!!
 

I hate this pic of me.  Not my best angle.
 

 

 

SCHOOL PICS

Full disclosure....I had no IDEA that it was picture day...but they are still cute regardless. 

 

Recent Fun.

So here a few pics of recent things we have been doing to enjoy this beautiful weather.  During Spring break we went miniature golfing.  Always fun...always a little too competitive.  This time Jake and I were on a team...and we did good, I have to say.

 

 

Aubrey looked specifically an outfit for golf. She is funny.

 

Next we have some pictures of our school dance.  Dad ended up being the DJ kind of last minute.  It was super fun.  Everyone loved it...except maybe Lucy.  She thought it was too loud.

 

 

 

We celebrated Easter this Sunday with Jake's family.  I forgot to take pics of the Easter Egg hunt.  But the food and company were great as always.  We love being so close to our family here in AZ.

Look close in the pics....Jake is lovin on Lucy Bear.  He LOVES her!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I love March in Arizona! 

The Wii U!

So something that is kind of a BIG DEAL happened recently at our house.  Our Wii after I think 6 years or so...went Kaput! This mattered most to the boys in the family.  Mainly Spencer...who plays too much and to Weston who has been wanting a Wii  U.  I totally just wanted to buy a used one on Craigslist or something...but AFTER talking to the boys and Jake about it....we came up with a plan that made everyone happy.  We decided we would buy the new Wii, but only with money EARNED.  We talked about doing a yard sale or maybe a lemonade stand.  In the end we decided to sell a few of the toys that the kids don't use much anymore on CRAIGSLIST.  Then asked our wonderful GRANDPARENTS if they had any work for the kids to do.  They did!! So Last Sat. and this Sat. was spent working outside and inside and their house.  I was soooo proud of Weston.  He has a great work ethic.  He mostly pulled weeds.  (something I should have him do here.)
  

Aubrey worked mostly indoors...Cleaning mirrors and some windows and bathrooms too.
Spencer got away with playing on Grandma's kindle most of the time.  This last Sat. He moved rock and worked up a sweat.

It was a HOT day!  Cute boys!

 

 

In the end...Grandma and Grandpa were very generous and paid $60.00 for the work that was done.  Weston was soooooo excited.  I love his expressions.  I spared you the pic of boogers shooting out of his nose!!!

 

 

He couldn't believe how much money he raised for his goal.   

I am so grateful for the memories made with these great people.

So with the chores and dad selling his old cell phone and finally returning a suit to Macy's...we were getting close to the total.  In the end, I think Aubrey, and Spencer and Weston all contributed some of their own money and we had enough. 

Now if only we were this thoughtful about all our purchases in this family!! We would be rich!!! haha

So this last Sat. DAD (isn't he the best Dad in the whole world?!) took the kids and picked up the new NINTENDO! 

 

It was like Christmas morning here at our house.  Spencer couldn't even STAND it!!!  I am grateful for the lessons learned, memories made and just the fun of it! I hope my children grow up knowing what an amazing Dad they have. He is so thoughtful and loving as a father.  I love him. Even though I really couldn't care less about the Wii...I am grateful for this little family and that their dreams came true!
 

 

Emma Smith

I got to be Emma Smith tonight at our ward relief society dinner. It was so much fun! I read a bunch of facts on her and I was surprised to see she had nine children.  Many of which died young or at birth. I am amazed by her strength , beauty, and courage. I was honored to look a little bit like her tonight. I am grateful for Relief Society and all the women that I get to meet by being a part of this great organization.

Sitting up

On this beautiful spring day...I would say it is official we have a sitter.