Ava's Birthday-Canyon

We had the blessing of going up Hobble Creek Canyon with some of our favorite family, Jackie and Gary, and Annie and Trev. We decided to bring Ava's birthday cake up and celebrate because it was the day before her 8th birthday.

 

I want to share a few things about Ava that you may or may not know.

1. She loves babies! She has always been such a little mama.

2. She is very stubborn and when cornered will fight to the death. Definitely my most aggressive child in her own way.

3. She is so sweet and every time we go to my sister Annie's she spends a lot of her time with Trevan, her cousin who is handicapped. She truly enjoys being with him.

4. She was such a smiley baby. Much more smiley than my others.

5. She is laid back and a dream in the car. She never gets anxious or asks a lot of questions about when we will be there. Totally opposite of Gracie.

6. She says SO many comical things. I can't even begin to list them all. Some of the things that she comes up with really take me back. Nothing gets by her.

7. She loves soup! She is definitely my best eater! She loves Grapenuts in the  morning with raisins.  couldn't pay my other kids to eat that.

8. She is our official mail carrier and brings the mail in from the box every day!

9. She is a tomboy and prides herself on it.

10. She is always my most reverent and calm at church and generally stays out of the bench squabbles of her siblings.

11. She is SO good at making friends. It doesn't matter where or when she will make a friend.

12. If you give her a bite of your food she will take a mile. I do not like sharing with her.

13. She is sensitive about poor people and has a little compassionate heart.

We so enjoy having her in our home. She is precious!

Lex being her cute self!

Learick and Grandma Annie

My birthday girl

Gary is such a great addition to our family. I love having Gary in the family!

Trev the angel

Ava's a little excited about her Heeleys.

Halloween 2013

So ya'll know I can't stand my kids going around begging for treats.....Yes I am a Halloween Scrooge.

Anyhow, we survived another year of the candy scrounging.

We had a homeschool trunk or treat, a ward trunk or treat and Halloween itself. We trick or treated three blocks to my grandma's rest home and trick or treated there, as well as chatted with my grandma for about 10 minutes. Then we trick or treated on home. I loved having my kids wait patiently for the shaky hands of the elderly to drop a treat in their bag. It was a good experience all around. But you know me.....glad it's over!!

Thank you Gavin and Oakley for sharing your Batman costume!

I think Gracie fits into this old 4-6x Cinderella costume rather nicely! ;-)

Gracie in the middle of telling me "Stop!" She was very embarrassed by my picture taking in broad daylight.



My sweet grandma. I met a lady at church today that has her husband in the bishopric over the rest home.
She says everyone just loves Grandma.

Mom says "YAY we're home!"

Mountain Awe

Did I mention how excited I am to live back by the mountains I LOVE!? Me and my kids park hop much like an alcoholic bar hops. Nothing like free fun!

This park is in Cedar Hills and it is beautiful. There is a trail that goes around the whole thing. We were waiting for Gracie to get out of her Photo Writing class. 

Ava and Breck sporting their co-op attire. 

Ava took a picture of this A with my camera so I thought I'd finish the thought on Photoshop.

Jesse's 3rd birthday

We didn't do much for JJ's 3rd birthday. When Ryan is gone it just puts a damper on things. We went to the Farmer's Market at Gardner Village where the kids rode a pony. Of course I forgot my camera. We then went to a yummy hole in the wall restaurant in Magna called El Habenero. YUMMY! We go there about every three months. Then we came home and had cupcakes!

 

I love my little J so much! XOXOXO

How did Ayano know that JJ LOVES Cars when she bought this in Japan? I have no clue!

Gracie N Kenzie

Gracie and Kenzie met in nursery when we first moved to Tooele. They had a short hiatus when we moved back to Utah County for awhile but picked right back up when we moved back. They LOVE each other. If there is one person I miss in Tooele (since moving back to Utah County, long story) it is Kenzie! She is like my 3rd daughter.  I had to share some of the hilarious pictures that these girls take of each other. I know I haven't even posted about important things like JJ's birthday but my blog posts are just like my life, chaotic and spur of the moment.

Did I mention Kenzie goes everywhere with us!!!??