Merry Christmas

If you click on the picture, you can see the joy and excitement that Addison and Jace felt about meeting Santa. I forced the big boys into sitting with Santa, even though I think they secretly wanted to. Santa was a dud, he didn't even ask the kids what they wanted for Christmas. He didn't say ho ho ho or Merry Christmas. Seriously, what is the world coming too? I have so much blogging to catch up on. I need for time to stop for about a week, okay a month, so I can get caught up with my life.

Happy 49th Anniversary!!

This is Jon and I, with his parents, the day we got married. Today is their 49th wedding anniversary. I am so grateful to be part of their family and appreciate their example of commitment to an eternal marriage. They have a lot to be proud of, 4 exceptional kids, 3 super-fabulous daughter-in-laws, and 15 wonderful grandkids (including Greg). Congratulations! We love you!

Movie Night

On Veteran's Day I took Addison, Tate, and Bradan to see Madagascar 2. Jon's parents watched Jace, Jon was at work, and Nathan was at his mom's. This was Addison's very first movie theater experience. In our family, this is a big deal. Jon and the boys LOVE to go to movies and are hoping to pass along the tradition to Addison.

Lesson #1-Must have large bag of greasy popcorn! Lesson #2-Must have huge giant cups filled with sugary, sweet soda!

Lesson #3-Sit back and enjoy the show!

She did really well! About half way through she decided it would be fun to climb up and down the stairs, so we took a bathroom break to regroup. After that she was fine and we made it to the end of the show.

Flag Football

As I have mentioned, Tate and Bradan have been playing flag football. Saturday was their last game for the Fall season. They both scored touchdowns! Woohoo! They had lots of fun and are wanting to sign up for the winter season.
"The spectators"-excuse obscene gesture, she learned this from her dad.

Fall Festival

We took the kids and our neighbors to Nathan's school's Fall Festival. They had like 15 bouncy slides and things for the kids to play on and a big rock wall to climb. I think all of the boys made it to the very top. I didn't get any particularly good pictures. Santa, if you are listening-I need a new camera BAD!!! We ate some popcorn and cotton candy, can't go to a Fall Festival without eating plenty of junk.

Halloween

For Halloween we went to our ward's Trunk or Treat. Neither Addison or Jace were interested in Trick or Treating. Addison was all excited about the candy, but when it came time to go car to car she was too scared of everyone to participate. Jace just wanted to run crazy through the parking lot and play with the tires on all the cars. So we didn't stay very long. Afterwards, Tate and Bradan went around the neighborhood with their friends Joshua and Casey and their dad. Jon, the babies, and I went to pick up Nathan from his mom's. Then the boys stayed up and watched a scary movie on the Disney channel, "Mostly Ghostly", ate popcorn, and drank some root beer.

The Turtle Man

Coupon $ense

I subscribe to this online program that tells you what is on sale and what coupons to match with the sales to get the best deals. I get 5 Sunday papers, so when there is a good deal I can stock up. Frys is having some really good sales, plus they are tripling coupons. So I have had some awesome shopping trips! This was last nights-

5 boxes of Toaster Strudels
5 18oz Quaker Oats
4 boxes Zatarains Rice
3 Dial liquid hand soap
2 3-pack Dial bar soap
5 boxes Hefty Ziploc bags
5 boxes Betty Crocker potatoes-scalloped, mashed etc.
1 box SwissMiss hot chocolate

ALL OF THIS FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF:

$6.15 WooHoo!!

Schnepf Farm

We went to Schnepf Farm the Thursday before Halloween. It was half price for Queen Creek residents and it wasn't crowded at all. Last year we went on a Saturday and it was SO packed. All the rides had enormous lines and very long waits. This year was perfect! I had the kids dress up-Addison-Aerial, she picked it out. We went to the Disney store and let her choose out of all the princesses. We then bought the costume at Target for 1/3 of the price. She had a crown, but it would not stay on. Jace-turtle, you can't see his little shell in this picture. He absolutely HATED his turtle hat! He would only keep it on for a few seconds at a time. Tate and Nathan-Vampires, and Bradan-was a special forces soldier, most of his costume you can't see. He picked it out online months ago and was so excited to wear it. We had such a good time at the farm. The babies were perfect, which was a little weird. No fits and Jace rode in the stroller most of the time. It was awesome! Some of the boys friends from our neighborhood came with their dad so the babies and I left about 8pm and Jon and the big boys stayed until closing and rode home with the neighbors, so they could see the fireworks. We ate some yummy corn, BBQ, and hot dogs. The boys rode on the little roller coaster over and over again. Addison rode the Bees with Bradan, the airplanes and carousel with Jon. Good Times!

Bradan, Nathan, Joshua, Tate, and Casey

Pumpkin Carving

We carved our pumpkins way too early this year. It is hard to try and work it in where everyone is home and we have the time to get it done. We were able to get 1 good night of Jack-o-Lanterns before they rotted. We even brought them inside during the day.
The big boys each designed a pumpkin and Jon carved them all. I supervised and cleaned up all the guts. Addison loved pumpkins this year and was so excited every time she saw one. Jace was in bed. He can join in the fun next year.

Blog Lazy

I wish I could report that I have not been blogging because I have been scrubbing and organizing my house, but that would be a big fat lie. My only excuse is laziness. October has been a busy, busy month. I like busy and I am a fan of passing time. It seems that there is always something better in the future...Jon finishing school, Jace outgrowing his "try to kill himself everyday" phase, cooler weather the list goes on and on. I am trying hard to focus on the counsel of Pres. Monson and "find joy in the journey". He was specifically talking to me when he said "piles of laundry", I don't see how I will ever miss that. So what have we been up to-

• Football practice and games(Tate and Bradan are playing flag football on a league organized by the YMCA in our neighborhood)
• Scouts-Tate and Nathan started 11 yr. old scouts. They have had 2 meetings and have played football both times. That is totally fine with them. Bradan is working on his Wolf.
• I have mutual every Wed. and miscellaneous meetings and firesides. Jon does great about watching the kids.
• Jon has had homework, tests, and clinicals. School takes a lot of time and effort on his part.
• He has also been busy at work, as the approaching holidays seem to bring out the crazy in us all.
• Jon helped his brothers Jim and Gary put some kind of shiny coat on his parent's driveway, I can't remember what it is called.
• Jon and I got to go see a movie together a few weeks ago-Eagle Eye, it was pretty good. We also went to the adult session of stake conference and out to eat. Thanks to his parents! Kid-free nights are priceless!
• Tate and Bradan went to KY to visit their dad for a few weeks. They always have a great time.
• Nathan also had fall break at the end of Sept., beginning of Oct. He got to go over and spend the night at his friend Randall's house from our old neighborhood.
• Because it has cooled off a teeny, tiny bit(it has still been in the 90s during the day) I try to take Addison and Jace on a walk to the park everyday. It helps break up the day and keeps us all sane. They are getting so big. I am going to have to break down and attempt to take the binky away from Addy Boo and teach her to use the potty. My goal is when she turns 3.

So that is the wonderful excitement that is our lives. We did some fun stuff this last week that I will post about later. I almost forgot the most exciting thing. We ran over a frog in our garage, going to a fireside last Sunday. We were unaware until Monday morning when it was still hopping around bleeding and suffering in our garage. I was totally freaked out of my mind and could barely pull the van back in for fear it would get near me. I left the door open all day hoping it would hop home to its family so they could at least get to say good-bye and have some closure. When Jon came home from work he couldn't find it anywhere so hopefully it has been laid to rest somewhere outside of our garage.

BRRrrrrrr....

This last weekend we FINALLY got a break from the heat. The highs were in the 70s and the lows in the upper 40s & 50s. Jon opened every single window in the house to partake in the fabulous weather. After suffering through the blistering heat forever, it was actually kind of chilly. So of course I did what any mom would do. I went and got my baby some footy- pajamas, so he doesn't freeze, of course. Isn't he cute? I can't get enough of him. Okay that is a lie, by about 7:30pm I have had all I can stand. But by morning I have forgotten what a stinker he is and he is perfectly sweet all over again. Addison will not wear footy pajamas, because she has to play with her bear's tail with her toes-strange I know. Otherwise, I would have gotten her some too. The "frigid" temperatures have already hit the road. It is supposed to be back up in the 90s this weekend. It was nice while it lasted.

Bradan's Baptism

Bradan's baptism was on Saturday, Sept. 27. He asked his Uncle Gary, Jon's oldest brother, to baptize him. Jon performed the confirmation. I am so thankful that Bradan chose to be baptized. Afterwards, everyone came over for some lasagna-Bradan's favorite-and peach cobbler that Jon's mom made. I hope it was a day that will always be special to Bradan.

Nate and Tate

Over the last 4 years Nathan and Tate have developed a "brotherly bond". They are best pals most of the time. I think they might even love each other, whether they admit it or not. They share a room, secrets, torturing Bradan, and a birthday-even though they are 3 days a part-we usually celebrate together. These pictures were taken at our family birthday party. I hope they will always continue to be a positive influence in one another lives. I am excited for them to go off to the MTC together. It makes me tear up a little to think about it. On Friday (Oct. 3) we took them to Stratum to play laser tag for their birthdays. I took the camera, but forgot to take pictures. Happy Birthday for the last and final time-seriously!

Happy Birthday Tate! (Sept. 28)

I love this picture! Tate is so cute and check out Addison is that not hilarious. This was her first "captured on film" smile. Those cheeks and chins-plural-what a little fatty. Jon says Tate is my little clone, only a boy. I would like to apologize to everyone who had to put up with me. Ha! Ha!-kind of. This is further testament that you reap what you sow. But seriously, because me and Tate are one in the same, he is obviously one cool kid. He has an amazing ability to understand and learn from the scriptures, when he puts his mind to it. I know that he will be an amazing missionary. He is very concerned about others. He feels things very deeply and is not afraid to show his emotions. It is hard for me to believe that 11 years ago I became a mom when I had Tate. I think I held him 23 hours a day for the first 4 months of his life. He never slept in his own bed, until he was 2 1/2. The first time he ever spent the night away from home was when I was in the hospital having Bradan, Tate was almost 3. He was my little side-kick. He is a special boy and I am glad he is mine! We love you!

Arrow of Light

A few weeks ago Nathan and Tate received their Arrow of Light in a special ceremony. It was really cool! The guy with the fox on his head was one of Jon's scout leaders. He is now in our stake and helps put this ceremony on for all the boys who earn their Arrow of Light. The boys felt special and important and Bradan was so impressed, that he has set a goal to earn his in 3 years. Another big thanks to super-duper scout leaders, I can't say it enough. Awesome job guys!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

I love Jon's mom! I totally scored when it came to my mother-in-law! This is huge and I highly recommend always getting to know the mother before you marry her son! I got lucky considering I barely knew the son:) She has saved my sanity on many, many occasions by watching our kids! I always know they are safe and well taken care of. They love their grandma! She is kind and generous and always anxious to help. She is a hard worker and trained her kids well:) For that I am extremely grateful! We love you!

Happy Birthday Nathan!!

Nathan is my "bonus baby". No pregnancy, child birth, middle of the night feedings, or diaper changes for me-and that is a total bonus-but I am still lucky enough to participate in raising him. He is just like my own, he drives me crazy and I love him, all at the same time. We are all so glad that he is part of our family!

Some of the really cool things he can do-
Draws some awesome flames
Can do a front and back flip on the tramp
Brushes his teeth without being asked-I LOVE that!
Actually watches the babies, if asked
Loves to play football at recess and with his dad and brothers
Loves to play Zelda
Reigning guitar hero champ at our house
Knows all about music-who sings what songs and words to songs
Can quote Brian Reegan verbatim-and is actually pretty funny
He can just hang out and chill, which is a breath of fresh air around here
He is our oldest by 3 days and is a good big brother


Happy Birthday Dude!

LOOK WHAT MY DAD DID TO MY HEAD!!!

Poor Jace! I will never leave him unsupervised with Jon again. All those pretty curls down the drain, literally.

Miss INDEPENDENT

Addison's new, slightly psychotic phase is to do EVERYTHING all by herself. She must always be in control, or everybody pays. She has to get in the car by herself, climb into her car seat herself. If she is touched or assisted in anyway the whole process must start again. She only has her diaper changed on her terms-where ever she chooses to lay down and only when she is ready. Bath time, bedtime, basically anytime are no different-she must be allowed to choose and act for herself or she gets a "runny nose" which is a whole other story. Anytime she gets even remotely upset her nose must be wiped, or she walks around screaming "I have a runny nose" repeated at increasing decibels until it is wiped. I am not sure who is crazier, her or the people that cater to this nonsense.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!

Jon's dad was the first member of his family that I met. We walked in the door after Jon picked me up from the airport, and he gave me a big hug. He made me feel welcome and at ease. He is someone we can always turn to for any kind of help we need and always has good advice. I am so grateful for his positive influence in our lives. He is the best dad and grandpa that we could ever ask for! We love him very much and hope he has a happy, happy day!

Super Scouts

Tate and Bradan both earned some important awards at this month's pack meeting. Bradan received his Bobcat. He is so excited to finally be in Scouts! He absolutely loves it! He was captured by this experienced bobcat hunter, our cubmaster Bro. Heath, and branded with a bobcat paw while Jon held him upside down. Tate earned his Webelo and gospel knot. He has also earned his arrow of light, which he will get next month at a special ceremony. That is the highest award you can receive in Cub Scouts. We have been so blessed with the best scout leaders, the Carpenters. They have worked so hard with Nathan and Tate. I could never thank them enough! Nathan has also earned his Webelo, gospel knot, and arrow of light, and will be getting his awards next month.
We are proud of you guys! Keep up the hard work!

The Birthday Bash

My baby is 1!


"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to..." I accidentally popped Jace in the face with his party hat rubber band thingy. Opps!


Party animals! Addison was the most excited about Jace's birthday party. She could not wait to tear into the cupcakes, and even helped Jace out with his.

Jace was actually very neat with his cupcake. He ate it all, but wasn't covered from head to toe in icing.

Happy Birthday Jace!!

I can't even believe it has been a year! We love you bubba! Happy Birthday!