Relaxing Day at the Pool?

...Yep!

.

.

One of the things we adore about our Little D is how happy and uber-easy-going he is...

Seriously, he is soooo chill!

We can go anywhere and do anything and he is just thrilled to be along for the ride!

(Really, how many kids do you know that fall asleep IN the pool?)

.

.

And I love that he is still clutching the little goggle strap that Matt tied on for him to play with!

.

.

What a sweetie!

Having a Ball...

Well, it was $1.00 well-spent!

.

.

Dayne had a "ball" playing with this Beach Ball at the pool!

.

.

.

He about wore me out chasing him around!

.

.

.

.

.

(Just don't mind the sicko shots of me in my swimsuit... Sorry, but I was there, after all!)

Happy Pioneer Day!

So we spent Pioneer Day in St. George

(Where, apparently, they don't believe in doing fireworks... what?

We looked! There were NONE going on, anywhere!)

.

with sick kids...

.

(Well, okay, let's be accurate... A sick kid...

.

.

and another who wanted to be sick to make sure he got his fair share of attention!)

.

.

who laid on the couch all day watching movies...

.

So... What to do... Hmmm...

For lack of a better idea, we had French Toast in the shape of Utah for Breakfast!

.

.

No one tell my boys how truly LAME this was... They LOVED it!

And Kaden actually ate for the first time in days!:)

.

So, Happy Birthday, Utah! (Well, sort of, I guess!)

At any rate, how grateful we are for the Pioneers...

I, for one, could NOT have done it!

Big Sunday for our Handsome Little Men...

Kaden had his Baptism Interview this morning with our beloved Bishop...

.

.

(Quick sidenote: We just adore the Durrant family... They have been our "across-the-street-neighbors"

since just after Kade was born until we moved into this house, so now they are just around the corner.

Matt & I have often joked that we want to be "Devin & Julie" when we grow up.

I have also been able to teach all 3 of their oldest daughters in YW, and even though they are all grown up now, we still keep in touch and I just love them to pieces!

They are a wonderful family that we hope to emulate and we are grateful to have such an incredible, loving Bishop, who we also consider a good friend!)

.

Kaden's visit with Bishop Durrant went well...

He looked so handsome and grown up! He was so excited to wear his new suit and take his new scriptures along. He wasn't nervous at all until a few minutes into the conversation when a question stumped him for a second, but he recovered well and went on to say some wonderful and insightful things that I can't wait to record in the special Baptism Book I am working on for him.

He never ceases to amaze me! What a great kid!

.

. . . . . .

.

Trevan gave a talk in Primary about Missionary Work...

.

.

(He wanted to wear a suit, like Kaden, so I quickly rounded up one that Kaden has outgrown and wah-lah... It was a perfect fit! He looked just like a Missionary! We even found a "Future Missionary Tag" for him at the store the other day to complete his "ensemble". )

.

He did such a great job giving his talk!

What a pro! He had been practicing all week, so he said all of the words clearly as Daddy whispered them in his ear, and was so proud of himself when he was done.

Mmmmm... Mmmm... Mmmm.... I just love that huge handsome grin!

Awwww... Now if that's not "Brotherly Love"...

...There's just "no-buddy" like a brother!

.

.

(Especially when you need a pillow on the long drive home, after a fun evening at the Park!)

Picnic at the Park...

Our big boys were too busy playing "Guardians of the Trees"

(and I never found the energy to climb up and join them to take photos...

I know... Fat, lazy prego-slug that I am!),

.

.

but Daddy & D had a good time feeding the very spoiled, un-intimidated ducks & geese

.

.

at the Sugarhouse Park Pond...

.

.

(er.. is it Swamp?!)

.

.

.

We haven't been there for years,

(Matt & I think the last time we went there was for fireworks

one of the years clear back when we were dating!),

but if you can bear the murky water and digusting sidewalk-o-landmines,

(...Seriously, shouldn't that be a violation of some City Health Code?),

it's worth the trip!

Dentist Visits this morning...

I was nervous because we were trying out a new Dentist/Office today.
Strangely, Trevan and I both LOVE the Dentist...
Kaden, on the other hand, is another story (another post for another day!),
and this was Dayne's first visit... so who could know?
(He ended up being in and out of the chair before I even thought to get the camera out... Dang it!
And he was NOT getting back in... Too many other cool things to explore! Sigh... oh, well... next time!)
.
It actually went pretty well...

The boys both loved wearing their cool glasses... they felt like Superstars!

.

So a couple of Cleanings...
.

.
a few Flossings...

.

.
a bunch of X-rays...

a little more Polishing...

.

.
and a several Flouride Treatments later...

.

.
we all left with squeaky-clean pearly whites!
.

.
And I love this shot...

Kaden actually even kicked back and relaxed a little...

.

.
(Which is a miracle, believe me!)

Trevan's perfect Paper-Airplane Fleet...

As we were picking up this morning,

I came across a bunch of paper airplanes, all in varying sizes,

scattered across the Craft Room floor.

I told Trevan to throw them away.

He assured me they were not "trash" , but his "fleet" of folded airplanes.

I told him to go put them away, then, in his own room somewhere.

Shortly thereafter, I came across this sight, and just had to chuckle...

.

.

(For the record, I did not touch or move anything before I took these photos.)

.

Oh, he is soooo my son!

From the time he was tiny, he has had to have things neat and tidy

and loves to arrange things by size or sort them by color.

.

.

He often asks me, "Is this perfect, Mom?"

after making his bed, finishing a project or combing his hair.

(Of course, I always answer with an enthusiastic, "Yes!"

And amazingly, it usually is! He is just barely 5, remember!)

It makes me smile every time to see his big grin, just bursting with pride and accomplishment.

.

Ironic that I am posting this right after the prior expose below, regarding my own "OCD"...

I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Therapy...

Ahhh...

Sigh... What is it about a neatly stacked cabinet full of perfectly sorted,

color-coded* dishes for my kids that brings such joy to my little soul?

.

It's just such a beautiful sight, I had to take a photo...

.

.

I don't expect many of you to understand this, but I just LOVE to be organized...

to the extreme!

Silly, I am sure (and I am the first to admit that it's probably right on the verge of unhealthy),

but I can't deny how very, very GOOD it feels!

(Insert a happy smile of satisfaction...)

.

*Some of you already know, and maybe I am sharing too much with the rest of you...

but when I say "color-coded", I mean that in a literal sense...

Each of my children is actually assigned a specific color (before birth),

and everything that belongs to that boy is always that color.

(I have lucked out so far that Kaden's favorite color is blue and Trevan loves red...

Everything for Daynen is green, and of course, he is still too little to know for sure,

but I am hoping that he will just be so used to it that it will grow on him!

And in case you are wondering, after much deliberation, Bronson will be orange.)

.

Sound crazy? Maybe...

But I ALWAYS know who remembered to put their dishes in the Dishwasher

or who's Art Supplies are still out in the Craft Room, and I love how easy it makes the little things in our life.

There is no fighting over who's is who's or who gets which one.

And for the record, they love this system, too.

.

So there... I said it... Now you know.

Happy 5th Birthday, Trevan!

The other day a friend called and asked for Birthday Gift ideas for Trevan,

so I asked him for suggestions that I could pass along.

He thought for a minute and then excitedly exclaimed,

"I know the perfect gift! An extra candle... so I can be 6!"

.

.

Needless to say, he was a little disappointed when I explained that it doesn't work that way...

He is just so excited to be growing up! He loves being the biggest and tallest of his friends and is always comparing himself to Kaden, or his teenage "big-boy" friend Greg.

He can't wait to start "real" school and has been planning and counting down the days to his birthday since just after his last one.

Whenever I threaten to stack books on top of his head to make him stop growing

or tease him that I am going to put him in the freezer to keep him this age forever,

he just looks at me like I'm a crazy person, rolls his eyes and says,

"Don't worry Mom... I'll still love you even when I'm as big as a Dad."

.

. . . . .

.
Oh, Trev... how is it possible that you are 5 already?

It just doesn't seem like it can be real!

.

...And yet somehow it seems like you have been a part of our family much longer

and that you are much more grown up than just 5 years could allow...

.

Before you were born, I wondered how I could ever love another little boy as much as our Kaden, but the second I met you in this life, I knew my heart had expanded...

.

You are such an easy boy to love! How can anyone not just adore you?

Sometimes you just seem too good to be true!

You have always been my sweetheart, our tender Little Man.

Always eager to please and ready to give lots of love to whoever needs a lift.

Daddy and I can't help but smile when we see you or hear your contagious little giggle!

You are such a joy to be around because of your happy, pleasant nature.

.

.

The name "Trevan" means "Gracious" and "Fair".

I can always count on you to be helpful and obedient, even though there might be something else you'd rather be doing. I love it that you are always the first to volunteer!

.

It breaks my heart to ever see you sad or disappointed, because you are such a content and grateful person and never want to hurt anyone else or make them feel bad.

We love to hear you pray, because you are so reflective and rarely ask for anything, just saying thanks for all you have.

.

We love that you are so thoughtful and intuitive about the feelings of others.

I see you serving and doing kind things for others every day, even without being asked.

You are selfless by nature and always willing to sacrifice for others, especially those you love.

.

You are a great friend and a wonderful, devoted brother.

Even as a tiny baby, you were so star-struck by your Big Brother Kaden.

You still light up whenever he enters the room and can't wait for him to return when he is away. We love that you admire him so much and want to be just like him,

to keep up with him and do all the things he can do.

You are truly his very best and most loyal friend!

You are so sweet and patient with Little Dayne

and I think you might be the most excited one in our family for our new Baby Bronson!

You are probably right when you say you are his favorite...

He loves your daily kisses and snuggles to my tummy

and your constant asking, "How much longer until he gets to come out?"

I am sure he can't wait to meet you, too!

.

As you grow, we are continually amazed at how capable you are.

You are just like your Daddy... new things come easily and naturally for you.

We love to watch you excel and your confidence increase.

Just look at the absolute joy on your face..!

.

.
You are logical and practical and we love to see your little mind at work!

You are such a problem-solver, always the first to overcome an obstacle with an immediate solution, and even if it sounds or seems implausible to us, you never give up!

We hope that your optimistic, independent spirit will motivate you to do great things and inspire others thoughout your life.

.

We are so proud of you, Trev... You are such a great kid!

We know that your respect for authority, your enthusiasm for learning, your unending determination will insure that you are a success at whatever you decide to do!

.

We are so blessed to have your peaceful influence in our home and family

and can't imagine it without you!

.

Love~

Mommy

.
. . . . .
.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.

Dear Trevan~

.
Happy 5th Birthday, Trev! I cant believe it you're turning 5! You're growing so fast. (you'll love your birthday present) okay lets get back to wishing you a happy birthday. I'm so excited for tomorrow! (its gonna be fun I can tell) you'll get a lot of birthday presents from every body !
I'm saying weird stuff cuz I cant really think that fast. I love that you're so thoughtfuol to us, you're brothers. Okay I love that you're so excitede to see me when ever I get home; and I love how almost every night you rub my back when you sleep over in my room. I love you trevan I wanted to wish you a happy birthday.
.
love~
~~~~
kaden
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Daddy loves you, too!

He will type a letter here later! :)

OUCH!

It seems T-Rev had a little mishap while swimming last night at our neighbor's pool...
I guess he scraped up his poor piggies pretty good and came home with nearly all of them bleeding.

Being the Band-Aid-Obsessed-Boy that he is, he insisted Dr. Daddy bandage him up, one little toe at a time...

.

.

Needless to say, he got lots of attention while we were out shopping today!

(Don't tell anyone, but I think he enjoyed it!)

Dreyer's All Fruit Bars...

Just a few bites of

Heaven on a stick...

.

.

I checked out with... Ahem... 8 different boxes today... yeah...

But have you tried the Coconut? Sigh...

.

.

I tell you... I keep these people in business!

Happy 8th Birthday, Kaden!

I can NOT believe that my baby is 8 today! EIGHT years old!

The days may creep past, but how the years fly by!

.
. . . . . .

.
.Once when Kade was about 3, I asked him, "Do you know why I love you so much?"

.

He answered without missing a beat, "Because! I made you a MOMMY!"

.

. . . . . .

.

Yes, Kade... you made me a Mommy. And I will be grateful forever and ever!

.

Daddy and I were so very excited to finally be parents and we could not have asked for a more wonderful boy.

.

.

We love your spirit and your fire for life.

We love your enthusiasm and your passion for all you do.

You are so creative and have a wonderful imagination and an incredible memory.

You are smarter and wiser than your years... You amaze us every day!

.

You are such a great, fun friend!

Your name, "Kaden", means "Beloved Friend" , and that is what you are to everyone.

We are so grateful that you are such a good example to your brothers, and to us.

You have such a strong sense of right and wrong.

That will be such a strength to you throughout your life as you learn to let the Spirit guide you.

We are so grateful to see you choosing the right every day and learning to set good habits.

We hope we can continue to help you learn values that will bring you a lifetime of happiness.

Daddy is so excited you have chosen him to baptize you.

What a special bond you two have had, since the very moment you were born...

and probably long, long before...

.

I love this photo of you knee-boarding on Friday. You did soooo awesome!

We could not believe how great you did your first time out!

You are learning to be patient and persistent when you are trying new things,

even when they are hard or scary.
.

.

I also love this picture because it reminds me how grown up you are getting.

It looks like you are saying,

"Look, Mom! NO hands!"

And that is just where your life is taking us...

You are learning to be capable and independent and to do so many things by yourself.

This is the age when you become accountable for your own choices

and I am so grateful that you are the young man that you are growing up to be.

I am blessed to be a part of your life...to be your Mommy.

.

I am teary as I sit and think about how my life has changed since this very day...

8 years ago, today...

.

I can hardly remember life before you came into our home, Sweet Boy.

It seems an eternity ago, and yet I realize how very fleeting a time we will have with you until you are grown.

It is going so fast... You are almost half way there!

.

I love you, forever and ever... to infinity and beyond, Kaden!

My heart is bigger and fuller and I have found joy and sorrow that I could never have imagined...

Thank you, Kade, for making me a Mommy... Your Mommy!

.

..........

.

Kaden: All this blogging stuff can get on ones nerves...

but what a better way to say

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

than this blogging stuff.

Mom always reminds me that we only have 10 more summers with you

then you'll be done with school and ready for a mission and then out on your own.

It seems like yesterday you were born. I still remember the nurses rushing you away

because you were having a hard time breathing. As I looked at you through the glass incubator

I knew you were a very special boy! It wasn't long after we brought you home I knew

I was right. You are an awesome son!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

~Daddy

Wall-E...

CUTE!

.

With the exception of Dayne

(who wanted to roll on the floor during half of the movie),

my boys loved it!

.

.

They are still quoting and laughing at some of the "funny parts"!

(For the record, our family will never litter again OR buy a Hover-chair...)

.

.
And if only the Theatre hadn't been 120 degrees... Alli, Matt and I may have enjoyed it too!

Moving... again...

I KNOW I said I'd NEVER do it again...

(but honestly, coming from the girl who's moved 28 times in my 31 years,

did you actually believe me anyway?)

.

So don't try to stop me... my mind is made up...

I am packing my bags and moving

to a country that appreciates the 'Fine Art' of afternoon napping!

(Seriously, like half the rest of the World has figured this out... what's wrong with us?)

.

.

Of course, it could just be the pregnancy talking,

but a good Siesta sounds really nice right about now!

The Day-After "Dad's Day" Tribute...

So, do you ever have that day-after let-down
when you feel like you were so busy that the "Big Day" whizzed by in a whirl
and you missed part of it?
.
That's how I am feeling about our Father's Day...
Don't get me wrong...
We had a WONDERFUL day with all of our families,
but I feel like we were so busy getting ready for our big Father's Day Feast,
that we missed out a little on spoiling the most important guy of the day!
(Who, by the way, would NEVER complain, or feel let down...
I just feel like we cut him a little short amidst all the "hoopla"!)

.
So here's our attempt to make it up to him with a special
"Post-Dad's-Day Post":

..

.

(Ok, admittedly, I totally swiped this darling photo-idea off of my cute, creative friend Jane's blog... so don't hate me!)

~~~~~~~

.
Hi Dad~

.
I wanted to wish you a happy father's day. (I hope you liked our card. lol) I love when you take us on vacation to st.george and other places! I loved what trevan wanted to name the baby- mr. skateboard man. I hope we can go to hawaii some time. I love that you're allwase willing to do stuff with us like go swimming and skiing with me! I love that you alwyse restle with me and pretend you have a pet snake and it attacks us! it's fun to play wii sports with you. (I was wondering if you or mom could help me sighn up to be a member an runescape plz? It only costs 5$ a month and I have 10$, so yeah. ) I love that you tickle my back evry night and you make sweetish pancakes evry sunday! I love how hard you work for uor family and you built a big house for us and earn money to take us to do fun things! I love that you're so funny. I love going dirtbiking with you, shooting the beebee gun and firing the rocket. I've olmost gotten a crossbow from cabelas so when we go in the mountans somethime we can use it. (Idk when I'm getting the crossbow I might get it for my birthday.) I'm exited that you're going to babtise me. I"m really lucky to have a dad that is wirthy! you've alwase ben a great Hero to me and I want to grow-up like you to be a good dad. I hope you had a fun father's day yesterday. Guess what I didnt have any help typing exept I forgot the second a in hawaii. that word is spelt weurd. I have to go now cuz mom says I have to make my bed and I don't want to type any more cuz yeah, it took a long time.
.

Love~
Kaden

.

.

"Every Little Boy needs a Super-Hero"

(Kade & Daddy: Summer 2006)

.
~~~~~~~~
.

Dear Daddy~
.
I love U. U R the best Daddy in the whole entire world. (Note from Mom: Okay, it took like 5 minutes to get that out because he typed that far all by himself, letter by letter... so I'm taking over from here while he dictates...) I like that you are so funny and throw me up in the water when we are swimming. It's so fun! I like when you be the troll when we are "wrest-uhl-ing" and chase us around and throw us on the bed when you "ketch" us. I am so lucky that I have such a nice dad. You always tickle my face when I am tired at church. And I like when you are my Coach in soccer and play "real-live" baseball games with me. Hmmm... What else should I write? Let me think about it for while while I get some Chocolate Milk... (Insert 20 minute break) Oh yeah... I liked it when you sprayed us with your water bottle when we were biking in the mountains at St. George. It was so funny (insert hysterical giggle) when you "pre-tunded" to toot on us when me and Kade were ridin' in the trailer behind you. (Insert 2 more minutes of memory-induced laughter.) I love to go riding on the blue motorcycle and I am glad that you fixed the broken parts on the green one so we can ride it, too. AND I love to go in the dirt thing where we rided our bikes by Zani's. And thank you for turning on the Waterhorse movie even though it was really, really hard. I liked that show a lot. He was so cute! And can we go surfing out on the Lake boat again sometime 'cuz that was super-fun! I want to grow big and strong like you, so I have to eat all my "vej-tuh-bles", huh? Cuz some day I am gonna be bigger than Kaden, right? Um... that's all I want to say "ug-cept"... uh, I love you, Dad, and Happy Father's Day!

.
Love~
Trevan

.

.

"Coach Dad"

(Trev & Daddy: June 2008)

.
~~~~~~~~

.
Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

.
Since I'm too little to type you a letter, Mommy is writing all the things I would say, if I could! First of all, it is no wonder that my first word was "Uh-oh" (since I am the most curious and by far the most mischievous of your Little Monkeys so far), and my second word was "Dad". I just adore you! Mommy loves how I light up whenever you walk in the room and how I can't wait to see you each day when you return home from work. I am so lucky to have such a fun, wild house full of boys to grow up in... I can't wait to be big enough to really wrestle with you guys! I always want to be right in the middle of the action! I love when you tickle me and throw me into the air. It is so fun to be with you and play with you, no matter what we are doing. Thanks for always being so patient with me, even when I try to snatch your phone or the remote so I can push all the buttons... I am just like you... I love to figure out how things work! And even though I pull everything out of every cabinet and closet, it's just so I can see it all for myself... just like you! I feel safe whenever I am in your arms and daring and adventurous enough to try scary, new things for the first time. I am such a cheerful, friendly, happy little person and I love spending time together with you. Thanks for loving me like crazy and for being such a fun Dad!
.

Love~
Daynen

.

.

"First Dip in the Ocean"

(Dayne & Daddy: Fall 2007)

.
~~~~~~~~

.
Sweets~
.
I hope you know, by now, how very blessed I feel to have you in my life. You have truly made dreams I never even thought to dream come true. I am so lucky to be a part of the life we have built together and I often feel so unequal to it's greatness. You are a wonderful man, an incredible husband and a fabulous dad! We are so blessed that you are so capable (aka Matt-gyver) and so able to take care of us and those we love, in every way. I watch you with quiet pride and satisfaction as you gladly help our family members, friends and neighbors, even when I know it's not convenient. And I don't know how I got so lucky... you certainly do more than your fair share of things around the house! (Not many of my friends have husbands who often do dishes, laundry or even, heaven forbid, scrub toilets! Most of them don't even remember to lower the stinkin' seat!). And fitting, since it's Father's Day, that most of all, I love to watch you father our boys... it makes me love you over and over again! You are so good at teaching them the things that really matter, both in your words and deeds, but most importantly, by your example... to work hard, to have respect and gratitude, and to love and serve others... to enjoy life! They have so much confidence and trust in you. I love to see how intently they watch your instruction, hanging on every word. I melt when I watch them following your every move, doing their best to keep up, trying so hard to do things as good as you. And I can't help but smile whenever I hear you laughing and look up to see you playing with them, just a big kid yourself. I feel so very blessed for the happy and full life that we share, grateful for the values you are helping me to instill in these boys, and glad for the joy that no one else could bring to my heart.
.

I love you, forever & always~
Toots

.

.

"2008 Annual Father's Day Portrait"

(All My Handsome Men... woot-woo!)

Movie Night SLEEP-over...

So the guys have been so excited all week...

Cousin Kaylob is sleeping over for 4 whole days!

(We picked him up today and get to keep him until Sunday.)

.

.

They've talked ALL day LONG about their fun Movie Night tonight.

Yeah... Here's the view of the Beanbag by the time I got back with the Popcorn...

.

.

Well, for a SLEEP-over, I guess we're off to a good start!

(And thanks again to "Blankets by Jane" for the cute, cozy covers... they're our FAVE!)

Ice Cream Issues...

Okay, I have a complaint...

.

Has anyone else noticed the Ice Cream Cartons suddenly getting smaller?

At first, I thought that it was just my perspective...

(As I get bigger, everything else in the world seems smaller by comparison.)

.

.

But NO! It is not just an illusion...

The Dreyers Ice Cream Cartons have recently become like 2/3 the size.

What the..?

.

This is a problem for me because of the sheer volume, that I, alone, consume on a daily basis.

(I need you all to refer me to THIS particular craving when I am complaining about the size of my hips & thighs post-pregnancy this Fall...

Ice Cream, alone, will account for at least 10 extra pounds!)

So why the sudden container size decrease?

Is this someone's vain attempt to cut down on my consumption?

Cuz it ain't workin' folks...I'm just buyin' more!

(And the price is the still the same per container... I might add...Blast those dang gas prices!)

.

So... where do I write? And who's with me?

Acrobat in Utero...

That's it...

The minute Baby Bronson is born, I am shipping him off to Vegas

to audition for Cirque du Soleil!

His acrobatic routine ought to be perfected by then since he practices, uh... NON-stop!

.

.

I thought Kaden was a little fireball, but this kid is taking it to a whole new level!

He is by far the most active of my children so far!

If his in-utero activity is any indication of personality

(which it has actually been right on with all of my others...),

then we are in trouble with this one!

.

This is much what my own bed feels like at night...

(and I'm NOT referring to any hanky-panky between Matt & I...

so no sly comments about that, thank you very much!)

.

.

There's a full-on Circus going on inside of me!

How can one sleep?