Preschool

Yesterday was Ry's first day of preschool. Yes, I got a little teary eyed. But he was so excited, I couldn't put a damper on his enthusiasm. His class starts at 9:15, but by 8:00 he had his backpack on and was ready to head out.

I am taking him to the same teacher Hayden went to. We just love her.
When he got home I asked him 'how was school?' (R) 'good' (me) did you meet any new friends?' (R) yes, (me) 'what were their names?', (R) 'I don't know', (me) 'what did you do today?', (R) 'I don't know', (me) 'were you a line leader?', (R) 'yes', (me) 'what does a line leader do?', (R) 'I don't know'.
I'm hoping that eventually he will actually know what he did at school :)

*Please take note of his backpack. I am not the meanest mother in the world. For preschool I do let my kids pick out a character backpack (even if it is the most cheesiest one ever-having said that there was another kid in his class with the same backpack!)

Flashback Friday (kind of)...Happy Birthday Ry

This is how it all started...
This is how it all turned out :)... Could he be any cuter?!

I cannot believe it has been four years since my baby was born. We went through a lot of struggles when he was born, and as it turns out he is the healthiest of both my boys.
I am sitting here crying as I type this, because I am so grateful for this boy and for what he brings to my life. He was such an angel as a baby, and now he is just such a special person. He brings such a sweet spirit into our home. He brings so much joy and laughter (he is a crack-up, without even trying to be).
It is just so hard for me to believe that he is not a baby anymore, that he is actually a big kid, but with that said, he will always be the baby of our family. We love him so much.

Some interesting facts about Ry:
He did not cry once when he was born. (He has always been so mellow)
He was on oxygen for about the first two months of his life.
As a baby, at night he would fuss until we would lay him down in his crib, all he wanted to do was go to bed. He couldn't go to church, because he wouldn't fall asleep there, he had to be at home in his bed.
His heart is completely opposite of everybody else. Instead of the blood going in the left side and out the right side (or whatever way it does). His goes in the right and out the left.
He sucked his thumb for 3 1/2 years, and just quit cold turkey.
He is a clean freak, and cannot stand to have his hands dirty.
He has about a GAZILLION stuffed animals, and each and everyone of them have names. And you have to remember all their names, plus you have to remember if they are a boy or a girl!
And...I love him with all my heart.

Happy Birthday Ry!

Birthday party #2

Rylan had his "friend" birthday party today. I thought for sure that 9 four year olds would be way worse than the seven year olds, but I was so wrong. They were so much fun! They were so good, they just played and had a great time. We played in the water, had cupcakes and ice cream (Kroger brand Birthday Bash is so yummy!), then we opened presents, let them play some more and sent everybody home. It was a great success.

Addendum to my fired husband post...

Okay, so I was really frustrated last night, and this morning when Rylan was awake at 5:00 because Dee wouldn't shut his alarm off. But I do have to give him some credit...we have had a really busy, hectic, stressful week. Plus he has been working hard at his job, plus his body doesn't handle stress like the rest of us. So even though he is a crappy babysitter, I guess I can't give him to much grief.
I love you Dee!

My husband is FIRED!

Seriously, I swear I have three kids instead of just two.
I had a meeting tonight in Provo at 8:00. I left about 7:20, I told Dee that the kids needed to be in bed BY 7:30 (they have been up late the past few nights, they are ornery, and Rylan doesn't feel very good). So I go to my meeting. At 9:00 I pull in my street and I notice that both boys bedroom lights were on. What the @#$*! I walk in the house, Hayden was watching a movie, Rylan was listening to his CD player and Dee was SNORING on the couch.
So, yep I think it's time to find someone to watch all my boys while I am gone, because apparently I can't trust my current babysitter.

2nd Grade

Today is Hayden's first day of school. He is in 2nd grade already. 2nd grade sound so old! He was so excited to go back to school. I really enjoyed having him home this summer, but the last week he has been a stinker, full of attitude, ornery, and defiant, so I was ready to send him back to school.I remember in second grade me and my friend Sandi Greathouse were in love with Michael Jackson, I know that's gross now, but back then he was pretty cute. Remember the Thriller and Beat It days?

Anyways I'm so glad that Hayden likes school and he enjoys going, hopefully it will always stay that way forever-yeah right!

P.S. check out his backpack. Yes, I let him get a character backpack, but it's not so bad. I actually kind of like it. I had to convince him to get this one instead of one with pictures of Transformers all over it, but he really likes it now.

Happy Birthday Hayden

HaYdEn had his 7th birthday a couple days ago. I cannot believe that he is growing up so fast. It's kind of scary how fast time really does fly.

We have enough family and cousins that I think that is a party enough for them, but this year, I broke down and let him have his first 'friend party' ever. Well let me tell you that after having 12 kids (mostly boys) between the ages of 3 and 8, I think that was Hayden's one and only 'friend party' that we will be having. They were so crazy, and it was just so hot outside, then after we came inside my house smelled like sweaty little boys-that's such a pleasant smell!

Every year Hayden has a theme party for whatever he is into that year. For his first birthday it was a farms and tractors, his 2nd was motorcycles, his 3rd was Ninja Turtles, his 4th was Star Wars, his 5th was dinosaurs, his 6th was Transformers and this year was no surprise, Indiana Jones. We played games like Red Rover, Tug-of-War, and lots of others.

Pokemon cards, wow!

I love this pictures, I think it is so funny!After his party my mom, Mal & I took the boys to Jumpin Jacks. They had a great time. But we had to leave a little early to go get Hayden's inhaler. I guess he was having too much fun.

Then that night we let Hayden choose where we were going to dinner, and of course he has expensive taste, so we went to Tepanyaki. It was delicious, as always! Hayden was so excited because he even caught the shrimp when the chef threw it to him.

For his birthday, Dee and I gave him a Nintendo DS. As you can see by his face in this picture, he wasn't expecting it. Because that was also another first for me. I always swore that my kids would never have video games. I am not a big fan of them, but I gave in, and Hayden could not be more happy!

This is one of the reasons I don't like video games...

Dee plays it more than Hayden!

Well, I survived Hayden's party, but the sad thing is, I have to do it all over again this week for Rylan's birthday. AAAAHHHH!!!!

Big Rock Candy Mountain 2008

We just got back from a very fun weekend at Big Rock Candy Mountain. All of my family was there and also everyone from the Ashby family and the Smith family. I'm sad because you can't really see everyone on the top because of the shade, but here we all are.

We had lots of fun, lots of food and lots of laughs, which means I have LOTS of pictures-sorry. We went river rafting again this year there were lots of ATV rides a blow up water slide and of course lots of games! (Go Jono!) I will admit that my family is just a touch on the 'redneck' side. The highlight was the blue dart contest-which Dusty won with flying colors (literally!) (I chose this picture for the anonymity-you're welcome everybody!)

Cally, Ann, Mal, Me & Melissa spent a lot of time reading Breaking Dawn. The guys could not understand why we all had to have our own copy of the book and why we couldn't just share it, duh!

We also had some wildlife issues, starting with the skunk living underneath Chad & Laura's cabin; and then there was Jordyn's favorite thing...snakes!

My dad, mom, Mal, Hayden, Jordyn, Ry and I on a hike to the Bullion Canyon mine.Melissa wasn't too happy with me when I taught Jordyn that the proper name for an outhouse was a "Shitter"Here are some pictures of my slightly, um how do you say it, retarded family members... On the way home we stopped by Cove Fort, the kids were really bummed, they thought for sure that we were going to see some real indians. Maybe next time. We had such a great weekend. Thank you to everybody for everything. We love you all, and can't wait until next year!

Cabin Fever

Last weekend we went to Dee's grandma and grandpa's cabin at Timberlakes. Almost the entire family was there. It is so beautiful and relaxing. Everyone stayed up late Friday night, so we pretty much just lounged around all day Saturday (it was great!)

Kelli & baby Taylor

Grandpa Gil made his famous sour dough waffles for breakfast-they are seriously to die for! I could have eaten them all day long!

Aubree, Kelli and Dave

Lyman is truly a man of many talents, he can do the rubix cube in 79 seconds. So of course Dee sat there with him for hours learning how to do it.

Zach & Hayden

Ry & SavannahSweet Baby WillIsn't that such a pretty place for a swingset!My cute boy!

I know Grandma never reads this, but I just wanted to thank her and Gil for their hospitality and all they do for us. I truly appreciate it. We love them so much!

Flashback Friday...Florida

Apparently I have some really great pictures from 1991, my last Flashback was from then and so is this one. So, it was the summer of 1991, everyone in my family was at youth conference, except for me! (I was so bummed). My mom was the YW president and my dad was the YM president, Brook was old enough to go, and Mallorie was too young to leave home so they took her too. I hated having a late birthday, I could never do anything! (Yes I also have middle child syndrome)

My aunt and uncle lived in Florida and had just had a new baby. My Grandma and Grandpa Fin were going to drive down to visit them. Since I had nothing else to do they invited me to come along. So me, my grandma and grandpa, my aunt Liesl and my cousin Jared DROVE from Utah to Florida in the middle of July! And if just driving there wasn't bad enough, the air conditioner in the car went out in the middle of Texas! Wow, it was a long drive! But all that I remember is how much fun we had. We drove through many, many states that I would have otherwise never been to; we stayed in a town called Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; we counted all the dead armadillos on the road we could find; we would pull into a gas station, but then immediately have to go to the gas station across the street because my Grandpa had noticed their gas was a penny cheaper; and every time I hear Amy Grant's song "Baby, Baby,Baby" I can't help but think of Jared (he had just bought that tape just before we went). It was one of my favorite trips.

Man, the quality of pictures has come a long way! (Not to mention the people, the hair, the outfits...) Yes, I know that I look so pretty in this picture, but I'm not even the best part. I think Jared looks extremely handsome with his mullet, tank top and whatever those pants are! And to think he is one of my cutest cousins! :)