My BIG Boy!

Landry will be turning 8 months old next week! I can not believe he is growing so fast. He is full of personality, and he loves his mama. He is learning new things every day, and I am having a hard time documenting it all on film! He loves to clap when we say, "Yeah, Landry!" He gives high fives, he gives the BEST slobbery, open-mouthed kisses, and loves to Bonk heads with his dad.

He has 4 teeth... The top two have just broken through this last week. I'm not sure if teething is the reason, but this boy always has his tongue hanging out. It's pretty funny! He laughs when we stick our tongues out at him.

I added this picture just because he has the most delightful smile. 

Recently, Landry has learned how to scoot on the floor. As of the last couple of days, he has learned how to scoot forward. But before then, he could only maneuver himself backward, which presented a few problems: First, he'd constantly get stuck under the living room couches, and couldn't move forward to pull himself out. Second, he can't see what is behind him, only what is in front of him, and he couldn't manage getting to those things. But, being the smart boy that he is, he devised a plan to be able to see what was behind him. I got this shot of him up on his hands and tip-toes. Once he's up, he opens his feet, puts his head on the ground and peeks through his legs to see what is behind him! Then he gets back down on his belly, and scoots himself backwards until he finds what he saw through his legs! What a cutie- pie!

My girls seriously eat Landry up! He is definitely not lacking any attention at this house full of women! McKaylyn is the best helper with him. She knows how to make his bottles, has rocked him to sleep a couple of times, asks occasionally, if she can change his diaper, and loves to sit on the floor and play with him. when he cries, she is the first to go and see what he needs. She adores him... and I just have a feeling that he feels the same toward her.

Santa Stopped Here!

We LOVE Christmas morning!

Our favorite part is watching the kids! They get so excited that they start shaking! They have to really concentrate to be able to focus on just one gift at a time. So cute.

Jason was spoiled this Christmas. He got a Swarovski spotting scope and tripod to use out on his hunts. Annie and Justin gave him a nice carrying case for it. Now he's all set up! The best part was that I was actually able to surprise him this year. He totally thought he was getting a gun safe. Ahhh, victory. So sweet! Jason also spoiled me this year. He built a beautiful Headboard for our bed that matches the dresser & night stands he made last year. I also got a jewelry armoire, a buckle gift card, a Hollister coat, and a beautiful picture frame collage to hang on the wall. He is so great! My mom bought us a Bosch Mixer, (so I can work on my lack of baking skills...)

and Jason's parents bought us a Patio furniture set! Yeah!

McKaylyn was so busy checking out all the goods, that we could barely get her to look at the camera!

This is my favorite picture! It's hard to see in the background, but the girls are checking out the new swing set that Santa Clause brought! Delaney was so excited! The girls bundled up and tried it all out as soon as we were done opening gifts!

Landry Boy was so busy playing with the wrapping paper and bows, that he didn't even care about his new toys!

Delaney got her Dora bike and Big Minnie Mouse Toy that she wanted! She also got a stroller, highchair, swing and car-seat for all her baby dolls. She was so fun this year! I think she was more excited than any of the other kids on Christmas morning! She went from one thing to another, and kept saying," Look at this Mom! Did you see this, Dad? Look what Santa brought for us!"

The kids are always excited to open their jammies on Christmas eve! This year the girls were excited to get some soft robes to go over the pajamas.

Jason is in charge of Christmas photos, cause I like to be down on the floor, helping the kids open and figure out their gifts!  We had a great time! Maddisen was searching every square inch under the tree, finding every gift that had her name on it. She ripped them all open, without hardly even looking up to show us what she had gotten! You should have seen the pile of wrapping paper right beside her.

Getting in the spirit of the season

I just got these pictures of the kids back last week... they will be used on my christmas cards this year. I think it is so fun to get everyone dressed up and pray that they are all happy and awake when the time comes for pictures! I feel like I am just scrambling this year to get everything done for Christmas that I need to. It is so hectic and chaotic during this month for us. but all the running is worth it. we get to go to family christmas parties and connect with family members that we rarely get to see, go to the ward party that is always so fun for the kids. We get to take the kids to see Santa and watch their eyes light up when he says that he has exactly what they are wanting. We get to use Santa as leverage in order to get our kids to behave and do their chores! Jason and I get to have some rare time together while we do our christmas shopping. The season is here, and this year, I am just so grateful that we are in the position that we are in. Jason has more work than he knows what to do with, we are all healthy, happy, and warm. We have plenty of food and coats and gloves,a roof over our heads, and most of all, plenty of love in our home. My kids have a great dad, who would sacrifice anything to make sure they have a happy childhood and life. I am so blessed. So... bring on the crazy! I can't complain about one thing. And, to all our friends and family members that make our life so fun and memorable, we wish you all the happiest of holidays, too!

Tag, I'm it!

I've been tagged by Beautiful Marni! So here goes...

4 Things I Love About My Husband

1. His soft, kind heart

2. His work ethic

3. The way he sacrifices so I can be home

4. His big, loud laugh when he's really amused

4 Jobs I have Had

1. Janitor of 2 buildings

2. Telemarketer (I know... but it helped pay for college! Don't hate me...)

3. Waitress

4. Dietician for an In-patient care facility

4 Movies I've Watched More Than Once

1. How to loose a guy in 10 days

2. Meet the parents

3. Pearl Harbor

4. pretty much all Disney movies

4 TV Shows I Watch

1. American Idol

2. Friday Night Lights

3. Man vs. Wild

4. Prison Break

4 Places I Have Been

1. All over California

2. Dallas, TX

3. Missouri

4. Mexico

4 Favorite Foods

1. Tofu

2. Rice cakes

3. Broccoli

4. Anything Soy

(Ha Ha !  Just kidding, Marni! )

1. Jello no bake cheesecake

2. Prime Rib

3. Fresh Peaches and cream

4. Apple, pumpkin, pecan pies

4 Places I Would Like To Visit

1. Hawaii

2. Bahamas

3. Alaska

4. Scotland

4 People I Tag

1. Nona

2. Kaycee

3. Holly

4. Candice

I am Pumpkin Pie!

You're the perfect combo of uniqueness and quality.

You're able to relate to many types of people with many different tastes.

But you're by no means generic or ordinary. In fact,

you're one of the most original people around.

Those who like you are looking for something (or someone) special.

You tend to confuse people when they first meet you. 

But you're not as complicated as you seem.

Even though you have a lot of spice and flavor to you, 

you're never overpowering.

You are a calm and comforting force in people's lives.

( I could not get a direct link to work, so here's the URL)

Try it! It's fast and fun!

www.blogthings.com/whatkindofpieareyouquiz/

A HUGE thanks to Nona and Holly, who have been my technical support in getting this blog the way that I want it! I wasn't sure how to put pictures within the new post- SO here it goes...(thanks, Holly)

Here's a couple more halloween pics...

Halloween

This year the kids really enjoyed Halloween! McKaylyn and Maddisen were witches, Delaney wanted to be minnie mouse, and Landry was the cutest puppy I've ever seen. They had a great time going to the Halloween carnival at the elementary school, and then trick or treating to a few houses in the neighborhood. Because we were out and going all night, we were left with a big bowl full of candy at our house... next year I'm only going to buy one bag for the late trick or treaters! The kids love getting dressed up, but their favorite part is getting to wear "real make-up." Such girlie-girls! They are so cute!

Life lessons

You know, I really think that it is a good thing that this life provides opportunities to learn and grow through the dumb mistakes that one makes. Cause heaven knows I've made my fair share. The only hope we have is that everyone else has made mistakes, too, and therefore can relate, and hopefully forgive our weaknesses more easily, knowing that they, too, have weaknesses. I often think of my beautiful mother, who has taught me so many good things in this life. Especially when I am feeling ashamed of myself for the dumb things that I do. I really admire her for thousands of reasons, but perhaps her best trait, in my view, is that she NEVER says negative things about other people. She is a great listener, and therefore, I'm sure, hears many things about many different people, but no matter who it may be, and regardless of what they have done to her, she always focuses on the positive things about them when she is asked her opinion... even if others are not so kind. I really admire that about her. I guess in so many ways I feel like I have a long way to go until I have mastered my tongue like that, but I know each time I make a mistake, I consider it a lesson learned, and promise myself that I will absolutely do my best to be more like her. What an example of genuine kindness, and the golden rule. Perhaps my least favorite thing about living in such a small town is the huge prevalence of rumors. People saying this, and people saying that, and some people just being down-right malicious. But my hope is that someday, I will be a good enough person that if others hear negative things about me, they will not believe it for one second. I hope my character will speak for me instead of feeling like I need to defend myself  or my family by mouth. After all, actions do speak louder than words, and no one wins in the crossfire of negative words and blame. So, mom, even though I doubt you're a big blog-lurker, I still want to let it be known that I am grateful for your example, and that in so many ways,I really do want to grow up to be like you.

From girls into mothers

Jason and I always say how lucky we are to have such good girls. But nothing could have prepared us for they way they would all fall in love with their baby brother. Sure, there was a small period of adjustment when he first came home & Delaney dropped him when I caught her carrying him down the hall, and then nearly suffocated him with a pillow... but after a couple of talks about why we need to come get mommy instead of bringing the baby to her, and how to turn up the TV instead of smothering the volume of the baby's cry, we have been doing much better! McKaylyn is an amazing helper. She volunteers to change his diapers, holds him while I make dinner, and even finishes eating his left-over bananna baby food! She can even calm him down better than his daddy can! Maddisen is always kissing him on the cheek, and jumping out from behind things to scare him. That really gets him laughing. We have a video of his first really hard laugh-attack, and Maddisen was the one who got him rolling! She likes to hold him and watch her favorite cartoons so he can watch too. Delaney and Landry have become really great friends, (previous life-threatening moments aside), and it has been so neat to watch these two play together while the older girls are at school each day. Every one of them has fallen in love with their baby brother... Even McKaylyn, who cried for 30 minutes on my lap when I told her the ultrasound said it was a boy! She has definitely changed her mind, and decided that a brother may even be better than a sister (at least while he's too young to get into her room and play with her things!). From little girls into little mothers is a very good place to be!

Okay, here goes! My first attempt at blogging! I guess I'm feeling the pressure to get with the times! But since I rarely write entries in my own journal, and I enjoy having some down time at the computer, I guess this is a great way to get it all going again! Plus, I've seen my friends and families blogs, and they are fun to read through. So let's hope I'm technology-literate enough to get this done right!