Black and Whites

Here are some pictures I took of the kids this week to put in frames in the house. I got all crafty and made homemade frames for these pictures! We are having some new bookshelves installed tomorrow and I have been getting ready to make them all cute. I am excited about how these pictures came out and when the shelves are all installed I will have to post about them because I have been waiting about 2 years to do this and I am so excited about it! Anyways, here are the pictures...enjoy!

All Boy!!

I just have to take a second to mention how hilarious it is to have a boy around here. I LOVE it!! He is at an age that has been fun for all the kids, but Spencer has a way of doing it totally different. For example, the girls all loved to sing and dance at this age (and Spencer DOES have some sweet moves...a bit like Axle Rose). But, Spencer does things like "mow da lawn" with daddy...he thinks this is the best time of the week...he imitates every move Jake makes when they do this together.

Spencer has a new pair of boots...he thinks these are the coolest...and I have to admit that I kind of think he's the coolest when he wears them!

His newest favorite thing is the girl's headbands...why? you may ask...because they are sling shots of course!! I am not sure how he figured this out...I swear boys just figure these things out all by themselves. I think you'd be surprised how, after a few days of practice, his accuracy is right on...he can hit whatever you tell him to aim at! He did have one little mishap this morning though...the shot went backwards and he shot himself in the eye (which totally reminded me of "Christmas Story")...he was REALLY bummed about this one...but it didn't slow him down for long. As soon as he could see again, he had the sling shot in hand!


The other day as I was sitting on my bed talking to Jake I looked over and saw Spencer pulling my curling iron out of the drawer...the next thing I know he shot me with it! He aimed the curling iron at me, pulled a "trigger" and made a "gun noise"...once again, I don't know where he learns this stuff!!

You gotta love this guy!

School Starts!

Wow...summer was so fun and went by SOOO fast! We really had fun going to the park, playing with friends every afternoon, coloring pictures together and going to Seven Peaks as much as possible! I guess all good things must come to an end! I am shocked that my little girls are growing up so fast...Karlee is in 3rd grade, learning cursive and multiplication. I am not even sure I know how to do those things anymore! Rylee is gone all day and I miss her craziness and how she entertains her little sister and brother...but she is SO happy eating her lunch at school! I am just glad that my kids seem happy to ride the bus and go to school each day...what a blessing! Here they are on their big 1st day!

Here's what I found Spencer doing when I got back from taking the girls to school. Is he such a boy or what??

Seven Peaks Summer!

For the last couple years we have bought passes to Seven Peaks for the summer...we have yet to regret it! The kids LOVE it there and Jake and I love having a place to escape to on summer evenings. We always go in the evenings when Jake gets off work and we hang out there until it closes at 8:00. It's perfect because it wears the kids out right before bed and we all come home and crash for the evening. The older the kids get, the more we enjoy swimming, going on the slides and relaxing there. In fact, I don't have many pictures of Rylee in this post because she was running from one thing to the next this last trip!

Spencer is all about the "kiddie pool" slides...if we stay at the "kiddie pool" he will run up and slide down the slide over and over again until we make him leave!

Karlee likes to pretend she's driving down the slow slide.

I tried to call it the "kids pool" and Audree got upset and said we have to call it the "kiddie pool" because she likes to pretend she's a "Kitty" there! She cracks me up!

This last trip was fun because Travis Ward brought his oldest 3 kids and came with us...the kids always like bringing friends along! Karlee and Katie had a blast!!

Candice & Doug's Wedding

Jake's sister Candice was married in the Draper Temple last Tuesday. It really was a beautiful ceremony and we couldn't be more excited for the two of them...Doug is going to be a great addition to the family! It was so nice to have Sarah & Brady's family and Casey & her girls there...we just don't get to see those guys enough! I was excited to be their wedding photographer and had a blast taking pictures of all the fun details on their big day...Rylee was just excited because she caught the bouquet! Karlee was equally as excited to be in charge of taking gifts to the table and Spencer and Audree enjoyed the backyard sandbox at the reception! We all enjoyed too much Coldstone ice cream and had a blast hanging out with the family. As you can imagine, I have lots of pictures to share...to see more of the couple please visit my photography blog. Congratulations guys!

Too Busy to Post...

I have been really busy lately and sick too...so here are a couple posts that I am behind on.

Last week was Jordan's (Jenny's boyfriend) birthday and she planned a sweet shin-dig up at the Pope's home...you know what that means, a little human slingshot and bowling ball cannon! We had a great time and were thoroughly entertained! I would have to give Jess the award for most entertaining slingshot...but everyone who did it put on a show! The kids just hung out in a blanket and tried to wait patiently for cake! Oh, they also enjoyed some rides on the canoe with Grandpa out on the lake...feeding hot dogs to the fish.






The next evening I had the chance to see Sheralyn, Mindy and Jenny for dinner. I have been friends with these gals forever...in fact, I have known Sheralyn since we went to nursery together and I used to play dolls with Jenny...Mindy didn't meet me until I was wearing braces and glasses...but you get the idea, it's been awhile!!

We had a blast catching up over some California Pizza Kitchen...I haven't laughed that hard in a long time...they really do keep me feeling young (and short for that matter...seriously, Mindy has to be a foot taller than me!)! Thanks girls, I really can't wait to do it again!

Blair and Shanna Visit!!

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Well, besides the tragic accident that happend on the first day of their visit...having Blair and Shanna come stay with us was a BLAST!! The kids played every minute they were awake and we filled each day with fun activities!

On Monday night we had planned to go to 7 Peaks Waterpark...but we couldn't stomach taking the kids near water...so we went to Jumpin Jacks instead! The kids had so much fun jumping and running around...but Blair didn't waste any time there either!

Even Brooke came by to hang out...plus the Bachelorette was on that evening, so the entertainment lasted into the night.

On Tuesday, Blair and Shanna went to Salt Lake for the day. It was me and Jake's 9 year anniversary...so Blair and Shanna were kind enough to watch the kids that evening while Jake and I hit dinner and a movie! The kids had a great time hanging out with their cousins!

Wednesday we decided to take the kids up to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. Jake even took a long lunch break to hang out with us! The adults were as intruiged as the kids...and I think we liked playing the sand as much too!!




On Thursday we all hung out and tried to catch our breath!

Friday was Pioneer Day here in Utah. Shanna convinced us all to run the Mapelton 5K in the morning. Karlee and Rylee ran in the kids run first...they were so excited about their participation ribbons! Then a babysitter came to watch the kids while all the adults (including Brooke) came to run the big 5K together. We HAD a great time...even though we didn't exactly MAKE great time! The we grabbed the kids and headed off to IHOP for breakfast!



After some naps we decided we were prepared to try 7 Peaks Waterpark...we packed up the kiddos and life jackets and headed out! Everyone had a blast cooling off in the water! Spencer insisted on wearing these sweet goggles while going down the slide!

That evening we made some rice crispy treats and headed back to Mapelton to enjoy a fireworks show. We got out on the grass and set up and noticed an ominous set of clouds heading our way...sure enough a considerable rain storm came our way and we hid in the van eating treats and playing with glow necklaces for about 45 minutes! But, just in time for fireworks it all dissapated! We sat, a little too close, to the large speakers and danced to some sweet tunes and then watched an amazing fireworks show happen directly above us...it was the closest I have ever been to the actual fireworks! It was the perfect ending to a great visit with Blair and Shanna!


Anyways, I am SSOOOO glad you guys decided to come stay with us...please come back again soon!