Eleven

Eleven crazy, wonderful years!

Sure, we've had a few years that were more crazy than wonderful, but we've loved each other through it all! I couldn't ask for a better friend & partner in crime to spend forever with.

Here are some things I love about Matt:

1. I love that we have so many memories together. We went to high school dances in the same groups {though never together}, spent late nights watching our favorite movies and laughing our heads off, wrote letters from England and Thailand. He was truly my best friend before he became my boyfriend, and I love that about him!

2. He's a glass half full kind of guy. He's always looking on the bright side and doesn't stress needlessly about things {unlike me!}.

3. He always tells me he loves me & gives me a kiss before he leaves for work in the morning, even though most of the time I'm still asleep and he knows I don't hear him.

4. He's an amazing father. He's the fun parent, and the kids are always counting the minutes until he comes home from work. He wrestles and has sleep overs and teases endlessly {which the kids pretend to hate but secretly love}.

5. He balances out my sometimes overly emotional personality with his laid back, go with the flow personality {which drives me crazy at times, but also keeps me grounded}.

6. He watches Food Network with me, and likes it.

7. He came to all my dance performances, even though sometimes they were bizarre and/or boring. I'll always remember him yelling my name during one of our high school performances! He proposed to me after my final concert in college. He's always supported me in everything I've done.

8. He likes to eat. I like to cook. It's a perfect match.

9. He's a cancer survivor. He had to go through so much, but he almost always had a smile on his face & a joke to tell. I think that's why he's still here 9 years later.

10. He speaks very sarcastically and therefore people sometimes have a hard time knowing if he's being serious or joking around. I love this, and am the same way, but hate having to explain this to people so they don't think he really beats the children or wears thong underwear.

11. He puts up with me. Anyone who can do that is truly amazing!

Cabin Fun

We love the cabin {and love that it's so close!!}!

We went up for a day with mom and dad, Leah & William, and Andrea & Thomas. It's always so relaxing to be up there. The kids had fun going on a hike with Grandpa and their aunts and cousins while Grandma, Landon & I stayed behind. They also had fun playing with Thomas and William. It's fun to have so many babies around!







*thanks for the pics, Leah!!

Sprinklers & Gardens & Slip n' Slides, Oh My!

Summer arrived late this year. It's late June and we're finally enjoying the heat! The kids have been living in their swim suits and we've been loving outdoor activities. Lots of running through sprinklers, visits to the gardens, trips to the park {I wish I had a picture of our latest trip with my friends and all 26 of our kids. It was a sight to see, and so fun to get our kids together- usually it's just us girls!}, and even slip n' slide fun at Grandma & Grandpa's.

Spacey

We love family night at the Thanksgiving Point gardens. One of our favorites so far this year has been Operation: Space. The kids loved making their own rockets and launching them, as well as seeing the planets, creating a constellation, and making lunar ice cream.

Landon enjoying the scenery

retrieving rockets

Jackson's rocket about to launch

creating the Corona Borealis

eating the fruits of their labor: Lunar Ice Cream!

6 weeks

I love this kid!

Summer Is...

Popsicles in swim suits...

chillin' in a onesie....

sleeping at Grandma's...

rides in the convertible...

working outside...

crazy kids....

dirty feet....

squirt guns....

Oh, how we love summer!

tummy time

is a one month old even supposed to do this?!
quit growing up, landon!

Recent Projects

Project #1: Revamping the Job Jars

I decided that this summer was a good time to change up the job jars. This is how we're doing things now-

Each kid has their own jar and their own color of bead/marble/whatever you want.

We have a list of jobs posted. No one is assigned a specific job. Instead, they can look at the job list and decide what they want to do. They can also earn beads for jobs that I think of that are not on the list. For each job they do, they get to put a bead {or beads} into their jar {after I've approved their work, of course}. I cannot believe how well this is working!

As soon as they fill up their jar they earn a reward {going out to lunch at their favorite restaurant, a new toy, etc.}. The kids love putting the beads in their jar, and their competitive natures are working to my advantage. If one sees that another has earned a bead they hurry off to look at the list to see what they can do- heaven forbid they have less beads than a sibling! The result is that some days my toilets get cleaned more than once {which can never be a bad thing, right?!}.



Project #2: The plethora of burritos

Many things inspired this project- Quick lunch ideas for Matt, my constantly ravenous boys, my desire to have a fast meal ready on days when we've been out and about and I haven't had time to make dinner....

Here's what I did:

1. Made a big ol' batch of burrito filling. I used dehydrated refried beans from the cannery {which are the best ever, by the way!}, black beans, and rice. You could also add meat or whatever else you like.

2. Got a metric ton of flour tortillas. Filled said tortillas with bean mixture, topped with cheese, rolled, and wrapped in plastic wrap.

3. Stored the mother load of burritos in the freezer. Now when Matt hasn't had time to make a lunch, or the kids are itching for something filling, or I'm not in the mood to cook, we can just pop a burrito in the microwave for a minute {unwrap first, then roll burrito in a paper towel}, top with salsa and sour cream and VOILA! Instant yum.

I can envision a day when my entire freezer is stocked with these beauties to meet the demand of teenage boys and their friends......

Happy Flag Day!

Happy Flag Day!

We're celebrating with a treat {because how can you celebrate anything without a treat, really?!}

*recipe here*

One Month

The honeymoon's over.

The glorious days of snuggling a newborn while he sleeps all day are slowly fading. Landon's already craving a schedule and is beginning to prefer naps in a crib rather than next to my beating heart, but I am fighting it! I hate that the newborn stage is so short.

Loose baby skin is being replaced by chub and rolls. Newborn clothes are not allowing for the full leg stretch. My furry baby is beginning to look like an old man with a rapidly receding hair line {he still has the awesome sideburns, however!}.

Housework can no longer be ignored completely now that I'm starting to feel better. I still have a few more weeks of doctor-ordered "taking it easy", but I can no longer spend all day lounging on the couch in my pajamas....there are things to be done, people!

I love the first 6 postpartum weeks. There's nothing like it. So many emotions- mostly gratitude and love. Love for this new little life that has become entwined with mine, and Gratitude for a husband and family who have taken over many of my maternal duties so that this little life and I could get to know each other. I've relished these few weeks we've had to focus just on US.

It goes by too quickly, but such is life.

Who Does Landon Look Like?

Landon

Kensie

Lincoln

Jackson

PollPub.com Vote

Who does Landon look like?

Kensie Lincoln Jackson No one. Just himself.

View Results

Poll powered by PollPub.com Free Polls

Sundry Photos

*Just for you, Alayna Ü

bathtime- and not happy about it!
*nice camera work by Lincoln

mad baby!

what is this face?! i can't stop laughing whenever i see this picture!

I'm Three!

I can't believe Jackson's three!! His birthday was on Sunday this year. We celebrated a bit by opening some presents, but saved the real celebrating until the next day {Memorial Day}.

We celebrated all the May birthdays {and Memorial Day} at my parent's house. We had yummy food, and Jackson, Kensie, and Grandpa got to open presents. Among the favorites for Jackson were the bubble gun from Spencer & Andrea, a deluxe shovel from Grandma & Grandpa, and the handmade reversible Superman/Batman/Spiderman capes from Leah & Danny. Even William got in on the superhero action!


Jackson requested a frog cake this year. Not my best work, but it was the best tasting chocolate cake I've ever made.

The kids had fun playing tether ball with Matt & Grandpa.





Happy Birthday, Bud!!