Dinner Conversations...

I was sitting with the boys eating dinner (Tyler was out of town) and the conversation between the 3 of them was hilarious.

Spencer: Mom, how much did I weigh when I was born?
Me: You were 5.14oz , Kaden was 6.11oz , and Ashton was 6.9oz
Kaden: I was the fatty in the bunch!
Spencer: Mom, this kid in my class weighed 8lbs. when he was born...that's HUGE!
Me: Spencer, lots of kids are 8lbs and even more when they are born. Just because some babies are born bigger or smaller doesn't mean that they won't grow to be the same size.
Spencer: but mom, he weighs 110lbs now.
Me: Really, mommy doesn't even weigh 100lbs.
Kaden: Are you Serious?

Spencer: Mom, am I small because my middle name is Tyler
Kaden: That means I am medium because my middle name is Paul
Kaden: That means Ashton is going to be HUGE, because his middle name is Scott!

Ashton feeling a little left out of the conversation, continues tapping Kaden on the shoulder...

Ashton: Hey, Hey, little buddy listen to me!
Kaden: What?
Ashton: Are you serious...I be 6 lbs!

VOTE!!!!

Do the RIGHT thing....GO VOTE!!!

Halloween 2008

It's not quite the same trick-or-treating when it is 90 degrees outside. However, the kids didn't seem to mind and it did cool off a little once the sun went down. Ashton was an excited Mickey Mouse he kept talking all day about going to get candy.
Once we actually got started he was fired up, going house to house saying, "I'm Mickey Mouse, Trick-or-Treat..." after about 2 streets he began saying, "Mommy, my bag berry hebby." So we carried the bag. Then he said, " Mommy, my hat hot," so we lost the hat. Then the final one was, "Mommy, my legs hurting." so, Daddy carried him, and all was good.

Kaden was Captain Jack, and Spencer was a baseball player
they had a blast going from house to house and coming home to check out their fortune
Happy Halloween!!!

Ashy in his "sketton" shirt

Notes to the boys

Lunch Notes

I usually pack the kids lunches the night before and I always put a little note on their napkin, just to let them know I love them or good luck on a test etc. My mom used to do it when we were growing up and I loved it. Just a little reminder someone is thinking about you :)

I was on a friends blog and she found this site. I thought it would be fun to share...it gave me a few fun new ideas. In the world today our kids need all the love and encouragement we can give while they are young, because the rest of their life the world will be knocking them down!

Here are some cute ideas...

Roses are red, violets are blue,
Don't trade this sandwich, I made it for YOU!

Mom hopes you like this tasty lunch...
I miss you and love you, my honey bunch!

Roses are red, violets are blue,
Know as you're eating, I'm thinking of you!

I have a surprise for you...see you at 3:00!
XOXOXO

Lizards are green, bunnies are furry,
I miss you, Davis...
Come home in a hurry! XOXOXO

You are DINO-mite!!! (Draw a dinosaur!)

Tonight you don't have any chores...
Have a great day!

I'm picking you up at (blank) time and
taking you for a special treat! LOVE YOU!

Good luck on your spelling test today!

Draw a picture...they'll be surprised that you know how!

Put a joke in their lunch...

If you really wanted to go all out, you could buy some small, inexpensive toys to surprise them with every once in a while...kind of like a happy meal!

***HALLELUJAH***

We have KEYS!!!

We moved here to Arizona a year and two months ago. Tyler's cousins were so wonderful to let us rent their house for what we thought was going to be a month or two, while we waited for our home to be built...Little did we know it would be a year!

We never unpacked anything because we kept thinking, "next month we will move," and nothing, then, "It will be next month" then the next month, and so on and here we still are a year and two months later. This is the entrance to our house we've been renting and it is literally wall to wall, floor to ceiling boxes everywhere in the house. It's been paper products, plastic utensils, a pot and a pan, a couch, kitchen table, and our beds. I have to admit the clean freak in me has been going a little crazy. I have to keep reminding myself...it's temporary!

Well, we just closed on our house and I have keys in hand, so it is official...we are moving! YEAH!

Honestly, I have to say that despite the many trials along the way, we have been deeply blessed. This last year has given me a greater appreciation for the simple things. We really don't need much in life to be happy. We are so grateful for the gospel, our family and friends who have helped us along the way. We love you all!


This is a glimpse of our chaos

Fall Break

The kids were out of school for Fall Break, so we went to the Happiest Place on Earth!
I just love to go when it is all decorated for the Holidays. It reminds me of going as a child, that jolly, giddy, happy to be alive feeling!
We got some autographs, pictures, Candy Corns, saw all the pumpkins, and lights down Main Street...LOVE IT!

My mom's sister Jarnie and her husband Kevin came from Utah and stayed for a week along with her son Mike and wife Kara. It was so fun to visit with all our cousins and family.

Ashton's favorite ride was the train because he got to see Dinosaurs
and other animals. We also took him on The Matterhorn for the first time...he just barely made 35 in. He was a little hesitant at first as we were waiting in line and he kept hearing the abominable snowman ROAR! I kept telling him it was a fast choo choo train, and he got all excited...until we got on the ride. He was grabbing on to the handles for dear life and dead silent. When we came out of the last turn into daylight, my mom looked back and said, "Jill, he is WHITE." He told me, "Mommy that so fun." When we got off we called daddy and told him he was such a big boy and went on the fast train. Ashton told Tyler, "Mommy hold me really tight and I saw a white monkey."(abominable snowman...Monkey, it's all the same?)

Spencer was so excited to finally be tall enough to go on California Screamin, you have to be 48in. and with the help of a little toilet paper in his shoes...he made it! He wanted Grandpa to go with him and he LOVED it!!

Kaden was so excited too because he go to go on Indiana Jones for the first time!
He actaully was tall enough 46in. and He loved it!
This trip was a monumentous occasion at Disneyland! We have not been there in over a year and it was a nice little reasurrance that, YES, my children really are growing! There is hope for them afterall.

A Thought For The Day

"So many of us make a great fuss of matters of small consequence. We are so easily offended. Happy is the man who can brush aside the offending remarks of another and go on his way."
-Gordon B. Hinckley

I love this man! He left us with countless words of wisdom. Love life and live it to the fullest, don't stress over things that eternally don't matter...

Camo Gear

Life is never dull when you're home all day with a 2 year old! Ashton was helping me fold the laundry and when I turned around he was gone. As I walked up stairs to put the folded clothes away he jumped up from the tub and said, "Mommy you not see me...I'm hiding." Don't worry those ARE CLEAN underwear on his head!

Tyler's Birthday weekend!

Last weekend we packed up and went to California to spend Tyler's Birthday with his family. We went to Sea World on Friday and La Jolla Shores beach on Saturday. We had such a great time!Ashton was so focused on building his sand castle

Spencer riding the waves with a little push from Grandpa

The kids had a blast at the beach. It was the perfect day, perfect weather...so fun!

These two were such a crack up. Lexie and Ashton were having their own little conversation back and forth,back and forth... so cute.

The kids loved going out and watching the seals wash up on the beach

I love my little boys!

Daddy and Ashton. I love Ashy's little arm over Tyler's shoulder

SHAMU, SHAMU

The kids just got drenched on the rapids ride and were loving every minute

Waiting for Shamu to start

Sawyer, Spencer, Lexie, Ashton, Kaden, Logan
Cousins Day!!

Happy 31st Birthday
You are AMAZING...WE LOVE YOU!!

Who loves you?

Every night we have our little routine of bathing the kids, brushing teeth, reading scriptures and saying prayers. After we are done, Tyler usually takes Spencer and Kaden into their room, tucks them in and spends a little daddy time with them, just talking about their day. I take Ashton and we read books and sing songs in his room as we rock in the rocking chair. When I am done singing "I Am A Child of God" he knows it's bed time. I say to him, "Do you know Mommy loves you?" He replies, "Yesss". We go back and forth with a list of people that love him. " Daddy loves you, Spencer and Kaden love you, Grandma and Grandpa love you, Heavenly Father loves you, Jesus loves you," "Yesss." He just laughs and thinks it is so funny. Well the other night I said, "Ashton, who loves you?" He looked up and said, "my horsee loves me, Shamoon loves me, and Jesus loves me." I said, "What about Mommy and Daddy?" He said, "No, Horsee, Shamoon, and Jesus love me." Thanks, I'm glad to see I am having such an impact. I guess I should be glad that at least he knows Jesus loves him.

Daddy's day

Ashton has been on a Daddy kick lately, which means for once mommy is jungle gym free (at least when daddy is around) and two, it makes Tyler feel "So Loved". Yesterday we were out looking at houses and Tyler met us from work for a few minutes and then he was off to the church for meetings. As we pulled into the driveway Ashton said, "where daddy's car mom" to which I replied, "daddy had to go to the church for a meeting". He so sweetly said,"Mommy, I put on my church shoes and go to church and see Daddy." He made daddy's day.

Lindsay & Grant's Wedding

Lindsay and Grant were Married August 15, 2008, so we were off to California...YEAH!
I love these blue eyed boys

Logan, Lexie, Kaden, Ashton, Spencer, Sawyer
They all looked so cute all dressed up. They had a blast playing with each other

Grant and LindsaySterling and Lindsay's family

Our family, not into taking Photo's

I just loved these pics

How sweet was this moment. Great Grandpa Shumway was reading to AshtonWe had a great weekend. It was so refreshing to see family and friends that we miss so much. We love you all

Shamu boy!!

Do you think he is a little obsessed with Sea World? He made a swimming pool and all the other whales, dolphins, and such are swimming "with him." He carries at least one Shamu with him at all times. He calls them "Daddy Shamoon, Mommy Shamoon, and Baby Shamoon." I caught him yesterday on all fours with his leg up in the air saying "Mommy, I splash my tail like Shamoon." With my other two boys all I heard about was Bob the Builder and Buzz Lightyear, but not Ashton, its SHAMOON!! When I was potty training Spencer and Kaden it was part of our little regime that after they would go potty they would get to put a sticker on a sticker chart, get an M&M, and Call either Bob the Builder (for Spencer) and Buzz Lightyear (for Kaden). Tyler would pretend to be one of them and the kids loved it. That was great and all, but now Ashton is approaching that potty training stage and Shamu doesn't Talk :) We just might have to get creative!

1st day of School 2008-09

I'm hearing the words from Nemo,
"First day of school, first day of school"
I can't believe it is that time already. The boys both woke up this morning at 6:00am pinging off the walls, wondering when it was time to go to school. Spencer is in 3rd grade and Kaden is in 1st. They loved their teachers and were excited to see all their friends. I'm not looking forward to the 30 min. drive again, but hopefully that will end soon.

4th of July & Sea World-Summer Fun!

4th of July 2008

Ashton riding the fish at Sea World. He was in Heaven

Kaden, Spencer, Dawson, and Kenzie all rode the rapid ride with Grandpa and were soaked!

Hiding in the Arctic cave, and Asthon being quiet amused by their faces.

My sweet little Wise Guy. Oh, how I love this little boy

The kids were doing fire works and pops outside Grandma and Grandpa's house.

We had a blast at Sea World. Uncle Tyler, Sencer, Tyler, and Kaden off on Atlantis

Ashton showing you his blue tongue from his sucker while waiting for Shamu to start.

Shamu, Shamu xx xx Shamu, Shamu
Ashton still to this day is talking about Shamu and singing the song. He carries his little Shamu's all over the house playing with them. He splashes in the tub and says "I kicka my feet like a Shamoon's tail".

Ashton loved the big horses. He got to pet this one behind us and he didn't want to leave. He kept saying "I go see the orsies".

Grandpa and the boys in the Arctic Cave

Spencer surfing

Is this typical or what? Need I say more?

Grandpa with Max, Adam, and Ashton playing motor boat.

Kaden and Spencer

cousin time in the pool

Bounce House Slide time at Grandpa's house. I think Grandpa likes this thing just as much as the kids do.

So cute!

Ashton loves to play at the park. We all had such a great time. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa. We love you!