Merry Christmas to all!

This is our Christmas card this year. My wonderful sister in law Andrea of Andrea Whittle Photography took our amazing pictures before we left Arizona. She is able to capture each child's personality, I love getting their pictures done by here. i am trying to get them to move move up here, so far it is not so successful. I hope that you all have an amazing Christmas holiday with you families.

Christmas....Already??

I have been such a slacker in the picture taking department. I have not taken any pictures since Halloween. Well, I did at least get some decorations up and the shopping is done, batteries for the camera, so Christmas pictures are a go.
I have some really cute things that the kids have said recently:

While watching the Nativity
C: "mom do we get to see how baby Jesus comes out of his mom's tummy, cuz I really want to see that part!"
Me: why do you want to see that?
C: because I did not get to see how Kalya came out of your tummy.

Honestly, how funny. I really had to concentrate and not laugh, then I said..
I pushed her out and someone caught her.
He thought that was pretty cool, and he was satisfied with this answer.

When coming home from work and into the door Kayla says
K:"Mommy, I lub you."
Me: I love you too Kayla
K: "I hungy, k."
Me: ok what do you want to eat?
K: "ummm...becfist"

I think she has my trained.

When Cayden was sick and wanted to play outside,
C:"But Mom i feel good."
Me: but you are still coughing.
C: "but mom it is the cough that you like to hear."
Me: I do not like to hear you cough at all
C: "but you said that you like it better then my other cough."
This would have been the croup cough he had 2 days before. Silly kids!

When out shopping with Kayla
K:"Mommy we look at babies k"
Me: we will look at the babies in a minute
K: "mommy santa not coming cuz you not listen to me."

I love my kids, they make me laugh every day. It breaks up the stress that tends to surround me most of the times. Hope you all have a great holiday!
Merry Christmas!

Up in South Jordan

We moved and arrived safely in South Jordan just in time for fall and going to the pumpkin patch. Things have been much more quiet around here without the older boys. I am trying to look for the positive things with this new living arrangement. So far, there are many days that I am missing them like crazy. I just keep thinking this is temporary. Here are some of the things we did since we have been back in Utah. We took K and C to the pumpkin patch. Here is K with her daddy and her pumpkin. Here is C with his pumpkin. He said he needed a bigger pumpkin then K because he is bigger then she is.

Here we are on the hay ride. Daddy did not want to go, so he took pictures instead. It was so fun for K and C, they thought it was cool that the tractor pulled the hay wagon all around the pumpkin patch.

We also arrived just in time for the first snow. We got about an inch that stuck to the ground. I had forgotten how pretty things look in the morning right after the snow has fallen. Daddy did not take the trampoline down in time for the first snow, but hit was so nice right after this that we left it up for 2 more weeks.

We have such a fun backyard. The kids love the play set and are outside for as long as they are allowed. It has not been too cold other then these two snow days so they have played for hours.

We went to the church for a Halloween party. They had chili and soup and cornbread contests. We got to try some really good recipes and some interesting ones also. We had so many people come and introduce themselves, I was a bit overwhelmed with the numbers of people that came. I did very well though and did not have to leave to catch my breath. The kids had a pinata to hit and C loved it!

K was a ladybug and C was a SWAT member. I did not have to buy costumes this year. It was so awesome. I save some money with that.

Here is K with her pumpkin of candy after the Trunk or treat out a Tammy's house (Blaine's sister).

Here is C with his candy after the trunk or treat

Here are the little one just before going out to houses for more candy.

Here is the huge amount of candy that the kids got. I did not buy candy this year. I gave out pretzels and fruit snacks. This was the container that the pretzels came it. I just had 2 kids going trick or treating this year and still ended up with a ton of candy!

Here is a photo of our back yard today. It is snowing again. K and I have been sitting in front of the window watching the snow fall. She thinks it is so pretty. C is at school and loving his new class. He had a 5 week break between fall break in AZ and being off track when we got to UT. He is in a tiny class of 15 kids. His teacher is super cute and very organized. She loves C so I am happy. I am loving my job at the Riverton Hospital working with moms and babies again. I love going to work every day and am so thankful for the opportunity to work there. I am still not thrilled with the cold weather up here, but having a husband home and a job I love makes it worth it!

Summer Pictures and then some

On Good Friday we lost Copper. Our hyperactive, barky, lovable wiener dog passed away at home with Josh and Jared by his side. We had him for 5 years, and even though he was a pain, we will forever miss him. The kids loved him to death and they still have his collar. Copper 2004-2010

Here is Cayden's end of the year program. I was not able to go but Blaine and Grandma Whittle were able to see it. He is so cute!

Trip to the Zoo! Cayden and Kayla love to see the zoo, this was one of our many trips this year. We went to see the kimono dragon exhibit that had just opened the month before.

Jared will never admit that he is just a bigger kid. He loves to play with Cayden, wrestle, and camp in the tent in the loft. I got a picture of it because he is so funny!

This year we had Cassia and Kayla's birthday party together. they have birthdays in the month of May so we just did a princess party. I made the dresses and got the cake, Andrea did decorations, hostess and food. It was so much fun to see the girls open presents. They got the same things from everyone. Super cute!

Here is the cake, Cassia could not wait to blow out the candles. Kayla was not really sure what to do with the candles, so Cayden had to help her.

After the presents and cake, we went swimming. Here are the girls getting warm after swimming for over 90 minutes!

I went into the house after running to the car to get a change of clothes and a diaper for Kayla and saw Miss Cassia helping Kayla eat some cake they found within reach. They are so funny together!

Here is Kayla at home on her actual birthday. We had some cupcakes and she knew what to do with the candles this time.

Miss Kayla in grandma's hat. We went to the swimming pool during the Memorial Day weekend, she had fun in the water and loved Grandma Whittle's hat.

Monday of the Memorial Day weekend, we had all of the family over to Grandma Whittle's house for a picnic. Uncle John brought the biggest slip and slide and water balloons for the kids to play with. The boys helped Blaine and John set up the slide.

Cayden being so brave. I was so surprise that my little chicken even tried it.

Water Balloon fight!!!! Even the adults joined in this one, it was so fun to see the older boys try and get the grown-ups wet and then run before retaliation hit!

Josh helping Jacob to get someone wet instead of missing them.

Cassia and Natalie after baths

Natalie, Jacob and Kayla

Natalie, Cayden, Jacob, Cassia, and Kayla

Best Buddies!

Eating cake at grandma's, what could be better?

Natalie, Cassia and Jacob "resting"

One of the very rare pictures of Josh, turning 15 make you not want your picture taken anymore I guess.

Jared and Josh in the airport getting ready to leave to California for the summer to spend time with Dad.

King Cayden at the children's art museum

Ann Marie taking a photo, Cody in the stroller, Cassia and Natalie all at the zoo. What an adventure! 4 adults with 6 kids under the age of 6!

Natalie and Kayla at the Children's art museum

Princess Kayla

Kayla at the zoo, my pictures uploaded out of order sorry!

Natalie and Kayla playing in the water at the zoo

Me headed off to an all girls retreat up in Heber! No kids or hubby!!!!

All of the girls, Tammy, Maggie, Debbie and Ann

This was the visitor that we got out in the back of the cabin

Kayla being naughty and getting yet another cup out!

Cayden waiting for the fireworks to start on 4th of July

Kayla and Vickie waiting for the fireworks on 4th of July

Kayla dressing up. I have saved every costume from each child over the years they collect and Kayla loves to dress up in them!

Splash pad at San Tan Mall to cool off one day

Where did the water go?

Our new baby of the family, Angel. She is 1 and is a chiweinie, chiwawa and weiner dog mix.

Kalya loves to take Angel for a "walk", she has to stay in the backyard though.

Kayla trying to make Angel get in the trailer. Angel is not very compliant with this request.

Jared and Kayla on the trampoline, again he is trying to act like he hates it.

Josh, the first day of school at Queen Creek High School, he is a sophmore this year.

Kayla sleeps in the oddest places, sideways in bed

on the coffee table

On the hippo

I am thinking that she wants to go to school too!

Finally after lots of begging, all of the boys got hair cuts!!! Thank you Tina!

Kayla was not convinced that she would see her blanket and kitty if they took a bath in the washer, so she had Blaine bring her a chiar and drink so she could watch them and make sure they would return.

For Josh's 16th birthday he got tickets to the Diamondbacks and Dodgers baseball game in the all-you-can-eat section. FYI anyone wanting to take the kids to the game, this is where you want to be. Unlimited hotdogs, popcorn, peanuts and soda. What more could a kid ask for??

The dodgers pitcher, Joas was so excited!!

This was the last player up to bat, note the score of the game, Josh was not happy about that!

Cayden made honor roll for straight A's during the first quarter of first grade!

Well that sums up the year so far. New news....we are moving back up to Salt Lake. We leave this week and will be in South Jordan. I am going to be working at the new IHC Riverton hospital, a 5 minute commute!!!!! Blaine has been there for 2 months now and we are so excited to be back together as a family. Josh and Jared are not happy that we are moving again. They have chosen to move to California to live with their dad. I am not happy about it, in fact my feelings are hurt. I just want what is best for them and they do not see that. Well, I guess sometimes the best way to teach a lesson is the hard way. I am so thankful for all of the prayers and thoughts that all of you have for us this past year. Thank you! Enjoy the updates!