Field trips!!

The last three weeks in a row I was able to take Hailey, Ashlyn and Bryce on field trips! Even though the only time I had my camera was with Hailey at the Natural History Museum, I still managed to get a few with my phone for the other two. Hailey and I got to pan for gold (which she LOVED and thought was real), learn about dinosaurs, moon rocks and lots of other fun stuff. Then, Bryce and I went to the zoo where the kids got to be upclose with a baboon that played with them at the window. Bryce also has a good little friend Brooklyn who loves to play with him. Finally, Ashlyn and I went to the zoo as well. We were able to see all the animals and even though they complained of being tired they had lots of fun!! Especially laughing at the giraffe.

Family Vacation 2012 Part 4 - Catalina Island and shops

Before heading home we took the day to walk around the pier and shops and take in the scenery. We enjoyed yummy icecream and enjoyed a great day!

Family Vacation 2012 Part 2 - Seaworld

After arriving in San Diego we were able to spend a beautiful day at Seaworld. The weather was great! We were able to make it to all of the shows and the kids had a blast. They even made it all the way to the firework show at night. I think the kids loved the seal show best because of all the silliness. A great and tiring day.

Family Vacation 2012 Part 1 - July 4th

This year we decided to take a trip to San Diego to visit family, the beach and Seaworld. For the fourth we were able to spend a great day with my aunts, uncles and cousins. It was so good to see my family that I hadn't seen for a while. My mom, sisters and family were there too. The kids had so much fun. They loved playing out back, the fireworks and running around. My cousin even planned a great BBQ and made me an awesome flag cake.

Blessing Daylen

Today we were able to bless Daylen at church. It was another great blessing and I am so grateful Derek honors his priesthood and is able to perform these blessings for our children. I am grateful for the blessings our Heavenly Father chose to give our sweet little Daylen and I am confident he will be (and is) an amazing addition to our family. We were able to have my grandpa Terry in town as well as Derek's dad, brother Jared and two of my brothers-in-law, Sam and Evan here to participate. I am grateful for their willingness. I am so grateful for the opportunity the Lord has given me to have amazing and beautiful children. I could not live without them. I am so blessed!!

Ashlyn turns 4!

My little girl is four already! I can't believe it. We are so happy we have this firecracker in our house. Some fun things about Ashlyn:
1. She is hilarious, I can not even describe it.
2. She is very sensitive. She doesn't like when people are upset.
3. She loves to sing and pretend.
4. Whenshe grows up she wants to be a teenager. (I died laughing when she told me that).
5. She is 39 1/2 inches. 75th percentile. That's a first for my kids.
6. She weighs 32 pounds. Still at the bottom of the weight class, no surprise.
7. We found out she too, like her sister, has kidney reflux, but worse. We are awaiting doctor recommendations to see if she will have surgery or just medication.
8. She has a hard time focusing, but comes up with the funnest thugs to play because of it.
9. She loves school and does really well at it.
We love our Ashlyn!!!

We moved!!!

After a long and crazy 16 months I finally can report that we have "moved" to Arizona. Despite the fact that I have been here more than a year and Derek for 10 months, for the first time we have a place to call our own. We are renting a cute little house with plenty of space inside, including 4 bedrooms and a playroom. We are missing the yard we would like for the kids, but when you rent you can give a little. While we are overwhelmingly grateful to my mother for allowing not only her child, but an entire family of 6 to live with her so long, it is a relief to be on our own again. We are still unpacking odds an ends but we have already filled up so much of this space. I am not sure how we survived before. I know it is only through my Heavenly Father and I can not forget how much comfort we have recieved as we have waited for this trial to somehow be at an end. While life isn't perfect yet, it is amazing and I have so many things to be grateful for!