Halloween

Halloween as always is so busy and fun. The boys are at such awesome ages they really get into everything and have so much fun. It has made the holidays so exciting!!

Ryder was a pirate, Noah a skeleton that I hand painted for 6+ hours!! Rhys a lion and Sawyer started out as a ghost and then ended up as batman.

We celebrated with our wards Trunk or Treat and then we went to my parents ward's Trunk or Treat and then trick or treating around our neighborhood. Talk about sugary OVERLOAD.......ugh I am so sick of candy!!

Today is the day they give babies away....

(parts taken from my journal)

The 12 days that Rhys spent in the NICU seemed like weeks. I remember when we

had Ryder how hard I thought going to the NICU was. WOW it is so much more difficult this

time around. I wanted to be there 24/7but was lucky if I could make it down for one feeding.

Of course it was NEVER enough. And of course the days were filled with insurance issues, sick

kiddos at home, my incision getting infected and opening back up. Every day I was in the NICU

I would hope and pray for the good news that Rhys was going home. It is so frustrating....

each nurse did things very different some would feed him through his feeding tube with out even

trying to bottle feed him, some told me nursing was out of the question until he came home.

Saturday 3/11/11 we thought Rhys would be coming home......sadly it didn't happen. So on

Sunday I went down not expecting anything good. When the Dr. rounded I was thrilled when they said we were going home today!!! I quickly called Jeff who put the other boys down for naps and called his sister to come sit here so he could be there to help take Rhys home!

Outside the hospital all ready to go!!

The boys were so excited to FINALLY have there baby home. It has been a whirlwind few weeks for them. For the most part they have adapted very well. Being VERY patient!

I am so happy that I have all my babies under one roof and to have the last month behind us.

We have been so loved by so many and couldn't have done it without you!!

Discovery Cube

Before the craziness of bed rest we had even more craziness at home. We found out that our house had a slight mold problem that needed to be taken care of right away. It was the worst week ever for construction with freezing weather and each of us having horrible colds and such.
We stayed at a hotel for a few nights which really helped everyone get well again the construction dust was killing us.
One of the days Jeff took off because Noah didn't have school and there was no way I could do another rainy day with three kiddos. So we decided to make some fun of the bummer situation and we took the boys to the Discovery Science Center. I took Noah years ago when we moved here so it was fun to go check it out. We ended up getting a pass which will be very fun over the next few months. Noah and Jeff had fun checking out the hockey station.

The boys loved playing outside on the dinosaur bones. It was FREEZING but they could have stayed out there all day!!

They had the Sesame Street body exhibit right now. Ryder loved it. Noah and Sawyer were ready to move on pretty quickly.

Laying on a bed of nails.......he said it tickled.

It was a great way to spend the day after such a long week. We will be going back! It is a great place to spend a few hours!!!

Happy Heart Day!!

We already know I love any excuse for a theme and some celebrating. Valentine's day is one of my favorites! It was a VERY crazy with the start of construction and sick sick sick kids but I still had to celebrate..........
We started the morning with pink pancakes.......not such a hit. My kids freak out when I change the color of things but I am determined for them to like it :) I saw this idea on a blog and thought it was so cute we had yummy yummy pizza, I cut all the pepperoni's in the shape of hearts the boys thought I was silly but really liked it!

Jeff love's Pina Colada's so I surprised him with some. These glasses always make me laugh we got them in the dollar bin on our first anniversary for sparkling cider. They make the drinks so much more fun!!!

Valentine's also marks the anniversary of us getting engaged! Jeff absolutely shocked me with a gorgeous new ring. I couldn't believe it.....still can't. It is gorgeous. It is a combined vday, birthday last baby gift. Thanks babe! I felt like a jerk because all I got Jeff for Vday was a dodger shirt. But he swears he loves it!

We never got to officially go out and celebrate with all the craziness right now but hopefully we will get in a date before Rhys comes!

I got this idea of my friend Autumn's blog for kids valentine's.....for some reason I can't get the final version to upload from photoshop......I added words for each kid and then punched holes in there hands and put a sucker. They were a big hit....now I have to come up with something for next year!

My friend Bethany and I hosted our annual Vday party I love love love planning parties for the little kids they are so cute and have such a good time. We had an awesome turn out and I can't even believe how many kids we have these days! Next up......Easter!!!

These are only about half of the kids. They are getting so big compared to the first year we did it!

The boys were so excited to have there first fun dips.....I know lame Mom I really try to limit the candy they eat especially Ryder he is a crazy person on sugar and really there is already so much sugar in everything else! They were in heaven .....until Sawyer got sugar in his eye...melt down!

We had a great day or days of LOVE filled things. I love my boys and am so lucky to get to spend my life with them!!

17/365

Monday was a holiday. Sadly Jeff had to work so I took the boys to visit him and go to lunch. It was great to break up the day and the weather was AMAZING!!!
We went to Pei Wei the boys LOVE it. Sawyer even eats with chop sticks. It is a total crack up!!

New Years.....

Like I said earlier we had a great New Years. My favorite this year....the food table surprise surprise. I broke my eating after 7 rule and gobbled up some of the yummy appetizers. Cari's potato skins were by far my favorite. MMMM....making myself hungry just thinking of them.

Here are the Teenagers as the left for the black and white dance.......they had a fun time! We sat around and played games. The BIG hit was bananagrams thanks Sandi!! I had fun chatting with Casey while playing yahtzee!

The reason I got to enjoy myself and play games......

Noah was the only one of our boys who made it to midnight with out falling asleep. He asked about 11:15 if we could go because he was bored. But was happy we waited once the hats and noise makers were brought out.

Grammy and Grampy with Noah........

Ryder woke up from all the noise makers.....he was not happy he wasn't in his bed.

Sawyer passed out on Jeff minutes before the ball dropped.....

We spent the next day hanging out and playing games. Oh and EATING tons more! Oh and lets not forget the visit from the police. Apparently the neighbors called the cops from the night before and the fireworks some of the Dad's were setting off. It was a great weekend and we were happy to spend time with all the family!

1/365

Perfect way to start the new year.....snuggled altogether. Its going to be a good one!

Christmas Day 2010

Santa came and boy oh boy do we have some happy kiddos around here!!!
The loot before.......... I thought for sure the boys would have us up at the crack of dawn they were excited. But they slept until 7!!! Which put me a little behind schedule for our 8 am family breakfast and it also explains why we have hardly any pictures :(


Noah was so excited when he opened his gift from Santa the at at walker from Star Wars. The thing is HUGE over 2ft tall. He was in heaven. And so was Daddy!!!

Santa always brings a little before breakfast treat of chocolate doughnuts.....Sawyer and Ryder were not about to open anything until the doughnuts were devoured!!

Jeff got me a cute necklace I had hinted at earlier in the week. I was shocked when I opened because I had only told him about it on Monday so I was not expecting it! It is a hand stamped necklace that says I love you more.....when I saw it I had to have it. Jeff and I have always said that to each other since we started dating over 10 years ago :)

Another BIG hit around here were the pillow pets. I spent a lot of time trying to talk the boys out of them because I thought they were silly. But they have LOVED them. Whoever came up with them and the infomercials are geniuses. Sawyer every time he wants it to go from a pillow to a pet says I want a cuddly animal now......yeah right out of the commercial!

After we opened our Santa gifts we had to scramble to get ready we had the Heaton/Trapp clan for Breakfast and celebrations. Breakfast I thought was SO yummy and I am still craving it. We had this yummy egg casserole my friend Kelly gave me the recipe for. French Toast with coconut syrup eggs and bacon. MMMMM!!! I got zero pictures I was too busy running around. I will have to steal some from Jeff's mom!!!

Noah showing off his new legos......

After we finished up with Jeff's family we headed out to Temecula to be with my family. My poor mom had to work until 12 so we got there just in time to have Christmas with them. The boys were in heaven playing dress up with the huge bin of costumes they got......sadly I was FAR to exhausted from days with zero sleep. I know why my mom always got strep throat right after Christmas it is a lot of work.....worth it. But I have never been so tired in all my life.

After gifts with them we went to Cari and Sam's so we could hang with the cousins and see the rest of my family. It was a nice day. We are so lucky to live so close to all of our families so we could see everyone. But it does make for an exhausting day. Luckily we had all day Sunday to rest and relax!!!

I asked the boys what there favorite gifts were of course they loved everything......

Noah: ATAT Walker and Tron Guy

Sawyer: Stinky, Fire truck

Ryder: Buzz toys and Car

Jeff: new razor.....although I know he is lying bc really who wants that for a gift :) I will say he LOVES his new Roku box! Gift cards!!

Abby......sunglasses and my new little green machine and my necklace

the boys have been so good the last few days playing so well together and loving all there new toys.

It was so cute today in the car Noah said he wanted to send Santa a thank you note because he was so happy it was so sweet so we will get to work on Thank you notes!!!

We are so blessed and have had another wonderful christmas!!!

Christmas Eve 2010

We spent Christmas Eve with the Trapp's. We started the afternoon by going to church and then dinner then it was back to Grandpa and Grandma's for gifts and fun.
The kids were all excited to track Santa on Papa Paul's i-pad.......

Noah and Jenna.....I love that they play so well together and have so much fun. Even when we don't see them as often as we would like!!! They just pick up like they saw each other yesterday!

Uncle Eric and Noah. The boys love Boomer and Kingman. They picked out special bones for them for Christmas......they want a dog SO bad.....maybe someday!!

Aunt Patrice and Noah.....

Noah was very excited about his new star wars ship! He has been playing with it non stop!!

Aunt Jamie and Ryder......he was having so much fun playing and getting LOTS of attention. Especially because mommy was so busy the last few days!!

The boys all dressed up......they are such cuties......


It was a wonderful day......we are so blessed to live so close to so many of our family members. Every Christmas is always wonderful and magical and every year it gets better and better. I love Christmas season. I love being pregnant this time of year I can't help but think of Mary and how remarkable she was and what a miracle a child truly is. I am so grateful for my Savior and this wonderful time of year we have to celebrate his birth and life. We hope all of our friends and family had a magical Christmas. We sure did!!

FHE Christmas

We won't be able to go to the Neilson's Christmas day and either will Rob and Shannon so Grandma Jody and Grandpa Rich invited us over for dinner and family night. The boys love to be with everyone and it is always fun to spend Monday night together.
Trying to get a picture of the kiddos in there new clothes from Aunt Lisa.....Sawyer and Ryder were way more excited about the suckers that Nana gave them. These two would turn into candy if we would let them. Luckily they go to the dentist tomorrow!!! Cute little Kaitlyn.......she is SO mellow. I guess that is to be expected from being the only Grand daughter. She will go to anyone and just is happy as can be.....unless she see's Mom or Dad and then she wants them to save her.

Sawyer absolutely loves little Kaitlyn. He has so much fun playing with her. He is so sweet...I think he is definitely going to be the most nurturing with the new baby.

Aunt Lisa got the boys new flannel jammies. Noah LOVES his. He was like these are exactly what I wanted. He LOVES Pj's and changes as soon as he gets home from school. He loves the flannel Star Wars ones!!

Great Papa and Nana with a few of there Great Grand kids......Nana said she was counting up the upcoming babies and such and they are up to #70 in the family! So crazy. What an amazing legacy!

Papa Rich and Grandma Jody with there grand kids......Ryder and Sawyer couldn't be torn from there suckers! Hopefully we will get some better pictures Christmas morning!

It was a fun night. We will miss seeing everyone Christmas day but are so glad we could get together and celebrate the season with them!