Snow Trip

We have been telling the boys all winter that we would go up and see the snow sometime. So, despite a few other things going on this weekend, we went ahead and made the trek up to Flagstaff. We drove up Friday and after finding our reserved motel without a working pool and older than the pictures indicated, we drove around until we found a new place to stay. We found the Embassy Suites and got a 1 bedroom suite (1 king bed in the bedroom and then a living room with sleeper sofa/mini kitchen). The suites are really the only way to stay with three little ones.After breakfast at the hotel (including custom omelets :), we headed out to the snow. We found a nearly-empty location, but walked around looking for somewhere to sled, drenching our jeans in the process. Jared ending up pulling the boys on the sled around the flat part. So, we ditched the snow and went to the mall. I did some shopping while Jared watched the kids (Thanks, hon!).
We decided when we woke up on Sunday morning that we just had not had the true snow experience, so we decided to try one more time. We drove up the mountain, not quite as far this time, into the organized snowplay area (it was 1/2 price at $5 per car). There were some bare spots, but overall a great time was had by all. We all took our turns sledding and then the boys (mostly Jared) hi-jacked someone else’s abandoned snowman bottom, to help the boys make a snowman. You can see that it wasn’t the world’s most beautiful snowman, but they were so proud of it!

Kellen's Birthday

My oldest baby turned FOUR today! Happy Birthday Kellen-Boy! Kellen joined our family on January 18, 2005 at 5:25 pm weighing 8 pounds 3 ounces. He had SO much blond hair, people just couldn’t believe it.

Today, Kellen is an extremely sweet boy. He’s laid-back and gets along with everybody. He is currently learning to write his name - he can write the Es and the Ls and he can write a “roller coaster and an N” (he writes a curvy N and that’s what he calls it) and he’s still working on the K. He loves computer games, board games, and playing House, Pirates, or Super Secret Super Spy. He loves his cousins and being in the “big boy Primary.”
We had his birthday party on Friday night. It was a “camping party” with all of his cousins his age. The boys (and 1 girl) had so much fun! We made a fire in my sister’s fire pit and they roasted hotdogs. Then they roasted marshmallows for s’mores. There was no limit. The kids ate as many s’mores as they wanted! They all played in the backyard and then Kellen opened his presents. Then they piled into the tent for a story by Jared. Then only a few kids stayed in the tent to hear the “scary story.”
Thanks to Stan and Parker who brought several of the cousins and then stayed to help out - I don’t think Jared and I could have handled all 9 little boys/girl, plus my extra 2 boys around a campfire and trying to eat dinner and make s’mores. Stan and Parker saved us!
Here are some pictures (Stan was also the official photographer).

Kincade's Birthday

Happy Birthday Kincade Boy! Since his birthday was New Year’s Eve, the whole world celebrated with us :D
A little bit about Kincade:
-He was born at 4:58 a.m. on December 31, 2007 (16 days early) at 8 pounds 4 ounces. This was what I wrote about him when he was 1 month old: “As for Kincade, everyone comments that our babies always come from the same mold. But I think he’ll have his own look, just like I think the other boys do. He is such a good baby, he sleeps really well (with Mom most of the time but at least he’ll go in his swing or bassinet if I really need him to). He’s such an angel and everyone just adores him - especially big brothers. Bridger always lays his head down on Kincade’s head and Kellen just loves to kiss his head whenever he gets the chance.”

-He makes funny faces all the time!

-He’s not even on the chart for weight (he’s much too small)!
-His first word was “bye-bye.” He started saying the word at the same time he started waving. It took me weeks before I was convinced that it really was what he was doing. That was in December. He also says “mama” and “dada” and has said “ball” and “bonk.”
-He has a love/hate relationship with his older brother Bridger. They sure love each other, but they get jealous when the other one gets my lap.
-We just love and adore him and honestly don’t know what we’d do without him!
Here are some pictures from his birthday bash:

Hello, World!

Well, we have officially joined the world of blogging.



Here is a family picture from December 2008. From l to r, Jared, Bridger (2), Kellen (4), Tara, Kincade (1).