Dakota = Brave?!

Maybe it's just me, but does my daughter not look EXACTLY like the new Disney princess, Brave?!  Lee thinks we should send in her picture to Disney and see if they want to use her for something... maybe get a free trip?!  Not counting on it, but I do think it's cool that she looks so much like her!

Scarlett is 1!

This week my last little baby turned 1! I can't believe I'm done having a baby that is "zero", according to the kids!  Such a big milestone, hooray!!  I am excited to at least have one child that has a birthday in the Summer so we can have fun "outside" parties!  So we kind of went all out and rented a bouncy castle for the party this year!  Obviously more for the other kids to have a fun play day this Summer, but actually Scarlett did enjoy it as well!  We had a bunch of neighbor kids over earlier in the day to play on it, and then all of my family came to celebrate in the evening with dinner and stuff too.  Scarlett was taking a lot of steps walking today - she is so close to just doing it on her own, but unfortunately still seems angry everytime we make her do it!

I made some simple cupcakes and ordered cute little personalized edible toppings to put on them! And of course, I had to get all the usual baby birthday photos with the baby smooshing cupcakes all over their face!  Scarlett started out pretty careful and wasn't sure she wanted to eat it, but thankfully she sure warmed up to the idea and ended up smooshing it right into her eyes! Love it!  So did she, until she realized the icing kind of stung the eyes! Ooops!  

She opened a few presents too, with a lot of help from her siblings of course!  Her favorite gift was by far the baby doll from Grandma & Grandpa!  She kept kissing it's face and looking carefully at it, it was very cute.  Anyway, fun day for us all, and hopefully my baby girl had a good first birthday!  We all love her to pieces!

   

Funny and Cool!

I thought it was pretty funny to see Griffin sleeping with these glasses on his head before I went to bed last night!  Can't be comfortable! And of course surrounded by books and toys on his bed.... can you tell he goes right to sleep at night?! Ya right! Funny kid!

I also thought these pictures were kind of cool! I was trying out a new App on my Iphone called "Instagram" and you can put different filters and things on the photos.  I love how these ones look kind of old fashioned!  They are at the Cranston Splash Park that we went to this week with my Mom and Jocelyn and her girls!  The kids had a great time - it was a really hot day!  I put Scarlett's swimsuit on her for the first time, and thought she looked pretty cute - she absolutely loved walking around the splash park touching and walking through water.  So fun!  It's been a beautiful hot week and the kids have sure enjoyed playing outside.

 I also failed to mention last week that Lee and I celebrated our 11th year anniversary! (July 6).  That sounds so long, it's crazy.  Ash and Jeff were kind enough to babysit for us while we went out for dinner and to a Fireworks show at Heritage Park.  It was a beautiful night, and a great show!  Couldn't think of another way to celebrate my marriage to my wonderful husband!  We were talking about how our life has evolved over the past 11 years and how different our life will be in 11 more years!  Our youngest child will be 12 and Mason will be on a mission!  Life sure flies by - I hope we take the time to enjoy all the little moments now, and all along the way!

Whoa BABY!!

We were trying to get Scarlett to walk on her own last night, and we got her to take like 20 steps all by herself!  A couple times actually.  Wow!  She looks so tiny to walk, it's adorable!  She is still scared to do it, so we kind of have to trick her into it, but hopefully we can get her confidence up and get this baby walking! Normally I wouldn't be so anxious to get a baby to walk, but she drives us crazy because all she wants to do is hold our hand and do laps - so it would be wonderful if she could do laps on her own!!
On a side note, do you see Scarlett's little ponytail in the picture?  Griffin calls it a "candle", and I just think that's the funniest little name for it!

LOVIN' SUMMER!!

This past week has felt awesome, to finally have some nice weather, and a chance to play outside with the kids!  Lee had the long weekend off so we had lots of fun at the beach and hanging out with friends and riding bikes, skateboards, etc outside!  I am missing my little sweet Dakota though - she is at the cabin with my parents and Jocelyn and Jeff - she came along as a playmate for Holli and Alise!  9 days without her though seems quite long and I'm starting to miss her!!  She sounds like she's having a lot of fun though, and she calls me every day!  Big news for Griffin this week too - he learned to ride a two-wheeler!  We borrowed a "Strider" bike off of our friends (that's a bike with no pedals) and wow, was I ever impressed with the results!  Within a few weeks that kid gained amazing balance on that thing, so just yesterday I tried him on a real bike and he could totally do it!  What an easy way to teach your child to ride!  Way faster and way easier on the back than the traditional method!!  Pretty cool invention, I'd say.
Mason's been practicing on a skateboard a lot too, and is getting pretty confident!  Now he wants to buy a new long board like his friend has!  Maybe one day!

Thought I'd post some cute pictures from today that show the kids having some Summer Fun!  Scarlett sure loves the baby swings and I love her face expressions!

My two little Pianists

Last September, we bought an electric piano, and my sister Ashy started teaching Mason and Dakota piano lessons.  They have sure learned a lot over the past year - they went from not even having a clue how to read music notes, to being able to play some decent songs!  She even got them music for some primary songs, and that was their favorite thing to play.  I am very proud of the progress they've made, I sure hope they stick with it.  Mason is quite talented naturally, but he sure likes to rush through it and doesn't really like to practice.  Dakota sure tries hard, but it's taking a little longer for her to catch on.  We'll see what happens, but hopefully we can convince them to keep it up!  Ash was a great teacher too, and sure fun for them to have lessons with her.  On Sunday we had a little piano recital at my Mom's house with Skyler and my Mom who also took lessons this year!  It was a fun little event, and the kids did well. Now for Summer break!

Happy Father`s Day!

Happy Father's Day to the two most wonderful men in my life!

My amazing husband, of course - Lee - you are such a great husband and father, and I don`t know what I would do without you.  I see more and more how even though we are so different to the point of driving me crazy sometimes, we are exactly what each other needs in our life!  Our qualities compliment each other's so well, and I am so grateful for that.  We have both improved and grown so much over the last 11 years!  He is such a devoted, loyal, hard working man who does all he can to make me happy.  He is always trying to improve his life and our relationship, and he would do anything for me.  He has been sooo busy with work lately that he hardly has time to even do anything for himself, and yet he still manages to be there for me when I need him the most, and to take time to be in the kids' lives as best he can.  He helps out a lot with all of the kids, but especially with Scarlett.  I know I am probably one of the only wives whose husband is willing to get up with a baby any given night, and early almost every single morning so that I can sleep in.  I swear, he has not complained even once about me waking him up!  He has such a great positive attitude, and helps me to see the greater picture.  Not to mention, we sure have a lot of fun together.  Lee, thank you for being the greatest father of my children I could ever ask for!
Also, my wonderful father - Dad, I couldn`t have asked for a better father!  What an amazing example this man has set for all of us.  He is spiritual, and has taught us how to put the church first in our lives.  He is hardworking, and his motto of "Work hard, play hard", has become well known to everyone who knows him.  Throughout my whole childhood, he has been so great at taking the time to teach and do things with each of his children.  From "interviews" to "dates" to fun family vacations, he added a lot of joy to my life.  He can make any situation a good and fun one, and he always seems to have a positive attitude through whatever life throws at him. Who else answers the question, "How`s it going?" with "Outstanding, but getting even better!" every single time?  I have learned from him to always do my very best, and to live life to the fullest.  He cares deeply about all of us, and it shows.  I would also say that my Dad is the Wisest man I have ever known!  Dad, thank you for who you are and for all that you do!

And just a quick little mention of my two growing boys, that I love so much and hope will become great fathers like my husband and my Dad!  Mason is such a little rule-follower, I really think that will help him to be an obedient man, dedicated to the gospel.  I know he will be a great missionary, as he has already started inviting any of his friends that don`t go to church, to come to our church!  He is grateful to have friends in the church who can make good decisions with him - just the other day, he was so proud that him and his friend said they couldn`t have Iced Tea at a non-member's birthday party they were at!  And everytime he has Rootbeer, he diligently makes sure it`s the kind without the caffeine!! So cute.  Mason has a great work ethic as well, and wants to be the best he can - even if he struggles a little bit sometimes....
And my cute little Griffin - not such a rule follower, but wow, what a happy little boy who knows how to fill everyone around him with joy!  His smile is mischevious, but lights me up inside.  He is so outgoing and makes friends with absolutely anyone he meets.  He is very smart, and has a great sense of humour, already. He makes me laugh and smile each and everyday, and sure tries hard to be a good boy and make us happy.
I am so blessed to have all of these great boys in my life!