Snow!

One of the many things we love about living in Colorado (wow it was weird to just type that I live in Colorado) are the beautiful seasons!  It has already snowed a couple of times and we are all loving the winter wonderland that is just outside our door. Yes, you could say, we are dreaming of a white Christmas.  Ammon is in H E A V E N.  His school doesn't start until nine (love that) and so he was up at seven this morning helping Jody shovel the driveway and then he played in the snow until his ride picked him up at 8:45.  He was in pure bliss. At one point I looked out the window to see what looked like a pile of his clothes. But when I yelled to him, his head popped up and sure enough he was in the clothes laying flat down in the snow. Later he found the top to a plastic bin and used it to sled down a small slope we have in the backyard. When he gets home from school today we will build our very first snowman together.

These hysterical pictures were taken last week.  We woke up to snow Monday morning and Jody dared Ammon to run out in his underwear and make a snow angel.  Once Ammon did Cohen was right on his heals.  These boys are so much fun!

So Much.

Oh man I'm the worst at blogging. This has been such bad year for blogging for me.  The other night I was looking back on all of my old blog posts and literally crying seeing Ammon so cute with his tiny little voice and big imagination.  Back when we had one kid. Wow that was a different time but really not so long ago. Just hard to remember and imagine only doing things for one kid.  It's amazing how quickly we move from one stage of life to another.  It seems that we moved from a family of two, three, four, five and now six in a blink of an eye and yet so much has taken place in those years.  I can hardly remember just having Ammon as a two year old and Cohen as a newborn and don't even get me started on Rylee as a baby. 

So I guess in all of my ranting I'm saying that I really want to take some time to breath, relax, take a step back and really enjoy these moments that are so fleeting but so special.  But is it even possible?  I love my kids so so so so much. I'm so lucky to be a mom.  Ammon is such a sweetheart.  So full of life. Excited about everything. Is up for anything, anytime.  And such a pure joy, seriously the boy is one of a kind.  And at seven he will still hold my hand. You should see him dance. He has some pretty good moves.  And in his school play last week he was full of confidence.  He learned some practical jokes from Kaden the other day.  Today I went the bathroom and the seat was covered in seran wrap. He loves to read and his favorite food is mashed potatoes.  He's an amazing artist. On his thankful turkey he made for Family Home Evening he wrote he is thankful for; Jesus, primary, church, and family members.  He's got a heart of gold.

Then there is Cohen. He NEVER wants to be the center of attention.  He is such a cuddler.  Every once in a while he says he just wants to cuddle with me so we lay in my bed and talk.  He tells me he loves to all the way to Never Neverland and that he loves me more than anyone in the whole world.  He is always worried about his hair.  If we do a mohawk he is worried it's falling down. If we comb it normal he is worried it's sticking up. He's pretty funny.  When he gets excited about things his voice gets really high.  His best friend is his brother.  I was a little disappointed when I found out we were having another boy after Ammon but I can't imagine what those two would do without each other.  He's a mini hoarder.  He always has pockets full of random toys and money or a bag full of the same.  Luckily after a week or so he forgets and I can throw the junk away.  For Chrismtas he wants a DSi XL but I think we've convined him to get a DS lite instead. 

Then there is Rylee who is the love of all loves. She is still our crazy girl.  But so hilarious.  Sometimes I get so frustrated that at three she still runs off but then I realize that she has gotten much better.   She loves to mother us all and tell us what to do.  She has always been so independent but I'm sure that will be a good thing some day.  She is so full of life and so silly.  Such a girl. Her favorite colors are pink and purple.  She is obsessed with barbies, babies and dressing up.  Anytime she puts her clothes on she ask, "Where did I got this?"  She changes her clothes multiple times a day and especially loves to where dresses.  She is also a fantastic eater. She has quite an appetite.  Still sings at the top of her longs in sacrament and even dances. 

And Tate. Oh I love that boy and smile just typing his name.  He is so cute, so sweet, and a complete angel.  He learned how to give kisses last week.  It is adorable.  He spends his days roaming from room to room.  Loves to push the kids lego cart around the room, shut himself in rooms or get into stuff.  He is so ticklish and loves to play peek a boo.  He is almost fifteen months.  Such a sweet baby. I don't want him to stop being a baby. 

So that's my kids right now.  Life is going good. Jody is loving his territory.  I'm settling in here and making some good friends.  The kids seem to be enjoying it but do miss their grandparents.  In January we will seriously be looking for a home. Our first home!  We are so excited to take that step. 

Happy 32nd!

Today is Jody's 32nd birthday.  He doesn't like aging (who does, besides kids?) but it's true, husbands are like wine. As they age they get better. Mine started out great but has still become even better. Jody shows me in many simple ways much he loves me. Rubbing my back, getting kids to bed or doing the dishes.  All things I appreciate because right now, those are the things I need.  He is understanding, patient and sweet.  How did I get so lucky?  We've been married for nearly 9 years and I can say that our love has grown deeper. I do love him more than I did the day we got married. 

*Just a few pictures from the family pictures we got taken last spring.  I only got them back a month ago and am waiting to show the others on our Christmas card.

Halloween Night

Oh how I love Halloween. Next year, when we are in our own house I'm going to have a Halloween party.  Cohen and Ammon both had Halloween parties at school so I stopped to get a few pictures. I went to see Cohen first.  I was a little surprised at how little he cared I was there. So I got a few shots and then told him I would see him after school. When I walked into Ammon's class he spotted me right away and his face lite up. He was so excited to see us.  He came and grabbed Tate and gave me a big hug. After staying for a little while I told him I had to go back and pick up Cohen he was so disappointed. And that is the difference between my two oldest boys.

Saturday night we went to our church Halloween party. Lots of games in the cultural hall and then a trunk or treat outside.  I dressed up as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, in case you weren't sure.  Ammon asked me what I was going to be and so I decided to dress up. Just for the kids. 

Sunday my cousin and Kadi and her husband Sean came over. We ate dinner, frosted sugar cookies, passed out candy and then the guys took the kids out trick or treating.  Once again so nice to have family around! My kids got tons of candy and again I'm so sick of picking up candy wrappers and sweeping nerds up from the floor.  Tate is getting pretty smart.  He has figured out what is in those candy bags and loves to dig through them and find treats that have been left open.  Meanwhile the boys have identical bags (if their mom were smart she'd write their names on the bags) and keep fighting over whose is whose.  Oh the joys! I do love going through their bags everyday and picking out my favorites.

Tate

The pumpkin patch

Did I mention that my cousin Kadi lives five minutes away from us? It is so great to have a family member that close.  We've already been able to help each other with watching kids.  Our kids love playing together. Her son Jett is Ammon's age and her daughter, Avery is the best little helper.  She actually babysat a couple of our kids the other day. 

A couple of weeks ago we took the kids to the pumpkin patch. It was your typical pumpkin patch. Slides, maze, tractor ride, picking a pumpkin, hay bales.  The kids had a great time running around and the weather was beautiful.

Halloween!

Rylee was a princess, Ammon was a ninja and Cohen was Mario. He had a mustache but he played with it so much that it stopped sticking. Little Tate was an alien from Toy Story 3.  Unfortunately I didn't have his costume the day I took these pictures.