Fits over fists!

Wyatt is 6 weeks old now and we've been meaning to make a mold of his huge hand print since a newborn. He is such a tiny guy but has huge hands and long feet inconsistent with the rest of him.

Ash and I have this fine line that we can cross in hysterical laughter by just a glance. So when there really is something funny, we can lose it quickly. Of course when you want a baby's hand relaxed, the first thing they do is make a fist. Even tho he was sound asleep, we could not get him to relax his fist, which in turn put us in hysterical fits. We tried bringing it up to him ...

... flipping him down for a good press ... rolling it over him ... he'd just grab a clump of clay.

Brooke came in to see what was so funny and we couldn't even speak. Fortunately she picked up the camera to document some of our plight, but it's one of those in-the-moment things.
Many takes of rerolling the dough, we finally settled on this one ...

Whew! That was tough! Look how relaxed his hands are now. :)

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." -- Robert Brault

Brookie Brooke

We are closing in on Brooke's Junior year of high school. Things are settling down and oddly we are already making preparations for next school year. It happens so quick.

Supercross Tradition

This has been a good season for Supercross and we were excited for the Dallas race.

Cowboys Stadium is such a great venue with its fabulous retractable roof to vent the exhaust and HUGE screen in case you're not close enough. Love sharing this night with the boys!

Toy Story on Ice - Mimi/papa trip! April 1st

Not an April Fools joke - a treat ... Steve and I got tickets to take the big 5 to Disney on Ice. Oh, the big, big kids were skeptical and nervous for us, but we had a blast at Toy Story and all returned home safely! You've heard my rant before, and I still contend the worst part is buckling the tribe in and out! Ugh!!! I love them and happy to keep them safe, but there must be a better way to streamline this!

Look how behaved they are ... we got this! (thank you Honda Pilot DVD system) :)


We had the front row on the first balcony which allowed the kids to stand, dance and move around without bothering other people - so great!

Knowing this would be a hungry group, I packed my Mary Poppins bag with several bags of popcorn, waters, suckers, treats, the works. Got busted and searched right off the bat because they don't allow food into the American Airlines Center. Rip off and captive to the snack bar! Unfair advantage over parents!

I must fess up tho ... only surrendered the top two bags and a few waters ... managed to keep one bag of popcorn, water and suckers. It was a necessity! Look at these hungry faces!

Such a fun afternoon followed by Mickey D's! Papa even enjoyed this day off ... makin' memories! We missed Brooke tho - school day :( xo

Closing out March 2011

Don't go by post dates ... this is still March 2011. A busy month!


It's been great joy to share in double baby bliss with Justin and Emma this last year and now to gather to bless the twins. It was an emotional day full of gratitude for many answered prayers. Brooklyn and Brody are here and healthy thanks to the Lord's many tender mercies and a lot of patience.

Power in the priesthood circle!   All proud daddies and 3 granddaddies!  A lot of love! xo

We had great fun celebrating the day together at Karen's and she hosted a fun Easter egg hunt for the 25+ children. They loved it! (and the daddies enjoyed the treat bags as well!)

Finally, WRAPPING UP MARCH ...  Gavin turns 2!

Gavin is growing up fast and does not want to be a little boy ... he's big!  He loves to be a helper and insisted on carrying the ball bag.

  

Gavin wants to be in the middle of the action and has the cutest knobby, curly hair and blue eyes!

Loves trains and especially playing on the train table his daddy built.    He is happy to have a sister and brother, Haley and Cash, and wants to do whatver they are doing.

Happy 2 Gavin!  You are fun to watch grow up!  xoxo

Happy Bday Brookie Brooke!

We had a family birthday party for Brooke on her bday in February but hardly the same as celebrating with the girlfriends! We waited till the weather got a little nicer and picked a great March day to gather the girls.

I love Brooke's friends! They are uniquely different, yet all very tolerant of each others differences.

Our family loves to fondue and was a fun tradition to share with the girls. It's a dining experience and lends to some great dinnertime conversation!

The girls were good sports to play Minute-to-Win-It and found themselves in some crazy problems to solve in a minute! Silly fun!

Happy 17 Brookie! We love you and are blessed to share these days together! xoxo

POLAR BEAR CLUB - March 25, 2011

Kowabunga dudes!

Saturday March Morning Serendipities

So fun to have the kids live close and pop in any time.  I was folding laundry in my room and the kiddos all wanted to jump in my bed to snuggle up and watch cartoons.   Simple joys of the morning!  xo

Hair Crisis

Steve is growing out his hair! Precisely because ... HE CAN! Most friends his age do not have hair or the option to do so, and since he does ... he will! It has been a hoot to listen to his stories every night of the abuse he takes from people's comments.

Steve has sported a buzz for so many years that people don't realize he has naturally curly, curly hair. So the comments stem from mid-life crisis hair ... to, did you get a perm? I have been so amused by the unruly hair trying to grow out and the abuse he is willing to take. Curious how long this will last and happy at least its not a new motorcycle.

Happy Bday Haley Mae!

Snugglin with Wyatt

We have a team of boys and only one girl ... Haley Mae!

We love her and so grateful she leads this next generation of youth (a tough station to occupy).

She is determined to carve the feminine path, creative, smart, giggly, athletic, artistic and loves family, the cousins and especially babies!

The one thing she wanted to do for this 6th birthday was go on a special date with Mom and Dad to get her ears pierced.

These pictures say it all! Happy Day!

Happy, happy 6th birthday Haley Mae! We are so proud of our favorite girl!!! xoxo

Look alikes

Many people say Wyatt (Ashley's baby), looks like Todd (sorry Bobby), ... what do you think?

Happy BIrthday Todd!

I have to recalculate every year how old we all are - ignorance is bliss! Can't believe Todd is THIRTY! The shock factor is all about me ... how can I have children that are 30?! I'm fine with him being 30 (I think). It becomes an out-of-body experience putting a pencil to the dates and having floods of memories validate the years, but then again, he was a baby yesterday! His baby reminds me of him as a baby, and sometimes I blink, thinking ... who's baby is this?

 The dash between the years abbreviates a bigger space of time and I wonder how come life can pass by so quickly. No, these are not ramblings of dementia, just the tricks time plays on your head. Time is moving fast and sometimes I forget I need to move with it. I hope to have a slower year.

Every family needs a Todd!  He has always occupied the station of Peacemaker in our family - Blessed are the peacemakers!

He is a gentle giant ... loving father and husband ... successful ...

righteous example ... patient ...  tender ...  willing servant ...

spiritual ... perseverant ...  thoughtful ... kind ... and

so, so, witty - makes us laugh in unexpected times - such a gift!

We had a great time playing Minute-to-Win It games and watch each other make fools of ourselves!   Love family time!

The 3 newest babies - Brooklyn Lee, Wyatt Silva and Brody Lee

Funny story on this.  Tanner was with me when we bought this kite for Daddy's birthday.   I should have known better and not said it was for Daddy but we discussed secrets and how fun it is to be a big boy and keep them.   When we got home he watched me hide it in Heather's closet (my second mistake), and I again reminded to not tell Daddy.    

Unbeknown to me, when Daddy got home he took him right to the forbidden closet and showed him the kite (good thing the rest of the gifts weren't in there!).    Todd told Tanner, "We'd better keep this a secret from Mimi and not tell her about you showing me the kite."  That secret he kept!

    No big deal because Todd always gets a kite  - synonymous with a March bday!

Happy Birthday Todd!   We love you so much and grateful for the years, laughter and memories!  xoxo