the Meeks shall inherit...

Easter

2009-06-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

First, we wake up and the boys, and any single children still left in the family (hint, hint) , go find their Easter basket left by ole' Peter Cotton Tail. Then the search is on for the candy filled eggs.
Jace found his basket!
The race is on!
Jace found one.
Jesse's basket. He just a whir, he would stop to take a picture.
Steele watching what to do for next year:) PS: Notice Andrew's jammie bottoms! Aren't they funny. He bought them for a Valentines present one year for ME! Hahaha! Love 'em and him!
Then we came in and colored eggs. (We were a little late. I usually do it on Friday or Saturday, but we were busy.) No shirts this year, we've ruined enough shirts. Soooo, I'm not sure what Jesse is doing there?!
Bugga coloring as many as he can at one time.
Jesse liked his eggs to be dark so he left them in for a long time. He was surprisingly patient.
Steele just watched from his highchair and played forever, seriously, forever with this little plastic egg.
The we got ready for church. We decided to get the boys suits this year for Easter. I couldn't find one for the man of Steele, so he's just more casual. But the Jesse and Jace look pimp. They just love their suits too, so they take good care of them. It's just so cute. So here's a bazillion pics of the cute suit boys.
Jesse smiled so nice.
Jace the ham, with the influence of Uncle Jeff telling him what to do.
This one I told him that's enough now just act nice and smile, so he straightened up and saluted me and said, "Yes. your majesty." (He calls me that all the time.)
Finally!
Our Little family.
Our crazy family, the boys look like they're giving a Nazi salute or something?!
My baby brother Jeff. He's been back from his mission for a little over a year now. He goes to school in SLC at the LDS business college. He's working part time to put himself through school. He has his own car. He likes wakeboarding, snowboarding, playing the guitar and writing his own stuff, playing basketball, paint balling, drinking rootbeer (good rootbeer), other typical guy things like going fast, motorcycles, cars, trucks, dirt, camping, rock climbing and what not. And yes this is a singles ad that he has no idea about. Just kidding, but seriously, he is single and awesome!:)

Jakes Party and the Monster Truck Bus

2009-06-11T15:39:00.000-07:00

I just love this picture!

So Jakes party and the Monster truck bus have nothing to do with each other, other than they were both in April and I'm so far behind I'm still blogging about April:) So my nephew, Jake, turned 1 on April 4th. The day after our horrible camp out, we headed up to Ely to celebrate with the fam. My brother and I got this stupid gene from our Mom. It makes us do crazy things! Charley did this amazing cake for Jake to eat, completed with hand shaved chocolate to look like fur on the bear, and fondant jersey, with a monogrammed J for Jake.(sorry for the run on.) I did something similar for the boys 1st birthday only times two since I have twins and all. For a long time I couldn't figure out this STUPID gene, that makes me do stupid things, but after some years, i have figured it out. I have to do the best that I...that is I, possibly can. It doesn't bother me one little bit that someone else cuts things out crooked(that's for you my love), or doesn't measure, or clean their toilets with a toothbrush, but I have to, that's the best I can do. Good thing we have spouses to put up with that. I'm starting to get over it now that my good friends are bringing me into reality:) It's nice to have more time to play:) Okay, now back to April. So, the cake Charley AND Sarah made was super awesome! And of course Jake is super cute! Here's a bunch of pics I stole from Charley's facebook.
TaaDaa the amazing cake atop a cake home plate!
The bears backside (quite svelte, if I do say so myself.)
Bear meet Jake. Jake eat Bear, I mean meet Bear.
That's what I'm talkin' about!
Opening some presents after his quick bath.
Isn't he just so cute? It must be from Sarah!
When we got back from Ely, we were driving around one day and the boys saw this! So Andrew thought they should go on it. They had a lot of fun and so did Andrew and Kiki. Steele and I just watched. I was funny:)
In this pic the guy is trying to sell me one of those mini buses(far right side) for $20 bucks. I was like Ya right buddy, if I wanted one, I would just walk myself right over there to Wal-Mart and buy the same one for $2. Ya jerk. I'm so sure $20 bucks...my kid will break that in like 3 minutes. I just gave you $20 bucks for riding my family around in circles with some silly sirens on, rip off somebody else! Okay I didn't say that but I totally wanted to. But the kids and Andrew LOVED it!

April campout

2009-06-08T11:27:00.001-07:00

Bar-none the worst camp out... EVER! But we tried to make the best of it. Jace got sick. It started with some canker sores in his mouth and by the next morning it was like mouth leprosy or something. So we had some breakfast and packed up and stopped at urgent care on the way home. They said it was aphthous ulcers. Basically giant cankers, even in his throat, maybe from an allergic reaction to something. Don't worry Jesse got it to 3 days later:) But Steele didn't, bonus! It was horribly windy and our power inverter broke so we couldn't blow up our aerobed soooo, I had to sleep, well lay, since I never really slept, right on the ground:( Okay I camp and everything, but I do require some modern comforts! Oh and PS the campers next to us were on spring break. Spring Break = lots of herbal smoking in the dark with headlamps and lots of snacks due to the herbal smoking:) Good thing it was dark and the boys didn't know what was going on! They were pretty quiet for spring breakers! Here's some fun pics.
Smores!
A couple of heated games of toy story memory!
The boys and I did scary face pics! These are the ones that aren't just plain ugly of me:)
Jesse said this was scary because he looked dead. Okaaaay.....
Okay I do look ugly in this one but Jace looks funny!
He was totally screaming when we were taking the pictures. Hahahaha.
Baby Steele almost 7 months old!
Healthy breakfast appetizer...marshmallows!
My little campers!
My big camper, taking down the tent!

March Madness (Warning: long post)

2009-05-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

We weren't home very much in March, a lot happened in our family. Andrew's sister Amy came hope from her mission in Panama on Tuesday, March 10. So we drove down for the day and right back because Andrew had to work. Don't worry we went right back to Cali on Friday for the weekend. There was a little party for her. Then we went canning while I was down there. Andrew's parents gave everyone $200 towards food storage for Christmas. It was really fun! Then after our hard work we treated ourselves to lunch and pedicures:)

One of the signs we made for Amy!

I made shirts for all the nieces and nephews to wear. So cute!
Effie's and Steele's shirts were different. Amy had never met them, they were both born while she was gone. So their shirts said."Hello, my name is Steele Jennings or Effie Jane. Nice to Meet you Auntie Amy!" They were really cute.
Amy with the baby Turkey's:)
The whole crew!
Welcome home at the house.
Amy was happy to be home but sad to leave Panama.
Hermana Meeks brought home presents for everyone. So fun!
Beautiful Lunch Lady! JK it's standard canning attire.
All the lunch ladies from down in lunch lady land!The fruits (beans, flours, sugars, dried apple chips, etc.) of our labors.
The rewards of our labors!
A beautiful March afternoon at home.
The following week after Amy came home, Heber, Andrew's Dad, came home from Kuwait! The kids were already in jammies because he flew in at like 11:30 at night. It was really exciting! Jesse ran right up to hug him!

Andrew hugging his Dad.Steele's first time meeting Grampy! (He was a little grumpy due to the 11:30 pm thing.)
The next day we went to March Air field.
That Saturday we went out on date night with Andrew's parents, Shannon and Jim, Kiki and friend, and Amy. We went to a little place on a pier. It was fun!
Okay I just thought this was sooo funny. I don't know how I got this on his head because it was hard to get off! Plus he usually smiles and he was not having a smile with this on his head.
Sexy baby pose?
So Steele turned six months on March 11. He started to play with his reflection. He started eating veggies, starting with sweet green peas. At the end of the month he started crawling! So we are mobile...soon to be a mobile vaccuum cleaner:) Steele just loves his brothers, he has some real hero envy when he looks at them. And they are sooo good to him, and always looking out for him. He's very cuddly and loves his blankies.
The next weekend, March 28th, we went back to cali again:) Effie was turning one, and there was a big party for Heber and Amy.
Effie in full birthday gear. She had a Baby Einstein party!
There was a face painter at her party, so we have spider Jesse!
and snakey Jace!
Effie and her Daddy, Gabe, having their turn at the pinata. Grampy was the pinata master!
Effie had her own mini version of the caterpillar cake.
After the birthday party we packed up all our kids and took them to the next party for the night.
Jim has all the DJ equipment so we all danced the night away. Of course our family was the only ones crazy enough to actually dance. It was soooo much fun!
Jace was a dance machine, here he is with is dance accessories:)
Dancin' Max! Seriously she danced all night! She got up on the stage and everything. Maniac!!
Gotta have a little family chicken dance!

Catch up

2009-04-29T10:34:00.001-07:00

So I'm the worst blogger ever. I have good intentions, but... Anyway I'm just going to go month by month until I'm caught up.
To finish out February, my friends and I got together again this year to make our a hubby's a special treat. Or lots of treats! We all baked different things or had something to dip in chocolate, then we made our own candy boxes and filled them with all the goodies. It was so fun.
Other than that nothing really happened in Feb., besides Jesse falling out of the truck and landing on his face. Way to break your fall son, with your face! When I fall, which isn't very often, I usually catch myself with my hands. Not my boys, they really know how to use their heads:) (They must get that from their Daddy. Just kidding!)
This last is just because he's so cute!

My Man of Steele is 5 months!

2009-02-11T18:36:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe it's already been 5 months! If you see him though, you would think he looks like a 9 month old. On his last Dr. visit Steele weighed in at 19 lbs. 8 oz., 28 in. tall. His height is off the chart, his weight is in the 95% and his head circumference is in the 85%. So he's just an all around big boy. He loves his cereal, and loves to watch his big brothers. He is ticklish absolutely everywhere, and he just loves to laugh. He is working on sitting up, and loves to play with his feet. He is so much fun. He still doesn't roll over. He HATES being on his belly, he just wants to watch everyone so he just scoots around in a circle on his back, it's so funny. We all just love him!
I'm not sure what was up with this picture but I thought it was funny.This was the best I could do with everyone for now. I'm not sure what Jesse's doing?

What the...?

2009-01-30T21:23:00.000-08:00

Sooooo, I'm looking for a little support here, a little understanding, and complete honesty. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE GROSS KIDS! Don't judge me for asking. I know these blogs are for the adorable and cute. Despite my best efforts for a clean home with gleaming white base boards, sparkling tubs, and well behaved children who help accomplish all this, I have fallen short. As I was getting in the shower this morning and found what I found I was awfully grateful for making my boys bathe the night before so they didn't have to sleep in their filth.
This is what I found....

This dirty little hand print on the wall, and real honest to goodness ring left in the bath tub. How do they get THAT dirty?

I'm constantly finding other little gems around the house too. For example, just today I was gladly scrubbing their toilet when I saw a brown colored, shiny wad of something behind the toilet on the floor touching the floorboard. After careful inspection of said wad, I realized it was a piece of caramel Christmas candy. I thought the candy to be long gone, but lo they must have a stash somewhere. This piece was particularly hard to get off because it had already been in one of their delightful little mouths and then politely spit on the floor directly behind the garbage can. Other gems I find aren't as sweet. Actually they are boogars. I can't decide if I would rather he eat them, or pick them and keep wiping them on his clothes and bed, wall, ceiling, floor, and who knows where else!

SO the support I'm looking for, is for you to share on your blogs, gross stories of your kids, if you don't have kids yet, tell me about your husbands,(We know how gross they can be. I'll spare Andrew since I'm outing my kids.) nieces, nephews, or even your dogs. Okay, no dogs, it has to be comparable to my kids. And even though my kids sound like animals they technically aren't. So spill it, tell me your dirt, your gross kid stories. I have more but I'm just venting right now!

Happy Skinkin' New Year!!!

2009-01-25T21:39:00.000-08:00

Well Happy Stinkin' New Year to us! (G-Rated version Andrew's family puts another desriptive type word there but I'll leave it at Stinkin') Andrew is blaming it on Obama's promises of change, and says this is sign of what kind of change will actually come. Hahaha, just a joke of course. I just say we're just another victim in a string of crime around our community. Our Tahoe was stolen on Monday, January 19th. At night from in front of our house, when we were home, in between 10:00p.m. and midnight. We've figured that out from neighbors and friends. We actually had a friend who went to the grocery store(our local Smith's where the guy just shot two cops and then they shot and killed him) really late Monday night. She thought Andrew was in the Tahoe so she was going to pull up next to it to say hi. When she pulled up along side she said the window was down and there was a large African American man, smoking in the car. She said she thought that was crazy that someone has the exact same car as Andrew. THEY DON'T, HE TOOK OURS!!! Anyway We didn't know it was gone till Tuesday. So after a 51/2 hour wait for the police to come to file a report, we called insurance and what not. On Wednesday morning at 7:00a.m., I was still in bed and so were all my kids, I got a call from Metro. They found our car, and "you have about 30 minutes to get there and then we'll have it towed at your expense." Gee thanks for your promptness. So thank goodness Andrew was out of bed and already gone, he was just around the corner from where they found it. Jones and Charleston. So he went to meet the police and I went to meet him and bring him the keys(not that they worked). This is what we found.

That would be my 3rd seat under the back wheels:)Radio/TV goneThis TV gone too

Everything just rifled through like it was his
Who needs an ash tray? Why would I expect someone who stole my car to have any manners?
At least he left the Bumbo! He took the boys car seats and Steele's car seat base.The extra two bricks he brought to put under the back wheels, but decided to use the 3rd row seats instead.

Broken steering column. Andrew couldn't start it with the keys, good thing he's so handy and could start it right up with a standard screwdriver that the jerk so kindly left for us.On a happier and way cuter note. Steele will hold his bottle if he's super hungry and you fix his thumbs so he can hold it right. He did this on Monday before all the drama. Andrew took the picture and sent it to me, I was scrapbooking. I'm gone for a couple of days and the kid has to feed himself? Just kidding, but I did feel a little bad that I wasn't there for a 1st of something. Oh well, Andrew did good taking pictures of it so I can scrap it!

Steele is 4 months and eats cereal!

2009-01-24T19:49:00.000-08:00

When Steele turned 4 months on the 11th we fed him rice cereal (by spoon) for the first time. He's had it in his bottle since he was a couple weeks old. I couldn't keep him full, for the love, he was over 10 lbs. when he was born. He wasn't too sure about the spoon and still prefers his bottles extra thick, but we're getting used to it.

Isn't he sooo cute! He smiles at everything. Just so fun to have just one!

New Years and Ely

2009-01-23T21:55:00.000-08:00

So New Years we spent at our own home as well. It was so fun. I hadn't really anticipated doing much, but when Andrew got home from work he said, "Lets go get stuff for our Japanese dinner." Andrew's Dad went to Japan on his mission and his family has always had a traditional Japanese, let me re-phrase that, HUGE Japanese dinner. So Andrew wanted to do it ourselves. It was fun, I didn't take a pic of anything, not even the yummy won tons. But it was all delish. The boys, well, Jesse and Jace, not baby Steele, stayed up all the way to midnight and we had some popper things and sparklers. It was freezing so we didn't light too many.

On New Years Day we got a few things done before packing up and heading up to below, yes, below zero temps. of Ely. We, well, here's the thing. Andrew has a sock fetish and sometimes I can't keep up with folding all the socks and it turns into a whole basket somehow. Weird I know, It was just easier to buy more socks than fold all the stupid ones in the giant basket. Anyway we ended having a family folding thing and Andrew thought it was funny that we could hide our huge 17 lb. baby in all of the socks. I thought it was sad that we are that lazy, but it was still pretty cute!Andrew and the boys wrestled. I didn't put in the ugly face pics. You know, when your trying really hard or something. They are pretty funny though.

Andrew was taking pics of a car to sell and the boys wanted to go outside with him. It was pretty cold so I told the boys to get dressed warm. Jesse-Thick sweatshirt, gloves, beanie Jace- Flip flops, really light sweatshirt, and a beach hat. He's such a funny kid!
We only got a couple of pics from sledding at Nana and Grampa's house before the incident. This hill goes right into their backyard. Sounds fun...right in between an iron swingset playground. Andrew took video of it. Jesse coming down the hill at full speed and then Andrew stepped aside to let Jesse by and he ran his face right into one of the poles. He cried a little but it was so cold his boogars froze in his nose, kinda like a natural icepack. It swelled and bruised later that weekend. But not too bad for how hard he hit.

I love this pic. My poor Mom, the boys are just pummeling her at point blank range. The boys got to open up a couple more cousin presents that we didn't get to open until we got to Ely. Guess what they were? (By the way those are not their normal clothes, I needed something to go under clothes for sleigh riding, that's why Jesse's pants are a little too tight, okay way too tight and total highwaters.)Thanks again to everyone for all 7, yes 7, of our new Nerf guns this Christmas. We just can't thank you enough!!!!

Christmas

2009-01-22T21:28:00.000-08:00

Well we had a great Christmas and New Years. We stayed at home in Vegas for Christmas. We had big Christmas Eve dinner with just our little family. Then Christmas Morning we woke up and opened presents. We had a big breakfast and then we packed up and went to Cali that night.
Andrew reading the night before Christmas to the boys.
Smiley Steele loving his new Bumbo.
All my boys Christmas morning.
The boys cookies and milk.

We all went to La Jolla to go see the seals. It was colder than I had anticipated, so I wasn't prepared to have Steele out in the cold for so long so Andrew ended up taking him back to the car. But the boys had a blast with their cousins. Effie was all bundled up so she's not in the pics.
Jesse, Max, RJ, and Jace in front of the seals
Jace right in front of the seals

Jesse man and the seals
Me and the boys, self portrait

On Saturday after Christmas we went to the Sea Lab. It's a place in Long Beach where they rescue sea animals and nurse them back to health and release a lot of them back in to the ocean. It's very hands on. Jesse wasn't too sure about touching anything.
Brave Bugga
Jesse and a sea bass (you can barely see it)
A bunch of the fam at a shark tank that you can apparently pet. I never pet sharks! That's a rule!
More craziness!!!
Okay this was even more crazy! Our digital camera is water proof. Sooo cool! Unless you have a crazy husband who dips his hand into the not nice shark tank to take a "cool picture". All in all it was a pretty fun day and trip.

Beautiful, Snowy, Las Vegas

2008-12-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

So for the few weeks Jace has been asking me if we were going to get snow for Christmas. My constant reply has been, "No, honey. It just doesn't snow here in Las Vegas. Maybe we'll go up and visit Nana in the snow after Christmas." BOY WAS I WRONG! Monday Andrew called and told me to have the boys look outside so we did, in true Vegas fashion, flip flops,

and it was snowing at our house! Jace stood at the door for a few moments in amazement then looked at me and quite matter of factly said, "You were wrong Mama." To which I said, "I sure was." Then it snowed again yesterday (Wednesday). Since it didn't stick at our house we went up to red rock yesterday and the boys and Andrew built a mini desert snowman. They used rocks for eyes and yucca plant leaves for arms. Anyway, the boys have been so cute about all our crazy weather.

Opportunity Village

2008-12-13T23:16:00.000-08:00

On December 6th we went to the Magical Forrest. It was fun. It was more fun for the kids, having a new baby and it being so cold, I didn't go on the train:( I Like the train okay! It was still fun, because the boys were able to have both of their Grandma's there. They were in town for Steele's blessing. Here are some pictures of the kids with Santa, on the train, in the little fire house, Steele slept the whole time(I woke him up to take a pic with Santa then he went right back to sleep) and the darling crying baby with all the hair is my niece, Effie. She was fine when all the kids were on Santa's lap with her but once she was alone, forget about it! So cute!

Thanksgiving

2008-12-13T22:57:00.000-08:00

We had Thanksgiving in Ely this year at my parents new house. It was fun! We'll go to Cali for Christmas to my in-laws new house (well practically new, the skeleton of the house is still original, but the rest is almost completely remodeled. I'll post some pics after Christmas.) My grandparents came and they are always fun to be around especially Gram. The boys just love them too, I'm so glad that they just adore all of their great grand parents. Steele got some one on one time with them too. Here's just a few from dinner (My Dad and brothers can never take a serious picture-hence, the nose picking and wierd faces) and Papa and Nana B with Steele.

Briefly what we've been up to.

2008-12-13T20:35:00.000-08:00

After Steele was born we took some time off. The boys loved getting to know Steele. Then Halloween came so we went to Gilcrease orchard to pick a few small pumpkins and get some yummy apple juice.

Actual Halloween pictures were taken with my 35 mm so I won't post right now but the boys were darn cute super heroes. Jesse wanted to be Spiderman. Jace wanted to be Batman, so naturally Steele was Superman and was stinkin' cute.

In November the boys went to Anderson Dairy on a field trip for pre-school. It was fun and they gave out icecream at the end.

I can't remember exactly but back in October my parents bought a new house. Well not brand new but new to them and considerably newer than the house they were in. It 's so great! There's tons of room for everyone in the house and tons of room for the kids to play outside as well. The house backs up against the hillside so they really don't have any neighbors and can go hiking right outside the back door, and there is a creek just across the street. Sooo awesome. Here's the new address.

Here's a view of the house and the shop.

Here's my Mom taking the boys to go check the mail in the rain.

This is a great playground in the backyard.

Steele at about 2 months.

Andrew finished the boys new surfer bedroom. It's so cute. This surf shack is a queen bunk bed! We were able to babysit Jacob, the boys cousin, one night. He's mobile so he's so fun! The boys just love him.

Steele is 3 months old already!

2008-12-13T20:13:00.000-08:00

Steele is so much fun! He is the easiest baby, or maybe I think that because I had twins first? Either way he is the cutest, most fun, and so easy. Like my friend said that her friend said, I could do hundred babies one at a time (I wouldn't ever in a million years be pregnant 100 times or even 10 times for that matter) but it is great having only one baby. I will admit, even until the day he was born I was hoping for twins, they're so much fun when they are newborns. I took these on the 11th which was his 3 month birthday.

Jesse and Jace are such good big brothers and are so helpful. They loooove Steele, sometimes a little too much. I always have to nicely remind them that they need to get out Steele's grill. But they do love him so much.

Meet Steele Jennings Meeks!

2008-10-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

So after some computer problems our summer pictures are still being held hostage on the other computer but Steele is here and we are all doing great. After 2 rounds of mastitis I'm feeling much better. So the stats on poor skinny are:
Born- September 11, 2008
Time- 7:43 p.m.
Weight-10lbs 3 oz (that's right)
Length-21 1/2 in. long
OUCH! you say? Actually it was surprisingly easy! A couple of pushes and only 1 stitch. So we were home by 9:00 the next night. He's so good. He sleeps well and even through all the noise of 4 year olds and their dinosaur fights, and regular fights and the boys are so good with him and very attentive. They are so willing to help, it's great! One is definitely easier than two, I've even gone shopping BY MYSELF, with all of them. It wasn't bad, could've been worse. It feels like he's been part of us forever already! I'll have a giant post later when I get into my other computer. I'll have more pictures of him later too. Not sure about this computer.

May and my babies!

2008-06-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

A couple of pictures taken for their Pirate themed Birthday party.

In May we had so much fun! On the 15th was the boys birthday. They turned 4. I know that with all the mile markers you start realizing how fast time really does fly. But, I really can't believe it's been 4 years. On the day of their birthday we always fill their rooms with balloons, so we did that and then they got to open up presents. Andrew got them each a big bag of Cheetos(totally not my idea). Then Andrew said they could eat and pretty much do whatever they wanted because it was their birthday. Soooo they had Cheetos for breakfast while they sat on the couch in their new car seats(again, not my idea- you know what their hands look like after eating Cheetos right!) Later we had some friends over to play on the new sprinkler they got.
Then that night they wanted to go to the Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix and ride the dragon roller coaster. It was fun we raced cars(I won), rode the little roller coaster, and boys even drove little cars by themselves. I was so funny to see them drive around in cars, alone. The whole day was fun.

Jace with some buddies, Adam and Savannah and little Jake.

Brothers Jace getting ready to drive.

Sorry, this is kind of a long clip.

The Boys Graduated
For those of you who didn't know, four other Moms and myself did a little co-op pre-school thing. It was every Tuesday and well, it's over. I'm pretty sure I won't do that again but the kids had fun. On May 14th we did a very informal grad ceremony (basically we put hats on them, gave them a certificate, and sat them on the couch for pictures). That was all we could get out of them because they wanted to swim.

The BIG Surprise!

Tio, (my brother Charley) and Aunt Sarah and new cousin Jacob, took the boys to the Shark Reef for their Birthday present. They had a lot of fun and still talk about some of the animals at "the surprise" not the Shark Reef.
The Pirate Party

We always have a huge birthday party for the boys. All of our family and close friends come. I'll probably do it until the boys don't want to anymore because I love to get everyone together. This was the first year the boys chose what kind of party they wanted. After some deliberation we settled on pirates. It was such a fun party. We had it on the 24th so more family could come, but it was hard explaining to the boys that their party wasn't for another week and a half after their birthday day. The weather held out( it was supposed to rain), the kids had a blast and well the cake broke in half. Here's the before of the cake. This is what it looked like before it actually broke in half.

AFTER

The pirate shi* cake just broke in half, but I handled it well. Andrew made the big pirate ships and the kids and their Dads had a cannon ball fight.

We also had a treasure hunt for the kids. My sister, Alex, drew a map and Andrew buried the treasure chest(a little deep, and really packed in.) Then they followed the map and dug up the treasure chest of loot bags(My Mom helped sew up the bags the night before).

Thanks everyone for coming it was so much fun!

Jesse is training wheel-less!

2008-06-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

On the last day of April Jesse rode with no training wheels! This was so funny. Andrew was ready to run for awhile and really only had to run for about 25 feet. Jesse has great balance and was just a natural. Even when he falls it's not really a fall, he just steps off and would let the bike fall. Anyway, we were so excited! I love these little stepping stones in their lives!

April

2008-06-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

April was not as busy as March. The boys and I went to Ely for a week. We went to lunch with my Mom, or Alex, or Grama Belle every day. It was fun spending time with Grama B, she's so funny and skinny! She joined up with weight watchers and reached her goal weight at age 80! She's so awesome. Anyway it was pretty cold up there still, but we did manage to go to the duck pond a few times. It was s funny because the boys were trying to chase away the disgusting pigeons so they wouldn't eat the "duck bread". Some of you may know of my aversion and ever growing hatred for birds. If you don't know, well, I really don't like birds. So you know why I appreciate my son wanting to step on the pigeon rather than asking for one for a pet!

Jace throwing the "duck bread".

Jesse thought he would scare the pigeons by yelling at them to leave. It didn't even affect the disgusting scavengers.

This is my favorite. This dumb pigeon wouldn't leave so Jace said, " I'll just step on him." But he really couldn't get close enough to actually do it. Jesse still trying his yelling method.

Jace got mad at the goose it was being mean to a smaller, rather dirty, and ugly little duck. But Jace still liked the ugly duck better than the goose.

BTW!

2008-05-11T23:16:00.000-07:00

By The Way, we are having another boy! I knew it was so we are very excited. Jesse on the other hand, has had to be talked into the idea. He was sure it was a girl and really wanted a "baby sister". After we kind of calmed him down and asked him what he wanted to name the new baby boy, he said,"Baby Sister". I guess he's bound to have it be a "baby sister" one way or another.

New little boy in the family!

2008-05-11T22:33:00.001-07:00

I love this picture! He's almost 2 weeks old and he just happened to smile while taking this picture, it's soooo funny.
My brother Charley and his wife Sarah just had their first baby on April 4th. He weighed 9lbs 1 oz. Our family thinks he is a clone of Charley, other than he's much cuter. Just kidding, but seriously, he's a doll. He's a good little baby and boys love having a new cousin in town. We all love baby Jake! He's going to be blessed on June 8th. My brother Jeff is coming home from his mission on the 4th so he'll be there for the blessing.

March

2008-05-11T21:16:00.001-07:00

March was really busy! At least on the weekends for sure. The first weekend we were in California for our nieces baby blessing. The second weekend we were in Utahrd. Andrew's Grandma had her 80th birthday party. It was really nice. We had dinner(the whole family, about 70 people) at the Roof Restaurant in the Joseph Smith Memorial building. They have this really good pomegranate lemonade, that I have since e-mailed them the recipe for and now have. Anyway, it was a nice weekend. On the third weekend, Andrew's Dad, Heber, left for Kuwait for a year. He is in the Army, hooha. His orders are for 400 days leave, so he will be gone for a year. He has been able to call quite often so it's been nice. There are some pictures below of the farewell. It was sad, so many soldiers were leaving pregnant wives or brand new babies and whole families. I had mixed feelings, on one hand I was so grateful for those soldiers and their families and had such a respect for them. On the other hand, I sure was thankful that it wasn't MY husband leaving me with little children and one on the way. Selfish I know, but I did take comfort in knowing that the base they are going to is very protected and don't see any fighting action. Anywho, it was a good but sad day when you have to say good-bye and watch your children say good-bye to their Grampy.

Jesse and Jace in front of a military Hummer at the farewell.

The boys in a fire truck.

Andrew and his Dad

Grampy and his Grandchildren except Effie.

Our little family with Heber.

Army Dad

Jace, Maxyne, and Jesse

Too bad Grampy couldn't take this luggage.

Our last weekend was Easter. It was fun, and nice to be at home for a weekend.
We had an Easter egg hunt in the back yard and family came down for the weekend.

Nice bed head!

New Little Girl in the Family!

2008-03-31T18:25:00.000-07:00

Meet Effie Jane Aldana!
Andrew's sister, Trisha, and her husband Gabe had their first baby on February 27, 2008. She is so cute and everyone was a little jealous of all her hair (We were all born bald and all of our children, so far, have been born bald.) She was blessed on the April 1st, yes that is 4 days, DAYS, after she was born. The reason behind that was that Andrew's Dad was blessing the baby. It was his last available Sunday before being sent to Kuwait for a year to serve in the military. Trisha was soooo good about being out and about 4 days after having her baby.
The boys are so excited that they have a new cousin. She is adorable.

We are (I am) pregnant!

2008-03-05T17:06:00.000-08:00

Sooooo, it was so easy this time. Although, I did think that Andrew and I, the Dr. and petri dish made two cute kids, we'll have to see how we do on our own. We found out on January 29th, unofficially, and had this first ultrasound on February 4th. We only did one round of clomid and I didn't think that even worked. But lo, it did and our timing was impeccable (if you know what I mean, and I think you do.) Anyway we are so excited and so are the boys. Jesse is so funny, he'll listen to my belly and say the baby is crying. Then he'll sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and then listen again, and I'll ask him if the baby is still crying and he'll say no and kiss my belly then run off. Everything is going well and I feel good, everything is good.

Christmas

2008-02-18T19:38:00.000-08:00

Christmas was fun this year! Still it was a bit wierd not having Jeff there. He was able to call for a couple of hours and everyone talked to him. He's suddenly so wise and mature. No, I'm not using the wrong descriptive words and yes I am talking about Jeffrey Phillip Hall. I mean Elder Hall. Here's some pics of everyone talking to him.

Mom

Cute Grama B

Charley

Pimped out Papa entertaining us while Mom was on the phone

This was my favorite present this year. There was this present for Alex under the tree and the note was a ransom looking letter from her secret admirer. The present was these big, high cut, red, underwear. Come to find out it was a joke(obviously) from my Dad. And yes she has on her new coat and the underwear are over her coat. It was so funny because no one knew who did it. Anyway it was fun, I'll do a slide show later of all the Christmas Day pics and Christmas eve baking!

Polar Express pics!

2008-02-18T19:28:00.001-08:00

Christmas in February?

2008-02-18T18:01:00.001-08:00

So I'm a little behind! Anyway, the boys and I went to Ely a few days early for Christmas because my Mom got tickets for the Polar Express. It was so cute, my Mom got the boys new jammies, robes, and slippers for their adventure.

The ride was so fun...long... but fun. We brought Grama Belle, she's always up for anything or a trip on a whim, she's quite the gypsy. The conductor came by and punched their tickets, they played the songs from the movie over the sound system. The boys were so cute, they kept looking out the windows, they were looking for the wolves. Soon they handed out "hot, hot, hot cocoa" and cookies. Then Santa got on the train and talked to every child. Then his helper gave all the kids a tiny silver bell. Which was sooooo funny because my Mom had bought the boys a giant silver bell, so when they got the little ones they were less than impressed. I'm going to put a slide show up of all the pics of the train ride but here are a few.

This is like the 10th picture. Seriously, my Dad was messing around in alllll the pictures they'll be on the slide show.

Sorry about all the red eye I have a new computer and need to put my photo editor on this computer. The boys could see their breath, it was cute.

Knott's Pics

2008-01-13T23:14:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving

2008-01-13T21:20:00.000-08:00

We spent Thanksgiving in Cali. We went down early and we all went to Knotts Berry Farm. The kids had a blast! They have a lot there for the kids to do. Then we came home and started in on dinner for the next day.(Well only a few things and then we all went to bed we were "Berry " tired. )

So I did a slide show to put here but it doesn't want to be here. UGH! I'll figure it out later, just some Knotts pictures.

The next day was Thanksgiving. It was fun, good food good people. Everyone was there except Amy, she's serving in Panama. Then right when we were getting ready to eat Gabe, Trishas husband got a call and had to go to work (he transports bodies). The kids had fun playing with cousins and everyone went to bed early, since we had shopping to do the next day. Here's some pics after we ate.

RJ, Jesse, Max, and Jace

Trying so hard for a good shot, but they're sooo cute I decided to put them in anyway.

Max was baptized the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It was so great that we were able to be there. Now the boys can't wait until they can be baptized. Maxyne is such a good example to her cousins and her little brother. She was supposed to be baptized the month earlier, but there were 4 or 5 families living in the gym or her stake center. They were victims of the fires they had in San Diego. Maxyne's baptism dress was made many years ago and most of the girls on Andrew's side of the family have worn it for their baptisms as well.

We are so proud of you Maxyne, Max, Punch, Chrunchy!

More to come...

2008-01-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've all been on the edge of your seats, anticipating my next move, after that last post, and then... nothing for a couple of months. No, I didn't hurt my children, at least not with physical evidence for fear that i may be hauled off and thrown in the slammer and they would be put in some strange home where they have to eat mac and cheese and cold cereal for every meal (not that they don't do that here). In actuality after that last, um, let's just call it a mishap, things seem quite quiet.(knock on wood) Pretty typical stuff and they've been very good boys.
Onto better news, we had great holidays, i have pictures but they are in the other room on the hard drive and I put my back out(from throwing up so hard:))(If you're gonna spew, spew in this!). Anyway, I'm just sitting here on a heating pad wishing someone were here to bring it to me, but alas, there is no one. So I'll post pictures later but at least I posted before Bonnie!!!!JK. Happy New Year, and I too still have half of my Christmas decor up and even a whole tree that still needs dismantling, all ya'll slackers out there... Holla!!!

Do YOU ever need a timeout?

2007-11-26T21:28:00.000-08:00

or at least a little birth control? Tonight I was going to paint my ceiling and then do some blogging about our thanksgiving activities. Instead... I spent the evening shampooing upstairs since my children are artistically gifted. (They knew they were in trouble-you can't really tell but they have paint all over their legs and bodies.)I usually get the carpets cleaned before I put up the Christmas decorations, but I wasn't planning on it today. Let me just tell you what led up to this "art". I was on the phone planning this weeks YW activity and I heard the water turn on outside so I went to tell them to turn it off, but alas, I was too late. The sprinklers had been on and both of the prodigy's (for lack of a better word) were butt naked, with the exception of Jace's shirt, he couldn't get it off his head because the button was still done up! They were both freezing cold so I told them to go upstairs and get on some underwear and get a blanket. I continued talking on the phone, then I realized I could hear them continually flushing the toilet. I told them to stop and went up to check on the bathroom.

(Mind you, it had only been at the most 10 minutes.) As I neared the crest of the stairs I could see Andrew's old art set open, and everything was everywhere. (The bed of that little truck is supposed to be red, the mixed the balck and white.) Amidst the paint and chalk was the toilet brush and then they decided to clean up and got out my BRAND NEW underwear and cleaned it up.

There was paint on the walls and door casings. Pretty much everywhere it isn't supposed to be.

I now have the G's of a clown, very clean carpet, and no patience. (Good thing I was on the phone when I made the discovery, if you know what I mean?!)

Needless to say, I put the tornados in thier room and gave myself a timeout, tears and all. Then I started in on the carpet, and life just keeps going.

our missionaries

2007-11-26T20:19:00.000-08:00

Andrew and I both have a sibling on a mission. My littlest (actually not so little anymore) brother, Jeff, is in Peru. And My sister-in-law, Amy, is in Panama.

Jeff has about 6 months left. He is currently in Trujillo, he was there one before. He's doing awesome, as if we'd expect anything less. He is currently Zone leader and from the sounds of things isn't even "trunky" ( I really don't like that word whoever came up with it, I think it's wierd). Jeff speaks the language fluently and has for awhile now. He's doing great!

Here's our bubbly, crazy, Amy! She's been out since August. She went directly to the MTC in Guatemala and has been in Panama now for a few weeks. Every Letter she sends her, spanish is getting better and better and she is understanding it more and more!

I'm giving in!

2007-11-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

So I'm giving in to all the peer pressure. I've been giving excuses why I don't have enough time to blog. But I've run out of excuses. So this blog spot is actually multitasking for me. I'm keeping friends and family updated on our happenings, I'm journaling, doing my part in geneology, and just enjoying myself. No we're not pregnant yet, ( I've just put on a liitle weight) so don't ask me if I'm pregnant! (Just kidding) But I did have my 1st Dr. appt. today and I will be starting on Clomid by next month. Clomid is a fertility drug to try to make you ovulate (if you don't already and I don't). So I'm excited to get started trying to have more kids (or A kid). It's so much much easier to just knock 'em out 2 at a time! And I'm super excited to be a new blogger!