Creed practicing his priesthood duties...

Doesn't this remind you of Sunday at church when you look up on the stand and the bishopric and high councilor are totally snoozing away? That's my boy! Just practicing for some future priesthood duties...

ps I cannot figure out how to un underline this post...sorry.

Taryn...need I say more?

Lately Cami and Taryn have taken to wearing Brent's t shirts to sleep in. The other night she came back in after changing for bed....Just in case you can't read the shirt it says Caffeine...Now she's never actually had caffeine but I am pretty sure that caffeine combined with her natural awesomeness would cause more of a stir than I could personally cope with.

Laughing I said,"Hey Brent we should take a picture of her wearing that shirt. It is so her." And she piped in and said "Ya, and you could post it to face book. That would be hilarious..."

YUP-that's my girl!

Jocelyn's Naps

It's happened...She's discovered she doesn't have to stay in bed when I tuck her in...The evidence speaks loud and clear.

I wonder where she learned to fall asleep nursing a baby....

Pretty much everyday she sneaks a book-or ten. Glad to see she really fits into the family with a love of reading and I hope it lasts. Her favorites are Curious George, Clifford the big red dog, and Fancy Nancy...She also like alphabet, counting, and color books...Good girl!

Buddies in the making...if they both survive

Jocelyn cannot leave Creed alone, not since the minute he arrived on the planet. Like she literally has to be touching him nearly all the time. She just loves him so much she can't help herself. I am hoping Creed grows up to love her just as much despite the constant affection he's received. He has been a VERY good sport so far...Mommy is just glad that he will tolerate the Bumbo now so I can have him safe without having to constantly carry him around. Clearly the floor, swing, and chair are not safe zones despite my best efforts...

Easter...very anticlimatic for such a climatic holiday

Easter snuck up on me this year...We didn't even do an egg hunt or dye eggs...I am a very lame mom sometimes...Oh well no one had any emotional trauma from my short comings and every one got a basket with the usual get ready for summer gear-swim suits and flip flops etc...So although we loved our Sunday Jesus Easter, our secular everyday Easter bunny Easter was accidentally a little lacking this year...Better luck to my family next time...

Creed and his octopus man gear...It is way different/harder to find a boy suit by the way...

Jocelyn with her bug bug eggs...That's pretty much all she cared about...She is a LADYBUG FIEND!

HMM...Cami got earrings...The Easter bunny must have know that she is growing up....And she still feels the magic but unfortunately realizes where the magic comes from now... D'OH! I blew it in a big way...don't have your child help unpack your shopping bags so close to holidays...

Taryn before she sees the Barbie and a Mermaid Tail 2....After she saw it she was jumping up and down and squealing so much I couldn't get a picture....

First carousel of the season...

Before the Blue Angels air show our family and my sisters kids went to the carousel for the first time this season. Jocelyn even rode mostly by herself this time and Creed and I hung out on a bench. I worried the whole time I was giving him shaken baby but he seemed to not notice that we were even moving...So here's to looking forward to a whole summer of rides and smiles....

Tooth Fairies that go to plumbing school...

So it happened again...Taryn lost her first tooth and then literally lost it. She was so excited to lose her tooth. She had been writing updates for the tooth fairy for a few days and leaving them under her pillow. She went to school and I made her let me take a before picture because I was sure it was coming out. No luck.

The next morning I asked her if I could pull it out and she said sure. I gave it a good yank but no luck... It was bleeding like crazy though and she went to go get a Kleenex. I heard a scream and she came running back down the hall with the tooth in her hand.

Now I have tried to learn from my experience with Cami (losing her first two lost teeth) and I immediately put it in a Ziploc baggie and kept it safe all day. At bedtime I handed her the baggie and said "Don't open the bag! Just go put this under your pillow."

Again I hear a scream and she comes busting down the hall just sobbing. Taryn is a VERY dynamic girl...So Creed is hungry and crying, Jocelyn is tired and starts crying, and Taryn is going crazy lady sobbing on me...Brent, lucky man that he is, was not home....

Taryn sobs out that she was just trying to get her tooth extra clean and shiny for the tooth fairy and it slipped out of her fingers down the drain while she was rinsing the blood off and now it is lost forever and the tooth fairy won't even know she lost it, etc etc etc....

So I got Jocelyn in bed and started to feed Creed while Cami, bless her sweet little heart, is helping console Taryn by writing a note for the tooth fairy. She also then helped her say a prayer that the tooth fairy would find her tooth...Actually they said a group prayer then each individually prayed then they had me say one. Three hours later the sobbing abated and she fell asleep...SO the tooth fairy just HAD to pull through on this one...

Luckily tooth fairies go to plumbing school and she left Taryn a dollar, fairy dust, and the following note...

March 21, 2012

Dear Taryn,

I am so so so excited and happy for you to have lost your first tooth. You have such a beautiful smile and I have been watching for weeks to see if your tooth had popped out yet. I loved the note you wrote me. I am sorry I didn’t have time to stop and write back before. I usually only have time to write letters if there aren't too many teeth to gather. But even if I don’t write I LOVE to read letters from you so write to me anytime.

It is OK that your tooth fell down the drain. That is the number one place kids lose teeth. It happens all the time. That is why fairies go to plumbing school as part of our training. We learn how to fly through pipes and spot teeth in the dark. Your tooth was a cinch to find.

I noticed that it is especially white and clean. You must brush and floss your teeth so good! Thanks! I appreciate it because then I don’t have to spend too much time cleaning teeth when I take them back to fairy land. Keep up the good work and start wiggling your other teeth so I can come visit again soon.

Taryn, you are a ray of sunshine and I love your happy face. Tell Cami and Jocelyn Hi and tell Cami to start wiggling her bottom teeth. Her braces are great and sparkly.

I noticed you have a new baby in your house but he doesn’t have any teeth yet. I will try to help him grow beautiful teeth in a few months if you promise to help him brush as good as you do. I bet you are a great big sister. I wish I had a big sister like you.

Thanks for your notes and your fabulous tooth. It really was easy to find.

Love,

The Tooth Fairy

A side view of Taryn pointing out what is different about her today...

Right after it fell out. She couldn't have been more pleased!

Her tooth bending practically out of her mouth before school...

Before school-the last picture of a beautiful baby tooth filled mouth...on to the awkward smile! :)

THE blue angels

Since the St George airport opened its new location they have been trying to have the Blue Angels come...Finally it happened. We found the best dirt parking lot behind the airport to watch the show. I didn't want to take Creed out in public too much and it was windy and freezing so it was good to be able to take turns sitting inside the car...

The airshow did not disappoint but the best parts were the one liners Jocelyn keep busting out with...(remember she is two are talking is new to her...)

My favorite three were:

"WOW! That's awesome!" (in reference to the big WWII plane)

"Holy Cow! That's dangerous!" (in reference to the F-14 fighters)

"HOLY TOLEDO!!!" (Also in reference to the F-14s)

Spring Break...Hiking and Exploring

So spring break was a pretty chill occasion at our house this year. We played with friends and rode bikes and decorated cupcakes...We went on hikes and we explored cool things in our own backyard. Brent got to hang out a lot with us which is such a great perk of being your own boss...

The family hiking to dinosaur tracks...Grandma came too to help make sure no one fell off cliffs or anything but pleasantly there were no cliffs.

Jocelyn's feet are a lot smaller than this dinosaurs...So are grandma's.

Jocelyn in her wind blown look.

Cami and Taryn also smaller than a dinosaur...Note Taryn is not wearing heels, or sparkly sandals...very rare...almost as rare as actual dinosaur tracks...

This is Fort something or other...It was built along the virgin river to protect water rights in early pioneer days and is still standing ish...We hiked out to the look our and down by the river. There were cool pioneer names carved into the rocks.

Jocelyn and her man...walking down to the river.

We also went hiking in Zion National Park one day but it got really cold. Brent reconfigured his fleece to warm Jocelyn up. She must have been cold to cooperate with this.

Good times...good times...

Blood Buddies

You know that song:

I love mother, she loves me

We love brother yes sirree

He loves us and so you see

We are a happy family

I love daddy, he loves me

We love sister yes sirree

She loves us and so you see

We are a happy family

(or something close ish to that)

I love my family. I especially love my family when they are loving each other. We have normal kids that do normal kid things...like yell and hit and cry. BUT they also all love each other so much that I can't imagine a more blessed life. They are connected by blood but also by sincere friendship.

Once my mom told me the best gift you could give a child was a sibling. When I first heard that I thought ya right...There will be less of my attention and love for each one. After we had Taryn I realized the truth of what she said. I realize it more and more with each child. My love for each person isn't at all diminished. It grows for each one when I see how much they love someone that I do too. A sister and now a brother is truly the kindest way I can show my kids I love them...

So even though I think four makes a really nice complete family I am so grateful that these four (and Brent) are mine and that they have each other. Our family wouldn't be as perfect any other way.

Jocelyn with her inability to restrain the love and Creed with his ability to accept such fierce love.

Last Saturday Creed got woken up an hour early from nap time and he was fussing just a little. I was ignoring it so he'd go back to sleep and finish his nap. Cami asked if she could go get him and I said no just let him go back to sleep and then he'll feel a lot happier later. She couldn't take no for an answer. I went down the hall five minutes later and this is what I found... I guess maybe "happier later" was less happy than cuddling and happy now...

Taryn is in afternoon kindergarten and every morning she and Jocelyn are busy making mischief together...It is a good thing Jocelyn still takes an afternoon nap because she would be lost without a sister to play with- a sister who is teaching her the ropes of how to be girly and fierce...

Again Cami's favorite spot...every day after school. She and Taryn both race to the car after school yelling "I get to hold baby bubba (his intrauterine nickname) first!!!!" "No I do!" "No I said it first!" At which point I usually say no I did, I said it so early that neither of you were here to hear it.....then they take turns...

Pillow fight gone dog pile...Too bad pictures don't have volume or you would have to turn this one down...They love each other really loudly sometimes...

The morning play date....Taryn and Jocelyn finding "fashionable" outfits...

My daddy is my favorite pal and I help him everyday...Its plain to see I want to be like him in every way...

Before Cami's baptism she just really wanted a picture of her and Creed...What a good little boyfriend he is to all these girls in this house. I don't think it will every be possible for him to doubt he is LOVED!

Where oh where has my little creed gone?

So four kids seems like a lot more kids than three kids...For one thing there is a whole lot more laundry...This is how we get 'er done at our house. Creed cooperating beautifully.I almost forget he's there...playing himself to sleep among all the clothes...

PS I think 4 is the new 8....8 used to be a big family but 4 seems pretty hefty to me...BUT it is fun and we are very thankful for our brood...

Each one is so different that it is amazing they all have the same genetics! It sort of makes me want to have 50 babies to see how each one turns out but then I look at the laundry and regain my sanity... :)

Soccer Season Baby!!!

I LOVE this time of year! Fresh cut grass smell and stinky shin guards. Cami is old enough to play in a competitive league now and it is so fun to watch. She is not the most aggressive girl but you can tell she thinks through everything and tries to play smart. I think if we put Taryn on the other team the aggression level would definitely be upped...

Taryn decided not to play this spring and it nearly broke my heart. It took everything I had to let my kid be herself...instead she begged to sign up for tap dance classes....Like I said it's taking everything I have...I am hoping she will miss it and want to play again in the fall....Please pray for us :) ! (I hope you all know I am kidding-I am sad but mostly just happy that she is happy)

Creed's first soccer game...not too into the BRIGHT sunshine or mom cheering loud enough to wake him from his happy slumber....It'll grow on him...

Cami in all her awesomeness and ginormous shorts....

Valentines Day Tradition

This year for Valentines I added a tradition to our usual china family dinner. I decided to ask each person for three of their favorite foods and chose at least one thing from each person to make. I was hoping to add a little lovin' food style to each person. Cami chose queso and chips, Taryn chose rice and fruit dip, Jocelyn chose black berries, Brent chose Fish Tacos. It was a serious random smorgasbord. I have never made fish tacos before and I don't think I am brave enough to try again...kind of disaster but i did try courtesy of Rachel Ray...Hopefully despite the tacos we will keep this tradition next year.

This is MY BOY...YES!!!! My BOY!!!

Creed is a cute baby. That's all there is to it. His eyes are so blue. They remind me a lot of Cami's. And he has the cutest mile wide pout. He does this silent cry face all mashed up and red thing before his real cry. He may have a dimple in his right cheek. He giggled right out loud in church on Sunday and I spent the rest of church trying to get him to repeat. He is my only baby without a crooked bum crack and I am pretty sure he'll have an outie belly button. His little head is of course a bald little Weight baby head-small and fuzzy. His hair does seem a little darker like Taryn's but it is going lighter each day. He and Jocelyn have straight pinkies that I just want to eat. He is my only kiddo who got Brent's ginormous toes. They are like half of the size of his feet.

Even with all this physically cute things his personality is cuter. He makes eye contact and then just glows at me. He connects and tells me a million things with his eyes. He is my little boyfriend. I feel his love and its amazing. He has such a patient, kind spirit. I feel like the luckiest mom in the world. I admit I was terrified of having a boy at our house. Boys are crazy and loud and dirty...BUT I could not be more in love with my little boyfriend. Seriously I am the luckiest mom alive.

My little man looking like a little man.

Checking out the animals on his blanket and contentedly just hanging out in chaos.

My sister in law made this cute little duck outfit for him.-Seriously she MADE it. Impressive. It was adorable but he kept trying to bust his hands out-he is not a burrito fan.

Happy Nappy

Sleep has become a very hot, rare commodity at our house the last couple of months. Creed definitely had his days and nights reversed in a BIG way. Once we conquered that, we still had the Creed is hungry every two hours business. He clung to that in a BIG way....Finally when he was about 10 weeks old he started having a (yes a as in a single) four hour streak (11 pm-3am). Now at 13 weeks he sleeps from about 8 to 11 or 12 and then he goes until 4 am then we go back to the every two hours until the next night.

With all this eating he better be growing like a crazy man. At his two month appointment he had nearly doubled his birth weight (up to 11 pounds 1 ounce) which is usually done by 6 months. He is definitely a porker in comparison to his sisters and we love it.

Anyway Brent and I have discovered that if Creed is fed and the girls are willing a nap is totally heaven. Creed is so soft and cuddly and pudgy. He just nestles in and makes himself at home. Not to mention a nap with a baby is one of the best things in life.

8 is GREAT!!!

Cami, my beautiful Cami, made me a mom 8 years ago and they have been the best 8 years of my life. Serious they have with no schmooze intended.

She was the answer to so many prayers and so much heart ache. With her life was finally what I wanted it to be like....happily married with children...She is a good kid. She has a conscience a mile wide which is so nice for us-she can't do wrong because she always confesses too fast if she tries. :) She makes us feel like good parents even though we have no real claim to her goodness. She is a fierce protector of her siblings and a great baby sitter (while I shower). She is a reader and thinker and has a great imagination. She creates so many scenarios playing house or army or box car children that I can hardly keep up with her ideas. She definitely directs the play at our house. She is a totally picky eater and Brent tells me she just has a very refined palate. She is getting a funny sense of humor and understands double meanings. She is growing up so fast that I just want to hit pause but at the same time I really love the girl she is becoming and I want to see more and more of who she is. I love her more than I can say and I am truly blessed to be her mom.

She had a family party where all she wanted was to eat was clam chowder, canned green beans and ice cream cake. She was very specific...She had a friends party and since creed was only a couple weeks old and I didn't have a party in me we hired the party out. They went to a gymnastics place and did tumbling etc then had pizza. She also got her ears pierced about a week after her birthday.

I wasn't sure she would go through with it (she has a serious aversion to anything that might remotely hurt) and I really didn't care if she got them done or not. I was really proud though when after the first ear was done that she cried but sucked it up and said do the other one now...It took a lot for her to do it. It was also SUPER traumatic when she discovered she had to take them out at soccer games....oops! Bad timing on my part.

Eight is a big birthday in our church because you can choose to be baptized which Cami did. I was also really proud of her for showing courage at her baptism. Cami would rather drive nails under her own fingernails than be the center of any attention (remember her aversion to pain and you will realize this is big). When she realized people might be watching she broke down in tears. I talked to her and told her she didn't have to do this but I would help her if she wanted me to. She said say a little prayer with me and we did and she wiped her tears away and got up and walked into the fount. She is so powerful when she overcomes obstacles and I love being part of it.

Anyway here she is in her white dress, opening a present, and having her party. I love this kid!