The New Couple

Michael, Tony's brother, and Kayla were engaged last night! It was the very same night 10 years ago that Tony proposed to me. Kind of fun to share an engagement anniversary. Congrats to the new couple!

Jace is 8!

My baby boy turned 8 on Tuesday. He is now officially a cub scout. Jace was made to be a scout. He longs to be outside hiking, camping, finding animals and bugs, all those scout kind of things. Good thing his dad is good at that because so far it hasn't been my forte to help identify insects. Jace is also going to be baptized on February 6. I'm looking forward to it because of the great milestone it is, but at the same time, I really like having children that aren't accountable. That way when they mess up because I haven't taught them well enough, it's not so bad. But this is good. He's really excited to become a member of the church. It's so amazing what an understanding Jace already has of what the church is about. We have family home evenings and ask him a question and he'll give such insightful answers that is shocks us. It helps me remember my responsibility of helping to guide such an important spirit.


Jace also had his birthday party last Friday. That way the kids could stay later to be part of his movie party. It was so fun. We had pizza, ice cream cake (because Jace isn't a big fan of cake) and then went on an Alien hunt. The boys each got a pair of sunglasses and a cap gun so they could complete the men in black get-up. Then we searched for signs of alien life outside with flashlights. We used clues that led to glow in the dark alien stickers and finally found the aliens (the movie "Aliens in the Attic", candy, and caps for their guns). My biggest birthday success yet! Jace actually went to bed saying that was his best birthday party ever. Yes!! Mission accomplished. Pat myself on the back.

New Hair Cut

So here is my new hair cut. I chopped off over a foot of hair and donated it to locks of love. It was an interesting experience to have that much hair cut off. I feel like it was a good weight loss plan though because maybe I lost a pound or two when it came off. So now I'm one pound closer to my goal weight. Oh wait! Erica and I went out for ice cream after. Never mind. I'm back to normal :)

Here we are!!!

I've been justifying my way out of blogging for a VERY long time. So now that things are hopefully settling, Tony's got a new job, we've settled into our new neighborhood, and the baby is now 18 months and my days are a little easier, I thought it would be a good time to dive in. I'm thinking the purpose of blogging is to inform people about yourself and family and the things happening. My only problem is I live by ALL of my family, therefore, there needs to be no informing because we are all excellent communicators. Coming from a family that has 4 girls in it, it's obvious. So hopefully this doesn't seem like needless info, but I'm going to do a little update on all of us for maybe those who I don't talk to 5 times a day.


Tony just got a new job with Comp Health in November and is still in what they call "boot camp" training. He will be done in another 3 weeks though so we look forward to things being a little less stressful. He likes his job though so that's what matters. After being unemployed for almost 3 1/2 months, we're just happy to have a paycheck. This picture was taken in Central Park when Tony and I went on our very first big getaway. It was the greatest trip ever. Our 10th anniversary is coming up in April and we hope to get to do a big fling then too.



I'm still doing the same thing I've always done. I cook, clean, help with homework, and play with kids all day. Really I'm doing the things I used to dream about when I was little. You know how you imagine your life is going to be when you grow up. I'm there. Right now. I feel so blessed. I'm not doing anything exciting that will make other people wish they could do what I did that day, but I'm doing what really makes a difference to these four most perfect spirits ever put on earth.



Jace is my angel. He is going to turn eight in two weeks and will be baptized next month. He is an amazing son. I can't imaging what he is going to be like when he is older. He is incredibly soft hearted and responsible. If I ever need help, he will do it. Jace watches Ryan for me while I have to vacuum or do something upstairs. He can also get breakfast out for all of the kids, shovel the snow, he vacuums, dusts, does the garbages, and anything else I ask him to do. When I ask him to do his chores, he just runs and hurrys to get it done...mostly because he loves to play with our next door neighbor who is only 5 days older than Jace. We're so lucky to have friends right next door. Now my kids get to do what I did growing up and just hop from house to house.



Erica fills our house with extra girlyness. Being the only daughter, she more than makes up for all of the wild crazy boyness. Tonight Erica and I are going on our first real girls night out. First she's coming with me to get my hair cut. Then we're going to the mall, shopping, and getting ice cream Every girls dream. Erica is extremely smart and loves loves loves to be the center of attention. She can sing like you wouldn't believe and has no problem singing for anyone that asks. I'll post a video some time. She shares a room with Ryan and brings him to me every morning. Some times when she wants me to sleep in on Saturdays or something, she'll even keep him in her room and just play with him because she wants to be nice. What a doll!!



Kent is awesome! He makes us laugh all day with the things he does. I have NEVER seen a kid with more energy. If anyone disagrees, you haven't met him yet. He is hillarious and somehow always manages to do the craziest and cutest things. We love him to bits. He is also extremely athletic. He has been able to dribble a big basketball, hit a ball with a bat almost every time, and throw perfectly, left handed of course, since he was exactly 2. We are excited to see what kinds of things he wants to participate in. Kent is always the kid that gets lost too. Whenever we go somewhere and I look around for my kids to make sure they're all there, Kent never is. So if I'm with people who know him and I say "Where's Kent" they instantly jump up and start looking because odds are he is far away doing whatever he pleases. The big goofball. :)



Ryan is our baby. He just turn 18 months last week and is finally walking as of this week. It's been nice though to get to enjoy him being a baby for little extra time. He is a very happy baby. He requires a lot of attention, but now that he is kind of walking, he should get a little more independent. Except that he especially loves to play on the stairs, so that keeps me pretty on edge. Ryan is adored by all of his brothers and sister, just like any baby of the family should be. But Daddy dotes on him the most. He is definately glued to him. When Tony walks in the door, Ryan immediately starts crying. No matter where he is. He'll cry until Tony will pick him up and then expects Tony to pretty much just hold him for the rest of the night. When I try to take Ryan from Tony, Ryan screams!! Not fair. But I guess he's just got a great daddy and he knows it.

Well thats an update on the fam. I'll keep you posted on anything else interesting and exciting that comes our way.