How many excuses do you think I could come up with???

as to why I haven't updated my blog in F.O.R.E.V.E.R! but you probably don't want to hear them all so I'll spare you. (Cause I'm nice like that!)
It's been 6 months since I have posted anything about my lovely family! We've had a crazy year and everytime I have sat down to update or post something it feels a little overwhelming to me! 6 months is too long so I figure I need to just cowboy up and do it! even if it takes FOREVER!!!! A lot has changed in life and if anything I need to document it!

Still have never copied the pictures from our family vacation to San Diego so those will be another day another post! So here is a pathetic attempt (as I kick my self) at remembering all the events I would like to remember.

May- We got word that the owners of the house we were renting were forclosing and the bank said they would fight us and eventually evict us or we could take cash for keys. So the first part of June after much negotiating the Bank one, gave us 10 days and we accepted a cash for keys offer. We had to move June 14th Happy Birthday to me! Speaking of birthdays this year I gave myself a Half Marathon for my birthday. I was no where near prepared for this race and felt it for sure unlike the last one I did. June 12th I ran the Utah Valley Half Marathon, I did it all on 3 hrs of sleep... stupid me! But I finished it and only 10 minutes longer than my last time (probably because I had to pee 3 times) I guess that's what babies do to you!

I was only slightly exhausted! 

So glad to be finished.

Picturing these smiling faces kept me going when I wanted to quit!

Aside from not being as prepared as I should have, this race was very difficult mentally! I am the type of runner that I do so much better if I have someone to run with. I did this race all by my lonesome so I found myself wanting to quit and give up a lot more than when I have someone there that I can feel like is couting on me! (kinda lame I know but that's who I am and I am ok with it!) 

So we moved into a townhome, it's 3 beds 2.5 bath and alot smaller but it works. We <3 the ward and both have been blessed with some good callings. I am the ward Young Women Secretary and Jon is a sunday school teacher as well as the Stake Young Mens President. The boys don't really have anywhere outside to play so we found ourselves playing at the park alot more during this summer. Which actually was really nice!

July we found ourselves exploring Lubbock Texas. Jonny is considering doing a Master and Phd program at Texas Tech Univeristy (Go Red Raiders) and yes you read that right Masters and Phd. Yes he is that crazy! We still haven't decided what to do for sure, since then we have had an offer to stay here that we are debating wether we should pass it up or not. I'll let you know as soon as we do! We really liked Lubbock though and I think would be a fabulous place to live especially because our favorite Joleen lives there. Her house is ADORABLE and was the perfect hostess! We drove straight through both ways and picked the boys up and headed to Island Park for a couple of days. Sometime in the few days we were gone Brady and Kael picked up Hand Foot and Mouth disease so your family reunions were NOT fun for me really to be perfectly honest. Instead of the usual visiting with cousins and laughing and having the time of my life I found myself trying to comfort a little 2 year old who was in serious pain. There wasn't a whole lot I could do for him, it was sad. But like ALL  family reunions there wasn't a disapointing level of fun and laughs. The younger cousins put on a play about how Grandma and Grandpa met. I just have to say to everyone out there I have THE ABSOLUTE COOLEST grandparents in the world. Sorry to break the news to all of you like that but it's a true story! See for yourself! (** I may or may not have stolen the following pictures from family members) 

 Looks like we all have the same taste in clothes for our children we are related after all. Funny that we also chose to have them wear them on the same day without knowing it!

 4th annual Iron Chef competition (next year I insist I be on Joleen's team since she always wins!)

 Bill and Joyce (aka Nathan and Jennifer)

 The kids (thats supposed to be Eric with the bag on his head since he was MIA)

I told you so... they are the coolest grandparent ever known to mankind!

August was pretty mellow I ran a Mudrun 10K for the MS Foundation in honor of my cousin Kristen. Raquel another cousin and Robin did it with me. It was super fun and really really dirty! I had lots of fun but don't think that I would do a mudrun just for kicks again. To raise money for a good cause of course!

 We did it!

It was freezing and I think he was having a super time spraying everyone off!

 Mr. Brady turned 3! He got lots of spiderman stuff that he plays with everyday! He has definatly discovered his super heros his life is all about Avengers these days (making Auntie Cass and Uncle Chris proud). He makes a very convincing spiderman it's hard to tell them apart from each other sometimes! Uncle Mark and Aunt Colette came and took the boys to the park one afternoon for Brady's birthday too! 

Note to self... get all your pictures off Dad's computer he has a million of your kids events that you have no record of! p.s start using your own camera for pictures!

September brought the start of school for a certain oldest child. He couldn't have been more ready and excited to attend preschool! He had lots of fun shopping and picking out school clothes and a backpack. It's of course Cars backpack. He is doing really well and picking up on things very fast. He is like a sponge and loves to learn. Let's hope the trend continues and lets hope he gets his Dad's brains like I think he has!

October of course brings Halloween. THe boys had the hardest time deciding what they wanted to be for Halloween. Our night ended up not being what I wanted! Jon worked all night, I had a HUGE YW activity  and Little Miss was sick, so the boys ended up Trick or Treating with Grandma and Grandpa. They had fun so thats all the matters right?! I thought their costumes were pretty good, Kael's of course wanted all the accesorries for Captain America which I didn't want to spend $50 on them all so he chose the t-shirt so he could get the shield and helmet. Brady was of course Spidey but I couldn't find a costume in his size anywhere (thank you small towns!) so he settle for some pajamas which he will not take off 1 month later! Oakley was the cutest little good witch anyone has ever seen. See for yourself!

I still need to upload pictures of Missy Moo's birthday as well as Kael and Jon's upcoming days! I will save those for next time so I can have something to write about! I am still babysitting, so 5 kids keeps me a little bit crazy and busy everyday so be patient with me if I don't update everyweek (like I will try my hardest to do)  Until next time I will leave you with some random and out of order pictures of my darling munchkins to adore! Who knows people probably gave up on me and quite reading my blog haha I wouldn't blame you! 

 Love the hair after piggy tails come out for the night!

Face painting at Magoon

 He of course picked non other than Spiderman!

 Dad really does exsist!

My love to you all, have a great week!

for your viewing pleasure...

 These were all on our trip and taken with my phone so that's why they aren't the best but I love them, some of my favorite pictures are taken with my phone because I ALWAYS have it with me. Anyone else agree?!

                                                    

Happy almost half way through the year...

Well the year is almost half over and a million trillion things have changed in our lives since I last left a rather pitiful blog post. Now if I can just get Oakley to let me actually finish this and keep all my thoughts of events and facts clear! So if you are ready for a big old long post on our family read on, if you don't want to read a huge long post maybe just skim the pictures.... Here goes nothing:

Jon: Still working for AXA and doing really well. Thinking about going back to school to get his Masters and da da da his PHD. Yes that is what I said and yes I think he's a little big crazy but I guess the fact that I said I would support him makes me a little crazy too! HAHA better when we are still semi-young right?! At least that is what I keep telling myself. I keep trying to get him to take up a hobby I think he should try biking! I think he would really like it, what do you think? He just got called to teach the 13 yr old sunday school in our ward (that'll be a good challenge for him!) He mows lawns on the side to make some extra money so needless to say he is BUSY. Some days busy is an understatement but I do have to say I am so grateful I have a husband who works hard instead of hardly works! I am proud of the man that he is and hope he knows that. I should tell him more than I do (it's on my list of things to improve!) He will never read this but I hope he knows how much I LOVE and ADORE him. He's my everything and truly my other half. LOVE YOU JONNY!

Whit- I think I have bitten off more than I can chew most days and honestly feel like I am barely keeping my head above water. I have lots to do and am working hard to get it all done! I hope that doesn't come across as me complaining because it's not how it's meant it at all. I am still babysitting and most days really like it. The boys have friends to play with and they are really good little dudes. But as much as I love my little boys who I watch I do miss having it be just me and my kids. I have some fun things planned this summer since I have it "off". I hope we make it to the zoo, lagoon, aquarium, dinosaur park, camping, rock throwing parties (lots of them!) and lots of park days. We'll see how much we get to do! I went back to school and am working on my goal of becoming a nurse again! I did really well last semester and have two classes this summer I am taking. Yes two classes and yes I am more crazy than I let you on to before! I actually have one of my classes with Megley my adorable and oh so wonderful sis-inlaw. So that makes it easier but the class it's self I think will kill me! haha oh well anything worthwhile isn't easy (isn't that what you always said Mom?!) I actually am enjoying it minus the stress. I know it's a good thing but hard to enjoy it when I feel like the rest of my life get neglected. Jon has been super supportive and the kids are always understanding when I say "Mama has to study for a bit!" I try to just study when the kids are playing with friends or after they go to bed. I am the nursery music leader although just got the calling so have yet to actually do it! I am excited about it though, kinda right up my alley as far as kids and music. I have a few half marathons planned. One is in 3 weeks and I think will kill me because I haven't been able to run like I have wanted (only part is to blame on being lazy!) we'll see how I do. I also have a MUDRUN for MS I am doing in August. My dear and lovely cousin Kristen has been diagnosed with MS and while there isn't a whole lot I feel I can do, I CAN run and I CAN raise money for a good cause so that being said I am going to ask a favor from anyone that reads this blog (if anyone even does anymore! I wouldn't blame you if you didn't!) GO HERE and donate to MS even if it's only a dollar or 10 or a HUNDRED or whatever you feel like you can. Then after August 13th I will post some very embarrassing (I am positive) pictures for you all to enjoy! or if you are feeling very adventurous join TEAM KRISTEN'S KRAZIES and get muddy with us for a good cause! PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE help a gal out.

I think that covers all for myself. Now for the part you have all actually come to read:

My ADORABLE Children

Kael- Now four and a half and has seriously grown like 1.5 inches since April. It's insane. He is still in love with trains and cars. He is usually found holding a couple cars, he has this thing with always having to hold something. He is doing really well with going to primary now he loves his teacher "mister sister Foley" as he calls her. He gets a little confused! He's getting ready to start preschool in the fall and is so excited about it. I'm not! well really a little bit but not really?! It's one of those milestones I have many mixed emotions about. We went to Sea World in April (more about that later) and everyday he plays the "Dolphin and Whale and Shark Show" with is brother, it makes Oakley laugh which is just darling. He's starting to try and use his independence a little and has become a bit sassier (drives me nuts) but I really can't complain. He's still so tender hearted and LOVES to snuggle. Sometimes he'll wake up super early and just say to me "Just lay with me Mom and lets snuggle." I know those moments won't last much longer I wish I could bottle up the way they make me feel and save them for days to come when I forget how cute he was. It's bittersweet to see him growing and learning. He's my oldest and I think always will hold a particular part of my heart that no one else will. It's breaks my heart and at the same time makes my heart swell to see him becoming such a big boy. A feeling I seriously didn't know could exist. 

Brady- He's usually pretending something. He's either T-Rex or a Dragon and occasionally a Monster when he is trying to scare his big brother and the boys I babysit. (he's getting really good at scaring them~) He's a handful and SO STINKING STUBBORN but I have never met a boy who is so quick to share when he sees someone who is sad or so quick to give loves to his baby sis when she starts to cry. He can go from one mood to the next faster than the speed of light. He's All potty trained which has been such a nice thing I deserved at least one easy one right! He will be 3 in August and I have remind myself daily that he is still only 2, he acts a lot older at times.I hope that I am not to hard on him because I do forget he's so little still. He talks up a storm but we are working on annunciation!  He weighs just about as much as Kael so he's a solid dude. He's just so stinking cute I can't stand it. Frequently he'll just be doing anything and suddenly stop and give me the biggest hug. Another moment I wish I could bottle up and save for later. He loves "ursery" now, not sure what the sudden change was but I'll take it. He still doesn't like sweets really although LOVES frosting. He still is made of Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Bananas. He's hard to get to eat somedays most days. He is a nut but such a lovable snuggable kissable one.

Miss Oakley- This makes me want to cry thinking about but little miss is 6 months old TODAY. I can not believe and nor am I ready for it. She is trying so hard to sit up and rolls everywhere. She's found her voice and talks to us just like we can understand everything she is saying. She lost most of her baby hair (tear) but thankfully it's growing back in nice and thick and FAST. She is eating solid foods but won't take a bottle at all. Makes going to class for me kind of stressful. I never realized how much I would love having a girl to play dress up with. I should have figured because I LOVED playing dolls growing up. Plus it is highly likely that she is the cutest little girl EVER so that makes it doubly fun! She is happiest in the morning when she wakes up for the day. She's very smily and still has the cutest dimple anyone could ever have. She's very aware of what is going on around her and LOVES her big brothers. She lights up when they pay attention to her. She is still such a MAMA's girl and loves Dad when Mama is holding her. She at 4 months weighed 15 lbs 3 oz and is becoming quite a little chunk. We'll have to teach her how to do the truffle shuffle her little belly is so round and thighs so fat! I LOVE it! She smells wonderful and I cherish the middle of the night feedings more with her because I know how fast they go away. 

FAMILY ADVENTURES:

February - SOLD OUR HOUSE! Let me hear a YEE HAW... that was a LONG time coming and a tremendous blessing for our family. I loved that house but knew it was the right thing. We only had three weeks and most everything went off without a hitch. Almost seemed to smooth but feel that the Lord helped guide things along the way they needed to go. We drove by it the other day and the boys wanted to go in it so bad. They kept yelling "My house my house!" It made me miss it for a minute seeing it, but we'll build again in the future. 

March- Moved and tried to get settle into a new house. The boys thought it was a grand adventure! 

April- Went to San Diego for a conference and decided since we were going all that way to make a vacation out of it. The boys LOVED it. The first half of the week we stayed in a 5 Star hotel and it had the best view of the Harbor. The boys had fun watching that boats and trains go by our hotel while Jonny was in meetings. We went to the zoo and spent 2 days at Sea World. We went to the beach and just enjoyed spending a week doing nothing but spend time with each other. Sea World was so much fun with the boys, it was more fun to watch them watch the shows then actually watch the shows. We went to the New Mormon Battallion museum and would say this is a MUST SEE if you are ever in San Diego. It was awesome and the kids loved it. We ate at Kansas City BBQ where the sleazy bar scene was in Top Gun. (I guess I need to watch it again to know what scene that was)Although if they said it was the sleazy bar scene they were probably right it was pretty sleazy but pretty good food. Next time we go I must look at all the little shops on Coronado, I didn't want to torture everyone else. 

May- it's been busy with just regular life stuff, but been a good month. It's almost SUMMER. HOORAY! 

So that's our life for the past few months all summed up in a few paragraphs and photos! I really am going to try harder to do better and keeping the blog updated. I don't have internet at home and have been preoccupied with other things but will try harder so don't stop reading completely if anyone even does anymore.

ONE MORE TIME PLEASE DONATE TO MS HERE! I'll return the favor sometime I promise. Hope you are all doing well. Have a good weekend...

ProMiSed PicTuReS

                              

                           

 Oakley is only 3 wks old so these aren't recent but my Talented and Fabulous friend Denise Gibb took them and I am smitten. 

 FEBRUARY 2011

 Oakley is three months old here

I don't have access to San Diego pictures right now they will be come though I promise.

P.S. they are somewhat out of order and I was to lazy to move them up into the post sorry.