Tornado...

Just want to take a minute to say happy birthday to my little tornado. He's fun, silly, and a whirlwind of boy!

 4 of my favorite things about B...

1. He's very sensitive to others feelings (one of my most favorite things about him :o)

2. He loves unconditionally

3. Has become such a big helper to me.
4. He adores his baby brother - he is an awesome Big Bro.

Happy Birthday B-Man!

Jordanelle and the Train Place

We love the water. Period. We miss being with my family on the lake, (we especially miss our annual Bear Lake trip) it was such a big part of my childhood. So this was a special treat for us to enjoy while we were in Utah.

This is where little Bean spent the entire time at the lake. I'll admit, I was jealous.

Grandma B and Sweet Pea on the "motor jets"

And speaking of treats...we went to the Train Place. Can't remember it's real name, it's just fondly known as "the Train Place." Rich, Shauna and their family now have a beautiful home in Heber, since we were already so close while we were at the Jordanelle, we dropped by to see them. Shauna was kind enough to make us dinner and then we went for a yummy treat at the Train Place.

Here's the other half of the pea pod - these two have so much fun together. 

Ya, how many adults does it take to get six kids to look at the camera? I don't know, but I do know it is more than 4!

Mils and Muffin - seriously these two little whirlwinds could take out small villages and trailer parks.

Yes, I realize our vacation was like 2 months ago, but I have to get all of these pics on the blog and I think I am actually done (YAY!) So I'm sorry for the outdated-updates.

The Walton and The Harding...

Some people are blessed in life to have one friend that they would consider their "best friend" I have been so blessed in my life to have many of those "best friend" kind of friends. When we lived in West Valley I was blessed with TWO of those type of friends. Enter Joni and Sara. You know their type, the ones that make everyone around them feel like they are their best friend. What made it even better was that our husbands were friends too, and we all know how important a THAT is.

If you would have told me eight years ago when we moved into our West Valley house that in eight years I would be living in Chicago suburbia with four kids, I would have literally laughed myself into an oblivion. We loved our time in West Valley and I guess I thought that's how it would always be. It was such a happy time for me I guess it's the way I always wanted it to be. We are so grateful for our time in our cute West Valley home and all the memories we had there.

Soooo...while we were in Utah we got to spend a little time with them. I am embarrassed to say that both Sara and Joni posted about this night like two months ago when it happened, but you know me, I am just slow like that. We haven't been able to see them the last couple of times we have been out there, so it was awesome to catch up, to pick up where we left off. Good times. Amazing friends. Miss you guys!

 The Girls

The Manpanions -

Representation of how we have all managed to "multiply and replenish the earth"

Sara was kind enough to point out that since we moved to Chitown that she and Joni have each had one additional child and I have had THREE! What can I say, just doing my part to beautify the earth.

I love to see the Temple!

Isn't this picture amazing? Ya, that's Mr. Incredible - he would love to chuck the whole call center thing and be a photographer. Someday I would like to buy him a camera worth taking pictures with. A very large version of this picture is now hanging in my living room :o)

We went as tourists for the first time to Temple Square in Salt Lake. We had not taken the kids there since we moved, I know, sad. It's such a beautiful place and it was fun to watch the kids in awe with the Temple. There is just a special reverence there that you cannot find anywhere else. It was fun to show them where we were married and even the spot where Mr. Incredible proposed.

I do indeed LOVE to see the Temple -

FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER!

Mr. Incredible was trying to get us posing like the statue behind us - I think it was cute Sweet Pea lifted up her leg like the girl in the statue.

My Muffin

Sweet Pea

B-Man

I love the Christus in the Visitor's Center at Temple square.

To avoid picture overload - CLICK HERE for more pictures at Temple Square

Oh my Muffin!

Happy Birthday to my baby girl! I know she's not a baby anymore, but it's so hard to believe that it's been two years since she came into this world.

Here's two of the many things we love about our Muffin -

1. She's HILARIOUS - and she knows she's funny

2. Such a cuddle bug, I hope that never changes!

We love you Sara Helen and are so grateful you are part of our family!

The 4th on the 5th...

Went to the parade, played with lots of cousins then onto Hi-Mountain Drug with Grandma B and Papa.

Great times.

So impressed with the boys and their entrepreneurial skills - they made like 60 bucks workin' the Gatorade during the parade.

Me and my girls

Sweet Pea - she's quick on the draw when it comes to getting candy, that's my girl!

The next generations of the "cuz picture" 

My little boys :o) 

Hangin' at B's

 The Hi-Mountain Drug - We never can go to Utah and not eat there, such good food, SO many memories.

A pretty cute reason...

Here's the reason we went to Utah...

Isn't he the cutest kid on the planet? I love this little boy so much!

My main motivation to getting to Utah was to bless little Bean (Eli). I just felt so strongly that we needed to be there so that he could be surrounded by those who love him and had yet to meet him. Also, I just couldn't accept the fact that he wouldn't meet his Grandma Patsy and Grandpa for another year, I just wouldn't have it.

It was a very crowded 4th of July Sunday at the Woodland Ward, seriously I don't think that one more person could have fit. Little Bean received a beautiful blessing, and of course Mr. Incredible was, well...incredible. How grateful I am for a loving Heavenly Father who has blessed us with this amazing little boy in our lives, he is so happy and he's one of those babies who smile with their entire body. I love it. I love that he trusts me enough to be his mother.

Amazing times. Lots of family, friends and food. (Thank you again Clark and Di for offering your home for our luncheon after the blessing.)
***WARNING*** - Picture overload - continue at your own risk!

Our "little" family

Me, Mr. Incredible & Little Bean

Loves these boys -

My Fam (with the exception of my neice Chelsey & my nephew Cristian)

Thank you for supporting us!

Us with Grandma Julie

Gramps, Great & Eli

Us with Grandpa & Grandma Patsy

Grandma B & Papa w/ Eli

 Bri, Chas & Eli

We are very blessed to have such great friends who also support us. Here a few -  

 Me & The Claytons (Noel - WTHeck why are you not in this picture?)

 Me and The Eliason's

What is a Bonfire?

"A bonfire is a controlled outdoor fire used for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration. Celebratory bonfires are typically designed to burn quickly and may be very large." Thank you wikipedia (it's like my new favorite thing...if you haven't noticed.)

It doesn't mention, however, how great it is to see cousins and family that we don't get to see very often, especially since we moved to Chitown. What is great about living in a small town is that a lot of Mr. Incredible's siblings and cousins are some of my greatest friends. Love the bonfire, I hope that we are able to make it back to the Ranch for many,many more.

Feel the love! - I truly love these people!!

Hangin' w/ Grandpa

No that's not Muffin - That Meels she belongs to them. Unbelievable how much these two little girls look and ACT like each other.

Me and Little Bean

Oh the cousins! We miss them so much!!

Sweet Pea

Little Bean

Muffin - finding rocks, I'm sure.

B-Man