Blog Slump...

Hey all! So I'm kind of in a blog slump here...so sorry!
Since I've been having computer issues, while uploading pics, you just get a monologue of the the most recent past times in our lives.

We've been enjoying our summer and are sad to find only 12 days left before school starts! :0( We have been making weekly trips to mom's pool with Cee Cee and her kids. It's been great letting the cousins play with their Auntie(Lizz)in the pool. It's nice to see ALL my kids are still fish and LOVE to swim. Daxton is now swimming(with floaties) on his own and is LOVING it!

We also got a membership to the Denver Zoo and have enjoyed FOUR trips there this summer! We've definitely gotten our money out of that! ;0) One trip was taken with some good friends of ours. That visit was slightly tainted with the losing of Brielle! She had wandered away from us, on a VERY busy Friday, and was lost for about 5 minutes. That was seriously the most panicked I have been in my life! When we were reunited, we were both quite emotional. Unfortunately, the terror didn't have any lasting effects on her because she was caught wandering off about 30 minutes later! Stinker!!!

I have continued watching a few kiddos through the summer. They are absolutely GREAT kids and my kids have loved having them around. It has left us with only a day or two a week to play, but it's definitely been worth it for our family!

The big news...(drumroll please) Steve FINALLY got a new job and it's FABULOUS!!!
He's now a manager at Red Robin; which is a salaried position, with benefits, PLUS quarterly bonuses!!! Such an answer to our prayers!!! It has HUGE growth potential and is turning out to be such a great company to work for. Thanks to all of you who have kept us in your prayers. It's meant a lot to us!

As I mentioned before, there are only 12 days left until school starts!
My sweet Avery will be entering 4th grade! She's a little disappointed with her new teacher but does have a few friends in her new class.
Brielle will be starting Kindergarten and is excited to have Avery's past kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Molander, and her BFF Sammy, in her class!
Chasen, although accepted into the Colorado Preschool Program(CPP), is currently waiting for a spot. Hopefully he too will be going to Ann K. Heiman, with his sisters, in September.
And to add to our already full plate, Steve and I are Co-Presidents on the PTO board at Heiman this year. I am a little nervous about juggling it all but am excited to see all that this school year will bring. Wish us luck, cause we're going to need it!!!! :0)

Sorry about the lack of pics. Hopefully I can get some uploaded soon! You'll be amazed to see how much the kids have grown!

The AMAZING woman!!!!!!!!

Some people say there is no God. I beg to differ because my wife and mother of my children came straight from heaven!!
I just wanted to let everyone know today how amazing my wife is!!! There are no words to express how much we appreciate her and all she does for our family, but I'll try. The endless loads of laundry the bathroom scrubbing, the constant face and hand washing.
As many of you know who follow this blog how much my wife does. Like you I don't know where she finds the time or the energy to do so much. I guess that's what makes it all the more special and appreciated.
I love it when I come home and she is sitting reading a children story to our kids. Or when she shares her family home evening lessons. The amazing crafts she does. The thoughtfulness she always has for others. Oh! And don't forget babysitting! Or the time and effort she puts in to help the kids with their school projects. These are only a few of the many things she does for us. I thank my Heavanly Father everyday for her!!!
Honey I hope that today is as special as you are to us. Enjoy the day and know that we love and appreciate you!!!!!!

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...

Not that Daxton is and EggHead, but he did have an AWFUL fall...


(This pic doesn't really do it justice)
So any one of you who've been to our home know that we have a killer steep driveway. After a nice trip to the park, I was busy unloading the stroller while Daxton was riding his tryke in the garage. I looked up as he passed me and FLEW down the driveway on his bike! He was quite enjoying the wind in his air and the thrill of it until he hit the bottom... He completely face smacked the concrete!!! I ran down and scooped him, too terrified to look at the damage!



Of course I was wearing a WHITE shirt that day! :0(Now in the trash) His total damage was road rash on his chin and nose, 2 bloody nostrils, AND a swollen nose, upper and lower lip! Oh! And a whicked bruise across the bridge of his nose. We questioned a broken nose but think he's ok.



Even after this traumatic event- he'll say to me, "Mom! I fall! :0( I go WHHHEEEEEE!!!" So he remembers the thrill before the fall. Haven't decided yet if that's a good or bad thing yet....

Easter Pics

Finally!!! Easter pics of the kiddos!!!! Disclaimer: These pics are REALLY not great, but it's the best I got on my camera
The Easter haul this year.... Each kid got a pair of flip-flops, sunglasses, and a game or movie. And A LOT of candy!!!!



Daxton being goofy with a ring pop in his mouth...



Avery, showing off her new Boggle game!



The boys and their new sunglasses.... You can say it, Chase is sooo adorable!!!!



Avery, in her Easter dress, hunting for eggs. She's growing up sooo much!



Brielle in her beautiful new Easter dress. She had put on these AWFUL purple platform shoes with her dress that morning. I made her take them off to egg hunt! I know-I'm a mean mommy!!!



Just ONE of my studly little men! Chasen looks soooo GQ in his vest and tie!!! He was rocking at the egg hunt this year too!



A "Most of the Grandkids" pic. We're missing Eden and Melody and of course, my stinker, Daxton! (Like Dad's hair???? It's a crazy visor with this creepy hair popping out! He actually looks quite adorable I think and was perfect in this pic!)



An attempt at a family pic. We've got to at least attempt everytime-hopefully one of these times will reward us with a good one! Dax is in there, he's just crouched down behind Chase trying to get to me!

Brielle's 5!!!

Another year older...
Okay, I know I'm a bit biased but SeRiOuSlY!?!?! She's GORGEOUS!!!



Our sweet Brielle Grace, has the BIGGEST personality ever, and a heart to go with it. She is constantly filling our home with laughter; and there's no sound greater in the world than her own gut-belly laugh! It's absolutely infectious and will have you rolling instantly!!! A couple of funny things she has said recently are:

~Steve and I were speaking in general about the current state of the world. I said, "We're all going to burn. And we're going to burn soon." Brielle, overhearing this bit of conversation said, "Mom! We need sunscreen, so we won't burn!" :0) That's right people, we all need some spiritual sunscreen so we won't burn!

~While talking about some issues Avery was having in school, Steve brought up the story of Nephi. He asked, "What happened to Nephi in the wilderness?" Brielle answered, "He broke his el-BOW!" ;0)

This girl definitely keeps a smile on our face...



We are so grateful to have Brielle in our family. We tried for quite a few years to have this little girl. In fact, she's the ONLY one of our kids that we waited for. But let me tell you...she was well worth the wait!!!

We Love You Brielle!!!! HaPpY BiRtHdAy Sweetheart!!!

B-day Celebrations!!!

Because of Spring Break this week, Brielle celebrated her birthday, at Preschool, last week.Being that we celebrated on April Fools Day, I decided to take hamburgers and french fries as Brie's birthday treat.



You may not know this about me yet, but I tend to go overboard on things. I mean How cute are these?!?! Mini milkshakes, hamburgers and fries!!!



They're really Nilla wafers, peppermint patties and green coconut. The fries are the Pix-Stix potato fries.

We had a family birthday celebration on Saturday. We went swimming at the Funplex and then came home for pizza and cake. These are kind of crappy pics, but are seriously the BEST ones I got! :0(

Brielle got an American Girl doll (It's a knock-off. Shhhhh! Don't tell her!) She LOVES it!!!



Aunt Mary got Dax a Nerf gun. This was the first thing he opened and wouldn't put it down to open any other gifts. He LOVES it! Well, there was awhile after Grandma Petty shot him in the eye that he didn't love it so much...but that's a WHOLE other story! LOL!



Dax was being his typical self and REFUSED to come blow out the candles. So here's Brie basking in her solo time! ;0)



All the men took off quickly to head to the priesthood session of conference, while we women and children dyed easter eggs. It was fun. We lost 3 cups of dye, to accidental spills, but discovered you CAN actually make your own egg dye! And all this time I thought you HAD to use PAAS! :0)

Easter pics to come as soon as I get my camera back! (I left it at my momma's yesterday!)

Daxton's 2!!!

It's a bittersweet day for me...my BABY has turned 2 years old today! :0(
It's another milestone in our family; having a two-year old and not expecting another little addition...

For Daxton's special day, we met some family at Chick-fil-a for "Birthday Lunch".



Daxton's 1/2 eaten Birthday Lunch...



Playing with brother in the play area. Those two... :0)



They're the best of buds! The older Dax gets, the closer in age these two seem to be. It's really great!!!



Steve was able to come home a little early and had made Daxton his own little cake. Here's Dax blowing out his TWO candles!!!



Diggin' in to taste this thing!



"Here Mom! Wanna bite???"



YUMMMMMMMM! Daddy makes good cake! :0)



"Oh just forget it! It's too good to use a fork!!!"



Daxton, although being the hardest kid EVER, has such a place in our hearts. We LOVE this little guy and are so grateful to have him in our family.

HaPpY BiRtHdAy Daxton!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!