Co-op

I love doing Co-op with some gals from our ward. It is this genius concept where we all take a shift throughout the weekdays either morning or afternoon and then anyone doing co-op can bring their kids to be watched and pay you tickets for doing so. It works wonderfully and has brought me lots of peace in my life so I'm not always bringing my kids places they don't want to be at. Its a win-win because then my kids are off at friends houses whom they love to play with. I have the tuesday afternoon shift. These are the kids who were here yesterday. Two had already gone home before I snatched a photo.
While Aliyah was here I used her as a model for my latest "pillow case" pattern creation. Marlina picked out these fabrics for Hailey while she was here so I wanted to make sure it would fit properly. Isn't Aliyah adorable? I can't wait to see Hailey girl in it too:]

I made this one a little longer so it can be worn with jeans or tights. Its almost dress length, but not quite.

Edmonds

We had such a great visit with Lance and Marlina this past weekend. Jared and the boys were gone so they didn't bring their kids this time. (Lance had a conference at the Venetian). Marlina and I shopped all day thursday. We had fun in spite of a sick baby. She got to love and hold Cole a lot since he wasn't feeling well. Usually he has stranger anxiety. We hung out a lot at nights with Lance. We all went out to dinner as a big group on Friday night....military friends and couples: Aikeles, Bodilys, Whites, Edmonds, Stuarts, and me. (Jared was in Utah for the BYU game). It was a great time. The boys all sat on one end and the girls on the other!! After we went back to see the Whites new casa! Saturday night Marlina and I went to the women's confernce together while Lance watched my kids. How nice is he???? We grabbed yogurts on the way back to say thanks to Lance. Jared got home Sunday which was his birthday, so the Edmonds came over for a quick dinner of filet mignon, salad, potatos, rolls, and apple pie before heading to the airport!
Thanks for coming Marlina and helping me through a difficult week of very sick baby and no husband. Cole ended up having a severe ear infection which caused his eardrum to burst on Sunday and leak disgusting fluid everywhere. Poor baby:( He's still not himself and still leaking fluid, so we are getting him an eardrop antibiotic today.

Not himself

No climbing the couch
No smiling
No climbing the stairs
No 'helping' with dishes
No appetite
No chewing on everything
No crazy face at dinner
No good morning sounds coming from his room
No sleeping through the night
No turning around halfway up the stairs to wave and clap
No chewing on toys
No cruising around furniture

No he is not himself right now. And although its nice to get some cuddle time and not have to chase him everywhere, its sad at the exact same time. Hope you feel better soon little Cole-Man. We miss your cute little personality.

Thankfully "silky" is your comfort right now, you LOVE that blankie!

Mad Love

I heart this pattern, fabric and girl! I stayed up LATE last night sewing this for Hanna. I haven't been this excited about anything crafty for years! As I was deliriously falling asleep I thought I should have finished it tomorrow, that wasn't worth it....but then Hanna tried it on first thing this morning....and I changed my mind immediately! Who needs sleep???

The Sasha pose

This one's for you Lisa:
Red Rock Las Vegas Nevada Waterfall Young Women

Peggy

I was lucky enough to have one of my favorite people in the world come visit me today for lunch. She is visiting LV with her husband who is in the furniture business. I love to visit with Peggy. I got to visit teach her in California for over four years. She has loved and held and adored each of my children over the years. Especially my three little boys as babies. Carter and Hanna were 3 and 20 months when I met her. She is one of the most giving sweet ladies ever. I got to hear all about her grand babies (Owen and Emma) and see pictures. Adorable kiddos. Come back again Peggy we love you!
Hanna begged me to take her out of school so she could see her.....we compromised and took Peggy to the school to see the bigger kids! She helped me with some sewing questions and brought me the most yummy pomegranite lemonade to drink with our lunch. That's one thing about Peggy, she always brings you something or sends you out her door with something. It was a fun day for me!

Crazy Face

Cole likes to make us all laugh every night at the table by doing this face.....then he breathes really fast in and out. How can you not laugh at this crazy kid. He totally hams it up too because he loves all the attention.....like he doesn't already have it anyway!

Handsome even with baby biter biscuit smashed on his face!

Lake Mead fun

Jared is getting sooooo good at Wake boarding.....he can clear the wake and is getting some serious height! I think he looks hot in this picture!

Jake got a new "do" from sitting at the front of the boat (it gives me flashbacks to the 80's when the side spike was in)
Joshy and Liam have become fast buds
Handsome Jaxon
Rachel from England flew over to help the Whites a bit while moving here. She is an adorable English girl whom I could sit and listen to talk all day with her cute British accent. She flew home yesterday...we were honored to spend her last day on the lake with her. *She loves boating and being pulled on the tube

The kids built this dam to stop the water. They all worked together on it for hours. Side note: Carter and Wesley stayed home so they could got to a friend's birthday party....(thanks Stuarts)
Aynsley baby....and her cutest smile
Hanna did awesome on the skiis and only got a little scared
Me on my board....all I see when I look at this is the 8 lbs. I still have to lose...However it was a great boarding day for me, I got air off the wake for the first time and even landed it without wiping out! (last run of the day--I wiped out plenty of times earlier--baby steps)
Jakey is our go-getter! He loves to wakeboard with Daddy and is even planning on skiing next time we go. You can see its getting dark....we were one of the last boats off and didn't get home until 9pm! I hope we can go once more, but the next few weeks are busy so maybe not.

Here's to 12 years

We celebrated our 12th anniversary yesterday. Its been a great 12 years and just keeps getting better. Thanks for being the best husband ever.
Here are 12 things I love about you:

1. Your blue eyes
2. How much you like to spoil the kids and I with thoughtful gifts
3. That you are a hard worker
4. How much you like to go on vacations
5. How handy you are with cars, house stuff and computers
6. That you don't mind helping to cook or fold clothes
7. That you love sports as much as I do
8. That you are driven to accomplish your goals
9. That you made serving a mission a top priority in your youth
10. That you love your mom and family
11. How you honor your priesthood and callings
12. How you turn into a little boy at birthdays and Christmas time

Here's hoping the next 12 are even better!

BYU crazed kids

I know how BYU was able to pull off their win tonight over Oklahoma University. They have many fans across the country that have stepped up a notch this season: Captain BYU underpants

Jared says I'm not allowed to post the one of Hanna on account that she is "too old". She probably is, but I plan on throwing it in her wedding day video. We hope all our fellow BYU fanaticals had fun watching the game....we sure did!! GO BYU--way to start the season off right!

Soaring to a Successful Year

Every year at our Elementary, they have this balloon ceremony to start off the new school year. Each kid gets to release a balloon into the sky to represent them "Soaring to Success". It was fun to take the little boys over and enjoy it this year. Josh however started crying when he realized the fate of his beloved balloon, so I quickly reassured him only the big kids who go to the big school have to set theirs free. All preschoolers get to take theirs home. Phewww, thank goodness for that.

note******* For all the environmentally sound people out there: Our school went "Green" with the tradition this year and the balloons were biodegradable as well as the strings.

1200 hundred balloons!