Look Who's One!

I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by.  It feels like just yesterday we were welcoming Ashlynn Noel into this world.  Now she is a year old.

She tied for our largest baby weighing in at 9 lbs 3 oz.  She was sweet from the very beginning.

 She loves her brothers who take such good care of her and love her too.

She is such a happy baby.  She loves to smile and makes us all so happy too.

She is such a good eater and loves trying new foods.  Here she is trying a strawberry for the first time.  Not sure what she thought, but she gave it several tries.

Happy birthday, Ashlynn.  By the way, she loved her cake!

You are such a big girl now.  We are so happy you are part of our family.  We love you very much!

Family Newsletter

Happy New Year!!! Here is our family's update for 2012 (and the highlights of 2011, since I missed last year).

Mike is still working at Young Living. He’s not happy there, but we’re grateful he’s able to provide for the family. He is creating a business that helps musicians market themselves on the web. Several months ago, he was called as the ward clerk for our Church. It keeps him very busy. In February 2011, he began training like crazy for the Tough Mudder – a 12 mile, 23+ obstacles. He faced crazy challenges like swimming through ice water, dashing up a 15 foot greased quarter pipe, and charging through 10,000 volt electric wires. The weather was around 45 degrees that day so he suffered a moderate case of hypothermia. Other than that, he returned safely and loved the experience. He also ran over 26 miles at the Las Vegas Ragnar – a 190ish mile relay race. This was his second year running in that race.  
Jolene stays busy watching the kids. I help teach preschool, volunteer for the PTA, and volunteer for Orem Youth Soccer. I run kids here and there, try to garden, can food, and all those other household duties that keep moms so busy. I try, though unsuccessfully, to keep the house clean (a seemingly impossible task with so many little ones messing up what I just cleaned). I am still the choir director, ward music chair and on the extra activities committee for Relief Society for the church. I ran my first 10k (6 mile) race this year and am looking forward to having time after the holidays to train again for more races.

Caleb (9) is enjoying the 3rd grade. He was baptized a member of our church last year and started cub scouts. He really enjoys scouts and earning awards there. He played his 3rd year of soccer and is trying to convince me to let him play competition next year. We will see what I can handle with 3 boys in soccer.

Isaac (7) is in the 2nd grade and doing very well. He played his second year of soccer and is doing much better than last year. He loves to draw and read (if it is a book he is interested in...if not, forget it). :)

Noah (5) is in his 2nd year of preschool. He is more than ready for kindergarten, but with his later in the year birthday, will have to start next year. He loves to read and play with his friends at school. He had his first birthday party this year and enjoyed being able to host that.

Seth (3) is in his 1st year of preschool. With an August birthday, he just barely made the cutoff for school. I was a little worried about his maturity level (and listening skill), but he has surprised me. He is pretty well behaved and is learning quickly. He loves seeing his “preschool friends” at church.

Ashlynn was born in March and is such a joy to have. We are still very much a boy household, but having a girl in the family has changed the dynamics some. The boys just adore her and are very helpful with her. Isaac is a natural babysitter, always the first to help her if she is fussing. She is such a happy, smiley baby. She has been teething like crazy lately. She is up to 8 teeth now. She endures it well though, not really fussing much.  She is starting to interact more and loves to watch and laugh at her brothers.

Well, that is our family's year in a nutshell. We are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for all the blessings that he has given us. We are happy and healthy (relativity speaking). We hope you are all doing well. Let us be even better in 2013 than we were last year. Our prayers are with you all.

Dirty Dash

So at the beginning of the month, a group of about 10 ladies from the ward decided to do the dirty dash. It is a 5k in the mud. My number is 2008 for those who can't tell.


Here we are at the beginning...nice and clean.


We start off running uphill in the mud. It was so slippery! (and I have to say, I love action shots...I make the silliest faces!)


Throughout the race there were piles of hay bales to hop over and chest high wood walls to climb over...all with thick mud and mud puddles. At least the watery mud puddles wash off my shoes and socks a little.


At the end is a giant mud puddle to go through...yes here I am falling into the mud.


But I did manage to keep my head above water. Others weren't so lucky.


Once you got out of the mud puddle, you climb up a hill...


and slide down to a more shallow mud puddle.


Here we are at the end...all dirty!

I learned a couple things in this experience:
1. Running in mud is much more exhausting than running on the sidewalk. I was surprisingly sore the next morning from keeping myself balanced and climbing over obstacles.
2. Running in mud can be very fun when doing it with a group of friends. It is nice to get out of your comfort zone and be silly once in a while.

Thanks ladies for planning this and inviting me. I had a blast. Can't wait till next year!

Last day of school

The last day of school has finally come.

Isaac had his kindergarten graduation.


They sang a couple songs


and received their "diplomas". They were so excited. Both boys have grown up so much this year of school.

To celebrate the last day of school, we went to Trafalga for some fun.


Here are Caleb, Isaac and Noah riding the airplanes together.


Caleb was pretty brave and climbed up high for his first time. It was a nice break from the work of the school year and a fun beginning for the summer.

Isaac's birthday

Isaac turned six in May. He wanted a party with just his close friends, so we decided to go to Trafalga fun center.


We took a few friends and went miniature golfing,


riding the XD theater


and playing some arcade games.


We then headed back home to play games,


eat lunch,


and eat ice cream golf course cake.

It was a very easy party, since I normally plan big games, themes etc. Since he only wanted a couple friends, this plan worked out better. They all had a ton of fun too.

Isaac has grown up so much this year. He has enjoyed kindergarten and getting to know other kids. He has really been working on controlling his temper and is overcoming his shyness. He is so caring and sensitive to the needs of his family members. I am grateful to have him in our family.

School fun

Yes, I am still alive, though I haven't posted in way too long. Things have just been really busy. Well, now I have pictures off of my camera and am ready to update on our lives. Here we go!

The end of the school year may be busy, but the kids have so much fun.

Isaac had his kindergarten Mother's Day Luau. They were so cute dancing to "Pearly Shells" and quoting a poem for the mothers. I now have my second dinner plate to use.


Next we have Bronco Days, the school carnival. Though the weather was cold and wet (and therefore the carnival was moved indoors), it was fun and not too crowded. The boys each got to play a couple games, get their faces painted and brave the cold for the giant blowup bouncy toys. They had a blast!


Here they are showing their prizes and face paint.

Finally, we have field day. I love these filler days at the end of the year. They spent almost all day outside, which the kids love. The weather was even nice by then...not too hot, but not freezing.


Caleb was pleased that he came in first in his class of boys in the 50 yard dash and won 1st place in his grade for the relay race.


Both boys enjoyed all the games played, like bowling and water relay races. The younger ones even enjoyed watching the older ones for a little.

I am really happy with the school that my kids go to. It is a great environment for them where they can learn and have fun.

School's Back with a Vengeance

One thing I love about school is all the fun activities my kids get to participate in. Each grade is responsible for putting on a program for the parents "to see how much they have learned". Isaac's kindergarten program was pretty early in the year, but it was still cute.


They sang a song and recited a poem for the parents. They were so proud of themselves.

This year was the first annual 3K fundraiser for the school. Caleb and I decided to job/walk it and had a ton of fun. It was cute to see how many people pulled out chairs and sat in their lawn cheering the kids on as they ran.


After the race, they had a safety fair with a fire truck, ambulance, and police motorcycle to look at.

Every grade has a Moms and Muffins/Dads and Doughnuts morning. Parents come and read with their child while eating a treat. Isaac had his Moms and Muffins last month and Caleb's is this month.

Finally Caleb had his grade program. It was a halloween theme with songs, poems and a reader's theater (play).


Isaac's favorite part was the "O My Darlin Frankenstein" sing a long. They did such a good job.

All these activities may be a lot of work and keep us all busy, but the kids sure love them!