Madi

Madi turned 10 this August.  I can't believe how fast they grow up.  She is an amazing daughter.  She is kind, thoughtful, social and helpful.  She loves to help me babysit.  She can't wait until she can do it by herself.  She is an amazing sister, she puts up with Isaah's antics for the most part and is a great role model to for the twins.  She has played softball for her first time this year and can wakeboard now.  She has a soft spot in her heart for animals and loves to read.    I just love this girl.
She can be one goofy girl

Here is her birthday survey I had her fill out
Her favorite color is Baby Blue
She loves having Chocolate Chip pancakes for breakfast
Christmas is her favorite holiday
She likes to watch Shake it Up on disney channel
If she could go anywhere in the world  it would be Hawaii
Fablehaven is her favorite book
She always wants orange chicken for dinner
The Lion King is one of her favorite movies
If she had one wish it would be to have her own horse
She likes to listen to Selena Gomez songs
She likes to play soccer the best
Volleyball and soccer are things she is good at doing
She does Not like to swim where it is mossy or seaweed places
P.E. is her favorite subject  in school

Long time

I've been away for awhile.  From my computer that is.  We had a computer problem for a few months but finally got it fixed.  So now I can finally start blogging again.  What have we been up to?  Fun summer days, long nights and visiting family and places, and of course boating.  To recap a few highlights.  A trip to California on the beach.  Visiting Idaho, and camping and fishing.  School starting and all the kids playing soccer.  So be on the look out for some pictures.  (oh and the camera broke, so I finally got a new one). 

Can You?

Are you this talented? A few of my kids are readers. I have one who has about 4 different books going on at one time. Another one who only reads if they have a good series to read. This was a first though. Talli sat there and hula hooped while reading for over 5 mins. while we were camping.

The kids and I took a quick trip to visit Grandpa Bernie out when he was sheep shearing. Isaah went and spent the night with him and worked for a few hours being wool help. Talli and Isaah both rode sheep. Paige and Madi were a little scared of them. They loved going to help him

The girls playing to the nice soft wool, Talli loved sitting in it, she said it was so warm

The kids sitting on a package of pressed wool.

Isaah sorting the wool

Over spring break this year we took the kids to Zions National Park for a few days. It was beautiful. We hiked all over the place, which the kids love. We drove the the Mt. Carmel tunnel and saw some big horn sheep.

the beginning of our hike to Angels Landing, we had to hike to the top of the mountain behind us

Isaah in Refridgerator Canyon

Our drive up Kolob Canyon

The crazy Walter's Wiggles, the last hard part before getting to Scouts Landing on the Angels Landing Hike.  We stopped at Scouts landing instead of going all the way to the edge of the cliff.  It was crazy busy and a few of us have a fear of heights.

a play

The twins tried out for a children's play this year and was chosen to be in it. They did a rendition of The Secret Garden. They were the garden who was at first brown and thorny and then turned into a beautiful green garden. They went to practices for a week and then had 2 shows on Saturday. They did great.

decades

It was decades day at the elementary school. I thought Paige looked great with her hair. She hated it and when she got to school she wet down her bangs (I thought she would see other kids with that hair and decide she likes it). The kiddos had fun decieding what to wear

Birthday

Isaah turned the big 12 last week. I can't believe he is that old. He had his favorite dinner and spent the day with his family. The girls convinced me to let him open his presents the night before. Here is a few things about him, I had him answer some of these questions for me for the scrapbook.

His favorite color is ORANGE
He likes french toast for breakfast
Christmas is his favorite holiday
He loves to watch Psych on tv
He is best at running track
If he could go anywhere in the world it would be Russia
favorite book is the Hunger Games
Roast, Mashed potatoes and gravy is his fav. for dinner
3rd Harry Potter is his movie
if he had one wish it would be to have $10,000 dollars
Favorite song is Party in the Local Park
What sport do you enjoy the most? Football, baseball
He does not like Pork Chops
When he grows up he wants to be a Cop
Band is his favorite subject in school

I thought it was fun to see his perspective on things. He is exciting to go into young mens in church. For scouts they get to go on a few campouts each month so he is very excited about that. He loves camping and scouts. He is still playing the alto sax and piano.

The cast

The three girls like to run around crazy right before bedtime. We keep telling them somebody is going to get hurt. Somebody finally did. Paige tripped and fell and said she bent her toe all the way back. Well I called the Dr. the next day and got her in. Sure enough she broke her big toe between the 1st and 2nd joint down vertically. So she gets to be in a cast for 3 weeks. When you look at the xray it looks like a shadow that goes straight down.

Paige was so excited about her shirt they gave her. She couldn't wait to wear it. We were all surprised that she wanted the lime green cast. I thought for sure she would have gotten the hot pink on.

Piano Recital

The twins had their first piano recital last month. They did so good! All the kids did great. It is fun to hear them and see them succeed at something that they have been working hard at. Isaah earned the Chopin award. He had to memorize a certain number of songs and pass off different skills. Way to go!

1st Time

We took the girls skiing for their first time a few weeks ago. They loved it. After a few times on the bunny hill Madi wanted something harder. Isaah had been skiing a few times already so he took off on his own for some fun. Talli and Paige really enjoyed it. Paige tried venturing off the bunny hill once but she just preferred to stay with me their. I did venture off once with Madi and she told her dad not to ski with me (I am NOT a good skier). Paige and I are quite the pros on the bunny hill. Talli loved going skiing with Chad off the lift. Madi and Isaah even went down a harder hill with Chad. Chad better watch out his kids are going to end up being better at skiing than he is.
Talli and Chad on the lift. (Chad had told her when her feet touch the ground that's when you get off. Well her feet never touched the ground and he had to pull her off the lift as it started back around. HAHA! But that didn't stop her)

If you click on the picture you can see Madi, Talli, Isaah and Chad.

Isaah, the one picture he let me get.

Talli enjoying herself

Paige heading back up the ramp to the bunny hill. I am mad I forgot to get a picture of all of us.

Talli just learning to ski.

Madi heading off to the big hill

Skiing isn't complete without a snack in the lodge. We could sit here and watch everyone ski.

A week of fun

We were lucky enough to be able to babysit my cute neice for a week in Feb. while her parents went on vacation. The kids were looking forward to having her down and counted down the days till she would be here. Kenley was a great baby for us. Madi taught her to clap continuously. It was pretty cute. We were definetly sad to have to let her go back to UT.

Updates

Big things have been happening at our house on Feb. 1st Isaah got braces. His bands are orange and blue. He gets to keep them on for 18-22 months. He is having a hard time trying to stay away from the stuff he's suppose to.

This is what Chad likes to do with his free time. Funny thing is the cat enjoys it.
The twins and Madi played basketball this year. The twins were awesome at defense and really enjoyed it, they played against boys and girls. I coached Madi's team. They were a cute bunch of girls. They had a lot of fun playing.

Trip to ID

After the Party got over at our house we headed up north hoping to go snowmobiling and play in the snow. Mothernature did not cooperate with us. We did manage to get the kids sledding. The cousins made us laugh doing there rendition of twinkle twinkle, playing ticket to ride, and just hanging out with family.
We went bowling one day. Isaah still had his hat on!
Having a drink and waiting for our turn.
visiting with family
the girls hanging out with uncle dallas
opening presents with Jorden and Jasmyn.
Twinkle twinkle, the rap song.
Madi playing ring around the rosie with the little ones. If that age is around she would rather play with them than kids her own age. She loves them.

Rollering

After Christmas we went up to Idaho to spend a few days. The kids got to go skating two different times. They love it! This is the first time they went. We weren't sure how the twins would do but they were awesome! Chad and Isaah participated in some of the races that they had. The girls didn't want to.
Having some fun rollerblading

Taking abreak with the cousins

Isaah trying to get past me and not get his picture taken

Paige and Aunt Kelly

Christmas Time

Madi with her new rollerblades.

This year my parents, brother Shawn, sister Jody, bro-inlaw Colby and cute neice Kenley came to spend Christmas with us. We started by trying to teach my brother how to ripstick and making gingerbread houses. The kids kept us entertained with all of their christmas music they learned on the piano. After opening all the presents we went to the baseball field and played a game of kickball with Madi's new kickball. We had lot's of fun and yummy food. We loved having everyone down for Christmas.

The kickball game.

This was Paige's look on alot of presents. She is very dramatic. She was so excited that Rebecca got the outfit she really wanted.

The kids got Kenley this giant elephant. They were sooo excited for her to have it.

The kids couldn't wait for this cute girl to come down and visit. She definetly fits right in with my noisy kiddos.

The girls had been wanting an art easel from santa. They were so surprised to find one for them. He even wrote them a message.

The orange hat was a last minute christmas eve present I picked up for Isaah. He must have loved it. I don't think that hat came off his head for two weeks except to shower.

Nothing better than watching exciting kids open presents.

Talli was so happy to have matching pj's with her doll. She had to go put them on both of them

You can never have to many baby pictures up. We got to introduce this cute girl to graham crackers. Which she LOVES now.