Couples Retreat

Last weekend the four oldest siblings in Casey's family, along with their spouses, got together for a couples retreat. Three of the seven married kids coudn't make it... we missed you D & K, B & K, and T & R :)
Our brother in law's parents have a beautiful vacation home in St. George that we were able to stay at together (Thank you Bill and Annette).
We got there Wednesday night and stayed until Sunday afternoon. We spent time hiking, eating, laughing, playing games, eating, swimming, eating, sleeping in, watching movies, going to the temple, eating, relaxing, talking, shopping, staying up late, enjoying each others company and eating some more. I felt full the entire trip - time for a body detox!!
It was so much fun being together for 4 days with no distractions and NO KIDS!! We were able to completely relax and enjoy visiting with no interruptions - something we rarely get to do.
I am so grateful to have married into such an AMAZING family. It's always awesome being together and was so great spending time with my honey before the baby comes.

Thank you so much to all of our family members who took care of our 16 children, without you the trip never could have happened. Specefically thank you to my amazing parents who so willingly took a break from their own hectic lives to help us. Even with baby Ky and her injury (post to follow) not skipping a beat and doing all that you did. We love you so so much and hope you know how much our children absolutely adore you. Thank you for loving them and caring for them.

Next time hopefully all the marrieds and "soon to be marrieds" can make it and we can make it a tradition. Love you guys... Thanks for a great time!!

The whole group at the St. George temple

The dessert was so beautiful!!

Easter Sunday

I love Easter Sunday... It's such a wonderful time to reflect on the priceless sacrifice our Savior made for all of us as well as the fact that He is risen!!!
We tried to focus the day around the Savior by listening to a talk by Bruce R. Mckonkie (thanks mom for the copy). As we listened the children were all surprisingly quiet and after is was over Maxwell said "Mom, I listened to the whole thing." So I asked what he learned from the talk and he said "I already knew that Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane and that he was resurrected." Then Eva piped in "Yeah, and that he died on the cross for us." Yesss... (happy parent moment) they do listen!!

I am so grateful for the life that our Savior lived and the incomprehensible sacrifice he made for me personally. He does know each of us individually and loves us unconditionally. He lives to bless us and direct us back to him.

In the car on the way home from church Mia said "Why do we have to go where Jesus is? Why can't he just come to where we are." then Eva said "Yeah, I want him to be in our family and not with anyone else."

Happy Easter!!!

Randoms...

- So today I took Eva to the Pediatrician for her kindergarten physical. I decided to have them go separately because it's a little chaotic taking both at the same time and I really wanted to make it fun and have some one on one time. Eva was so cute and talkative the whole drive there. She's such a chatter box when you get her one on one. She told Dr. Wilcox all about the things she likes to do. She did awesome with shots and left with a smile. She's still lingering just under 35 pounds like she has for the last year and is about 20th percentile for height and weight. She is starting to write really well and loves to draw and color. She writes her name on EVERYTHING! She LOVES to sing and dance can usually be caught in the middle of one or the other at any given moment just like her sister. They are such a great duo. She had to tell Mia all about what to expect when it's her turn to go to the doctor on friday. :)

Eva

- Mia and Eva are into talking about getting married right now. Today Eva said "first the boy and girl have to dance and then they get married". Obviously they have been watching too many disney movies. Last night Eva said "Mom, I don't know who to marry." I told her she had lots of time to decide. and not to worry about it to much yet. That then started a whole conversation about what kind of person they should marry. "Someone nice, of course" Mia said. Followed by "Like a boy that can cook dinner for the kids when I can't." Good quality :) "We should only marry someone who's going to be a good daddy... like our daddy." Then Eva said "Yeah, our dads a good dad!" I just love our conversations.

Mia

- Maxwell has been busy with a competitive soccer league for the past few weeks which he absolutely LOVES!! That boy has more energy then he knows what to do with so soccer has been great. He plays 3 times a week for 2 hours and it's still not enough. The other day he looked at Casey after practice and said "Dad, I want to play soccer at BYU when I grow up, like you." Casey of course had a smile from ear to ear hearing that. Although, neither of us want him to feel like he has to or that we'll be disappointed if he doesn't.

He had his patriotic program at school last week. It was so fun hearing all the first graders singing songs that I sang at that age, I love it. It brought tears to my eyes as they recognized all the men in the audience who have served our country as the children sang "God bless the U.S.A." and waved their little flags.

Maxwell just finished the 100 book club at his school, we are so proud of him and the great student he is. He earned a t-shirt and a free pass to Seven Peaks water park.

Maxwell with his teacher Mrs. Hulme after the patriotic program. We absolutely LOVE Mrs. Hulme. She has been the perfect teacher for Maxwell.

- Kylynne is our little munchkin girl. She wants to go outside everyday and has at least one fit a day because she wants to go out and push the stroller or ride her bike. (oh how I miss CA for this reason) On Sunday she went out in the snow for 30 minutes and wouldn't come in until she was absolutely frozen. She is such a sassy little girl but on the flip side as sweet as can be. She doesn't have a problem standing her ground with her 3 older siblings.

Kylynne loves to "swim", as she calls it. We call it taking a bath, but she does get her fair share of swimming in too!

One of my favorite things she says when she's a little uneasy about something or feels unsure she'll say to us, "I gochyou" as she holds tight to us.

- I have been struggling lately with my patience and find that when I'm tired, which feels like most days, my patience is even less. I was talking to my wonderful neighbor yesterday who has raised 8 boys and she gave me some good advise and referred me to a book called "scream free parenting" So, I ordered it on amazon today and am looking forward to reading it. It teaches parents how to let their children have freedom to make choices knowing ahead of time what the consequence is going to be. Letting them make the choice and taking the blame off of you as a parent and helping them understand that they chose the consequence when they chose to disobey. So, we'll see. I could use all the help I can get.

I want my children to make choices based on morals and doing it because they understand that its the right thing rather than just based on threats or fear. Every parents goal, I'm sure.

- Casey just spent all of his free time for the last couple of weeks digging a 15 foot hole in the ground next to our house to access the broken sewage pipe that caused the two floods in our basement right before and right after Christmas. We got two different quotes, one for $8,000 and one for $6,000 to do the dig and repair the pipe. Well, not having the money to pay for it, he said he was going to do it himself. At first I was a little worried about him doing it but later figured why not... doing all the work himself saved us a lot of money. The actual pipe repair itself only cost us $189, what a difference. We had help from our awesome neighbors and our brother in law. I am so blessed to be married to such an amazing man who isn't afraid of hard work and blesses us daily with his love. I am one lucky girl!

Starting the dig. Maxwell enjoyed helping too, for a little while

This was after the pipe was repaired and the fill dirt was packed around it, right before they started to fill the hole. The picture doesn't do justice to how deep it actually is.

Almost finished filling it back in... and so tired. What a man!!

Happy Birthday Grammy Karen!!

Today is the birth day of one of the most influential women in my life. My dear mother in law Karen.

Karen had the most wonderful spirit about her. She had this AMAZING smile and contagious laugh. She had so much LOVE to give. She was incredibly UNSELFISH. She was always giving of her time to anyone and everyone. She GENUINELY cared for everyone she met. She wasn't ashamed of who she was and was NEVER afraid to be herself even if it meant looking silly in front of others. She ALWAYS stood up for her belief in family and in the gospel of Jesus Christ. She was an ADVOCATE for her children in every situation and LOVED her husband with a passion.

She wasn't perfect, none of us are. She made mistakes, as we all do. She lost her temper and yelled and argued with others about insignificant things, as we all have.
But the things that she did RIGHT, those or the things that stay with me, in my heart, FOREVER.

The most important thing she did for me personally was raise a WORTHY and RIGHTEOUS son. She encouraged her son to be the best version of himself he could be in every aspect of his life. She taught him about INTEGRITY, HONESTY, RESPECT, LOYALTY, FRIENDSHIP, HARD WORK, and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

She was so great at making any occasion special for those she loved. Whether it was a birthday, valentine's day, Christmas, baby shower, graduation, sporting events, etc. and always knew how important it was to make others feel like a million bucks.
When Casey and I were dating she always asked if he had money to take me out, if he was "spoiling me" and made sure that he was treating me with RESPECT.

She LOVED life and enjoyed it to it's FULLEST. She didn't need a reason to take a vacation or pull the kids out of school to do a fun activity. She wanted to live life and enjoy every MOMENT.

She absolutely ADORED all of her grand babies. She would take every moment to ROCK and SNUGGLE, even when she wasn't feel her best. She found so much JOY in life and in those she LOVED and she radiated that LOVE to everyone she came in contact with.

The spirit of who she is and the life she led, gives me strength when I wonder "how I'm going to be a mother to 5 children and do it right". The strength of her SPIRIT lives in all of us and helps us make good choices and live better lives.

There is NO DOUBT in me that she is aware of each of her family members. She LOVES us still and lives on doing an incredible and important work.

I also truly feel that she has a deep love for the woman that has most recently joined our family as a help mate and companion to her eternal sweetheart. She has an eternal perspective and no doubt has welcomed Shelly's roll (my new mother in law) in the life of our family, though it is not perfect, we are working on it.

Thank you Grammy Karen for the woman that you are and for the life you lived. I am FOREVER changed because of the influence you have had in my life. I LOVE you.

It's a.... BOY!!!!

So, as some of you know we usually don't find out at the ultrasound what we are having (with exception of the twins). We enjoy having it be a surprise.
Well, Maxwell has been talking about his little brother in the present tense for about a year now. He is always saying things like "When my little brother comes..." For example, when we moved back to Utah and we were getting his room unpacked he said "Mom, we need to get a bunk bed, so that when my little brother comes, he can sleep on the bottom and I can sleep on the top." He would talk about it so often in normal conversation that before I was even pregnant I would have people we knew ask if I was expecting.
We decided to tell the children we were pregnant on Christmas day. We wrapped up a pair of white baby shoes and let them open it. After they tore the bag open they all just kind of looked at me puzzled. I said "do you know what that means?" Maxwell said "You want me to help my brother tie his shoes??" "Yeah, so what does that mean?" I said. "You want me to help my brother put his shoes on??" "So, what does that mean?" I said again. Then it hit him. His face was so great!! "You, mean right now?" as he looked at my stomach. "Well, just a couple of weeks after you turn 7, in July." All the of them were so excited and it wasn't even a question of boy or girl? it has always been a boy if you asked Maxwell.
When I found out I was expecting the first thing I said to Casey was that we had to find out the gender of this baby, because if it's not a boy Maxwell's going to need some time to adjust.

When we went to the Ultrasound on Monday. As we walked in the ultrasound tech said "So, are you finding out what you're having?" Maxwell said "It's a brother." and Mia said "Yeah, we have to many sisters, we need a brother."
When it came time to find out the tech said "Well, you're getting a brother" pointing to his little boy part. Maxwell yelled... "I knew it!" as he held my hand. His face was absolutely priceless, smiling from ear to ear. He did know it, no doubt.
Later that day he hugged me and kissed my belly and said "Mom, I just can't believe we're getting a brother... Kylynne's still going to be 2 when my brother comes and you'll be too crazy trying to take care of two babies, so you take care of Kylynne and I'll take care of my brother."
He can't wait. He's even got the twins calling the baby "Maxwell's brother".

We are so very excited and feel overwhelmingly blessed by this wonderful news. Some how it feels complete... Though I can't say for sure yet if this is our last, this precious baby boy was absolutely meant to be in our family. We are all so HAPPY!!

I know, I look further along than I really am... Baby #5 will do that to a girl!

We're 5!!!!

Eva and Mia turned five the day after Valentines day. I remember that day like it was yesterday, it hardly seems possible that it's been 5 years already.

The day before I delivered them I was running around with my 1 1/2 year old Maxwell in tow, trying to get some last minute Valentine's day errands done. As I walked in to the store a man looked at me with Maxwell on my hip and said "Wow, you look like you're ready to pop any minute!" As a matter of fact I had been in labor all day. Lot's and Lot's of contractions only about 5 or 6 minutes apart but nothing painful at that point.

I woke up at about 4am still having contractions, still nothing painful but I was freezing. I could not get warm my teeth were chattering I was shaking so hard. I had remembered my mom saying something about getting the shakes in labor but I didn't remember feeling that with Maxwell so, of course, I called my mom to see what to do. She said that maybe I should go to the hospital and that they would come up and stay with Maxwell. When I got to labor and delivery they said that I was running a fever of 103 and that they were going to start IV antibiotics and call my doctor. So they admitted me and after a short time my doctor came and broke my water and I got my epidural.
The moment they wheeled me into the operating room (standard for a twin delivery in case of emergency c section) I was flooded with the most overwhelming feeling of love and strength. There was no doubt that my recently passed mother in law Karen was saying her goodbyes along with many other great woman that had passed on. Immediately I began to cry as I had never felt anything like that in my life. The nurse next to me asked if I was ok and said I shouldn't be nervous. I looked at her and told her "I was just excited" not being able to even explain what I was feeling. I delivered my two beautiful girls at 9:51am and 9:58am. Mia came first weighing 5lbs 8oz and Eva was pulled out by her feet (guess she enjoyed not feeling so cramped with sister gone) weighing 5lbs 6oz. They were perfect and healthy.
Home from the hospital they brought that same feeling I felt in the hospital with them. The veil was so thin and the Lord knew I needed the strength to care for my 3 babies.
Eva and Mia have always been so sweet and such great friends. They have brought more joy to us than I can even express.
The twin connection is so cute to watch as often times when asked a question one of them will answer for both of them. They are always together and find strength in each other.
One day a few months ago while playing dress up I said to them "What beautiful princesses!" Mia looked at Eva and said "I wish I was as beautiful as Eva." Then Eva looked at Mia and said "I wish I was as beautiful as Mia." They both giggled and I said "You are both beautiful, I wish I was as beautiful as you two are." They just smiled :o)
Eva definitely is my little snuggler. One day she came and hugged me and said "Mom, I just can't stop hugging you, I love you so much!" Melt my heart.
Mia really looks out for Eva and plays the "big sister" role. She is usually the one to give in when they fight and let's Eva have her way.
They are both growing so much. I am looking forward to the fall when they will go into kindergarten. Only because I look forward to having them in different classes so that they can start to develop self confidence and individuality. They do so well together, I want them to be just as confident as individuals.
We love our little Eve's and Me's... Happy Belated my sweet Sissies!!

Mia

Eva

Celebrating on Valentines day at Tucano's as a family. Our server brought them Birthday sunday's

The Giggle twins

Kylynne's 2!!

So we're having some computer problems right now and it took me FOREVER just to get these pictures uploaded. They are in no particular order because after being so frustrated just trying to get them uploaded, I don't have the patience to try to put them in order... So, Here are pictures from Kylynne's birthday as well as some random picutres of her.

Kylnne is an absolute JOY!! She LOVES to sing, LOVES to dance and is happy almost all of the time. She is totally into the "Princess Bride" and will sit with her older brother and sisters and watch the whole thing. She LOVES to talk on the phone (play phone, my phone, my ipod, maxwell's walky talky etc..) She's the total treat and gum girl and has a sixth sense for finding it and sneaking it. She is such a snuggle bug and loves to climb into bed with mom and dad in the morning. She is a total Diva and has to have sun glasses, jewelry, a "pretty girl" (a.k.a a hair bow) or something girly on all the time. She absolutely LOVES shoes and can almost always be found with a pair of someones shoes on especially her older sisters dress up shoes or her light up shoes from Grammy. She is our only child who has thrown a fit when it's time to leave church (nursery), usually it's the other way around. She is such a social bug. She is talking non stop and I am amazed daily at how much she picks up from all of us. She speaks well and in full sentences and loves to make us laugh. A couple of weekends ago while driving home after dinner as a family Maxwell said "Dad, it's 9 o'clock". Just then Kylynne looked over at Maxwell and said, in a completely irriated voice, "I KNOW!" We all started laughing so hard.
She loves to see her cousins and aunts and uncles and grammy and pappa.
She makes us laugh everyday and melts our hearts when she says "I love you!"

Our family wouldn't be complete without her. We love you so much Kylynne!! Happy Birthday!

Celebrating with brownies and ice cream at Grammy and Pappa's

Kylynne is my little buddy on Wednesday and Friday mornings while her 3 older siblings are at school. I am loving the one on one time with her.

"I wear my sunglasses at night"


So sweet!

Our family Birthday breakfast tradition. Home made waffles and ice cream. With buttermilk and chocolate syrup. She chose Kiwi and banana's on the side. She LOVES kiwi!

Little Miss Diva herself!

Kylynne woke up the morning of her birthday and asked over and over to go to Cabella's. That wasn't really in the birthday plan but we had to do it, since that's what she wanted. She sat in this little camping chair and said "Cheese Mommy!"