Project Life Scrapbooking

I'm so excited!  I've been taking online classes to learn how to scrapbook with Photoshop...with Project Life by Becky Higgins!  This is the first page of my 2013 book.  I love to scrapbook digitally...it's clean, easy, I can us my digital papers and embellishments over and over, and I can journal as much as I want on every page!  I'm sure I'll post more as the year goes on...it will make my blogging easier too...I won't feel like I've got to do both...blogging and scrapbooking...I kill two birds with one stone-efficient!

Seth turned FIVE last week.  Wow...that went by fast!  Seth is such a great brother, especially to Bryce.  If the baby is ever crying, Seth is the first on the scene to help me out.  He wakes up so happy and always gets dressed before coming down stairs.  Cereal and fruit is his go to meal if he is ever hungry or doesn't like what we're having for dinner.  He's learned how to ride his bike without training wheels, which makes family bike rides so much fun.  He loves to dress up like a ninja and play spy games.  He enjoys eating whole packs of gum and usually hides them behind the piano.  Since school started the week of his birthday, we had a pool party the week before with some of his friends.  Then on his actually birthday, we went out to dinner as a family and I made a cake with one of his favorite action figures on top.  We love you Seth, HaPpY bIrThDaY!

Bryce slept through the first half of the pool party.

Dinner at Red Robin!

He's 2!

Today is Jake's 2nd Birthday! We've all been so excited for this day to come. Jake's favorite things right now, are Basketballs and Elmo. Jake has been such a loving and fun child since becoming part of our family! We love you little fella!

Birthday, Birthday, Birthday!

Our family has a cluster of Birthdays around the end and beginning of each year. I kick things off on December 28th, then Ben on January 3rd, and then our big boy Max on January 24th. So here is a photo journal of our celebrations!

Here's me and Jake on my birthday enjoying some Brazilian food at Trolly Square in UT.

I call this picture, "Tiny Tim." He had a thing for my mother-in-laws cane. Lucky for him it was adjustable, so we set it to the smallest setting and let him walk around with it a little. It was the funniest thing.

Me and my cake the boys and grandma made for me...I loved it, white with PINK sprinkles. I must say it's fun to be the girl in this group.

Now onto Ben's birthday. He turned 35 this year and yes, we put 35 candles on that cake.

Someone call the fire department!

Max turned 6 yesterday! I can't believe how big and grown up he is getting. I'm starting to get nervous for him to loose his first tooth. His little look will change so much, his smile and baby teeth are the only thing keeping him looking like a little boy :(. He loves to eat at Red Robin, so we had our family dinner there last night. I'm not sure if it's the balloons or the spaghetti he likes the most.

I think he reminded our server it was his birthday like 5 times, no lie....he wanted that Birthday ice cream sunday and fun song they sing!

Pure satisfaction!

Luckily, he was kind and shared it with his brothers.

We came home and met some friends for some cake and ice cream. We are totally into star wars and legos around here.

The winning present this year was the Webkinz! I'm sure as soon as he gets off the bus this afternoon, he will be glued to the computer setting up his Webkinz account!

Happy Birthday my 6 year old. I sure love you. You are so responsible and thoughtful. I can still remember the beautiful snowy morning of your birth!

"Money Money Money by the Pound"

This is such a late post, my little Sethy turned 4 on August 23rd! He has grown into such an amazing kid. He is my tender hearted peace maker. He's very adventurous...I often loose him because he sneaks out of the house and rides down to his friend's house on his scooter. The moment I realize I need to look for him is the moment the phone rings telling me my little one is at the neighbor's. Seth loves to snuggle and be close, I love it. He loves to rock out when we're driving in the car to songs like, "Another one Bites the Dust" by Queen or "Beat it" by Micheal Jackson.

Seth's favorite toys are LEGOS. He loves to build them, show me pictures of future lego purchases, go to friend's houses and build their legos...he just loves them. Which is good and bad for me, I'm happy he is doing something constructive, but I never know when I'm going to step on one of those little pieces. So, you can see what inspired his Birthday Cake this year. I made the actual cake, Ben always does the creative portion, including idea and execution.

Seth has been enjoying the movie, "Pete's Dragon" this year. One of those Disney Classics from the 70s. It's full of music, and Seth knows just about every song. This was the first year he understood Birthday cards and the possibly of money being inside.

As soon as the money fell out, he ran to his piggy bank singing, "Money Money Money by the Pound", a song from Pete's Dragon. It was pretty hilarious.

A Birthday's not complete without dinner at Chuck E Cheese! It was a perfect night, there was hardly a soul there. Seth had a blast!

Happy Birthday Buddy Boy!

It's fun to be ONE!

Today was the day, our little Jake turned ONE! He has truly been such a joy to have in our family. He is so happy and good natured. He really took it easy on me becoming a mom of three. He's not walking yet, but he stands up on his own and walks along cabinets, walls, furniture, and anything else he can get his hands on. He enjoys nice quiet moments playing in the toilet and helping me unload the dishwasher. Happy Birthday Baby Jake!

Can you see the family resemblance? We always make the birthday cakes at our house with Ben being the mastermind and head baker of all our creations. I asked him nicely to give me a smile while preparing his angel food cake and this is what I get.

We decided to have a big breakfast this morning, since Ben is home every Monday morning. We had fresh fruit, bagels, breakfast casserole, and angel food cake. It was a yummy morning!

We Arrive at Five!

Dear Max-

We did it, we've arrived at five! I love you to pieces! You're a beautiful child! Thanks for teaching me all I know...so far. You are so responsible and bright. You remember EVERYTHING, down to the littlest detail. We're both so blessed that you have such a strong and healthy body and mind. Yes, you are a busy little thing and very type 'A' (just like me), but I love it...I definitely have something to work with. You love super heroes, you like to dabble in video games and television watching, you collect all things creepy and crawly, you could drink ranch dressing (like you mother I might add), you're artistic, you keep me on my toes, your little bothers watch and look up to you, you love to play with friends, your a social butterfly, you want to help and please others, you love to have "boys" night with dad, the list could go on and on. Know that I love you and am so thankful to call you mine! Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Below are pictures of Maxton on each of his Birthdays.

34 Years

Happy Birthday to my sweet Ben! He is the best thing that ever happened to me. It's amazing how the Holy Ghost works...if you can figure out how he whispers promptings and answers to you and how to always listen, then you've got it made (that's one of those small and simple things for 2011). I do know how the Spirit speaks me and I'm so thankful I was listening when I was told it would be perfectly fine to marry Ben on April 6th 2003...after only knowing him for a month and a half. He is truly my other half, my best friend, my companion.

On his birthday I want him to know that I'm so thankful to be by his side through this life and the next.