Bryce is 4 month

Hi there everyone!  I'm four months old now.  I've really turned into a sweetheart...I gave my poor mama a run for her money when I first was born.  That first six weeks I about put her over the edge!  Put we've more than made up for it and I have her wrapped around my finger.  I haven't quite learned how to roll over, but I can arch around and almost turn from my back to my stomach.  I love my bouncing seat and I'm enjoying tummy time cause I can prop up and see the toys my mama sets out.  I still have a head full of hair, my mama bathes me each morning and just combs it up and it stays just like you see me below.  My dad has tried comb overs, but the ladies at church don't seem to like it.  I went to the doctor yesterday, and they gave me some new stats:

17lbs.

24.3 inches long

When compared to my three older brothers at their four month check, I'm the shortest, but weight wise I'm right up there with them:)

I had my first taste of solids, just a little rice cereal...I think I did pretty well.

Final Days

We are trying to soak up the final days of summer.  School starts this Wednesday :(.  I'm so thankful for these four health and happy boys!  I love to catch them playing together, and just minutes ago, I found them playing in the back yard with the hose and water guns.  I know they won't be this little much longer and these simple things they play will be no more.

Me and Bryce are staying indoors, trying to stay out of the water fight.

Growing Like Weeds

Look who's three months old today...it's Bryce!  Bryce has really transformed into a delightful baby.  It was a little touch and go there those first few weeks, he gave me quite a run for my money.  Now he is so happy and content.  He is 14 lbs and 13 oz.  He loves to smile, talk, take naps, and sit in his bumbo and bouncy seat.  So happy to have my little Bry Guy around.  The boys are really enjoying him and love to help me when he cries...thanks boys!

Bryce isn't the only boy growing like a weed around here.  Jake has grown to love finding and playing with little critters around the yard.  You can see here, Jake has found a worm and in the picture below a three legged frog.  He also enjoys chasing rabbits and birds in the back yard.  He has really become aware of the world around him...everything is new and exciting for him!

Look who's learned how to ride without training wheels...that's right, Seth!  He is such a great bike rider, I knew it wouldn't take long for him to figure it out, thanks to his determination and a great daddy!  He rides that bike everyday.

 And my first little weed, Max.  I was so sad to hear he had a loose tooth.  I think I was more upset about him loosing his first tooth than him going off to kindergarten last year.  Loosing teeth really changes a kids look for good...it's all over after that...in my opinion anyway.  He was thrilled and thrilled that I was sad about it.  He was practicing his piano and suddenly stopped and shouted out that his tooth fell out.  That boy has really grown up this summer!

The good thing about little ones growing up is that you can enjoy spending time and talking with them.  We spent the evening catching fire flies the other night...it was fun watching him catch his own.

 I'm trying to enjoy all these stages in my little boys' lives.  It's so easy to forget how fast it's all going by!  Wish I could put my four boys in a mason jar like those fire flies in Max's hand and keep them small forever.

One Week

I love to have my newborn's pictures taken before they are a week old...their little bodies grow and change so fast.  Luckily I know a great photographer that brings all her stuff right to my house and is extremely patient...it makes it super easy for a new baby and mom.  So here are a few that we had taken of Bryce on the first Saturday of his life.

It kinda looks like Bryce is smiling in the one below with Ben...love this one! 

When we had pictures taken of Jake two years ago, it was like pulling teeth to get Seth to sit in front of the camera.  This time, he was so helpful and even ran upstairs to put on some cute clothes to have her snap one or two of him.

Now don't get confused, the next two pictures are of Jake, I just can't believe how much they change in two years...so much growth and personality! 

I know right?!??!

So here are pictures from the first day of school....yes, school started when your kids school started...I'm way behind on posting...I know right?!?!? So here is big Max going off to Kindergarten. It's everyday, half day. I love having him home for lunch! I wanted to drive him to school, but he didn't want any part of that. "I want to ride the bus because it is really long, it has lots of seats and has its own stop sign!" The swagger wagon can't compete with that.

This was also Seth's first year of Preschool. He was so excited and totally ready. After taking Max the previous two years, Seth has already become aquatinted with the school and the teachers. It was like Cheers! Everyone knew his name!

And of course our little fella, Jake. He doesn't miss a beat! He loves to help me watch for the bus and get those boys off to school. He is my little shadow. I love our time just the two of us!

I guess next school year I'll have two shadows, one to follow and one to carry!

Safety Town

Our area of the world has a great program for all up coming Kindergarteners called, safety town. It's a week long event where they learn a different sort of "safety" each day. One day it's fire safety and the fireman comes and shows off his rig, one day it's bus safety and they ride the kids around to all the elementary schools in our city, another day it's water safety, so on and so forth. They also learn their address and phone number as well as getting their picture and finger prints for an id card. It's pretty cool and the kids love it. In every city where Safety Town is held, they have a Safety Town...hence the name. Below are some pictures of our city's Safety Town, fully equipped with traffic signs and lights, roads, houses and buildings, and little cars for the kids to drive around in.



These pictures were taken at the beginning of June...as you can tell by Max's eye, he totally was suffering from seasonal allergies:-(. Max starts school on the 26th of this month, we've got less than two weeks till we start this new chapter in our lives.

The Beginning of the End

Maxton's last day of preschool was Thursday. On his last day, the school has an olympic day and picnic and each kid can bring one parent. I was thrilled when Max picked me over Ben to attend...it rare that the boys pick me over Ben. Here are a few pictures of us at Olympic Day.

Max with his teacher this year, Miss Kelly. He has really enjoyed her class this year!

That same night, was his Preschool Graduation. Ben thinks it's silly that there should be any graduations besides for High School and College, but I thinks it's great to celebrate these milestones in their little lives. It was such a special night, and he looked so grown up. I didn't cry, I think because he is so ready and excited to move on...I'm happy for him. He was able to walk in the Flag as you can see here.

Here's Miss Carroll giving Max his certificate.

What a doll you are Max. I love you! You've grown so much. All that stands between me being a mom of little ones that stay home and a mom that has school age kids is three short months. I pray we enjoy every minute before that bus shows up.

Walkin'

I'm so happy that I was able to catch Jake on video taking his first real steps. He's taken one or two, not realizing what was happening, but nothing like what's in this little clip. I have to be honest, the ending is not the best, but it won't be long till we're running!

Fast!

I've finally figured out how to download or import some home videos onto the computer in order to burn them onto discs. Of course I got nothing else done yesterday because I would put in a new tape and go to walk away while it imported and would be stuck to the screen while watching every second. The funny thing was, I wouldn't sit down, because I thought I would just be watching for a second and thirty minutes in, it would finally dawn on me that this would be so much more enjoyable if I would stop leaning over my computer with elbows on the desk and just give into the moment. Even though I still have little ones, those few family home videos we did take have reminded me how far we've come in just a short time. It truly has gone by so FAST. It was amazing to see the growth in our family, the growth in the kids, and in our home decorating. I sometimes catch myself thinking too much about the future, or the next project I want to start on the house, and forget that the fun is happening right this minute and to enjoy what's happening today. It made me want to spend more time, plain and simple.

When I figure out how to organize all this footage and burn it onto a DVD, maybe I'll try to share a few clips on the blog. Until then, here's a few pictures that show the growth and how fast time flies!

Ben and I the month before we got married, June 2003

Our wedding reception August 2003

Ben's Graduations, May 2006

October 2007

July 2009

November 2010

Small and Simple Things

Happy New Year! We've picked our family motto for the year...Small and Simple Things. I've added it to my header at the top so that I can try and remember to include that somehow in each of my posts this year. With a busy family of little boys, I find that I don't take very many moments to be still and do something small and/or simple. The small and simple things I'm talking about are and not limited to: reading a story with my boys, looking through the Friend and Ensign, praying by myself, reading the scriptures, turning off the TV, temple work, laughing, enjoying, talking, being kind and gentle with myself and other. The list can go on and on and I'm sure I'll add many more to the list as the year moves along.

I leave you with a few pictures of me blowing out my birthday candles and a shot of me in my BiRtHdAy SuIt...yes, I'm 30 now!

Back Track {Part I}

What a busy time of year, personally I enjoy it for the most part. I'm behind on both my blogging and scrapbooking because of all the holiday fun and being pregnant...I'm tired okay! Since things are winding down from all the festivities, I've started back to scrapbooking since I'm about a half a year behind and found some cute pictures I wanted to share. Here is Maxton's first day of preschool...back in September: