Eight is Great!

Happy 8 Years to Jared and me!  Our wedding day was fabulous.  I remember feeling super excited and so grateful that so many friends and family were with us to celebrate.  It is baffling that so much has happened in our lives since that day.  Jared finished school, we bought and sold a house, we have FOUR children, we paid off two cars, we drive a mini-van, Jared's hairline is receding and mine is speckled with grays, both of our waistlines have grown, and somehow our hearts have grown as well because I love Jared more than I did 8 years ago and still have room for those aforementioned children.

Polka Dots

I love the cute things children say, especially my children.  This morning I got the goose bumps and Grayson asked me why I had polka dots.  I love him.  I have also realized that Landon calls everyone by their name except Grayson.  Landon calls him "Brother." I love him, too.

 

 Grayson LOVES to dress up.  Last week, he dressed as a missionary all week.  He's the cutest missionary I've ever seen.  This week, he's mostly been a cowboy.

 

 Grayson also LOVES mustaches.  Until he can grow one of his own, he cuts them out of paper.  He made one for me today.  Aren't we handsome?

 

Gratuitous snuggle shot of the boys (minus Landon) with Miriam.

Sweet Miriam

Our Sweet Miriam was blessed today by Jared at our church.  I have to admit that I didn't hear much because my husband chose to be soft spoken and Landon chose to wriggle in my lap as loud as possible, but the Spirit was there.  Jared said the thing from the blessing that stood out to him the most was how Miriam would have many opportunities to serve others in and out of our family. 

 Her beautiful blessing gown was borrowed from my cousin's daughter, Avery.  Avery is now 13!  Thank you for sharing your beautiful gown with us Avery.  

 Look at that sweet face and crazy hair!  The beautiful quilt she is sitting on was made by my dear friend, Brooke.  Miriam had her two month "birthday" earlier this week.  She weighed in at 12 lbs 4 oz and is about 23 inches long.  She is growing like a weed and starting to give me some more shuteye at night.  Doctor diagnosed her with acid reflux and gave her a medicine to take twice a day.  I have a new baby!  She is so much more at peace and even her face looks more relaxed to me.  Thank you modern medicine.

 Family photo on Miriam's blessing day. 

 Mommy and Miriam.

Gigi, Papa, and Miriam.  Didn't get a photo of everyone there because it was just a little too hectic for my frazzled nerves.  Uncle Jason, Uncle Brandon, Papa K and Grandma were also there.  Miriam is so loved.

Happy Easter!

I love Easter.  Without Easter, we wouldn't have Christmas.  I am so grateful for our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who came to Earth to live and die and live again all for us.  Most holidays are also awesome, because it gives our family a reason to come together and eat delicious foods.  We spent this Easter weekend in St. Augustine and had a chance to celebrate Lyla's (4) and Jared's (31) birthday with some fresh-fried shrimp and steaks.  So good.  Should have taken a picture.  

 Actually taken earlier in the week on Jared's actual birthday.  I made a Black Forest Cake and it is so delicious.  I wish I had a piece to eat right now.

 Dying Easter Eggs!

 Landon loved this little experiment.

 Grayson and his pink egg.

 EGGS!  My favorite is that lime green one.

 Random photo of Landon wearing Mr. Potato Head's glasses.  These were his favorite for the weekend.

 Time to hunt some eggs!

 Ethan was so sweet.  He got some great loot, but also made sure his brothers and cousins had enough help finding their eggs too.

Grayson found one too!

I didn't get enough photos, but at least I got a few.  

Landscaping Projects

I know that we just rent our little house, but I want it to look cute so I convinced Jared to help me improve the landscaping.  The boys helped out too.  We planted some Mexican heather and some English Ivy, ripped out a Sago palm (it's spiky leaves were notorious for attacking visitors as it was planted way too close to the entryway) and replaced it with a leafy bush, and laid some mulch.  The result is a huge improvement!

The Rodeo

Norb and Sabra took Ethan and Grayson to the rodeo at Deseret Ranch a few weeks ago.  The boys had a blast and are still talking about chasing pigs and how it is a necessity to have chaps in their wardrobes.  Both boys have a strong desire to be cowboys when they grow up.  I caught Grayson pining after cowboy boots and cowboy hats in an ad from Sunday's paper.  He cut some out and glued them to another piece of paper.  Check out a couple of photos Norb sent me from their adventure.

On the plus side

On the plus side, I am now the proud owner of a smart phone and it is amazing!  I can check out library books to my phone!  I love technology. 
Also, my dear hubbabaloo worked in our yard for me since I am so sicko and it looks great.  Photos to come. 

What a week

Just a little bit of complaining.  Our week started out pretty promising.  We had just enjoyed a weekend in St. Augustine playing with cousins and eating delicious foods.  Ethan went back to school and I hoped to get many things accomplished around here.  Instead, Grayson got sick with diarrhea, which is messy at best, Landon got athlete's foot, and I have another abscess on my right tonsil.  It is as disgusting as it all sounds.  Luckily, Grayson is starting to feel better and Lamasil is assisting in Landon's toe fungi.  I, however, am not getting better.  I went to the doctor pretty much right away.  Almost a year to the day, I had this problem and ended up super sick.  The abscess had to be drained and that is definitely as disgusting as it sounds. They didn't feel the need to go that route since I came in early, so I'm on antibiotics and suffering through a fever that just won't quit.  I'm going back to follow up tomorrow and chances are, since I'm not getting better, we will be doing another drainage.  Thinking about it makes me cringe.  They want me to have my tonsils removed, so there's that to schedule as well.  Gonna wait until Miriam isn't quite so new.  On the plus side, since I won't be able to eat solid foods for a couple weeks, I should be able to lose the remaining baby weight.  Oh, and have I mentioned that Miriam has colic.  That poor girl cries all the time, unless she's eating or sleeping.  I hope that it doesn't last too much longer.  My hair is going to start turning grey!