{February 2016: Music & Dance Performances, 1st Birthday, Vday Dance & Party}

Love is when you look into someone's eyes and see everything you need.  Big Sister R & Big Brother E had several performances this month {They did an awesome job! #superproud}.  E & R at their Music Concerts {for School}: E playing the Ukulele, R playing the Recorder, R singing in the Honor Choir, E & R & K performing in their school dance festival.  Baby D eating his first lolly pop: Yummy!  Eating Delicious Kabobs.  

I will post links to other events that happened this month, after I post them on 
my photography blog:

{Baby D's 1st "Little Man" Birthday Party} 

{Baby D's Cake Smash Session} 

{Daddy/Daughter Valentine's Dance} 

{R's Dance Team & Competition}

{Valentine's Day Party}

   

{Birthday Celebrations, Ultrasound, Moving Day, Family Visits: September 2014}

The first exciting thing that happened in the month of September was moving from our apartment {that we had lived in for a year} in Idaho, to our new home.  We had been planning on building a home, when our house in Oregon sold, {but since it took about a year to sell}, and hadn't sold yet, and I was pregnant with our 6th child, we decided that we needed to get into a home, right now.  Then build again in the future, at some point.  So we packed our things up, and moved them to our new home.  Our home is two houses down from our church, and on the same street as the school that Mark teaches at, and where the kids attend school.  We can walk to both school and church.  It is so awesome! I had never moved before while pregnant; and it was a challenge!  But also so needed!  Luckily, we had a lot of helpful people from church; and also helpful family and friends!  {*I took these pictures of our new home, with my phone.}  Our house looks a lot smaller from the outside, than it really is.  It has a full basement, so there is more than enough room for all of us!  It has so many great features that I love.  Including very mature fruit trees, on a quarter of an acre lot.

The next event that happened, within a few days after we moved, was celebrating our son E's, 10th Birthday.  You can find the blog post about this on my photo blog: here.

 Then a few days later, we celebrated our daughter K's 6th birthday.  September is a hard time of the year, for us to move; because we have half of the birthdays in our family, in September.  But we've done it for the last two years!  You can find the blog post, about this on my photo blog, here. 

 Mark's parents came to visit us, and we had a lovely visit with them.  They brought down all of the boxes that we had left behind in Oregon, to our new home in Idaho.  They also brought the kid's cousin C {our niece}.  They had a lot of fun, playing together.

 The kids enjoyed having their cousin C come for a visit.  Mark walks with the kids to school.  I love that we live close enough for that!  Such a sweet picture.  What a great Daddy he is! :) I love that man!

 Then we celebrated my birthday.  We did some awesome things, for it.  Mark took me out to eat at Golden Corral.  It was a lot of fun to spend time together, and the food was delicious!

 We also celebrated at home with our kiddos.  We got them McDonalds Happy Meals (they love those!), and also celebrated with a little party, for me, together.

 They made me a chocolate cake, and sang Happy Birthday to me.  

 I felt very loved and spoiled, on my Birthday!

 Next we celebrated our son C's 4th Birthday.  You can find the Blog post for this on my Photo Blog, Here.

 On C's 4th Birthday, he got a special present!  He went with me {his Mommy} to my ultrasound, and we found out that we were having a BOY!  He was telling everyone, "I got a Baby Brother for my Birthday!"  So adorable, and exciting! :)  These 3D Ultrasound pictures are awesome!  It's my first time having one of those.  The Baby is so snuggly, and made it very hard to get a good profile picture! :)  We were all so excited to have another Boy, so we'd have 3 Boys and 3 Girls.

 I love watching my sweet babies, while they sleep.  They are so precious!  Our kiddos love going to the hardware store with Daddy, and riding in the "car carts".  So so cute! :)

Such a sweet photo, of our Adorable Baby H.

 

{July 2014: Hospital, 4th of July, Reception, Cousins, Friends}

Our Poor Baby Girls!  {In Idaho} Our Daughter R, was admitted to the Hospital with a severe case of Pink Eye {I didn't even know that was possible!}, and then while we were there, Baby H, fell and hit her sweet little head on a chair and cracked it open, requiring 4 stitches!  It was convenient that we were at the hospital when that happened though, so her Daddy just took her right down to the Emergency Room to get it done.  They gave her a cute little doll, for doing a good job.   

We went to Oregon for the Week of Fourth of July, and enjoyed spending time with Family and Friends.  The Kids had fun Spending time with Cousins and Friends.

 We went to a Fourth of July Parade, with Family and Friends, and went to a Delicious Barbeque at Mark's Parent's House.

We lit Fireworks as a Family {the Kids Loved the Sparklers!}, watched the University's Firework Display, and Rode on Mark's family's over a Hundred Year old Steam Engine.

Then we went up to Washington to Visit more Family and Friends. 

The Kids had fun spending time with their Cousins and Friends.

 I had fun going to the Wedding Reception of my Childhood Best Friend Adrienne, with my sister Celestia.  To view pictures {on my blog} of her Adorable Reception, click here.

We had a Wonderful time up in Washington {and Oregon}, visiting Family.  The Kids had Sleepovers with their Cousins, and we had a Barbeque and Roasted Hotdogs and Marshmallows over the fire.

{Last Day of School, Awards, Carnival, Fathers Day, Outings: June 2014}

In June, it was the Last Day of School for E & R and Mark's last day for his first year of teaching.  Our son E received the Reading Award and the Most Growth Award.  Our daughter R received the Reading Award and the Straight A's Award.

E & R received many certificates for academic achievements.  We went with E, as a family to Cafe Rio {Yum!} so he could use his Principal's Pride {Student of the Month} certificate {from May}.  I took R to Sizzler, to use her Principal's Pride certificate {from June}.  We are so proud of our awesome Kids!  We took R & E to many restaurants in the city, to redeem their certificates and prizes.  E had fun earning merit badges and playing games; at Cub Scout Day Camp.

 We went to the Kid's School Carnival, as a family.  They enjoyed the many fun games {face painting, fishing, cupcake walk...}, rides {mini- train, bounce house...} and Delicious treats {snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy, cupcakes...}, and snacks there.  It was a very fun night!
 

Our 3 Pretty Girls, in their matching dresses.

Our 2 Handsome Boys, with their Sisters.

We spoiled Mark on Father's Day with Breakfast in Bed {the Kiddos made}, handmade presents and cards, and a Special Lunch and Dinner.  We also called our Fathers and sent them cards.  Mark's parents came to visit us, in June.

Our Baby Boy C, and Baby Girl H, with Daddy.

We enjoy exploring the Outdoors, as a family, and hiking around Beautiful places; having picnics, and admiring God's Amazing Creations.

We had so much fun together, exploring the area around and near Red Fish Lake.

The Kids loved meeting their cousin's kitty "Timmy", while visiting family in Oregon. 

{Family Fun, Mother's Day, R's Baptism, Talks, School: May 2014}

In the month of May, with our Family, there were a lot of awesome things happening.  We went to the Family BBQ {Picnic}, at Mark and the Kid's School, we Celebrated Cinco De Mayo, by eating Yummy Mexican food.  Our son E, was Principal's Pride in his class {Student of the Month}.  We were so proud of him!  Our daughter K gave a talk in Primary, on Easter Sunday {April 20th}   K's "Easter Talk":  {K did a Wonderful Job!}

"Jesus Has Risen.  Jesus Our Brother.  Jesus Our Friend.  Joy Fills Our Hearts.  He Lives Again. "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven..." (Joseph Smith Teachings) I am thankful that Jesus was resurrected, so I can be resurrected too someday, and be with my family forever.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Our son E, also gave a talk in Primary "God Speaks Through Prophets" E's Talk:  {E did a Wonderful job!} "There are many ways that Heavenly Father can talk to you. He can speak to you through the Holy Ghost. He can speak to you through the scriptures. One very important way that Heavenly Father talks to His children is through His living prophets. When the prophet speaks, he tells us things that Heavenly Father wants us to know.
In the Book of Mormon the people of King Noah were very wicked. Heavenly Father sent His prophet Abinadi to preach to them.  Alma, one of the priests, believed Abinadi’s words and learned the way to obtain God’s promised blessings.
In the Bible we read of God’s promises to the children of Israel. Through Moses, His prophet, the Lord delivered them from Egypt. Moses taught the children of Israel the way to obtain God’s promises and blessings.
There was not a prophet on the earth when Joseph Smith prayed to find out which church to join. He became God’s prophet and restored the true Church of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith taught the people what they needed to do to obtain God’s promises and blessings.
 If you knew that Jesus Christ was coming to speak to you, would you take time out from your playing to go and listen to
Him? Each April and October, the prophet and other General Authorities speak to us in special meetings called general conference. They tell us the things the Savior would tell us if He were here. Their words are like the scriptures and will guide us in our lives.
Today PresidentThomas S. Monson tells us what God wants us to know and do. When we listen to general conference, it is as if God Himself is speaking to us. We can learn the way to obtain God’s promised blessings when we listen to our prophet.
Our prophet loves us just as the Savior loves us. If we do the things he teaches, we can be happier in this life. We can learn how to live again with Father in Heaven and the Savior, Jesus Christ. It is wonderful to know that through our prophet, the Savior is speaking to each of us!  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen"
Sources:
Elizabeth Ricks, “Sharing Time: I Will Follow the Prophet Today,” Friend, Oct 2006, 14–16
Diane S. Nichols, “Sharing Time: Listen to a Prophet’s Voice!,” Friend, Apr 2001, 13

We celebrated Mother's Day.  The Kids and Mark spoiled me, with Breakfast in Bed, a Wonderful Lunch and Dinner, Flowers, and Special handmade gifts from the Kiddos.  We also called and sent cards to our Mothers.  It was a great day!

Our Daughter R had her Baptism in the month of May.  We were so proud of her.  I did a Photo Shoot of her in her Baptism dress, {that my Mom made for her--it's so beautiful!}  To view more of her Session, click here.  

Our Daughter R, had her Baptism, up in Oregon, with her Best Friend, L.  They had a wonderful experience together.  They sang "When I am Baptized" together, and they also sang "I am a Child of God" with their siblings {they have siblings who are all the same ages as our first 4 kids, and they are all best friends}.  I also played the descant on my violin, for that one too.

It was so fun to have a combined Baptism, with our great friends, the Smith family.  The program was all done by both of our families.  Mark's Dad {R's grandpa} gave the talk on The Holy Ghost, and Nette's Mom {L's grandma} gave the talk on Baptism.  Both R and L's Dad's Baptized them.  It was a Beautiful Baptismal service.  Mark confirmed R.  It was such a wonderful day!

 We went back to Mark's parent's home, with both sides of our family, and took some lovely pictures {thanks Riana!} with our family.

Our Daughter R, with her Grandparents, Parents, and Siblings.

R and L had such an Amazing Baptism day!  R with her Cousins, at her Baptism Luncheon.

Our Kids had such a Blast playing with Cousins from both sides of our Family.  It was a wonderful Baptism day!  We all had a great time spending time together.  We are so glad that so many of our Family and Friends could be there for R's special day!{Thanks to my awesome sister, Angela for taking care of our sick Baby H {without being asked!}, during the Baptism!}

{R's Baptism Invitation & 8th Birthday Party!}

Since we only recently moved to Idaho from Oregon; our Daughter R, wanted to have her Baptism in Oregon {Plus she gets to have her Baptism, with her best friend L Smith!  The girls are super excited! :)} 

 We Celebrated our Daughter R’s 8th Birthday {yay!  It’s Great to be 8!} Party with a Disney’s “Frozen” themed party!  We had a total Blast!  Click here to View More from our Party!

{Photographer Shoot, Family Fun and Visits: Feb. 2014}

We did a "Photographer Shoot" for my Photog Blog and Website {Mark took these shots}.

 We had a great time together. 
{Little Man E, took the shot of Mark and I}.

We took some fun pictures.

 We had a wonderful day together,
and went to the Park afterwards.

 All Princess K wants for Christmas, is her Two Front Teeth.  Our Sweet Precious Kids.

We were so Excited to have Mark's brother Glen, his wife Summer, and their 4 Kids, visit us in Idaho.  The Kids had a Blast playing together, with their cousins.  They each have a buddy. :)

We had a Great time visiting with Glen and Summer; and spending time with their family.