{October 2015: Halloween, Family Fun, Soccer, Primary Program, Arrow of Light}

Halloween was a Blast this Year!  We went to the Trunk or Treat at our Church, and had a lot of fun together.  Mark was dressed as a Farmer on Vacation and I was dressed like Dorothy Gale from "The Wizard of Oz" {this is my favorite childhood movie, and I have always wanted to dress-up in this costume!}  

 The Kids dressed up as: a Sith Lord from "Star Wars" {Big Brother E}, Hermione Granger from "Harry Potter" {Big Sister R}, Dorothy Gale from "The Wizard of Oz" {Little Miss K wanted to match me!}, a Magical Green Dragon {Little Man C}, Dorothy Gale from "The Wizard of Oz" {Baby Girl H; I love that my girls wanted to dress-up, the same as me!}, and an Orange Pumpkin {Baby Boy D, he is wearing our traditional "First Halloween" costume that all of our babies, have worn}.

 Little Man C's Pre-school Halloween Party, Our family went to the School Parade and Classroom Parties {all of us in our costumes!}, Trick or Treating, at a friend's house, and Little Miss K with her pumpkins that she picked out on her First Grade Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch.

Our Kiddos, after their Last Soccer Games.  They had a great season. Baby Girl H, smiling up at her Mama {me}.  Baby Boy D, Baby Girl H, and Big Brother E, at the kids' School Classroom Halloween Parties.

 Our Four Oldest Kids {with their Two Younger Siblings} after their Primary Program at church.  They all did an amazing job on their parts!   
Big Brother E's part was: "Our theme in Primary this year is, 'I know my Savior Lives'. Our goal as a Primary has been to come to know the Savior personally. Today, we hope you feel the Holy Ghost, as we share our testimonies of Jesus Christ with you". Big Sister R's part was: (a solo verse of 'I Feel My Savior's Love') "I Feel My Savior's Love, it's gentleness enfolds me. And when I kneel to pray, my heart is filled with peace. He knows I will follow him, give all my heart to him. I feel my Savior's Love, the love He freely gives me". Little Miss K's part was: singing "Tell Me The Stories of Jesus", with her class, in the front. Little Man C's part was: singing "I Know That My Savior Loves Me", with his class, in the front.  They did a wonderful job on their parts, and singing their songs.

 Baby Boy D & Little Man C, sharing in some Brotherly Love.  Baby Boy D sitting in his high chair.  Daddy {Mark} reading books to Baby Girl H, at story time.

Our Girls Sharing in a special Story time together.  Baby Girl H, and Little Miss K, having fun riding bikes together.

Little Man C, practicing writing for Pre-school, with his Daddy {Mark}.  Baby Girl H and Little Man C, making a delicious pudding dessert, with their Mama {me}.

We are so proud of our Little Man E, who worked really hard to receive his Arrow of Light, and Webelos Badge, in Scouting, and has moved on to 11-year-old Scouts.  
p.s. Mark's birthday was in October, also.  I will be posting his fabulous party, on my photog blog, very soon.

 

{January 2015: Pregnancy, Family Fun, Scouts, Sleepy Kids...}

My Eighth Month of Pregnancy, of our future Little Man.  Sweet, Sleepy Snuggles for Daddy {Mark} & Baby Girl H. :)

  Our Family of Seven, {Soon to be Eight}!  Such Exciting Times!  Sweet, Sleepy H & C.  

 Our 2 Boys {Soon to be 3!}, Sleepy Little Man C {& the Crown he made in class at Church}; & our son E, when he won 3rd Place in the Pinewood Derby at Scouts.

 Our 3 Girls.  Sleepy K, H Snuggling our Kitty Peaches, and Big Sis R doing 'Lil Sis K's Hair.

{Family Visits, 12th Anniversary, 1st Day of School, Owies: August 2014}

We began the month of August continuing our trip up to Washington and went to see my sister Angela and her daughter {our niece} A in the play "The Sound of Music".  They both did a fabulous job on their parts.  We loved watching them perform.  It was an amazing show.  Angela played one of the lead Nuns {Sister Sophia} and A was Gretel. 

 Our son E received his Bear Badge at his Scout Pack Meeting.  My brother Danny, his wife Jolie and their two kids came to visit us and we had a lovely time with them.  We went blueberry picking with them while we were still up in Washington.  We had two visits to the Emergency Room, to get our daughter K's head super glued and also because our son C had swallowed a penny.  I think we need to put some of our kids in a bubble!  It's so hard to not be able to protect them from everything.  But that's a difficult part about being a parent, I guess.

 Mark and I celebrated our 12th Anniversary in August.  Mark's parents {in Oregon} watched our 5 kids {I was 3 months pregnant with our #6 at the time}.  We went to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and saw and learned some amazing things about the history of the Oregon Trail.  It was a lot of fun!

 We tried new restaurants, viewed sites around the area, and had some much needed alone time together.  It is always nice and very important to spend some time alone, away from the kids.  And your relationship and the kids are all the better because of it.

 We also rode the train in Sumpter, Oregon.  It was really fun.  We enjoyed looking at the beautiful views from the historical train's windows.  We had a wonderful time on our anniversary together.  I'm so grateful to have had this incredible man in my life for the last 12 years.  I'm Lucky, I'm in Love with my Best Friend.  Here's to Eternity. 

   Here are our Kiddos playing at Grandpa and Grandma's {in Oregon} and the Park together.  

 Here are our Kids getting the mail with Grandma {Mark's mom} and having fun playing with their cousins in Oregon.

 We had a wonderful time visiting with our Friends and Family, in Oregon together.

 We sure do Love these Kids!

We love going to the Library for Story time.  Before we moved into our house, we lived in an apartment across the street from a library {pictured above} in a smaller town {outside of the bigger town that we now live in}.  My parents came to visit us and helped us pack our apartment up to move into our new house, that we were moving into at the beginning of September.  It was especially helpful with being pregnant with our #6, to have their help.  We loved having them in Idaho to visit us!  It was a joy visiting and spending time with them.

 One of the special things of being married to a teacher, is having them home during the same vacations that the kids get.  School started for the kids and Mark at the end of August this year.  Our son E, started 4th grade, our daughter R began 3rd grade, and our little K, started Kindergarten this year.  Mark also started teaching his 2nd grade class again.  They are all at the same school.  Which is so much fun for us!

{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. 

Trying to figure things out! Jan. 2013

It's always a little bit of a struggle at first, to add another baby into the mix.  Trying to figure out where they fit and how to juggle everything; all of your responsibilities.  There was a cheer leading camp, done for little girls; by the university here.  The girls get to go learn cheers, dance routines, and gymnastics, from the cheer squad and dance teams.  It's always a lot of fun for them.  So we didn't want our girls {Little Miss R and Little Miss K} to miss it, even though Baby H was really really new.  So Mark {being the amazing Daddy that he is} took our girls, and our niece G to the Cheer camp.  He stayed the whole time and even took pictures for me to see.  Later in the evening, he took them to their performance {at half-time of the University Basketball Game}.  And he, with help of Little Man E, took pictures and video of the Girl's performance.  We feel very strongly, that we should keep our newborn babies, home for the first month of their lives.  But especially with it being cold and flu season, we were planning on keeping her home for the first 2 months of her life {Plus I was still recovering as well}.

 We love having the kids dress-up {and us a lot too} and reading and performing the Nativity Scene together, during Christmas time.  I love this picture of my children, all dressed up like the Nativity.  Love.  Mark playing in the snow with the kiddos.  Me opening one of my Christmas presents  {we didn't get to do that {Mark and I} on Christmas day.  The kids modeling their fruit loop necklaces; that they made.  My friend Nette, taking me out to lunch.  Love her.

  My parents came to visit with my little brother Joe.  We really enjoyed having them come to visit; especially since we don't get to see them all the time.  Joseph got to hold her, before he left on his mission.  So proud of him.  Also, Mark's mom {Grandma} holding Baby H.

My kiddos love spending time with Grandma, Grandpa {my parents} and Uncle Joe.

 Our family, enjoying our New Baby H.  We Love Her!

The girls and I, giving Baby H her very first bath {She Loved it!}.  Little Miss R holding Baby H.  Little Miss R, Little Miss K and Little Man E, playing with their new Barbie Doll House.

Little Man E's first Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.  He loved racing his batmobile car {that he made with his Daddy}, with the other boys.  They all got awesome car wooden trophies, that his Uncle Glen made {he's the Den Leader}.  Little Miss K playing on a game on smart phone.  Mark, reading with Little Miss R.