Kindergarten Promotion

Not much goes on at our house. Mckinley is constantly growing and changing. Payton finished school, and Scarlett is beginning to learn her letters.

Mckinley loves to stand and hear us each cheer and clap for her. She knows she is tricky!

Scarlett still falls asleep anywhere and everywhere. She has full lips just like her mom. This particular day she was falling asleep as Josh was leaving for scouts so he went over and gave her a kiss. She obviously kissed him back and her lips stayed just like that. It was cute and funny. Mckinley loves water and loves using my cups with a straw. 

Babies bring so much joy to everyone I love it. I see why though every time I look at Mckinley and other pictures of babies I just get a big smile on my face. Its such a miracle having children.

The last week of school Payton's class had a field day. I was able to go and help that day and it was a lot of fun. The teacher had the groups all assigned out. Payton ended up in a group with a 3 girls and no boys. Payton is not a ladies man. He will tell you he doesn't play with girls. He was a trooper though and did great with the girls in his group at each station. 

 First day of Kindergarten to the last day of Kindergarten. I can't believe it's all over!

Payton being recognized for promoting to the 1st grade by his amazing teacher Ms. Petyo.

This Kindergarten class!

My Stud!

Very proud day! My baby is growing up and I can't believe it!

Josh had to work so he didn't make it, but the girls and I were there to cheer him on and congratulate him.

Love this boy to pieces!!!

Friends from class that he played with. Ashniel and Issai.

Ms. Petyo was an amazing teacher. I just loved her and am so glad Payton got to have her as his first teacher in school ever. She truly cared about each of the kids. Payton was able to survive a classroom filled with 33 kids. He learned a ton and grew leaps and bounds. I can't believe all the things he learned in 1 school year. He can now read, write, count to 100, do addition and subtraction, and knows a ton more things. I'm amazed how much these kids have to learn.

(right picture is by his classroom with his friend John)

Each of the kids received this picture frame with their picture in it. I love it! 

It was a fun day celebrating Payton's promotion! He is such a joy to be in our family and we love him so much!!!

Big changes will be happening soon!

To start off this little girl is just over taking my photos on my phone. Josh and I both agree this is such a fun age!

Her smile just melts all your troubles away. She is starting to blab a ton these days. She makes the funniest faces and is just the sweetest little thing. 

My Mother's Day was nice. Josh made sure to spoil me. The kids did their best to be good. They each had their moments but they tried to make the day a little extra special.

I feel like all my pictures are of Mckinley cause they are but I decided today that its because she is growing and changing all the time. Payton and Scarlett could careless about having their picture taken all the time. They also had their fame when they were babies!

Our silly, silly girl! She is 10.5 months old and is the size of a 7 month old. She's very petite, but that doesn't stop her from advancing daily.

I have posted tons of pictures of this girl sleeping, but I can't stop. She cracks me up cause she falls asleep anywhere and everywhere. She slept through Payton throwing pillows on her and around her. She's a deep sleeper!

Ah...my princess! Oh how I love this girl! 

Mckinley loves to get in on the action. She was having fun getting Payton while he was down on the ground.

Over the last week she has gone from standing up on things, to walking along things, and even letting go and standing on her own. 

She loves when we clap and cheer her on. Payton and Scarlett are so cute about pointing out whenever she does a trick. They get just as excited as I do. This little girl will be walking soon enough. That's when life as we know it will change. Our baby will go from being a baby to a toddler. Bring it on!

Family Photo Session

While we were out in Utah my sisters ward was having a fund raiser. A guy in the ward who does professional pictures offered to take family and individual pictures. I figured since we were out there we might as well take advantage of it. I am so glad that we did!

It ended up being a lot of fun and a real challenge to get all the kids to look the same way and to smile. I am very happy with the way they all turned out. I feel that each of my kids were captured perfectly showing their different types of personality showing through. 

Time just wont stop flying by...

Look at who is 10 months old these days!!! Yes that would be Mckinley! She is just growing and changing all the time. She is still our smallest kid, but she does everything. There is no slowing this little girl down. 

 She waves hi and bye when she's in the mood. It's super cute. She will wave nite, nite to Payton and Scarlett each night. 

 This adorable girly is our angle.

 Scarlett is into anything princess and barbie. She has her own style and is extremely strong willed. She is not the easiest. She is definitely testing Josh and I a ton lately. She is our little princess though.

 A few weeks back my two good friends and I planned a fun/different date night. We went out to dinner like normal then we headed to the thrift store. Each person got $10 to go and pick out an outfit for their spouse. We then had to wear the outfit our spouse picked out and we went bowling. With each bowl we had to eat an m&m and whatever color you happened to grab you had to bowl a certain way. We each had a blast! It was fun to do something different. 

 Payton lost his 2nd tooth! This kid is going to have no teeth soon. He is growing up too fast. This school year is almost over and he is going to be going to 1st grade. YIKES!

 Scarlett loves to have she and Mckinley dress the same. I sure hope these two little girls will be the best of friends as they get older.

 Melanie and I took on the task of building this tree. We got the plans off the internet. It took us almost 2 days to make because we were having all types of problems. Neither one of us thought it would actually be sturdy at first. We struggled getting the screws into each piece of wood. Finally we got out the nail gun and just used that. It all finally came together. We learned a ton about angels and using the saw. It was fun. We planted a ton of strawberries all around it.

 My car was so dirty that I finally was able to find time to clean it. All the kids helped and that was awesome.

 It is only the end of April and the weather is starting to get hot. Krista and I took the kids to the splash pad and they had a blast. After playing in the water we let them play at the park. 

 Scarlett and Austin on the tire swing. These two have a love/hate relationship. They really are very cute when they are getting along with each other. 

 Each night when we tell the kids 'time for bed' it ends up being either a race up the stairs, or a fight of who is going to care them up the stairs. This particular night Josh had all 3 kids. Its a good thing he is strong. Their is no way I could do all 3, maybe 2 of them.

 With the weather being as nice as it is we have been able to go to the park a number of times. These two little girls love to swing.

 Scarlett cracks me up. She brought me this towel and asked me to do it like I do each time I get out of the shower. She love it. The towel was a little too heavy and too big for her head so it kept falling off. 

 A week ago we had the joy of having grandma in town. She didn't stay at our house but she stayed with her mom. They both came out on Friday and spent most the day with us. Of course grandma spoiled her grandkids once again and they got all types of toys. Great grandma was the hit of the day. We don't get to have her out at our house very often because she can't drive, so the kids loved being able to show her everything of theirs. They were constantly trying to get her attention. Mckinley even made friends with great grandma. Over all the day was a blast. It is one I know we will always remember. 

 It definitely is a blessing to have my grandma's both still alive. I love that my kids get to know some of their great grandparents. I never had to blessing. I look forward to meeting them all one day.

 Payton is such a poser! I don't even tell him what to do. He cracks me up, but it always makes for cute pictures. Scarlett loves when I braid her hair and we leave it in over night. The next day its all poofy and wavy. She loves that because she says it looks like Mapi's. (a good friend of hers who has super tight curls)

 Mckinley is standing up against anything and everything. She always wants to be where ever the action is. She loves her dad and gets so excited anytime he gets home from work.

 Look at those big eyes...she definitely gets those from me.

 Josh came home from work and was all excited because the Sacramento Kings are more and likely going to be staying in Sacrament. He had the kids all get kings stuff on and we went out to eat to celebrate.

 ...priceless...

 Proof that our strawberry tree is growing strawberries like crazy. We picked these and got to eat them. It was the first item that we have grown that was ready to try. Mel and I are just enjoying our garden together and get excited at every little thing that shows growth. 

 Friday night sleepovers down stairs are very common in our home. The kids love it. We usually will watch a movie with the kids and they fall asleep during or right after. It's not usually the best night sleep for Josh and I, but its worth the memories with our kids. 

 The kids have decided its a lot of fun putting Mckinley in the wagon and pulling her around. She loves it though so thats what matters. 

 ...love...

 Pretty soon this little girl wont be able to sit like this in a high chair. I just love baby skin and all their little rolls. Mckinley just melts our hearts quite often. 

 ...precious...

I feel like life just wont slow down. When I actually have a few minutes to sit down and think I just wonder where in the world has the time gone. Josh and I have been married for almost 10 years and we have 3 little kids. I do NOT feel like a mother of 3, but I am.  I need to keep reminding myself that I need to enjoy each moment even though there are lots of not so fun times. Being a mother is not easy. It's very time consuming and definitely a test of my patience. I just hope I do something right and my kids turn out good. 

Lastly I have to show off my little niece Olivia. She is 1 month old now. I love her even though I haven't got to hold her. It's still weird to think that Danny my baby brother and Jacie are parents. Soon enough 2 more little babies will be coming in June and I am so thrilled!