Just some randoms...

Papa Mary...

That is what Brynley calls my Dad and Mary. Funny huh. Papa and Nana came for a visit this past weekend to see little Carly. We had a nice time together, just visiting, laughing about farts (my kids are gross) and holding the babe. Thanks Guys for coming to boring Farmington. We love you!

Welcome to the World...

and our family Carly Jane! Carly was born on 2-20-10 at 9:16am.She weighed 7 lbs 12 oz. and 21 inches long. She beat Caleb by 2 oz! We are so happy and blessed that she is here healthy and happy:)

Pics of the kids' first look at her. Notice Bryn's face in these, she wasnt so sure about her at first! Caleb and Aubs were thrilled!

Miss Obediant.

Not sure where to even start with this post but I know that I dont want to forget what an obediant, strong, little girl I have. Last night I had asked Aubrie to put the laundry that was in the washer in the dryer for me. I had started some laundry yesterday and remembered it was Brynley's blankets that needed to be dryed before bed. So being such a good girl Aubs went down to the laundry room to help me out. She always does this chore for me and has never had a problem. Well, little did I know that Mitch had already done the blankets and had started a load of our laundry in the washer. Aubs apparently stopped the washer, took out the heavy, sopping, wet laundry and was trying to transport it to the dryer. Water was all over her and the laundry room! After about 20 minutes, we realized she wasnt anywhere to be found. We looked everywhere and the last place Mitch looked was in the laundry room. He found her trying to dry up the floor with a towel! I felt so bad for her! She was so wet and tired looking from trying to complete the task I had asked her to do. I felt so bad last night. I know she didnt know any better but for me, something really stung my heart. She is such a sweetie to me and Mitch. Of all of our kids Aubs has the biggest heart and she is very rarely disobediant. This proves it. I wish she would have asked me for help or came to me and made sure thats what she was supposed to do with the wash. But she didnt and she took on quite the task. I feel for some reason out of this experience like a bad parent. Have I pushed my kids to hard that she was afraid to ask for my help? Did it ever cross her mind that I would get mad at her if she came to me? I really hope not. I told her last night after this ordeal, that she should have came to me and asked for my help or told me that the wash was still going and she couldnt do the chore. Its times like these that a parent has to stop and just give their kids a hug and tell them how much they love them. I didnt know what else to do. I find it to be the most challenging experience...being a parent and a good one at that! Here is a picture that Mitch took of Aubs last week before school.

"I'm a New Man"...

That's what my funny boy Caleb said after he got a haircut and we highlighted his hair. Yes, you read that right- we put highlights in his hair. Hey a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do, to get her son to get a haircut! SO we came up with a compromise, because I am all about compromising. I said if he got a shorter haircut then I would highlight his hair. So we went to Mimi's house to get her help with the highlighting, since let's face it, if it didnt turn out he wouldnt be mad at me:) Monique did a great job and Caleb was thrilled with the results. Thanks Mimi!
Here is my little man with his new do!

They Are All Mine!

Here is such a sweet picture of Bryn laying on my ever growing tummy. She loves to lay on my belly and feel the baby moving and kicking around inside of me. I am grateful for having such a healthy pregnancy and I shouldnt complain as often as I do but this HAS been so hard the past few weeks especially the past few days as the time is getting closer of the arrival of sweet Carly.
One pain that seems to be growing also are the stares and comments of people and strangers to me and my family. I often hear "Wow, four kids huh. Thats so many." Or "Gee, why did you do that to yourself?" "You seem too young to have so many kids" And the ever more annoying one.. "Are you done?". Really, I didnt know it was anyone's business but me and my husband's! I often feel as though I am on display for people to just say whatever they want to about what me and Mitch have decided to do as a couple and what is best for our family. Why do people feel compelled to be nosey and rude about something thast isnt any of their concern?
As I was reading the new Ensign for February, I came across this article that was exactly what I had been thinking about. I want to share it with those of you who read my blog. I really feel as this lady does about this same subject. I am grateful for each of my little's. They are my whole world and I wouldnt have it any other way!


“Are these all yours?”
It’s a question I hear often, so it didn’t surprise me when I heard it from the lady behind me in line at the grocery store. I looked at my six-year-old and five-year-old daughters standing on either side of my full cart, my toddler happily swinging her legs from the seat in front, and my four-month-old baby strapped to my chest.
“Yes, they are all mine,” I said, smiling.
From the time my husband and I started our family, our choices about how many children to have and when to have them have often come into public question. The decision to have our first child was not a logical one, at least not according to the standards of the world. We were still in our early 20s. Having just recently graduated from college, my husband was searching for a “real job.” We had a meager income and no insurance. Still, the impression was undeniable that spirits eagerly waited to come to our family, so we proceeded with faith.
We were blessed with a healthy pregnancy, a beautiful baby girl, and a stable job with a career track. I was grateful to be able to stay at home with my daughter and the three children who followed. All were brought into our family after strong divine impressions that the time was right, but that didn’t make it easy to explain to others why we would have so many children so close together.
The many inquiries I unfailingly receive often question my judgment: “Why so many?” “Do you not realize how much it costs to raise a child to age 18?” “Can you really give each child the attention and opportunity he or she needs?” And, of course, “Are you done yet?”
I hope we’re not done, even though the years of parenting small children are intense and extremely challenging physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. There are days when children need to be fed, diapers need to be changed, babies need to be soothed, and noses need to be wiped—all at the same time. At such times I question my sanity and wonder if I know what I am doing. On those days the voice of the world seems to laugh in derision, as if to say, “Told you so!”
But how grateful I am during those moments for the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the value it places on families. Every day I rely on gospel principles taught by prophets past and present to know that my work as a mother—and it is work—is the most important thing I could be doing in my life and is worth every effort. In answer to fervent prayer, I receive divine assistance daily to do what I am asked to do in my home. Through His tender mercies, a loving Father in Heaven allows those days of absolute exhaustion to come punctuated with moments of incandescent joy.
So to the woman at the grocery store and to others who wonder why I would devote my heart and soul to raising children, I proudly reply, “Yes, they are all mine—gratefully, whole-heartedly, and without hesitation!”

Bryn's Blurbs

Lately I have the most talkative three yr old ever. She says some of the cutest things like...
The other night at dinner she said "Mom, You're my best cook."

Or when she said "Do you know why kids are allergic to dogs? Because they are scared of them."

When her and Aubrie are playing its always "Pretend that..." She ends it in things like "you're my mom" or that "we are babies" or my favorite that "you're my boyfriend" she tells her daddy that one!

One day last week we were going into the store and she grabs my hand and says "I love my mom. And I love my daddy, and sister and brother and baby sister and my grandparents" So sweet!

My favorite word she says she "Actually" Because she says it like "AKKshully" She really emphasizes the first part of the word and even has a little bit of rasp come from the back of her throat when she says it.

Just some cute things I want to remember of my baby.