Picture update!

This year has been pretty crappy.  I try not to blog about it.

 

Thankfully we have had a little bit of fun.  My dad took our family to Goblin Valley.  It was so nice!  Camp was beautiful, being with family was awesome and the food was top notch!  The boys loved being with Emma, Ali and Canyon and exploring with them.  We took a hike through some slot canyons also which was AMAZING!  I sure loved spending time with my bro and his wife and family and being with my dad and Paula was wonderful as well!

 

Also, somewhere in my mess of pictures, is Jared's first birthday.  We had some family take the time to come all the way here to celebrate, which was awfully sweet of them!  Jared is a shining ray of sunshine in our home, we love him very much!

 

There are a few pictures from our trip to Sheridan, WY, where Brad had an interview.  Brad decided it could be our 10 yr anniversary trip.  Fitting, since it took 10 hrs to drive there and 10 hrs to drive back and we were only there for just over 10 hrs. 

 

I am honestly trying to stay positive, but after 9 months of Brad being out of work...  And just other matters going on in life right now...  Ugh.  Anyway, these pictures are the highlight of fun for me this year!

 

Showshoeing!!

 Totally awesome opportunity!!!!!!  Carolyn asked if I want to join her and her and her cycling group snowshoeing!  Wala!  This morning I found myself with a bunch of fun new people up at Mutual Dell in fresh cozy powder strapping on some sweet snowshoes Michelle let me use.  Then off we went hiking through the marshmellowy ground between the snow covered pines.  It was breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL!!  Needless to say my new passion is snowshoeing and I can't wait to go as a family someday!

Me and Carolyn

A horrible picture of the super fun group! 

Jared! 8 Months old!

 Our little Jer Bear, Jerry Berry! 

 Who smiles at the sight of anyone and everyone and loves when they will smile back!

Who has begun growing like crazy!

  Who has started talking (words like Mama and Dad and bbbbbb)

 

 crawling, pulling up on things and walking along side.

 Jared makes our family and home happier and crazier then it has ever been :)

 I love the adventure and curiosity our little growing baby brings to our home!

 

 Not that I want him to grow AT ALL.  But seeing that it is inevitable...  I embrace it through the tears..  And he makes that easy to do :)

 

Jared truly is a light.

 Jared is a unifier.

Jared is our family's joy!

And we think he is cute :)

Jared's First Halloween

Like my make-shift photo shoot in my front room with my crapy camera?  I sure do, but it helps to have someone sooooo cute to capture!  Speaking of cameras...  I complained one day about having too many.  THEN one went on sale at Costco-- THE ONE I REALLY REALLY WANTED FOR AN AMAZING DEAL.  But being the frugal freak I am, I wouldn't buy it till my good camera went dead.  So secretly I hoped it would die...  Well it DID!!!  And them Brad got laid off....  So now I have my crappy camera.  Period.  Which is why I haven't blogged much, because I do not like the quality of pictures I have taken...  Ugh.  My poor children...  ANYWAY. Here is the run down since I didn't take anyones picture but Jared:
Jared was a Zebra.

Bryan was a turtle.

Paul was a Ninja.

Hyrum was a Prince.

And it was a fine and wonderful Halloween indeed!

Bryan, makin' me laugh!

Wheew!  What a night!  I finally got all the kids to bed and got started on some muffins for breakfast.  But there was one cute little guy still awake.  I don't blame him, he did sleep for a couple hours after a fun swim and long trip to Costco.  So Bryan and I ended up making the muffins together.  While they were cooking, I still had 100 things to still get done today!  Exercising happened to be on the top of my priorities.  So I turned on my DVD of Classical Stretch (which is my favorite!) (AND I will still be able to do it when I am 90, I am sure).  Bryan was hesitant to do sit-ups with me, he said, "Those are only for GIRLS!"  Ok, whatever.  Then went the timer and I hurried and paused Miranda Esmond-White, to go check on the muffins.  It took me a few minutes.  Bryan came into the kitchen saying, "HER is WEIRD!  She is going like THIS!"  Then he held his eyes as wide open as he could for as LONG as he could!  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  I love that kid.  After that, I felt the need to explain what a "Pause" button was :)

After I got the muffins out and another batch in, I found Bryan asleep on the couch, or so I thought... "Bryan! Did you fall asleep?" I hollered down to him. A little startled, he replied, "No, I am just closing my eyes." Hehe, I love you kid!

Here is another picture of my sleeping beauty at the kitchen table:

And did I say something about breakfast earlier?  Well, I am already missing me some of this:

 

But still so grateful to have this (unfortunately we missed the big ol' kiss he just gave me):

Errrr!  I just can't say it enough!  WE LOVE JARED!  He has brought our whole family closer.  We are happier and more loving and everything!  He is our miracle!  EACH of our kids feel this way too!  Jared is like our ooey-gooey, gluey love!  He bonds our family stronger.  Just like Bryan did when he was born, and Paul, and Hyrum...  But it seems stronger the more kids we have.  This may not make sense to anyone but me... 

And seriously, he is SO cute!

 And maybe someday, he will like to wear swim goggles, instead of chew on them.

And that shirt there "Best Friends" Bryan decided he is the turtle and Jared is the crab :)  I do hope they will always be best friends!

Makin' a baby!

Makin this sweet baby wasn't easy! In fact, I stayed in bed for almost a whole year being terribly sick and then after I had him I got put on bed rest! But I would do it for my Jared any day, any year. I love him more and more everyday! I remember when I had just hit 6 months along and they were concerned that I might lose my little guy. Ever kick and movement I cherished, because I didn't know how long I would have him. His spirit and mine became best friends during our nine hard months. And then he came, and they put me out. And when I finally came to, they made me wait an excruciatingly long time to see him. I felt like part of me was gone! When I finally got to hold him in my arms, I felt such love and a sense of relief. He is here and safe and in my arms.  And it has been that way ever since. I still hold him all the time! And when I am not, I feel like a part of me is missing. I will worry about the whole "letting go" later, because for now, I am enjoying holding on to every moment I have with Jared, and honestly, all my little rascals!

 Brad and I decided we need to clone our little guy.  He is just so perfect.  And frankly, I don't like to share him.  But, I am always glad when I do.  He loves his Daddy and his Daddy sure loves him :)

Man!  I love my family!

discovery

Paul is super clever!  Yesterday at dinner Paul pointed this out:
"I know why a fork is called a fork.
Because it has 4 poky things!"
I never thought that that...  Four... Fork...  Pretty smart!  But I did begin to think that
Life is an accumulation of one's discoveries
and my boys have a life that is full and adventurous and is being discovered one utensil at a time :)