Blackridge Reservoir

We took the kids to the Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman.  They had a blast playing in the sand and splashing in the water . . . 

Jason helped them build a lego guy out of sand . . . 

It was a perfect way to beat the summer heat and the kids are already begging to go back to "the beach!"

Our T-Ball Star!!

We signed Ethan up for t-ball this summer.  He likes it . . . (sort of).  His team is called the Snakes, and he has awesome coaches.  Ethan's favorite parts of t-ball are hitting the ball and running the bases.  He likes to do a "spin move" before he comes into home plate.  Jason and the kids chant "spin move! spin move!" when he gets close to the base . . . I'm only slightly mortified.

Ethan's not so favorite parts of t-ball involve being in the field, and waiting for his turn to bat (To his credit, it always seems to be BLAZING hot when he plays).  He asks me no less than three times a game, "Mom, is this over yet?"

The snacks at the end make it all worth it . . . Go Snakes!!

Life With Five!

Bear with me, I'm gonna get deep here . . .

Life with five kids is . . . craziness.  "Survival mode" has taken on a whole new meaning and most days I feel like I'm just barely hanging in there.  Especially now that school is out and all five kids are home . . . its been a big adjustment.   Just three weeks after having Brooklyn, the first counselor in our Bishopric called me to be in the primary presidency in our ward.  He said, "We know you just had your fifth baby, but you always seem to have it all together and we think you can do it."  Little did he know, I cried the entire way home because I so DON'T have it all together, and I felt like a big fat fake!  One morning, I was doing my scripture study and I came across this quote by Elder D. Todd Christofferson . . . "Many things are good, many are important, but ONLY A FEW are essential."  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  I realized I was treating every little item on my to-do list as something essential.  In reality, almost none of them were.  I knew I needed to make some changes.  Since that day I have been trying to simplify my life, to say no when I need to, to enjoy my kids, and to be ok when my to-do list isn't checked off by the end of each day.  I still have a LONG way to go, but I'm getting there.

It helps that these kiddos are so darn cute.  It's harder to get mad at them when they're stinkers . . .

This one is especially good at reminding me of the essentials . . .

Sibling love . . .

I had to document my first trip to Costco with five kids.  I had no room in my cart for food, but whatever . . .

I love these crazies!!

Chewbie is Three!!

On May 26, Chewbie turned three years old!  With all five of our kids having birthdays back-to-back, it's always hard for Chewbie to be the last one to celebrate.  He had been looking forward to this day for months.  His only requests for his birthday were a trip to the park, and a Captain America cake . . . deal!  

Park Fun:

The long-anticipated cake:

This picture cracks me up, because it is such a Chewbie smile!

An attempt at blowing out the candles:

Present time!

Things would be so boring without our crazy Chewbie!  He is the spark in our family, and we cannot get enough of him!  Happy 3rd Birthday Chewb!!  We love you!!

What a Princess!

We took Brooklyn to the studio for her first photo shoot.  Here are a few of my favorites . . .

We love our little princess!!

Oh, the Places He'll Go!

The Ethanator is now a preschool graduate!  And may I just say he's about the cutest little graduate ever!  We attended his graduation ceremony just a few days after I had Brooklyn.  He took the whole thing very seriously . . . we're talking laser-focus while he sang his songs!

He wanted to make sure we were early so he could snag a seat next to his "love" . . . Gretchen.  He's had a crush on Gretchen all year.  His teachers informed me that he calls her "my love" . . . as in "No one can sit next to my love!" and "I'm giving the best treat to my love."  We're in trouble . . . 

They did a little spotlight on each of the kids.  Previously they had asked the kids questions.  Then they read their responses to those questions.  Here is a video of Ethan's spotlight:

Posing with his teachers.  They were seriously the best teachers ever!

And he had to get a picture with Mom and Pa:

Congratulations Eth!  We love you!!

Brooklyn's Birth Story

I am a chronic over-planner . . . the opposite of spontaneous.  I know you can't always plan things with the arrival of a baby, but I needed SOME sort of plan this time (Especially with four other kids to think about).  I talked with my doctor and decided to be induced so I could have everything ready when baby girl came.  My mom picked the kids up early on the morning of the 15th so Jason and I could be to the hospital by 8:00.  My doctor felt certain our baby would arrive quickly since this was my fifth baby.  Our little girl had other ideas though . . . It was a LONG day of contractions.  By 6:00 that night I was exhausted!  I had stayed up all night cleaning my house (dumb, I know), and I was just so ready for her to come.  Fortunately, about 15 minutes later I knew it was finally time!  I began to push, and just as her head was starting to crown . . . she turned.  It was beyond painful . . . the most pain I've had with any of my babies.  Two big pushes later, she had arrived and I was so relieved that I sobbed.  She was here, she was perfect, and she was so darn cute!

Because she had turned her head just as she was coming out, our baby girl's face was bruised.  She looked so purple that the nurses had to put a sign in her bed that said, "I'm bruised" so the other nurses wouldn't worry about her coloring.  

Our family went back and forth the entire nine months of my pregnancy trying to agree on a name . . . Kendall or Brooklyn.  By the time we'd arrived at the hospital, we'd decided on Kendall.  We told all the nurses that's what we were going to name her.  But the moment she arrived, Jason looked down at her and said, "She's not a Kendall.  She's a Brooklyn."  I looked at her, and immediately agreed.  She was definitely a Brooklyn . . .

The kids came just after Brooklyn arrived.  They fell in love immediately.  Olivia wanted to be the first sibling to hold her.  She was so happy to finally have her baby sister!

We love you sweet girl, and we're so very blessed to have you in our family!!