Fall 2011

These are our jack-o-lanterns for 2011. We had a lot of fun carving them. Jacob was really curious why the pumpkins were smiling at him!

One of our favorite fall activities is going to the pumpkin walk. We had a lot of fun this year. Jacob wasn't too thrilled because it was a bit chilly but he sure enjoyed the bus ride and fire pit.

Aren't they cute! Jacob was having a blast putting his head into all the cutouts. Of course my older two enjoy this part of the pumpkin walk the most.

This is our crop of pumpkins. For only 70 cents, we thought we would try planting a pumpkin patch this year in our backyard. We were shocked to see how many pumpkins actually grew! Yes some of them are green but that is due to them hiding under the leaves. Now they are changing into a cool orange color.

We love fall!

9 Months Old Already!

Mr. Jacob is now 9 months old. I can't believe the time has flown by so quickly. This time last year I was counting down the days because I was tired of being pregnant. I couldn't wish fall here any faster and this year I am so sad that it is getting closer and closer to him turning 1 years old. As you can see from this picture, he is a mobile kid and learning things every second of the day. Yes he can get around crawling and quickly learned how to get up on his feet and hang on to everything. Now he thinks he is so big and brave because he takes one hand off and moves away like he is going to just take off walking. It hasn't happened yet but I believe it won't be long. He is so much fun though. The kids have fun with him and are learning quickly to pick their things up or Jacob will get them. I definitely have to keep my eye on him because he tends to get into everything. I just can't believe how quickly he can move. One minute he is over at his toys in the living room and the next minute I see his feet slip into the bathroom down the hall to explore. I love him to pieces and can't get enough of him. This is the first child of mine that I actually think looks like me. When Jacob smiles, I can see my baby pictures in him. I really can see my dad in him and my mom says I looked a lot like my dad when I was little. I am so grateful for this little guy!

This is just a funny video of him and his crawling. He was chasing this ball around while using just his head. Matthew is the one laughing in the background.

Fun shots!

Waiting for the Tremonton fair parade. He was super excited even though it was like 100 degrees.

We had fun with curlers one day. I couldn't believe her hair actually held this much curl.

Ready for church one day. Just thought we would snap a couple pictures of me and the kids!

Silly kid! Really that is all I can say about this kid.

Aren't they cute! Kimberly and her pretty attire and Matthew and his mohawk!

A Good Day in the Mountains

Some pictures from July 24 Primary Parade

First day of 2nd grade

Kimberly started the 2nd grade today. She was so excited to start school again. Her teacher's name is Mrs. Wright and she seems really nice. Things she is excited for this year: she gets a desk this year, her classroom has a pet turtle, and her thermos in her lunchbox (so she can have mac and cheese or soup). Kimberly's goal this year... to be the smartest kid in her class. I hope she succeeds!

Big sister vs little brother

I decided to let Kimberly feed Jacob one day. He didn't cooperate very well but they sure had fun.

Twins

Tell me they didn't come from the same gene pool!

More fun pictures from summer

Fun Pictures from this summer

Hogle Zoo 2011

We were able to fit in our annual summer trip to Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake this year. It was very hot that day but we stayed cool with the misters throughout the zoo. Jacob had fun for his first zoo trip and Kimberly and Matthew were beyond excited and happy. Here are some pictures from our trip.

Jacob's first crawl

Jacob 7 months old

Such a big boy!

Happy 4th of July 2011

Isn't that a great site! Tell me that isn't the best patriotic start to a parade! I am proud of these veterens. (My dad is in here but hiding behind a flag)

Here's my dad... the tall one on the back row on the end. For all my old drill teamers... don't you just want to yell GUIDE! HAHA.

This is the only photo of my kids. Let me explain some things. First off, they are sitting waiting for the parade to start. Second, they are wearing my mom's silly hats to keep the sun off of them (which at present time there wasn't much sun). Third, Matthew has a cracker in his mouth because my kids were a little under the weather. Poor things were outside the day before enjoying Soda sun and 4th of July morning ended up with heat stroke. They couldn't stop throwing up all morning. By the time this picture was taken, Kimberly was feeling better but Matthew had just thrown up again. I had the cracker in his mouth to try and settle his tummy.

We did have a great 4th of July. Enjoyed the parade, had a great time at my parents house, enjoyed visiting with family, watched many fireworks, checked out some old cars at the Cruise-in, and enjoyed the sun. Yes we had a few hiccups in our weekend but all in all we had a great 4th.

Happy 4th America!

Swimming 2011

Kimberly

Matthew in his alien goggles.

Kimberly hanging out in her cute goggles.

Matthew

So we just finished up swimming lessons for the summer. The kids did great and I am just glad they are over. haha. We take and pay for swimming lessons at the Sports Academy. A bit pricey but worth every penny. The classes are small and they swim indoors so no matter what the weather is, they will swim.

Kimberly did great. Let me give you a bit of background. At age 2, Kimberly would not get in the water... not even for a bath. She would stand in the bathtub and scream. She hated water. I have no idea why but that was just her. Eventually she did start sitting in the bathtub and then started to like water. At age 5, I put her in her first swimming lesson. She was so scared but did what the teachers told her to do. She would rarely let go of the teacher on anything and would not jump into the water like all the other kids. After swimming lessons that year, she eased up a bit at the big pool with us and started floating like she learned. Each year she has been less afraid and more willing to do things. This year she was a fish. She was swimming around by herself the first day. So much so that they moved her up to a different level. She didn't get scared... she loved it. She got to try her hand at side stroke, back stroke, front stroke, and many other things. My favorite part of her lessons... Kimberly leaping into the pool and floating on her back without the help of her teachers. She isn't afraid anymore. I am so proud of her.

Matthew did awesome. This was Matthew's first year of swimming lessons. From watching other preschool groups in the past, my only goal for Matthew was to stay in the pool. I didn't care if he listened or did what the teacher wanted... I just wanted him to stay in the pool. Well he far exceeded that. He was floating around and not scared of anything. I am so proud of him.

In a couple years I will have to put the kids in a few more lessons in the summer. That way the kids can learn and continue to improve on their swimming skills.