Daddy Days

When Dan is home from work every other Wednesday, or so, we like to go on "field trips!" The crowds are non-existent, kid-energy is used up, and new places are experienced. We have been having a lot of fun, and of course, we LOVE having daddy home.

Hill Air Force Base Museum

Sugar House Park

Park City Olympic Museum

At Home with Layla

We also love that all of these places have been free!

Do You Know Who is Who?

Dan and I were looking through our kids' baby books last night, and we realized that the 3 of them are WAY more alike than we thought. Josh and Jack may look different now, but for at least the first 6 months, they all look the same.

Can you name the babies?

Baby #1

Baby # 2

Baby #3

But, no matter who is who... I totally have the cutest babies!!!

Jack

I have been thinking that I need to dedicate a post on our sweet Jack. He falls in between the oldest and the baby girl, who both get tons of things posted about them. And although Jack is the most perfect middle-child, I would hate for him to think he was ever forgotten.

Jack was our welcome surprise!

He and Josh are only 18 months apart, and they can be the best of friends... and sometimes the worst enemies. We were worried about how having a baby would effect things at our house, but Jack absolutely adores Layla. We can see that Jack was meant to be in the middle because of how much he loves his 2 siblings... and we know he will bridge any gap between the 3 of them.

Jack is full of wonder, but of very few words.

Whenever Jack is experiencing something for the first time, all we hear is, "wow" or "whoa," in a very small, soft voice. His eyes get very big and his face portrays his awe. He loves really big things, such as trains, planes, tractors, bulldozers, dump trucks, etc. He could sit for hours watching any of these things. Sometimes we catch him taking peeks under our 4-runner to see what is underneath. And, he plays with his cars/trucks laying parallel with them on the ground to be able to see each detail of what he is creating. We are so excited to see what he becomes.

Jack is a very sensitive soul.

With Josh, we had become accustomed to playing hard and loud... then Jack came. He LOVED being the baby, and just being held. He is one who will still cuddle with me in the morning or after nap time until he is fully awake. When he gets in trouble, he gets much more upset and emotional... as if his feelings were hurt. We have to be careful about this. He is quicker to say "sorry" if he has done something wrong, and still loves to have his "ahyies" kissed. (owies)

Jack Jack

Jack will most likely be in speech therapy, like his brother, but with different needs. Here are some of the words that will be "lost" when his speech delays begin to be resolved:

truck - "bub"
Layla Hope- "Ayla Wope"
Josh - "Gah"
Baby Grace - "Beebee Gae"
Baby Owen - "Beebee Ohnga"
Lucy - "Woowhee"
I Love You - "I wuh woo"
digger - "didder"
water - "yaguh"
Time to go - "tine-go"

Jack, we all love you so much. You are a very important person in our family.

It Was Time for a Party

Theme: Red

(Eventually, this table was filled with yummies.)

We LOVE candles!


You are wondering, "What is making that red glow?"
Cheap, red light bulbs... very cool.


Diet Dr. Pepper is the official drink of this party planner.

Layla had never seen so much "fire" in her house. I can't tell if she is afraid or infatuated. Maybe both.

Happy Valentines Day

Happiness Is...

...sitting in the corner of the couch, yet being totally crowded by 3 cute kiddos.

...sleeping-baby sighs.

...warm enough January days.

...small Dove Dark Chocolate squares!

...cuddling up with Dan in the morning while the boys play independently in the basement and baby girl sleeps in.

...fragrant flowers on my piano.

...knowing that I am a daughter of God, and that he trusts me with 3 of His beautiful children.

Smile today and share your happiness. 

Crazy Eight

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Here are some highlights of these last "few" years:

• We married in the Salt Lake Temple days before the 2002 SLC Olympic games began.
• We both graduated from Westminster College.
• We built our first home in South Jordan, UT.
• We welcomed Josh, Jack, and Layla to our family.
• We survived the 2008 stock-market crash.
• We have seen many awesome concerts: Ben Harper, Green Day, Jack Johnson, Modest Mouse, Matt Costa, Weezer...
• We have traveled to some great places, with and without the kids: California, Wyoming (Jackson), Colorado, San Juan Isles in WA... (we love to camp locally as well)
• Most importantly, we have only grown closer together as a family, and a couple, as we realize that our eternal family unit is what we value ABOVE ALL ELSE.

I love you Dan.

Kid Pics Friday

Hi! My name is Josh. I am 4.

For Christmas, I got a cool camera and these are the things I took pictures of.

I spend my whole day with Jack and Layla. (when she's awake)

And, my favorite lunch is chicken nuggets. (mom always makes us eat fruit with them!)

  This is my new cousin, Gracie May. She came and played at our house a lot last month. I get to see her next week. I hope she smiles at me.

I LOVE the movie Cars, and I have tons of Cars-toys, clothes, and even socks. My uncle Thomas Goates even sent my some Cars stamps from Argentina! 

Hi! I am Jack Jack, and sometimes I steal Josh's camera. I take pictures of everything, including my crazy dad!