Family time

Chelsea & her kiddos stayed with us for about 3 weeks.  

It was a very FULL few weeks since, between the two of us, we have 8 kids ages 6, 4, 2, 1, & baby. 

BUSY is the word to describe it!  We had fun, though, playing outside (when it wasn't raining), jumping on the tramp, and going going going.  I'm sad we didn't take more pictures, but we honestly fell into bed exhausted every night. Getting the kids fed, off to school, and through the day was enough. :)  

We really loved getting to spend so much time with her and the kids.

We took the kids on a walk one day after we'd been stuck inside for awhile due to rain. It was a much needed breath of fresh air.  We had fun and got done just in time for more rain to hit.  The kiddos looooved the trail:

hiking stick a must:

 Chels & her cute kids:

Ryder & Reverie are little buds:

Callen enjoying the ride:

 Syanne:

Slow pokes with their sticks:

 Tave found a TON of sticks to throw off the bridge into the water, love this kid:

Stick dropping with Ryder:

My Tave always, always finds me a flower. I love how sweet and thoughtful he is and I love this little sign of spring:

These kids had a blast together. Here as a rare, quiet moment when they were exhausted enough to all sit down and watch a show. I LOVE this picture:

The dynamic duo...oh can you see the mischief in those grins?!

Sweet little Nea, I love that she warmed up to me and loved to snuggle:

Last year, when I had Callen, my  mom was going to come help me and stay for awhile. But her back went out and she ended up having to postpone the trip...until now! So we got a fun-filled week with Nonny-Kare. It was much needed after the crazy-hard semester Jeff has had. We didn't see him much and we were all ready for it to be over!

My nice camera is in the shop...so I forgot to take pictures...I'll have to get more from everyone else. We had a fun girls movie night, lots of hang out time, and lots of talking and playing. It was such a good visit...THANK YOU MOM for all that you do!

Nonny Kare was the popular request for bedtime stories:

And we got to see Mckenon really quickly on his way up to ID for school.

Okay family, I need the rest of the pics from the trip!!!!  

Love you all!

February's Everyday Moments

February is when the winter crazies always hit!  

This year was even a little crazier since we don't get to see Daddy in the evenings.   We are getting used to it, though, and surviving.  We have come up with some fun indoor activities that have saved us! 

Here's our every day life in Feb.

Baths-they are an easy way to take up a whole lotta time! This little guy can finally sit on his own and loooves bathtime with the bros!

His face cracks me up:

Mornings are pretty low key, which I love. The boys play in my room while I get ready. Someone is always, always cuddling on Callen.  Good thing he's such a great sport about it!

My bedspread always ends up on the ground and the boys love wrestling in it. It's super fluffy and soft!

Callen saw the ironing board one day when I had it out and he freaked. He is obsessed with it (and other strange appliances, like the microwave and vacuum).  So I laid it down on the ground for him and he was SO thrilled. haha.  The other boys joined in on the fun and it entertained them all morning!  

Here it is being used as a drum:

It also became a surfboard:

and a skateboard:

and then a boogie board:

And Ryder just wanted to dance on it!

Oh these boys make me laugh!!

Jeff's grandparents sent us a bulb for Christmas. We really love this tradition they've started and have so much fun watching it grow and bloom.  (I need to find what I did with last years bulb so I can plant it again too!)  

So gorgeous:

Ryder, Callen, & I pulled out the tunnel one day while the big boys were at school. It was a HIT!

Ryder was so cute and kept saying "Come on, Callen" (he says it Cayyen) as he led him through.  It was so fun to see these two playing together!

Sundays are our FAVORITE day of the week because we get Jeff all to ourselves. It's awesome and we all live for that day!  He baked some yummy treats with the boys before church!

Coloring is a frequent activity. We looove us some crayons!  :)  

Ryder's first time coloring with two colors, in the lines!  I was super impressed:

Tave takes his art very seriously:

Cute West:

Dress ups are also a daily event.  

Tave (aka Santa, whose hat is full of toys to give away) is usually the dress up- instigator. 

He sure is a fun one, that Tave!

Some Callen-goodness:

This kiddo gives me a run for my money every single day!  

He has started pulling himself up on everything and oh man, does he wear me out!  

We are loving *almost* every second, though!

And he's also crawling, craziness, I tell you!

He usually sits like this...looks uncomfortable, but it's his thing. :)

Aaaand, he started standing in his crib. Which is such a cool trick that he decided to do it a lLOT during naptime- instead of sleep. Luckily we got back on track fairly quickly!

And just because I love these cute faces:

January Everyday Moments

January passed by so quickly!! 

We spent lots and lots of time inside since outside looked like this:

We worked on lots of art projects and did some canvases together for our art wall.  The boys LOVED these and we had so much fun being creative together:

Jeff is crazy and is taking way too  many credits than any sane person should.  He's working 30+ hours a week at his regular job and then taking 18 credits for his doctorate degree. 

To say it's been hard would be an understatement...but we can do hard things and at least we know the end is in sight! (April, we are counting the days!!!) 

The kiddos are in heaven when they get a minute with Dad:

My good friend, Rachel came over for a playdate. She has a boy to match every one of mine and these two guys are only a few weeks apart, SO FUN!  

Ryder loves climbing in Callen's toy...I find him in here daily. So funny:

This little guy is getting *this* close to crawling. We keep thinking it'll happen any day and he keeps just scooting around!  He gets up on all fours, though, and then usually goes to the plank position. Oh how we love our Callen!

Weston celebrated 100 days of school!  He had to wear a shirt with 100 things on it...so he made a flash shirt.  He's so proud of it!

 These boys.  They sure have my heart.  Tave is mia because he hates pictures lately. But every morning everyone climbs into my bed for hugs and snuggles.  

The boys each got lego hero factory guys for Christmas and they LOOOOOVE them.  They play with these daily for hours and love to take them apart and put them back together. Tave told me that putting it together is the coolest part. ;)  Then, of course, they need a photo shoot!

As much as Tave hates the camera, that's how much Ryder loves it!  He is always saying cheese and telling me to 'take my picture, mom!' He just hit 2 1/2 years and I feel like this 1/2 year step is such a big one. He is talking so much and understands tons. He is starting to listen a little better and has the sweetest, kindest heart.  We love our Ryder!