Mommy pics

A friend of mine from our old neighborhood, who happens to be the most amazing photographer, posted a new project on her blog that I am going to try. She mentioned how moms are never in pictures because they are the ones taking the pictures. This is so true! She is challenging moms to take a picture with their children once a week for a year. I think this is a great idea. So, every Sunday I am going to take a picture with one of my kids. These are from bedtime yesterday. The girls were having a hard time staying in bed, so a little bit ago I changed the bedtime routine a little bit. Now the girls and I read books, tell funny stories, and pray together every night in Taylor's room. I have loved it and the girls have done very well. A friend gave us a book with stories and poems for girls and that is what we usually read. Joslyn will be joining us soon, as soon as she starts sleeping in a big bed. I think the pictures turned out pretty good, I know I will enjoy this new project, Thanks Skye! You can look at Skye's blog from the link on mine, it is the very last one posted, she really is amazing. I would take all my kids to her if I could afford it!

The choice is yours....

at Chuck-a-rama..
Okay so I am going to confess something, I like to eat at chuck-a-rama. Which is so funny to me growing up calling it "up-chuck-a-rama!" I hadn't eaten there in years and when Justin's family was visiting we decided to go. It was so yummy, they have a great salad bar and lots of good desserts. And, our whole family can eat there for $20. We finally have enough kids to make it worth it, a long time dream of mine! Yesterday after a shopping trip to Lowes, we decided to eat lunch there. The kids love having one on one time with us going through the buffet and picking out whatever they want. Matt came with us yesterday which made it a little easier to handle. I asked him to get out the camera so we could remember the joyous day!

Noah is growing

So I can't believe that Noah is already 4 months old. I feel like he just arrived. I am glad he is getting older, sleeping and eating better, and playing with toys. I really don't enjoy the newborn stage that much. I mean they are so cute, but for me it is very stressful. I am much more relaxed these days. Noah loves the jumparoo now and doesn't like to just lay and do nothing, he is always busy. He is also outgrowing his clothes. I put on the outfit in the last picture and was wondering why it was so small. I didn't realize it was a 0-3 month size! He looks so funny with his arms and legs sticking out so much. He won't go the the doctor for a couple of weeks, but I am sure he will be off the charts again on his height. He is already in some 6-12 month size pants. He seems so tall. I have to admit I didn't know how fun having a little boy would be. I was so happy with all of my girls, but it turns out that I love having a boy. He is fun to dress up as well! He looks so cute in his little outfits, just like a little man. Anyway, I probably sound crazy, but I am so that is okay!

My guys

Well I am really excited to keep up the blog now. I finally made last years blog into a book and it is so cute! It was fun putting it all together and I can't wait to see it. So, now I am going to try to post more often, and use the blog as a family journal. Well the first picture is of Justin right before Stake Conference. He was in charge of the ushers for Elder's quorm. Justin is serving as 2nd counseler right now and I think he does a pretty terrific job. It keeps him pretty busy, but I am glad that he takes his calling so seriously and helps out where he should. He has meetings on Sunday mornings and Wed. nights. I just keep telling myself that it could be worse. It seems like he is really busy these days. He has something going on everynight. Monday we have family night, so at least he is home then. Tuesday he has a CERT class. It is a community emergency prepardness class. I am glad he is going, but he doesn't get home until 9 or 9:30. Wednsday he has his meeting, and then Thursay he plays basketball with the Elders. So, it has been kind of busy. After having the kids all day long, I really look foward to having him home to help me get ready for bed. Oh, and since he has been gone in the evenings, I have been going to the gym at 5:30 in the morning. I have actually enjoyed it, because I don't have to worry about it for the rest of the day. And, I had no idea how crowded the gym in at that hour! Crazy people! I keep telling myself that one day I will get more sleep, it may be in 15 years, but someday I will.

Doesn't Justin look cute as and Usher!

I had to get these photos of Justin and Noah. I love that Justin finally has his little guy to bond with.


These pictures are of Taylor and Ellie a few weeks ago. I told them they could play with my makeup. I think Taylor did a pretty good job putting hers on. Ellie went another way with her makeup. They are so funny!

Six years

I know this is a little late, but I wanted to post about it anyway. Justin and I have been married for 6 years! It has gone by quickly, but it seems like we have been married for a lot longer. I think the number of kids, the minivan, and the mortgage really help to speed things up. I just have to say that I am the luckiest woman in the world. I love Justin so much and I am so glad that we met and got married. And that is just about what happened, soon after we met we knew we would get married. I feel like our relationship is so special because Heavenly Father set us up. We met in January of 2002, in the country of El Salvador. We were both serving full time missions. Actually the first time I met Justin he came off a little bit conceited and I wasn't that impressed. He also kept correcting my Spanish and I really didn't like that. Later on that year we were put in the same area and began working together in a small town. There were only four missionaries there so we did a lot together. We shared some really incredible experiences there, sharing the gospel and serving the people. We often talk about the people we met and taught, I feel so blessed to be able to share these memories with Justin. When Justin was transferred to another area, we didn't see each other anymore. But, he was released three months later and waited patiently for me to get home too. When we met up after the mission it took me about 30 seconds to know that I wanted to be his wife. Lucky for me, it took him 10 seconds to know he wanted to marry me. Since then we have been together. Except for a week that my Dad made us separate, we both hated it! He wanted us to be sure that knew what we wanted. We got engaged a month after I came home and then got married 2 months after that. It was the best decision I have ever made. The first year of marriage wasn't easy, it took a lot of adjusting and compromise, but we got over it and started our little family. Which now is a big family and I hope it gets even bigger! I love Justin so much and I am so lucky to be married to a wonderful, honest, hot, capable, dedicated, loving, righteous, man. The kids are lucky to have him as a father. Our anniversary was really fun. My parents took the kids so we could go to the temple and out to dinner. We ate at the Melting Pot which was really good. I am so grateful for Justin and our life together and look forward to everything in our future! Here are some pictures of our wedding day. These are just some shots my Grandpa took, I didn't put any of our professional ones up, maybe I will later. Thanks for reading if you made it this far!
This is one of my Bridals before the big day.

A look back

These are some fun pictures of Justin and I when we were first married. Our life before all of our kids. I don't really remember it, so here are the pictures to prove it.
Well, this one is right after Taylor was born. Her first time at church. I remember she was so slippery in the dress that it was hard to hold her.

This is the day of my graduation, I was 8 months pregnant and so happy to be done with school!!

Justin and I on the sidelines before a Jazz game. We got to meet a lot of the players. My sister Rebekah and I had fun talking with the hot jazz guys, and Kobe Bryant.

This is Justin and I right after we were married, in our first apartment in Salt Lake.