I love NYC

Wow, it was all I ever thought it would be in New York. We left Tuesday night and stayed in Vegas, we had just enough time to go see the Bodies exhibit. I have always wanted to see it and it was fascinating and I have a greater appreciation for my body. The part with the babies though and the size of the fetus was creepy but so interesting to actually see how big the baby is! We got up at 4am for the airport and it went by so fast. As soon as we got there we unpacked, ate, and headed to see Spiderman on Broadway. The special effects were awesome, but other than that for me it was cheesy and they actors didn't have the best voices. There was one song called "Rise Above" that I liked. Its a comic book story so I guess cheesy is what it was originally though. Still fun to see. Spiderman was flying through the air and Jeff was mostly asleep beside me when he landed right behind us and just about on top of Jeff. Lets just say it was the best wake up call he's ever had! One thing I was amazed by as we drove from the airport was the cemeteries! Millions of gravestones just inches apart.

The next day we hoped on the double decker red bus at 9am to see the Statue of Liberty. I don't know what we were thinking but we did not pack for 40 degree weather at all. Light spring jackets and you couldn't even give Jeff's black pullover that! We stood in line to get on the ferry for about 3 1/2 hours! I was freezing to death, only a small $3 bag of roasted almonds made me happy. I was seriously contemplating just leaving! We finally made it on the ferry and got to the statue, we only had passes to go on the island not inside the statue so in our hypothermic state we decided to stay on the ferry. I was amazed at how small it was. Only 150 ft. tall when it was built by the French and then we added the base. I was thinking Empire State Bldg. tall. Still cool. This day we saw just about everything! We had the best and the worst two tour guides that day too. We saw Wall St., U. N., Ground Zero and the new Freedom Tower, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Empire State Bldg., Rockefeller Center, and some cool old churches, Canal Street I even did my first bargaining but was too chicken to ask for more the $5 off the price. Our guide told us purses are usually only worth $25. I am pretty sure we walked 10 miles. Everything is just right there.

Happy 4th Jake

Happy 4th Birthday Jake! We made Jake's favorite breakfast, french toast, that morning and he blew out his first four candles. He had his mom and dad all to himself that morning because his brothers were still sleeping.

 If there is one thing Jake really likes next to swords its action figures of any kind. We had a How to Train Your Dragon party and he was thrilled. It was the first cake I have bought in 5 years, but this was also the first time my mom hasn't been there to help me out. I love making the cake with her! Lins did great however.

 This picture is right before the party I checked the mail and Grandpa and Grandma Squires bday package had arrived perfectly in time. He was so excited we couldn't wait. They were so funny to wrap it like 6 times over he kept saying, I get another present like he had just received 6 different gifts. What a crack up! Then the party began.

 Every year the packages seem to get opened faster than before now that the kids are bigger they know that there is more than just one. Before they would open one and would get confused because we would take that one away and hand them another wrapped up box just as they got to the good stuff from the one before! He got all he wanted and more and everyone was so generous! Thank you!

 Even polite enough to open the cards up!

 He did not let go of the action figures once they were all unhooked from their package. This is the transfer that took 10 min. so he could blow out his bday candles.

 Once those candles were out, no cake or ice cream for him. He had some good setting up and pretending to do with those army guys.

Four reasons of the many reasons we love you Jake:

1. No one can snuggle quite like you. Your mom just can't wait to get that kiss goodnight and snuggle during some of those few quiet afternoons.

2. The great pretender. You can conjure up the most elaborate productions with those action figures of yours. You are so easy to let others play and share the action with you as well. Your motto could be the more the merrier.

3. The way those big eyes shine at us when you are excited to tell us what happened at school that day and what you made. Or a funny story you are about to tell. They just sparkle!

4. Your giggles when you are ticklish. You love to be tickled and ask mom to tickle you all the time and I do because I can't resist that giggle.

Our spring update...

We had our first warm day at the first of January but it didn't last too long. We had to take advantage of our new snowball makers. I can't wait for the future snowball wars, these puppies will give us the edge! The boys had a great time as did I, which isn't surprising when it comes to me and the snow. 

I just couldn't resist taking a picture of these handsome little gentlemen one Sunday morning when everything was actually going smoothly. I just love Jake's funny face it kills me.

 The boys have watched Sandlot with Jeff and I and I cringe to think that I actually let that happen so early in their lives but it is one of mine and Jeff's favorite shows. Mute is usually on hand when I am there and some nice fast forwarding DVR. But the boys love the idea and what better place to set one up than in our dirt backyard. It's perfect for them and they love it, I just have to get rid of those pesky weeds one of these days. Jeff and the boys will play for hours!

 We finally had great snow to make a snowman and use our Christmas stocking gift complete with a pipe for Frosty! That is the third snowman Jax and Con made that day! They seriously rolled some big snowballs, I could hardly lift them!

 This is a regular sight at our house especially since it warmed up so much. I just love to sit on the deck on watch them all play. There is nothing more that warms my heart than to see all these cousins who love each other so much and just want to play together all the time. They each have their own little space and the freedom to go wherever in or out. This day I even let them bring some toys outside which I don't normally do and they were so good to play and even clean them up and bring them in after they were all done. I can't wait for summertime. 

 Sometimes Jake and Jadyn can get in their own little pretend world together and you can't stop their little imaginations!

 These two you can generally find in the dirt consistently especially if Jax has first reign on the shovel. My favorite part of watching Lauren is that she is usually humming something random as well as talking to herself.

 You can count on Cooper to be the best dressed for all occasions and I love it. He has all sorts to tell you and has a lot of energy. 

 This is where I found Hunter one day after 20 minutes of him whining because I wouldn't let him help me cook the bacon. So funny and he knew he was funny too. He posed for each picture!

Hunter growing up

We are finally all better after two or more weeks of one sick person after another. Even Jeff had it for three weeks. Luckily mine only lasted for two days and I was back. February always flies right by after a forever January and now its March and we are halfway through it! I just wanted to put some updates for Hunter since he doesn't even have a scrapbook! He is growing so fast and becoming himself more each day. He is finally starting to talk and will do some signs after months of coaxing. He can now audibly say: Bump (Jump), Fish, Ga' ma (Grandma), Dad and Ma, Ba (Ball), eeth (teeth), pop (popsicle) the signs for more and please and drink. He is starting to point with his finger and will tuck his head down close to his finger so you can really see what he is talking about. He jabbers to us especially the boys about whatever he is wanting to tell you. He can climb to just about anything and drags our 5 gallon buckets everywhere to stand on.  It reminds me of this stool in my Grandma Squires house that had this poem on it; "This little stool of mine, I use it all the time, to reach things I couldn't and lots of things I shouldn't."The other day we were all going down to feed the chickens and were laughing about something, we all stopped and it was quiet for a second and then Hunter started to laugh like he had just gotten the joke! He is still taking a bottle to go to bed and for naps and I am having a hard time taking it away because he goes down so easy! He wins the prize so far for the best tantrums a kid can throw in our family. He can out eat anyone at the table no joke and will eat just about anything and surprisingly doesn't like regular snack food. I personally am thankful for that. I would rather eat a piece of jerky, apple, orange and an almond than have a ritz cracker. He even ate raw cauliflower today at lunch. He is a mama's boy but is learning that sometimes if he really wants to go do something fun he has to go with someone else. For example, Kristina was taking the boys out to jump before Jake went to school and I was cleaning up lunch and I asked him if he wanted to jump with Kristina or stay inside with mom and he immediately went to Kristina. I had him trained on his dad right when he was one like his brothers except Jake kept teasing him and getting to Jeff first so now he would prefer his mommy. I'd better enjoy it while I can.

Ski Trip

We went skiing after the first of the year while the kids were on break still and it was the most perfect day, just like spring skiing. I had to take off my jacket and just wear my warm up shirt most of the day. Jeff and I were really hesitant about taking the boys. The past two years they have gone skiing and we have tried to teach them and Jax even had lessons. But it always ended and began in tears and throwing fits. One thing you have to know about Jax is that he is very competitive and wants to be the best at everything and has a hard time when he doesn't get it and can't do it how he wants to. Jake however is our free spirit last year did good with Grandpa for only being 2yrs. old until he watched his brother's tantrum. So this year we were very hesitant, it costs big bucks to ski. They did awesome to say the least. Jax wanted nothing to do with the edgie wedgie and skied with Jeff the first part of the day, while I took Jake. Thanks goodness for helmets, he booked it down the hill french fry style! It was my first time trying to get a kid on the lift and finally abandoned my poles which made it lots easier. My thighs were killing me from the snowplow but I think Jake is going to be great. He is just so light that even a huge snowplow doesn't slow him down much. Jax came with me the last half of the day and it was so fun to see him start to learn to turn. Now if we can get him to wait for us and he got on the lift all by himself. I was so proud of the kids. There is something about skiing that just brings back all those childhood memories and my brother, dad and me on the mountain having picnics looking over Strawberry on the Becker lift, eating oranges after a long day of skiing, trying to catch Mitch as he booked it down the hill and dragged me through the trees and powder. Our first teacher April who taught us the pizza (aka snowplow), that nervous feeling when your dad takes you on the black diamonds and you want to ride the lift back down, but the accomplishment as you look back up the hill you just made it down. Finally trying to keep your eyelids open riding down the canyon home. Hopefully we can create those same kind of memories with our kids. Thanks dad!

Birthday Wishes Already...

Every morning after breakfast as the kids and I are clearing the table and doing the dishes and such we turn on the Ipod for a little pump of energy and fun as we clean. Usually this is on the days Jax doesn't have school like Monday or Friday. Each of the kids and I have our favorites songs we request and we rotate through each one. I like this song by Mindy Gledhill called Crazy Love, Jake like "Life is a Highway" aka McQueen, and Jaxon like "Eye of the Tiger". Our morning is going normal and we are almost finished when Jax pauses his song and says, "Mom? I know what I want for my birthday when I turn six." And I proceed to ask what that is. He goes on to tell me he wants to invite all his friends over, turn on the "Tiger" song and they can watch while I dance!!! He was totally serious and then he says and I want you to paint my face like a Tiger. "The kids will really like to watch me dance cause I am good!" I said you are good but wouldn't it be more fun if all of you danced to the song? Nope, I want to dance and they get to watch! There you have it, his birthday isn't till July and we repeat this dialog every time we play the song in the morning with different add ons each time like making sure I put six candles in the cake. I guess we will see how it all plays out in the end, I can't wait! Now I'd better go YouTube how to paint a face like a tiger or hire an artist for the occasion.

Christmas

We were so lucky this year to be able to go up to Ogden for Christmas, in years past just the thought of loading all the Christmas presents up along with all our regular stuff blew my mind but we were lucky this year. Just the girls went shopping in SLC the day after Thanksgiving and my mom came. We shopped our hearts out and then she took it all to her house, wrapped it all up and labeled it for me and all we had to bring was maybe 5 extra Christmas things. What would I do without her?! We went up on Wednesday afternoon and played and played and played, it was freezing but that doesn't stop my kids from asking Grandpa fifty times a day if we can go to the school again! And he always gave in. Mitch and Cami came up Christmas Eve day and it was so fun to all be together. The boys had a great time together. In April my parents will have 5 grandkids, all boys! On Christmas Eve we went to dinner at Maddox in Perry. No better rolls in the whole state! We stuffed ourselves to the max. Mitch is now a graduate of college and we had a little party for him while we were there and when we got home he was surprised to see a new road bike waiting for him as his gift! He worked so hard and never gave up these past years, so awesome! All the boys took a bath together then opened their pjs, we sang carols, Grandpa told us the Christmas story and then we watched the Polar Express. My boys zonked at 8:30pm, not even trying to stay awake! I thought for sure they would wake up at 5:30 am, they've done it every year for 3 years. Nope, it was 7:30am and it was more us forcing them, my mom and I had already been awake since 5:30 am waiting for the wake up call. By far my favorite part of Christmas is walking into where the tree is and all the presents that weren't there when you went to bed are magically lined up before you. The butterflies you get as you sit there on the steps or in the bedroom waiting for the OK as your parents ready the cameras. Love it Love it!

This is what Santa brought the boys for Christmas. Luckily Santa is good at last minute changes in gifts and he had a robot all ready to go for Jaxon. Skates was our theme and both the boys got some along with books and other fun stuff. Hunter just wanted to eat everyones gum and candy and wasn't much for opening presents at all. Jeff received his treasured skis and was pretty stoked about them. We were both wishing there was time to test them out, but alas.

Jake loves wolves and was pretty pumped about his wolf shirt and jacket. We had our traditional scone breakfast with eggs, fresh oj, hasbrowns! Nobody makes scones like my dad, I have got to start practicing, it must be an art form. Boy were they yummy, I'm drooling right now! We prepped for our Squires Christmas party and then headed to the park. It was such a beautiful day, I was hoping for snow, mostly so the boys could make a snowman and use their snowman pack and make snowballs with the ones they got for Christmas. The park was fun. I just love having my family all together. On Jeff's side I think we take it for granted because we live next door to each other and always see each other at least once a day. I just soaked my brothers in, as well as my parents. 

We still have our knee pads and gloves on from in the morning!

All the boys including Jaxon climbed the firepole at the  park, I just had to try, too bad Dad only got a picture of me on the ground. I did make it halfway, guess I better work a little harder at CrossFit.

That night we had all of my cousins, aunts and uncles on my dad's side over for a party and it was a lot of fun to be able to see them. There is nothing better than family!