Egg Dying...

Long story short...we only had 7 eggs to dye because the boys had to take some to school. So we sat on the storage room floor that is not yet tiled and had some quick fun.

We did have one big spill...thank goodness it was on concrete. The boys had fun and just wanted to eat all the eggs right then.

Easter...

On Easter Sunday we woke up bright and early and headed off to church at 8:30. My boys were especially good at church that day...even in primary. I'm told that they both acted pretty reverent. (something we've been trying hard to work on. Kaysen just loves to talk to his best friend Tanner. Gage just loves to talk/shout out anything. He doesn't really have a quiet voice but we're working on it)

That afternoon we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Miller's home for an egg hunt. The kids were told that there were special papers in some of the eggs. I had put pics of Christ's life up to and after His Resurrection in there. Once they were found the kids stood up in order of the events. It was a fun little way to teach them about Christ's life a bit more. Since that is what this day is really about. Boy am I thankful for it too. The older I get the more I realize what amazing gifts we are all able to have. Forgiveness and eternal life. Wow! Thank goodness for them or there would be no point to this mortal life.

Here's a few pics of the action. And the Best family pic that we were able to get that day. Boy family pictures are getting harder and harder to do. We can't seems to get everyone looking at the camera at the same time.

Oh yeah. The twins turned 6 months too. They have a dr appointment later this week so I'll do a little recap on them then.

Oh yeah. The man in our family pics is my husband...with a beard. It's an overhaul beard. Him and a few guys aren't shaving until its over. Ugh. I just want it gone. He looks good but it sure doesn't feel good. One more week!!

Eater Bunny...

The Easter Bunny comes to our house on Saturday. (because we want Sunday to be more about the REAL meaning of Easter)
Kaysen woke up and kind of forgot that the Easter Bunny came. It only took one tiny hint and he was off searching. He found Gage's basket first, then found his own. He got all kinds of helicopter gun flying thing-a-ma-jigs, and candy.

Gage came out a few minutes after Kaysen. He knew right from the start that a basket was waiting to be found. He was not completely awake yet though and was pretty funny to listen to and watch.He got a frisbee, water gun, chalk, bad mitten game and of corse, candy.

They are playing with all of their fun stuff as I write. Here's to hoping they share their awesome toys with each other...

Lucky...

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. I'll be honest by saying that this holiday has never been a HUGE one in our household.  As the kids get older I am trying to make a bigger deal out of it. Simply for more fun and so that they understand just how much I DO love them.  Although, I need to be better about showing it everyday. 

This year I had special things planned for them.  Not anything grand but stuff that made them feel special nontheless.  I had balloons and candy delivered to them at school. My friend Rachelle delivered them.  She has a boy Kaysen's age so when she dropped them off he told here Thank you.  Then told me that Rachelle brought him a Valentine!!! I had to explain to him that it was from Jerry and I, not Rachelle. Haha. You should have seen Gage's face when he saw what Kaysen got.  He was a bit sad, thinking he wouldn't get one.  However, when it was his turn to go to school he got some too and his teachers tell me he was so excited. 

In return both of them made Jerry and I a card.  Here is Kaysen's...

 

 Here is Gage's...

I'd be lying if I told you that yesterday was a good day.  It started early. By that I mean at about 3:00am.  I was running on about 4 hours of completely interrupted sleep.  So I was a bit on edge no matter how hard I tried not to be.  Teagen was so fussy.  He's still trying to get that bottom tooth.  So I had a crying baby, no wait check that, TWO crying babies plus 2 boys that just wanedt to eat all of their candy NOW, and start to throw fits because I won't let them.  I was tired.  I was grouchy.  But I was REALLY trying so hard not to be.  I was starting to feel sorry for myself and started being really negative.  So what did I do??

At the last minute I put together a little something for Jerry.  (Like I said, Valentine's Day isn't big with us so usually we just do something homemade. I planed to do an alphabet book on reasons why I love him.  Never got to it. I was just swamped....and tired) 

Quickly. I mean very quickly my attitude changed. I became excited for this little surprise. And boy did that have the same effect on my boys.  Teagen and Kynlee were finally taking a nap so it was just Kaysen, Gage and Me.  We don't get to have moments like this very often anymore so this was special. 

We started by getting streamers and writing words tha described what we loved about Jerry or why we loved him.  Then we hung them from the ceiling above our dining room table.  Too bad I only had half a roll of that stuff.  We could have kept going...and it would have looked much better.  Then we blew up some ballons and wrote more reasons why we loved him, and a few little notes on them too. 

Then we spelt this out on our fridge.  ( Kaysen actually spelled out most of it on his own.  And it worked pretty good because I couldn't finde another E or an O to spell love the right way."

Then Dad walked in the door about 30 minutes later and boy was he surprised.  He was more surprised at my mood.  He had sent me a text earlier in the day asking how my day was. I told him to not be surprised if I was completely grouchy when he got home.  He replied, "Hag in there." I replied, "Yes, that is what I am acting like. HAHA"  He meant to put "Hang in there" but I think that his words were pretty fitting for the moment. 

Then we continued our tradition of pink heart pancakes covered in whip cream and strawberries.  We have done them for breakfast the past couple years, but Jerry has to leave too early now so we settled on it for dinner. MMMM....it was good. And the best part was that Jerry cooked them, as tradition states he should do. 

So it started out looking like a long, hard day.  And it was.  But as I got wrapped up in thinking about someone else, instead of pittying myself, my day did a complete 180 and I realized how lucky I am.  Lucky to have that guy as my Valentine. Lucky that we have 2 boys that throw fits but give us awesome, homemade cards.  Lucky that we have 2 babies that kept me up at night but cuddle into my neck and calm down as soon as I pick them up.  Lucky to have this life and this family....FOREVER.

Seven...

Yesterday was our 7th anniversary!

With HUGE thanks to my mom, we were able to celebrate it on Saturday. She watched all of our kids while we went to lunch at Native New Yorker and then watched Sherlock Holmes.

Boy was it nice. I was able to pick up my fork and not have a baby wake up or start fussing. We were able to sit and talk without ANY "eat your food" or "keep you hands to yourself" coming from our mouths. We laughed and talked instead. It was just US time. It was wonderful.

We have gone through a lot in these past 7 years. According to everyone, your 7th year is your hardest. We'll have to see. We haven't had a "hard" marriage at all. We've had trials but we've overcome them together. That's the key I guess.

Working together.

We make a good team. He's strong where I'm weak. He's funny when I'm grouchy. He's laid back when I'm up tight. He keeps me sane. I think he'd tell you that I'm all of this for him too.

I heard that the number one thing a successful marriage HAS to have is humor. Boy do we have that. That is how we get through the rough days. One of us always makes the other laugh and then everything seems to be better. That's how we fight too. One of us becomes sarcastic which makes the other laugh and we are over it. We've NEVER had a fight. Little disagreements but never a real fight.

7 years ago I didn't picture our lives being like this. Instead it has turned out a million times better.

Our marriage is strong. I just pray that each day it continues to get stronger. After all, we are in it for eternity so we better keep it goin good.

Happy anniversary Jer! I love you and wouldn't change the decision I made 7 years ago for anything in the world.

Christmas Eve...

On Christmas Eve we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Miller's house.

Where we all got spoiled. The boys got these cool scooters and have been having some major fun with them. 

Then we headed home to begin our Christmas Eve traditions. 

We opened new pajamas. 
Kaysen is saying "yee haw!"

Gage is saying, "To infinity and beyond!"

Then we drank some hot cocoa and opened our family present. Which is always a game that we then play together. This year it was "Don't Break the Ice."

Then we sat together and watched "The King is Born." 

Then we left Santa's favorite cookies out...mint Oreos! 

That was our Christmas Eve. Boy were the boys excited. We worried that they wouldn't sleep well, however they fell asleep within only a couple minutes and were is ready for Christmas morning. 

More of that to come....

Nativity Play...

Every Monday before Christmas we go over the Nativity will our kids for Family Home Evening. Last year we recorded it with Jeremy & Jennie. 

This year we invited Jeremy & Jennie's family and Greg & Cayla Fish's family over for a Nativity play and some hot cocoa. 

Here is the angel telling Mary she will have a baby. 

Here is Mary wrapping baby Jesus. 

Here are the shepherds and wise men coming to bring Him gifts and worship Him. 

We had 10 kids there. Ages 2 months to 6 years and all them were so good.  Jerry read from the scriptures and they walked in when it was their turn then sat so quiet and still. It was seriously amazing how well they did. It's like they knew this was a sacred story. 

Christmas Card...

For those of you who won't get a card in the mail...

We hope you have a great holiday season! 

We weren't able to get a family picture since the twins were born. Well at least not a good one that I'd like to put on a card. So this one worked out perfect!

Letters to Santa...

Kaysen told me what to write to Santa, he said it was too many words and his hand would hurt if he wrote it all. Look how awesome his signature is though....

Gage also told me what to write. (just on a more confusing way)We've been watching the Santa Clause movies and he loves seeing the elves make the toys. He sure is getting better at writing his name too although on this one he had some help. 

Thanksgiving Day...

Today for Thanksgiving we stayed in Joseph City to party. 

Kaysen and Gage just wanted to eat rolls and my homemade whipped cream.  Then they just ran around and played with all of their cousins.  It was a great and laid back day. 

Jerry played basketball. I sat and talked and enjoyed sharing my babies with family.  We had plenty of willing hands to hold them. 

This year we have so much to be thankful for.  I'd have to say that I am so thankful for my health and the health of my family.  Especially my babies.  We had some scares throughout my pregnancy and I'm so grateful for the fact that all 3 of us came out healthy.  I'm grateful for my family and the fact that I know that we can be a family forever if we live for it.  This year has been a rollercoaster but it has been so worth it and we truly have been blessed. I couldn't ask for more...except maybe a little more sleep.