Layla's Art

Layla loves to color and draw, on anything she can get her hands on. We try and take away all writing utensils, but somehow she finds them. We should take out stock in Mr Clean Magic Erasers!

Layla's first day of Gymnastics

Layla had her first day of Learning Through Movement class on Monday. It is a tumbling class where the most important thing they learn is to sit still and take turns. Austin took the class when he was three and loved it. Layla has wanted to take it for a long time and she is finally old enough. You have to be at least 2 1/2 years old. It was so much fun watching these tiny children going through stretching movementsm in their tiny leotards.
Layla loves her unitard, that means it is a leotard with legs (otherwise her tiny panties will hang down below the leotard legs). She wore it for two full days before class. She calls it her Lina-guitard. We have a friend named Lina who was in these classes with Austin.

Christmas Morning

This morning we all got up and came downstairs at 7:45. We had to wake Ryan up, and actually Jason forgot about him at first, but quickly remembered and went up to get him. Austin and Layla were excited about all the presents from Santa and also the presents under the tree. We hadn't put any presents under the tree until Christmas Eve, evening. The kids got a table and chairs, and a little tykes kitchen with foods and cooking things. Jason got a massage chair. We took turns trying it out. I got a saphirre ring under the tree, which I am also trying out. Ryan got a musical table which he loved. Austin and Layla also got thre wheeled scootes, new sheets and comforters (Austin got spiderman, Layla got princesses). There were lots of other fun toys. The best part of the morning was when Austin said, "Families never, ever end!" I know that is true!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve Jammies

One of our family traditions, that we adopted from the Crowl family, is getting one present on Christmas Eve. That present always happens to be jammies. So when we go to bed on Christmas Eve you are wearing new comfy pjs. Here are some of us in our new jammies!

Christmas Eve after Santa

Santa came early on Christmas Eve. He even let me take a few pictures when he was done!

Oh, Christmas Tree!

We have two Christmas trees in our house. We have one that goes in the front window and one in the family room. Usually we put the fake one in the front and get a real one to put in the family room. This year we put the fake one in the family room until we could get a real one.
We went to Walmart and found that the real trees were $50-60!! We decided to look inside and see how much a fake one would be . We ended up getting a fake on for $80.
When we got home from church the next day Jason got the new tree out and found out that it had colorful lights. (I prefer white lights, our other tree has white lights.) So anyway, I decided that I wanted the old tree to be moved into the front and put the new tree up in the living room. After some fighting Jason dragged the tree through the house and put it where I wanted it!

On the Move

This is just a little clip I have of Ryan taking a step...it is more of a leap forward, but it is still so cute. Let me know if you get to see it.

Ryan

Ryan is just over nine months old now. The time has gone by so fast. He has become a little tiny person, as opposed to the little blob that he started out as! He is such a happy baby. He loves his big brother and big sister. Sometimes when we are in the car Layla will play with him and he will just laugh and laugh. The rest of us can't help but join in with his sweet laughter.

Halloween

I just wanted everyone to be able to see my cute family on Halloween.

Carving Pumpkins

Sunday before Halloween we decided to carve our pumpkins. Layla was fast asleep, but we wanted to include her so I woke her up and brought her to the table, where she laid her head down and went back to sleep

Grandpa

While mom was out of town visiting Grandma and Grandpa, we had dad over for dinner Sunday after church. While he was here he read the kids a book. It was very cute! I love having Grandparents nearby!

Trip to the pumpkin Patch

On October 16th Austin's school went to a local farm. We got to take a hay ride out to the apple orchard and pick some apples off the trees. Then we rode out to the pumpkin patch and each picked a pumpkin. It is funny, I wanted to get the largest pumpkin we could find, but Austin chose a little tiny, apple sized pumpkin. It is cute. Just funny how differently we think. Ryan and Layla stayed with Grandma. It was great to have some time alone with my Austin boy!

Hot Dad on a Hot Rod!

This is Jason on his motorcycle before the engine broke down. He will spend the winter rebuilding it, so he can be out enjoying it in the spring. Isn't he so cute!

BIG BROTHER

Austin is an amazing big brother. He helps me out all the time. He gets diapers and wipes, and anything else that I ask for. He loves Layla and Ryan.

Layla horsing around!

Layla is our little princess. She is spoiled like a princess and can be quite rotten, but she can also be so sweet and adorable. Here are a couple pics of her just playing around. In the first picture, she is inside of our curio-type cabinet. And for those of you who know Layla well, look just above her and you will see the beloved Dolly. In the second picture she and Austin were outside painting. The deck was covered, and Layla was covered, but Austin was remarkably clean...can anyone explain that?

First Foods!

Ryan had his first baby cereal when he was four and a half months old. He wasn't too sure about it, you can tell from his facial expressions. But the funnier the face he made, the more I gave him. It was a family affair. Even Layla tried to feed him.

National Zoo

During July Grandma Carol, Aunt Laura, Austin, Layla, Ryan, and I went to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. We had a lot of fun and got to see some really cool animals. All the kids loved it. It was pretty hot, so the adults probably didn't enjoy as much as they could have in cooler weather.

Palmyra Trip
Last weekend Jason, Ryan, Mom, Dad, Emily, David, and I drove up to Palmyra. Katie, Jason's sister, and Jameson were being sealed in the Temple.
We left Friday morning and took our time driving the 300miles through PA, to NY. We got there about 5pm and checked into our hotel, that was really more of a motel. It was clean enough. We then went out to dinner, followed by some time in the pool. Jason and I left Ryan with Grandma and Grandpa and went to see Pirates of the Carribean. Jason loved it. I am still waiting for the ending. How can they leave me hanging like that?
Saturday morning we set out for the temple. It is one of the small temples, but still has the same peaceful spirit. The sealing was beautiful. Katie and Jameson both looked so happy. When we left the sealing room we walked out to see baptisms being performed. It was just incredible. I think I like the tiny temples more because everything is just right there in front of you.
That afternoon we walked through the Sacred Grove and saw some of the historical church sites, like the Hill Cumorah. It was really neat to be there where it all started.
We headed home that night and after some mishaps (like the directions being thrown away, getting on the wrong road, and turning around at least 6 times) we made it home, safe and sound.

TUB TIME

This morning the kids were all in the bath together. What kind of mother would I be if I missed the photo opportunity! This is Ryan's first experience sitting up in the bath. He couldn't decide if he liked it or not. Layla wasn't sure what she thought of sharing the bath with yet another brother. Austin's attitude is pretty much, the more the merrier. As long as he can sit closest to the faucet and turn it on when I am not looking.