Cute little chicks eh?

Darling crafty Bridget asked me if she could make Zoey a costume! Hello? How could I pass that up. So this is what she came up with. And I think that they turned out to be the most cutest things ever!

Here is the funny story. She drove up here to meet me to go to my ward party. After the party she got Lynlee ready for bed and was getting ready to leave. And locked her keys in the car! AHHHH! So we let her borrow our car to bring back her spare set of keys in the morning.  Oh! And then when she came here the next day guess what, she forgot her spare keys! Oh she was not happy, so back to Provo we went all together to collect her keys, and yes we remembered them that time! Oh, all she went through for me just to hang out! It was wonderful. I love her so much! Thanks Bridgie!

Addresses

Hello, I know this isn't super fun, but I am trying to gather addresses. Our old home computer crashed and we haven't recovered anything yet. PLEASE PLEASE send me your address. Email me or leave as comment.  If I get your address then you will receive a Christmas Card.. (most likely)


Thank you,

Emilyandryan01@gmail.com

Last Day of Summer

We squeezed in one last day of fun in the sun yesterday! Taylor and Jordan were home from school so off we went. The last day Cowabunga Bay was open for the season. We had a great time. The slides.... lazy river.... and splashing in the pool. It is a perfect park for a family like mine!

Random

Taylor let me curl her hair a couple weeks ago on Saturday night. I had a lot of fun. She enjoyed being pampered. All in all it was a good mother-daughter moment!

The girls at the park! I love this mild weather! They love playing in it!

Jordan's creation for his egg drop! The egg survived and so did his creation. The teachers gathered everyone's protected eggs on the roof, had everyone scoot back to the end of the play ground and they CHUCKED them off one after another! When they got to Jordan's they held it high above their head, waved it, then gave it a fling!

Just laying around at a family gathering! These little girls sure love each other.

my cute neice and nephew

Last week my whole layton family got together for a family reunion at aspen grove. The teen class made a music video and some of my fam was in it. This is Rebekka Loderup (elizabeth's daughter) and Hayden Beck (sarah's son) starring in some of this. Rebekka is in an orange shirt and comes in around second 52 and hayden is in grey and comes in around 47.  If you hang out and watch the whole thing you'll see rebekka's amazing dance moves to which she was VERY embarrassed by the whole camp seeing. It was great!

Barbecue, Sweet, Sour and Honey Mustard.... names of Beck's new pets.

 Sarah, my across the street neighbor, and sister, got chickens for mothers day. My kids love going to visit them to see their growth.  Kate especially because she is home all day. Tonight, Friday, we all went over to see them and had a great time. Of course, Jordan wouldn't let me get a picture of him so instead he put a chicken on my head.

 Uncle Ryan (Beck) told Taylor and Kate that the chickens could fly a teeny-tiny bit. He suggested they throw them up in the air and release them. It was pretty funny to see these tiny birds flapping with all their might and simply coast to the ground.  Amidst all this Sarah came out and didn't like that game! Her precious chickens! So instead we put them in her planter boxes with the tomatoes to watch them peck at the ground and dig a hole.  I don't think that Taylor thought that was nearly as fun.

Although I didn't have any pictures of Jordan he had a great time trying to put the chicks on people, tried to sneak them into my hood, and of course had a few close calls with what the chickens so kindly left behind. We can't wait until our next visit.

Zoey and Will

This is Will and Zoey.  Will is Leslie Ann's 7 month old.  All my sisters got together for Elizabeth's 40th birthday.  We had such a great time together.  I cant remember the last time when all 7 of us were together. We were especially lucky to have my mom and grandma there.

Mountian Goats

 making sure we're all warm.... well only the baby actually

 when did she get so big?

 loving her "phone" (deactivated and ancient)

 "Get me out of the CAR!"  You'd think we'd driven somewhere far!

 Love that face!

 We see one! 

 Couldn't let him know I was taking his picture!

I LOVE the mountain goats at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Last sunday we were all feeling a little crazed in the house so we drove up to the Temple Quarry Trail in attempt to get fresh air and spot some goats. At first we looked to the North face of the cliffs, nothing. But as we were leaving we saw some skiers looking through the scopes at the south side and figured they had found something. OH THEY DID! We all got to see them. It was so fun. Although we were only out of the house a couple minutes we got some blood pumping and left a little happier and closer to bedtime!

"Acky and Woey"

 Ashley Loves her sister. She also is my first daughter to love dolls. Taylor and Kate didn't care so much for them. They loved thier animals. But this is what I came into find the other day.

 Can you see the love! Oh Ashley is so cute to her sister! She loves the new "bubee".  We all love her too. Ashley has also started talking. A couple weeks ago she really didn't say much. Now. she is really experiementing with sounds and words. Today she said "Wah-teh" so clearly. It is SO fun to hear her talking. She first started calling herself "Acky" and now she is Ashee.

Today I was trying to catch up on laundry while entertaining myself with Netflix. I faintly heard Zoey crying so as soon as I finished ironing my shirt I headed up stairs. Zoey stopped crying, but I heard Ashley's voice saying, "woey! WOEY!" So I went into Zoey's room as I heard "Bunkey" and anticipated freaking out because at this point I knew Ashley was in bed with Zoey, but instead I saw Ashley cuddling her head and keeping the binky in her mouth so tenderly. It was a great moment.

Zoey's Blessing

Zoey was blessed at church on March 6 2011. She actually wore the dress that I was blessed in. My family isn't too sentimental, so when opportunities like that come by, I take them.  Here are a couple picutres.

Honesty

Okay, really I did feel that way in the hospital, and when I get quite moments to reflect, I feel that way as well. However, life is crazy and is coming at me fast. I love being home.  I don't love the crayon on the walls, I don't love the cream cheese and apple sauce flung all over the family room.  Nor do I love the acrid smell of urine in Kate's room.... But I do LOVE my girls! I love Jordan. I LoVE MY FAMILY. I love having 5 children and my heart is full.

Having older children Taylor and Jordan, make my life much easier. Right now I am getting Kate to bed... waiting for her to brush her teeth and Taylor is holding Zoey. The other night Jordan completely put Kate to bed for me. I Love it. I am happy, tired and a little under accomplished of things in the home. But its all good.  Crying baby and done with teeth brushing, I am off.

Reunion

Like all other good things, there must be an end, however, this is the end of a small chapter of my life and I get to brave a whole new adventure. I am so excited to go home. I have loved every second of visits from each of my children. They all have reacted so uniquely to Zoey's arrival, all positive, but it affirms how each of my children have their own unique personality and spirit.

I look forward to having 5 children at home and to this expansion in my family. I have enjoyed the solitude and relaxation here in the hospital, but that is not life. How dull and unsatisfying life would be without the current responsibilities I have and have had over the past 10 years.

Over the next few months I expect home will be chaotic, tears will drop, meals will be missed, I will be sleep deprived and not my "best self." But I suspect through everyone's sacrifice we will come out stronger and closer together.

I've been reading "Little Women" which has reminded me of the glory of motherhood and the value of hard work. I feel re-committed to trying harder, smile more, hug tighter and increase my patience. I love my children. I love my life. I couldn't do any of it without the tender patience of my loving husband who has been incredible through the last pregnancy. He has gotten better and better. I love him dearly, I'm afraid he may feel the greatest portion of neglect, but I will try to do my best. He will hear the most complaints and tears, and as I am sure will bare it with strength as he always does.

Here we come.

26 Hours old

Black Hair Beauty

Everyone is in love. I love her! She is so soft and smells so sweet. Born this morning at 8:57 after my epidural FAILED! Ahh, it was Kate's delivery all over again, minus the preparation, amazing midwifery coaching. But luckily I did have Ryan by my side. He got me through it. He is wonderful! I cried and screamed just like on the movies and didn't want to make it through, but now I am so glad I did. 

Ashley and Kate came with their dad to see me this afternoon. Kate was the perfect big sister. She adored Zoey and helped dad feed her.  Ashley wasn't so sure about the baby but LOVED the big water jug that I got here. Ashley is my water girl. We think she is kind of a camel.

Later Ryan brought the second shift of children who were equally enthralled with their new little sister. I am so happy that they are all healthy and I feel so blessed that I have had them all so (relatively) easily.