But MOM.....

We have moved on to negotiations with my biggest boy! He has gotten very good at expressing himself and pleading his case!!! (It is SO hard not to smile and giggle each time, he's getting SO BIG) 

This morning he watched Caillou over and over! And he is such a cute character, SO NICE TO HIS MOM that I was all for it! But then this afternoon I suggested we color! He said he wanted to color a plate, easy enough! Then after about a minute he looked up at me and said "Caillou colored Rosie's (his sister) face and made her a clown! I want to color Coopers face and make him a clown too.... PLEASE PLEASE!!! Caillou did it and he is a nice boy!!" It went on and on...  At first I said no but then I remembered I wanted to be more laid back and let them be little and have fun! SO why not, marker washes off and they are playing SO nicely together! 

(Cooper was mad that I was taking his picture and taking away the markers:(

So they colored each other for at least a half an hour while I packed a few boxes! They would run in every couple minutes to show off their latest masterpiece on their arm or face or leg!! After a while the marker started to rub off on their clothes and I was worried it would make its way to the couch or carpet so we had to stop the coloring! Spencer was devistated I assured him that we But we would go to Walmart and get some face paint! They had SO much fun and if Caillou can do it then WHY NOT!!! 

A couple random Graham pics, I was really trying to get him to smile on que....HE DID he just let out a little milk at the same time! AHH its so funny how blissfully unaware babies are!!! :) 

A Windy Picnic

Yesterday we went out for a picnic! The weather was warming up and Mindy and Cadie were coming up for a visit! So Amber and I packed a few things (SPENCER was excited to use the picnic basket) and we headed for our favorite park "the Tarzan park!" We call it that because it has these long sing like toys that Spencer things look like trees, and you jump from on to the another! JUST LIKE TARZAN! Oh my creative boy!

Anyway it was a bit brisk and I think my St George sistas were COLD! (SORRY GUYS) but the kids had loads of fun, they didn't really eat! But why eat when there is so much to do! 

This crazy dog showed up, the kids thought he was great! All of us moms were a bit freaked out by this random freaky looking dog.....after he ate some of the food the kids left on the ground for him he left! No harm done! Oh and of course the kids found the dirt and spent most of their time getting dirty and LOVING IT!

All the cousins came to play for the rest of the afternoon and Mindy did my hair! YEA! No more nasty roots! I went DARK this time! I'll post a pic the next time I get ready.... it might be a few days :)!!!

And then my kids CRASHED at 7:00! HURRAY! LOVELY DAY and an even better EVENING! 

After BJ's study group we were able to relax together for a minute before we both fell asleep EARLY! I sure love the days when I don't have to spend the night alone! I will be SO thankful when school is out and BJ doesn't work all night long! I miss cuddling and having the evenings after the kids go to bed to be together! Ahhh something to look forward to! I might just start a graduation COUNTDOWN! 2 months and counting!!!!

2 Months ALREADY?

Last night my Mom told me I need to take more pictures of Graham, and I realized I am always snapping photos of the big boys cause they are always into something! SO I am repenting and on a mission to capture Baby Graham!!!!

He just had his 2 month bday! I CANT BELIEVE IT!! He is just starting to smile ( I am still working on catching it on camera!) He likes to push up on his legs, he is like a little board! Its quite a work out for him! He is getting REALLY good at supporting his head! He like to be on his tummy (especially when he is sleeping) and is always lifting up his  head to look around!

He is put himself on a schedule! He takes a nice long morning and afternoon nap and then hangs out all evening until a 9ish when he eats and goes to bed until 11 or 12 when he wakes up for a midnight snack and then he sleeps ALL NIGHT until about 5:30 every morning!! I AM LOVING IT! 

He is very prone to thrush and when I went in to have it checked they said he had an ear infection too (POOR GUY) but he is on the rebound and so he is a lot happier!

He is getting so big is FAST! He weighed in last week at 11 and half pounds! GO GRAHAM! Oh he is also my grocery shopping buddy! HE LOVES to shop as long as he is in the Bjorn Pack! He is such a cuddler and he loves to be cuddled right up to your chest, so the pack is perfect! 

What the heck have we been doing?

I am becoming a blog slacker! My parents are threatening to remove my BLOG NAZI title! Life is so busy so right now I am forced to do weeks in review! Here we go.....

Over the weekend we went to St George to hang out with Steph and Caleb! The boys went caving in the morning so Steph and I went yard saleing! AND YES we took all 5 kids with us! I know it sounds like craziness but they were actually REALLY good! Spencer broke out of the car a few times to check out the toys but he was also our YARD SALE SCOUT! He would yell out "STOP STOP I see one theres a good one, I SEE A YARD SALE MOM!!" It was really cute. We found a few good deals! It was so nice to get out again the long winter break has been tuff!

After we took the kids to the park since they were SO GOOD! They played nicely for 2 hours! 

I wish I had taken a few more pictures:(

Steph and I got to chat while the kids played!  And then in the evening we all went out to dinner! 

Then SURPRISE on Monday Amber and I decided to go BACK to St George to go to KMART because they were SUPPOSEDLY doubling their coupons! WELL AFTER 3 hours of finding LOTS of things that would be free or almost free we went to check out and found out that THAT store wasn't doubling! SERIOUSLY! I AM NOW ENEMY #1 of KMART! It was a HUGE let down!!

Luckily we went and had a super yummy lunch and this ADORABLE cafe Jenise told me about called 25 and Main! Super SWANKY and funky inside and it even had yummy food! I think its my new favorite place! I meant to get pictures of the decor but I forgot...next time! 

Oh and did I mention they have cupcakes that are to die for? I WILL BE GOING BACK FOR SURE!

And last of all Spencer and Shiloh have been re-united! The story goes something like; My mom gave Spenc a stuffed animal that looks just like Christopher's dog Shiloh! Spenc thought it was SO great that he had a dog just like Uncle Putt Putt, unfortunately since he loved it and took it EVERYWHERE it go lost! He helped me look at a few different stores asking each clerk if they had seen his Shiloh puppy!!! He cried and cried and I looked and looked and finally found a close enough look alike! HE was SO happy when I brought home his new SHILOH! 

Now Shiloh and Max, the dinosaur, are great friends! Spencer sue loves taking them on lots of imaginary adventures!

MUD.....FUN?

So it was really nice on Friday so we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather! Unfortunately I didn't anticipate the MUD! within 5 minutes the boys were over in the MUD, HAVING A BALL!
They had so much fun that they didn't want to go! So I changed Coopers pants and TRIED to get the mud off his shoes, and they played and played until the sun went down!

AS SOON as we got home we stripped down and ran for the TUB! I was amazed at how dirty they got, and all they thought about was the super duper dirty time they had! BOYS WILL BE BOYS!

Valentines Photo Journal

It snowed on Tuesday and we went over to Amber's and played in the snow and made Valentines.I made the boys some Valentines Bears! My mom made bears for us when we were little and every year she filled them with treats! I always looked forward to seeing what was in my bear! So I am excited to carry on the tradition! We had a Valentines Party at Ambers on Thursday! We had a great lunch and a pink strawberry heart cake to celebrate Aubrey's 1st Birthday!We made heart cookies and the kid decorated their own cookie box and then they frosted and decorated their own cookie! The boys made a special one for BJ!
Then we had a heart scavenger hunt! The kids had a great time and then they exchanged the valentines they made for one another!
We went to St George so BJ and I could work at the flower shop, we meet Tippy and Noah for lunch. Who doesn't love playing at MC Donald's?
Kritie took Spencer to the Dinosaur Park for his Birthday! He got a new friend, MAX the dino that he has been taking everywhere! THANKS NANA!
We also got to go to the Barnes and Noble for a special story time to see Curious George! Everyone at story time sang Spencer Happy Birthday, and afterwards Cooper was all about going up to check out the big monkey! NOT scared at all, my brave little guy! Spencer was excited to see him too (even though he wouldn't smile for the picture!) He lingered and lingered in the front, he didn't want to leave!! It took A LOT of pleading to get him to say goodbye to Curios George!

BJ, Caleb, Ephriam, and Cade took all of us girls out to dinner at Benja! I had some GREAT sushi and BJ had a really tasty curry!After dinner we went home and had such a relaxing time cuddling and talking! I really treasure the quiet time we have to talk just US! So thanks for making time for me this Valentines Beej! Life is crazy and wonderful and I wouldnt want to be here with anyone but you! HAPPY VALENTINES little family!

We Were Nabbed

Last week one of the Bishopric grabbed BJ and asked him if we would speak this Sunday! SO I thought it might be good for Spencer to do a little talk (and it would help shave at least 1 minute off our time too!!) Together Spencer and I wrote up a little PICTURE talk, so he can follow the pictures and know what to say...HOPEFULLY! We spent all evening practising with different pretend microphones! He is really excited, I hope he doesn't get too nervous on Sunday! But I am already nervous so if he does I'll understand! Here is a video of one of our practise runs!!!!

Cooper is SUCH a Good Helper!!!!!!

Cooper spilled some cheerios this morning, I asked him to pick them up so he ran away! GRRR But he came back and he brought his vacuum with him! He wanted to help! 

Too bad his vacuum crunches and smashes food instead of sucking it up! Oh well he's got the right idea! One day he can run the BIG vacuum and actually pick up all by himself!!! Way to go Coop, I hope your enthusiasm for vacuuming sticks!

Graham's Blessing

On Sunday February 1st we Blessed Graham! It turned out to be to Superbowl Sunday as well but we didn't realize that until we had already set everything in motion! I guess it just shows how much we pay attention to football! We had a busy morning getting all the food prepared and the house all ready! But as soon as we got to church we were able to calm down and enjoy the moment! This is the first time we have had a blessing on a fast Sunday so I was excited to be able to bear my testimony (silly I know!!!) and enjoy the spirit of the meeting! It meant a lot to us to have so many friends and family there to support us! BJ's parents and brothers and sisters came, His Aunt Liz and Uncle Jess, my brother and sister came and lots of friends made the drive to Cedar City to be there! We wish we could have had all of our family there and missed my parents and little sister but we understand why they couldn't make it! And look forward to seeing them soon!

Church went so smoothly! With all the friends and family 11 kids at church but they all shared and played so quietly! Graham even cooperated and sat really quietly while he was being blessed!! He is such a great baby!

The Blessing was very sincere and meaningful! I always write down what is said! I hope its not inappropriate but I want to write it down here so we can make sure to have a record of it! 

BJ Blessed Graham with the help of Chris King, Jess Holm, Ephraim Hanks, Caleb Steele and our Bishopric! The blessing said;

I bless you to: 

Learn and grow in patience, love and understanding.

Seek out the Right and to Look for ways to Serve others.

Be Steadfast and Immovable.

Be Thankful.

Know that WE are Thankful for you, that you are a blessing in our home and to your brothers.

Be patient with your family and to know that you are loved by them.

Graham I do hope that you know all your life how much we love you! How grateful we are that you are a part of our family! I know your calm sweet spirit it so needed in our home and I hope that we can give you as much love and support as we have already felt from you in the short time you have been with us! I am sure great things are coming for you my little Teddy Graham!

Afterwards we went back to our apartment and had lunch! I made 8 different Stromboli pizzas and everyone was kind enough to bring something to share! It was really filling and SUPER yummy!

Cooper enjoyed the Kol-aid! 

BJ's Mom and Dad and Colton all made it. His sister Brisit and her boyfriend Matt and Mindy and here family all came up too!

My Brother Chris came down from Rexburg with his girlfriend Sommer, and Jenise came up from St George!

We had SO many friends come to support us! Megan and Ephraim brought up their 2 boys. Caleb and Steph drove up from Hurricane with Tippy and Gage and Dang and Amber came over before their big Superbowl party! THANKS so much for coming everyone it meant a lot to both of us!

I tried to get a picture of all the kids (we missed AJ, Aubrey and Andy:(  But we did get: Cooper, Shay, Kaly, Gage, Tippy, Graham, Spencer and Noah!

I managed to get a few family pictures after everyone went home! I don't think its possible to get one with everyone looking but I still think they turned out great! 

In the evening BJ had to sleep to get ready for work that night so the boys and I got CREATIVE! We decided to make a fort so we could watch football (for about 10 minutes) and then one of our all time favorites The Backyardigins!! We had lots of snacks but all the boys wanted was Baloney! YUCKY but they love it! 

We got lots of blankets and pillows so we could all cuddle (and of course take a few pictures!!!) It was such a great day! It was one of those days when just being together was like vacation! So much fun and something you will always remember!