VOTE for Kolter! He made MJ's Model Search Top 10!

Meet our darling Kolter whose big brown eyes will steal your heart!

Kolt has a big heart and always keep everyone laughing.

I am so excited that Kolter made it as one of the Top 10 Finalists for the Matilda Jane Model Search. From here he needs your vote to move on the the final 3. So please vote for Kolter! 

http://www.matildajaneclothing.com/vote_viewproducts.php
Follow the link to Matilda Jane's site and you can vote, by adding Kolter to your cart, and then checking out (just as you would if you were shopping on the site). Just be sure you fully check out and get a “receipt” for your vote.

I have to say that out of almost 1000 entries, all three of my boys made it to the Top 30. How 'bout that for making a mom smile :) Ky and Karst, you are so handsome too!

Too Big, Too Fast

This little girl is going to be 11 months old tomorrow, and I'm feeling a little sad about it. Why do the days go by so quickly. It's sad for me to think that before long we won't have a baby around the house anymore. After all these years of babies... Oh well, I guess it's on to new things.

Kallie is such a little doll. I love this girl to pieces. She has started saying her version of words. She says "hi dad" to her daddy when her calls us on the phone. She also tries to say the kids' names. It's so cute how she gets excited when they will come home from school. When she hears the door open, she knows that someone is home and she can't wait to see who walks around the corner.

Although Kallie isn't walking yet, she has mastered crawling and when she is on the tile, won't touch her knees to the floor because it hurts. She is trying to get all four of her top teeth, and I hope they come in soon so she doesn't have to suffer the pain too much longer! Any day now...

We love our baby girl so much!

Baby It's Cold Outside

Brrr. That wind is so bitter cold!  December is here and we have cold, winter weather to go along with it. I am happy that December is upon us. I love the Christmas songs on the radio and I'm starting to get into the holiday spirit. Christmas cards are printed, now for the hard part of addressing them and getting them out before Christmas.  ;)

Two weeks from now I will be done with all my finals and just beginning the few weeks break before I start school again in January. School has gone well, and although it hasn't been the easiest, most ideal situation, trying to juggle my life as a mom with school, I am so glad that I'm doing it. I have learned so much, even things that can help me in many ways as a mom, and I have many reasons already that have made going back to school a worthwhile, life-changing experience. I just wish there was a way to keep up with all the things in my life that have gotten so far behind, blogging is just one of many. Oh well, since there isn't a magic spell that can freeze time while I get caught up, (although I wish there was!) I guess I will just keep going, and maybe someday, someday far, far away, I will have my list of things to do all checked off, with a little time to spare. Just a little.  ;)

My Boys

I love watching my boys play their sports. After our neighborhood started a little soccer league, I finally convinced Kolter and Karsten that they should play. Ever since Kyler decided he didn't like soccer at age 5, he has told everybody else that they don't like soccer either, and they haven't wanted to play...until now. They are loving it, and I am loving watching them. So now not only do we get to go to Ky's football games on the weekend, we have the little boys' soccer games on Wednesday nights. Something tells me this is just the beginning...

Lil' Red

After almost three weeks in a splint, when the swelling finally went down on Kenzlie's broken arm, Dr. Chamberlain decided she needed a cast. When they were all out of pink and purple casting material, we decided to go for red, since after all, Kenz is Lil' Red, her nickname coined by Grandpa Nev. Two weeks down in the cast, and two more weeks to go. Luckily, Kenzlie hasn't really been bothered much by her cast, and since it's waterproof, I haven't either.

Kambrie started choir at her school this week. She seems excited about it. I'm glad she wanted to do it since she hasn't wanted to do anything else.

Kolter and Karsten started a neighborhood soccer program this week-their first time playing soccer. They both like it, pretty much anyway. Kolter was a little mad because he thinks Karsten is better than he is. Poor Kolt is always so hard on himself and never gives himself credit for anything. When he was supposed to turn in his homework for the first time this year, he told his teacher he forgot it because he knew his self written sentence wasn't perfect.

Kyler had his first football game yesterday. They played Moapa Valley and domintaed them. All these years later it still feels good when Moapa gets beat since they were one of our biggest rivals at White Pine High. Kinda funny.

Kallie at 7 Months Old

Back to School 2011

Somebody please tell me, where did the summer go? I know summer usually flies by, but this summer seemed to go by quicker than ever, and before I knew it, we were heading back to school. As you can see from the picture, Kyler was not thrilled with the thought of being back in school and "wasting his whole day." Kambrie was excited to go back, and Kolter was too, at least for the first three days anyway. Karsten is loving preschool and everyday he wakes up and asks if it's his school day.

Not only did the kids head back to school, but believe or not, so did I. Yep, I am a college student again, going to finish what I started fifteen years ago and get my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. The first week was a little overwhelming, and I literally wasn't sure how I would be able to do it. After the second week, I am feeling a bit better about it though, and although I still know that it won't be easy and that it's going to take a lot of organization and staying on task so I don't ever get behind (on school work and everything else in my life), I know I can do it, and I will.

While Dad's Away...

Kallie B, Kallie B, You are So Pretty

Kallie B, Kallie B, you are so pretty. Kallie B, Kallie B, you're looking at me. Kallie B, Kallie B whatcha doin to me. Kallie B, Kallie B, you love the kitty. Kallie B, Kallie B, we love you so much. Kallie B, Kallie B. Kallie B!

These are the words to the little song that Dad made up for his little Kallie B. Every time he sings it to her she smiles so big, kicks her legs and gets so happy. It's become a family favorite around our house, and not a day goes by that somebody doesn't sing it to her, at least five or ten times :)

Our precious Kallie has hit the big six month mark and oh how we love this girl. Kallie is such a sweet little baby and it is a joy to have her as part of our family. At six months old she:
*can sit up
*says "mom mom mama"
*sucks her fingers a lot (it was hard to get a picture without her fingers in her mouth)
*takes two naps a day
*lays down in her crib at naptime and bedtime, gets 3 kisses, and falls asleep on her own (most of the time)
*eats rice cereal and a few fruits and veggies without ever making a fuss
*still nurses
*doesn't cry much
*has crystal blue eyes
*has light brown, strawberry blonde hair
*smiles so big when she sees herself in the mirror
*is loved by all

4th of July

Winning the Gold, Again

                                                                                              

Utah Summer Games
9u Back to Back Champions
2010 and 2011
Snow Canyon Sliderzz

Sliderzz Nation

The Sliderzz earned themselves another gold medal at the Utah Summer Games this past weekend. They easily won five games to earn the title, making it the second year in a row that they have won the gold in the 9u age division. 

It was a fun, leisure weekend of baseball for me. Not having to stress too much about winning sometimes is really nice. Kyler had a repeat of last year's Summer Games when he pitched in his first no hitter, getting another no hitter in the game he pitched with Austin and Josh. Everyone played great. Landon had a grand slam home run in one of the games and they turned a couple double plays.  Every kid on the team is playing great baseball, doing their part, and gearing up for next month's Tournament of Champions.

The Caboose

The days keep passing by, and our little caboose is already five months old. I can't get enough of my little Kallie, and I love on her every second I can. It makes me sad to know that she is almost half way through the first year of her life. I don't think another five months of my life has ever passed so quickly.

Kallie has turned out to be such a perfect little baby. At about six weeks old we realized she was intolerant to dairy and wheat, so I had to change my diet. Right away there was a difference in her, and no longer was she the fussy baby that we had such a hard time with in her first weeks of life. At about four months old she pretty much out grew this, so now I'm back to my regular diet, and Kallie is just a sweet, little, angel baby.

Kallie's big blue eyes and bright smile bring a happiness to each of my days. She has started sucking on her fingers lately, sitting up, and cooing and giggling so much. She also likes to lay on her back and play with her toes. She almost lets me sleep through the night, only waking up once to nurse, and takes at least two or three good, long naps during the day. She is a much welcomed change from her big sister Kenz, who was the hardest baby ever. Kallie is so patient and will entertain herself while I am busy with the other kids. I guess when you are the caboose in a family of six kids, you kinda have to do this.

I guess since I can't freeze time and make her stay little forever, I will have to just keep on lovin our Kallie B and enjoy every second that she is still my baby. Well, actually... my mom still calls my little brother, Kyle, her baby and he's halfway to thirty now. So I suppose Kallie will always be my baby too ;)

Kambrie's Special Day is on the Way

Kambrie is very lucky to get to be baptized on her 8th birthday. Her cousin, Tayli, also got to be baptized on her birthday earlier this year. So now they think it's pretty cool that Kambrie gets to do the same thing. Kambrie is very excited for this special day and has been looking forward to it for a long time now. I am excited for her, and hope that she will always remember the sacredness and importance of being baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I can't imagine my life without this tremendous blessing.

Kambrie's 2nd Grade Program

Kambrie had her 2nd grade program the last week in March. I made her let me take a picture of her before the program since I knew I wouldn't be able to get one during the program because I was going to be filming it for Dad, and also holding Kallie. She's such a good sport and always lets me take pictures of her. I love her for that. I think this is her first picture with her new big teeth ;) Anyway, the program was so darling and I so enjoyed watching all those cute kids singing and doing their parts. Kambrie was one of the 7 miners in their cute program about geology.

April Fools Tourney

The Sliderzz boys played in another tourney this weekend. They did a great job, but they just couldn't get past the 10 year old Rebels this time to win the championship. Although it was a bit disappointing for them to get their second 2nd place trophy in a row, I think they realize that sometimes it's better to play up and get better than to totally dominate every time in your own age division. Ky got his first home run hit off of him in the championship game. He was pretty bummed about it, but it made it a little better that it was his friend and old neighbor, Chandler, that did it. They laughed and joked about it after the game.

Buddies

This is my new favorite picture. Don't you just love it? I do. It sums up Ky and Kam to me. Buddies. Best of friends. Brother and sister. My first boy and my first girl, making my dreams of motherhood come true. Yep, that's what these kids did for me. And the rest of their brothers and sisters have just kept those dreams coming true.

One of the students at Kellie's photography class captured this shot last weekend. The kiddos got to go and be the models for them to practice all the new things they learned. Since I absolutely love pictures, I was absolutely thrilled at the opportunity, and I am so happy that I get to have some of the pictures.

Kyler's Field Day

Kyler had his field day today at the high school track. They had already done the qualifying races at school in P.E. class, so these were the finals. Ky qualified in the 100m, and raced his little heart out. It was fun to watch him right before the race started. You could tell he was so nervous and it brought me back to my track days in Jr. High when I would get SO nervous I could barely stand it! Anyway, Kyler finished in 3rd place, just barely behind the second place kid. I was proud of him and it made me happy that it was good enough to get a ribbon. Go Kyler!

Snow Canyon Sliderzz Do It Again

Over Spring Break Rocky Mountain Baseball holds one of it's biggest tournaments of the year, the March Madness Tourney, right here is St. George. There were 35 teams in our age group from Utah and Nevada, and the Sliderzz were one of those teams in the 9u age division. To sum it up, the boys played great baseball all weekend long, leading them to another championship title.

After pitching 5 innings combined in the quarter finals and semi finals, earlier in the day, Ky had to come in the very last inning of the Championship game when Logan went down with a hurt arm. We were winning by two at the time, but we had to hold the Devils to secure the victory. Although I was super nervous, it seems that Ky kinda thrives on pressure situations and he stepped on the mound confident and ready to throw. Three ground outs later, and no runs scored, the Sliderzz did it again! They were the Champions of the March Madness Tournament. It was so awesome.

Here is what Lainee had to say about the day...
Saturday came, we beat the Edge in the first game and then moved on to play the Marshals. The Marshals jumped up on us quick scoring 6 in the first inning. The boys looked deflated, Gavin and Shane gave them the big pep talk as they were coming off the field. They picked it up and ended up beating the Marshals 14 to 8. Then it was time for the Championship game. Wow there was electricity in the air. Lots of people watching and the boys were pumped to win. It was a tough battle back and forth. In the bottom of the 7th we were up by two. Three outs and we win! Our closer Logan was on the mound, he had pitched great throughout the day and everyone was getting excited because we were so close. Right off the bat he had the batter in a hole with two strikes, then the next thing I knew he was hurt. He grabbed his arm and said there was a burning feeling in it. Everyone was sick. 

After evaluating the situation, the coaches put in Kyler to finish the game. Ky did awesome, he looked so confident out there on the mound. The Sliderzz got three outs and won the tournament! It was a beautiful victory.

Seriously?!?!

You gotta love Kenzlie's eyes closed smile. Yeah, she does it all the time. Nice. 

Poor Karsten goes and goes until he hits empty. This is how we found him after a long day of playing hard and Kyler teaching him to ride his dirt bike without training wheels.
Good night little buddy!

The other night we were sitting down eating dinner and Kambrie was telling everyone a story about something that happened at school. All the sudden Kenz says in her cute, little voice, "Seriously?" It was so funny and everyone started laughing. It was just darling to hear her little girl voice say something so grown up.

It's Kenzlie's Birthday!

Spring Fling Tourney

The Sliderzz played in a tourney the first weekend in March here in Santa Clara. They played up an age division (10u) and grabbed a few 10 year olds from Vegas since some of our boys couldn't be at the tournament. It was a good tournament and they ended up getting 2nd place.