Better late than never...

Happy birthday to an extraordinary 5 yr old!!! (Back in August...oops) Though this post is late, I didn't want to forget to document this special occasion and to make a note of what you are like now.
You celebrated your birthday at Pirate Island with your cousin Holly (who's B-day is the day before yours)
Another little party with some Camp aunts and uncles at our home too.
You are not normal, you are amazing.
You love to serve.
You love to play.
Your best friend is your cousin Holly.
You love school and cried today when I had to check you our early.
You love to play with Dallin!
You also like to fight with Dallin on occasion :)
You love to help take care of Parker and Colby.
We all love you so much!
Happy Birthday...a few months ago

My attempt at a fun cake. It is almost more fun for me to do this than for her to get it.


Another fun princess cake!

Just one recent example:
The other day you knew I was feeling sick (gotta love pregnancy) and you offered to bring me a drink or something to eat. When I declined, you found something else to do for me...you emptied the dishwasher and then loaded the dishes in the sink (loading is something you had not done before).
I don't think I knew how lucky I was to have you first.
I don't know any other 5 yr olds that LIKE to take such good care of everyone.
You are not normal, you are amazing.

Alive with Five?

That is the question.


What in the world am I going to do with 5 kids 5 and under!
Yep. That's right. Baby #5 is due May 21st. We are super excited and will keep you posted when we know what we are having.

I hit the JACKPOT

I couldn't have asked for a better husband and father for my children!
Thanks for all you do and especially recently the extra help! You are the best babe!

Here are some photos of recent great dad moments.
(I don't have any cleaning up, bathing kids, dish doing pictures, but for the record, he does all that and more!)

Reading the glow in the dark book to the kids.

Brandon and Colby (tight hug)

Brandon is AMAZING.

Catch up of the century

In no particular order here are some of the things we have been up to since...oh July.

Uncle Travis was the favorite at the park!




Colby didn't make it long after the park

One day after breakfast I had gone up stairs for something and came back to find this...Guess Parker was still hungry!

Parker and his new yogurt hair style'n products

Brooklyn has been reading to Dallin. I love this! they are so cute together!
(memorized books mostly, but she is learning to read fast!)

Every morning this is the hair train.

Picking apples with Grandma and Grandpa. Thanks! It was fun and now we have lots of apple sauce and apple pie filling!




Trouble strikes again at our house. I don't know how the stamps even got in the basement, but this is why they don't belong down there! And 10 min can be way too long to be in another room!


Brooklyn also had a lot all over her...I am not sure how she escaped getting her picture taken!

I was very mad about this, although I still managed to be calm enough to take a picture. But Brandon thought it was pretty funny! It was in the unfinished basement and a little on a scrap of carpet we use for the play area...there was no harm really done, but It took me some time to cool down.

Dallin trying to help Brooklyn learn to ride her bike with out training wheels.

Colby





Attempting to camp with the twins...they look cute now...

I ended up taking the crying babes home around midnight.Then Dallin woke up in the middle of the night crying for me. oops, and did I mention this was a WARD CAMP OUT? Everyone loved my family!



The dorky head lamp! Amazing to change diapers and to walk around in the dark while carrying both twins!



My mom and I went to Thanksgiving point with my kids and my sister Lori's kiddos.




Brandon and I also went to WICKED in Arizona with Brandon's sister and her husband. It was fabulous!!!! We had a great mini vacation visiting there! It is always fun to visit family!

OH and in Aug, Happy birthday Brandon! I don't think we have a single picture from your birthday, but we I think it was one of the best! We left all of our children for two days(first time to leave the twins!) to go hang out up in Heber, play racquetball, go bowling, shopping (mostly for Brandon, so he enjoyed the shopping part). We just had a great time! It was so fun to have a break! Thanks Mom and Dad!!!!

Ok, so there are probably a few more things in that I need to catch up on, but I am so done staring at the computer! I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Boating, boating and MORE boating

Here is a combo of the 3 times we went boating this summer
Warning: tons a pics!

Holly, Alicia Brooklyn and Lori Workin' it in these pics


Dallin started out scared of the tube, but once he was going he loved it and wanted a turn every time the boat stopped!


Brookln was my fearless chickadee. She did awesome and was constantly changing positions and showing off. She has a great time with her cousins too!!! Thanks for the great day Lori and Travis!!!


My awesome sister Cami came with her cute friend Amy. They were amazing on the tube and also helped with Parker and Colby a lot! Thanks so much for coming!!!


Brandon with all the kiddos...he is such an amazing Dad!
And Colby is lovin' the chest hair snuggle...


These two crazy kids will remain nameless...


Lauren, Grandma and Grandpa hanging out with P&C. Notice how Parker (held by grandma) has got one leg out of the boat...he kept trying to get in the water.


Heather and Brad came boating with us on our second trip too!
Thanks guys, it was awesome!


Here is the first boating experience of the year with the Allison family here from TX. It was a blast!

Dang you are cute Colby!


Lookin' good Parker! I just can't decide who's cuter! It is a toss up.


Parker and Colby nice and warm after boating...playing and wrestling.
Way to take him out Parker!

I think we may have worn them out...

Giddy-up

A fun night at the Jolley home!
The kids were all a little hesitant at first but everyone LOVED it and had a great time!

Thanks Jolley Family!

Brooklyn's First Day of School

Brooklyn getting ready to leave for her first day of kindergarten...
Dallin was crying this morning wanting to go too. So cute!

(Dal told me this morning that his red socks make him super fast)

Can you tell she is excited about her back pack?




I am taking pictures from the hall not quite ready to leave.


A new friend!
(which was a good choice since we will be car pooling with her in the future)



So she did great. I wasn't worried about having a hard time sending her, but suddenly on the way out to the car I started tearing up. I wasn't prepared for that. But the time flew by and I had all my kids home with me again. I think we will all survive kindergarten.


***


Dal and Brooklyn were working on coloring some "homework" for about 30 minutes while I was making lunch. Then I had them move from the island to the table for lunch when I discovered this...

Notice anything missing!!! At least he is going in the potty. I guess I failed to notice he didn't quite finish the process :).