Noah is 14 months

This month was just so fun. He is laughing, signing and even talking up a storm! He is taking a few steps between things, he just doesn't want to walk. He will if he is holding something just barely, but thinks crawling is faster. It is going to get crazy over here once he realizes it's actually the opposite! His signing is amazing, he tells us what he wants, likes, sees,etc. I love being able to communicate with him. He is starting to mimic what we say and thinks he is just the biggest boy because of it. He will make sure and tell benjamin and emma what is going on- good or bad. He loves to play hide and go seek. The other day he crawled into the kitchen at church, I followed him in but actually could not find him! He was hiding in a cupboard holding so still and just smiling. Then when I found him he went and hid in another spot. Noah is such a good baby, the only time he has really cried is when he gets teeth. He is a mischievous one too. All day long I follow him from one thing to the next as he tears it apart then goes on. It doesn't even phase him. We just love how fun he is!

Family time

Here is a post just for some of those fun, random, crazy moments of our day to day life! I love this!

Holiday fun

This year we went to the amazing Adventure to Santa. The kids were in awe. We designed our own sleighs then went on a sleigh ride to the North Pole that was guided by Shrek and Donkey. We played a fun game while we waited our turn for what was behind the big red door where we met Santa! He knew the kids names and what they wanted. There excitement was just pure joy. We will definitely be coming back next year. 

Thanksgiving

This year my family came to celebrate from Idaho. We had a house full! It was so fun having everyone together. The kids love having time with their grandparents and aunties. We played, talked and just enjoyed each other's company. We had thanksgiving at Art and Joyce's house with all of their kids in town. The kids had a blast playing with all the cousins they don't see very often. I love the holidays and this was just the beginning of the amazing season!  

Family pictures

We went up to Mt. charleston and took family pictures this weekend. It was so cold up there! The kids did so good though, Noah got fussy towards the end but was happy for the majority of the time. What isn't family picture day withou something happening! We totally forgot my camera, so luckily were saved by Fadi ! Kelsey came with us to help take our pictures. Benjamin was using the sticks as bats while Emma found pine cones and stayed cozy in her coat. Overall they are great and I am so grateful for our family and I just love having pictures to see how much we change and grow. It was my moms birthday and she Loves family pictures so we made sure to try and get them done for her :) Happy birthday mom! 

Noah is 13 months

Ok, so this little guy is just the best! We spent a week in Idaho and he started signing; dog, fish, drink, night night. He was ready doing eat and airplane. Now he is doing please also! I love how fast he has caught on. Noah loves to play pat-a-cake, and signing and dancing are his favorite! It is the cutest thing, he will dance to any music anytime it comes on. He also will sing randomly and when we are singing he will join right on in. He is such a mischievous little one. Still just gets into things and when we stop him he just goes right on to the next thing. He  is such a good baby too, he will only start to get fussy if he needs something and now that he is signing it is amazing! He says, momma, daddy, bubba, night night, and more. Makes for a quiet little crazy, sweet baby! He is standing up by himself just a little bit, but as soon as he realizes he is doing it he stops. So no walking yet! I'm in no rush though because this is my baby and when he walks he will be a toddler and that is so sad to realize how fast the time goes. Noah got his first haircut this month. It wasn't very much, just those few pieces that were so much longer then the rest. He has the exact same hairline as Emma, where there is hardly any hair that will grow on the sides. His favorite toys are cars and rocking horse/cars that he can climb on. He totally makes the vroom vroom noise too. He is such the perfect mix between Emma and Benjamin. He has the little scowl that makes him look identical to Emma then he has that sweet little smile that is so benjamin. He is quiet just like emma, but then will babble and be so cheerful like his brother. All three of these kids are so sweet and we love them so much! 

Idaho!

Yay for a long school weekend! The kids and I went to Idaho for a little trip. Kylee came to Vegas then went up with us too. The kids were all so excited to see each other, as were the grandparents! My mom, Kylee, the kids and I went to the top of this mountain in Boise where it overlooks the whole city. It was absolutely gorgeous to see a sky view of the "city of trees". We got to see, Uncle Tuff and sandy and grandparents! All of the fall colors were so beautiful and so vivid. The kids had so much fun raking them up and jumping in the piles. They rode four wheelers out at papa buzz's house, made a fort and of course took a bath in the tub us older girls always played in! We put up lights at grandma and grandpa Jardines house and played in the leaves some more! The kids and I even got to visit our old dog Belle. She is so huge! Seriously so much fun though. The kids always act like the day we gave her to her new home was just yesterday. We all miss her, but she has amazing new parents and such a fun home! My parents have this little end table between their two chairs and a small trash can under it. Noah would pull the trash can out then crawl in it and sit there while he played with all of the fun things that he wasn't supposed to play with. We taught him to go down the stairs the first day because those are of course the best playground for little ones ;) The kids had so many movie nights with the girls and kylee was such a trooper all week playing with them. We just love being at grandma and grandpas. Who doesn't! On our way home we got to stay with Madi and kylee and so the kids got their Madi time in! She made the BYU cougar blue hot chocolate and had candy canes for them, popcorn and a movie!

All Hallows' eve

This Halloween we went over to our friends, Rosemary and Shannon's neighborhood. Wow! It was Christmas at halloween. We have never seen so many house full on decked out for Halloween. Almost the entire neighborhood had their houses and yards all spooked out. There was a spiderweb that went for 3 houses, a guy with a blow torch on his roof, a pirate house and so much more. We have definitely found a new tradition. Benjamin was a skeleton, Emma a broken doll, and I had face makeup for the living dead. I love doing fun make up :) Noah was over the costume tonight and Jake was dressed as the guy that just got a new iPhone 6 plus! Um what?!? Yes he is excited. Tara's little Kinsley was trying to make her appearance a little early and drew was so popular in his glow man costume. Everyone was having fun dressed up!

Last weekend we went to Benjamin's school carnival. The kids had so much fun playing the carnival games. Benjamin even went through the spooky haunted house. He was such a brave little pirate. Emma was dressed as princess Merida from brave and Noah was the cutest little lion ever. Benjamin wore the same lion costume and I loved seeing it on this little baby too. The kids got to take a ride in the really big blow up balls. They thought it was so fun, it was one of those 1 minute of fun traded for an hour in line :/ That was my day to be excited though because I got my gold iPhone 6! 

Benjamin had his school party this week. He was so excited to see his teacher and all of his friends all dressed up. My cousin Kelsey came over after school to play and Emma loved seeing her all dressed up as Elsa. This year we all had such a good Halloween! Now what to I with all that candy and rotten teeth.... 😜

Little moments

I love the little things in life. We were sitting on the couch and Noah was cracking me up sticking his tongue out. Benjamin and Emma kept wanting to jump in the pictures too. These are the moments that matter. Being happy, laughing and smiling! I love my family! 

San Diego, CA

Every year San Diego does kids free at all the parks and different places. Emylee, Chad and some of Emylee's family go every year and this year we got to join in on the fun! We had such a blast. We went with Emylee, Chad, Penny, Cash and Emylee's brother Ryan, Emily, Chance, Maverick and another couple Jay and Lauren met up with us too. They had two kids a girl Benjamin's age Madison, and a little boy Carter. Benjamin was pretty entranced by Maddie, it was so cute, anytime you mentioned her to Benjamin he would just start giggling.
 We left super early friday morning and went straight to Sea World. It was the kids first time and Jake and I hadn't been in a really long time. We loved seeing the ocean animals. The whale show was amazing, of course! Noah was so into that show. He just stared and watched the entire time. Every once in awhile he would make a noise and point to them. Benjamin sat down close with Emily and Ryan and there boys Chance and Maverick. They all wanted to get soaked, the rest of us went up high. :) We loved seeing the Polar Bears and penguins. The kids had so much fun. Benjamin went with the boys and some of the adults and rode some rides that were "crazy fun". The guys kept buying the food to feed the animals. The kids and the boys fed the sting rays and the seals. The sting rays you had to hold the fish between your fingers so they could come and suck it up into their mouths. Jake even had Noah do it... um what?! ha ha ha With the seals they were so loud. One of the seals was sitting on top of a rock just barking away. He would look at person to person barking at them, then waving at them to see who would give him food. He was a smart one! They were really entertaining.
The next day we started off our day at the Temple. It is such a beautiful temple. I love the peace and the spirit that is with you when you are on temple grounds. We took family pictures and I just love knowing our family is forever. We also took pictures of all the kids. We had the hardest time the first couple of tries with getting the babies to hold still and not crawl around. Then right when we were about to leave the kids all just sat there and smiled the biggest smiles. I love those pictures so much!
After that we headed to the San Diego Zoo. I love the zoo. It is definitely one of my favorite places. Noah was so interested in the animals he would just stare and watch. We got to see the gorillas eating. One of them was gigantic! I could not believe the size of him. When they were eating they would wipe off the food on their arms before they would eat it and they wouldn't eat the parts of the salad that were too soft. We also got to see the Pandas. The mom panda we watched eat bamboo. It is so fun to see how smart the animals are. I am just amazed and love them all! The gorillas and pandas were my favorite.
Emma and Penny were BFF's the whole time. They are so cute and their curls in the humidity were so on! We just love them and how close they are and they had to get friends forever necklaces. Benjamin was loving having boys to play with that were so close to his age. Those boys just were everywhere and loved playing together! Uncle Chad was the hero all weekend! He walked around with lots of change in his pockets to make sure all the kids could get all of the different pennies that you smashed and were stamped in the machine. The kids all had so much fun cranking that wheel to get their pennies and loving on Uncle Chad. Emylee and I even got our shopping on at a couple stores after our day adventures. I am so glad we had this little weekend of fun all together! It was amazing, thank you to everyone for making it great! We won't forget it and will be all ready for next year.

How fun is being ONE! Noah

Our little baby boy is now one! This year has just been filled with so many things. We have loved watching Noah grow and learn every day. He is so good and just crawls from thing to thing and loves on everyone. He is also completely mischievous and knows it. He will get into one thing and when we tell him no he just looks at us and smiles and laughs then goes to the next thing he isn't supposed to do and watches you smiling to see what you are going to do about it. It is the cutest thing ever, but wow is he fast at getting around and into everything! He is walking holding on to everything and will hold your hand and walk with you, but not quite up to the real deal yet. I am completely o.k. with that, he is already a fast little crazy I can't imagine how much more hectic it will be when he is walking too. We had a little mini last minute birthday party for him with Jake's family and had cupcakes. He loved his little cake and started off eating one little bite at a time. Slowly each bite became bigger and bigger until he ended with smashing and handfuls. He was more then happy to share with you if you asked for some. He is just the sweetest thing ever. Then on his birthday we had another little mini face time celebration with my family in Idaho. Benjamin and Emma loved it because they got spoiled with some fun halloween jammies! Every single time we face time them, it doesn't matter if Noah is crying or what, he gets extremely happy and will start dancing and talking away with them! He loves his cars and music. He will push those cars around forever and from room to room. Then he finds his drum set and will start playing away. Every time music comes on he starts dancing and will even sing with you when you start singing. I watch Ellen Degeneres most days and Noah knows exactly who that is and knows that dance time is about to happen and he gets so excited. We are so grateful for our family members that show us so much love and just love our kids!

So much going on!

We have been busy! We found out my aunt and uncle were coming home early from their mission. So we have been working on packing and finding a place to live. We found one, but that post will come later. The kids all needed dressers so I redid one for Emma and Noah. I love them and can't wait to find a dresser to do for Benjamin. 

Umi turned five this month and had a Frozen birthday party! So now Emma, Penny and Umi have all had their Frozen partys. That movie is so popular, all the kids just love it! At Umi's party Elsa made a special little trip from Arrendale! That was a pretty exciting crowd she had. The kids sang with her and were just in awe! Little Cash and Noah got suckers from the pinata and you know they were all over that. Even though they each had a sucker they still wanted the other ones. They ended up switching suckers at one point. Sugar sugar, of course they enjoyed every second of that sticky mess.

Auntie Tara has a baby in her tummy! Emma is pretty excited that it is a girl! Tara is due the fifth of march! The kids are so excited. We went and celebrated such a special moment with Tara and Drew and saw little miss on a 3D ultrasound. It was sure great being able to see her and see my little niece. Emma and Penny were just loving on Tara. They sat right up there with her and were asking her lots of questions. You could just see the love they already have for her. Before we found out if it was a girl or not Emma was convinced that it was a girl and if it wasn't a girl then Tara would just have to give it back. Emma already has two brothers and did not want another one! She is too cute and is now so excited for a sister :)

We are in School :) :/ Time slow down

Benjamin started Kindergarten at Somerset Academy Losee campus. His teacher's name is Ms. Baxter. He loves school. He has always been such a fast learner and is so social. I told him that his teacher was going to teach him how to read really good. The first week was a little slow and he kept coming home saying that he was so bored and she hadn't taught him to read yet. It was so funny he was ready to learn! The second week of school it all started! We got his first list of sight words and he was amazing, of course. He is doing so well and I love that he is. At the open house his teacher said how well he is doing and that he is a really good role model to some of the other students. She said he is always willing to help and picks up on things so fast. Makes for some proud parents at our house. Benjamin is loving that he is getting so close to being able to read like his Aunt Taliah and Aunt Charlotte. He had to call them to practice his words with then and show that he knew them! I love this kid so much! He sure did change my whole life and I am so grateful for that. His smile and laugh is so genuine and he is just so lovable. I know he will do big things and he already has! I could go on forever about all of his great qualities! I will stop and save some for next time. ;) Way to go bud! You are a Kindergartner now!

First broken bone

Well we made it quite awhile and through three kids with no broken bones. Emma was on Benjamin's razor 360 bike (a tricycle that basically sits on the ground) The bike and her fell over and she landed on her shoulder and slid on the ground. She came in crying and we just thought it was because she had scraped it up. :( The next day she couldn't lift herself up into bed, and everytime she used her arm she would start crying again. She could still move it, it was only when she used it with any pressure or in certain motions it would start causing her so much pain. We were with Emylee and Penny at the store when I decided to take her to quick care. Emma was in so much pain and just the mention of the Dr. got her so upset. Penny has had xrays before so of course we brought along her BFF so Emma would have her little support system. The girls were so good in the office, neither of them have sisters and so they are each others sisters, cousins and best friends! Well after we did the xray the Dr came and got me and showed me her broken collarbone. He said it was a fractured clavicle and that she needed to be in a sling. With more opinions we were told it should heal on its own and to keep her in a sling for a month with no rough activitys. She was not ok with that ugly blue sling. Little miss Diva was refusing to wear it because it was ugly. Yes, she is ALL girl. Her arm kept falling out of that sling also so we went and picked out everything purple so I could make her a beautiful sling that her arm would be secure in. It has been two weeks and she is over the sling. Almost done though so we will make it! We just want our baby girl all happy, healthy and strong again!

Noah is 11 months old!

Umm.... what???? I totally even had a teary eyed moment thinking about that he is almost one. This time has just gone so fast.  Noah is getting such a little personality. He is adorable. Whenever you are holding him or sitting by him he does the cutest thing. He leans his face over in front of your face to see what you are doing. He even raises his eyebrows and makes a little noise. He is saying mom and everyonce in awhile will say dad! Yes, thank you finally a child that says mom more! I love it. I have been signing basic signs with him since he was a baby, but he hasn't done any yet. We saw an airplane a couple weeks ago and he freaked out. He LOVED it! I did the sign for airplane as we were watching it and he totally signed it back. He loves airplanes and helicopters, he will do that sign, but not any others yet. He will wave now and when he smiles he crinkles his nose up. Such funny faces for this boy. He loves to dance and will start dancing whenever music starts. He will even sing now and its amazing. Noah just has so much of a sweet spirit and is such a good baby. He is still climbing on everything! Not ready to walk though. Both Benjamin and Emma walked at 11 months and 3 weeks, right before their first birthday. So we will see where this little man is at! He is already everywhere and so fast so I am ok if he waits a little longer to start walking. His hair is getting a little longer and even has those little curls that Benjamin and Emma had, I was so excited when I saw those! We sure love him so so so so much! I can't believe my next post for him will be his first birthday...

10 Months old for Noah

Noah is doing really well. He has had so many new experiences this last month! He went on a horse, river rafting, zip lining, tent camping in 30 degrees, and so much more fun. Noah is such a trooper and an amazing baby. He really is so good and sweet. His little smile just melts my heart. He learned how to climb on things now so is everywhere and into everything! He will pull himself up on everything and move from table to couch and things if he can reach, but is not ready for walking quite yet. He is so content now that he can get to everything basically. He now has four teeth on top and three on the bottom. When his teeth come in they come in multiples and right after the other... makes for a hurting little man, but still sweet. He now knows that he isn't supposed to do certain things and will look at you with a very serious face like, so what- are you going to stop me. His little attitude is too funny. We sure love him!

Utah Ranch

Kylee works on a ranch in Provo canyon. On our way back to Vegas we stayed with her and Madi so we could get some outdoor fun in. Can I say what a LONG day it was, but one of the best! We fit in almost everything we could do. We started out going on the zipline. There is five different sections that you go down. Soaring above the mountains and trees it was beautiful and exhilarating. Benjamin and Emma got to go, I thought that Emma would go by herself the first time and then get scared and need to go with one of us. No, she had a blast and wanted to be by herself every time. By the last trip down she was trying to flip upside down like Aunt Kylee! We had Madi come up with us so she could watch Noah, but then Noah was able to come on it too, um what?! He had all his own ropes and hung all by himself from the line. He was then attached by a rope to whoever was going with him so he couldn't go down by himself. This kid cracks me up he did absolutely nothing, no laughs, no tears, no screams, no funny faces because the wind is blowing in his face, NOTHING! He just sat there and acted like nothing was going on. My mom had to be pushed off the first couple runs, but I know she enjoyed it so much! It is so freeing to just fly above the trees.

Next we went down the Provo river. My mom, Madi, Noah, Emma, Benjamin and Charlotte started off in the raft. Kylee and Taliah were in a canoe and I paddle boarded. I think at one point Kylee had all the kids, except Noah in the canoe. They even floated down the river holding on to the side of the boat too. Noah passed out on my mom and slept for the ride. I really wanted to try paddle boarding and am so glad I did! I was a little freaked out doing it on a river with some rapids, but it was so fun. It took me a few minutes to get comfortable so I just stayed down. Then I stood up! It was fun and I was proud of myself. A little nerve racking, but by the end I was loving it! Poor Benjamin kept losing his pants with the current of the river. If you ask him about the canoe ride he just says, "My pants fell down and everyone saw my bum."

After that we got on the horses. Kylee's boss has 18 horses up on his mountains. They just roam free. There are two groups-the originals that he has had since birth and then the new ones that he has acquired since then. These horses are so funny, if you heard someone talking about them and what they did by just using their names, you would think you were hearing about a dramatic group of teenagers. They are so picky and who they hang out with and get in fights over girls and friends. I had no idea horses were like that! Emma and Charlotte loved the horses. Emma kept giving her horse hugs and had a huge smile the whole time. Benjamin wasn't so much for riding them, he just like sitting on them and petting them. They took us on a ride through the trees. When we were getting ready to leave all of the horses (separated by their two groups) came galloping down the mountain into the river to get a drink. That was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Wow, breathtaking moments. We went on a razor ride up to the top of a mountain. It looked right down to Provo. You saw the river between the mountains and then it opened up to the town. I just love things like that and getting to experience new views and moments. On the way back down we stopped at a white pine tree (not positive on that name) We got some of the pine needles off to smell them. It was like pure Christmas, that was probably one of the best smells I have ever smelt! Definitely one of my favorites now.

Thank you Kylee and your boss for letting us enjoy all of that! We had a blast and can't wait to come back and visit.

Idaho summer

We had the longest summer vacation! It was so fun. After our camping trip we went to my grandparents house and played with them for a day then headed to my parents house. Jake was able to come and stay for the first week at my parents too. I am so glad we could all go. I love being able to be with my family and have so much time. We were only missing kylee that week :( It is so fun just being together and chatting and doing whatever. We got a game of kickball going behind my parents house. The kids loved playing with grandma and grandpa! They love them so much. We love them all a ton. I love seeing my dad with Benjamin, they are best buddies! Emma loves her Grandma Cindy and just wants to be around her all the time. Noah got so spoiled having so much people to love on him and play with him. We all went and saw Planes 2 at the most amazing movie theater I have ever been too. It was like an old school theater/an actual broadway-musical-opera theater/all brand new and so pretty. The kids had slumber parties almost every night. So much fun, but their absolute favorite was when they got to sleep in grandma and grandpas room! There was 6 people and 2 dogs sleeping in one room, Noah and I slept in our room and there was 5-6 empty bedrooms. Crazy fun! Noah figured out how to crawl up the stairs in about one try. He was a pro and no matter what we put to block the stairs he would figure out a way around it. He learned how to put his foot on the frame of the couch to climb onto the couch, he climbed on to end tables and whatever he could reach. He pretty much thought grandma and grandpas house was the best place ever. I mean how could it not be when she puts food and water and beds on the ground for him... (the dog's) LOL he loved it. When I was there I did hair for everyone and also decided to go a little cray cray and color my hair HOT pink! Everywhere we went someone would say that they liked it, my mom wanted them to stop encouraging me :) It is just hair, all will be ok. While in Idaho I got to spend time with friends that I rarely see or haven't seen since moving away. Oh how I miss them! Such great friends. We had such a wonderful time and I am so grateful we had the chance to go.

Yankee Fork Gold Dredge

Growing up my family went to the gold dredge every year, up by Stanley, ID. My Grandpa Buzz (dad's dad) grew up there. His dad worked on the dredge. When they stopped running the dredge it was parked on one side of the river. J.R. Simplot, the owner of the dredge, found out that it couldn't be parked there so he called my Great Grandpa Schraft and he moved it to where it is now. We have not visited there in almost 10 years due to people being busy or not close enough to make the trip. This year we all made it a priority to go. It was so much fun! They have redone things in the dredge and put up a lot of pictures. There was a lot of pictures of my grandpa as a child, with his friends and in the little class they provided for the kids. We all loved seeing my grandpa light up and talk about his childhood and all of those memories. There is a lot of history up there for that little town. By where we camp there is a graveyard for the town, then up the mountain a few miles is another graveyard. There are only three people buried there, they wanted them buried away from the other townspeople to do scandals, affairs, and murder. It is a pretty crazy story!
We were all in tents except for my grandma and grandpa. At night it got down to 30 degrees. It was SO cold! Poor Noah started getting a couple teeth when we left so again sorry everyone for his cries echoing through the campground! We had so much fun though. We hiked, played games, swam in a freezing cold river and just enjoyed each others company without any technology to disrupt our family time. We went to the little town of Custer and walked around reading all the stories and history. We planned for gold and the kids all thought that was amazing that they found their own gold!
We seriously had such a fun time and it is beautiful up there. I loved being there and remembering old memories and creating new ones. My dad loved that we could have my younger sisters there and my kids- a whole new generation to share this history with. Thank you grandpa for having such an amazing experience to bring us all back to.