Temple Square Lights

This year we went to see the lights on Temple Square in Salt Lake right before we left to go to California for Christmas. We were lucky enough to be accompanied by some very good friends of ours, the Beus family. We spent all day Saturday together in Salt Lake. We ate, laughed, shopped, laughed some more and just had a great time. We made it to temple square about an hour before the lights were to turn on so we went and watched the movie, Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was so good. I was so happy that we were able to go see that and I know that my testimony and the testimony of my girls was strengthened immensely.Afterwards we walked around and looked at all the lights. I am in awe every year at the sight of all the lights. All the detail they put into placing lights on every single branch. It's amazing. We have definitely started a new tradition with the Beus Family. We can't wait for next year.

My attempt at being creative with my photography. I think it turned out pretty good.


Paiters all bundled up. It actually wasn't too bad this year. It still was cold though.
Riley, Cami, Trev and Brooklyn in front of the nativity on temple square. Cache and Bells did not want to participate in the picture taking.

Cami Trev and Chad in front of the nativity. I love this picture. So cute.

Riley, Brooklyn and Cami at the fountain.

All of us in front of the temple. I just looked at this picture for the first time and thought,"Wow, those are all my kids! I have a big family!" I'm so blessed to have these cuties as my own. I'm also blessed to have such a sweet husband who also happens to be the GREATEST dad ever!

Eden and I. This girl is HILARIOUS! I love hanging out with her. We have so much fun together and I CANNOT wait for the next time...(wink wink)!

King Family Christmas/ Paityn's Birthday Bash

We celebrated Christmas early this year. Santa heard that we were going to go to California this year for Christmas, so he made a special visit to Layton to visit us all together. The kids were so excited. I thought Trevor would be more excited then he was, but he was more scared then excited. We had a good dinner put together by Kathy and Jim. We played games, and visited and laughed. We did a gift card exchange with all of the grown ups including Tyler and Kelly via instant messenger all the way from Wisconsin. We had a great time and it was fun to get together and feel the Christmas spirit.

Riley and Santa. Santa asked Riley if her and her family have family prayers morning and night. She hesitated and I knew I had been made. Her answer, "sometimes!" Shoot now Santa and everyone knows that we don't say our family prayers every morning and night. For the record I would like to say that we do say our family prayers at night but struggle terribly to say them in the morning. So Santa if you're listening, I'll be better this year!

Cami and Santa. Cami would not look up at Santa's face this year. He jokingly said , "you know Cami, you can look up at me." Do you think she did? Nope. She didn't budge at all. She posed for her picture, giggled a touch, grabbed her present and was out like a light.

Trev and Santa. Trevor was a little hesitant this year. I was a little surprised but not really. Santa tried to get Trevor to come up and help him with handing out the presents. Trev wouldn't do it. Santa tried getting him to come up and help him ring the jingle bells. Trev wouldn't do it. He did however go up when Santa pulled his present out of his bag.

Paityn and Santa. Paityn, well, let's just say pictures say a thousand words. She was not having it. There was no way she was going to sit on that strange man's lap. She got her present anyway and maybe she'll warm up to the idea of sitting on Santa's lap before next Christmas.



Here's Paityn opening up her birthday presents. Trevor and Tanner and Daddy were helping of course. She loved all of her cute presents this year.

This is the present from Jim and Kathy. It's a little purple dog from Leap Frog that sings songs, plays games and even says her name. So cute and she LOVES it.


Blowing out the candle. She could have cared less about the singing and blowing out the candle. All she wanted was the cupcake.

So that's exactly what she got. She was hesitant at first but slowly started digging in.

Then she realized that this thing she had was so very tasty. She liked it.

Down to the last crumb that she licked off the highchair tray.

Paityn's Birthday

For paityn's birthday we had a busy day. We got to celebrate her birthday together as a family and then after that we went over to the King's to celebrate her birthday with them and also have our family Christmas party. It was fun to watch Pait open her presents. She didn't really get it, at all really, but with the help of her brother and sisters, she was able to open up all of her presents.

Isn't she so cute? I got her and cute little tu-tu and then made the shirt to match. She was such a cutie in her birthday outfit.

My neighbor and good friend Angie made the flower on the headband. SO STINKIN CUTE! She is so talented at making things. She threw this little one together in less then a day.

She looks a little overwhelmed but I assure you she was having a good time.

Hold Onto Your Buns, My Baby is ONE!!!

One year ago today, I was in the hospital having this BEAUTIFUL baby girl. Paityn Lola. Paityn has been such a joy this first year. She has really developed into her own person. She has her own personality. She is calm like Riley always has been and feisty like Cami. I blame the red hair. She is very independent. She can do so many things already. However walking is not one of them. She is our latest walker but that is ok. She has Cami to haul her around. She is very smart and will try to mimic anything she hears. We have enjoyed this baby girl this year and it has been so much fun watching her grow.



We love you so much Paityn. We are so thankful that Heavenly Father blessed us with you. You have been a great addition to our family. We hope that you will continue to grow and be healthy and strong. We hope that as you grow you will always stay as close to the spirit as you are right now. Keep smiling, we LOVE your smile. Love your brother and sisters, even though they are rough sometimes.They love you.We love you Paityn. HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Minutes old...So tiny!

Days old at her first photo shoot

All dressed up for a photo shoot with Keri


So sweet

Growing and smiling

What a sweet P!!

Cami And The "Fellabean"

Oh how I LOVE this girl!!

Last night, we were driving back home from Chad's parents' house when out of nowhere Cami yells out "fellabean". Chad and I look at eachother and say "What Cam?" So she says it again, "fellabean". Puzzled Chad and I scramble to try and figure out what she is talking about. Cami says "Remember in the scriptures Dad, fellabean?" Finally something clicks in Chad and he said "oh yeah did you learn about that in church today?" Cami says that in fact she did learn about that in church today. Confused I ask Chad just what they were talking about. He turns to me and says, "fellow being". I laughed and laughed. I have no idea how Chad figured that one out. I guess he has the gift of tongues.

The Turkey Tango Equals Sweaty Hands

Riley informed us last night that the Turkey Tango is on Monday in her school class. It was kind of a funny conversation. Here's how it went...

Riley: "Mom, the turkey tango is on Monday." (Heavy sigh)
Mom: "What's the turkey tango?"
Riley: "It's where the boys get up and ask the girl that they want to dance with to dance."
Mom: "Are you nervous?"
Riley: "Yeah. Last year Jay asked me to dance and my hands got all sweaty."

I thought that was so cute. She is so nervous to dance with another boy. I remember those days of sweaty palms and shaking knees when close to a boy. It is very scary. I have a feeling though that this is only the first of many experiences with boys for my beautiful Riley. Now we just have to teach her how to tell them to go away.

Trevor, That Color Goes Perfect With Your Eyes!!

Yes this is Trevor, my SON. Yes he painted his toenail blue. Yes he was VERY upset when I took the polish away from him. Trevor and his sisters had just gotten out of the bath and shower when Riley and Cami decided they wanted to paint their finger nails. They were hiding in the kitchen on the floor behind the island painting, but it wasn't a good enough hiding place. Trev found this lovely color of polish and decided that it would look just PERFECT on his toes. So he hid in this corner (atleast it was on the tile) and started painting. He only got one and a half nails done when we caught him in the buck and blue toed. Oh how I love you son...even your "sensitive" side.

I LOVE MY KIDS!!

My kids are the BEST!! I started working at The Children's Place a week ago just as seasonal help. I thought I'd like it a lot more then I do, but I guess that counts as a learning experience. Atleast I get a 25 % off discount out of it right. Anyway, while I'm at work, it's just Chad and the kiddos until I get home at 10:00-10:30 at night. My husband is the best Daddy in the world. I struggle leaving them each time but not because I'm worried about them but because I am going to miss them and miss out on fun moments like these...

Look at my sweet P. I miss this smile when I'm not home. She is growing growing growing. She is very mobile and independant...when she wants to be. She is always happy and I love that about her.

I know my kids miss me while I'm gone but I know that they have so much more fun with Chad. He's more willing then I am to do fun things with them like coloring and games and play dough. They are lucky to have such a good daddy. Peace out Riley, WORD!

All Hallows Eve

This year for Halloween, my kids all wanted to be super heros. So off to walmart we went. Riley picked bat girl, Cami picked wonder woman/girl, Trev picked Buzz Lightyear and Paityn got stuck with an elephant. She worked it though. We had the ward Halloween party on Wednesday, the family Halloween party on Friday, and then Halloween on Saturday. Lots of parties.LOTS of candy. We all had fun and the kids loved every second. Riley said that Halloween is her favorite holiday because she gets to wear makeup and people give her candy. Ah to be a kid again.

Riley as bat girl. A BEAUTIFUL bat girl.
Cami as wonder woman...Look at how pretty she is.

Paityn was a little elephant.That colorful thing on the front is her trunk. It was a wierd costume but she needed to dress up as something.

Trev was Buzz Lightyear. He was so cute. He loves Buzz and he made a really cute one.

Pait and I at the party

I LOVE this picture of Trev. It cracks me up everytime I see it.

Chad and I were salt and pepper shakers. Lame I know but hey we won the best couples costume at the Family Halloween party.(On the top of the gray beanies are black dots I sewed on to look like holes in the top of the shaker...get it?)

This is my crew ready to go trick or treating.Katie and Scott took them out trick or treating again this year. We LOVE that. Especially when the world series is on. Go Giants!Thanks guys! It was such a good night. Little bit of rain but they made it out and back without getting rained on. Look at how good they look. They are so cute!

Paityn was DETERMINED to say the least to get the kids' candy. As soon as the dumped it out of their bags she was on it. This is of Cami holding Paityn back. Paityn was NOT very happy at all.

She broke free and finally was able to get a piece of candy. Look at that face! She was so proud of herself.

Airplane Museum

Last weekend we went to the Hill AFB airplane museum. Andrew, Jenny and Tanner came with us. We had a pretty good time. We walked around and Trevor was really into it at first. He LOVES planes. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that he knows his Daddy works on the airplanes. Tanner and Trevor had a great time running around and soon it was time to go. We decided to go home with everyone and make some homemade pizza...YUMM!!... and some candies for the Halloween party that night...thanks for the help Jenny. All in all it was a great day hanging out with the family.

Trevor trying to make himeself fit into the pilot seat. He still has some growing to do.

My favorite plane. Don't ask me the name of it, I just like it because of the face on it.Now that is talent.

My crew under a ginormous plane in the outside portion of the museum.

Trevor on the bomb on the plane.
Hold on Trevor!!