Happy Birthday Porter

Porter is an amazing kid! He is so bright, it's a little intimidating. He is an amazing reader and retains almost everything he reads. He even helped Bella become a better reader and would practice with her at night. He is a lovable kid and is always there to help.

We usually do a big breakfast for the birthday person, but the breakfast chef (Johnny) was feeling sick, so I thought I would just take Porter out for breakfast. But because Johnny was feeling so crappy he asked if I could take all the kids, so the monkeys and I went to IHOP for breakfast.

Porter had his birthday party at Classic Skating. My mom gave him skates for his birthday and he was ready to show off his new skills at the party. His cousins and friends were able to come and he had a really good time!

Happy birthday Porter we love you!

Tess Turns 2!

Tess has been a baby of surprises, just days before we found out I was pregnant Johnny and I were thinking four kids was a good number and maybe we were done. Little did we know I already had a bun in the oven. Then a couple of weeks before she was due I thought I had gone into labor but really I had kidney infections and stones and they took her the next day.

A few months after having Tess I was really struggling with 5 kids 6 and under and I had a very comforting feeling that she needed to be here and was meant to be here. I tried to baby Tess and she wouldn't have it, she weaned herself at 7 months and starting crawling too. She has been an independant little baby and loves to get into trouble with her master Joshua. She is a joy in our home and we love her to pieces even when she's painting herself in vaseline and drawing on the walls :)

Valentine's Party

We had our Valentine's party at Classic Skating last week. If you have seen Ethan you know he has been practicing almost daily with his skates so he was very excited; and because he is the oldest and everything he does is awesome the other kids were thrilled too. We made our Valentine bags the night before and I completely forgot to take pictures of them. I made Joshua's and it was so cute, so I'm actually more sad I didn't get a picture of his.

Two of my sisters were able to come with their kids and some of my neighbors and old friends from our school we used to go to. It ended up getting pretty crowded but the kids didn't seem to mind. They got to skate for two hours and then stuff their face with candy. They slept like angels that night.

The Saturday before Valentine's the Elder's Quorum had a secret dance. They did a really nice job (well one of their wives did a nice job). There was a DJ and lots of food. It was the first time Johnny and I have ever danced, I was in heaven. Johnny on the other hand was in his own personal hell, but he ended up relaxing and having a really good time.

Race Season Begins

A few weeks ago my friends Jenny, Julie, and I headed down to St. George to run the Painter's Half Marathon. We went down Friday night and stayed over at my friends parent's house. They had a nice meal ready for us and we got to sleep with no kids waking us up all night long. The race started at 9:00am and it was perfect weather. I was hoping to keep up with Julie and Jenny during the race, after all I had just trained with them right?? I was only able to stay with Julie for about a 1/2 mile and Jenny a few more miles, those girls are amazing. I was still able to finish strong with my fastest time beating my old PR by 7 minutes!

On the way down, is it safe to not watch where you are going on the freeway?


Before the race.

After the race.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

What We've Been Up To

I finally loaded my pictures onto the computer so here is a little review of what's been going on at the Thomas house.

Ethan was in the play 101 Dalmations, he was Jasper. He did an amazing job and no offense Cruella but Jasper and Horace TOTALLY stole the show. Ethan does a really good at reading an audience and kept them laughing. Way to go buddy.

This is where I find Bella a lot every morning. She loves to sleep by the heater vent. The sad thing is when I go running early in the morning I usually don't turn on the lights and I've stepped on her so many times. Finally Johnny found her a heater vent that was in a safer location. I know I should have moved her but I didn't want to risk her waking up so I threw a blanket on her. Yes these are her pajamas.

Bella apparently has some anger issues against Barbie. I had to take her picture before I threw her away.

This is what she wore the other day. The shorts were fine because she does have tights on. She does this a lot with her clothes.

When Tess is being quiet it is usually a bad sign. Here she is with desitin on her face.

Here is Joshua and his side kick with lotion all over. They were very proud of their hats they made.

Sorry there are no pictures of Porter. He hasn't been in a play, doesn't sleep in weird places, he generally dresses ok and he hasn't destroyed anything. :)

Getting to know you...

In primary they do a little spotlight for the kids and Ethan was picked today. I thought his questionnaire was too cute.

1. My favorite color is? Chartreuse
2. My favorite ice-cream flavor is? Chocolate, big
3. My favorite school subject is? Math
4. My favorite book is? Dinosaurs
5. My favorite movie is? Dinosaurs
6. My favorite food is? Lasagna
7. My favorite hero is? Superman
8. My favorite animal is? Elephant and Eagles
9. My favorite place is? Africa
10. My favorite dessert is? Cream cherry (I have no idea what that is)
11. My favorite game to play is? Catching ghost
12. My favorite sport is? Basketball
13. When I grow up I will be a...Cowboy that sells fish

Baptism Day

Ethan turned 8 this month and his baptism ended up on Halloween morning. It was such an amazing experience! We got everything ready at the house that morning and then Johnny, Ethan and I headed to the church to get him all ready. It ran so smoothly and I was so touched by all the friends and family that came that day to support him. We had so many little kids there it made it hard for anyone to see when Ethan was baptized so I had to sneak to the front with the kids so I could see too. We've asked Ethan how he felt about the day and he says he feels good and warm. Thank you so much for everyone who came that day and for all your help.

Excited Ethan.

Ethan and mom.

Ethan and dad.

Just waiting.

Some of our family and friends who were able to come.

Happy Halloween

I love Halloween. My kids and I have had a lot of fun this month making fun Halloween themed crafts for art all month long. We are part of a home school group and had a Halloween Party on Friday. It was a blast. Then on Saturday night we went Trick or Treating as a family, I think that is a first. Johnny has always stayed home with the baby, but he had no excuses this year. Then we went and saw Grandmas and Grandpas and ended with a party at my moms.

My little witch.

Her kitty.

Hulk.

Iron man.

Mom and kids.

Out trick or treating.

Happy Birthday Ethan (and me)

My oldest baby has just turned eight. I can not believe I have a child this old. He is such a neat kid. His mind is so unique and he thinks of the neatest stories and all the wonderful inventions that someday he'll make. A friend of mine found a quote that suits him perfectly, "Those who can see the invisible can do the impossible". Ethan and I share our birthday which at first wasn't that big of deal because babies don't care, then the last couple of years my birthday was kind of blah, but this year he was really concerned that we celebrate the day for me as much for him. I love this kid!

Ethan's first birthday

His 2nd birthday

3rd birthday

I couldn't find his 4th birthday picture so I had to skip to his 5th birthday picture

6th birthday

7th birthday

And finally his 8th birthday

I know he looks a little angry in this picture but he ended up getting very sick that day. He got a camera for his birthday and has been taking all sorts of wonderful pictures like action figures doing really cool things, pictures of the TV and so on. I just realized that he has the same jammies on for his 7th and 8th birthday picture, maybe we should have got him some pajamas instead.

Happy Birthday Joshua

My little wild man is 3! Joshy has by far surpassed all his siblings in the "naughty" stage. He started as soon as he could crawl and has never quite grown out of it. He is so darn cute which has saved his life several times :) Happy birthday Joshy we love you!
3 Months old

Joshua's first birthday

Just hanging out in the oven drawer, what is that weird?

Camping, Joshy LOVES animals

We always do a big birthday breakfast for the kids, Ethan helped make the Mickey Mouse pancakes for Joshy

His birthday cake

Joshua loves whatever the big kids love, and they are really into Pokemon right now. FYI if your kids have never seen Pokemon please never let them watch it. It has to be the lamest thing I've ever seen. Anyway, he got Crowgonk a Pikachu movie and some Pokemon action figures. (I'm sure I'm spelling those wrong for any die hard Pokemon lovers out there sorry)

Cooking 101

Lately Porter has been helping me make lunch while I finish with Ethan during school. He is a pro at making top ramen and can do it completely by himself. Well yesterday I had been canning peaches and had left stuff on the oven, I told Porter to just use another burner, which is apparently a lot harder than I thought. Shortly there after I smelled smoke and Porter was crying, I looked over the balcony and saw an apron that was singed. I told him to just throw it into the garage. Then he started crying again and I could smell wax in with the smoke so I ran downstairs and removed the melting plastic off of the oven. All was well and we finished up school ate a great healthy lunch of top ramen then we all got packed up to go visit Johnny at his office. Porter opened the door to the garage screaming FIRE! FIRE! This is what we found.

Apparently when something is still slightly burning you need to put it ALL the way out. Johnny is really happy that it burned the steps, but in my defense I wasn't the one who started it on fire :)

First Day of School

I figured since everyone else posted their first day of school pictures I needed to do one as well. I had my kids pick their favorite part of the school room to get their picture taken. Porter and Bella both picked our devotional area, this is where we do the calendar, say the pledge, sing songs and all that good stuff. Ethan picked our maps. Joshua is sitting at the babies table where I had dreams of him and Tess sitting there and coloring so nicely and being quiet. I don't know what I was thinking, so far during school Joshua has ran away SEVERAL times. I found him one time stark naked covered with mud, oh the life with a 2 year old.

Farmers Market

My kids really want to make some money so they can buy every toy they've ever laid eyes on; and because my garden looks like this...

(I know it's awesome)

I suggested they have a vegetable stand. They thought it was great and ended up going door to door with our gigantic zucchini and yellow squash trying to sale some. They did alright and they had a really good time. They can't wait to go buy all their toys now.

Happy Birthday Bella

My little girl turned 5 last Saturday. She is such a delight when she's not being a diva :) We went out as a family for her birthday and saw "Aliens in the Attic" then went out to eat. She got a CD player and some CD's for her birthday and absolutely loves them. She falls asleep to Kid's Bop every night.




I know she's picking her nose in this picture but this one sums up Bella; completely adorable, doing something she shouldn't (stuffing a kitten down the couch is frowned upon at our house), and then acting like a little boy (picking her nose) and to top it off she's in a dance outfit (she wasn't in dance she just loves to wear a leotard or a swimsuit everyday)

Birthday morning, what's better than to blow out your candles in bacon and eggs?