February 8, 2021

For FHE, we decided to go on a little hike. It wasn't that hard but we did it!! We had a little picnic when we got to an easy spot to stop and look at the beautiful sunset! AZ has the best sunsets!! 

Elli listened to the Eagles on her phone. Caleb made it his goal to keep up with RoJo and chase him when he decided to run ahead of us!! Ashlynn didn't want to walk, she decided that sitting in the backpack was the way to go. Capri Brough a walking stick, well because, it was such a treacherous walk. Braeden was his sweet self and carried the backpack full of water! I'm so grateful for my family!! They each have special place in my heart that is just too much to describe!! 

On our way home, we stopped at the brand new Drizzle Donuts (on Queen Creek Rd & Ellsworth). They add all the toppings to the donuts how you want it! The kids loved that!! They were delicious!!

 

Valentine’s School Party

February 12, 2021

 “This is so fun!!” -Ashlynn 

The day after the Valentine’s party at school! Sugar high for everyone! 

Elli's 8th Birthday

January 21st

Little Miss Elli turned 8 this year!! I have to keep telling myself that this girl is still 8 because she acts WAY older than she is! She has been so mature for her age for so long. We had a fabulous day!!

There was no school on her bday because it was Martin Luther King Jr Day, so we took advantage of that!! Elli and I went to get our nails done! Braeden stayed home and watched the kids for me which has become very convenient!! She didn't just want her nails painted, she requested the whole pedicure!! (Don't blame her)

Then we decided that we would invite some cousins to the Freestone Park and have cake and ice cream! The kids brought their bikes and rode around and it was great fun!! 

This is Elli with her cousins Emma & Haley

Emma's bday is 8 days after Elli's so Emma got to open a present from Aunt Holly too!!

Cute little Avlyn! Her and Capri are about 2 months apart!!

Elli trying to give Crew a kiss!! He wasn't having it!

Elli really can't make a normal face when she is too excited about anything!!

Then we went to Red Robin for dinner!! Elli opened her presents from us there!! She got a cute pink CTR ring and a "Diamond" ring!!

She has been eyeing my Origami Owl necklace for a while, so I got her one that has the initials CTR in in it with her birthstone! This was her face when she realized what it was!! She's kind of dramatic!

For months before her birthday, Elli and Braeden had been saving their money to buy themselves a iPad mini!! So this wasn't a gift from us, but rather a surprise that she had actually earned enough money and got it!! She had no idea it was coming!! Again, a little excitement in her eyes!!

And anything USC never hurt anyone!! She loved the sparkles on it!!

Capri trying to make us laugh!! Her personality is a lot like Elli's!! I would love to have 2 girls with Elli's fun personality!!

She was sung to of course!! Couldn't forget that!!

She had a pretty exciting day!! Sometimes it's stressful as a mom to make sure they feel special and have fun on their birthday!! But I think it was successful!!

We sure love this Elli of ours!! Between the little episodes of drama, she is the sweetest, thoughtful, caring and fun-loving girl!! I love her in our family!! I couldn't imagine it without her! She still cuddles with mom and dad, very concerned for her each of her siblings, and has the attributes of a mother!! She is very good to her Caleb and Capri!!

Love you Elli Mae!!

Capreezy Breezy

January 18th

This little Capri of ours is just so precious! The 3 oldest kids just adore her to no limit! I love having older kids with younger kids. They understand how much we adore and loved them as babies! Capri gets so much lovin! There are many times though that she doesn't want the kids to hold her or be near her. Her defense is yelling and screaming when this happens. 

 But she loves her older siblings a lot and loves tackling them. Her new thing is tickling. We tell her to tickle someone and she says, "tick-a, tick-a, tick-a." And then we pretend to laugh. It's the cutest thing. Capri was brought into this family at the perfect time. She is my little lover girl and randomly runs up to me to give me hugs and kisses. She is my happiness!! She is also teaching me patience at the same time. But I love this little spazball of ours!!

Orange Juice Making

January 18th

My parents have orange trees in the backyard. They are the yummiest oranges ever!! But since it was freezing temperatures overnight, they picked them all off the trees. So we juiced them!! Way yummy orange juice! I had a cute little helper!!

Hot Chocolate

January 12th

My kids were trying every thing they could to earn a dollar!! They were wanting to earn iPad minis for themselves!! We had a hot chocolate stand in the middle of a freezing cold day!! I was so cold out there!! But the kids sold their bottlecap necklaces and keychains too!! Kids made a lot of money that day!!

I think it's safe to say that Caleb had a lot of hot chocolate that day!!


Braeden and Caleb did a lot of riding bikes, Elli did a lot of cuddling in her blanket while I did a lot of work! Nice!! Kids were lucky I was in a good mood that day or I would have kept all the money!! :)

Cash Love

January 11th

This is Cash. Cash is one of a kind. Cash is the only one who understands what goes on inside that brain of his!! But on this day, Cash loves Capri. I think only those who know Cash, will know what I am talking about!!

But how could you not love a boy with a smile like that?!?!!

Taco Bell

January 10th

I just think it's cute and really funny how wide Capri opens her mouth to get a bite!!

Bike riding

 January 10th

Caleb learned how to ride a bike right before summer started last year. Then we stopped going on bike rides because it was so hot, so he got scared and we put on the training wheels back on for him. Well, he got a new yellow bike for Christmas, so we told him he wouldn't be able to ride it until he learned how to ride without training wheels again. He finally decided to be brave. He learned in no time!!

Braeden and Mark love throwing the football! So Caleb rode his bike in circles around them.

Poor Capri just sat in the stroller watching them. But I don't feel that bad for her!!

Love AZ sunsets!!

The Zoo

January 4th

Before school started back after Christmas Break, I took the kids to the zoo. We needed to get out of the house!!

I think they thought if they stuck their arm down that, they could get some change out. They tried really hard!!

Not sure what animal this is... I didn't even know at the time we were there. But I needed a picture!!

There's a rhino back there somewhere.  Elli put her ipod on her head like that to be a rhino!! Last time we were at the zoo, this was the only animal Braeden wanted to see. 

Capri was a sweetheart and just ate snacks the whole time! She was a good girl!!

Had to ride the camel... watch out they spit!!

 Woo Hoo... no hands!! Really Elli, that is amazing skills!!

Just to explain the crown. This girl saw this crown at Charming Charlie's back in October. She was DYING to have it! I told her she could ask for it for Christmas! Well, she got it. Now she wears it every so often and part of any outfit. I love her!!

This was fun to see!!

Mark's favorite animal!!

Fun to see, but so boring. It took him 10 minutes to walk from the wall to the water.