A little spring cleaning

If you take a look at the right side of my blog, (not just reading in Google Reader) you'll notice that a few family members are missing and those pictures are SO OLD! I have decided to do a little spring cleaning and update things around here.  (Give me a week.)

(Ryan, age 12)

 But first, I would need new pictures of the kids and a good picture of little Tyler. So, I went to get the kids school pictures out of their envelopes.

(Ariana, age 10)

SCHOOL PICTURES!!! I hate the thought of it. Every year they get worse and worse. I wanted to take them back this year. The kids' skin actually looked green in them. I even took Holly,  Jaren and Tyler over to the school at 7AM to let them get their pictures taken since they aren't in classes there. Big mistake.

 (Holly, age  7)

So, we decided to do our own school pictures at home. I think Timothy did a great job!

 (Jaren, age 5)

 Didn't they turn out nice? I like them so much more than their school pictures. :)

(Tyler, age 1)

So, what do ya think?  Didn't Timothy do a better job than the "professionals"?  And did you notice that Tyler is wearing the same sweater in this picture that Jaren wore in the old picture on the right.  How funny.  It has been a while since I updated! Those boys are over 4 years apart and must be about the same age in these photos. *she winces sheepishly*

Holly's big day

Holly was baptised a few weeks ago.  All of our children have been very excited for their baptism day.  But I just have to mention here that Holly was EXCEPTIONALLY excited.  I don't think any of our kids have even been that excited about Christmas.

 

 One afternoon Holly sat down at the table all by herself.  I didn't even know what she was up to.  She counted up the number of weeks till her big day and she made a paper chain.  Everyday she would faithfully pull a chain off to mark the number of days left till her baptism.  She never had to ask, "How many days, Mom."  She always knew and she would tell us every morning how many were left.  As the days got closer and closer she would squeal just a little and do a happy little hop as she pulled the chains down.

 A few days early family came.  It was so exciting for Grandma's and Grandpa's to be here.  Holly got to help Grandma S. make her baptism dress.  She was thrilled about that.  And it turned out so beautiful.  Thanks, Mom! 

 Holly asked if her primary teachers (whom she loves!)would give the talks about baptism and also the gift of the Holy Ghost. Holly told me that when they spoke she felt all warm inside.  She said she was afraid there would be tears in her eyes.

 Then as Timothy confirmed her she was just overwhelmed by the feeling of the Spirit.  She cried and smiled and cried a little more.  I think Holly has been waiting for this special gift for a lot longer than we all thought she had.  She is such a special gift to our family.  We love you, Holly!

Fast forward a year or so.....

Do you remember this picture I posted about Holly and Tyler when he was brand new?  She just couldn't get enough of him.  I think she has saved me hundreds of hours of "cry-time" just by holding him gently and talking to him. She has been a lifesaver at dinner-making time over the past 15 months.  I love you, Holly Lou!

Well, you can still find them snuggled up most mornings in the same position.  Nothing has changed!!  She certainly loves this little boy!

And it is obvious that he loves her right back!! 

Limerick

This boy has been busy writing Limericks again. Seems like every year he gets an assignment at school and then it sets his thinker into Limerick mode. I thought I'd share the one he came up with this morning:

The Grave of Jefferey Drake:

Hit the gas instead of the brake

His car did explode

As it went off the road

Went splash right into a lake.

Have a happy Friday, all you ghosties and ghoulies!  See you at the Trunk or Treat.

Love my boys.....

I found this old picture of Jaren. He cracks me up. I have more silly pictures of him than I will ever have of the serious kind. :) Lately, he has been up to some building.

Jaren learned from his big brother that when building with blocks, dominoes, jenga pieces, or anything else.....it is cool to build temples. (I don't know where Ryan got it. I always built "Towers" when I was little, so I think it is pretty cool that they build temples instead. ) Anyway, here are a few of Jaren's recent temples.

This one with the curved entrance looks like the Bountiful, Utah temple. Timothy and I were married there. :) Here is a comparison: