Fear Factor Party

So my brother in law loves fear factor, so his awesome wife did a fear factor party for him..

and of course...

we participated. 

The first one was worms on a plate and you had to take a plastic fork in your mouth and put them on a plate your partner was holding. 

Who ever could get the most won...

Yep Garran and I WON!!

Next up...

Gummy worms in cool whip. 

You had to get all the worms off your plate, rotating players. Whoever got theirs all eaten first wins..

Yep, we won!!

 Joe and Jerusha came in a close 2nd. 

Can you tell I get a little competitive! 

Next up..

the water challenge. 

They put ice and water in buckets and each partner had to put one foot in. Whoever was left standing with a foot in, won. 

At this point, it was Garran and I versus the Elders. 

 Here is Joe, filling the buckets. 

 Elder's feet are in. 

 But so were ours. 

Garran lasted a few minutes, as well as one of the missionaries. 

But me...NEVER.!!!! 

I lasted 20+ minutes, but then realized that Joe probably wanted some birthday cake and that I would be nice and let the missionary win. 

We all know who is tough! LOL

These were my feet after. Yep a little red, but I am tough. 

After that..

A pepper challenge in which I did not participate. 

That was all boys. 

It was Charlie, Tobie, and one of the missionaries. 

The missionary won. 

Poor guys. 

It was hard to watch them eat those peppers. 

I am tough, but I don't do peppers. 

Finally it was time to celebrate. 

Joe had a non traditional birthday cake, but it was fun. 

It was a donut tower! 

Very Fun!!

Happy Happy Birthday Joe!

It was a wild and fun party!

See...Here is a picture of my niece Tessa at the end of the night!

 Just kidding. Her uncle put those on her as a joke. 

I love the look on her face! 

Thanks for such a fun night!

I love our family...

This is how I envision our family pictures. 

 This is usually what we get. 

Never a dull moment in our house!

3.

Ayla turned 3 on the 21st of October. 

Yep she is 3. 

I know... I can't believe it either.

This girl is sassy, sweet, princess lovin, dare deviling, jumping from anything she can and then giving hugs, kissies, and squeezes! 

Happy 3rd Birthday to the baby of our family!

Cullan's Birthday

So besides his big day being baptized, this kid turned 8 on the 17th of October.

We celebrated at home with a dinner picked by Cullan and Mario Mushroom cupcakes. 

It was a fun night and we were so happy to celebrate all 8 years of and awesome kid!

extra beach pics i forgot.

because you can never have to many pictures. 

 this little guy greeted us at a gas station we stopped at. 

 Garran loves a good hot chocolate!

 Grandpa getting some Ayla hugs. 

 Getting some breakfast at the beach. 

 Kids were in heaven! 

This place had every kind of candy imaginable. They wanted to check it out FOREVER!

 Lunch on the boardwalk. 

 Hanging out on the beach. 

 And then on the board walk. 

 How handsome are these two?

Not really fair that I get to spend my days with them...but I do. 

It's ok to be a little Jealous! :OP

 I love this kid. He makes me laugh. 

 He thinks he is super cool, and I guess he is. 

When I took this picture, I could just see him... In the future.. 17 and being an adult. Oh i hope I enjoy every minute between now and then. 

A day at the beach!

While my Dad was here visiting, we decided to spend a Saturday at the beach. 

It was perfect. 

I thought the day would be kind of chilly and it was starting out, but that did not stop my kiddos. 

They LOVE the beach!

No big surprise there. They are my kids. 

So into the ocean they went, clothes and all. 

Being the "cool" mom I am...I just sat and watched them get soaked..and then went to play to...but only about shin deep for me!

 I am never in pictures but here I am, at the beach, with my little loves. 

 My sweet Ayla. 

 My Dad on the beach!

 After a little swim and a change of outfits, we walked the board walk!

 It was so beautiful. It really turned out to be a perfect day!

 Here we all are on the boardwalk. 

 I don't know why, but I love love love this picture!

 Can't you just see the happiness in this picture??

I can not wait for our next beach trip! 

Here is to happy sunny beach trips!

Great to be 8!

So this kid turned 8!

 Here he is with all his sibs!

They are all getting so big!

 In our faith, when a child turns 8 they get to decide if they would like to be baptized or not. Cullan made the decision to be baptized. So on October 19th at 5:00pm Cullan took the plunge. 

Here are my two handsome guys before we left for the church. 

 Cullan and I!

Look at that. He is almost up to my shoulder...

He really needs to stop growing. 

 The three of us!

 My dad was here from Iowa visiting, and so he was able to attend the baptism as well. 

 We had a picture with a sweet little poem and the programs sitting outside for people to take. 

 Here is the poem that is next to Cullan in the frame.

Baptism Day

Little child dressed in white

He takes your hand, you hold so tight.

He, with his arm to the square

Commissioned of Jesus Christ, 

invokes the prayer.

You leave the water born anew

And pledge you’ll try His work to do.

Heavenly Father is happy today

Because you have followed His Son’s 

chosen way.

Remember always to choose the right, 

little child dressed in white. 

 Cullan and Garran ready for the baptism. 

 One more with the three of us. 

 Our little family. 

Our family and my Dad.  

My husbands sister and her family were able to be there to support Cullan on his big day. We love having them so close to us. It has been such a blessing. 

Because there were others that we wanted to be there but could not make it, we tried to incorporate them in. 

Garrans parent wrote a talk that was read by Uncle Joe.

Cullan's primary teacher Bro. Owens, who was just amazing to Cullan while we lived in IL, wrote a talk that was read by Tessa, Cullan's cousin. 

It was a very special and emotional day. 

Especially for me. 

When I decided to join the church in 2000, I was baptized in the same font that Cullan was. It is a small thing, but one that I will cherish and something special between us. 

I am so happy that Cullan made this choice and hope that he finds as much happiness as his dad and I have. 

Congrats Cullan on your big day!

Irish Twins

Every year the boys are the same age for two weeks. So for two weeks we have twins...

Irish Twins!

I always take their picture during this two weeks to document how much they have changed each year and how much they have grown. 

I love my boys. 

They make my heart happy!

Someone Had a Birthday!

 7.

Not sure how we got here.

He is seven. 

Just the other day, he was born. 

He was a squishy sweet baby who Garran says probably got kissed the most out of all our children because his cheeks were just irresistible. 

No he is a first grader, that is kind and polite. 

His teacher raved about him at his last conference saying he was the sweetest kid in her class. 

That he is so kind to others and that he was always quick to share and help.

Here he is about to blow out his candles!!

Happy 7th Birthday KB!

We love you more than you could ever know. 

So it happened again...

Our house has been very fertile lately. 

First our guinea pigs 

then...

our pups. 

Our sweet little Layla gave birth two 6..Yes 6 puppies. 

They have all been named but will not all be staying with us.

We have:

Moo Moo

Zazzy

Julio

Snappy

Travler

Weezy

They are all very sweet and soft. Very cuddle worthy and get lots of love from everyone in our house!