Christmas 2015

For Mutual they had an ugly sweater party.  Tyler won!

Makai at his Christmas class party.  Each kid got to decorate their own gingerbread house.  I had so much fun making his house with him.  At the end, the house looked like a 6 yr old boy made it!  It was awesome.  Priceless moments.  

He was so excited to leave cookies for Santa.  Never know when the magic might die--so we hold out as long as we can!  The older boys loved to see him so excited as well.  

Thanks Chase!

Thanks Grant

Thanks Mia or Emma?!

Thanks Chloe or Christian!

Thanks Carl or Chase or Savvy

Thanks Dustin

Everyone loved their gifts from family.

Thanks Mammy and Grandpop!  Fun to have matching family sweaters.

WE were blessed with a wonderful Christmas!

Makai--6!

I love how he sticks out his tongue while he works and thinks.  

Makai and his birthday!  Makai talks about his birthday about every single day for MONTHS.  He is always asking for something for his birthday.  A few months ago he asked if he could change his name.  I told him he could for his birthday.  Then when he realized it was going to be one of his presents he changed his mind.  Each day he wants something different, so for Makai we let him pick out his own gifts for his birthday.  He loves to go to the store and look down the isle.  This year he bought four lego sets.  Afterward he came home and spent the rest of the night following the directions perfectly to make the set.  He stayed focused for hours.  He reminds me of Tyler when he was younger.
Makai is a pretty fun kid.  He is loving school and doing well.  However, he complains every single day when I wake him up complaining he is still tired.  He HATES to go to bed a night.  I can tell already he is a night owl and not a morning guy.  He likes to get what he wants.  If he gets an answer he doesn't like he will keep asking till he gets what he wants.  He tries to figure out ways to do this by changing the situation.  For example, "Mom can I have a cookie?".  If I say no he will say, "Can I have a cookie if I take out the recycles?"  Or "What if I eat a banana, then can I have a cookie?"  He doesn't do it in a mean way, or every a spoiled way.  He just knows what he wants and is going to try more than one way to get it.  So many times I have to just give him an answer and explain that is my answer!!
Makai loves Nachos.  They are his favorite meal.  He loves to play outside, but does not mess around with cold or humidity though.  If it is snowy he doesn't want to go outside and if it is humid he wants nothing to do with being outside.  We never have to wonder what Makai is thinking because he says everything he is thinking.  He is not afraid to talk to strangers.  Everyone is his friend. While at the park he might see a kid 12 yrs old and want to play or a kid 2 yrs old and want to play.
All around we are so happy to have him in our home.  He still loves to be cuddled, which I love as he is my little buddy. If we let him he would sleep with us every night, but he is too big!!  He usually sleeps with Trey.  Trey is a good sport and lets him    His new job is to take out the recycles and he is pretty good at doing it without being asked.  Of course, he always says, "Mom, look what I am doing."
We love  you Makai!!  Happy 6th birthday!  Thanks for being a wonderful boy. You're awesome.  

Two Bottom Teeth

A couple weeks ago I noticed Makai had a couple loose teeth.  The beginning of the end of our baby!  This week I noticed they were brown.  My kids are NOT tooth wigglers like I was!  So, I grabbed my toothed tweezers and pulled out his two bottom teeth in less than a minute.

Stop growing!! This boy is SO excited for his birthday in a couple weeks!  He has asked about it everyday for months!!

Halloween

Halloween is a lot different now that they boys are getting older.  The kids are not as excited to get dressed up.  However, Makai is still into dressing up.  When we moved, we got rid of all our Halloween costumes so I had to go out and buy Makai a costume.  He was so excited to pick one out.  Of course he picked one with MUSCLES.  Snake Eyes was perfect as we already had a Snake Eyes mask.  Monty and I went to his school for the parade to see him.  He was in heaven.  Only a few more years and we will be done with this stage.  Makes me kinda sad.    

Although I didn't let Tyler and Kyle go trick of treating this year, they still came around and watched.  After looking at my phone I saw that Ty and Kyle had a good time.  Boys!!
Kory and Trey went as Football players.  Kory didn't get to trick of treat last year because he was sick, so he enjoyed trick of treating this year.

Kory turns 11

Happy 11th Birthday Kory!!

So, we have another pre-teen I suppose.  I can say that because the kid NEEDS deodorant!  He may look sweet, but after he has been playing football outside he stinks!  I can't believe he is 11.  To think that in one year he could be taller than me is a pretty crazy thought.  Kory is a good kid.  He has a room to himself and for the most part keeps it pretty clean.  HE has his favorite outfits--his captain america shirt is one of them.  He has pretty long hair for him right now as he is trying to have hair like Mitch Matthews from the BYU football team.  He still loves sour patch kids.  Loves football, and basketball.  He is doing great in school and made the transition to Omaha really well.  He likes to do impressions of Donald Trump, "HUGE".  We have some kids across the street, Alex and Aaron and they like to play outside when the weather is nice. He is still a Bronco fan.  He is in the 5th grade and his teachers name is Mrs. Weaver.  He had a pretty good birthday.  We celebrated right after school with Pizza and Chicken with potato wedges since he still love Potatoes and then he went Camping for the night.  All the boys were able to go with Dad and the other scouts.  It was his first scout campout.     

Apple Orchard

Monty is in school most days, so when he has a day off we like to take advantage of it.  Today we decided to go to the Apple Orchard in Nebraska City.  We have heard that the apple cider donuts were addictive, so we wanted to give them a try.  Plus, the boys have never picked apples off an apple tree so we were up for a NEW experience.  
The donuts were absolutely delicious and so was the chilli relleno salsa we decided to try.  Everyone enjoyed picking apples.  Kyle was in a pretty bad mood when we told him what we were going to do, but then ended up saying he had fun.  I believe his exact words were, "Wow, picking apples was actually a lot more fun than I thought it would be."  These boys are awesome.  We also enjoyed a corn maze.  We got a bag of pink lady apples and they were pretty good too!  A fun afternoon.

New Job

I got a job at the boys school as a Para in the special ed preschool.  We will see how it goes.  The hours are perfect.  I start after I need to get Kyle to school and am home before the younger boys get home.  If they have a snow day I get a snow day.  I feel very blessed to have found a job that is just what I wanted.

Emotions

Sometimes emotions and competition get the best of us.  With boys competition is a constant.  While at the Lied Center Trey was a little upset.  I took a picture of him just to remind him he isn't always happy.  He takes his sports very serious!!  Sometime we have to send him out of the room if his team on TV is not winning.  I am trying to teach him it is good to be competitive, but not okay to loose his temper.  Wish me luck!!

First Day of School

The boys on their first day of school.  Makai's first day of Kindergarten.  Trey his first day of 3rd.  Kory's first day of 5th.  Kyle first day of 7th and Tyler's first day of HIGH SCHOOL!!

9th Grade

5th Grade

3rd Grade

Kindergarten

7th Grade

Fuentes

Our first visitors to Nebraska were the Fuentes.  When the Fuentes come--we know how to Eat!!

Omaha Zoo!!  A bunch of monkeys!!  Enough said!

Jessie had a buisness trip the week they came so the two of us went to Philadelphia together.  Just around the corner from our hotel was the Philadelphia temple!  It will be a great addition to the town and in a great location

Jessie and I took a walk around Philly together.  The buildings and statues were amazing and historic.

Had to take this for my Nephew Rocky!!

We went window shopping.  This lovely dress was over $1,000--on Sale!!  I personally think it might be the ugliest dress I have ever seen.  Just had to take a picture.  Not sure why.

I love Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches and have always said I wanted to get a Philly in Philly!!  Check that off of the bucket list.  

It was pretty hot in Philly and all the water fountains say to stay out of them.  I however, was feeling adventurous and decided to brake the rule.  As a rule follower this was a BIG deal!  Once I saw kids swimming in the fountain I got brave enough to brake the rule.  HAHA.  A nice relaxing afternoon sitting in the sun soaking my feet.  Priceless  

Monty, Edgar and the kids had a good time here in Omaha staying up late playing video games and watching movies. We enjoyed their visit.

Another Move

On June 8th the phone rang at about 7am.  I heard Monty talking saying, "Are you serious?  Is this a joke?  This is so awesome!!  I can't believe it.  We can be there July 1st."  I have lived with him long enough I knew exactly what was going on, but just wasn't sure what school was calling.  He was so excited as he told me all about it.  Creighton, University had opened up a spot for him in their premed program.  Classes had already started, but we had a month to get there and they were okay with that.  In a month  we were able to pack up our house, rent it out, get a house in Nebraska and move into it.  It was a crazy month.  Although I was really excited for him, I had a hard time leaving Fort Collins.  I loved Fort Collins and had made some pretty great friends there.  Leaving and starting over would be hard.  We have moved several times before so I knew what it was going to in-tale.  I am not going to lie--I came kicking and screaming.  I mean, I was willing, but fighting all at the same time.  There were so many changes and all at once.  I knew Makai was going to be starting school.  Having your youngest start school means CHANGE.  Having your husband quit his job to go back to school means CHANGE.  Having to go back to work after years of staying home with your kids is CHANGE.  Moving to a new state is CHANGE.  All the change at once seems overwhelming.  When we got here our new ward was here to meet us and help us unload our truck.  I was NOT in the mood to meet anyone, but put on a happy face and pretended not to be as scared as I really was.  They were nice and we unloaded in an hour. Now I get to unpack and make this house a home and Monty will start school.

 First thing we learned about Nebraska--People here are crazy about the Fourth of July.  I have never seen so many fireworks!!

Nebraska has fireflies!!

Nebraska is humid!!

 New adventure, here we are.    

Kory gets to Sky Dive

Kory was invited to a pretty fun birthday party.  The activity was to go to an indoor skydiving adventure.  He was a little nervous, but ended up having a blast.  So glad we got a picture!!

Happy Birthday Jeff.  Pretty silly group of boys!!

Sweet!!  Looks like fun!!  

It is Great to be 8!!

He waited 8 years for this.  What a wonderful day.

In his way.  Trey loves to wear his lava lava his Nana made for him for Christmas.  Very proud of his Polynesian side.

Two handsome men.  Do they look like father and son?

As a mom I can say there is nothing more wonderful than seeing this little guy dressed in white!!  He looked so cute and was so proud of his choice to be baptized.  Isn't he just such a stud!!   

Making the day pretty special Mammy and Grandpop were able to come out for Trey's baptism.  We were so thankful to have them with us for the celebration.  They have been so sweet to make it out for all the baptisms.  They are four for four!!  Special!!  

And just so Trey knows I was at his baptism.  Wish I would have gotten a picture with him, but I was there Trey.  I cried and cried and cried.  Doug and Ali were there too.  Some of our favorite friends. Other friends at the baptism--Greens, Jeff and Tammy Goodell, Krystal and Steven Goodell, Scharfs, Seegmillers, Pratts, Fuentes, Bishop Eckery, Allens.  Trey is loved.
So proud of you BIG MAN!!
After his baptism we went to get some Mexican food in Windsor.  Trey had an enchilada. 

And of course with our big man turning 8 he also gets to finally start scouts!!  

CU Football Camp

The four older boys signed up for CU's football camp this summer.  For three days they learned from the CU football players.  Although they felt like traders going to CU, as we are loyal to CSU they survived and had a good time.  The final day was pretty rainy, but rain just brings memories.

It was cute to watch Grandpop and Makai walking together with their umbrellas  

Football camp was a success.  

Nauvoo

Tyler and I had a pretty cool trip for Youth Conference this year.  We went on a 5 and 1/2 day trip to visit several church sites.  Some of which included:  Liberty Jail, Nauvoo, Cathage Jail, Adam-ondi-ahman, and Winter Quarters.  Although it was an action packed week we had moments where we felt the spirit and built great memories.  Although we went together we didn't see each other very much as we were in different groups and on different buses.  I did however manage to ask a friend to take a picture of Tyler in front of Cathage Jail.  His favorite place on the trip was Adam Ondi Ahman.  It was not the peaceful place we thought it was going to be as when we got there.   It was loud with cicada bugs.  This was really distracting, but our stake president reminded us that the noise and distraction was a good representation of real life.  As we try to feel the spirit it isn't always peaceful and quiet, but we have to work to feel the spirit.  My favorite part of the trip was getting to do a session in the Nauvoo Temple.  It was so beautiful inside.

Also loved any moment I saw this kid.

While we were gone Monty and the Boys had fun.  They went to a Denver Rockies baseball game and were in a huge storm.  Thankfully they made it home safe.