Dallin & Mikayla Wedding Day

My brother Dallin got married to such an amazing girl who the kids and I love so much (I think Zach likes her too haha just jokes of course he does). Mikayla is such a sweet girl that I am so happy Dallin chose her to spend the rest of eternity with. Dallin and Mikayla are such a cute couple and their story of getting where they are today is so fun too.

The kids were so excited to get a new Aunt and of course some Sunday clothes to wear. We had to go out and find Jake some new pants because his Sunday pants were getting a hole in the knee and none of Brooklyn's dresses were fitting the colors. Andie decided to wear her birthday dress and it worked out perfectly. I think our new family photo is awesome and family photos don't happen very often with five plus people in the picture, selfies just don't work anymore.

We went up to the Bountiful temple and Zach and I were able to go into the sealing. It was such a special ceremony that even gave me and Zach the chills. I love going to the temple to grasp any new gospel I can. My Grandpa and Grandma went and they were troopers plus cute matching in their wheelchairs. Getting everyone together for these big events is the best thing ever!

After the temple we went back home to our house to get things ready for the luncheon and my sister made the wedding cake, she is the bomb! Andie, Jake and Brooklyn loved having the day to be able to spend with all their cousins after all aren't cousins the best thing ever?

When the luncheon was over we still had a couple hours to burn before the reception so of course we had to go back home with everyone and play some board games, they are life! I love when I get to spend time with my siblings because it seems to be a very rare occurrence these days with everyone being so very busy.

The reception was great. I was able to bump into old friends and really mingle around with the family. Andie, Jake and Brooklyn loved running around the halls with all the other kids. I think overall Dallins wedding was a big success and it was gorgeous with the decorations. Happy Marriage Dallin and Mikayala, it is the best!

After the Bride and Groom were sent off for their Honeymoon. Everyone went back to the house to play games. Of course this happened to be the night of some fireworks so we took the kids out with one of the cousins to go and see them. It was so much fun to watch the kids finally experience them outside even if they had to wear ear muffs and Andie was still very scared. Fun times!

Jake 4 Years 3 Months

Jake, my loving cute boy, I love you oh so very much! Jake you have so much determination, strong will and the energy to take on the world. My boy without a doubt I know you are such a special little boy who will do great things in this world. Jake at 4 years 3 months...

1. Jake is a chocolate cereal lover. Jake if asked what to eat will say one of two things: Chocolate cereal or Mac and cheese. This month chocolate cereal is the winner and Jake is obsessed. I love my chocolate loving little boy!

2. Jake said goodbye to Toys R Us. Jake has been the biggest Toy Story loving one in our family and he was pretty disappointed the store would be closing. Jake always is watching on YouTube Toy Story things and so when I told him it was closing forever it was actually him who kept insisting we go back until we couldn't anymore. Jake called Toys R Us the "Big Toy Store".

3. Jake went to a Home Depot Workshop. I decided to sign Jake up along with his big sister to go to a Home Depot workshop to build and paint a car. Jake was a little frustrated with the building of the car because he wanted to do it all on his own but struggled a bit. Jake loved building it though don't get me wrong, in fact he wants his own tools for Christmas. We will see how Jake does in future Home Depot workshops.

4. Jake loves his Mickey Mac. While Mom and Dad went away on a couples trip, which Jake handled like a champ so I hear, we got him a little souvenir. Jake is obviously a Disney Cars major fan so when we were looking for something in Disneyland we knew it had to be some sort of Cars but he has everything, so it seems. We saw a cool Mickey Mouse semi that immediately caught my eye and I knew that Jake would love it. Jake has been loving having his very own Mickey Mac truck to play along with all his other Disney Cars.

5. Jake is a funny kid. Jake was running around a playground one evening playing with his sisters and there happened to be some other girls at the playground. Well after an hour another family showed up with a little boy. Jake then ran around the playground SO EXCITED yelling at the top of his lungs, "I have a boyfriend, I have a boyfriend." All the parents around us started chuckling and saying that little boy is saying he has a boyfriend, how embarrassing for me haha. I explained to Jake it is a boy that is a friend not a boyfriend. Oh how the times have changed.

6. Jake enjoyed mini golf. We went to play mini golf for Daddys birthday this past month and Jake loved it. Of course we may not have followed the rules exactly as sometimes rocks were involved that would jam the holes up, oops! Jake always seems to make any family outing more adventurous and I would have it no other way, gosh I love this boy of mine!

7. Jake is good at games. Jake just like his Daddy is so good at video or computer games. We went to the coolest Burger King that had little touchscreen games and Jake was rocking those things. My little four year old little boy got first place, woot woot buddy!

8. Jake is a daredevil. Jake is always jumping around and so of course jumping playgrounds would be the best thing ever. Jake had the time of his life for Andie's birthday when we went to airborne. Jake was such a daredevil and even jumped off the high jump multiple times into a giant foam pit. Good job buddy but please don't get to brave because it scares your Mother to death haha.

9. Jake loves playing outside. Jake like all my kiddos love playing outside and so this summer has been the best thing ever. Jake loves to ride the little tricycle around and even though it is pink and it used to stop him but not anymore. Jake flies around on the tricycle and I am trying to teach him how to use the bike but I don't think that will be happening for awhile because Jake is comfortable with what he has and doesn't like to learn new things so yeah. Free lunch at the park is also a big outside hit this summer, I love the program and so does Jake!

Jake Oliver my boy you are so amazing. You have so much going for you in this life and I know that you are so strong and can get through anything. I know you struggle with having only sisters in the family and I know you ask daily for a new baby. You have been struggling quite a bit this past month and scared your Mom but I hope that you will know that your Daddy and I will do anything for you always and forever. Jake I love you oh so much and watching you grow and learn all you can is truly a gift. I love you my boy!

Brooklyn 2 Years 7 Months

Brooklyn Riley, my baby girl, your now inching more and more towards three than you are two (WHAT!). You are going far too quickly and each passing month I realize how much my baby is no longer a baby. Brooklyn at 2 years 7 months...

1. Brooklyn is a Daddy's girl. With Daddy being gone so much with school and work he is very rarely home. When Dad is home Brooklyn will NOT let go, she loves her Daddy! Brooklyn has always been close to her Father due to the fact her first couple years of life Daddy was home more often then Mom but the tables have turned. Poor girl doesn't know what normal is anymore.

2. Brooklyn loves to play house. Brooklyn is always pretending to be a Mom to all her babies, which she is still obsessed with. Brooklyn is the best little Mom with feeding, giving naps and yes even changing all her babies diapers and she has a lot of babies. Brooklyn my girl you will be the best Mom to a real baby in the future, I just know it. Brooklyn also loves to play with her siblings as they pretend to be a Mom, Dad and baby. Its the cutest watching them all play together!

3. Brooklyn is loving to play outside. Brooklyn has been soaking up this summer by asking to go in the backyard all day everyday. Brooklyn loves anything to do with outside whether it be chalk, tag, playing with balls, riding bikes or jumping on the trampoline this girl loves it rain or shine!

4. Brooklyn said goodbye to Toys R Us. Brooklyn just like her siblings have been loving watching Toys R Us on YouTube so when they heard that it would be closing forever of course we had to make a final stop. Brooklyn loves any store with toys so of course Toys R Us was a big hit, what kid didn't love it?

5. Brooklyn is silly. I have always said this little girl has such a silly personality but my goodness she is always doing things to make us laugh. Brooklyn loves to be talking to someone or someone talking to her and she will randomly throw in the word poop somewhere. It is hilarious! Speaking up pooping this girl of mine was taking a shower and got out by herself and sat up on the potty and pooped, WHAT! Yes we haven't potty trained you yet but when you yelled out "wipey, wipe" I was shocked to find how big of a girl you really are turning into.

6. Brooklyn loves to watch Andie swim. Brooklyn has been loving to go sit on the bench and watch her big sister during her swim lessons. I am sure Brooklyn is dreaming of the day when Mom signs her up for lessons but until that day she will cheer on her sister from the sidelines. I love how proud Brooklyn is of Andie!

7. Brooklyn spent a couple night away from Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad went on their first couple getaway since having kids and Brooklyn handled it like a freaking champ. Grandma Redd was willing to watch over the kids and Brooklyn loves her Grandma so of course she had the time of her life. We brought Brooklyn home a Sven souvenir and she loves that little guy or "Baby" as she calls him.

8. Brooklyn loves one on one time. One on one time with an individual parent is a very rare moment, we are trying to work on this. Brooklyn was able to go grocery shopping with Mom all on her own and she LOVED IT! Of course whenever we spotted anything Elsa we had to get it, like the Mac & Cheese and the Chicken Noodle Soup. Brooklyn I think will jump at any grocery shopping opportunity until we get these one on one dates set on the schedule.

Brooklyn you have such a happy, fun, energetic personality that we all love to be around. You have such a great outlook on life and can find the good in anything. I can't wait to see the beautiful young women you are growing into. I love you my princess, always and forever!

Andie 6 Years

Andie Noelle you my girl are growing up so quickly, like wow! I have blinked and the time just seemed to fly right by. I don't know how I have such a big girl to raise especially such a beautiful determined girl at that! Andie at six years old...

1. Andie had a Descendants Birthday. The birthday theme for turning six was up in the air and a long story but we really had a mixed Descendants and Disney Zombies birthday. This girl wasn't disappointed by any means though, she loved every detail! I love you my girl and will try to give you anything possible.

2. Andie loves Disney Zombies. Andie has been expanding her likes beyond the Disney princesses from quite sometime now, even though Ariel I think will always have a special place in this girls heart. I love that Disney has some great clean shows that my young girl loves. Addison and Zed are a favorite in this house and if only they had more products out in stores Andie would have them all.

2. Andie graduated Kindergarten. Andie you have passed two whole years of school already and your so excited to be entering Grade One so soon. Andie has a love for learning and having such great friends and teachers I am sure that has helped. Andie enjoyed every moment of Kindergarten and I am such a proud Mom to know that she graduated with high honors. I still am sad I missed the graduation and I hope that never happens again. I love you my Andie.

3. Andie learned how to braid plus curly hair is a love. The nice thing about Aunts is sometimes they know more about hair then say your Mom does haha. Andie was so excited for her Aunt Emmalee to teach her how to braid hair and is now constantly asking anyone with long hair if she can braid theirs. Andie also since she has been hair crazy wanted to curl her hair just like Moms. I finally told her there is something called a curling iron and you begged to get one. We went to Walmart and got the cheapest curling iron we could possibly get but I think Mom needs a bit more practice as I have never used a curling iron before.

4. Andie got a cavity filled. Poor Andie got her Mothers bad enamel, sorry girl! Andie had a small cavity at her six month dental checkup so we had that fixed this month. This time around since it was just one small filling she got the laughing gas experience and handled it like a champ, or shall I say a rockstar. Andie always states she wants to be a rockstar and on laughing gas she sure lived out her dream. Andie was trying to sing and dance through the whole procedure. Mom was laying on your legs while trying to hold down your hands and we had to remind you over and over again that you weren't able to sing while your mouth was being worked on. My happy, loving, outgoing girl!

5. Andie built a car at the Home Depot kids workshop. Andie was so excited to go and do a craft at Home Depot even if it was just building a wooden car. Andie did everything complete with hammering in the nails, choosing her paint job and placing the stickers. As soon as Andie finished her car she was ready to make another. I think that Home Depot crafts will be a monthly occurrence.

6. Andie said goodbye to Toys R Us. The best toy store in the world us now going to be closing forever and we are all so sad about it. Andie has been pretty sad about it so of course we had to make a last family trip. Andie enjoyed being able to fill a cart one last time of things on her wish list. Christmas will be interesting this year without a toy store, sad day.

7. Andie is funny. I love that our kids have such an awesome fun outlook on life and the humor definitely makes life way more enjoyable. Andie is so funny and she has stated a few things I was able to remember this past month.

I made a plan stating items that I would like Andie to complete, such as finishing her dinner, then we could change and color or do something else. Andie then states while mad about having to eat her dinner, "That's not a plan that is a wishlist." HAHA.

We were trying to figure out a game on Andie's iPad and I just couldn't seem to pass a level. I told Andie she would have to wait for Daddy to pass the level because Dad is good at video games. Andie then states, "Yeah Daddy is so strong and healthy he can do anything." HAHA I love it!

8. Andie is still in swim lessons. Andie is loving being in swim lessons and is getting way to confident for my liking haha. Andie is starting to think of lessons as more of a play session then a learning session. All Andie wants to do is dive to the bottom of the pool. I am so proud of her confidence and maybe we will pull her out for a little in the next couple months just so she can enjoy the skills she has learned before doing more.

9. Andie loves her long tail cat souvenir. When Mom and Dad went on our vacation last month we got Andie a long tailed Marie cat from Disneyland. Andie loves it! This cat who she has named Raja is a member of the family at this point. My only worry is, why does it have to be white? HAHA.

Andie Noelle you my girl are growing up far to quickly and need to really stop that. You have so much lying ahead for you in your future and I know it will be grand. I know you will accomplish so much and with your determination and love of life I am excited to be on this journey with you. I love you my girl, always and forever!