She's 9!

It's true, but I'm still trying to figure out how!

She's been on the countdown for a while and telling me for weeks what she wanted for her birthday. Only, it changed daily. This is usually a good thing because she ends up being happy with whatever she gets.

The cake was a big deal too. She got to choose the flavor and then I surprised her with the decorations! She was so excited to put the flowers together.
(licorice, gum drops, and candy fruit slices!)

This is a girl who LOVES her birthday! We walked down the stairs that morning just as she began to lead her brothers in singing her happy birthday!

Favorite things about Maddie....

Her giggle... it's so contagious!

Her love of animals and any creepy crawly thing!

Her beautiful blue eyes!

Her love of chocolate and apples

She's so fun on our "girls only" shopping trips!

Her heart. She is good to the core.

I love you Maddie!

Our 4th of July at Grandma's

Every year we go to Grandma Drury's on the 4th of July.

We have a BBQ with my cousins (which is sometimes the only time we get to see each other all year) and get a great show of the fireworks since Grandma lives across the street from the BYU stadium. It's been something we've done my whole life and it's so fun to have my kids there to make the same memories.

The Boys... Robby, Andrew, Jake, Zack, Cy, and Luke

The Girls.... Maddie, Annie

Aerica

Jessie

(sporting Jonas Brothers pajamas, she was so happy they were performing at the Stadium of Fire!)And Sam was as happy as can be...

playing with this box.....

Happy Birthday America!

Dear Kellie,

I'm sooooo excited to see you in just 2 days!!! Ah, the days ahead will be so full of silly silly laughing and much eating. Plenty of slippery slides and swinging children. Many late night chats and surely some eyebrow plucking. Oh and you don't need to pack many maternity clothes because I've got a bunch that are just dying to get outta my closet! MY SISTER IS COMING HOME!!!!!!

Ride Baby Ride

Madelyn's favorite place to be is on a horse. She often tells me she wishes she could live with the horses.

She did not get this from me.

I think it came from my mom. They both have a love of horses and spend their Saturdays together riding, brushing, and feeding them. Maddie loves calling her Nana on Saturday mornings and asking what time they are going that day. It's the highlight of her week.

It's so fun to watch her ride and do what she loves to do.

My Sam is 3 months...

Our little buddy is getting so big!

I can never believe how fast the time goes after they're born! Forever pregnant and then time just flies after they're here.
Maddie and Jake just love their baby brother to pieces but Robbs is still unsure. He actually told me one day that "Sam was gross"... um, okay? He says he just likes Arie, his almost 1 year old cousin. I'm sure he'll come around. One day.

Sam freely gives smiles to anyone. anywhere. He is so happy and rarely ever cries.

He's so much fun and I actually am not minding these snowy days at all because it just gives me even more of a reason to just sit and snuggle with him all day!! So Yummy!

Brothers

A day at the park with my boys. Yum.

With a day like this who could resist getting outside to play?

The sidewalk that encircles the playground was much more exciting for my

boys than the toys! They just ran around and around!

Sam had a nice nap in my arms on the bench while I watched my boys

I had to stop myself from chomping on those adorable feet!
I think he could get used to this.....