5 and 5

The new year has started off just as busy as the last. It seems like I never have time to get on top of anything- I feel like I am on cruise control in survival mode. I had lots of warning about the business of having 3 children... I don't think I have met anyone that has said that 3 is easy. I am just so very lucky that Rylan is such a good baby or else I would not even be making it in survival mode.
Jackson and Rylan both had their well child check-ups last friday.

Rylan is 5 months old now and just as sweet as can be. She is a big girl like Benton always was. She was in the 75% for weight and the 80% for height. The doctor said that she is as healthy as can be. She has always been a good eater and sleeper right from the start. She was actually sleeping through the night at just 6 weeks. She has also beemed of happiness really early- she smiled her first smile at only 4 weeks and now at 5 months we can actually make her giggle. She gets so happy that she can't smile wide enough and her body tenses all up... it is so stinking cute :). She loves playing on the floor with her toys, and with her brothers. I keep telling her brothers to not get so close to her face but she doesn't seem to mind. She is a really good distraction for Benton- at least when he is playing with Rylan he is not doing something to get himself into trouble. She also started rolling this past week- the only problem is that she will roll over to her belly and then she is not sure how to get back to her back. She is so funny when she makes it to her belly she lifts up on her little arms so proud of herself. We are so blessed to have her in our family. She makes our home a happier place.

Jackson was a little on the small side for his age (which we already knew). He was only in the 5% for height and the 15% for weight. I guess he is going to take after his dad who was always small growing up. In fact, Mo didn't grow until he was on his mission. Jackson is starting to realize that he is small but it doesn't seem to bother him... in fact his primary teacher told me that during their lesson she had the kids put their hands up to each others and Logan said look at Jackson's hands they are so small and Jackson said," that just means that I can climb through caves better than you." I am not sure when he has been cave climbing :)? Small is okay though- we tell Jackson that he is not going to be big but that doesn't mean that he can't be really nice, smart, funny, athletic, size doesn't really matter... it is the person you are on the inside that counts. And anyone that has met Jackson knows that he overflows with character and personality... he is definitely one of a kind. During his appointment he had to pee in a cup (which he thought was so funny because the cup was overflowing and getting on his daddy). He also had to get his finger pricked and 2 shots. He was really nervous about the shots. In fact he cried until the nurse gave him the first shot and then he stopped because he realized that it wasn't as bad as what he had thought.

Can't start the new years goal without finishing the old year...

September

September was a very busy month for us. We had Rylans blessing, and my little sister Shalee got married which meant a wedding shower, a wedding luncheon, a wedding, and two wedding receptions. Jackson started soccer and preschool. And, Benton started sleeping in a big boy bed.

Mo did a really great job with Rylans blessing... blessing days are always really special days. I am so grateful that Mo is a worthy priesthood holder and that he is able to give our children blessings whenever they need one. As a mom it is so comforting to know that we have access to Heavently Fathers power in our home. We are so thankful for all of our family and friends that love and support us and came to our new home to celebrate Rylan. We named her Rylan Ann- it took us some time to decide whether or not we wanted to give Rylan a middle name but in the end we decided that we didn't want her to grow up and feel bad that she didn't have one- especially since Jackson and Benton are named after their father and grandfather. Ann is my middle name and it is also Rylans grandmother Kathy's middle name which is special because now she is named after her mother and grandmother. She looked so beautiful in her blessing dress. She is such a sweet baby- every morning that I wake up to her smiling face I can't believe how blessed we are to have this little special spirit in our home. She just beams with happiness and love.


Besides Rylan we had another addition to our family when my sister married Eric this past month. We are really excited that Shalee and Eric were able to meet and start their life together as a couple. Eric is a really nice guy and Jackson and Benton love having another uncle to beat up on. They got married up at Snowbasin and it was beautiful.

It was fun participating in soccer saturday this year. Jackson played for his first time and we loved going to watch his games. Jackson was quite the little defender (not exactly what his mom had in mind for him but he was really proud when he stopped a goal). We just hope that he had fun...

Jacksons preschool class is called Dots and Doodles and he goes to the elementary school right by our house. He really loves school this year and he is learning so much.

We are so proud of Benton for sleeping in a big boy bed. He was really excited to be able to share a big boy bed in a room with his big brother. They both love having someone to sleep with.

October
The 2 big events in October were Halloween (Of course) and my dads 60th Birthday. And, we had such good fall weather that we were able to go on a family hike up to green pond.

November

December