Monday nights we set time aside to have Family Home Evening, but it usually is a very fast family home evening, not because we don't want more time together, but because we just can't fit everything at night! Aaron gets home at around 6:45 pm and we all eat dinner together, if its ready...lets me honest... then after we get done eating, everything put away, its about 7:20...and the kids go to bed at 8...so it usually ends with Jocee asleep, and someone in tears, but we do get our treats, but not an activity usually. SO we decided that we would set aside a time on Saturdays to have a family activity time. Whoever gave the lesson gets to decide what we do the following Saturday. So yesterday was our first "real" family activity, and Ryan got to decide what we do, and he decided we should hike Round Mountain! It was super fun! We finally got going at around 11:00 am. Before that the kids and Aaron had found a baby Cardinal that looked like it had a broken leg. Aaron wanted to take it out to the College to feed it to the snake, Brookie really wanted to keep it, Ryan wanted it to go to Heaven, Jocee did NOT want it to be fed to the snake, but to keep it here in a cage, and Pax just kept poking it and saying "bird"! I was inside trying to get Jamberry stuff taken care of. So the hike was super nice, and just relaxing...crazy to think with four kids it could be relaxing, but it was great! We leisurely took our time up the mountain. Kasia came with us, and since we were the only ones on the mountain we let her off her leash, and she was amazing at staying with us, she would lead the way for us. I liked it because I figured if there was any thing scary she would let us know! So I think it took us about an hour and a half to go up about a 30 minute hike round trip! It was so worth it though, we were taking pictures and looking at rocks, eating Jojoba beans, and looking at nests...the kids were loving it, and I was loving it!! I realized that Brookie is a big time animal/nature girl. She didn't like the beans, but she sure loves climbing rocks, and looking for animals. She loves snakes, and rabbits, bugs, and lizards, she just isn't afraid of all the critters. So we got a picture of her finding a nest! Ryan is our silly little guy! He loves making faces in all the pictures...and videos for that matter! But in one of the pictures he had his hip sticking out, Aaron told him to stand straight...afterwards Ryan asked if we got a picture of him with his hip out, when we told him yes he started laughing and was so happy! Silly Boy! Jocee is our free spirited child. She didn't so much love walking so much, but she loved eating the jojoba beans, and flowers, and picking rocks and putting them in her backpack. She just is so carefree and I love that so much about her, but it can defiantly be scary at times! Paxton is just so happy to be walking without anyone holding on to him, although we was super sweet and holding Ryan's hand, and Jocee's hand. He loved going up to the kids and giving them hugs. He has gotten a lot more affectionate! While we were up at the top we did get a call saying Rachel was stranded and had a flat tire at the college. But before we headed down, Aaron had picked some puff balls for the kids. They are super fun little balls that grow on oak trees and they are like mini balloons that you can squeeze together and they pop. The kids were LOVING those and started picking them. The tree has some thorns though and Pax got to close to the thorn and got cut on his hand. We decided to head down so we could take care of Rachel and Pax. I was holding Pax and about half way down I slid and scratched up my leg! It seemed like a smooth slide because Paxton was still holding on and had his head laid on my shoulder. It wasn't to bad we got back up and headed down in what seemed like record time compared to the hike up! On the way out to the college I had Aaron drop me off for a short run, and I met them back at the college. Afterwards we got some pizza and headed home for some downtime...we watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The kids hadn't ever seen it, and they said it was good...I still think its a little odd! Anyways that was our fun Saturday Activity!  

Jenna's Birthday

 Happy Birthday Jenna!!! It was so fun being able to have the Smith family here and be able to celebrate Jenna's birthday with them! Katie planned a really fun birthday party for her, and we had a great turn out! All the Burks were here, which makes for a big birthday bash!

 Before we sang Happy Birthday we went outside and played musical chairs. It was so fun, and Brookie won, not that it is all about winning, but her fun expression after winning is what is so fun about it! Afterwards we came in and sang happy birthday to sweet little Jenna.

 We got to decorate our own cupcakes and Katie had all sorts of yummy toppings as you can see from the picture below. There was lots of frosting to choose from, sprinkles, and of course candy....including our on of our family favorites, gummy bears!!

Then they act all silly after they eat the topping filled cupcake!! 

 All the kids were super excited that they got to decorate their very own cupcake, especially Brookie! This was a whole new experience and one that she hoped to do for her next birthday! Brookie LOVES planning her birthdays early :)

Next we opened presents! One of the first things Jenna opened up was a package of gum, afterwards she shared a piece of gum with everyone, which of course was the whole package of gum. She was just so happy to share, and it was just super cute! 

Jenna also got a new Princess Belle crown, but she wasn't so much a fan of the crown, but she still shared the crown with everyone as well!!!

Jocee decided she was going to have her own little fun while Jenna was opening presents. She was loving blowing milk bubbles in the laundry room! 

These other pictures I was trying to show just how many people there were, but it just doesn't doe justice. We had so many people, Ashley and Carl were hiding from the crowd I guess, but it was definitely a full house, but full of love and fun!! 

Brother and Sister

We decided to take pictures with Paxton today, and these were my favorites of Jocee. She loves Paxton, and is always trying to hold him! 

Easter 2012

 Every year I LOVE getting everyone a new outfit for Easter Sunday. I really don't know why I love it so much, but its just so fun getting new dresses and trying to look our best for Easter Sunday. Well Saturday was our friend Sasha and her mom's baptism and afterward we headed down to the valley. It was a fun trip, and I loved being able to spend that day with my little family, just getting away from all the business and just having it be us! 

We did have an egg hunt in the morning, and the kids were sorely disappointed that there were not toys in their baskets. I wanted to focus more on Christ. So they each got a picture of Christ that had a little child in the picture that best resembled themselves. Ryan was pretty happy about that and showed everyone that that "this is Jesus and Ryan." Brookie was excited to put hers in her scriptures. We also got them little ctr bracelets and we also got them Bible stories that they can listen to and play games on the computer. But all day Brookie kept asking why the Easter bunny would bring other kids toys but not them.... :/ wasn't sure how to answer that one.....

Aaron had grabbed the camera after the kids were ready and took them outside to get pictures. He was teaching them how to fake laugh and these are the results... not bad!

I like this one of Jocelynn... I could hear the kids from my bedroom and I am pretty sure all of Globe knows how loud Ryan can be.... still he was being super cute!

Family pictures.... you say the word and I instantly think there is no possible way to get a great family photo. Most of the time I have a hard time with kids and getting them to look at the camera or stay posed or getting them to stop being silly.... yes I do have to do that with my kids but the problem lies more so in Aaron... and here is proof!! Most of the time I have to tell parents to just keep their head up and looking at the camera and smiling, I have tried that with Aaron. I don't know maybe he thinks that the camera wont catch him speaking to the kids or LOOKING DOWN, or moving or I don't know, its usually his eyes, we can't keep them open! But whatever I have to deal with with my kids its usually with Aaron too. I LOVE YOU HUNNY!! (doesn't he look Chinese in the one above?) 

 Yes this is the end result of picture taking! Not much time goes by to get to this point! ALL THREE!!

This was afterwards, Jocee's way of winding down

Jocelynn LOVES grandpa... as soon as she sees him, he's the only thing in her world at that moment. In church he will come down from giving a Stake announcement she just holds her hand out and says "grandpa" over and over until he walks past and picks her up, then she's happy.

I had to post sweet Brookie in her bunny hat she made in primary. She was pretty pleased with her hat!

Overall it was a great and fun Easter. Maybe next year we will splurge less on dresses and get them a toy so Brookie wont feel like the Easter Bunny forgot her.

It is now November... YAY!! I love November, and I just love the holidays. I think what makes November so great is getting to start the month off celebrating little Jocelynn's birthday. Jocelynn Naomi Burk was born on November 1st, 2010 at 5:50 p.m. She was 8lbs 3.2 ounces, and was 21 inches long. I think that Heavenly Father sent her here on the first to clue me in on just how many "firsts" I was going to have with Jocelynn. Just to name a few:
Jocelynn was my first natural baby... YES ALL NATURAL. I was not expecting this. It was my first time ever really feeling a contraction and having to be sent to the hospital rather than just being kept at the hospital to do my "early labor stages."
She was my First fast labor, just 10 minutes shy of 3 hours!
First to have brown eyes, and dark hair (yes it did get blonder, but that still counts!)
First baby to choke on everything we have tried to feed her. First to almost pass out because of said choking, and as a result us scrambling to find a phone to call 911 but then Aaron saving her at the last second before dialing. Which then results in another first for me, having to change my underpants because of being scared to death... totally joking! ;)
But because of her choking on everything this is the first baby who is not weaned by one, because she will not eat anything.
Jocelynn was our first to walk at 10 months. Brookie and Ryan both crawled right up until their birthdays.
She is the first child to stay a mommy's girl. Usually what happens is as babies they need mommy and only mommy but once they are more mobile they only want daddy. Jocee is still very much a mommy's girl, which makes me feel special.
Jocelynn is the First Angel that I saw. The first baby that I saw before she was born. I knew she was coming, I knew what she would look like, I knew she was going to be born on the first, and I knew her name was Jocelynn. All the was a huge First for me, but it has all been so wonderful. I know that there will still be so many firsts with her but I am grateful that she was sent into our family. She has such a sweet little spirit.

 

 

I always say that we wont get as many presents, but by the time each child picks something along with our mine and Aaron's present it adds up... not to mention Grandma's great gifts! :)
 

  

She really didn't waste anytime to dig in!

These are Jocee's cakes. The little one was hers to dig into, I'm glad I got that picture because Ryan afterwards put his hand in the cake and ripped some of it apart!!
As a one year old Jocee weighs approx 21 pounds. She can say "uh-oh", and "da" for ta-da. She loves to wave to everyone, but she also acts shy whenever anyone speaks to her. She loves playing with her brother and sister and Ryan is always making Jocelynn laugh.She hates sleeping in her bed, and so is therefor usually found in our bed! She is doing better at letting me go to my college classes (she doesn't cry as much when I leave, I know poor girl). She's pretty and our little girl and we love her! Happy Birthday to Jocelynn!