Rock Climbing!

While we were in Vernal last week we took the kids to climb the rockwall at the rec. center where my little sister works. They had so much fun... o.k. maybe Taya had so much fun. I think Jett was still a little too young, he was fine until he looked down and realized how high he was and then he freaked! Taya loved it, every time she got a little higher.
getting a little boost from Aunt Megan.
Holy Crap! get me down! (poor little guy was so scarred we couldn't get him to climb back down.) check out his face!
...and this is how we kept Lincoln from wandering around.
Jett & Lincoln going down the slide ( forget the rockwall this was more Jett's style!)

This past week we lost my Uncle in an accident. My brothers and Sisters and I were very close to his kids (my cousins) we all grew up together and always hung out together, we were sometimes more like siblings than cousins. We were all able to go home for the funeral. I was able to stay the whole week because my kids were out of school, and spend some time with them. It was so hard to see my Aunt and cousins go through such a hard time. They are so strong and I don't think you can ever imagine what it would be like until you have been in their shoes. This week it really made me remember what REALLY matters. It always amazes me how in times like these through all the tears and heartache it seems you feel the Saviors love the most. He somehow reminds us how important family is and gives us opportunities to serve one another and love unconditionally. All this stupid stuff that we sometimes waste our time worrying about just really doesn't matter in the end! I love my family so much and I hope that I can remember never to take what we have for granted. My thoughts and prayers are with the Reynolds Family, I love you all so much!

A new little Cousin!

A new "little" 8 lb. 15.4 oz. cousin. My brother Sid and his wife Michelle just had their first little boy! They named him Brock Jay Merkley and he is cutie, we are are loving him to death! The kids were so excited for their new little cuz to come, and the proud new parents are doing amazing, seriously, you should see Michelle she does NOT look like she just had a baby! They are the cutest new little parents!

Lincoln wanted to give Brock lots of loves, but he just isn't that soft so he basically kept head butting him. This little outfit use to be Linc's :( it makes me so sad to think he has grown so much!



Kisses from Taya

My other brother and his wife came out to see the baby last weekend so we tried to get a pic of all the cousins "tried" being the key word. Out of like 20 this is the only one of all of them even sitting on the couch!

Lincoln, Jett, Taya, Brock and Mylee

Lincoln's 1st Birthday Party!

For Lincoln's first Birthday we did a little monkey theme and had family over for his party, it was way fun, all but the cake anyway...


O.K. I am so not a cake decorator, I found this cute little monkey cake and thought it would be so fun, so I decided to make it ALL from scratch. I seriously don't know what I was thinking, and for any of you that think this cake looks half descent, what you don't realize is that it took me almost 7 freaking hours!!! I know that's ridiculous, which is why I am officially resigning from ever making these cutesy cakes ever again, it's so not my thing, I would rather waste my time on anything less stressful and that doesn't just get eaten! and my poor kids got neglected all day, Lincoln was so anwery when everyone finally got here because I had not picked him up once all day! After everything that could possibly go wrong, did, Justin finally came home to the house a total disaster and said "maybe you shouldn't make cakes" I was like uh, yah think? I finally got it finished about 10 minutes before everyone showed up and we cut right into it. What a waste! Really, I'm sure Lincoln really even cared about his cake anyway!
I also made these little monkey cupcakes. (they weren't as bad as the dang cake but still time consuming!)
Eating his Birthday cake!
Forget the fork, it wasn't doing the job!
Lincoln literally licked his plate clean! Hey, at least the cake was yummy!
All the kids signing Stockton's cast, he broke his leg sledding and had just gotten his cast on that day. ( Jett was obsessed he had 20 ?'s about how he broke it down to what he was wearing and what kind of sled he was on when he broke it!)
The kids breaking the pinata ( that would be Justin's hand trying to dodge the bat because we we couldn't figure out how to hang it up in the house.)
Wait linc... the pinata's over here.
Playing with his new presents.
New Superman jammies and a mower :)

My Happy Birthday!

I had such a great birthday this year, really if this is how fun turning 30 is, I can't wait for 40! Justin surprised me with an early birthday present, he took me to dinner and a movie one night while my parents were out visiting since we had a free babysitter and surprised me with a room at the Anniversary Inn "Juliets Balcony"! It was beautiful, of course we had a great time, it just went by way to fast. Thanks to my parents for letting us have a fun night, and thank you to my husband who is learning to become so romantic! ( I stole these pics off the internet, seriously if you need a romantic getaway you've got to check out the new rooms here, they are amazing!)



So then, I decided to throw myself a birthday party this year, really it was just an excuse for me and some of my girlfriends to get together. We had been trying to plan something forever and decided we would finally use my B-day as an excuse. So I kicked Justin and the kids out of the house Friday night and we all got together in our p.j.'s ( we figured it would be a late one!) to play games, eat, and do what we do best... CHAT! It was so much fun to not have to worry about our kids for one night and to just goof around! I seriously have the best friends, I don't know what I would do without them. and lets just say, we do know how to P.A.R.T.Y.!!! We ended up staying up until 4:30 in the morning. Thank You, Amber, Camille, Nikki, Brianne, Suzie, Alisha and Traci for making it a wonderful Birthday:) Although I did spend my actual birthday and the next two days recouping from streph throat. okay, so maybe I can't handle partying like I did when I was twenty years olds! But it was still well worth it :)

a little game of Solitaire Frenzy
Me and Linc opening some of our birthday presents, the next day.

Oh, Thank-You to all of you who sent me the sweetest Birthday wishes from my last post!

Happy Birthday Lincoln & Mommy!!!

One year ago....


I can't believe on my birthday one year ago, I was coming home from the hospital with my new little guy. Lincoln was born two days before my Birthday. He was due on the 15th (my B-day was the 14th) and I begged my doctor to start me a couple days early so we wouldn't share the same birthday. It being Valentines Day and all is bad enough but to also have to share it with your mom, didn't want to do that to the poor boy! I was induced on the 11th, and found out in the hospital Abraham Lincolns birthday was the next day. We had planned on calling him Lincoln so everyone kept telling me to hold out until midnight, so he could be born on Old Abe's B-day. Yeah right, say that to someone who has been laying on a bed in labor for hours, I was like are you kidding me, get him out now! Needless to say he liked the idea and decided to come posterior and get logged in my pelvis. Purplish-blue from lack of oxygen and two vacuums later ( because the doctor broke the first one pulling so hard to get him out!) he made his grand entrance February 12th at 3:14 a.m. on Pres. Lincolns B-bay! One things for sure Justin said: " it's either Abe or Lincoln". Happy 1st Birthday to my little monkey!

Just like Dad!

Jett hates wearing ties to church its a fight every Sunday, the only thing that we have found that works is finding a tie that matches Dads. Last Sunday Justin dressed Jett just like him, they looked so cute. Jett was so excited, notice his hands in his pockets just like Dads. :) What handsome boys I have!

Fun Visitors!

This last week one of my best friends [from highschool] and her husband (kristen and Drew McClellan) came to stay with us. I love kris, we can go months without talking and everytime we get together its just like old times. Since our husbands have met I don't know who I would say are better friends anymore, Kristen and I joke the only way we keep in contact these days is through our hubbies texting and calling each other. Justin will know something about them before I even talk to Kristen. Its so fun whenever we get together with them, we always have a blast together. and it was fun to see our kids play together this time.

All the kids waiting for breakfast!
Finn & Jett ( Finn held the cat almost the whole time, I'm just sayin' Kris I think you should let Drew get a cat! :) )
Taya putting make-up on Ellie

Silly Boy!

Lincoln doesn't cry anymore when he wakes up from his naps and in the mornings, so sometimes he will sit in his crib forever until he starts yelling to get out or I finally hear him in there jabbering. I love walking in his room to find this....
... his big blue eyes and happy grin peeking over the crib! This is what make being a Mom worth it all :)


and his new trick is this... a half somersault I guess, he just sits this way all the time and looks through his little legs. It is so funny :)

Super Bowl Sunday!

This year we had a really laid back Super Bowl party. We just went over to my brothers, just my bro. and sis. and their spouses. We had all just gotten back in town from Provo and just kinda wanted to chill, it was really kinda nice. The first Super Bowl I think I actually watched, and it was a really great game! Lots of food and just lounging around being lazy!

not quite sure what the #1 signs are for, other than we had been doing them all weekend at state drill team!



What a little Cheerleader!

Go U'ettes!!!

Last weekend we went down to Provo to watch my little sister Megan perform at state drill team. It's one of Taya and I's highlights of the year. I think the only one who might love it more than us is my Dad (no joke). When my youngest brother graduated a couple of years ago my Dad didn't know what he was going to do without anymore football and baseball games to attend. He very unenthusiastically decided he would have to start supporting the drill team, before long he became their biggest and loudest fan! One of the moms this year told him he deserved Dad of the year, she had never heard a Dad cheer so loud for the drill team. He even had to go out a day early to watch 4A & 5A perform, he wanted to scope out the competition for next year ( we move up to 4A)! Justin says he turning metro. I say what guy doesn't like watching cute girls dance around in skimpy little outfits :) Logan has always been our biggest competition and we had heard they had been working really hard this year to beat us. It's kinda weird to go and root against your home town but I say until my kids are in highschool, gotta be a UTE fan all the way!!! The girls ended up taking state!!! We took 1st in every division, they did so awesome! We had a blast! can't wait for next year. See ya in 4A Logan Hi-Lo's! :)


State Champs!!!

Taya and cousin Mylee watching the dances.

My sisters.

a big hug from the boyfriend.

Mom, Megan, Dad