The Kuykendall Family

Big boys' special music

2012-01-27T22:30:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday my three big boys sang for the offeratory. BJ and I were so proud of them...and thrilled to hear them sing in three part harmony.

BTW- this was during practice. We don't just let Jud and Johnny run wild during service. :)

Ready for church

2012-01-26T14:38:00.000-08:00

These ties were a hoot! Reusable sticker ties are way more fun than real ones. :)

Thank you Keith and Marlene. :)

Justin's Mac...Isaac, this post is for you

2012-01-23T22:06:00.000-08:00

I walked into the room to my boys playing "bank." Justin was using his very own homemade apple computer. :) Uncle Isaac's influence for sure!

2012-01-11T23:02:00.000-08:00

Aren't these bears cute and huge? :)

Thank you, Marlene, for making these for our twins. I am sure they will be snuggled tons....until the twins are old enough to play "hunting" and then they will shoot them. :)

Christmas with the Kuykendalls

2012-01-11T22:50:00.000-08:00

Our time with my in-laws was nice. Different to not be on Christmas day, but nice to know we had one more day of feasting and hanging out! As always, the boys were thrilled with their gifts.

Judson should maybe wear this thing all the time. :)

Justin has been taking pictures like crazy with his new camera. It is really funny to see what a six year old chooses to photograph.

I wish I had a picture of the adorable mini stockings Grandma Carolla knit for each great-grandchild. They were amazing!

First Christmas

2012-01-11T22:45:00.000-08:00

Our sweet twin binnies have brought double the joy to our family.

Christmas Day

2012-01-11T22:30:00.000-08:00

This year our Christmas didn't hold to tradition. Besides being on a Sunday (a big day for a pastor's family), there was just a lot of stuff going on in the lives of family members. Our time with my in-laws was set for the 26th so we were all alone on Christmas. We had a nice time, but it was different. Since we didn't know what else we would do that day, we opened only brother gifts Christmas Eve and saved the rest for after lunch on Sunday. It was a relaxing and enjoyable day.

Just to be like daddy, Johnny really wanted a pair. He called them "radios," but now refers to them as "rodeos." :)

Our boys are famous for regifting. One boy will give something they own to a brother for a birthday who will then give it to the next birthday brother. :) These glasses were a hit...and I don't know which brother gave or received them!

Jesse gave us coupons good for a free shoe shine and 30 minutes of work. BJ lucked out since his will never expire. :)

Mommy's presents

2012-01-11T14:11:00.000-08:00

Jesse is 9!!!

2012-01-05T16:45:00.000-08:00

December 18th our Jesse turned 9!

We celebrated with our family, Grandma Sally, Papa, and Reaghan.

This picture sums up Jesse. Right when he should have blown out his candle, he slid it over to Jud to blow out. Jesse is known for his wrestling which at times gets him in trouble, but to BJ and me he is really known for his kind, loving, and selfless heart to his brothers. He has his moments too, but for the most part he really cares about them and will put them first. A nice trade off for the many spur of the moment wrestling matches he initiates. :)

Happy Birthday Jesse...we love you! xxooo

Programs

2012-01-04T15:15:00.000-08:00

Directly following big family Christmas was the Canby community orchestra concert. It was a really big day. The boys did excellent, but we were definitely ready to head home when it was over.

The next morning was church, Jesse's birthday, and the evening Christmas program. The boys were looking sharp in their special ties made by Aunt Amy. :)

This weekend was a busy one, but we survived...although I didn't know if we would at the time. :)

Fritzler Family Fun

2012-01-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

Here are a few highlights of big family Christmas this year. The biggest one being Grandma Carolla with her 18 great grandchildren! (Six new ones were added in 2011.)

The family band is my boys' favorite part.

Here are the wonderful woodwinds. :) Do I say that every year?

The six new babies.

It was a joy to be pregnant this year with Jocelyn, Heidi, Sheila, and Kaelene. Experiencing the pregnancies and baby showers together was so much fun. I am also glad the twins will have a few cousins close to their age.

Thank you, Aunt Visa, for hosting. We had a great time.

Christmas Traditions...

2012-01-04T14:50:00.000-08:00

Having traditions for special times in our lives is really important to me. We have tried a few that have been bigger hits than others. Some have also been kind of a nightmare (like our first drive around to look at lights experience.) I am happy to say that this year our looking at lights tradition was a success! We finally found a neighborhood that has a lot of lights. :) I believe that (and not doing the hot cocoa) was a big part of the success.

We also enjoyed caroling and delivering goodies to a few widows at our church. It truly is more blessed to give than receive. On our way out of the last home we visited, Rita told us how much she appreciated it. Justin immediately responded with (in his high tenor voice), "we'll be back next year!" The boys really enjoyed doing this activity.

And finally, our scheduled night of watching "Its a Wonderful Life" on the hide-a-bed was fun. However next year we might need to ditch the hide-a-bed part because we do not fit anymore. Maybe we will bring in the sleeping bags. :)

Tradition #1

Tradition #2

Tradition #3

First time on skates!

2011-12-28T14:22:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago we were invited to roller skate with the boys' alert cadet group and their families. What a blast! This was the first time our boys had skated and I was impressed with how well they caught on. What was especially fun was getting to skate too. :) It had been years since I had done this...and since I wasn't pregnant, I couldn't wait to get out there.

Jud didn't get to skate...although I am sure he would have been a go-getter! He did escape a couple of times and run out into the rink before we could catch him. :)

BJ multi-tasking again.

Half-way through our evening Justin decided he was good enough to give Johnny lessons. It was pretty cute to see them both out there wobbling together. :)

Can you guess what the boys want to buy with their Christmas money? Daddy was looking up rollerblades on Craigslist tonight.

our boys

2011-12-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

watching a Christmas movie

making soup

tummy time

Our Christmas Letter ~ 2011

2011-12-23T18:00:00.000-08:00

We are thankful we have made it through the year well
here’s a few things about our life in 2011, we’d like to tell:

Took a trip to the beach in the spring
Bought a full-sized van- talk about bling bling!

Continued to teach our boys at home while we walked by the way,
Reading’, writin’, rithmatic, and learning what God has to say.

Piano and fiddle practice are daily for my oldest 3
that would be Jared, Jesse, Justin, but not Judson Lee!

He and John Russel, are waiting in line for their time (age 6)
Knowing them as I do, I’m sure that they’ll do fine.

Received a gift from God in the form of TWIN BOYS! (Joshua Courage, Josiah Christian)
With presents like these- who cares about toys.

Their presence in fills our hearts with love
is there any doubt this was ordained from above?

Our life revolves around our family and the church
centering our lives on those things has never left us in the lurch.

Yes, 2011 is in the can
God has helped us- in this race we have thus ran

His Kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy
More valuable than houses, land, and wealth- even that favorite toy.

When we are weak He is strong
When other have given up, His grace suffers long.

He forgives our sin and heals our disease
Where else in the in the world could one possibly find these?

He is not a concept, but a person instead
His name is Jesus, have you not read:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

We love Him because he loved us first
He satisfies every longing and quenches every thirst.

If we amount to anything- if in our lives the fruit comes in
We’ll know without a doubt, it was all because of Him.

Our prayer for you: our family and friends that read this letter, is that you would know
the height, the depth, and the breadth of the LORD our God.

Merry Christmas!

Much love, The Kuykendalls....BJ, Elaine, Jared, Jesse, Justin, John, Judson, Joshua, and Josiah

Decking the halls.....

2011-12-23T17:47:00.000-08:00

I thought our tree was cute this year when we set it up, but now it is deader than dead! Just because we forgot to water it once early on! Since we are too scared to turn on the lights, we are leaving them off until Christmas day and then our tree is heading outside that evening. I am pretty sure next year's tree will not have this problem. :)

Jud being Jud

2011-12-23T16:08:00.000-08:00

This would sum up Judson's enthusiasm for life! He is a wonderful blessing with a tremendous amount of energy....and curiosity. I am amazed at how many "no-no's" there are in life as each new day begins with this boy! :) And someday I will tell you what he did a couple of nights ago. But not for a year or so....not until it can be one of those things you look back at and laugh. :)

The Singing Christmas Tree

2011-12-22T23:00:00.000-08:00

A dear couple at church bought us tickets for the Singing Christmas Tree at the Keller auditorium. This was such a special night for BJ, myself, and our four oldest boys. (The twins and Jud were left home to be loved on by some church grandmas and Connie Johnson. :) We started our evening out with dinner at Claim Jumper since BJ had won a drawing for a gift certificate at a Pastor's event. The boys really enjoyed their meals and sharing a giant slice of their famous chocolate cake. What a treat! Without our 3 littlest ones along BJ and I were able to really focus on our older 4. It was a weird feeling to not need a highchair or feed a baby.

The performance was wonderful and moving. I wondered if it would hold my boys' attention, but I didn't need to worry. When the show was over Justin exclaimed, "oh mommy I really liked that!"

It was cute to hear the boys talk about our fancy evening and ooh and aah over the city lights. This is a night they will remember for a long time.

BJ and I feel so grateful for these blessings in our lives. Choosing to have a large family, you can sometimes stop and think, "but wait, how will we ever afford this?" or "we will never be able to do that." This was just another reminder of God's faithfulness in taking care of our needs and wants. Granted, it might be a while before we eat at Claim Jumper again as a family, but it makes those times all the more cherished and special when we do. :)

Our Thanksgiving Christmas

2011-12-22T22:30:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is celebrated with my side of the family and this year it was held in Woodburn. With all the new babies, we thought this location would be more convenient. :) Lots of fun and energy when we get the cousins together! The newest ones especially loved Uncle Isaac's story telling.

We ordered pizza Wednesday evening, saving our cooking energy for the big day. :)

Thank goodness for mom and Ray. I knew that someday I would have to be a grownup and cook a holiday meal, but with all the work they did, I got out of it again. :)

Paisley Mae is the cutest little bean snapper.

The gym provided hours of entertainment for the children.

BJ read the true story of Squanto to the boys...and girls. It is hard not to see the hand of God protecting and providing for the pilgrims.

Jared and Jesse did a great job decorating the table.

Aunt Amy was in charge of a craft for the cousins to make. I think she learned of some distinct differences between boys and girls while working with them. :)

Another highlight was playing Bingo. This day was definitely a learning experience. We packed a lot into our day and didn't get any nap times in.....a few meltdowns were inevitable. For the most part, Uncle Isaac really hung in there. :)

By the time we opened Christmas gifts everyone was tuckered out. It was a full day, but a good day. Can't wait for next year!

By the way, Amy and I heard that the Woodburn Factory Stores were opening at 9pm and we thought it would be fun to go. As I was driving to the motel near the outlets to pick her up, I started getting a little worried. I never dreamed it would be so crazy. I just assumed people from our town would be the only ones there at that time. Boy was I wrong. You should have seen the backup on the freeway. Somehow we managed to find the very last parking spot in the overflow parking. We had a great time...so much fun to shop just the two of us with no little ones in tow. :)

Thanksgiving Preparations

2011-12-22T22:12:00.000-08:00

We had fun preparing for Thanksgiving this year. The boys loved making these place card candy holders and decorating the table for our meal. It was a true delight to watch their creativity and excitement.

Our little jumpers

2011-12-21T14:26:00.000-08:00

It is time for the jump-up! I think BJ finally found a good way to keep tabs on our Judson while he burns off some energy. :)

Old Photos

2011-12-14T16:18:00.000-08:00

I never posted the twins' two week old pictures. It is hard to believe they are 5 months old now. We are cherishing our time with these little guys.

Thankfully, our big boys don't change as much in five months. :)

Judson - 2 years (These are their current ages.)

John - 4 years

Justin - 6 years

Jesse - 8 years

Jared - 10 years

Our wanna be triplet....

2011-12-06T22:37:00.001-08:00

November happenings

2011-12-06T21:24:00.001-08:00

We started out the month with a birthday celebration at my in-laws. My goodness, we celebrate 6 October/November birthdays on my husband's side. Lots of fun!

(Notice their sweet hand holding.)

That would be Reaghan's leg....not BJ's. :)

John's passion for family pictures has caused a little resistance from some. :)

The twins staying warm at the zoo.

We had a wonderful unexpected visit from Uncle Dallas and Aunt Linda. We really miss them.

Looking good for church. Our dear friend, Jenni Duncan, made the twins these sweaters. She is amazing!

Johnny will probably not be excited about this picture someday, but I couldn't resist. This is another use for a baby bath.

We were blessed with a big box of apples from a dear lady at church. BJ was super proud of the triple batch of applesauce that he made. He couldn't believe how fast all his hard work was gobbled up. :) I made some apple pie filling to freeze and an apple pie. For whatever reason, I always dread making the pie crust and then realize it isn't that bad to make. I think it is the mess that I am not fond of. I am not going to dread it any longer!

Here is my organizational tip that I am loving. Unfortunately, I tend to forget about important things if they are put away. I need them out in front of me. At our Centralia home I had a spot for this pile on the end of our long kitchen counter tops, but here my counter top space is limited so our table became the dumping ground. I bought this tray at IKEA to remedy this problem. It used to be a real chore to clear the table before each meal....now it is a breeze. I just wish the pile inside my tray could take care of itself. :)

caught up and caramel apples

2011-11-25T16:00:00.000-08:00

I am a little behind....again. I finally finished posting our life from October. Thank goodness November hasn't been too exciting. :) Busyness is different for everyone. Most people would say they are busy, and I would not dispute that. I have never been into the whole "my life is busier than yours" thing. So for me and what I can handle, I feel pretty busy these days. There are times when I think I can not do this job of mothering and the work that comes with it. There are times when I think going on a date (or trip to Hawaii) with BJ would be so wonderful. There are also times when I look at my boys and think about how much more fun we are going to have when they are all teenagers. This is a busy time for Beege and I, but I know it is only for a season. And any older person, especially the ones at Wal-mart, will tell you that it goes by so fast.

All that to say, when life gives you apples....make caramel apples. It's late. :)

The five older boys and I had a fun time making this yummy treat. The boys are always so thrilled to do an activity like this that it makes the mess well worth it.

Here is the recipe.....

(recipe from brown paper packages)

1/2 cup butter

1 cup light corn syrup

2 cups brown sugar

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Wash apples and allow them to dry. Combine the first three ingredients in a large saucepan. When butter is melted add the condensed milk. Stir constantly until it reaches the soft ball stage (230 degrees). Take off of heat and stir in vanilla.

Dip apples once the mixture has cooled to 200 degrees. Place on a buttered cookie sheet and allow to sit a few minute before adding the "extras."

Enjoy!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-25T15:06:00.000-08:00

We debated if we wanted to do the whole dress-up/ trick or treat thing, but then the Johnsons invited us over. We love the Johnsons. :) Our crew this year included Lewis and Clark, a shining knight, one brave indian, and a cooperative, but not excited elephant. Oh yes, and an embarrased bumble bee...since the other adult didn't wear a costume like she said she would. :)

Checking out the loot and making a few trades. :)

Birthday Celebration

2011-11-25T14:57:00.000-08:00

Our sweet Jud turned 2 and our wonderful daddy turned....never mind. :)

It is common to hear about the "terrible twos," but we are truly enjoying Judson and watching his little personality unfold. Not to say he doesn't keep us on our toes. Not hearing from Jud for a few minutes can mean disaster...(candy cane eating in a brother's bed, toilet plugging with a lot of toilet paper, broken glass mixing bowls while being used as a hat, misplacing of important keys and cell phones, emptying nightstand drawers....come to think of it, what doesn't he get in to?) :) We love him though. We have said this many times, but Judson is our busiest boy yet! Even with all his mischief he is a delight to raise. We love to watch that determined look on his face as he goes about his endeavors...non-stop. Blanket time and bed time are about his own still moments. Playing with the toy tractors is starting to hold his attention. So cute to hear his engine noise.

Red Robin is more fun with two free birthday meals. :)

My man is another year older. I love this guy and appreciate so much his passion for the Lord and our family. He has truly invested his all in us. I know without a doubt that we are his hobby. Although he is excited to go hunting again someday. :)

We love you Judson Lee. Our prayer is that the Lord will help us channel your great energy toward His goals and purposes. xxooo

Apple cider donuts for the birthday boy....

2011-11-23T17:35:00.000-08:00

Judson Lee turned 2 on October 27th. Since we were celebrating the following evening on Daddy's birthday we took him to Bauman's Farm for apple cider doughnuts. My Judson is a real lover of sweets. :)

His brothers had a good time helping him celebrate.

A couple scary scarecrows

2011-11-23T17:30:00.000-08:00

Are you scared? :)

Joshua and Josiah

2011-11-23T17:08:00.000-08:00

Our twins are growing. They were around 3 1/2 months in these pictures. It is still hard to tell their little personalities, but we think Josiah is a little more laid back. A lot of times they switch just when I think I have them figured out. One evening I could only get Josiah to smile and then the next morning it was the opposite....Joshua was all smiles. :) I am loving their routine since they go to sleep around 9:30 each night and wake again at 7:30 or 8am....a real lifesaver for this busy mama!

Two Peas in a Pod

2011-11-23T17:04:00.000-08:00

Thank you, cousin Kaelene, for these adorable hats. :)

Beach Day

2011-11-23T16:46:00.000-08:00

One October Friday was spent at Lincoln City. This was such a special day for BJ and me. Our first stop was to a little picnic area right off the beach. Neither one of us had ever been to this little spot, but the picnic sign caught BJ's eye and we needed to feed the boys lunch. While there we were approached by a man asking if we were a homeschool family. (It being a school day and seeing our passenger van tipped him off!) They invited us to visit with them at the vacation home where they were staying. We found out that Ronny is a pastor in McMinville and they homeschool their 8 children. We were so encouraged by them. It was as if God set up this meeting. BJ has since met with Ronny and I saw his wife at the Above Rubies retreat a few weeks later. We are looking forward to getting to know this family better.

This is so Jesse. :)

This picture of Jesse gives me a glimpse into the future. He looks old to me here. Then I just have to look at the previous picture, and I know that is still a few years off. :)

Judson loved the sand.

These boys are heavy now. I can hardly hold them both at the same time.

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-11-23T15:49:00.000-08:00

Earlier in the month of October our family spent an afternoon at the Willamette Valley Fruit Company's harvest festival. We all had so much fun.

Jared, our serious driver.

Brother bonding.

I am sure Judson felt secure having Johnny looking out for him.

We tried out two of the corn mazes as a family. What an adventure! Besides the muddy paths, it was hard! The little guys and mommy finally wised up and sat the 3rd one out! :)

Josiah

Joshua

Justin rode this thing over and over again! I've gotta say...I tried it once and it was awesome!

We can't wait for next year!

Won In Him...a little older

2011-10-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

Here they are! Hard to believe it has been 17 years since this group first started. Wow that makes me sound old. Thank goodness it makes BJ sound a teensy-bit older than me. :) Won In Him was the group Warner Pacific College sent out to sing at churches and camps during the summer. It was how I met my sweet husband. They sang at my church camp in California the summer after I graduated from highschool. Fun times...although Beege and I have totally changed our views about dating...but that could be another post. We have lots of great memories with these guys and their spouses. It has been fun to experience all of our weddings together and watch each family grow. This evening was especially great since Matt and Nikki were here from Montana and usually miss out on these reunions.

If Matt and Nikki's children could have been there, we would have had eleven boys and one girl. :)

As you can see, the boys had a great time together.

October 3rd Justin David turned 6!

2011-10-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

My sweet little Justin is not so little anymore. Within the past couple of months I have really noticed his "growing up." It comes out in the way he talks, colors, builds, works, and now eats. :) Even his little arms are starting to get muscles. Our biggest age gap is between Jesse and Justin....almost 3 years. Being the third in line, he was let off the hook a lot! I still remember assigning him the laundry sorting job and realizing Jared and Jesse had already been doing it for a whole year or more by the same age. Oops. This made for a little harder time in teaching him diligence, but he is on his way to being a hard working young man.

Justin requested french toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs for his birthday dinner.
We are trying to start a new tradition of blessing posters. So far it has been hit and miss, but we aren't giving up. :) Daddy and the brothers blessed Justin with Diligence, Self-control, Faith, and Discretion.
The last two birthdays Justin has wanted to be an Indian, so I thought it was funny that this year he got new cowboy boots and a small ax.

Can you tell they are brothers?

Johnny ended up blowing out the candles. We re lit them. :)

Justin wanted to say a few words about his birthday......

"My birthday was fun. I had a good time. And I enjoyed it. And I had a good time opening all the presents. It is fun being 6."

You bring so much joy to our family. We love you, Justin David.

Someone his own size!

2011-10-19T21:10:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago the "other" Kuykendalls came over for a little fellowship and pizza....something that doesn't happen often enough. Since Judson and Lauren are only 3 months apart we are deciding that they will be buddies. :) I know Jud thought it was great fun to jump with someone his own size. (Big brothers tend to make big bounces!)

We are all loving these guys....

2011-10-17T21:32:00.000-07:00

Special visitors

2011-10-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

(Amy, Sue, Aunt Lorena, me)

On September 20th, My Aunt Lorena of all people came to visit! This was a big deal for Amy and I because we really only saw Aunt Lorena on our visits to Colorado growing up. She lives in Ohio and had not flown since the '80's. (Amtrak was her preferred method of travel.) I was thrilled to hear that her cousin Sue talked her into a trip out West to visit my mom. Although our visit was brief, it was so nice to see her and let her see a bit into our world. I love my Aunt. She has always shown me so much love and I have always looked to her as a godly role model. Now that she has conquered this fear of flying we are hoping to see her more often. (hint, hint) :)

Justin's lessons

2011-10-11T21:02:00.000-07:00

This boy is so enthusiastic about his music! We started Justin on mini lessons for piano and violin this year. I've gotta say, I am surprised at how much he wants to practice. Hearing Justin sing "Hey diddle diddle, d's in the middle, d's in the middle of the two black keys" in his little high voice while playing the piano is adorable. My other favorite is "Justin is a good boy" on the violin. :)

This is Justin's favorite exercise, the monkey climb.

Lets just hope this enthusiasm continues for years to come. Especially when practice time increases. :)

Don't worry

2011-10-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

Judson did not stick his finger in an electrical outlet, daddy was just having a little fun. :)

Our time at the Freemans

2011-10-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

My whole family was so excited for Liviya's birth...especially since we had been waiting and waiting for her arrival. I think we had three full weeks of saying "any day now." :) I was thankful we could drive up to Centralia the day after her birth. We probably wore my poor sister out, but I think she would agree our mini family reunion was worth it.
(At least now that she has had a little more sleep she can say that. :)
Here is the whole crew + Amy + BJ's hand!

Sweet little Liviya Pearl

2011-10-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

I am late in posting this, but I couldn't leave out this important announcement. I am an auntie again!!! My sister finally had her baby girl on September 14th. Liviya Pearl is just beautiful...and totally looks like she belongs. :)

Multi-tasking

2011-09-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

Who says guys have trouble multi-tasking? :)

Joshua is wearing....

2011-09-24T06:37:00.000-07:00

....blue by Wet n' Wild.

After our stay at the hospital, we painted his big toenails just to ease our minds about a mix-up. Sometimes our twins look so alike and at other times so different. This also helped Justin and J.R. know who was who and was handy for half asleep nighttime feedings/diaper changes. Hopefully Joshua will forgive us. :)

The problem with a shared sock drawer....

2011-09-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

Two Months

2011-09-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

July 6th, our twin binnies were 2 months old. Johnny was the source of this nickname. So random, but it is amazing what names stick around (like Judson being called pickles). These little guys have been such a joy so far. They are smiling more and more with occasional cooing. It just melts my heart.

I was pretty nervous about having twins, especially after hearing/reading how hard it is from mommies of multiples. And most of the stories I read were from families with only the twins or with one older sibling. I thought I would really be in for it. Although adding new life to our crew has had its challenges, God has been so gracious. We are making it...and maybe as well as when adding only a singleton. I just do everything twice. :)

Family Day

2011-09-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

A few Thursdays ago we enjoyed an outing to Red Robin and the A.C. Gilbert house. BJ did memorial services three weekends in a row so we needed a little treat for the family. :)

Our year membership to the A.C. Gilbert house has been awesome. Especially considering one time admission to OMSI (included in the Gilbert membership) would cost our family $65. The year long pass is $70....they probably love families like ours. :) After the museum we walked along the waterfront. BJ and I still regret not exploring Olympia more in the eight years we lived near there. Lets just say I am determined to get my boys to the Oregon State Capital. :)

Champoeg Park

2011-09-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

These two have the same birthday! We had a great time celebrating their birthdays at Champoeg Park a few weeks ago. Don't Brady and Reaghan look like they are having a killer time too? :)

As always, the food was delicious. We used to go on picnics with BJ's family a lot. I miss those times.

J.R.'s new hat was a big hit. He wanted to wear it the next day but soon realized it was a little too hot. We suggested he save it for the cooler months. :)

Lauren sure is a sweet girl. I just love watching her walk around and interacting with Judson. She handles his wild and rough interactions gracefully.

Good ol' friends and Southern Gospel

2011-09-08T17:51:00.000-07:00

Aunt Amy told us Ernie Haas and Signature Sound were performing at the Lewis County Fair and we were excited! The boys, thanks to their daddy, love southern gospel....especially this group. Another bonus about this fair was seeing old friends and family. Boy do we miss them.

Brother-in-laws. Aren't they cute?

Aunt Linda holding J?.

A few of my favorite people.

My very pregnant sister. Poor Amy....I kept thinking how glad I was to have my babies out already. :)

Ethan has such a cute smile. :)

So glad to see the Freemans.

I loved to watch Jesse playing with Noah. It reminded me of the older children that invested in and played with him when he was that age. I am so glad to see him willing to invest in other littles.

Aunt Jessica and Josiah

The boys really wanted their picture taken with the group. BJ, of course, after seeing the picture was bummed the boys weren't standing in front of the guy singing their part. I think it is safe to say that my boys are destined to sing a few quartet pieces in their lifetime. :)

Great Grandma and Grandpa Kuykendall

2011-09-04T17:41:00.000-07:00

It was nice to have a visit from Grandpa and Grandma Kuykendall...even if it was only a short one. We are so thankful that they are still healthy at age 91 and 90.
Looks like there is a good chance the Kuykendall name will live on a while longer. :)

These make me smile....

2011-08-31T17:35:00.000-07:00

Justin is quite the creative artist. Notice the eagle feathers on the Indian's headdress and the low rise pants on Santa. :)

Life with our boys

2011-08-31T17:10:00.000-07:00

A little serenade.

My big helpers....even though they think this job is boring!
Our Johnny "reading" in bed.

Enjoying all the yummy meals and desserts from our church family.

Getting our wiggles out.

Judson participating. :)

The boys' pretend camp out.

Another big helper.

It takes all day....

2011-08-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

...to make it to the park! At least in this season of life. Waking up to sunshine inspires me to get my boys out of the house. Ideally 10am-ish is a good time, but trying to get myself and seven boys dressed, fed, and chores done can be a challenge. Those couple of hours in between the twins' feedings go really fast. Before I know it, it's time to feed them again. So, park outings are usually after lunch with the older boys tickling Judson on the drive home to keep him awake. His nap time is precious you know!

The twins

2011-08-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

When Judson is napping it is nice to give the twins a little "tummy time." Judson seems to like him new brothers by all the loves he gives them. Unfortunately, loves from an almost 2 year old boy can be rough. :)

It is fun to see Joshua and Josiah in the same position. I am amazed by it and wonder if it is a coincidence or a twin thing.
Both of our little guys have receding hair lines as of this week. I knew when they were born that their hair wouldn't last too long.

Joshua Courage

Josiah Christian

Looks who's 4!

2011-08-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

August 7th our wonderful John turned 4! I have said this many times, but I can't believe he is 4 already! Johnny brings so much joy to our life. This guy has a fun, unique personality. I love J.R.'s.....

big brown eyes,

missing front tooth,

loud, booming, low voice,

love for tractors and mot-e-cycles,

disdain for anything pink,

sweet words...he always says to me, "I love you too" ...even when I haven't said it yet :)

large vocabulary,

and wiping away of every kiss I give him.

We love you Johnny! We are so glad that the Lord touched you and are looking forward to seeing what He has in store for you.

Joshua???

2011-08-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

One Month Old

2011-08-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

Our sweet little boys are a month old already. Joshua and Josiah bring a lot of joy to the Kuykendall home. And although it is a lot of work, I couldn't have asked for any less demanding babies. God must have known we would need these two to be a little easier than our one Judson Lee, bless that busy boy's heart. :)
Feeding the boys and getting them to gain weight was a little difficult. I started out exclusively tandem nursing but after 2 1/2 weeks they were still losing weight! So, I started supplementing with formula. I will say, while bottles are a hassle, it did relieve a lot of anxiety about trying to nurse both of them especially when away from home. Tandem nursing is a little tricky. :) Thankfully they are putting on the ounces now.

(I am loving how our twins snuggle.)

I was so blessed by my husband's article for our church's newsletter this month. So sweet, I decided to share it on here. Could this count as my first guest contributor? :)

I am a Rich Man!

Elaine and I were blessed to welcome Joshua Courage and Josiah Christian into this world on July 6th. Even the 6th and 7th time around, the gift of life is truly amazing to me. Bill Gaither said it well in the song Because He Lives, "How sweet to hold a newborn baby..." Children are a heritage from the Lord! All children - regardless of the circumstances greeting their arrival - are precious in the sight of the Lord, and ought to be received as such by HIS people.

That isn't to say that this precious gift comes without responsibility. I have noticed a pattern that the greater the gift- the greater the accompanying duty to carefully manage. If one man received the gift of a tent and another the gift of a house, there is no doubt that the house is the greater gift and further doubtless that home ownership - and all that entails- is the greater responsibility. When was the last time you called the plumber to work on your tent? My wife and I are seeing that principle in DOUBLE right now. Double the blessing, with double the laundry, double the feeding, double the diapers, double the sleep deprivation....

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Proverbs 14:4

While it is true that life was easier before Joshua and Josiah arrived, we are so thankful to be their parents. Our prayer is that there will be MUCH increase by the lives of these little ones. May the LORD grow Joshua and Josiah into mature and complete men of God and then use them to GREATLY expand the Kingdom of God.

In Christ,

Pastor B.J. <><

Our little organizer

2011-08-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

J.R. is quite the organizer! The only problem is that he likes to arrange the shoes like this and then transfer them to the shoe shelf. An unnecessary extra step, if you ask me. :)

Ants on a Log...

2011-08-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

Future Iron Workers?

2011-08-06T15:12:00.000-07:00

The boys, with daddy's help, rigged up a "bridge" between the utility trailer and truck. This was one of those activities that had me asking, "Are you sure this is safe?" I now know to take a deep breath, enjoy their creativity, and have the band-aids ready...just in case. :) The boys worked away on this bridge, claiming to be iron workers. They even took a break to sit in a row and eat a snack just like the famous picture. :)

Brotherly love

2011-08-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

Foster Lake

2011-08-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

Since camping was out again this summer, we visited BJ's family at Foster Lake while they were camping. It is amazing how much we fit into one day. Well, actually the boys...I spent most of the day tandem nursing in the trailer. :) BJ, our boys, and the Thomas 3 went fishing, rode bikes, ate yummy camp food and hung out around the campfire. The twins were almost two weeks old, and it always feels so good to be out of the house. :) I kept thinking back to our trip to Walla Walla with a 2 1/2 week old Judson...definitely wasn't a trip I wanted to try this time around. Looking back, I don't know how I had the energy to make that trip with such a new little one.

Even if for only a day, we thoroughly enjoyed the camping meals (hobo stew) and s'mores.

Thank you Grandma Sally and Papa for such a wonderful day!

More hospital pics

2011-08-06T15:01:00.000-07:00

We were blessed by visits from many wonderful friends and family. They help make the hospital stay more enjoyable. :) Here is just a sampling of our guests.....

Judson had a rough time adjusting that first week. We have been through it before and know how hard it is for our current 21 month old to accept such a big change in his life. We also know that in time they adjust just fine. :)

My wonderful sister sacrificed time with her own family to come and stay with my boys while we were in the hospital. BJ and I are so grateful for her willingness to help us... and love on our boys.

Cousins

The Kuykendall Boys

Thank you for sharing our joy!

Announcing our new little ones...

2011-07-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

Joshua Courage

6 pounds 12 ounces

19 1/2 inches

Josiah Christian

6 pounds 12 ounces

20 inches

A lot of work, but what a blessing!

Tomorrow is the BIG day!

2011-07-05T23:01:00.000-07:00

I am surprised I have made it to 38 weeks. The average delivery time for twins is 36 weeks...but of course my body just keeps hanging in there. This pregnancy has been rougher than any of my previous ones, but also very special. The kicks and movements from two little ones are amazing. You should, however, see my right foot and ankle. It's huge. Like twice the size of my left one!

BJ and I are both excited and nervous about this. We know the Lord is good and will help us. I am sure things will be chaotic for a while, but we are praying for a peaceful and loving home.

Here is our paper chain from a few days ago. Jared took this project on by assigning which brother gets to rip off each day's chain. He handled it like a true firstborn.....complete with a chart to keep track of how many turns each boy had left. :) The boys are so excited to meet their new brothers.

Each member of our family took a guess at twin A and twin B's weight. I can't wait to see who won. Hopefully it won't be the guesses for over 8 lbs. each. :)

If you think of us Wednesday, please pray for us. We would appreciate it.

Here we go......

Pre- 4th of July Fireworks

2011-07-02T21:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Woodburn Company Stores. The boys LOVED it!

(What is it with boys and things that explode? :)

Guess what we got....

2011-07-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

We needed something to help get the wiggles out. Our rental is a real blessing, but our boys are a little bored without wood to stack, dirt to dig in, gardens rows to weed, and our rabbits to chase (may they rest in peace).

BJ found this one on craigslist and the boys were thrilled to help get it up and going.

The boys, both big and small, have already enjoyed it immensely.

Jud's new trick

2011-06-30T15:20:00.000-07:00

This little stinker figured out how to climb up onto the table and help himself to an apple. I couldn't believe how well he ate it whole. Since this incident he has sunk his teeth into four more! I had to finally get serious about training in this new area. :)

The Showers

2011-06-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

These showers were just wonderful! I felt very loved by our friends, family, and church family. And, one of my favorite things about a shower....the food. It was delicious at both!

These aren't the best pictures of me, but I thought I should prove I was there. :)

The remaining pregos. :)

Thank you to everyone who helped with these showers. BJ and I really appreciated the support, gifts, and prayers.

Highlights from Home Run.....

2011-06-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

For the past two months, we spent every dry Monday and Friday at the Barendse Park in Hubbard. I gotta say, this was quite a commitment! You know you are not a sports crazy family when mom and dad are actually excited to get rain on Mondays and Fridays....during the start of summer! :) Overall, we had a great time and met some wonderful families. This Christian league is for homeschool families in our area and the Mollala area. It is nice to have all the games and practices for three boys on three different teams take place at the same time. The only challenge was walking my very pregnant body around to watch three different teams!

BJ volunteered to help coach Justin's t-ball team, but then the main coach backed out and BJ was it. He did a great job. Another guy jumped on board to help him and they had a fun time. My favorite things about BJ's experience as a coach...

-the cute little girl who cried at anything and everything

I loved watching this daddy of five boys try to awkwardly comfort her. :)

-the team learning to sing the Ephesians 4:32 song

-watching ornery boys run laps around a tree for being ornery! :)

Go Team Lightning!!!

The playground was lots of fun for J.R. and Judson. And actually, the t-ball team would have rather been there too instead of playing their game. :)

Jared and Jesse did really well. We were impressed with their progress in this first year of being on a team.

Fun times picnicking at the Friday games.

Jesse received the spirit award- the only individual award given-for his team at the end-of-the-season potluck. We were really proud of all three boys. Maybe we will do it again next year...maybe? :)

A true boy...

2011-06-27T22:17:00.000-07:00

This poor little guy gets hurt a lot. At least he is tough. :) The Sunday before this scab, he hit his forehead on the pew in front of him. Once that knot healed, he tried to climb on his brother's tricycle and fell off onto the cement. That is the nose wound he showed off last Sunday. This next week it will be the scab on his chin from tripping outside. I might have to give up on him having a clear face for any pictures taken next week. :)

Our busy boy

2011-06-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

Judson loves to be outside. He also loves to imitate and try to keep up with his big brothers. Notice the ear thingys. :) Jud keeps us on our toes as he is a busy little fellow.

Special Music

2011-06-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

Last month my boys were scheduled to sing during the offeratory. These pictures are during their practice so Jud was free to roam. They sang "A Child of God" and did a great job.

BJ and I love the stair step poses. It will be fun to see which boy ends up the tallest. We are really rooting for BJ's genes!

Fancy boy cookies....

2011-06-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

Aunt Candy is truly amazing. Her cookies are almost too perfect to eat! My boys were thrilled when I came home with a few leftovers from Sheila's shower.

I love this picture because it is so Jesse....just like his daddy. :)

Cousins-in-laws

2011-06-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

This picture is old, especially considering Heidi had her sweet baby girl two weeks ago, but I wanted to post this picture of new life. How special to all be pregnant together. This picture doesn't even include Jocelyn who had her little Paisley May almost two months ago. Lots of babies and lots of prayers for all these babies. Next up is Sheila...although I might beat her since I am scheduled at 38 weeks. :)

Fiddle recital

2011-05-31T21:41:00.000-07:00

We were so glad Jared and Jesse could keep up on their violin lessons. BJ and I are really proud of them and their progress. Here are a few pictures from the recital earlier this month.

Sisters

2011-05-31T21:24:00.000-07:00

Soooo, this doesn't seem very fair. Amy is about 5-6 weeks behind me this time. I would say there is a pretty big difference in our sizes. Hopefully we can get one more picture together before I deliver...and she will actually look pregnant!

Our offspring....

Girls belong to Amy,

Boys belong to Elaine.

I know I am bigger this time, but I never realize how big until I see a picture of myself. Yikes! I hope I will go back to "normal" after this....whatever "normal" is at this age. :)

Tillamook Cheese Factory

2011-05-31T21:12:00.000-07:00

A couple weekends ago my cousin came for a visit. We had told the boys we would visit the cheese factory in Tillamook before the twins were born. Since Big Justin had never been and our calendar was starting to fill up, this looked like our only opportunity. It is always fun to sample the cheese and buy a little icecream treat. :)

This is Judson as an adult farmer...with chocolate icecream on his face. :)

Too bad I don't fit in the bus! Actually, I am having trouble fitting anywhere these days.

Judson Lee

2011-05-21T07:45:00.000-07:00

He is growing up. My 19 month old has watched big brother Johnny ride the tractor so many times that he needed to try it for himself.

BJ and I have so enjoyed watching baby Jud grow up and his little personality develop. He is a lot of fun. His facial expressions are priceless as well as his kisses and snuggles right before bedtime.
Each one of our boys are different. BJ and I are excited to see what this little guy is like as he grows up. I sure miss the little baby stage...so glad I get to do it again. And Judson, much to my dismay, as already made to transfer to being a daddy's boy. :)

snake-snake

2011-05-21T07:14:00.000-07:00

This is what I discovered as I flipped back our quilt to go to bed. Yes, I screamed. What was really gross is that this fella was still a little slimy from being soaked for 96 hours (exactly...because it is Jared's). The next morning I asked who left me the nice present on my bed. Jared's eyes lowered and he couldn't keep the smirk off his face. :) The joys of boys!

The Duncan's Visit

2011-05-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back our dear friends, the Duncans, came for a visit. It was so good to spend time with them again. Chip spoke for church that Sunday, sharing the Lord's leading of them towards the future adoption of a foster child.

After church we fellowshipped with the Duncans and Warners....for old time's sake. Eleven years ago we all lived in Woodburn on the same street. When the Duncans went on the mission field to Hungary, they had one child, the Warners had two, and we had Jared. Now look at our gang!

Here are the kiddos in birth order.

Poor Alyssa is outnumbered! Thankfully, she can hold her own. :)

AG Fest

2011-05-20T22:14:00.000-07:00

AG fest is so cool!!! It took place the last Saturday of April. We were impressed with the amount of hands-on activities, educational info, and freebies. Our boys had a good time...and also enjoyed seeing Grandma Connie and Papa Ray.

OMSI

2011-05-15T22:07:00.000-07:00

We made it! I wanted to go see the Ancient Egypt exhibit at OMSI all month. We were able to squeeze it in only a few days before it was over. The boys enjoyed it, but I think I was the one most fascinated. I gotta say, it was a little creepy.

My happy mother's day....

2011-05-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

Jared worked hard to have this nice breakfast ready for me. I was impressed when I came out of the shower to my "breakfast in bed." :) The note he wrote me was so sweet....and I felt undeserving of such kind words. It described so many ways I strive to be and yet fail. It was such an encouraging answer to prayer...and nice to see my Jar-bear believing in me.

My heros....

2011-05-10T21:59:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce that there are no more bears in my home. The territory has been conquered. :)

Easter 2011

2011-05-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

You know me and the messy activites. We actually had a nice day so we dyed eggs outside.... under the supervision of daddy. :)

After a nice Easter service we headed home to do Easter baskets and then to my in-laws' home. We always have such a yummy meal (I seriously look forward to the food) and the boys have fun hunting for eggs.

Grandma Sally put these cool shades in each of the grandkids' easter baskets. Aren't these guys so "cool"?

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter. He is risen indeed!

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm....again

2011-05-07T21:39:00.000-07:00

My mom, sister, and nieces met at my house a couple of Fridays ago. My mom's birthday was the day before so it was nice to all be together to celebrate. Here's a few pictures from our outing to the tulip festival. Even with only a 10 minute drive, going anywhere with eight children can be a major ordeal. :) It will be interesting when we add the next three to the group. At least then Amy and I won't be pregnant so we will have more energy, right?

Taking time to "smell the tulips"....
Paisley Mae and Judson Lee were not excited to sit in the shoes.

Jared loves littles. He wants to hold babies any chance he can...Paisley was the youngest one of the bunch.

Unfortunately, we had a lot of grumpies on this day. Since half the kiddos were crying anyway, we told them all to cry. :)

Back at our home we enjoyed pizza, cake, and icecream for my mom's birthday. We are so thankful to have another year to celebrate with her.

Tulip Festival

2011-05-07T20:05:00.000-07:00

Now that we live in Woodburn again, we can enjoy the tulip festival! (Sorry Lewis County friends but this one is waaaay better than Degoede's tulip fields in Mossyrock.:) We avoided the crowds by going during a weekday afternoon.

I love these pictures of the boys. Baby Judson didn't like being a tulip.

As you can tell by their eyes, it was a very sunny day.

My boys are a ton of fun. I am so thankful to be their mommy.

Our Family Vacation

2011-05-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

It is so nice to get away. We were blessed with a trip to Seaside, thanks to some dear friends in our church. The timing of our trip was wonderful, coming out of an extremely busy week for BJ and missing all the spring break weeks for Oregon and Washington. For the first couple of days it was just our family and a bunch of retired people enjoying Seaside. :) The boys literally oohed and aahed at our place....okay, and mommy did a little too. :)

The boys went for a walk. I snapped a few pictures then went back to our room for a little rest. All by myself. It was divine. :)

Our boys love to swim any chance they get. The weather was chilly and windy, but the pools were heated. I was the only chicken in the family.

Judson was only watching this time, but he got his turn in the water later on.

Daddy and J.R. doing tricks in the kiddie pool.

Poor Jud didn't get his own, but with so many brothers giving him licks, he got his fair share. :)

Another one of BJ's things...I think all of our boys had a turn at wearing a hand towel after their bath at this age.

Each boy got to pick one activity that we would do for sure at the beach. Jesse picked Monopoly. Daddy was the lucky parent to play with them while I knitted and watch a movie with the younger boys.

Johnny had just fallen asleep when we pulled into Pizza Hut. BJ snuggled him for a while, but put him down when our pizza came. He was obviously exhausted because it took a while for him to really wake up.

Jared's choice activity.

Judson loved the kiddie pool.

Definitely a memorable trip. Great time tying strings with the boys and relaxing!

Kuykendall Family Photo Shoot

2011-04-28T22:02:00.000-07:00

These are old pictures....taken last September for my wonderful in-laws' 40th anniversary. It drizzled rain on us the whole time, but with the covering of trees we were able to get a few good shots. Getting pictures of groups this large (and with so many children) can be a challenge! :) Enjoy!

Pregnancy update...

2011-04-20T22:34:00.000-07:00

....I'm HUGE!

I have now reached the 26 week mark. Both of our little guys are doing well according to the ultrasounds and measurements. The doctor believes they are mono-di twins (shared placenta and chorion, separate amnions). Even though this is my sixth pregnancy, I feel new to this. I have learned so much more this time around than all the other pregnancies combined! And besides being bigger than usual, I am a bit more uncomfortable too. :)

At times I am nervous about caring for two newborns. BJ and I know what to expect with a new little one....2 sleepless months, a healing incision, wacky hormones, etc.....but with two at once we are a little unsure. In my heart I know God will give us the strength and patience. I need to remember to accept life being a little crazy for a while. I will say, I am thankful they will be born during the summer and not during the school year. I am hoping to have this figured out somewhat by mid-September, ready to tackle the boys' school. :) Your prayers are always appreciated.

Gotta love those first drawings.....

2011-04-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

I have loved watching each of our boys draw their first pictures of people. I find it fascinating how those beginning drawings always start with the big circle and lines coming out of the head. Daddy and I were so proud of our little J.R....reaching this new milestone. Daddy especially liked seeing his facial whiskers that he mistook for armpit hair. :)

Judson's haircut

2011-04-11T23:56:00.001-07:00

Only his third trim and he is already not fond of haircuts. Actually none of my boys enjoy haircuts. I always tell them, "Guess what? It's not exactly the most relaxing evening activity for me!" :) I seriously think I would have benefited more from beauty school than my Human Development degree!

Kevin Swanson would be proud!

2011-04-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

So, remember the bingo gift Jesse won at Grandma's? It was a shoe shining kit. As soon as BJ mentioned it could be a little money maker....Jesse was sold! He talked about his new business the whole drive home. Two days later at church he landed his first customer. :)

We talk to our boys a lot about being hard workers and wise with their money. They know that they will need to provide for their own families someday. We appreciate Kevin Swanson's advice to teach young men to be entrepreneurial minded. A college education no longer guarantees a family wage income. Our desire is that our boys would look for opportunities to serve others....while making a buck. I want my boys to be hard working go-getters, willing to get their hands dirty, see opportunities, and take a few risks. What better time for them to learn these skills and gain confidence then while living at home!

Thank you Mr. Johnson for supporting my son's new venture. :)

My crockpot bit the dust....

2011-04-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

It gave me 13 good years. A little reflecting on my slow cooker..... Anyone who knows me knows I can sometimes over-think decisions. I remember the summer Erika, Tammy, and I made our plans for the next year at WPC as roommates. We divided up the small appliances we wanted to share. My contribution was the crockpot. I still remember shopping with BJ and really thinking about this decision...do I go with the 4 or 5 quart. I knew I wanted five children someday and would be cooking larger meals. I finally decided on the bigger one...and it served us well. So many roasts, chilis, and spaghetti sauces were made in this thing over the years. Too bad it died with a chicken in it on a day we were out and about. :) Crockpots these days are so fancy with an on light and even a warming feature! Should I go for another 5 quart or larger?

Just like daddy

2011-04-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

J.R. loves tractors and his daddy. You can probably guess what BJ was doing on this day. Johnny was right there ready to help.After he took care of fixing a few problems and filling his tractor with gas he was ready to go.

Here's a picture of Johnny in a few years....:)

Our Busy Bee

2011-03-30T22:01:00.000-07:00

This little guy is BUSY! Beege and I think he is our busiest one. I didn't use playpens at this age with most of our boys...we have two set up in our home right now. Although exhausting at times, BJ and I get a lot of joy out of watching busy Jud run from here to there, touching, opening, and looking at everything. He is a lot of fun. He has a new expression for pictures when you tell him, "say cheeeese!" A few days ago I caught him running around with the boys' toothpaste. Yuck! I know it is not good for him to eat the stuff, but it was a little funny. That night Justin was so impressed with how clean their toothpaste container was and asked if I cleaned it. I reminded him that Jud took care of that earlier. Justin was a little grossed out with that cleaning method!

Double Digits!!!

2011-03-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

My firstborn is 10 years old now. Jared has been the trailblazer in so many ways. He introduced us to this world of parenting...a decade ago! When I think back to being a new mommy at age 24, I realize how young I was. But I wouldn't change a thing. I believe the Lord considers children to be a blessing and he uses our children to refine us. Each of my children have added so much to my life and to the person I am today.

A few of Jared's favorites at age 10 include: saving money, making money (if you are ever over, he will try to sell you bubblegum), legos, reading and telling about facts, babies (we know he will be a tremendous help with the twins), bike riding, music (he loves Fir Elise), and swimming.

Jared, we are so thankful that the Lord gave you to us. We know that you are developing into the fine man of God that the Lord has called you to be. It is obvious to us that Godly characteristics are growing in your life and we are excited to see His plan for you unfold.

Here are a few celebration pictures....

Mommy celebrated a double digit birthday as well. :) On the evening of the 11th we had the family party celebrating Uncle Rick, Brady, Jared, and my birthdays. I didn't realize I looked this short next to Brady until I saw this pic! Gotta love those tall genes.Per Jared's request, Bingo was played and enjoyed by all...especially Aunt Alison. Great times!
The prizes Sally wraps up for our "bingos" are a lot of fun. (I really should post later about one of the prizes Jesse won.)

The next evening John and Sally took us out to dinner and came back to our house for gifts.

Happy Birthday Jared!

How organic of me

2011-03-22T22:24:00.000-07:00

One of my goals for 2011 was to research and use at least two new herbs this year. Can you believe it is only March and I have already tried one? Sure it is only tea, but you've gotta start somewhere! I had read that red raspberry leaf tea is good for the uterus and female reproductive system. In an article from Above Rubies, a woman having had 9 c-sections recommended this tea because of its uterus strengthening properties. I thought it couldn't hurt to try. A bonus is that this iced tea is delicious...with a little bit of not-so-organic sugar added. :)

tv dinner night

2011-03-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

Another activity the boys and I did while daddy and Jared were gone was "tv dinner night." As a child, I remember it being a real treat to eat a tv dinner on a tv tray and watch tv. We did this a couple of times a few boys ago and thought we were due to try it again. The boys thoroughly enjoyed it...and I enjoyed watching them! I've gotta say, however, now that I am grown-up, tv dinners are a little gross! :)