Go UTES!!!!!

We love that the weather is cooling down, school is now in a groove, and college football is upon us!!! Saturday was the big rivalry game  BYU vs. UTAH. I was raised a Utah fan thanks to my dad. But, Dave was actually raised a BYU fan since Grandpa Steve played for them back in the day. Somewhere along the way Dave saw the light and has been a Utes fan ever since. So its only right our kids follow our example! We normally have all the family over for the game but this year we kept it just the five of us. We wanted to sit with the kids and teach them about football. Ava was really into learning all about the game, she kept asking all these questions and then doing some pretty funny cheers! In the end it was a great evening, especially since Utah creamed BYU!!!

don't have a clue as to why Cash will not smile when a camera is out. In real life he is a smiley boy, I promise!!

Dave, Ava, and Jovi oh and do you see Cash rolling down the hill?!

1st day of SCHOOL!!!

Wow!! Ava is in Kindergarten!!! How we have dreaded this day since we had her. Not really but kind of. It is a scary feeling knowing that we are starting our school years. We love Ava so much and we are so excited for this new adventure in her life. Ava is so lucky to participate in the Chinese Immersion program our elementary school offers. She spends half her day in English then the last half in Chinese. Her Chinese teacher doesn't speak a word of English in front of the students!Ava is so dang smart that she needed this extra challenge, can't wait to see her progress throughout the year. I went with her to orientation and her Chinese teacher had them speaking Chinese already!! She comes home so happy and loves telling us all about her day. I even walked into the kitchen the other day and she was teaching Cash how to say sticker in Chinese!

Our gorgeous daughter!

Ava picked out everything she is wearing, it took her a good 15 minutes to decide on what backpack she wanted! I love that she is so opinionated even if it does drive me a little crazy sometimes!

Ava giving Cash a hug and Cash trying to act too cool for it!

Mom and Ava. I was crying like a baby!

summer 2011 part 3

We spent a lot of the summer outdoors. Dave and I use to go four wheeling all the time but the more kids we have the harder it is to go. So one Sunday Dave loaded the kids up and took them for a ride in the field behind our house. Nic was going crazy that he wasn't with the kids and Dave so he some how squeezed his way through the fence and up on the four wheeler.

Getting ready to go!

Poor Cash the only helmet that fits is Ava's old Princess helmet! Oh well safety first!!

Another way we spent our summer, being lazy!! The kids love to pull all the pillows off the sofa and make a big bed on the floor. They call it their nest. Its pretty much a daily occurrence.

Ava just loves having a little sister. She is always willing to hold her and Jovi doesn't seem to mind!

Jovi at 2 months. She is growing like crazy! She loves her bottles and loves to be around everyone. Her and Ava are very similar both love to be the center of attention!

Miss Jovi loves her tummy. She has her tummy time while the big kids are in the tub. She loves to watch them splash the water. Anything they do is hilarious to her. Look at those arm rolls! I seriously can't get enough of them!

Dave and the kids. All I need for a perfect evening!

We enjoyed some wonderful fireworks up at Weber State. The kids were so cute laying together.

Well, that pretty much sums up our summer. Like I said we spent a lot of time at Lagoon and the zoo. I did take pictures but they just didn't make it in the post. Ava thinks that Lagoon is the coolest place ever! She loves going with her cousins. Cash on the other hand... well lets just say he is finally warming up to it. As long as we cover his eyes on some of the wilder rides he is just fine. The zoo has been fun they have had dinosaurs there all summer, so of course the kids are loving that. We still see the bird show every time and love to watch the elephants enjoy the exhibit that Dave help build.

It sure has been a fun summer. I love that we could just be lazy and enjoy our time introducing Jovi to the family. Our first summer as a family of FIVE!! Wow we survived it!!

Good bye summer hello FALL!!!

Summer 2011 part 2

While everyone was in town Dad had to get a family picture. So all 33 yeah that's right 33 of us met at the park for pictures. It was over pretty quick when you have five boys under the age of three and three babies under the age of six months. But it turned out great. What a great moment in our family at this time. It will be fun to look back on this picture.

Uncle Matt, Trevor and Grandpa Tom.

Look at those baby blues!! Ava and Kylie waiting for family pictures.

My sweet boy. He knows he is cute that's the problem!!

Cash just loves his power wheels. It really has been the best toy we have ever bought the kids. He rides it everyday until his battery dies. He drives it more then Ava ever has. He loves giving all his friends rides around the neighborhood.

Cash taking Gavin for a ride in his jeep. They had a blast!

Another one of Cash's favorites, Dave's long board. When he was smaller Dave would hold him while going on runs, now Cash sits on it while you push it down the drive way. He has his own skate board and he does stand on it but I have yet to find a helmet that fits his tiny head so I don't let him play with it very much.

We spent a fun afternoon with Grandma Vicky. We ate at The Pie (yummy) and then we headed over to Great Grandpa Close's house. Nate found Grandpa's Navy uniform, can't wait to see how they display it in their house. The kids had fun running around the backyard playing games. I sure wish Grandpa was still with us to see all of his grandchildren. Its so funny to look at Cash and see my grandpa in him. They share the same birthday and some of the same personality! They make alot of the same faces. I remember telling Dave that right after Cash was born he was making a grandpa face.

I use to do the same thing on the chain fence. I thought it was funny that Cash thought to do the same!

When my mom was five they made these imprints in the cement. Ava is five and her feet fit perfectly in my mom's impression.

Cash and Dave at Great Grandpa's house.

Ava, Owen, Grandma Jacobs, and Trevor eating at The Pie.

SUMMER 2011 part 1

Wow! I can't believe summer is coming to an end. It has kind of been a blur since we had Jovi right at the beginning of our summer. We spent alot of time swimming, playing at Lagoon, and going to the zoo more then I can count! In july my entire family came over for a visit. We started the week off in Midway celebrating the 4th of July. Then it was back to our house I'm so glad the basement was finished so we had room to have my sister and brother and their families stay with us. We were able to meet Gavin and Trevor for the first time. We were able to see Jaxon since his open heart surgery, We ended the week blessing Miss Jovi. It meant so much to me to have all my family here. Jovi is the first one to have everyone from my side of the family in her circle. I love my family so much its hard to be away it makes these moments even better. Here are just a few of the highlights of our 2011 summer.

SWIMMING AT THE REC CENTER

Love the rec center! It has been the top spot to swim this summer. All three kids love the water and enjoy playing and splashing around. Aunt Bethany told us about this amazing life jacket. So we went out and found as soon as possible! Cash thinks its the coolest thing ever. The water slide was a huge hit. Even little Trevor was able to slide down.

Cash loves the water.my three little water bugs! Not a surprise Jovi loves the water.

Gavin and Cash running around the splash pad.

We spent the Fourth up at Midway. Its the first time since we have been married that we havent participated in the local festivites. It was kind of nice not so crazy. We enjoyed walking around the resorts, the guys played golf and we just relaxed. It was so gorgeous up in the Mountains, it was raining on the 4th but that didn't stop the fireworks.

Showing the kids how they should be reacting to our awesome fireworks!

A little nervous to give Cash a sparkler but the kid surprised us!

Ava watching the golfers go by.
LOVE!!! Such a sweet moment.
Grandpa Tom and Ava posing for the camera in Park City.
Dave golfing
Ava was in love with Gavin! She followed him everywhere.
Two little trouble makers! Cash was such a bad influence on Gavin.
So much fun to spend the 4th of July up in Midway. Here we are with Dad, Carla, Nate, Bethany and Gavin

A bat, a slip n slide and a snake

Found this little guy on the front of the house. Shocked that he was out during the day. Dave was worried that something was wrong with it, but it flew off as soon as it got dark. I'm not use to seeing bats but I guess they are fairly common in these parts!

It took him awhile to get the hang of how to slide but now he loves it. The kid has no fear! Wonder were he got that?!

I love this picture, this is so how it is. Ava posing looking all cute and then there is Cash somewhere close by being our little monster! He slammed into her so hard they both went flying off into the grass!

"Snakes! Why does it have to be snakes!" - Indiana Jones

I feel you on that one Dr. Jones! The only thing that I hate about where we live is the snakes! In fact when we first moved in Dave wouldn't let me out back in fear that I would see a snake and go into pre-term labor with Cash! I hate the darn things. I scream and run to Dave when I do see one, and he always comes to my rescue! While we were outside on the slip n' slide Dave and I were chatting on the front steps and he casually goes into the garage puts on his gloves while still talking to me and walks by me, bends down and picks up this nasty snake. I can't believe how close it was to me! Ava hates them and wouldn't go near it, but leave it to Cash to be curious about it. He wanted to just look at him but eventually Dave talked him into touching it!

All I can say is, Cash better not pull the same stunts that Dave pulled on Grandma Jack or we might be selling a child!!

Ava Graduates!!!

What a sad/happy day for us. Ava has been going to preschool for about 3 years. How luck we were to be reading a local magazine and saw the ad for JDS. Best thing we have ever put her in. Ava was so shy and scared to talk to anyone except family. But, her wonderful teacher Miss Marsha broke her out of her shell. I can't describe the love we have for Miss Marsha. She is the most amazing, most patient, most loving, most caring teacher ever. It was a highlight of the month to be able to go and help at school. She has taught Ava her ABC's, numbers, colors, shapes, math, and reading at a 1st/2nd grade level all before kindergarten! I know alot of it is what we do at home but it is sure nice to have a teacher who believes in the potential of these kids. Ava has made some wonderful friends she is so sad to be leaving them, but some are in the same dance classes as her. I'm so excited for Ava to move on in her schooling, come August she will start her Chinese immersion program in Kindergarten. The sky is the limit for Miss Ava Jae! Ava with Miss Marsha
Ava and her buddy Synae

Its late but here's Easter

We didn't really go all out this year for Easter. I was on bed rest and just sick of being pregnat. We did dye eggs but I didn't even break out the camera. Oh well here's to next year!!! Egg hunt in the yard after church. Good Lookin kids!
Easter egg basket that the bunny left for Ava.

Cash wasn't awake yet!

Grandma Jackie's friend lets the kids come and visit the baby goats around Easter. We were in love with them, so cute. Ava loved holding them.

Cash loved this horse. He kept running back to him to either talk or try to feed him sticks that he would find!

Thomas the Train

We decided at the last minute to go up to Heber City to see Thomas the Train. Cash isn't really into Thomas but he loves trains. We met up with Koi and his parents. Cash and Koi were so cute running around together. I love that they are so close, they get into so much trouble already. Kind of dreading the years to come!!! My favorite picture of the day. These two love each other so much and always have the others back.
Crazies running through the maze.

Getting his first tattoo!

Playing trains.

Ava was such a trooper. Luckily she found something that she liked, coloring!!

Aunt Blythe is the best ever and got the kids cotton candy! Cash had it all over himself. I was out feeding Jovi and I guess people were scared that he was going to touch them!! At one point he had a full on beard.

I'm glad we went up and experienced Thomas. It's so fun to see the kids play.