K&S Stephens Family

In my backyard

2011-06-07T22:26:00.000-04:00

For a school assignment I had to take pictures and edit them then create a movie with them. I think it turned out pretty good and wanted to share.

Paper Airplanes

2011-05-24T16:44:00.000-04:00

So I know I haven't posted in a really long time, I've been too busy with life. But I had to share this.

Hi Shelley,
I am home sick, so I thought I'd send some photos out. After reading "Strange Flying Machines", our reading class made paper airplanes. Jase was the hero when he shared his amazing design, then made one for everybody! His dad had left him a gift which he shared. He is adorable!
Love,
Sara Jo

I've got to say, these airplanes that he makes are amazing! They are the best flyers I have ever seen made.

thoughts of a 5 year old

2010-08-03T16:01:00.002-04:00

After landing from flying I took Zoe in to go to the bathroom. While in there Jase came in and asked me for the camera. He said he had something he really wanted to take a picture of. So I gave him the camera and finished helping Zoe. When I came out of the bathroom Jase was coming out of the men's bathroom with the camera. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was taking pictures. It worried me a little so I looked at the pictures and this is what I found.

Flying

2010-08-03T15:16:00.004-04:00

Yeah! We finally got to go up with Keldon flying! It was so much fun.

Keldon didn't want me to put this picture up, he said he was too high for the landing. Well he landed great anyways.

I wanted a picture of the 3 of us in the air, too bad the sun was in my eyes.

Timp

Our house

I thought the kids might be scared. But they loved it.

Timp Cave

2010-08-03T15:07:00.003-04:00

I have been wanting to hike Timp Cave since we had kids. I knew Jase would love it. SO Finally we went. Jase did love it, Zoe was a little afraid in the cave, and Will Love it too.

Family picture in my moms favorite spot.

Stewart Falls Hike

2010-08-03T14:56:00.004-04:00

Stewart falls is such a beautiful hike. Not too difficult either. Keldon ended up carrying Will most of the way and on the way back he carried Zoe and Will (some of the time, the rest I carried Will). Zoe was really tiered and fell asleep in Keldons arms. On the way back our hats had fallen out of our bag, so Keldon ran 3/4 of the way back to the falls to retrieve them. He's so wonderful.

Couer d'Alene

2010-08-03T13:20:00.003-04:00

We took a trip up to Couer d'Alene Idaho. It was very beautiful, but a very long drive. So.....

The kids got comfy.

We played by the lake for a minute.

Took a family picture.

Swam in the pool.

Jase jumped in.

Will floated.

Zoe sat on the steps.

Very fun trip

Jase VS Dozer

2010-08-03T13:17:00.001-04:00

I'm pretty sure the blower won.

Lake Powell 2010

2010-08-03T13:10:00.004-04:00

Our annual trip to lake powell

fireworks on the lake for the 4th

Jase and Zoe couldn't stay awake for them.

Jase kinda caught a fish.

Will tried to escape.

OUCH!

2010-08-03T13:02:00.003-04:00

This was the worst sunburn I have EVER had. It hurt so bad.

Crawling

2010-08-03T12:59:00.002-04:00

My big man is crawling! He loves going up the stairs. He went up two and fell. That next day I went and bought a gate. Now if I leave it open even for a second he's to those stairs.

Baseball

2010-05-05T10:22:00.003-04:00

Baseball has now started and we are SO excited. Jase has been loving it. He looks so cute in that little uniform. Here are some pics and videos of my cute little bug. Enjoy!

Zoe took this pic of Will at the game. She even got him to smile for the camera.

Standing there waiting for the ball. He's the one to the right of #3.

Coming into home plate.

Batter up!

6 Months

2010-03-24T10:35:00.002-04:00

My baby is 6 months. Where does the time go??? He is getting so big and learning new things. He now rolls over either direction, but usually front to back. He sits up for maybe a second. He hates food. Some things he does do that I didn't expect yet is he plays peek-a-boo. He'll cover his face with something then pull it of and smile then put it back over his face. He also imitates us waving (sometimes). You can see those brain wheels turning it's so cute.

6 month stats:

Length: 28" (95%)

Weight: 16 lb 8 oz (25%)

Head Circ: 45 1/2 cm (90%)

Crazy Hair Day

2010-03-24T10:31:00.003-04:00

I decided to go with Halloween face makeup and mix it with water paint. I didn't have the hair color spray or koolaid and I thought of it too late so I couldn't go to the store to get something better. I just really hope it comes out of his hair. If not he's getting a hair cut. I hasn't come out of my fingers yet.

No wonder

2010-03-24T10:29:00.001-04:00

I always wonder how we go through band aids so fast.

(her hand must have really hurt!)

Food

2010-03-24T10:27:00.001-04:00

I tried to start feeding Will baby food when he was about 2 weeks shy of 6 months. He hates it. He did well for about a week then any time he even sees the spoon he starts spitting and crying. So I gave up. He'll eat table food when he's 9 months.

Bath

2010-03-24T10:22:00.002-04:00

My dogs hate baths and getting their nails cut. I found Dozer hiding under the bed too far away for me to grab him. He knew what was coming and wasn't going through it willingly.

No honey

2010-02-18T10:15:00.000-05:00

I did not lay him in his bed like this.

IF ONLY

2010-02-18T10:13:00.004-05:00

I would really let him sleep with her. She probably wouldn't get out of her bed all night.

Cinderfella & Cinderella

2010-02-18T10:03:00.003-05:00

My own Cinderfella and Cinderella, they got in trouble from fighting so I told them they couldn't go to the movie that we had planned on going to. They were really upset so I told them they could make it up by Jase cleaning the wall and floor board in our closet and Zoe cleaning the floor board in the bathroom. They did willingly and did a pretty good job at it too.

2 Peas in a Pod

2010-02-11T12:44:00.002-05:00

If I lay him down in about 2 seconds she's right next to him.

The works of a two year old

2010-02-10T11:30:00.004-05:00

Oh this little girl is so silly.

Just so you know in the first video, I don't usually let Will cry like this I was just really trying to finish what I was doing before I picked him up.

Zoe + Jase's bed= good nap

2010-02-10T11:28:00.002-05:00

She sure does like sleeping in her brothers bed for nap time.

William Sleeps

2010-02-10T11:23:00.002-05:00

For some reason he has to have his face covered for him to sleep. He can sleep without it but it takes a lot longer.

His 4 mo. apt was on Jan 26. He weighed 15lb 8oz, 27.50 inches and 43.5 cm head circumference. He was in the 50th % for weight 90th% height and 75th % for his head. He's my big boy, well at least really tall.

YEAH!

2010-02-10T11:19:00.001-05:00

NEW!

OLD

About a 10 year difference. Think of the speed!

Snow Fun

2010-02-10T11:15:00.002-05:00

We have a lot of fun in the snow with our 3 wheeler. Now it just needs to snow again!

Christmas

2010-02-10T10:04:00.002-05:00

So I should have done this over a month ago but really haven't wanted to put the time into doing it. So I finally have time to do it.

For Christmas Keldon made me the most beautiful mirror. This picture doesn't show it very well. He spent a lot of time on it and got very frustrated at times. It was all worth it. There is a mirror in the back and glued to the front are flowers and grasses. Then its in a black frame with glass keeping it all in. He wanted to put a picture coming through the mirror or words on the mirror. But I told him I liked it just like this. If you ever want to see the real version it's above my couch.

Zoe's Christmas lot. She was so excited.

Jase's lot. He got sick Christmas Eve and was throwing up that night. So he slept on the couch. Luckily he wasn't sick once he woke up that morning.

Will's lot.

INTO

2009-12-08T16:59:00.000-05:00

Oh the things they get into!

Missing Teeth

2009-12-08T16:44:00.003-05:00

Jase finally lost a tooth! Well two and they were both pulled out by the Dentist. He got a loose tooth about 6-8 weeks ago and the other tooth was already coming in behind it. So after his annual check up the dentist said if it wasn't out by the beginning of December he would have to pull it out. To our luck... it never came out on its own. So today we went in to have them pulled and they gave him laughing gas and numbed him all up and pulled both of the bottom front teeth out. He did so awesome. I'm so proud of my big boy.

Mommys helpers

2009-12-08T16:01:00.005-05:00

I have to give a background on these pictures and videos. I layed Will down to take a nap and started to do reading with Jase. Well a little while later while I was still working with Jase, Will woke up. He started crying, just a little, just wanting some one to pay attention to him. I was still working with Jase so I left him there because I was almost done. Well after about a minute he stopped crying and Zoe was nowhere to be seen. So I went in to check on him and she had climbed into his crib and was comforting him. She got him to stop crying and was trying to play with him. It was so cute. After I took a video of the two of them Jase wanted to get in so I took video of all three of them and some pictures.

Happy little bubby

2009-12-06T15:49:00.002-05:00

I love this little guys laugh. He is so fast to smile and just content with everything around him. He hardly ever cries and loves to laugh. I finally got a video of it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Faces of Will

2009-11-16T16:22:00.003-05:00

Some cute faces of my babes.

Zoe likes to get into his crib and bug her little brother. She took his bink and just sat by his head.

This is his chillin' face. By the way Jase chose his shirt.

Sometimes he'll do a little "o" with his lips.

This is one of his smiling faces. In person is so much better than a picture. The picture doesn't do his smile justice.

Sleepy face.

The only picture I don't have is his crying face. He hardly ever cries, but I did make him the other night. After his bath I started to put lotion on him and the lotion was colder than I thought and he didn't like that at all. He pouted his little lip out and scrunched his face up and started crying. It was sad but oh so cute. I just love this little sweet baby.

UVU kids night

2009-11-16T16:12:00.002-05:00

UVU had their homecoming kids night. It was fun. Jase thought it was cool to watch the boy basketball players. He wasn't too interested in the girl basketball players. They both got a free basketball and free t-shirts. Jase got his basketball signed by Willey and he played on the blow up slide. It was a good night and the kids had fun.

Williams Blessing

2009-11-16T14:16:00.002-05:00

Will had a wonderful blessing November 1, 2009.

Keldon did such a good job. He was so nervous but you would never know with the blessing he gave him. Will did awesome too. I was told that during the blessing he just looked at all the men and smiled. He's such a great baby boy. Thank you to all those that were able to be in the circle. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the power of the priesthood. I don't know what my life would be like without it. I am also so grateful that my husband is worthy to hold that priesthood.

Photographer Jase

2009-11-16T10:53:00.003-05:00

So I had to post these pictures. Jase decided he wanted to be a photographer and took these wonderful pictures. He didn't do too bad.

I don't remember him or anyone taking this picture. But that is his homework that I'm checking.

Me on the computer. Don't I look lovely!

Dozer

Bats...Witches....and Puppy dogs!

2009-11-03T12:52:00.005-05:00

Our Happy Halloween

Keldon and the kids right before they went trick-or-treating

Jase and Zoe in their cute costumes.

I love carving pumpkins...Some of the wrinkled up but I'll tell you what they were. Top from left to right: face looking through blinds, mummy face, spooky house with ghost in middle, Jase's carving. Bottom from left to right: Monster, ghost with Boo in the middle, scary face.

My cute little witch.

My scary bat

Jase and 2 of his friends at school.

Jase and his class going up the stairs to see that scary hall and art work of the older kids. Sorry the picture is a little fuzzy at the top and you can't see Jase anywhere, he there I'm just not sure where.

Jase at his class Halloween Party. He always has to make that face when I take pictures of him. I don't know why?

In line to go walk around the halls at school.

Win a trip to Disneyland

2009-10-25T18:09:00.002-04:00

This is pretty cool, all you have to do is enter and maybe you'll win. I really hope we will. Our family needs a little get away. Well so does everyone, but it would be nice.

www.sweetlifeinthevalley.com
www.outandaboutwiththefamily.com

One month old

2009-10-15T22:22:00.003-04:00

I cant believe my newborn baby is already 1 month old. He is getting really big too fast. I measured him myself (so it might be a bit off) but he weighs about 11.4 lb and about 23 inches. He is such a good baby I couldn't be happier. He usually only wakes up once between 12am and 6am sometimes longer. He only cries when he is getting hungry, but then I just feed him and he stops. He doesn't even usually cry when he's getting poked and prodded by his SISTER (mainly) and brother, which happens a lot. Well just thought I'd let you all know how he's doing.

some more baby Will pictures

2009-10-09T10:12:00.005-04:00

I know this picture is just of Zoe and not baby, but I think it's so dang cute! She put on daddy's glasses.

Uncle Bob with Will about 3 days old.

After seeing Uncle Bob hold Will Jase finally really wanted to hold him too.

Daddy and little Will. So cute!

I absolutely love when they stretch.

Jase wanted me to take this picture. He came to me and said "mom, take a picture of me and Will he's laying in his crib looking at me." So I did and it's so cute.

Sleeping boy

Grandma and Grandpa Sparks with baby Will. We gave him to Grandma to hold and he just stared at her and was as happy as could be.

I love this picture. Keldon took it while I was sleeping and Will wouldn't. He looks like he is a couple months old to me but I think he was only a week old at this point. I love the smile on his face.

Zoe loves to od (hold) the baby.

Reading

2009-10-06T11:14:00.001-04:00

If you want to teach your kids to read, this book is WONDERFUL!

I have been using it with Jase and he has been doing sooo well. I also know a few other moms who do homeschooling and have used this book. Their kids are on higher levels of reading than most their age. It make learning to read so easy.

Jase's new school

2009-10-06T11:07:00.002-04:00

Jase is now in a new school. So he had another 1st day of school.

He now goes to Mountainville Academy and he loves it. He doesn't really care to wear his uniform but he doesn't complain. He just really wants to wear his cool skull shoes and can't. As much as he likes it I love it too. He now has a friend in his class and a friend in the next class too. He is in a carpool so me and his friend switch off weeks for taking them to school and there are 4 of us for pick up. I only have to pick him up one day a week unless it's my Friday.

I think my favorite part of him going to this school is the curriculum. I love the reading program. They learn the sounds not just memorizing words. And for reading they put them at their own level with others at the same level, so no one is held back or pushed forward.

He has been so much happier since he's been at this school, life is wonderful.

William Kason Stephens

2009-10-06T10:04:00.006-04:00

So I am really late with posting this, but I've been busy (kinda). I think it's more I haven't quite gotten back into the swing of things. For all of you who like to hear how the birth went I'll tell you my story, because I like to tell it. It was my dream delivery!

Wednesday Sept. 16 I went in for my midwife apt. I was about 4 days overdue. I was ready for little Will to come out so I asked her if she would strip my membranes. But because my appointment was later in the afternoon she said no but I could come in Thursday morning and they would do it. (they don't like to do it later in the afternoon so that you don't go into labor in the middle of the night..... little did they know). So I went home thinking it wouldn't be for the next couple days.

At about 3:30 when I went to pick Jase up from school I started to have some contractions (very little, but they seemed different from braxton hicks). During dinner and while we were putting the kids to bed they started to get stronger. They were strong enough that while I was reading scriptures and stories to the kids I would have to stop every now and then to breath, but still not horribly painful. I tried to lay down and get some sleep after the kids were in bed and rested for a little, but kept being woken up from the contractions. So I decided to take a bath (baths are wonderful for contractions). It didn't feel so bad so I tried to get more sleep, but that just didn't work, so I got back into the tub. By this time it was probably about 11:30pm-12:00pm or so. I stayed in there a while and the contractions were starting to come often and get stronger so I wanted to time them. I got out of the tub and went to the computer where I found a contraction timer online. I sat there and tried to distract myself with playing some computer games. Every time I would have a contraction I would start the timer, then stop when the contraction was over. While I was having the contraction I couldn't sit anymore. I would have to get up and lean over my bed and try and make myself comfortable. After doing this for a while and my contractions were about 3 min apart or so and lasting 2-3 min I decided I should call my midwife. Of course while I was talking to her I didn't have a contraction so I sounded fine. She told me to go to the hospital to be checked. I called my mom to have her come down and watch the kids for me (at about 1:30am) and me and Keldon were off to the hospital.

Once I got to the hospital Keldon dropped me off at the front and parked the car. By the time I got to the elevator he was there. We went upstairs and they had me go into the room to check and see how far I was. I finally layed down for them and I was at 8 cm dilated. They sent me to a delivery room, which was just a few steps away. As I was standing by the bed (I did not want to lay down on that bed) they told me they needed to put an IV in my arm but as she was trying I was standing putting my weight on my arm. Needless to say she couldn't get the IV in. They kept telling me to get on the bed and I told them I didn't want to. They decided to check me again while I was standing there and I was fully dilated and then my water broke. There was maconium in the fluid so they called in more baby nurses. They told me I really needed to get on the bed or I was going to have the baby on the floor. So finally I got on the bed. I told the nurses I needed to push and they told me to go ahead. So I did, and after some major pain and just a couple pushes, there was Will. They had to take him right away because of the risk from the maconium. But he ended up being fine and while I was stitched up I got to hold my little guy. My midwife finally got there about 10-15 min. after Will was born and they had to call in the Dr. that was there to stitch me up. The wonderful nurses were the ones who delivered my baby.

Little time line for you:

*call mom to come downstairs 1:30am

*got to hospital about 1:40-1:45am

*upstairs at hospital to be checked 1:50am

*William was born 2:06am

After about an hour they decided to send me and Will down to mother-baby so I got up and walked to the bathroom then got in the wheelchair, and we went down together.

I didn't get to see Will again until about 7am because he was having some respiratory problems. They took x-rays and did blood tests. I went into the nursery and they wanted me to feed him then see how he was breathing. He did fine so I got to take him to my room. He just had some of the maconium in his chest which made him breath faster. He's fine now though.

He weighted 8lb 11oz and was 21in long born at 2:06am

Me in the nursery making sure little Will is okay.

Jase holding he baby brother for the first time.

Zoe holding her baby brother for the first time.

Grandma Julie and Will

Grandma Stephens and Will

Zoe giving baby brother kisses. She LOVES him.

Going home!

Goose Egg

2009-09-07T13:09:00.002-04:00

Saturday while playing with his cousins on the hammock, Jase fell off and hit his head on the bar. This is what resulted.

Luckily after a night of rest it went down quite a lot and now is just a little colored.

4/3 wheelers

2009-09-07T12:58:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to post a couple pictures of Keldon driving the kids around on our 3 wheeler. I think Keldon likes it more that the kids. When ever I take it to drive it he gets a sad look on his face. He was pulling them behind him on a sled. Now we just have to wait for the snow and it will be a lot funner.

Zoe also learned how to ride the battery 4 wheeler. She's not so good at turning but she's getting that she has to put her foot down on the gas. She loves it.

Cookie Cutters

2009-09-02T15:32:00.003-04:00

Zoe's first haircut. I've done her bangs but have never dared to do all her hair. I decided to do it because the back was getting very scraggly. It would knot up and then she would pull on it or I would comb it and it would pull out. She actually has a little bit of a bald spot on the side of her head behind her left ear. She twirls her hair with her fingers which doesn't help. Well anyways I took her to Cookie Cutters, they have these really cute chairs and they can watch a movie or play a video game while they get their hair cut. That was the best thing ever. She chose the motorcycle to sit on and we put on Bolt. She absolutely LOVES BOLT she gets in the zone when watching it. If you couldn't tell by the picture below.

Watching Bolt, in the Zone.

Still watching Bolt but being really good for the hairdresser. She did a wonderful job.

I had to get a picture of her on the motorcycle. I think it's so funny that's the one she chose.

She even did good when she need to look down.

I wasn't sure if I'd like cookie cutters (I didn't like it when I took Jase when he was little, bad experience in Florida). But after that trip with Zoe I'll go back to them but I think a I'll always ask for the same person, she was awesome with Zoe I was so grateful.

1st day of school & 1st day on the bus

2009-09-02T15:11:00.003-04:00

I'm a little late but Jase had his 1st day of school. AHHH! I wasn't planning on putting him in kindergarten until next year but Jase told me a couple days before school started that he wanted to go to school. I gave him a day to think about it and he still really wanted to. So I went and got him registered at the Elementary school. He met with his teacher and really liked her and was so excited to start. Today (Sept. 2) is his 5th day of school and he still really loves it. He is so excited to go and he's excited when he comes home. At the end of the year we'll see how his is doing and if he is having any trouble at all, we'll have him do another year of kindergarten, if he's doing awesome I'll just have him go to 1st. He's on the young end of the grade. The cut off is to turn 5 by Sept. 2 and he turned 5 8 days before. So we'll see how he does by the end of the year.

Right before school. Sorry Zoes potty is right behind him.

About to go into his class at the school.

Going in to his class. By the way that's not his teacher.

This was the 2nd day of school. But he really wanted to ride the bus to school. I'm a little worried to do that, I like taking him and picking him up. But I said ok so these are pictures at the bus stop.

Being silly waiting for the bus.

It's the kindergarten bus so these two were the only ones getting on.

After the bus took him to school I drove there just to make sure he made it to his class. I know, I know, I'm a little ridiculous, but he's my first in school. This is him lined up waiting to go into class. There are a lot of girls in his class. That will be a change. His preschool class there were only 3 girls.

Jase birthday party

2009-08-27T10:27:00.009-04:00

Jase had his birthday party and we took them to Liberty Land. We decided we wanted to keep it small so we invited the boys in his primary class. He gets along with them really well. They all had a lot of fun. They played Lazer Tag and took a ride on the water bumper boats. I have to say watching them play lazer tag was the best. I couldn't stop laughing. They played in teams. The 4 little boys and Keldon on one team, and another group that had 3 boys and 1 girl and I think the youngest was 12. They were a really nice group and were really good to the kids. It was so funny to watch these 4 boys chase those bigger kids around trying to shoot at them. Then the big kids would start yelling "get the dad, get the dad". That made Keldon feel old. I'm glad I was able to get pictures. There are a ton so enjoy.

This picture I took without a flash. This was what it really looked like in there, I just couldn't get the images to stay focused.

The bigger kids shooting.

3 of them chasing after the older kids.

Keldon running by

Keldon running away

My Jase is 5!

2009-08-24T23:48:00.003-04:00

I cant believe I now have a 5 year old. It doesn't seem that long ago that he was so teeny. Now he is huge. He just keeps getting taller and taller, but still skinny as ever. Jase has been such a blessing to our family, I can't imagine it without him. Even though the two of us butt heads sometimes, he makes me so happy. He does so many things to help me out, I think I take them for granted sometimes. I love him so much and want to share that with everyone. Here are some things he does that I love.

*At bedtime he goes to sleep so easily. He's usually out in 10 minutes.

*As long as he gets his story and a drink he has no problem going to sleep.

*If either me or Keldon is gone at bedtime he gets really worried about whoever isn't there.

*He always helps me get whatever I need from another room, so I don't have to get up and do it myself.

*He loves water. As long as his life jacket is on he'll jump right in.

*He is very considerate of others and tries not to hurt any ones feelings.

*When ever I look at someone else whose child behaving very badly I am so thankful Jase doesn't do most of what they are doing.

*He LOVES to talk, if you'll let him he will go on, and on, and on, and on, and on about whatever is interesting to him at the moment.

*When ever I'm at the Dr. he talks about 80% more than I do.

*He has a very great imagination when it comes to playing with toys.

*He loves to say prayers. If we ever ask whose turn it is he will almost always say it's his.

*He seems to always crash his 4 wheeler/ 3 wheeler.

*Lately when he is watching a cartoon, he gets in the zone and sometimes really gets into the movie.

*He loves funniest home videos.

*He is such a great helper.

Sleeping

2009-08-22T00:47:00.001-04:00

Why is it that kids are so cute when they sleep?

Thanksgiving Point Gardens

2009-08-21T10:51:00.007-04:00

We went to Thanksgiving Point Gardens, $2 Tuesdays are wonderful. I don't think we would ever go unless it's only $2. It was my first time there, and it was a lot better than I expected. The kids loved it. So here are a bunch of pictures I took while there.

Zoe b-day

2009-08-21T10:34:00.003-04:00

We had Zoes birthday on Monday (I know I'm a little late). It was really small just me, Keldon, Jase, Zoe, Keldons parents came before we opened her presents and had cake, and Gina, my sis-in-law. Thanks Gina for coming over and spending the time with us. I love to get to see you. She was so excited when we told her she got to have cake and open presents. She started jumping up and down saying "yeah". Here's a few pictures.

Zoe opening her first present.

It was pretty princess shoes.

She was so excited and loved her presents.

YUMMY! CAKE!!

My baby Z is 2

2009-08-17T15:40:00.003-04:00

Just some pictures of my baby girl. I can't believe she is 2 already. It feels just like yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital. And yet she is now going to be a big sister. So I'm just going to tell you some of the fun things about Zoe and why we love her so much.

*She is saying so many words. I love when they start talking.

*She loves to be naked.

*She always want to go pepe.

*She wont let you put her diaper back on until she goes pepe.

*She loves to give the dogs loves.

*She helps be bring the dogs inside when they wont come.

*She is so good to go to bed at night and at nap time.

*She gives the best hugs and kisses.

*She loves books, and stories.

*She is great at saying prayers.

*Instead of saying food she says eat.

*She loves babies and has to wrap them in washcloths.

*She loves balls and has a pretty good throw arm.

*She uses barbies as a bat instead of a doll. (sorry Mason)

*She loves to go to nursery and doesn't cry at all while there.

*She loves to say Jase, and when she says it it's just so cute.

*Her favorite food is cheese, candy, and grapes (apples).

*She calls all fruit apples.

*The only animal she calls by its name is tutol (turtle).

*Every other animal she just makes the sound they make.

*For a seal she sticks her nose in the air and points to her nose and says ball. (for a seal with the ball on his nose).

*She is awesome to let me do her hair. As long as she is standing in front of the sink and playing in the water.

*She loves her daddy.

*When ever I tell her daddy is at work, she always says "Bob".

*When ever we talk about uncle Bob, she always says "Bob, nanny" (nanny means candy).

These are just some of the fun and funny things about Zoe. I could add to the list all day but am not going to. We love her so much and are so happy she is a part of our family. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZOE.

36 Weeks

2009-08-14T10:35:00.002-04:00

Well, one more day and I will be. But I did have my 36 week apt. I have been waiting for the past 3 weeks for this apt. very impatiently. I had written down a page full of questions I had about the delivery. I want to be more in charge this time around. I was also really excited to have them check me so I could see if I have been progressing or not. I didn't really expect anything but was hoping for some progress.

So I first have to say I love the midwives at Timp. Women's health. They have been so good to me and I have loved it. When I told the midwife yesterday that I had a list of question she was all for answering them. She was not impatient and kinda excited that I had all the questions. She answered them all for me and now I can write up my birth plan. Hopefully it will go how I want.

My exciting news is that when she did check me I was dilated to a 1. I am so excited. It's not much but with Jase I never did dilate and had to be induced 1 week late. Zoe, I think when he checked me the day she was due I was at a 1 and nothing before that. So I still have 4 weeks and I'm already at a 1, hopefully that means baby will come early. Who knows though. As long as I don't have to have potocin to be induced I'll be fine. Well that's my update of baby coming.

4th of July at Lake Powell

2009-07-06T17:55:00.011-04:00

My favorite place on earth is Lake Powell. I love it. So when ever my family goes I jump at the chance to go with them. My mom and Gene were going for the 4th just for the weekend really. So I got my family together and we went for Saturday and Sunday. A short visit but still so much fun. There is a picture overload so beware!

Me, Mom, Jase and Zoe hanging out on the tube off the back of the houseboat.

We got there Friday night and this was the sunset. It was picture perfect. The sunset is so beautiful on the lake.

My handsome Jase.

Mommy and her beautiful boy in the beautiful sunset.

Bonnie and KC, aren't they a cute couple.

Daddy holding Zoe.

One of the canyons we went in. It looks like it stops right there but you can keep going through a little farther.

In the canyon Jase and Grandma sat at the front of the boat.

In the canyon the water where the sun hit it would shimmer on the rocks above. It was so green and beautiful.

Jase loved to swim with the noodles.

Daddy, Jase and Zoe hanging out on the tube.

Our family on there. Zoe is even waving to the camera.

She's waving again.

We all got on the tube and were being pulled very, very slowly by the boat. Keldon would dunk the tube a little under to keep us cool, until he pushed down a little too far and the entire tube went under throwing us all off. Zoe and Jase weren't very excited about being thrown off the tube. Everyone went under except Zoe, I kept her out of the water as much as I could.

Going back to the boat after being thrown off.

Jase was pouting after being thrown off. He was very mad.

Keldon holding Zoe shading her from the sun. He was also wearing some stylish purple/pink sunglasses of grandmas.

Your lucky I put this picture in, but this is me pregnant. Not a side view but you can see my belly.

We spent some of the day Sunday playing in the water, so when we were driving home the kids crashed and slept for a while.

The trip was a lot of fun even though we had some boat problems. My mom and Gene had to leave early because the boat started to take on water. They luckily were able to get the boat out before it was too late. I'm just glad it didn't sink. I wish I would have gotten a picture of what I mean but we were going to fast and couldn't stop for me to take one. But we saw an interesting sight on our boat ride I've never seen before. As we were driving by I saw a boat close to the shore with the front end tied to a rock on shore, the only problem was that the only part of the boat you could see was the front end/ top part of the boat. The rest of the boat had sunk. I feel very sorry for that family.

I also saw something I now want to try. Someone had the great idea to make a water slide going down a rock and into the water on a tube. They somehow made a water slide and people were going down it in their tubs. I want to find a way to recreate that the next time I go.

Well we loved the trip and now get to go back in about 3 weeks with more family (as long as the boat can be fixed). I'll be even more pregnant, and I'll need a lot more sunscreen but it will be for a whole week and I'm so excited.

Pocket

2009-07-02T16:58:00.002-04:00

This is what a diaper is really used for....

Happy Birthday MOM

2009-07-02T16:45:00.001-04:00

I'm a day late but HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

I hope you enjoyed your visit and cake.

WE LOVE YOU!

LasVegas with Grandpa

2009-07-02T16:12:00.006-04:00

I got to go to Vegas to visit my dad and step-mom. I also got to to take my kids and my niece and nephew. I was by my self so I was really worried about taking that long drive with 4 kids all alone. It actually wasn't as bad as I was thinking it would be. I had everything packed and ready and things for them to do. I got a book on cd from the library and brought the dvd player. Sadly right before we left I found out that the dvd player wasn't working. So we drove 7 hours without any movies and they were still really good. We only had to stop twice (well really 3 times) for bathroom breaks, which was awesome. Once at a gas station, (then 10 min later on the side of the road because Jase decided he still needed to go). Then one more time at McDonald's for lunch. We all went before and after we ate, then we made it to Vegas all in one piece.

We stayed at Cancun, which is my dads time share. Its really nice. One the strip but way further south away from all the hustle and bustle. The whole time we sat by the pool and let the kids swim. I'm really glad I brought life jackets for all of them otherwise I think I would have lost my nerve. But the jackets let us just let the kids play and not worry about them.

Mason, Sage, & Jase in their life jackets and goggles swimming around.

Mason and Jase playing on the steps.

The 3 of the playing.

Zoe sitting by Grandpa. She was listening to his music.

Zoe & Grandpa

Zoe by the water. I didn't get any of Zoe in the water because if she was in the water I was holding her and she was clinging to me for dear life. The only time she would get in was when I made her. And when I would make her she would whine the whole time. But I had to put her in. It was so hot if she stayed out of the water for too long her checks would get really red and it looked the she was sunburned.

Jase Preschool year 08-09

2009-06-06T22:42:00.003-04:00

Jase graduated from preschool at the end of May. He had such a fun school year. His teachers were wonderful and he made a lot of friends.

Jase and his 2 teachers on graduation day.

This was Jase on his first day of school.

Jase on graduation day with his certificate. Look how much he grew. AHHH!

Jase sitting by some of the boys in his class.

Jase getting his certificiate from his teachers.

Their whole class. Out of 16 kids only 3 or 4 were girls. I'm sure it gave the teachers a lot to do.

In class at his table. He got lucky enought to sit by 2 of the girls.

One of their field trips to a farm to get a pumpkin.

One of their field trips to the fire house.

Jase sitting in the fire truck.

Halloween with some of the other kids.

Thier last field trip to Thanks Giving Point.

On their last field trip.

April 9 Anniversary Trip to Moab

2009-06-06T22:27:00.006-04:00

So I haven't posted in a really long time and I have so many things to post on. I just haven't had to want to download all the pictures. But now I've started.
At the end of March Keldon and I went on a trip to Moab. We decided we wanted to get away and take a trip by ourselves for our 5 year anniversary. We missed the kids but it was a lot of fun. We stayed at the Red Canyon Lodge right outside of Moab in a little cabin. The view from the room was beautiful. We went on a horseback ride, which made my butt hurt a lot for the next week. On the way home we stopped at Arches and did a few hikes and even got a picture up in double arch. We had a lot of fun just the two of you. Enjoy the pictures.

Jase Soccer Season

2009-06-06T22:08:00.011-04:00

It's about time I put these up. Jase had so much fun in soccer. He was the youngest on his team (I'm pretty sure) and most of the other kids did it last year, so he was the newest to soccer. But he did really well. There were 3 girls on his team two of which he knows from church and the rest were boys. He went to every game and every practice and by the end of the season we could really tell a difference in how he played. He even made a goal in one of the games. He was so excited. Me and Keldon had a lot of fun watching the games too. Watching those little kids is a blast and just makes you laugh. They are so funny. Thanks to Grandma Julie and Grandpa Gene, Grandma Stephens, Aunt Shalene and Sidney and Asher and Sage for going to his game. He was excited to see you there.

Jase with his team and his coaches.

Zoe at one of the games wearing daddies hat.

Jase loved to be goalie. Here is a picture of him grabbing the ball before the other team could make a goal. He was really good at goalie.

Here is a pic. of him running after the ball.

Jase kicking another ball.

Zoe.

Jase. The first of the season was really cold.

Huddle time.

There coach getting them ready. He was awesome.

Jase even got one goal but I didn't get a picture of it. Here are a couple videos I took during the season.

Matt & Gina Wedding

2009-06-06T21:37:00.007-04:00

I wanted to post just a couple pictures of my brothers Matts wedding. Him and Gina (my new sister-in-law) got married on base in El Paso Texas. It was a really nice small wedding. They wanted to get married before Matt was deployed to Iraq which happed the begining of May. So they had Gina's mom and dad and her sisters and a cousin. My mom and Gene and my family was there for my brother. We drove all night (not fun) to get there and then drove all the way back 16 hrs 2 days later. It was a long drive both ways but well worth it.

Gina comming down the isle with her mom and dad.

Matt & Gina and Matts side of the fam.

The cute couple.

I loved this pic. Jase and Zoe playing under a tree.

My fam.

I just want to say how happy I am that Gina is now a part of our family. She is so good to Matt and to Mason and Sage. She is such a sweet person and I don't know how she is going to survive the next year with Matt gone but she's an amazing person and I know she can do it.
There were also some great shots of dinner that night (the cake in the face and such) but my camera was horiable in that lighting and none of them came out. Sorry. Congrats Matt & Gina!

Easter 09

2009-06-06T21:21:00.004-04:00

I am finally posting my Easter pictures. Sorry.

Well we didn't do too much for easter. I got the kids so things from the easter bunny. Jase was really into it this year.

Jase and Zoe with their easter baskets.

Zoe just found her basket.

Jase found his.

Grumpy when he first came out of his room that morning. His mood changed very fast when we told him to go find his easter basket.

And Baby # 3 is.......

2009-04-22T23:10:00.002-04:00

I just thought I'd give an update of how things are. I went to my ultrasound today and we were able to find out what our next little one is going to be.... Jase is happy it's a little boy. He got really excited when he found out that he is going to have a brother and not another sister. I also found out my due date is actually Sept 12 not Sept 9. Not that it makes much difference. It probably wont be until Sept 20 with my luck. So thats that... I have another long summer ahead of me but I'll make the best of it. I'm really excited and I love to be outside so better summer than winter.

YUMMY YUMMY

2009-03-14T19:47:00.006-04:00

I LOVE GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!
We went to the grocery store last night and there were girl scouts there selling their cookies. Keldon bought 2 boxes and they were both gone by that night. We got some more money to go back tonight. I wish I could get a year supply of these but it would probably only last a month.

Zoe is ready for summer!

2009-03-10T23:08:00.005-04:00

Specal night

2009-03-10T11:12:00.003-04:00

Well we had a Special first and second night. Second night for Jase in his new bed and fist night for Zoe in a new bed. We finally got their bunk bed. We've wanted to get one since I found out about our addition, and finally found one I like at a price I like. So we put it up Sunday night and Jase slept on the top that night. He loved it and had no trouble adjusting. Zoe slept in her crib that night and was kinda upset she didn't get to sleep in the new bed. We didn't have sheets for the bottom yet, where as she is going from crib size mattress to twin mattress. Well I found some old ones of my moms and put them on Monday so she could sleep in there Monday night. She was still a little mad because she wants to sleep on the top, but that scares me and Jase already called it. So Keldon and I were really worried about how she would adjust, she has more trouble with change than Jase. I decided to try what we did with Jase when we switched from crib to bed and I read stories to her till she fell asleep. Well shes really antsy so that didn't work quite as well as I wanted so I read her a few stories and sang a few songs than just layed down next to her and acted like I was asleep. She finally settled down and fell asleep. It only took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. For a first time out of the crib I thought that was pretty good. She slept all night and at 7:15 am she got out of bed and came in our room and layed with us for a little while. It went so much better than I expected I was so happy. I just hope it continues, and we'll see today how nap time goes out of a crib. Those bars to keep them in are really handy, but we'll need the crib and we want her to get settled and use to the new bed before the baby comes. In about a week the bed will be completely finished. I ordered new blanket sets for both kids and Jase will get a canopy over his bed and Zoe curtains around her bed. It will be so nice that they both will have their own space, even if it is really small.

Our Good News

2009-03-04T11:07:00.005-05:00

Hello everyone. I decided this was the easiest way to get our good news around to everyone. So we wanted to let everyone know that we are going to have baby #3. We are very excited and so is Jase and Zoe. Although Jase is only excited if its going to be a brother, if it's a sister he is going to be very mad. I asked him if he wanted another sister and he told me, "I don't want another sister, I already have one of those its right there" and pointed to her. Zoe just loves babies, I don't think she even knows a difference, a baby is a baby to her. Keldon is worried, of course, but happy. He's been a great help to me. I haven't been much help around the house lately. I try but I've been so much sicker with this one than the other two put together, so he usually wakes up with the kids, cooks dinner, and cleans the dishes. I do what I can, and if I have a good day I usually overdue myself. Anyways I want him to know how grateful I am to have such a wonderful husband that takes care of me.

So about the baby. I am 13 week along and am due September 8th. Sorry Stephens family we don't get a birthday break in September anymore. For any of you who don't know my family this will be grandchild # 23 and the only month that didn't have a birthday was September, well.... not anymore, sorry. I should find out if it's a girl or a boy around the end of April. Well that's just about it. I'm just telling people now because I'm one of those people that don't say anything until 12 weeks, I've always been scared of having a miscarriage and having to tell people. I commend all women who have had to go through that, I can only imagine how hard it would be. We love you all and hope everyone is doing well.

Here is a picture they took of the baby at 11 weeks. They were trying to find the heartbeat and couldn't so she pull out the ultrasound machine.

Things I have or haven't done

2009-02-27T12:39:00.003-05:00

Bold the things you have done............comment if you wish!

Started your own blog
Slept under the stars
Played in a band
Visited Hawaii (does visiting just the airforce base count?)
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than you can afford to charity (hard but it feels really good)
Been to Disneyland
Climbed a mountain
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo- not sang but played many flute solos
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train
Had a pillow fight
Hitch hiked
Taken a sick day when you're not ill
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Run a Marathon
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Hit a home run (dose it count if its wii)
Been on a cruise
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
Seen an Amish community
Taught yourself a new language
Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
Gone rock climbing
Seen Michelangelo's David
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted (A Caricature)
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling [snorkeling]
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts class
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Gone whale watching
Got flowers for no reason
Donated blood
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
Bounced a check
Flown in a helicopter
Saved a favorite childhood toy
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten Caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
Broken a bone
Been on a speeding motorcycle
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
Visited the Vatican
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Had your picture in the newspaper
Read the entire Bible
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Had chickenpox
Saved someone's life
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one
Had a baby
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a law suit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee

If you want to do this just copie and past on your own blog and bold the ones you've done.

Things I have or haven

2009-02-27T12:39:00.000-05:00

Some Family Fun

2009-02-10T13:31:00.006-05:00

Just a caution for anyone who is looking, there is an overload of pictures here. We went 4-wheeling at my dads house and I liked a lot of the pictures so enjoy.

Keldon and Zoe on the 4-wheeler. She loved it.

Keldon took Jase and the dirt bike.

This is one of my dads dogs named Perdy. I loved her she is so sweet. And has huge ears.

My sisters boyfriend and Perdy. I just think this picture is cool.

Me and Zoe on the 4-wheeler.

Daddy and Jase.

Zoe and Daddy

I got brave and decided to try the dirt bike. It was scary at first but it's a lot of fun.

I like this picture. Zoes eyes are so pretty.

Jase and Zoe really liked Kitty. She was really good with them too. She would let them pet her and if she started to not like it she would just leave. She never even tried to hurt them.

TCU vs BOISE

2009-01-24T12:41:00.004-05:00

TCU vs BOISE

When we went to Cali for Christmas my dad wanted to go to this football game. My cousin is the equipment manager for TCU so he was able to get us all tickets to the game. We were way up front just 14 rows from the very front. We were by all the students to the college and they were having a lot of fun. They even got Jase to give them high five and yelling with them. Zoe even got into it and was hitting the balloons together. It was a great game and TCU won. My dad was a little discouraged because he couldn't see the field because everyone around us was standing the whole time. He like to relax while watching the game and had to watch it one the big screen. About halfway through the game we found my cousins and went to sit up with them. They were a little higher than us and had a lot of empty seats around them. That made my dad happy because he could now see the field while sitting. Enjoy the pictures.

This picture is a little fuzzy but you can see Zoe's face and the huge smile.

Grandpa and Jase. Jase loved being with Grandpa they had so much fun.

Our view standing up from our seats.

Christmas with my dad

2009-01-24T12:21:00.005-05:00

CHRISTMAS MORNING WITH DAD

Zoe coming out of our room Christmas morning

Jase and daddy coming out of the room after her.

Zoe opening her toys. She absolutly loved opening presents. She didn't seem to care so much what was inside she just wanted to rip open the paper. I didn't think she would be so into it this year but I was wrong. She does love everything she got, espically that stroller. She even sits in it herself and we push her around.

Grandpa and Grandma got her a big ride on bear. It doesn't move but she sits on it and bounces. Its huge I can even sit on it without breaking it.

This was Jases favorite Christmas gift, a pirate ship. He was so happy when he unwraped it.

CHRISTMAS WITH OUR COUSINS

So it's been 4 years since we've spent christmas with my cousins on my dads side. Jase was 4 months old. So we thought it was about time we went there again. It was a lot of fun. I was really glad to see every one again.

Jase and Huddy had fun boxing. Huddy got some hulk boxing gloves and him and Jase went at it.

This is my step-mom Liz, my dad, my sister Marissa and her boyfriend Erik

A picture from on top of the stairs of most of the people.

Christmas with Mom and the Sparks

2009-01-23T15:18:00.010-05:00

Alright, I'm sorry I am very late on these posts. It was a very busy Christmas, even though we were able to relax at my dads. I've not wanted to put the time into uploading pictures, it takes so long on my computer, but I'm finally going to do it. I took a ton of pictures, so I'll only put my favorits. Enjoy.

Gifts from my mom and Gene. They always go overboard, but I love what they give us. Survival stuff. We got a pack, first aid kit, blankets, tent, bags for the kids and survival stuff inside the pack. It was awsome. Thank you.

Zoe also got a puppy from them, she loves it.

Jase got a sword and gun that light up and make sounds. He also loves it.

Christmas with the SPARKS

I was in charge of the nativity scene. It was fun but a challenge. It was little kids, Jase being the oldest at 4, and then older kids in highschool and up. The older kids were great I just told them what they were and didn't worry about anything else for them. But the little kids didn't want to do it. Jase and Scillie were pretty good but the younger ones were not so thrilled. It was a lot of fun though.

Great Grandma Sparks read her story and Jase and Scillie loved it. Grandma even said she thinks this is the first year anyone even listened to her. haha

I was also in charge of getting the little ones to sing a few Christmas songs. They kinda sang but we had everyone sing along with us so it was louder.

Horrible MOM

2008-12-16T10:51:00.002-05:00

OK I am a horrible mom, or just horrible at taking memory pictures. I ALWAYS forget to take my camera with me whenever we are doing something memorable. So I'm just going to have to tell you about them because I don't have any pictures. On the second Sunday of every month we get together with Keldons family for birthdays (every month but Sept.). Well this month we also did Christmas. There are 3 families that wont be there for Christmas (including us) so we exchanged Christmas gifts from the kids. Each grandchild draws a name and they get a gift for their cousin. Jase gave to Bri and Zoe to Isabelle. Zoe got a hid-and-seek Care Bear and Jase got a spiderman book and a batman figure. All the grandkids were all in the living room with their parents (22 grandkids by the way). It was so much fun. We also did quilt squares to donate to an organization that puts the quilts together and gives one quilt to each family that has lost a soldier in the war. It was a lot of fun making those squares. And of course I don't have any pictures of them either.

On Monday for family night we decided to bundle up the kids (about 4 layers of cloths each) and took them up to Temple Square to look at the lights. Zoe looked like a big pink marshmallow connected to my side and Jase was bundled up in a blanket in the stroller. The lights were beautiful and they had many different nativity scenes. The most beautiful I thought was the one on the reflection pond. Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus were in the middle floating on the water. They were lit up by spotlights all around them. Their reflection could be seen as well as the Temple. It was so beautiful. The kids loved it. Even though it was very cold they had a lot of fun looking around at all the lights. I wish I could have remembered my camera because the pictures of how Zoe looked would have been great. She would barley move. She hates the cold, you can tell she was born in Florida.

Hopefully I'll be better with pictures and keep my camera on me. Wish me luck. I can't afford to keep missing out on these wonderful photo ops.

The start of Winter Times

2008-12-09T10:47:00.003-05:00

It hasn't snowed too much here in Utah yet, so this was the first snow. I think it was in November. Not sure. So I let Jase and Zoe go out to play.

Zoe out in the snow marching around.

Jase making a snow castle.

I love the hair in this picture. All over the place.

Zoe figuring out the snow in her hands.

Jase decided to climb the tree. He didn't get too far.

After we played in the snow. I decided I needed to get a better snow suite for Zoe so this is what I got. Shes a big pink marshmallow.

Pumpkin carving and trick or treating

2008-12-09T10:08:00.005-05:00

Sorry these are so late. This holiday season gets the best of me and I never seem to be able to get everything done I want to. So better late than never. For Halloween I love carving pumpkins so I think I carved 8 or so of them. Some were really big too. Then we took the kids trick or treating and even me and Keldon dressed up. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved it.

Zoe loved the gooey inside of the pumpkin. Jase decided that he really didn't want to carve any.

Sorry the pictures are sideways, it won't let me fix it. These are just 3 of the pumpkins we carved. And our family right before we went around for candy. If you can see all the pumpkins by us. I did all but one. Keldon was worried about putting any out early, he thought someone might come by and break them, well no one did, but we found we had one extra pumpkin that no one knows where it came from. Some one donated us a pumpkin so thank you to whoever it was.

Jase and Zoe by the skeleton me and Jase made and the pumpkins. The little pumpkins in front are the ones from my garden.

Family Pictures

2008-10-29T09:32:00.012-04:00

It was time again to get our family pictures. I like to try and do them once a year but the past little while has been a bit hard. So I decided to just do them. We went to Kiddie Kandids and it was so great. The lady that took our pictures did soooo good with the kids. She was making Jase and Zoe laugh, which says a lot because Zoe was in a bad mood. Overall I am so happy we went and got them done. I love the way they turned out.

Halloween Party

2008-10-27T12:38:00.001-04:00

Here are some pictures from the Halloween Party we went to. I was so much fun, we loved it. There were a bunch of couples from our ward and we went to our R.S. presidents parents home in Deer Valley (park city). Maybe you can figure out who everyone is suppose to be. Enjoy.

My Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-27T12:15:00.004-04:00

This last summer I decided to try out a garden. I have never had my own garden before so I was a little nervous. All I planted were small tomatoes and pumpkins. The tomatoes did good, we had cherry tomatoes and pare tomatoes, yummy. I also planted 6 pumpkin plants. I didn't know how to do this and I found out I planted them really really close to each other. I didn't think I would get anything, and if I did they would be really small. Well my pumpkins actually did really good. I was very excited. I have some pictures just so you can see. We may even turn 1 or 2 into jack-a-lanterns.

Trapped

2008-10-27T11:42:00.005-04:00

This is what happens to Zoe when she get to be too much for me.

If you really think I put her in here you don't know me. Zoe now LOVES to get into the dogs crates and shuts the door and watches all of us out in freedom. I don't know why she likes it so much, but if you try to open the door and get her out, watch out for some screaming and crying. She thinks this is the funnest thing to do. Another fun thing she found is instead of sitting in the stroller she hold on to the basket at the bottom (by where I step) with her knees on the ground and slides as I push the stroller. Interesting what kids come up with.

Fun videos of Zoe

2008-10-22T17:07:00.004-04:00

Now here are some videos of Zoe. The first is of her playing on her musical chair. She loves this chair. She sits in it, she stands in it, and she loves to dance to it. This time she was standing and dancing. I wish I would have kept shooting just a little longer because as soon as I turned off the camera she fell. It would have been one to send to funniest home videos. As sad as it was it looked really funny. It was the perfect fall off the chair- head first. The second video is of Zoe and what she loves to do. She climbs onto the computer chair and plays on the keyboard. I think she sees me working on the computer a lot and wants to be like me. She also always seems to know how to turn the computer off. Hope you enjoy.

Fun videos of Jase

2008-10-22T15:09:00.004-04:00

These two videos or of Jase. He doesn't let me take his picture very often so I was glad that I got these videos. The first is of him in the car. We were listening to some music that he likes to sing along to. You kinda have to listen closely because it's hard to hear him. The second is of him dancing. Keldon and I finally decided that we needed to see what all the hype was about for Highschool Musical, so we rented it and Jase loves it. This is of him dancing to one of the songs.

2008-10-22T15:00:00.002-04:00

Sorry, I have just now figured out how to get the video loaded so here is a video of Zoes first week of walking. Just so you know, as soon as she started she took off and hasn't had any problems.

Sometimes I make myself so MAD!

2008-10-22T14:17:00.003-04:00

Today I'm going to tell you a story of how my brain doesn't always work. Jase had his field trip to the Fire House today and I was one of the parents driving. So on the way to school (3/4 of the way there) I realized I forgot my camera, and I really wanted to bring it. So I turnd around and went home and got it, which made us late. I put my camera in the diaper bag/ my purse and we went into his school (I took the purse with me). We devided up the kids to who was riding with who, so I had Jase and Zoe pluse 2 boys and 1 girl. I got them all in the car a buckeled up and we took off for the Fire House. As soon as we got there I got all the kids out of the car and went to get my purse with the camera in it, guess what I couldn't see it. I thought to myself dang I left my bag at the preschool. So I was mad at myself but figured there wasn't anything I could do about it now, so we went inside. We had a lot of fun. The Firemen were really nice and the kids loved it. I could have had some great pictures too. All the kids got to get into the fire truck and sit in the seat. They got to put on the helmet, jacket, and oxygen tank if they wanted to. Then the class got up on the front of the fire truck and got a picture with the firemen and there teachers. Well we packed back into the car and went back to preschool, where I went inside to get my bag. It wasn't there!!! I went to my car to look again, it was in the back. I had it all along and could have had those great pictures but my dang brain had to not work for me today. AHHH! so there you have it, my great story. By the way I asked his teacher to email me some of the pictures they got so when I get them I'll post them.

The things this girl gets into

2008-10-21T12:45:00.003-04:00

With the things this girl gets into and the climbing monkey she is I had to do a post on it.

She loves to get into whatever messy thing she can and she loves to climb where she really shouldn't be. So here are some pictures.

Zoe getting up onto the stool to our table.
Now shes up there and wants on the table.

Yep that's her ON the table. AHHHH!

I took her off the table and the next second I knew she was climbing back up.

Here are some things she gets into. The cabinet in the bathroom, she slipped and fell that's why she's crying.

The movies. I keep this closed with something in front of it so it's harder for her to open. Doesn't work. She knocks down and moves what ever was in front opens the door and gets the movies out. If she can open the DVD case she does and if she can get the DVD out she does. It's a good thing the DVDs she gets to are junk ones.

The bookshelf and under. In our bedroom we have a bookshelf with the kid books in it and under the bookshelf is where I store papers that I don't know where to put them yet. Zoe loves to pull out all the books and papers to make a wonderful mess. Don't you just love the look on her face?

Fun times at home

2008-10-21T12:04:00.002-04:00

These are just a few pictures of how the kids love to tortue us. It's a lot of fun.

Alright my turn, I've been tagged!

2008-10-21T10:49:00.003-04:00

This is a first for me so I hope you enjoy. Thanks Chels.

Quick 5

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

Well, I would have been 13 so I really didn't get to do much. I went to school and hung out with my friends. At that time I think my best friends were Marissa and Alyissa (my cousin).

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today?

Well I can think of a lot more than 5 but I'll stick with the most important.

1- Take a shower.

2- When Zoe and Jase are down for naps I'll work on my MT.

3- Straiten up the house

4- Shopping for Christmas for the names the kids drew.

5- Look for Halloween costumes for Keldon and me.

3. Snacks I enjoy?

I love to much on some popcorn, chips and sometimes with cream cheese or artichoke spinach dip.

4. Places I've lived?

Highland, Orem, and Saratoga Springs Utah, and good ol' Sanford Florida.

5. Five things I'd do if I were a billionaire.

1- Me and my husband have always said if we had that much money we would buy his mother a new nice car.

2- Pay off all our dept and help out anyone that was having some trouble.

3- Put Keldon back in an airplane and not worry about how much it costs.

4- Build our own house that me an Keldon design.

5- Go on a nice vacation with family.

List of 8

8 Favorite places I love to eat?

1- Market Street Grill (this pretty much never happens because it is so expensive).

2- Subway.

3- Home (especially if I don't have to cook).

4- Grandma and Grandpa Spark home.

5- Chilies.

6- TGI Fridays.

7- Whistle Wok.

8- Red Lobster.

8 Things that happened yesterday?

1- I did all the laundry.

2- I finished 3 reports.

3- Zoe took 2 naps and Jase 1.

4- I went grocery shopping at Smiths.

5- I made Navajo tacos for dinner.

6- Keldon did the lesson for Family Night.

7- I made carmel apples for a treat.

8- I went to BED.

8 Things I look forward to?

1- Wednesday is our institute class with Bro. Webber (I love this class).

2- I get to go on a field trip with Jases class to the fire department on Wed.

3- Saturday Keldon and I are going to Park City for a Halloween Costume Party (YEAH!).

4- Halloween with the kids. I love taking them around.

5- Thanksgiving.

6- Going to California with my dad for Christmas.

7- Having our own home.

8- Jase and Zoe to take a nap today.

8 Things on my wishlist?

1- Zoe not to be sick anymore.

2- To be finished with my MT and getting paid to do it.

3- Keldon to have a job with SkyWest of Empire.

4- To be able to design and build our own home.

5- To have all our dept paid off.

6- For Jase and Zoe to be stronger in the Gospel than I ever have been.

7- To have good Family Nights every Monday.

8- To be able to help families in need.

8 People I tag?

1- AMBER

2- LISA

3- VANESSA

4- EMILY

5- RACHEL

6- BON

7- MARIAM

8- JEN

Alright there you go. I hope it's not too dull. If I just tagged you and you don't want to do it I won't be mad I promise.

Pirate and Princess Party

2008-09-15T12:51:00.006-04:00

Sorry about the delay on these. This party was on Aug. 23 so it's been a while. This was Jase and Zoe's birthday party. They were pirates and princesses. We had a lot of fun and Jase is looking forward to his next birthday party. I don't think it will be quite that big again. Sorry buddy.

Jase about to blow out his candles. This cake had a nice pirate on it. I'm not good enough to make a cake myself.

Zoe and her cake. If you couldn't guess she grabbed it with her hands before she blew out the candles.

All the beautiful princesses. (By the way everyone at the party was family).

The handsome pirates.

The kids went on a treasure hunt to find the buried treasure, now there getting there prize.

First day of Preschool

2008-09-15T11:44:00.002-04:00

Well it's started. The school days. I'm a little excited and scared. I went around a ton of places and called every where to find Jase a good preschool. I couldn't find one that was good that didn't cost around $100 a month. So I gave up, Jase didn't want to go to school anyways. We decided just to work with him at home. Then I was driving home and had to take a detour from road work and saw a little sign if front of a house. I called and we went and took a look. Jase was really scared, but I loved it, plus it was half the price of others. He started getting comfortable and playing with the toys, so I signed him up, but we had to wait about 3 weeks. He still didn't want to go to school, so I tried to think of ways to get him excited. I let him pick out a backpack, Batman. That did it he was so excited after that. Every day he would put on his backpack and ask if he was going to school today. Two weeks later he got to go, and he has loved it since. There are about 15-16 kids in his class and only 4 or 5 are girls. It's a boys class, which I'm sure he loves. I have noticed he looks the oldest in the class which is crazy to me, it's a class for 3 and 4 year olds, he should be in the middle but looking around he is the tallest. I'm not sure if he's just taller than everyone else or he really is the oldest. But anyway he LOVES it. He has fun everyday and I get a picture to put in his book.

Ramble off my thoughts

2008-09-15T11:19:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts latley. Life has been a bit crazy and hectic. When I talk about the things that have been going on it doesn't seem like very much, but it sure feels like it. Jase has started preschool, today is his 6th day. He loves it. I'll do a post a little later and share some of the pictures of his first day of school. Along with that we just moved, again.... I think since Kedon and I have been married (4 1/2 years) we have moved about 8 times. Were getting the hang of it, not really it just sucks. We moved from my brother-in-laws rental house basement, to my mothers basement apt. We moved so we didn't have to pay rent and we would have our own kitchen. It was really nice living at my brother-in-laws, we lived with Keldons sister and her family. They had the upstairs, and we had the downstairs. We shared a kitchen. Most people would think that would be horriable, but it really wasn't. They are really easy to get along with and we would switch days of making meals for eachother. So we wouldn't have to cook every night. It was really nice. We just don't have much money right now. For those of you who can understand the huge pilot student loan. Well anyways my time has been going to moving, Jase's school, and trying to get my schooling done. For those of you who don't know I'm doing online medical transcription (thanks Jen). I love it, I just can't wake up early enough in the morning to get enough done. I'm working on it though. Im trying to start a new schedule being here in our new home. Wake up 5:30 do a little exercise, read scriptures, and then start my transcription. Today I was able to exercise, and read scriptures. Then Zoe woke up and I had to feed her, then Jase, then we had to get ready for the day. So between 10 and 12 (when Jase is at school) I'm going to try to work again. Sorry I'm just kinda rambling. Im getting my thoughts out of my head and writing them down. I wanted to tell Chelsee and Brad thanks for everything, and sorry all our stuff isn't out yet. We'll get it soon. And so you know, we did like living with you, but it is nice to try and save a little money (or be able to pay off debt). We'll I let you all go, sorry for the ramble.

JASE IS 4

2008-08-24T19:18:00.003-04:00

My big guy just turned 4 today. It makes me really sad. He is growing up so fast, and when I look at pictures from when he was little, I can't believe how big he is. Jase was born in Orem, UT. on Aug. 24 2004. He weighed 7 lb 9 oz and was 21 1/4 in. long.

LIKES:

Vegetables

Fruit

Meat

Candy

Playing with toys

Pirates

Blocks

DADDY

Batman

Cars

Playing outside

DISLIKES:

sissy to take his toys

scary movies

cleaning up his toys

going to bed

when people don't listen to him

Some things he does:

-If you tell Jase he's a mamas boy he will say, "No, I'm daddies."

-If you tell him to pick up his toys, he'll tell you he's getting dizzy and I feel sick.

-Every time we get into the car he races his sister to get his seatbelt on first.

-Jase loves to open the door for me.

-Jase has been so excited to turn 4 and when I asked him this morning how old he was, he looked at me and smiled and put 4 fingers up and said four, with a great big smile.

We love having Jase in our family. We would be lost without him. He has been such a blessing in our lives and a great help in our family. We love the little and big things he does, he makes us so happy. I wish he could stay just the way he is, but I'm sure it will manage with him getting bigger. We love you Jase

ZOE IS 1

2008-08-17T09:33:00.002-04:00

Zoe turns 1 today, so I'm going to do this little blog all about her.

She was born at Winnie Palmer Hospital, Orlando Florida at 8:41pm, weighed 7 lb 15oz, and was 20 3/4 in tall.

LIKES:

Food

Music

Dancing

Her musical chair

Brothers toys

Blankets

Stuffed animals

Balls

Cuddeling

LOVES her brother

LOVES the dogs

SOME THINGS SHE DOES:

-Zoe says mama when she is tiered or hungry, but she says dada and bababa most of the time.

-Zoe likes to pat her brother and the dogs on the head when they are by her.

-She puts her arm around brothers, dogs, and our neck and pull into her chest to give a hug

-If I am sitting on the ground she will come up to me, turn around and plop down on top of me.

-Zoe can now climb, so she climbs ontop of the table, stands up, and dances.

-She is still shy, if she is around a big crowd or someone she doesn't know she gets shy and cuddles into whoever is holding her.

-Zoe loves food. If she is cranky you have to try food first, because thats what she usually wants. She can put down a lot of food, but I cant figure out where it goes because she is so small, I call her skinny minnie.

SOME THINGS SHE DOESN'T LIKE:

-Anyone to make her do something she doesn't want.

-Dogs barking at her, or big dogs.

-Swimming, she doesn't mind putting her feet in, but her whole body is a different story.

We are so happy to have Zoe in our family, I can't imagine what it would be like without her. We love her so much and she brings so much joy and fun to our lives. We love her and are excited for another year of fun.

CAMPING!

2008-07-31T10:35:00.004-04:00

Since it's summer we wanted to go camping. Its been so long since the last time we went so we wanted to try it out again. We had a lot of fun, but we'd need to bring a few more things next time, and find somewhere a little better. We went up the cannyon and found a little are with little areas you can camp (not a campground). It was alright but next time were going somewhere else. The kids slep with us in our sleeping bag. Not very much room, but all in all we slep better than I expected. It's so nice how quiet it gets up there at night. We loved it. We woke up bright and early, around 6am. It was so cold I had to turn on the car to warm the kids and myself up. We took everything down and went to Cascade Springs and walked around. Then we went driving around the cannyon to find a better spot for next time. We did, it's beautiful. We took a drive for an hour or so up a dirt road. We cant wait till next time but its going to be a little while. We have too much going the next couple weekends.

Beautiful Timp.

Jase playing in the grass.
Kids getting warm in the car.
We even brought along our dogs. They loved it.

Our camp spot.

My handsome hubby.
Zoe getting dirty. She loves to get dirty.

Summer Sports

2008-07-31T09:59:00.005-04:00

The month of July we decided to put Jase into a sports class, and his cousin got to do it with him. It was every Tuesday and Thursday for 3 weeks. They played soccer, T-ball, volleyball, golf (kinda), football, and an overview. I got some good pictures the first two times, but after that Jase didn't really want to play. He is now going through a stage where he if afraid of everyone and doesn't like to do things in a group. Well anyway here are some pictures. Sorry most of them are sideways I don't know why it does that. If you know how to fix it let me know.

This one is of Jase catching the balls. His coaches were throwing them into outfield and they had to get them and throw them back.

Here Jase just made it to home plate and is now waiting.
Jase in action.
Swing and its a hit!

These are out of order, but before they started playing T-ball they had to walk the bases and learn how to use their mits.

Now they are playing soccer.

Jase and Sage.

Beautiful girl

2008-07-28T16:07:00.003-04:00

Isn't she cute. I think so! Well anyway, I decided to put her into the Highland Fling baby contest just for fun and this was her outfit. She didn't win but thats ok because we enjoyed it. I got to get her a beautiful flower headband (Chic & Unique boutique), and a beautiful dress. I also made her necklace and a braclet, but the braclet got taken off. I just wanted to share these pictures because I love them.

She's walking

2008-07-10T18:11:00.002-04:00

Zoe will be 11 months on the 17th and she is already walking. Okay so he only did 4 little steps on her own but to me thats walking. She has been standing up on her own for a little while now. She can stand up and sit down without holding on to anything, and today she walked. I had her standing on her own and walked in front of her and showed her a ball. She loves her balls. Well she really wanted it so she took 4 ity bitty steps towards it, then sat down and crawled the rest of the way. I was so happy, yet kinda sad. She is growing up so fast and she is so big. I'll get a video of it and put it on but I don't have one yet.

Boating Fun

2008-07-09T09:47:00.016-04:00

OK first of all I'd like to say sorry, there are a lot of pictures, and I love them all. So fell free to skim over them if you'd like. We had a lot of fun in Lake Powell and these are some of the pictures of us on the boat or close to the boat.

My Zen on Lake Powell

Our family in the water. Zoe didn't care for it too much at first (she cried a lot) but after a while the water didn't seem so cold and she liked it. She even splashed with her hands.

Yep thats my boy, he's peeing off the back of the boat.

The two beautiful IvaLues

Jase and Daddy on the tube behind the boat

Me and Jase about to go behind the boat in the tube. This was Jases first time.

Jase and Great Grandpa out in the water. They really liked swimming together.

Our wonderful family getting situated in the boat. There wasn't a lot of extra room

My handsome Grandpa siting out in the water in front of the houseboat we stayed in.

Crab Crawling

2008-06-30T19:20:00.002-04:00

Zoe has been crawling for a while now and ever since she started she has always done it a little than most kids. She crawls on her left knee and walks on her right foot. She can do it normally but she goes a lot faster her way. We think she looks like a crab or a spider and think its really funny, so we wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!

Lake Powell Trip-cracks and canyons

2008-06-30T17:25:00.010-04:00

Lake Powell is my favorite place in the world. Ive been going there with family since I was born. It's been a while since I've been there so I was excited to go. It was for my moms birthday. She goes every year for her birthday and we got to go this time. We usually stay on the beach and camp but we stayed on a house boat this time (my first time on a house boat) and it was a lot of fun. My mom and her husband, my grandparents, my sister and her family and my family were the ones who went. We took so many pictures so I'll show them in sections. I love the canyons and the steep cliffs it's amazing. The walls in the canyons make you feel small.

This crack in the cliff is called Connies Crack if you hike/climb up a ways you can go all the way through to the other end. We hiked up a little ways but I think the way has been block off by fallen rocks. Jase came with us and we went as far as we could go. Then we jumped off. Even Jase jumped (from the very bottom).

We found this little area in a canyon. At the end there was a hole up a ways in the cliff. We jumped up there from the boat and found a secluded pond that was growing fish. It was very beautiful up there

Crow Mountain Hike

2008-06-12T12:04:00.002-04:00

Every year the Mendenhall family gets together for a hike up crow mt. The Mendenhalls are my Grandpa Sparks mothers family. As a kid I never got to go, I was always in California with my dad. This year I was here in Utah and my Grandma and Grandpa told me about it and I really wanted to go. We told Jase about it and told him he was going to get to hike up a mountain, he was very excited. That morning he didn't want to get out of bed. Daddy was trying to wake him up and he kept saying no until daddy reminded him we were going hiking. He jumped out of bed and said, "we go hike up mountain with grandma and grandpa". He was up and ready right after that. We were the only ones in my grandparents family that were planning to go so we drove up with them. Crow Mountain in up past Logan and Smithfield almost to Idaho. We met my grandpas extended family (his aunt is still alive she's 97) and lots of his cousins. There were cows Jase and another little boy were chasing around and trying to pet. We sat on some hay bales and a tractor pulled us up part of the way to the base of the mountain. From there we hiked around 1 mile up the mountain to the beautiful site of Cache Valley. Jase did so good he hiked all by himself (when I say that I mean we didn't have to carry him at all). Daddy carried Zoe up and I carried her down. We had a lot of fun. After the hike my grandparents took us around Cache Valley. We went into Idaho to Dayton (I think) and were going to look at a graveyard that some of my grandpas family is buried at. But it started raining and we had to hike to it. Theirs no road to goes to this graveyard its so small. They also took us to Pepperidge Farm and we got a ton of Goldfish for cheap. We than went to an ice cream store but I can't remember what its called. After that we went into Clarkston and looked around. Clarkston is where my grandparents grew up and its still sooo small. I love it there. Well I made some scrapbook pages for the trip and wanted to share them. Hope you like them.