Why we have kids

Things are finally winding down so I thought I would take a second to load some pictures of the kids from the last couple of weeks. They have been so funny lately. Alexis is really growing and starting to act like a big baby, not a newborn anymore. I'm excited for all that she is doing but it is breaking my heart at the same time. I just want her to stay small, I know it won't be very long before she doesn't think she needs me anymore. Zach has turned into a super-tard. He is the goofiest kid I've ever seen. I can't explain it, hopefully the picture will help. He is also turning into a little stinker. I'm pretty sure the only phrase he knows at this point is "I can't." Somehow in the last few weeks he has forgotten any skill that he has been taught over the last 3 1/2 years, must be some new form of amnesia that comes after a sibling is born. Tyler has been a little turkey lately. He is such an independent little boy. His personality is so different from mine and Eli's and I have to keep reminding myself that one day, hopefully, his independence will be a strength and good quality. Right now we are at war with his temper and trying something new. The boys get to earn 2 ctr points a day for making good choices and being obedient. After they earn 20 points, they get a toy (which we had them pick out). The toys are sitting on our fridge so they can see them each day and remember how bad they want to play with them. So far it is working. It might just be a miracle in progress.

Tyler getting rocked after playing Zach-in-the-box with his brother and Grandpa



Zach was so worried about our newspaper being in the driveway that he put on his dad's snowmachining boots to rescue it.

The happiest baby I've ever seen.

Allie has found her thumb and it tastes way better than her binkie!

Two rosy cheeked little boys and the sister they can't keep their hands off of.

Catch up for Christmas

Ok, finally I'm getting caught up on Christmas, now that it was two weeks ago! Things started out for us on Christmas Eve. We went to my Aunt Bev's for my Grandpa's birthday. It was really nice. The kids had stayed at my mom's the night before and when they showed up I could tell Zach didn't feel very good. He had a fever and his tonsils have been huge so I tracked down his doctor at the hospital. He was so good and called in a prescription for us so he would feel better for Christmas. We picked it up and headed home when he told me that his tooth hurt. I took a look and sure enough, his tooth was loose, his gums were purple and things didn't look good. So much for the sore throat. So I spent the next 4 hours trying to track down a dentist on Christmas Eve...no luck. I finally got ahold of one that called in some penicillin to start fighting the infection until we could get him in on Monday. What a bad time to get hurt! Lucky enough, Christmas morning came and he was ok. (He ended up getting it pulled on Monday. Poor kid, now he really is toothless). I think all the trucks he got helped a little. We spent the morning at home just with our kids. It was so nice and relaxing. That afternoon we went over to Eli's grandparents for Christmas dinner and more presents. Each year we cut back on what we get our kids and it seems like each year they walk away with more and more. I guess that's what happens when you're the only grandkids/niece/nephews on both sides of the family. All in all it was a perfect day. Zach is already asking when Santa is coming back!

Goodbye 2008

A few weeks ago I tried blogging all about what had been going on in December but my pictures were all messed up and after an hour or so of trying I got ticked off and quit trying to get it to work. So here I am, already a week into the new year and so far behind. For memories sake, I'll do the quick rundown of our December....then next we'll do Christmas. Things started off a little slow for us....then once we got to the middle of the month it started picking up. Tyler turned 6 on the 18th, but not before losing his first tooth late the night before. I honestly think it might have been the most exciting thing that has ever happened to him. I think he prayed for his tooth to get loose and fall out for over a year. His birthday was great. We had a very last minute party thrown together for some of his friends. It went pretty good until the last minute or so when he decided to throw down one of the neighbor kids WWF style and bash his head into the ground because he doesn't bring suckers to school anymore...seriously, the kid looked like he'd been hit in the head with a bat. The family all came over for cake and ice cream and to shower him with every present known to man.....what was left for Santa to bring???? The kid even has more money than his old man now. That weekend we headed to Utah to see the lights at Temple Square. It has been so long since we've been down and we couldn't have asked for it to be more perfect. It started snowing HUGE flakes right before we went. Everything was covered in white...it was so pretty. The boys were more excited about sliding on the slick sidewalks than the lights, and Allie thought it would be a good time to scream because she wanted held, but other than that it was great. Spencer brought his ended up coming with us and proposing to his girlfriend so that made it even more fun. We spent the rest of the weekend hanging out with cousins and swimming at the hotel. Even Alexis got to take a dip. The pool was extra warm so she was in heaven. We got home just in time for our annual family sing-a-long at Eli's grandparents. We dressed Allie in a little Christmas outfit that my grandma gave her and I think she stole the show. Her brothers kept saying she looked like Santa (even though I'm pretty sure Santa doesn't wear a dress). Santa came and talked to the kids and everyone had a great time. It got us all in the mood and ready for the big day to come.

I am a Child of God

I know I just posted a long old thing, but I did not want to forget this. Last week we had family home evening and Eli did the lesson on having a new baby in the home and how it is a child of God. It was such a great lesson and at different parts he had the boys sing her the verses to "I am a Child of God." The boys couldn't sing without holding and hugging and kissing Alexis. She just laid there and stared at them the whole time. They love their little sister so much and she loves them right back. It was so nice to have some time with just our little family to be reminded of how blessed we are and that our children are the most important thing to us. It is amazing how much easier it is to realize that when they aren't throwing mud at the neighbors house or throwing the cats off my dad's deck.......somewhere inside of the little devils are sweet little angels.

Our lucky & loved little girl. She looked so cute at the wedding.

Ok, this is exactly what I mean when I say little devils. I think Tyler is morphing into one right now...

Another great self portrait of Tyler and his sister, I'm starting to think I don't ever pay attention because I never see him with the camera anymore and everytime I turn it on there are at least a dozen of these.

And last but not least, Allie got to take a big girl bath with Zach the other day. I usually have her in the tub, but this time the water was pretty deep and she loved it. Her not so little belly makes her look like a frog and she was right at home in the water kicking her legs and smiling.

The new Mr. and Mrs. Peña

Last Friday Eli's brother Jared got married. It was such a busy week but everything turned out so great. We got to have their rehersal dinner at our house Thursday night too, so we have had plenty of good food, friends and family over the last few days. It got a little chaotic a couple of times (but it's a wedding, right!!) but everything was worth it. The ceremony was beautiful and their bishop had such great words of advice. I'm so excited for them to start their life together, and to have another member of the family. Jared and Maquel are both so laid back and seem like such a good match. Good thing for co-ed softball or they might not have ever met!! Anyway,

we had a lot of fun. Eli was in the line and Tyler got to be the ring bearer. He was so cute...and so well behaved. We need to put that boy in a tux everyday! You could tell he knew he was important and it was so cute! I do have some handsome boys (and a man) in my family. How did I get so lucky!! Zach was so excited before things got started that he couldn't sit still. I don't think he knew what he was excited for, but he knew it was a big day. I think most of all, he was excited for his pink tie. Somewhere along the line during the last few weeks he decided he had to have a pink tie for the wedding. I ordered one from some crazy place in Canada that took my money, said it was on it's way and then disappeared. Every day he'd ask me about his tie. It showed up in the mailbox 2 days before the wedding and saved me from a bucket full of tears. He had to show it to everyone at the wedding. It was so funny. The best was at the reception after the happy couple had their first dance. They played another song and everyone else started dancing. We had each of our boys grab their grandma's to dance with, and about halfway through the song Zach dropped my mom's hands and ran across the gym, found the 3 yr old flower girl and started twirling her around. It was so cute! Sorry mom, but he had to get his moves on! It was so funny because he is usually shy. This little girl is packed full of personality too and obsessed with Cinderella. After the song she went up to her mom and said....."I think I found my Prince Charming!" What a fun night. Now that it is over, we are on to the next big adventure.....Thanksgiving at our house. We got the vote to do it here again with both of our families. I know, I know....everyone keeps telling me I'm crazy. But this is one of my favorite holidays, and I am an anal freak when it comes to the turkey. I love to cook it and have issues with letting anyone else. It really is a problem. If any of you watch Everybody Loves Raymond and you've seen the episode when Deborah cooks fish for Thanksgiving. I would be the annoying, overbearing character of Marie (Raymond's mom). Even though dinner is taken care of she makes and brings a turkey anyway...... Oh yeah, and I'm a loser because the only pictures I have of Jared and Maquel are when they cut the cake. What kind of photographer am I?

Our happy little family

The extra-handsome ring-bearer

Prince Charming and Cinderella at the ball

And this was too good not to post. Eli's Grandpa Phillips. The best thing about this picture is that this was the day before the wedding, when we had the rehersal dinner. Even better is that it is before anyone else had shown up, before the dinner even started. Check out the glasses...now that is a good nap. We love you Grandpa!!

Blessing, garments and boys

We blessed Alexis yesterday and it turned out to be such a special day. All of our family came to church and we had everyone over to the house after. It was so nice to see my sisters and have my granpa there. I love that having a baby brings everyone together. She looked so beautiful in her dress and was such a good baby through the whole day. I'm so thankful for how blessed we are to have such great kids. We couldn't ask for better. And I'm especially thankful for such a wonderful husband who honors his priesthood and sets such a good example for his sons to follow. It is such a comfort to me to have him around and to make me want to do better myself. Thank you so much honey for everything yesterday. You made the day perfect!

Ok, now for the fun stuff. Saturday night Eli was getting Alexis in her pajamas and changing her diaper. She was only in a little white onsie and Zach came in and said..... "is that her garments??" This coming from the kid that during sacrament yesterday got sick of his bright blue gum so he took it out of his mouth and looked at his Uncle Spencer and asked him if he wanted it (after it had been chewed on for about 30 minutes). When Spence said no, he said..."but it matches your shirt!". Makes sense.

And just to finish up...this is what happens when boys get sick of having their sister get her picture taken and get a hold of the camera......how can you not love those little faces??

6 weeks old

Our little Alexis is already 6 weeks old. She is such a fun little girl to have in our home. She found her smile about 2 weeks ago and loves to flash it around. She is extra smiley in the morning. (Maybe she'll be a morning person.......definitely not like her mama!!). She is still so little but getting some chubby Peña cheeks in a hurry. We love her so much!