16 years!!

I have been married to the man I love for 16 years! I can't believe it has been that long!! I truly feel blessed to have created a beautiful family with him. We reminisced about the past 16 years and it made us realize just how far we have come. I love you baby!!

Merry Christmas!

I intended to blog more this month, but instead spent the time having Christmas School with my children and making gifts and just trying to have fun together. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family. I hope everyone has a blessed and joyful Christmas!!! :)

Christian is 10!!

He's made it to the double digits!!

A few things about Christian:

He is a super serious kiddo.

He has a LOT of energy!

He has a great smile.

He adores his little brothers, he totally and completely dotes on them and it is so sweet.

He looks up to his big brother.

He will still hold my hand.

He has a very service oriented heart.

We love you so much Christian and look forward to watching you grow into a sweet young man.

Can it be?!

16 years ago I gave birth to my first born. Oh man, where has time gone. I can't believe I have a young man that is 16. I realize his time with us is getting less each year and it makes me sad and happy...sad for me, happy for him to serve a mission, go to school, find a wife. You know all those wonderful things in life! I guess I am just feeling like he is growing up way to fast.

A few things about Austin...
His favorite colors are purple and black.
He still enjoys legos. (which I think is AWESOME!)
He is a great writer.
He is a very thoughtful person and I don't just mean he is kind but that he really

likes to think about things.

He has braces!

He loves to read, esp. the classics

He is seriously a great big brother.

He is also a wonderful son. He is always there to help me out when I need a helping hand. He seems to be able to sense when I am stressed and just jumps in to help lighten my load!

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father blessed my husband and I with such a wonderful son! We love you lots Austin!

Christmas School!

This month I will be doing Christmas School with my kids. I am so excited. I have lots of different things planned. Hopefully, I will remember to take lots of pictures and then I will post about what we are doing. Some of my ideas have come from here. I seriously looove this time of year!!

Crazy Crafters Christmas Crafting...

Here are the crafts we would like to do for our Christmas Crafting Session

Jingle Bell shadow box. Not the best picture...sorry!

Supplies: Shadow box (you can get one at walmart for around 8 bucks)

scrapbook paper
bells that will fit
ribbon
vinyl (provided for a small fee)

Here is the prayer board that I am seriously excited to make. You just list out the people or maybe things you are praying for...I am forgetful and this would be soo helpful.

Supplies for prayer board: 5x7 frame (if you want it to be like the one below) but you could use any size frame. I plan on making an 8x10 one for my family to use in a central area of our home but I would like a 5x7 one for my night stand.

scrap of coordinating fabric for rolled flowers 1-2 inches by 20 or so inches

scrapbook paper to put in the frame

the vinyl will be provided for a small fee *will update as soon as I know how much

This can also be made as a to do list instead of a prayer board.

This is just a pic of a frame that would make a fun prayer board or to do list. Knit scarf. This was super fun and easy to make!

Supplies: knit fabric (this one was made for my girls that is why it is so much shorter)

I will give you a more exact amount after I make an adult one

matching thread

pearls or beads for flowers

I love the flowers with the little pearls in the middle!The amazing birthday board! I love this thing...it has helped to remember birthdays the past couple months that I have been using. A total lifesaver!!! :)

Supplies: the board came from hobby lobby it's the only one shaped like that

scraps of fabric for rolled flowers

knob (hobby lobby has tons of them)

tags...you could also use card stock

vinyl will be provided for a small fee

The cutest turkey onesie!!

I am not one to toot my own horn but, SERIOUSLY, this is one of the cutest turkeys!!!!

I wish I had a little baby girl to make it for! Since I don't, I guess that

means my girlfriend gets to be the lucky recipients! :) I love ruffled bums too!!

A few outtakes from our family photo shoot...

So my sister and mom were kind enough to do a little family photo shoot for us and it went something like this... This is one of my favorites. We have a couple that might work but, I think I would like to reshoot it now that we know what some of the problems were (main one being it's just too many people to get to cooperate at once!) :)

Oops someone must have told Peter to smile. This is what he does 100% of the time if he is told to smile!

Who's hand is Peter holding you might wonder...well we are too! Maybe he is trying to tell us something!

I love this picture because it captured the personality of each of my children so well. We really do have some great pictures I will be posting sometime soon. I just thought I would give you all a good laugh at our expense. It is hard get a family pic. Just sayin!

Looking through the mirror of time

This is a very random post but, when I took this picture this evening these were my thoughts. :)When I look at Austin holding Tyler it is as if I am looking at a 15 year old Austin and holding a 3 month old Austin. It's kind of weird but, really it's kind of neat!! This little guy looks just like his big brother (though Tyler's eyes are bigger). Austin finally got a mini him...Christian and Peter look exactly alike and not much like Austin at all. I heart my boys!!!

FYI: not a very good pic. the baby was fussy and not really in the mood for my little photo shoot! ;)

Austin is seriously the best big brother. I couldn't of hand picked a better brother for my little boys! He is so patient with Tyler when I need a moment or need to get things done. I really am blessed to have such a great son!

Noel is 5!

I can't believe 5 years has gone by since I gave birth to this beautiful girl!

We had a fun day celebrating Noel's birthday! We went to fork and screen and watched Puss in Boots! It was an extremely cute movie...even Peter sat through the whole thing. Here is Noel after the movie the temp had dropped about 10 degrees and it was feeling pretty chilly but, she has a nice big brother and he shared his hoodie with her! When we got home we lit a fire in the fireplace because it is that chilly! It was sooo cozy. Noel opened her presents and was thrilled to receive a doll she can bring in the bath tub with her. She also got Just Dance Kids and it was pretty funny watching her dance. I have to say the girls got moves!!

Charity made Noel's cake. She did a great job. Noel loved her cake and the fact that she got to keep the barbie!

Noel blowing her candles out after we had to relight them!

Peter is in the background with his head down because he was the cause of us having to relight the candles. The little stinker blew out the candles in the middle of us singing happy birthday. He wasn't very happy that we told him not to do that. He got over it when we placed a piece of cake and ice cream in front of him!Happy Birthday Noely! We love you so much and are so blessed to have you in our family.

Tyler at 2 1/2 months

Time is really flying by. It always amazes me at how a new child just seems to always fit into our family so well...like they have always been there. We are so in love with this little guy!

He definitely has 2 chins but, I must say he wears them well! My mom made the adorable monkey hat he is wearing. I love it! Cutest monkey around!! :)

My boy looooves green smoothies!

We love making green smoothies. I have the best blender...it even grinds my wheat!! It's a blendtec just in case you were wondering. :) This little boy can't get enough of green smoothies he will do 3 cup fulls until he is satisfied. We just throw in about 2-3 cups of spinach, then we fill the rest of the blender up with frozen strawberries (from Costco, they have the best) and then we put in about a cup of apple juice. All my kiddos love them.

I love how Peter has his hand in his pocket. He has an obsession with pockets. The first thing he does when he puts on pants is check to see if they have pockets. Awesome green smoothie mustache!

Tyler's Blessing

We finally blessed Tyler!!!! 3rd time is a charm. We have been trying to bless our sweet little boy for over a month now. We were finally able to get the job done. It took us several weeks to get to the point where no one was sick and thank goodness because our little boy isn't so little and could have easily outgrown the outfit I so lovingly made for him! :)
Here is the cookie cake me and the little ones made for Tyler to celebrate with family. The kids had a blast cutting the cookies out. Of course we made a more grown up dessert for the adults.
Sometimes I am stunned that they are all ours. It looks like a lot of kiddos when we get pictures done. I love my little or not so little brood! Tyler was SUPER fussy today...so most the pics of him are w/ him crying or about to cry.Here he is as happy as can be...apparently I overcompensated w/ my smile for him!I am so grateful to have a worthy preisthood holder in our home who was able to give this little guy a beautiful blessing. I love you sweetie!Me and my gorgeous sisters and mom. I truly am one blessed woman! At times it is so apparent the things...people that the Lord has blessed you with. This is one of those times!And after a super crabby, fussy day momma decided to bring Tyler on his nightly 4 1/2 mile walk and if it isn't obvious by the look on his face he loves his walks with mommy and mimi!! This little boy is definetly going to help me get skinny! There are nights I don't want to walk but his fussy time is at night and all we have to do is pop him in the stroller and bring him out in the fresh night air and he is just as happy as a clam!

We love you lots Tyler Colin Lynn!!! So blessed and happy to have him as part of our family!

**Hopefully tomorrow I can get some pics of him in his blessing outfit w/ a smile on his face or at least not crying.

Tyler's Blessing Outfit

This is the blessing outfit I found online for Tyler. I fell in love with it and funny enough the name of it is the Tyler Christening Outfit. Too Perfect!!! The only problem was I didn't want to pay $55 for it. I hate spending that kind of money on something they are only going to wear once.
So, I went shopping for patterns. Of course I couldn't find anything that looked it but, I thought I've been sewing long enough to be able to alter a pattern and that is exactly what I did. I took the pattern below w/ the tie and altered it.

This is what I ended up with. I was a little worried because I really liked the original but, I am extremely happy with how it turned out!! It is missing the 3 little buttons that go down the front and I am still trying to find some small ones that will work. Everything I have found is just too big.

My goofy Noel wanted in on the photo shoot and said "wait mom I will give it bunny ears!" Anyways there you have it my first major alteration (I will say I find it easier to just make up a pattern than completely alter one)!

I will have pics of the baby in it tomorrow for his blessing.

General Conference

In our church we have a General Conference where the meeting is held in Salt Lake City and it is televised throughout the world. I loooove GC weekend!! :) Some of the things that touched my heart today were:

The scriptures can be my friend and should be!

My large family is what Heavenly Father wants for us no matter what those around me may have to say about it. (I have struggled w/ the rude comments I get from people about my large family and the talk today about families was amazing)

Serve, Serve, Serve!

We are at war with Satan and we need to arm ourselves and be vigilant!

I love our Prophet, he is the sweetest man!

I am grateful to have spent the day with my children and hubby being enlightened and taught by the Lord's servants. I hope that I am able to turn the thoughts I have had today into actions.

What have I been up to lately??

Lots of baby holding. This is what my lap looks like multiple times a day and I am loving every minute of it! Usually Peter is awake though. That child is not allowed to take naps if we can help it...he wakes up and is in a HORRIBLE mood for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. It is not worth it! I love my little boys!

Boys can be so sweet

Especially when they are SLEEPING! These boys really are rather sweet though. My girlfriend welcomed her 6th child into their family last week and we got to host a sleepover for her other kiddos. When I was checking on all the kids before I went to bed this is how I found the boys. They were practically laying on each other and I thought it was seriously cute!!

By the way I did provide them each with their own pillow, I guess I only needed to give them 1! :)

Tyler Colin

This sweet little baby boy has the GREATEST smiles ever! If he is going to smile
at you he gives you the biggest, widest grin. You can't help but smile back! :) (caught this picture at the tail end of a big ole grin)

My thought on flowers

I have ALWAYS told my hubby that flowers are a waste of money! Well, after this last little guy I was kinda thinking helloooo where are my flowers?? So, I kind of whined to my husband about not getting flowers from him and he said he figured since my friends Charlee and Mary had got me some beautiful flowers that I wouldn't have wanted him to waste money on them. Makes sense, right? Well, apparently my hormones didn't think so! My dear, sweet hubby surprised me with these beauties last week and I have enjoyed them. Every time I walk by them they make me smile. So, I guess what I am saying is I am singing a different tune now and am thinking that maybe flowers aren't such a waste of money! My poor husband, I guess I should update him when I change my opinions. Kind of hard on him if I am expecting him to be a mind reader. Love you Russell!!! :)

Peter...

I have definitely not done enough "crafty" stuff with Peter. The girls went out to play yesterday and Peter wanted to follow. I brought him back and was trying to avoid a fit when I remembered this kit for puppets that I had purchased oh like...OVER A YEAR AGO! Hello, time to use them! And here are the results of a 15 minute crafting session with one adorable 2 year old...This is a pic of his puppets hugging each other. He loved making them hug each other and also making them fly which consisted of him taking both his puppets and throwing them in the air.

I do have to say it took a lot of self control for me to not try and force him to put the eyes and stuff in the "correct" place! I guess I have control issues. But, I love the off kilter look his little cat and dog has!

The Apron Giveaway Winner

OK because I do everything confusing...I have 2 different posts w/ comments for possible winners I am going to type everyones name in random.orgs list generator and the person who ends up in position 1 will be my winner. Next time I will make sure to only have 1 post for people to leave comments. (I guess I just like to do everything different or more confusing anyways! :)) I seriously tried to upload the results from random.org but couldn't figure out how to. Anyone that knows me knows I am completely honest!! Here is what random.org chose...

Holly

Congrats Holly!!! I hope you will enjoy your apron. I know where to find you! :)

THE GIVEAWAY!!

I finally finished the apron for the giveaway!!! It is reversible and I love the way it turned out!

Leave a comment and you will be entered in the giveaway. If you left a comment on my previous post about the giveaway you are good to go!! I will draw the name this Friday! Can't wait to see who the lucky winner is!! :)