WHO IS THIS GIRL?

My sister, Katy, emailed me this picture of Sydney when she was 3 yrs old. I LOVE IT!! This was taken Christmas 2007...the same year we moved to Arizona. I can't believe this is my little girl. Where did she go? I had so many emotions run through me when I saw her little face. At this age, she was soooo stubborn and had a mind of her own. She is still stubborn and does things her way. I LOVE this girl!

(BTW she just read every word I wrote as I typed....my little girl is growing up...)

SYDNEY TURNS SIX

Sydney turned six in April. She was spoiled this year with a two week celebration. We went to Utah the week before her birthday and she got to celebrate with all of our family. Then when we got back to Arizona, the party continued.

Hannah Montana Party with her friends

Celebrating with the Hinds' Family

Getting spoiled by Granny

Having fun at Chuck E Cheese

Cake and Ice Cream with the Taggart's

BEING 3

This kid is such a sweetheart. He is still a "mama's boy" which I don't mind a bit. He went with Mark on their first "Father and Son's" campout this last weekend. He did not want to go without his mom. We finally talked him into it and he had a great time. He thinks he's a professional camper now.

Playing catch at the park

He loves to wear any kind of glasses.
(Silly Syd behind him with olives on her fingers)

Playing in the snow at Grandma Gooses house when we visited in March.

This truck rarely leaves his side. When he grows up this is the truck he wants to drive...just like dad's, but RED.

FAREWELL KINDERGARTEN

Well, my sissy has officially graduated from Kindergarten. She is now reading small chapter books really well and loves to write. I find little notes she makes for me all over the house (I love it, of course). I was really proud of her at the Awards Program. Her teacher told everyone that Sydney was going to be the future President of the United States, because she is such a great leader.
CONGRATS, SYD!

Singing with her class at Fine Arts Night

Receiving her awards from Mrs. Blackstock

Sitting at her table

Sydney and Mrs. Blackstock

GROWING LIKE A WEED

I just wanted to post a few pictures of Jayden. He is growing up so fast! He is now 17 1/2 months old. We are enjoying him so much. He just talks and talks all day (conversations only mommy can understand) and torments his older brother.

He is in the "Barney" stage.

He loves to watch cartoons with Travis and Sydney. One morning I walked in and he was playing with this bowl on his head.

My little J.D. is on turbo speed all day long.

(Notice our beautiful lawn of rocks in the background...actually, Mark and I really like the low maintenance.)

PICTURE UPDATE OF THE KIDDOS

Here are the latest pictures of my kids:

Syd

Trav-man

J.D.

I KNOW, I KNOW...

...I've been a slacker when it comes to my blog. My camera and computer are having issues. It takes hours to download my pictures from my camera and I get really impatient with it. But I'm starting to get a lot of requests for some updates. Since Christmas our lives have just been crazy.

Mark is really liking his new job at Jones Outdoor Advertising. He has been able to travel almost the entire state of Arizona and is really enjoying the adventure. We feel like his job has been a great blessing. After the year we had last year, things are really falling into place. We can definitely see Heavenly Fathers hand in all of it. Mark has also taken the plunge and went back to school. He is attending the University of Phoenix. He has about 2 years to go to complete his BS in Business/Communications. I'm really proud of him. His schedule doesn't leave him much free time, but he seems to be handling it well.

Sydney just turned 6 and is almost done with Kindergarten. They have all day Kindergarten here and so it's kept her schedule very full. She loves school and can't stand the thought of not seeing her friends everyday. I'm not too excited either, because she is one that needs to be busy 24/7 and when she's bored it's a problem. She is in gymnastics right now and is loving it. She has been a natural at it since the day she was born. She also lives to play on the monkey bars. She tells me that at recess her friends want her to come and play with them , but she is just so torn, because she loves playing on the monkey bars so much. Her hands are even caloused and bleed from it. She is just growing up so fast.

Travis is 3 1/2 years old. He is in Joy School and it has been a great blessing in his life. It is the one thing in his life that is just his and he loves it. He has made some good little friends and looks forward to going every week. He is OBSESSED (understatement) with motorcycles. He has several toy motorcycles that he plays with all day. It's all he can talk about and think about. Mark just bought a motorcycle and Travis is beside himself. He wants to just sit on it all day. He is definitely all boy.

Jayden is 17 months old today. I can't believe it. I still think of him as my baby, but he's really not much of a baby at all. He just barely started walking at 15 1/2 months. He was in no hurry to walk, but now that he has figured it out, he is on a constant run. He just jibber jabbers all day long. He says several words now: Mommy, daddu=daddy, puppy=any animal, sissy= Sydney, Tas=Travis, owsy=outside, wee=slide, ju=drink. There's probably more I just can't think of them all right now. He is a complete joy to have around. We all get a kick out of his funny personality. He's quite a clown and likes to be silly.

Then there's me. These four people pretty much consume my life and I love it. I can't imagine doing anything else in my life right now. I love being a SAHM (stay at home mom). It's the greatest job in the world. I spend a lot of time at the park, at playgroups, etc. I really enjoying cooking, so I'm always looking for new and fun recipes to try. Our ward just got split and so I just got called to be the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society. I'm excited for this new challenge and I'm sure it will keep me busy, too.