current merries.

This is the picture on our christmas card this year. My favorite is Lane, this picture shows is personality so perfectly. His recent stunt has been dragging Remmy under the Christmas tree and saying "mom, mom look what santa brought you this year" and Im thinking, great, thanks a lot fat boy, thanks for bringing me three hours of sleep a night. Thanks for bringing me nursing pads and ill-fitting bras. but she is worth it with the ocasional smile. Lane meanwhile is Star wars obsessed. its all he wants this year, star wars legos and guns, and costumes. He is so sweet though he makes up songs and sings them to Remmy. He also invites people from the neighborhood over to see her. Its a daily occurance when I have three or four random five through eight year olds tromping through my bedroom to "quietly" see the baby. When I ask them what they are doing they say "oh, its ok Lane told us to come see the baby" see, not only does he have control of the neighborhood he also has control of the house. Its not uncommon for me to say, Lane come clean your room. And he says "mom i will get to that when I am ready, right now I am busy. Why dont you go clean the kitchen or something?" and the funny thing is I dont even think to get mad at him. I just think oh, ok hes right the kitchen is dirty. The kid has got to grow up to be a politician.
Clay is also doing great as always, he is really excelling in school. and every night he prays for Remmy to not get hungry so mom can sleep. I think he notices my vacant expression all day and knows the culprit. He has had fun running through the house helping me set up for the holidays. He is a fantasic big brother, he even politely tells me when I am embarassing him when I nurse the baby. and he has asked me twice this year to marry him. He says I am the only girl he likes. I just love him!
Raegan is also thriving. She is really getting into TV lately the weird thing is she likes commercails better than TV shows, she is always asking me to record the commercail for the giant cupcake. You know the one that shows the colassal cupcake next to the regular sized ones? Her favorite part is when it shows the free filler pans at the end. She tries to share her excitment by saying, " You want that, dont you mom? mom, hey mom, ask santa ok mom"? it happens so often that I dont even look to see what she is talking about. I just say yep thats what I want Raegs. I am afraid I will end up with oxyclean, the miracle hanger, and some hemmorhoid cream under the tree.
Last is little remmers she is doing well. she currently weighs 13lbs. she is in the 96% for her weight and the 80% for height. she is by far our fattest and dare I say cutest baby. we all love her, she is difficult though. she was born a Diva I am lucky if she goes 3 hours between feedings. Hence the 13 pounds. she did just start smiling though so at least now I am getting a pay off.
Rich and I are doing great. Trying to find a little time for ourselves so we dont always feel like we are drowning in kids. we wanted to tell everyone merry christmas. Love, the Byrams

family pictures

We recently had all of our kids pictures taken, and they turned out so well that I wanted to share them. Its amazing to me that I have such beautiful kids. I love the ones that show their personality. I mean, as much as a picture can. if it showed Raegan dumping her dirty diaper out under her sisters bed, or Lane continually slapping Raegan in the head with a wet towel, or Clay politely handing me a blanket because my nursing embaresses him, well that would REALLY be true to life. I guess we will just have to settle for cute smiles. Everytime I look at them I cant help but feel so gratefull that Heavenly Father entrusted me with such beautiful spirits. ok, that was my cheese statement for the day. but its true. enjoy.

chunky, Halloween

and no, this title does not refer to me at this paticular time. Ok, maybe it does. Here are the latest of the little munchkins. As per usual Raegan was supposed to be a snow white princess and backed out at the last minute to be a cowgirl. can you tell she has brothers? sometimes shes such a tomboy.

This is little Remmerstiltskin taking her first bath. its so fun to finally have a fat baby. The othes always looked slightly etheopian. any, enjoy her rolls. I sure do!

NOT pregnant.

PLEASE know that I AM not pregnant. since that would be impossible, due to DR.s orders.... (remmy is just 6 weeks today) anyway, i found this old post i never posted and it made me chuckle. I dont know why I never posted it. I felt it deserved the light of day. enjoy.


Dear beautiful, slightly annoying baby,



Yes, you are on your way. Dad and I were excited to learn of you, although please tell any other might be siblings that they better move on to their next family in the formerly known Russian republic because this womb will be closed for repairs. Namely a tummy-tuck. also fine, I get it. I get that you dont like Orange juice, all I am doing is helping you. Dont you know folic acid decreases birth defects? Do you want a third eye? Just something for you to think about the next time you send me careening to the toilet. also, while you are in there could you tell the fat cells to redistribute? The boobs have had enough. I am starting to look like a freak show pamela anderson. Your oldest brother clay is under the impression that I poop you out, wipe with toilet paper, and am on my way. While this might actually be somewhat close to how you really do come out. I simply told him that after moms and dads get married Heavenly Father sends them a baby. He is now praying nightly for a baby to grow in his stomach. You should also know, baby that you are going to need a new crib when you come out. The one we have has gone through three kids and is trashed. I will put it together myself. You might as well know this about your dad now. he is not handy, but dont tell him that. He will get mad. So i will just do it myself while he is at work. also, please stop making me drool this is a very weird side affect that I have never had with the others. and singing the battle hymn of the republic at church on sunday and drooling on the hymn book was enough to make me cry. I dont think I can cover it up next time.

brick house

Remmy Renee' Byram born on 10/10/10. I want to type all kinds of witty things about how hard the delivery was. And about how my sister and I decided that I have developed a new kind of "labor Maturity" but seriously I am too tired. so enjoy the pics. More will follow the next time I can keep my eyes open all the way. PS I wish i could add that song Brick house to my blog. in case you didnt hear she was nine pounds three ounces. My biggest baby, I have a new respect for all of those women that have big babies.

I'm Freee

Oh another great year for my little Raegan. Just a short disclaimer before I begin. You will notice in the following pictures that Raegans hair is less than stylish. Let me just say that my kids always have full tummies, and full brains with lots of stimulation and learning. Although for the most part if you randomly knock on my door, yes they also have dirty faces/hands, and in this case messy hair, with or without oatmeal or the latest meal stuck in it. you may call them unkempt. I call them endearing. Notice this is my blog and my pictures and my points of view and if you dont agree, go read some fake persons blog whos kids are always perfect. (Are my antaganistic pregnancy hormones coming through? I am currently 38wks see how pleasant you are at this point.) alas, I digress.....

I love her little face! Can't you just see the excitment? she Especailly loves the Fur real friends kitten.

Blue and Orange forever...

Over Labor day weekend, RIch and I had the fam. come visit we mostly just ate a lot which is all we Hessings really do. Then we had a BSU party just for an excuse to eat some more. We tried to make is as big an event as my basement has ever seen, and since Clay and Lanes flooding stunts were so epic, it was hard to top. Meckenzie and I spray painted the kids hair and even my mom and dads. Actually now that I think about it everyone did it but me. At this point in pregnancy doing anything takes huge effort even showering. so lets just say its not something I do everyday anymore (but, I think rich still loves me).

SanFran, 2000 grad.

I know this is totally violating my no-picture slogan, but I couldnt post about it and not have proof it really happened. I went to my ten year reunion this past weekend. I know that is so surprizing because I appear to be a spry nineteen year old, I am acutallly closer to the big three zero. It was sooo great to see everyone. and nice to remember that I was young and in shape once, way back when.

It was time for our annual trip to the Les Schwab assistant manager meeting. This year it was in San Francisco again, and in no way was that a bad, thing. We went to see the Muir Woods national monument. Having no idea what it was. Rich kept teasing me that we would get there and it would be a plastic sign saying "redwoods used to be here before we cut them down to build houses." I told him that was very eliquently put and that he was probably right. Good thing we were both wrong and they were AMAZING.

This picture is Rich's imitation of all the homeless people we saw sleeping on benches. Why do homeless people sleep so much? Then wouldnt you know, he snapped one of me and said I should tag it, "pregnant woman found living in woods." Yeah he wasnt his best that day.

Rich demonstrating how big the trees really are.

summer swimin

My sister Meckenzie came and visited me for a few days (this would be a good place to put in a picture of the two of us looking brilliantly tanned and georgeous, alas, my no pictures until after baby ban prevented it.) We "borrowed" The in-laws blow up slide for the kids. I figure they are no longer in the country so anything that "was" theirs is now mine(s) If they have a problem with it, they can come home and stop me. Anyway the kids had a FANTASTIC time playing.

Raegan had so much fun playing with Mylee. She never gets girl time and It was so cute to see these little girls pushing their babies around in strollers. it makes me excited for baby #4 so Raegan can have someone to (torture) play with. THanks for visiting me Kenz!!! it was so fun to see you.!!

Stoddard Creek Camping

Our first official act of summer this year was a camping trip. It was soo much fun! I thought I would share some of the dirtiness with you because they're was plenty of that! obviously there was lots of fourwheeler riding. although I wouldnt reccomend going with Rich his idea of a kid approved trail and mine are totally different. I think my blood pressure is finally stabilizing after our last ride.

I love to see Clay give Raegan rides. she LOVES it. she is an outdoor girl for sure. Rich after going to pick up firewood. He loves doing things that make him look manly. complex? yeah, when you have five sisters I think its a given.

Rich trying to help Devin back down a hill that was too steep to climb. why the urge to prove he can climb a steep hill? complex? maybe but I dont know what Devin's excuse is.

The kids loved playing in this creek. and only one ever fell in!


of course roasting marshmellows, Charm and I decided that whoever invented that idea, (kids+fire+sharp poker= ???) is pretty um, stupid.

It was sooo much fun! Devin and Charm thanks for going with us, and Charm thanks for the pictures. its too bad we didnt get any of your beautiful face! PS if anyone is wondering, as I am now 6 months preg. dont expect to see me in any blog pics. until post baby. I know you're terribly sad about it.