testing...1..2..3..testing...

My computer is having major issues trying to post stuff on the blog. Hopefully this works. My calorie counter website isn't working either and I'm LOST with out it!http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov/

IN N OUT

We braved IN N OUT tonight. (The kids and I needed to get out of the house. Everyone's been a bit on the grumpy side today.) It's been open for over a month, and there is still a pile up in the drive through line and a full dining room. I didn't want to brave the 3 hour wait before. Luckily tonight we got IN N OUTta there in about 15-20 minutes. Not too bad. Boy, the burgers were worth the wait! I'm so glad they've come to TX!!!

The Fab 5, Now the Fab Ten!

Here is the before and after shots of us during pregnancy, and now with all our little ones. We are lined up in due date order (Hallie was due first). We didn't catch Teresa pregnant because her little guy came early at 24 weeks. But, we are SO thrilled he is thriving and doing well. He looks about the same size as the other babies his adjusted age! I'm so glad we got this taken before Suzi left. These women are so fabulous! I'm grateful we have become great friends through the pregnancy, post partum, and new baby process.

Goodbye, Suzi

I am SO SAD my good friend, Suzi, is moving away. Our kids have done preschool together the past 2 years, we each have 5 children, and we went through this last pregnancy together. We would both be sick and miserable, sitting on the bench at the park, hoping our toddlers would behave themselves so we wouldn't have to get up! :) It was a bonding experience! She was my stalwart visiting teaching companion, and her sweet husband was our fabulous home teacher. She has been a great example and comfort to me. We will miss their family so much.

Fireworks!

We are the testing ground for the fireworks program they put on at the Whitehouse. So our show is always a week early. It is an AMAZING display- and I think this was the best year yet! We walked over with our friends and were trying to find a spot to camp out to watch the fireworks and found this really close little area outside the park that hardly anyone was in. We thought we had scored big time and plopped ourselves down and settled in. Little did we know, there was a REASON no one else was there! It was an area roped off because it was TOO close! I've never been so close to large firework in my life! We were getting hit with sparks, ash, and shrapnel! You can see this big piece Cassidy is holding- CRAZY! We started to back up as the finale was coming on (all the kids were getting scared- rightfully so!), and it was the most spectacular ending I have ever seen. The entire sky was lit up for several minutes. It looked like bombs going off. I kept hearing the national anthem in my head "and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air." I managed to find my camera just as the last firework went off. Unfortuantely, I didn't get any shots. It was a great evening full of fun company and entertainment. God bless America!

Dick's Sporting Goods

We spent a good portion of our Saturday morning at Dick's Sporting Goods getting the supplies needed for Cade to start football. I can't believe all the gear he needs! As we were special ordering his helmet- the nice salesman in the golf dept steered me over to the putting green with the boys. They were really sad to leave! Jake and Luke were envious of Cade's helmet.

Two Jedi in a Pirate Boat

I won the contest!!!

I've been in a contest with 3 of my friends to see who could lose 10 pounds the fastest. Well, I weighen in Friday- and I DID IT! We went to gelato to celebrate yesterday. I forgot to take a picture of us. So here are some pics of my sweet boys entertaining Hallie while I exercise. :) They have been such great little cheerleaders through this weight loss journey. I still have a long way to go- but I've reached my first milestone! YAY!!

Swimmers

With Texas heat, we swim almost every single day in the summer. The kids have made great strides in the pool this year! I'm so proud of them! Luke was even swimming underwater without floaties yesterday! HOORAY! Jake is getting over his fear of the water (a little too fearless sometimes), and Hallie is our little water baby. I've been spending a lot of my own time in the pool too. My abs are still giving me trouble with my leg/hip, so I'm not able to do high impact exercise until that heals up. So I've taken to swimming laps in our pool. I'm looking forward to when I can get serious about running again, but I feel lucky I have swimming for an alternative!!

responsibility

So far "squirt" has been teaching the kids some responsibility. They clean out her make- shift tank on a fairly regular basis, especially when I suggest we drop her in a nearby pond. She tries to escape. She is quite the explorer. One day I came in from the grocery store and was washing my hands. I looked down in the sink and SCREAMED! There she was poking out of the disposal! I don't know how she managed to travel that far without getting hurt, but there she was. She scared me to death!

my first thumb sucker

Indoor Soccer Championship

Cade has done awesome in his indoor soccer league! We are so proud of him! His team made it to the championship game last night, and played really well against a super tough team. The first half they were killing us, but the second half we had an amazing come back. Unfortunately, we didn't quite pull it out in the end. But Cade scored some goals and hustled the whole game. The other team played really dirty, and I was really proud of Cade and his buddies for keeping up good sportsmanship regardless. It is so fun to watch Cade develop this talent.

Fathers

Just a shout out to all the fathers in my life. Chuck- my wonderful father in law. He is such a kind man. I sure miss living near him. Grandpa Jardine- even while under going chemo therapy, he flew out to meet little Hallie and be here for her baby blessing. Pops- my dad. He has done countless things for me. Helping to bring me into the world for one! Providing a fabulous life for me and my sisters and mom, taking us on fun trips, and best of all- teaching us the gospel. And lastly, but certainly not the least- Warren, my dear husband. He is everything to me. He is so hardworking, loving, fun, super involved with the kids, my eternal companion, and my best friend. I would be nothing without him. Thank you. Happy Father's Day!!

Cannon's blessing

Sure wish we could have been at the blessing, HJ! Love the pics!! Love YOU!!

love this!

LOVE THEM!

Pity Party

I'm having a pity party today. Both sides of our families are having family reunions this weekend, as we speak, within two hours of each other, and we are missing both of them. I think we are the only ones from both sides of the family who will not be attending. Sigh. Tears. My heart has been choking my throat for 3 days now. Texas is such a wonderful place for us to grow our kids, but it is during special times like these that it is truly a bummer to live so far away. I really wish we could have made the trip workout. We miss you all!

Family Temple Trip

Since having little Hallie join us, it's been trickier to get out to the temple. We decided the best way to do it was to take turns going in and doing temple work (since children are only allowed in the waiting area). I thought about getting a babysitter for the older kids and just taking Hallie. But then I thought it would be a good thing for the kids to go to the temple and to see Warren and I making the priority to take time to do the work. They had a fun time playing near the fountain and exploring the waiting area inside the temple. It was a quick trip, but I'm so grateful we were able to go and receive the spiritual fill we so desperately need in our lives.

splash parks and swimming pools

This is the only way to survive summers in TX. But we are LOVING it! We have been in the water almost every day this week and it's been a blast. I can't believe we have already wrapped up our first week of summer. It's going to be over in a blink. When we're not in the pool we've been playing with friends, cooking tasty treats, reading books, watching movies, or going to Chick Fil A. The only thing out there to rival summer is Christmas!

hallie julia

Or "hawie juwia" as Jake has named her. Now we all call her that. :)

Sweet Jakey is BACK!!!

Poor Jake, has had a rough go the past 4 months or so. I haven't known what to do with him. He has been unruly, hostile, naughty, defiant, a potty mouth, non-sleeper, you name it. But all of a sudden, this week, he's BACK! I don't know where he was, but I am so glad to have my sweetie around again! He's been snuggly, kind, obedient (as much as can be expected from a 2 year old that is the 4th child), silly and fun. I hope he will stay around for a long time! I have been in mourning these past several months. Now I am rejoicing at his return! I really missed my little buddy.

Summer fun has begun!!!

I look forward to summer from the first day of school. I LOVE having my kids home. We have been doing a lot of cleaning, learning how to do new chores, etc, but we have been filling our days with fun when we finish up. This was Monday- PIRATE DAY! After the kids got their work done, we had a treasure hunt around the house. I found these fun glow in the dark swords at the dollar store- they were a hit. As they went through the house there were different clues to prizes (i.e. ring pops, playdough, bubbles, pirate boats AKA cardboard boxes). It was so much fun! At the end the kids decorated their boats and played for most the afternoon.