Preston Turns 9!

9 years ago Preston came into this world, fat, happy, and easily. As a baby, Preston loved to take extra long naps, eat (steak at 6 months), and was always happy with whatever. He has remained the same after all of this time (except for the fat part). Preston is the only one of our boys with brown hair and eyes. He is also the tallest student in the 3rd grade at his school.

Preston is a lover of school, friends, his brothers, Cub Scouts, dates with family, tackle football, basketball, and Madden video games. He loves to eat Rheeses PB Cups, Butterfingers, pizza, and rootbeer. He is also very creative, and has loved to build Legos since he was 2.

We love you Preston!
Preston's cake at his family party. Below, Preston and his peeps, playing night games at the park.

Tyler's honest opinion...

Isn't he yummy?

Dane Turns 3!

My little brother, Blake, was kind enough to share Dane's family birthday party. He turned 23 this year. Thanks bro!!!Dane's life consists of eating, sleeping, and Thomas and Friends trains. He is the center of our universe, and knows it. Dane loves eating pepperoni, mandarine oranges, pizza, and pears. He is fearless, and was also potty trained this year. I just love spending my days with this little munchkin!!

Dane is also a birthday hog. He things every birthday is his birthday. Thank Heavens he is finally blowing out his own candles!

I love this action shot!

Cody's 11th Birthday!

Cody turned 11 over the summer, and we threw him a surprise party. He really was surprized. All of his friends hid in his room. When he walked in there, and he yelled, I thought he was going to hit the roof. So, funny!!!

Cody is constantly surrounded by boys who are positive influences in his life. We love them all so much. What more could parents ask for?

After they surprized him...

Tyler Turned 6 In April!

Tyler had a flag football party at the park with his brothers and all of his friends.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Every year I write a list of things that I learned over the last 12 months. This year, I only have one...

"Be yourself, no matter what, and love everybody for who they are."

With each year it becomes more clear to me how individual God made each of us. We are special and unique in so many complicated ways. I am learning how my faults make me who I am. I also realize that it is usually through the flaws of others that makes me love them so much more!

My words are short and quick these days. No time for metaphors and flowery sentences. But, what I am trying to say is, take me or leave me. And, i'll take you no matter what!

It has been a fantastic year, but I am ready for 2011, and to be 38 (Because I just LOVE even numbers). Bring it on!!!

8 Is Great!!

It was a special birthday for Preston this year, he turned 8! Here is the crew he invited to his party. We are so blessed that Preston has such fabulous buddies!

He wanted a Special Forces cake. It was a hit!!

Just before his baptism.

Preston felt loved and supported by his friends, Blake Taylor and Brit Flemming. What good boys!!!
The brothers.

We went to Sweet Tomatos after the baptism. It's Preston's favorite. We were lucky enough to have Grandma Coates in town. She gave Preston his Cub Scout shirt, and a journal. Both were very special gifts to him. We love you Grandma Coates!

Preston with Grandpa and Grandma Wilson. They gave him a really nice set of scriptures and a cool case. He brings them to church every week. We love you both!!!

More pics of the party. Crazy poses are our fave!!

CoCody made a "Pin the Football on the Special Forces Guy" poster for the party. The boys loved it!

Capture the Flag at the park.

Happy Birthday Preston!!
Ever since he was born Preston has been my easy going boy. He is very chill, and loves to relax and have quiet time. Preston loves school, Cub Scouts, basketball, football, and building things. He already says that he wants to be an electrical engineer when he grows up. It is fun to watch Preston with Legos, magnets, or anything else analytical. His mind loves to put things in order. We love this boy so much, and are proud of how he tries so hard in school and in everything that he does. Happy Birthday son! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Baby Dane Turns 2!

Two years ago, this month, Baby Dane came into our world. Because Dane was a breach baby, and because of some other complications, he came to us two weeks early via c-section. It was a special day, and we just cried when we saw a healthy baby. What a blessing he is to us!

Dane is the fourth and final of four boys. He turned 2, but thinks that he's 8. Dane enjoys Thomas the Train, The Wiggles, and playing with trucks. Tagging along with his bro's is also one of his favorite pass times. He got lots of trucks, a jack-in-the-box, new clothes, a pretend puppy, and new books for his birthday.

Now that the boys are all in school, Dane and I have alot of alone time together. We both love it. He is a shopper, and loves to go on drives with me.

Happy Birthday Dane!! We love you so much!!!

T-Bone

Tyler ("T", "Big T", "T-Bone") came into our world five years ago. He is our third of four boys, and we just love him so much. What a blessing this little spirit is in our family. Tyler came to us at a very busy time in our lives. It was an adjustment getting used to having three kids under the age of 5, but somehow we managed.

Tyler has always been a quiet, shy, easygoing child. However, do not be deceived. Tyler is very spunky if he feels comfortable. He has finally come out of his shell in the last year and will play at a friend's home, or try something new. One always know where they stand with Tyler. His very best friends are definately his brothers. Tyler calls them "The Brothers", and would choose to spend time with them over anyone.

Some of Tyler's favorite things are playing sports with "The Brothers", homemade pizza, Jello, Gummy Worms, Lego Star Wars, Lego Batman, the color green, reading, quiet time in the afternoon, sleeping in a bunkbed, Miss Stephanie's preschool, and hanging out with mom. Tyler is thrilled to be starting kindergarten in the fall (I will miss him during the day!).

It is a huge blessing in Tyler's life to have some really good friends from some really fantastic families. Tyler and his friend Eli tell everyone that they have "The Real Force" (From Star Wars, of course). Here is a look at Tyler's birthday week.

The birthday Package...
Tyler was surprised to get a package in the mail from Grandma Coates. One of the gifts inside was the shirt he is wearing in the above picture. He LOVES it! It is always fun to get mail...especially when you're 5!

The cake...
The table...
The water balloons...
The party...This is the first year that Tyler has not allowed any girls to be invited to his party. He was worried about receiving dolls as gifts for some reason. Warren has always wanted to have a family of all boys. I didn't care one way or the other, but I told him that if all boys really did happen, that he would have to run the birthday parties. I shop, plan, and decorate. Warren gets to be in charge of all of the action. He just loves entertaining these little monsters.
Pin the Light Saber on General Greivous (Made by "The Brothers")...

Homemade pizza...

"T" pancakes...On Tyler's actual birthday we had "T" pancakes and went out for ice cream that night. We wanted to make sure that he felt special.

Finally, this Sunday he gets to enjoy a special dinner with some of our extended family. On his menu...hamburgers, green salad with ranch, yellow jello, Doritos and Cheetos, and chocolate cupcakes. If it seems as though our birthdays last a week around here...your assumption is correct, with the exception of Warren's (His lasts two weeks!). Birthdays are special to us because we are so thankful for each of these gifts from our Heavenly Father. We want them to each feel that love from us.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER!

Happy Birthday Warren

Happy Birthday (on March 29th) to my one and only. Thank you for all of the good years. You are my best of friends. I love you more today than ever, even on the hard days. I know that you LOVE lots of attention on your big day. I hope that we did not disappoint this year!!! Happy Birthday Warren!

9 Lessons I Learned During My 36th Year...

The older I get the more I learn. Some lessons are painful, but most are sweet. Either way, I never regret the deck that Heavenly Father has handed me (Even though sometimes i'd like to tell Him to "Go Fish"). I know that He knows me, and that's enough.


1. Remember who's in charge...and it ain't me, that's for sure.


2. Trials are blessings. It might be a long time before you know what the blessing is, but you will see it at some point and be thankful.


3. Good friends are truly gifts from Heaven...enough said.


4. A strong relationship with your spouse makes EVERYTHING about life better.


5. The time you have with your children on this earth is short. Be thankful for every second. Love them, enjoy them, have fun with them...Even when they are all talking to you at the same time!


6. Know who you are, what you stand for, and never waver.


7. Everyday try to be a better person, even when you feel like you are failing miserably.


8. Don't judge. You never know what is going on in someone else's life.


9. It's O.K. to accept help from other people (I am still learning this one!).


p.s. If you're wondering why I don't post pictures lately, it's because I have had some computer issues. Exciting pictures to come, I promise!

I'm a Year Younger This Year!

Warren and I go back and forth about birthdays each year. He has a hard time turning older, while I am usually just thankful that my 20's are over. I don't pay much attention to age. In fact, Warren has to remind me how old I am most of the time. Last December my birthday went well. I turned 37, and went on with life.

A couple of months ago, at dinner with friends, we were discussing age. Warren asked me how it would feel to turn 37 this year. I quickly reminded him that I was already 37. "No, you're 36, I must have told you wrong last year."

I did not quite know what to do. Should I be happy, or mad? Afterall, I only got to call myself "36" for two months of my life. But then again, how many people get to be 37 for two years in a row?

And so, I am happy to inform you all that on December 18th, I will be turning 37...again.

The Cake

If you choose to continue reading posts following this one, you will read about Preston's 7th birthday.

However, I believe that the cake I made this year deserves it's very own post.


You will soon see why...


Two days, help from a good friend, alot of patience, two sheet cake mixes, and 4 containers of frosting later, this is what we came up with.


Someday Preston can read this and know that his mother truly loved him because no mother, in her right mind, would go through all of that unless she truly loved her son.


I love you Preston. Happy Birthday!!

Cody; "Helper"

On Saturday, July 25th, Cody, my right hand man, turned 9. I believe that there is a special bond between a mother and her first born child because they are learning together... Learning how be together, learning patience, learning boundries. Cody is an extraordinary child. He is known for his excellent memory. He could carry a conversation with an adult by two years old and could walk well before that. Cody is confident, smart, helpful, ambitious, athletic, has a testimony, a loyal friend, a leader, and truly wants to be good. This child reminds me when it is Fast Sunday, and always remembers who's turn it is to say family prayers. Cody loves his dad, mom, brothers, and Heavenly Father beyond measure. I love him so much. We are truly blessed to have this spirit in our home.

For his birthday this year Cody was given a choice. He could have his traditional party
with 15 friends, or choose just two friends and go out to dinner and a movie. Thank Heavens he chose the later!! Warren took the boys to see Ice Age 3 and then to the Golden Corral for dinner. Cody was given the choice of ANY restaurant and still chose the Golden Corral, a dream for any 9-year-old with a big appetite (And the main reason I didn't go and eat with them). Afterwards, they all came back home, did the waterslide, watched movies, and didn't go to sleep until one in the morning. Happy Birthday Cody!!!