So Sweet

This picture was taken last August when we were on a trip to Bear Lake and staying in a hotel. Some days I am so short on patience that I need pictures of my children when they are sleeping to remind me of how sweet they really are, and I especially love this picture with Ruby and Jakers all snuggled up together...they are the best of friends. I have even heard Ruby recently say that Jakers is her best friend. I hope it sticks, but I'm sure there will be times in their lives where they may not think they are friends. My older sister and I were, most of the time, really good friends. I'm sure though, that I was sometimes the annoying little sister who always wanted to tag along, and I remember even being bribed by my sister that she would give me her eraser collection (yes, I really did have an eraser collection...I know...pretty nerdy:)) if I would do her Saturday chores. And I did it...I wonder what Jakers has in store for him coming from HIS older sister. Kids are great!

Miles

Miles as a 1 year old!!

Jakers, Jersie, Miles, Ruby, and Savannah

Getting a taste of the cake

He enjoyed playing in it more than actually eating it!

He requested a monkey cake, so I made him one.

I can't believe my baby is one already!! It seems like the time goes faster with each child, and I feel bad because he has hardly any pictures of himself in the last year. I'm almost a month late posting this, but we did have a little birthday celebration for him. I decided to make him a monkey cake entirely because he requested it. How, you may wonder, does a barely one year old request a monkey birthday cake? Well, this is what happened. It was the morning of his birthday, and Jacob asked me if we were going to bake him a birthday cake. I responded that we would and asked Jacob what kind of cake he thinks Miles would like.

Jacob: "I think he would like another tractor cake." This of course is not because Miles has ever had a tractor cake, but because that was Jacob's last cake. This started our conversation with Miles which went something like this:

Me (to Miles): "Do you want a tractor cake for your birthday?"

Miles: shakes his head no and says "uh-uh"

Me: "Do you want a car cake for your birthday?"

Miles: shakes his head no

Jacob: "Do you want a truck cake for your birthday?"

Miles: shakes his head no and says "uh-uh"

Me: "Do you want an elephant cake for your birthday?"

Miles: shakes his head no and says "uh-uh"

Me: "Do you want a monkey cake for your birthday?"

Miles: shakes his head yes and says "uh-HUH"

So I made him a monkey cake. Could it be possible that my one year old actually knew what in the world he was talking about? Probably not, in fact, I'm quite certain that he had no idea what a monkey cake was, but nonetheless, I was pretty impressed that his head nodding and his words actually matched up.

Miles is at such a fun age. He is getting quite the personality and is at the age where you don't understand ANYTHING, but yet you can have complete conversations with him. He LOVES his siblings, and when I go to get him out of his crib after a nap, as soon as I pick him up he is looking over my shoulder and out the door to see where Ruby and Jacob are. He is still not walking, but I think within the next couple of weeks he will at least be taking steps. At his one year check up he was 19 lbs. 5 oz. and although that is not very big, he is actually coming UP the percentage scale. If I remember right, his height was around 18% and weight was 5 or 6%. His first word was pid-a-bil (peek-a-boo). He loves to put toys inside of other toys, or any opening he can find, and while I am getting ready for the day most mornings, he is busy throwing anything he can find and lift into the bathtub. He likes to sing, and the last couple of weeks especially, as soon as we walk into church, he starts singing along to the music. We are counting down until nursery time at church, because either Jake or I are usually out in the hall wandering with him for the last two hours at church. The two things that I can safely safely say he HATES are diaper changes, and shoes. He starts out almost every day with shoes and socks on, but they literally last maybe twenty seconds. He squirms and screams through every diaper change, but almost every other part of the day, he is the happiest kid you'll ever meet.

We are grateful for Miles in our home, and love him so much!! Happy Birthday buddy!

Ruby's Prayer

"Please bless Japan, and the people in Japan. Please bless all the people who are dead that they will get better."

When Ruby said this in her prayer, it really struck me. Although it's obvious that it is the prayer of a five year old, I thought it was a sincere and sweet prayer. She has asked me lots of questions about Japan since the earthquake/tsunami, and it amazes me how much she picks up on and her genuine concern for these people she doesn't even know. I think it also struck me because I served my mission in Tokyo and the people of Japan mean a lot to me. It sounds like the people who I knew are probably all ok, but it still makes me sad to think of all those hurting people. I pray that things will improve in Japan soon, and that the people will know that God loves them. We have been so blessed and sometimes it takes some big disaster to remember and realize that all the material things in this life don't really matter. Our families and friends are what do matter.

5 YEAR OLD!!!

She probably won't like me putting this picture on here, but I love it...doesn't every girl just need a good cry sometimes?

Ruby at 5 years old

I'm almost a month behind (but what's new???) posting this, but Ruby turned 5 last month...I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital, all the while wondering why in the world the nurses just let us leave the hospital without passing some test on how to care for newborns! The last five years with Ruby in our family have been great. It is so fun to look back and see how much she has grown up.

Here are some of her favorites :

Favorite Song: I Love to See the Temple

Favorite Color: Green and Pink

Favorite Food: Philly Steak and Cheese Sandwiches, and celery (kind of weird, but true)

Favorite thing to do: Play dress-up with friends and cousins unless swimming is an option...she would go swimming EVERY day if she could!

Favorite Show: Giselle (Enchanted)

Ruby also loves to ride the horsey (Daddy) and the old pony (Mommy), but mostly the horsey. She loves to help me cook dinner, especially peeling carrots, and stirring anything!

It's really fun to watch Ruby with her brothers...when I was pregnant with Miles and we found out he was a boy, Ruby sobbed, she wanted a sister so bad, but she LOVES her brothers. Most of the time she and Jacob play really well together, and she loves to help me with Miles by talking to him to keep him happy, feeding him, etc.

She is still obviously REALLY into princesses...for her party we made prince/princess crowns, played hot potato with a frog and a poisoned apple, found the missing glass slipper in dragon eggs, slayed the dragon, saved the princess, and ate castle cake... oh, and opened lots of fun presents from all her friends! We feel so blessed to have Ruby in our family, we couldn't have asked for a sweeter daughter. We love you Ruby!