Miles Ocean Friends

Lily @ 10 months

2011-10-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

Summer Fun 2011

2011-10-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

Lily went to her first movie...She lasted about halfway thru...lol ;) She did enjoy the popcorn though.

Swimming at friends houses...Always Fun...Lily in her little tube ;)

Lexi's Best Friend Sarah had an Ice Cream Birthday Party this summer and our kids had a blast!

Noah scooping up 'ice cream' into the bowl!

Lily enjoying an ice cream cone ;)

Lily at the Park being cute ;)

Best Buds

The boys ran a 5K together and Josh and I ran the 10K in July. This race was part of my half marathon training.

Happy Fourth of July ;)

Ran my first Half Marathon 7-4-11

earned my sticker on my car {thanks Tami}

This was the day I went to meet Josh at the Temple and when I got there he called to tell me he had gotten in a car accident. He was fine but needed to go home and deal with all the accident stuff so I still went to the temple. It was the first time I had ever gone to the temple by myself...When I came out I thought it might be my last time I would ever go to the Sacramento Temple so I snapped a picture of it with my phone...The Temple makes me happy ;) I will miss our temple trips here especially with my BF Tami :(

More Swimming {at Mackenzies}

Lexi's little neighbor bud Little Miss Taylor ;)
...and more swimming {at Taylor's}

Pioneer Day 2011

Spray Park with Adam, Taylor and Sarah

Train Ride with the Sarah and Adam

Sacramento Zoo with Sarah, Adam, Lola and Ella ;)

Best Friends with their matching shirts ;)

Lily the cheerleader lol ;)

Lexi helping Sarah around on Skates ;)

Folsom Outlets make us happy ;)

'The Blue Park'

Swingin High :0)

This park was fun because our kids would play 'Terminator' with Josh. He would wear his sunglasses and walk around picking up the kids and bringing them to the base. They would then try to sneak out of the base and Josh would walk around trying to re~capture them. {We only played this if there was no one else at the park lol}

Even the Stoeckle kids new this game

Tami's Baby Shower for Baby Aubrey

Baby Aubrey looking at her self ;) miss her...

Lexi's last dance class with Sarah and Lucy ;)

SIL April and I bought tix to this concert MONTHES ago and finally got to go!

Katy Perry's California Gurls Tour

It was way fun! We went to the Santa Barbara Bowl and This was Katy's last city on her tour and it was her home~town which was cute since she talked a lot about her life growing up around SB ;)

Our Summer in Elk Grove 2011

Lexi's Fairy Party

2011-09-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Lexi invited 11 little girls and 2 boys and I think all but one came...She has so many friends and loves to play with them so we had to invite them all...It was a great party and I think all the girls had a fairy fun time!

My Cute Little SIX year old Lexi!

They had a butterfly hunt outside...Lexi really wanted her best boy-friend to come but since it was a girly fairy party we invited him and his sister and then Cole helped hide the butterflies with Dalen, Noah and Adam -{Sarah's little bro} That way he didn't feel so out of place ;)

A Fairy Lunch ~ cheese, crackers, pepperoni, carrots and grapes

Dressed in their Fairy Best along with wings, hair jewelry, butterfly tiaras, and glitter butterfly stickers that were given to them when they entered the party...

All The Little Fairy Girls...

...and their Silly Faces :P

L to R: Gia, Mira, Julia, Ella, Stephanie's neice -{neighbor}, Nicole, Taylor, Macee, Sarah, Lexi and Lucy ;)

So Goofy...

Her Loot ;)

And Lily enjoyed the Party, actually she slept thru most of it lol ;)

Jazz Dance Class 2011

2011-09-08T09:36:00.000-07:00

Oops, I forgot these cute pictures lol...

My Little Jazz Sweetie ;)

Miss Nancy fixing her girls for the picture...

Practice, Practice, Practice...

This year Lexi was wanting to try something new at dance class, so we dropped her tap/ballet class and gave the jazz/hip-hop class a try. She loved the more up-beat type dancing it offered and she made some new fun friends...They learned an adorable dance to 'Cuban Pete' from The Mask and performed at the annual Dance Recital...The costume was way cute and Lexi did a great job on her performance...Even though now she is a little embarrased of the dance...It is very Cha-Cha-ish Lol...

Doing some Jazz Excercises in class...

{Lexi in her purple Hello Kitty shorts}

Dance Recital Day

July 27th 2011

Ready for her Dance Recital Rehearsel ;)

Dance Friends

Lexi's Friends who came to support her and a couple who were in other dance classes too...

From Left; Courtney, Taylor, Sarah, Lexi and Megan

A little Blurry...Couldn't get it to focus right...but she is on the Left at the end...

Twilight Camp 2011

2011-09-07T22:41:00.000-07:00

I love my Boys and they loved Scout Camp therfore I love Scouting ;)

Deveon is our newest Wolf Scout...His first order of business after he turned 8 was to go to Twilight Day Camp...He loved it!

Dalen now a Bear loved hanging with his friend Steven at all the different rotations...Steven and his family moved away a week before we did this summer :(

Dalen and Deveon shooting rubberband guns...These were way fun!

Weird Carts that the boys had to work together to race...

Indoor craft time ;) Rain Sticks...

The last day we had pizza with our Pack and they had a fun water slide ;)

Dalen took Noah down twice...This is the second time going down and he didn't like it as much as the first time...??? ;)

Last Day at Elk Grove Elementary

2011-09-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

Little did we know this was their last day officially at Elk Grove Elementary...We have really loved the time we had at this school...We have made some fun friends and will always remember the Kindergarten Circuses! Dalen was an Elephant, Deveon a Tiger and Lexi was the Ring Mistress...Dalen was lucky enough to have a Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Weinstock whom was well known in our community as being an amazing teacher and had by many people from around town! She was amazing! She retired that year but my kids would occasionally get her as a sub every now and then. I was able to be an art docent one year and helped out at some of the fun events they had and helped in their classrooms occasionally. EGE was a great school and will be missed! GO EAGLES!

Dalen {3rd Grade}

2011-09-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Open House 2011

Noah at one of Dalen's Award Assembly

'Hi Dalen'

Dalen with his 3rd Grade teacher Mr. Alessi

Deveon {2nd Grade}

2011-09-02T23:58:00.000-07:00

Deveon's 2nd Grade Teacher Mrs. Petterle

Sorting...

A little Fish bowl

Dinosaur Unit

Art

Open House 2011

Lexis {Kindergarten}

2011-09-02T23:55:00.000-07:00

Lexi's Kindergartner Teacher Mrs. Grover

{Kindergarten Circus}

Open House 2011

Favorite Subject was Art ;)

Showing Sarah the caterpillar/butterfly garden

Lexi's Writing Skills Throughout the School Year...

July...

January...

May...

More Writing...

More Art...

Ready For School...

At an Assembly for the boys one morning...

White Water Rafting

2011-07-26T00:02:00.000-07:00

In June we went down the South Fork american River. We were signed up to go down the Middle Fork but the week before we had a heat wave and the rapids were too big so they closed it...Boy am I glad that they had us go down the South Fork {easier of the three} because I thought I was gonna die! It was crazy and I definitley am glad to have checked that off my bucket list along with the other few that I will do just once, skydiving, karaoke, and the roller coaster X2 @ Magic Mountain...Lol ;)

Our group: Me, Josh, his dad Kent, his bro Jesse, his sis April and her hubby Eric

Fun Memories and Fun Times!

This is when Kent traveled over to my side and I swear I thought we were gonners Lol...

Josh is in front on right and he is falling overboard and Eric pulls him back in...

and here is my favorite...from front right clockwise: Josh, Eric, Me, Tourguide Sam from Australia, Kent, April and Jesse...We look like we know what we are doing...;)

Are we even there still?? lol, Just Kent...

I love this where Jesse looks like a little kid ;)

Dalen & Deveon Sponge Bob Party

2011-07-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

Dalen turns 9 and Deveon turns 8!

Deveon, Dalen and Noah ready for a Sponge Bob Square Pants Party!

Everyone got to make a Sponge Bob for the water games...

Then we had Water Baloon Tosses

Dalen and his friend Elijah won both rounds of that...

Happy Birthday to Dalen

and Happy Birthday to Deveon!

Folsom Lake

2011-07-21T00:03:00.000-07:00

...More Flosom Lake ;)

April 2011

I love this chubby little hand ;)

The boys exploring and playing

And our day ended with Noah almost stepping on a baby rattle snake...Josh came to our rescue and killed it with a rock...Gotta protect our babies ;) and seriously, Noah was like an inch away from stepping on him...

Folsom Lake

2011-07-20T23:44:00.000-07:00

Hope you are enjoying your summer as much as we are...One of our favorite places to go up here in Sacramento is Folsom Lake. These were pictures from back in May right before summer began and gets to crazy here at the lake. I love days like this when it's just the little family hanging out ;)

We found a water spider. We kept throwing it back out into the water and watched it crawl back to us ;)

Easter 2011

2011-07-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

We crashed some other Christian Church's Easter Carnival...It was fun!

Easter Carnival

Easter Egg Hunt

Our Easter Baskets

Our Easter Eggs

Our Easter Best ;)

Deveon is Baptized

2011-07-18T00:05:00.000-07:00

Deveon's Baptism

June 4th 2011

We had my parents, Josh's parents, Uncle Jesse and some friends from our ward come be a part of Deveon's baptism. Uncle Jesse gave the Holy Ghost Talk and Deveon's Sunday School teacher Sister Hutchings gave the talk on Baptism.

Our kids sang 'When I am Baptized' while Deveon changed after he was baptized. Here are all the kids waiting for Deveon to get dunked ;)

Deveon listening to our Bishop welcome him into our ward as a member of the church.

Dalen and Deveon with Uncle Jesse ;)

Alaska Cruise 2011 Part One

2011-06-08T19:30:00.000-07:00

Day One

Exploring the Ship

Our waiter preparing the finishing touches of the Filet Mignon Dishes we ordered, tableside.

Dinner on the first Night we went to the SS United States Specialty Restaurant...We thought we would give it a try.

After Dinner Pictures

Josh's sister April and her husband Eric

Day Two

Sea Day * Lazy Day

This is me and SIL April ready for dinner on our first formal night.

After dinner they had a show in the ship's theater. The ship had a couple of aerialists that were pretty amazing. Jocka and Maria. Jocka was on an olympics team in Portugal and had years of gymnastics and circus training under his belt and was now working as an solo aerialist on the ship. Maria was a Penn State Eagles cheerleader that had gotten a job with Celebrity Cruises as a dancer on board. She was really interested in learning about his act and it took off from there. He taught her everything and they were amazing! They pretty much performed every night and everyone loved them! Including me ;)
Check them out in the Celebrity Singers and Dancer Video at the end...

Roses from the Captain because they love us and we are part of their Captain's Club for going on so many cruises! ;) The roses were in our room when we got back...

Alaska Cruise 2011 Part Two

2011-06-08T19:15:00.000-07:00

Day Three
Adventure Karts in Ketchikan, Alaska...

I rode for about 20 minutes and then opted to go and wait back at camp and hang with the locals since I didn't want to be a baby on the karts anymore. I had done these same Karts in Hawaii however I drove in a kart with April and watched as Josh tipped his Kart over in front of us. So this time after whining to him about going too fast even though we were way behind the group, I chose to go back to camp and wait instead of yelling at my hubby...
They had fun ;)

Somewhere out at Sea...Funny thing is that everyday our Captain would come on the P.A. and let us know what latitude and longitude we were at...In case we wondering where we were...The comedian even made a joke about the captain and how he could've told us we were in Omaha while laughing at us...

Josh says I made a new Egyptian friend lol ;)

Ready for Dinner...

Day Four

Tracy Arm Fjords and Juneau, Alaska

Early morning we cruised through the Tracy Arm Fjord and there were icebergs everywhere...We had breakfast brought to pril and Eric's suite and we ate on the balcony while we cruised through the Fjord. Video at the end...

It of course reminded me of how cold Jack and Rose probly were ;)

Juneau, Alaska

In Juneau our ship docked early so we went into town for a bit before our excursion started. There were some shops that we went in and I wanted to find some things for the family back home ;)

Josh in a Russian Hat at one of the local stores...Did you know the U.S. bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million ;) They had a lot of Russian things for sale there...like lots of Russian Nesting Dolls...

Had to have a picture of a Totem Pole...I got the boys mini statues of Totem Poles here and an Ornament Cruise Ship for our Christmas Tree that has Alaska Cruise on it. Lexi got a charm bracelet with a charm I collected from each stop at a certain store at each stop. It was like a scavengar hunt that me and April were on ;)

Back at the Port waiting for our Tour to start...You can see the other side of Juneau across the water. They had a bridge you could drive to get to the other side...

Juneau was 79 degrees that day...Just BEAUTIFUL

Here is the Mendenhall Glacier. It looked nothing like I pictured it ;) not bad but just different...

Really Huge Waterfall

I made Josh taste the water with me...It was way yummy!

Video at the end of the Post...

We spotted a Porcupine on the trail back to the Ship... Side Note: Our Tour Guide told us we had one hour to explore on our own at the Glacier Visitor Center...Me and Josh chose to hike all the way down to the Glacier and Waterfall but we had to be fast so we could get back in time...we got back and we were loading onto the bus and some guy didn't make it back in time and we left without him! Lol! These Tours don't mess around!

Salmon Bake Was Yummy

After we ate we walked this little trail and found another waterfall...It was beautiful ;)

...and we found an old Mine from the Klondike Gold Rush

Ready for Dessert after a long Day in Juneau...

Love to see all the other cruise ships at the different ports of call...This ship will be home to one of my SIL's sister in two weeks!

What a beautiful day in Juneau

Alaska Cruise 2011 Part Three

2011-06-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

Day Five

Skagway, Alaska

While waiting on our bus to start our Tour we look out the window and thought that was our 'really long ship' {It was two ships and we couldn't tell where they ended} Lol. We're silly ;)

On our way to our Horseback Riding Excursion we had a really funny Tour Guide...{Picture Andy from 'Parks and Rec' totally Cowboy'd up} He was telling all sorts of funny and not so funny jokes on the way and told us the history about this little train town in Alaska {Klondike Gold Rush} He would spot out these baby Bald Eagles and we were like what? Where? This is a cropped/zoomed picture, so I pointed it out...

Horseback Riding in Skagway. Here we are in Lynn Canal at the end of our horse trail through a rainforest. Another BEAUTIFUL day in Alaska at 79 degrees...

Josh on Moose, April on Weyland, Eric on Doc, and me on Spike ;) Spike was slow and loved to snack along the way...So did Josh's horse. They didn't really like to listen to us...{picture 3 year olds who know we are not his parents} I fell in love with my horse...look at him eating in our picture...

On our way back to the Ship...A closer Bald Eagle Sighting ;)

Viewpoint in Skagway

And I spotted a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints building ;) woohoo members in Alaska!

...and more Totem Poles

After Dinner at 11pm ;)

Amazing Dessert Buffet...too bad we were still full from dinner to try any of it...instead we burned some calories by dancing ;)

Day Six

Sea Day * Lazy Day

Today I got my Full Body and Scalp Massage, and Facial and me and Josh bummed around the ship like two peas in a pod...We also found time to hit the gym ;)
Before Dinner we went to the Show to see the Singers and Dancers Perform along with the Aerialists...They had amazing costumes for every show!

Tonight I made Josh take me to dinner by going down the pretty stairs in the dining room...He asked 'do you want me to wait for you down at the bottom like Jack, too?' That would've been cute ;)

Me and April wanted pictures by the stairs but Eric didn't budge...So stubborn! And I will get you to dance! ;) But we had fun getting perfect pictures!

I love Eggplant and tonight they had Ratatouille so I had to take a picture to show the kids...It was yummy!

Alaska Cruise 2011 Part Four

2011-06-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

Day Seven

Victoria B.C., Canada

Oh we did go out of the Country Lol ;)

Yes, we finally saw Orca Whales

Strange to see a Urinal at an intersection, eh? ya hoser.

...also saw a t-shirt that said { why do Canadians say 'EH?'...because it's BETTER than saying 'HUH?' } Lol...

...and yes I am half French Canadian ;)

Gorgeous Evening Weather and Gorgeous City

The Podium Sports Pub yummy burgers and Yam Fries and we got to watch Game 2 of the NBA Finals! It was fun to cheer with a bunch of the local Canadians...;)

I say to April, referring to the picture Josh is about to take of me in front of this Canada Mall...'April, Get in!' and she sees a Taxi and was like 'What!?!' Lol...funny girl!

The Empress Hotel

Parliament Building...Looked like Disneyland ;)

...and a Totem Pole...in Canada!?

Later that night I 'dragged' Josh out dancing one more time on our last night of the cruise...:(
My packing consisted of shoving clothes into my suitcase which was one of the Cruise Directors tips for packing...;)

Seattle, WA

Before the Flight Home

We had hours to kill before our flight home so we booked one last excursion on the ship to see Seattle, WA a little more up close and personal...We learned a lot more than we wanted to about Seattle and it's history...It was pretty cool though. We learned

The Underground City - We took a tour of the old city that was built before they learned of the seasonal tide changes and flooding would occur and dirty toilet water would stink up their town every day...

The first Flush Toilet and pump system was in Seattle, WA

First Nordstrom was started here

Amazon.com started here

Bill Gates and Paul Allen both born in Seattle and were friends {cofounders of Microsoft}

First Movie Theater with Sound here

The Experience Music Project next to the Space Needle Building...Forbes named it one of the world's ugliest buildings Lol ;)

First Sound Movie Theater now home to a Banana Republic ;)

The First Nordstrom opened as a shoe retailer}

Here's the original Nordstrom ;)

Smith Tower - The oldest Skyscraper in Seattle {a family lives in the pyramid at the top} click to see their home

Us standing on a skylight above one of the old underground sidewalks...

Underground Tour {Original water System}

...and another Totem Pole and our Ship in the background :(

Pike Market where fish fly thru the air to the bagger when they are sold ;)

Starbucks Headquarters

Boeing Company working on some new jets or something...;)

That's All ;)

See Videos Below ;)

Alaska Cruise Videos

2011-06-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

GO LAKERS!

2011-05-05T00:21:00.000-07:00

Lily @ 8 months

2011-05-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

Here I am sitting pritty for mommy's photo shoot of some new Princess Prittys

I love watching the kids play outside...and now they even bring me outside with them ;)

Here I am sitting up and playing with whosever toys I can get my hands on ;)

Mommy just brought out all of my new Spring/Summer clothes she saved from Lexi...Boy do I have a lot of new cute things to wear! Here I was getting ready to spend a day with Auntie Tami while all the big kids went to Six Flags with Mommy and Daddy...

Here I am chillin in my car seat at the park one day watching the kids play...

Mommy was trying out some new picture taking app on her phone and since I was wearing another one of my new cute outfits she decided to practice some shots on me ;) whatever...

Here I am flying {low} on a swing for the first time...It was kinda fun for about 3 minutes but then I had had enough!

General Conference Weekend

2011-05-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

Since Josh works most Saturdays we DVR all the GC sessions and try and watch what we can on Sunday and throughout the rest of the week...

This year I decided to print off some General Conference packets I found online at Sugardoodle.net for the kids to work on while we watched our Prophets and Leaders speak to us on TV...They worked on them in the morning after breakfast and then towards the end of one session they got ancy and so outside they went since it was great weather out... After lunch we decided to try the bingo cards I printed out and we were able to get through a whole entire session without any complaints or boredom! It was even a great way to listen since me and Josh didn't really care too much aout winning so sometimes we would forget we were lietening for certain words but the kids were quietly listening for certain words, phrases and names all during the talks...we used Reese's pieces for markers and they would win a funsize Reese's PB egg {new smaller ones} for anytime anyone got a BINGO!

even Lily was good during Conference ;)

{photo taken by Deveon}

Hope everyone enjoyed their Conference weekend!

To hear the words of our Prophets click here

I like to look for Rainbows

2011-05-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Rainbows along the 5 FWY Northbound from our trip to So CAL...and the camera still does not do them justice...they were beautiful ;)

Still Smiling...

2011-05-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

While we were in So California for the marathon my parents took Noah and Lexi to Disneyland...Noah picked out this hat and a Mickey coin bank and Lexi got a princess umbrella, and a princess diamond with stand {paper weight} and a new Minnie Mouse bag. They had a lot of fun...This photo was taken a few days after we got home from our trip...He had to have the hat with him all the time even when he went to sleep along with his mouse bank ;)

LA Marathon 2011

2011-04-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

LA's Big 5K

{Josh chose our nicknames...Dalen was donut and Deveon was cheeto}

Josh and I ran with Dalen, Deveon and cousin Bella

These kids did so awesome...there were like 4 hills during the route and they finished strong ;) We were bummed that Maya and Auntie April missed out since Maya broke her little arm the day before but we were glad to have Bella still come with us...

Uncle Jesse ran the race with cousin Kenzie since they could run a little faster...

The next race we need to run for a cause, I think this one looks good...lol

LA Marathon

{Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica Pier}

In the POURING RAIN! Here's a 2 minute course video...

Josh 4:59

Eric 3:53

So proud of these guys!

Here's a video clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live...they were out there in the Marathon route tricking people with nailed down water bottles...how mean can you be seriously! It was pretty funny though, thought I'd share ;)

Mastro's for April's Birthday

2011-04-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

We helped April celebrate turning 25 ;) during our trip to So. Cal for the Marathon...Her hubby took us all out to Mastro's Steakhouse and we had a great time showing Uncle Jesse {our Returned Mish} the fun, fancy and way yummy food they have there...

Me and Hubby

April and Eric

Auntie April and Uncle Jesse

Kent and Pam

The Ever Famous Mastro's Seafood Tower

{which included Cavier, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Crab Legs and Blue Point Oysters}

Josh showing Uncle Jesse how to properly eat a Blue Point Oyster

{which by the way is so yummy ;)}

Noah the King of the 'Poilet'

2011-04-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

We finally did it!

Official Date of Potty Trained...March 10th 2011

He's a big boy now!

{after a full week of 'all nay~nay' (naked) time}

...and he is getting cuter by the minute!

{ and if you didn't know, his favorite color is ORANGE! }

{ If anyone figures out how to pause time or slow it down please let me know ASAP! }

dal and lily

2011-04-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

This boy loves to make Lily laugh ;)

Since the kids are off track this month Dalen usually makes Lily a bottle in the morning and brings it into her {playroom} where she sleeps so he can then play on the computer. {That was our rule if he wanted to go in there early when he wakes up} but I think he kinda looks forward to her little happy smiles in the morning...;)

Such goofiness ;)

Lexi's Kindergarten Circus 2011

2011-04-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

Ring Mistress Lexi

...and her Ring Master, Cole

{buddy from church}

Getting ready for the show...

Enjoy some of the show ;)

After the Show...

Lexi and her teacher Mrs. Grover

Lexi and her #1 Fans, Sarah and Adam ;)

{her brothers were there too but Noah was being a stinker and Dalen and Deveon had to go back to class}

Later we went to Golden Corral for lunch to celebrate and we took our babysitter MissKenzie with us cause she's way fun!

{she was there at the circus because she is Cole's cousin}

Test

2011-04-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

Just checking to see if the Blogger/Picasa photo upload issue has been fixed...I have so many posts waiting to be published but the pictures keep disappearing every time I publish the posts!...Just testing it out...Is this happening to anyone else? I always upload my edited pictures through Picasa's 'Blog This' feature but a lot of people have posted complaints and they are working on a solution to fix it...They just said today some blogs have been worked but not all...

Preview of a post to come...Lexi's Kindergarten Circus...

Aladdin Kids Musical

2011-03-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

This year Dalen was cast as a Head Guard and this time he was given more lines and stage time...He was really good and loud. He made a great guard! I worked back stage again helping the kids on and off with their props and cues. I also helped the costume director with making all the hair accessories, Jasmine's crown, feathers for the turbins on the boys, and all the hair-styles...It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed getting to know more of the moms this year ;)

The Cast of Aladdin Kids Musical

Dalen as Head Guard

'Yes, Jafar!'

'Seize him!...Get lost, street mouse before I chop your tail off!...I have strict orders from Jafar, Princess...It's the chopping block for you boy, Move It!...'

These are a few scene clips I was able to get from the sidelines backstage. Dalen's lines are above...My favorite part was the 'Prince Ali' song entrance...

Aladdin and Jasmine singing 'A Whole New World'

Jafar and Iago

Skeleton Prison scene

Dalen and one of his fellow guards singing one of the songs

The last scene singing 'A Whole New World' reprise

Our First Pinewood Derby

2011-03-11T17:30:00.000-08:00

Dalen with 'The Tank'

Should the cubmaster's son have won? Yes...

...Did Josh and I really know what we were doing? No...and Dalen blames us for coming in last...

I thought his was the cutest one there---but I guess this isn't a cutesy pageant...

Next year we are coming full force

I explained to him that night that since he was our guinea pig kid he would need to be patient with us and that by the time Noah has his pinewood derby race, his race car would kick-butt! --with Dalen's help of course...That made him feel better ;)

Don't you love Lily 'eating her finger' as Noah says...

Lily @ 6 months

2011-03-03T13:13:00.000-08:00

Happy 6 months to Lily!

March 4th 2011

These are my new tricks;

Assisted sitting and reaching for way fun things that belong to my older siblings ;)

Grabbing my feet ;)

Playing with toys even if I drop them half the time ;)

Watching the kids play Angry Birds on the iPad ;) {little do they know I could beat all the levels if I could just get my hands on it}

Still hate to eat food ;) but I do love my baba time...

The only thing I really like doing in my high chair is playing with toys til I fall asleep ;)

Love to go shopping for all the attention from strangers ;)

and I do LOVE a little jamba juice from mommy's straw

At Music Makers I rock my boots during singing time ;)

And this is me all dolled up ready to go see Dalen's play 'Aladdin'

And of course going to Church and showing off all my cute clothes mommy puts me in ;)

I am also now sleeping in my own room/playroom and almost regularly sleeping through the night. If I do wake up Daddy comes to get me and gives me to mommy who feeds me a baba and then puts me back in my pack and play. I can pretty much hold my own baba and I love watching tv with the kids ;) Big brothers and Sissy help take care of me a lot and even Dalen has successfully given me a bath. They even put me down for naps occassionally. I am a lot to take care of but somehow all 6 of those people at my house manage to do it ;)

L.O.V.E

2011-03-02T11:07:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day 2011

Me and my little Valentine Lilypie ;)

Cute little Valentine outfit from Grandma Dubois

Lexi and I went with my friend Tami to get our toes done in the morning to get ready for our night out with the hubbies. Lexi got her toes and fingernails done too ;)

Josh and I went with Tami and Erick to Morton's Steakhouse here in Downtown Sacramento. It was really good shared with great company...I love going out and having an excuse to get dressed up. After long days of just being mom and housewife it's nice to look forward to days where I get to be a little fancy and hang out with my favorite person, Josh ;)

Number 10

2011-02-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

This December was our 10 Year Anniversary

We made our night extra special by staying at the same hotel as we did after our wedding reception. It was tricky with a 3 month old plus four kids but we did it! {Big Thanks to both grandparents for taking the boys and baby Lily and Auntie Steph for taking Lexi} We started out by going to Muvico at the Thousand Oaks Mall and then did a little shopping to find a fancy dress to wear that night.

Me in our Hotel Suite waiting for our ride to pick us up --- I know right, we were fancy by having a car pick us up ;)

I told my SIL April that I wanted to go somewhere fancy for dinner that week before and she told us about Mastro's Steakhouse that her and her hubby go to when they want a fancy night out and so I made reservations and invited her and Eric to join us. It was great to have them there with us since they've seen us all through our marriage. They picked us up at our hotel and they even had music playing from when we were dating in the car! We had a great time at dinner just catching up and enjoying a very elegant dinner with no kids at our sides ;) Eric even picked up the tab which was a few pretty pennies ;) How nice was that!?! It was a very romantic night out and thanks to the Valuseks treat it made it even more special ;)

...and seriously the BEST Steak EVER!

We ate oysters for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed the Caviar, Crab Legs, Shrimp, Bone-In Filet Mignon, and some really yummy sides of sweet potato fries, and gorgonzola mac n cheese along with creme brulee and chocolate pudding cake for dessert topped with some really good whipped cream...

Here's to 10 years! - and SO glad to be done with having babies! Now to raising them into happy healthy little people!

More from Christmas...

2011-02-21T21:00:00.000-08:00

A picture that was forgotten in my Christmas post; Josh opening up his new iPad...which we ALL Love...We were so spoiled by our families this year at Christmas and I hope they all know how much we love and appreciate all they give and do for us and all the support and love they give to us and our children...Our kids love Christmas in Simi and we have so much fun visiting with our way fun families!

X2 @ Magic Mountain

While we were down in Simi at Christmas me and Josh took the boys to Six Flags so we could just go on some big rides...We went on this ride that we, first stood in line 2 hours for and second, as we got closer and closer I kept thinking to myself 'why are soo many people waiting in this line for this ride?'...Along the line they had these billboards for the ride saying things like 'Are you a type X personality?!'...At first I didn't think anything of it since Dalen and Deveon were allowed to ride it. But then I started looking at the billboards more closely and I started to get a little more worried but I had already invested so much time in the line I just let it go...however I tried to get out of it as we got closer after I saw how the ride was set up...It looked so scary as I realized you started out going backwards and sometimes you faced the track and other times you were facing the sky...I don't know it was just SCARY! I can't believe I let Deveon and Dalen ride it...but they absolutley LOVED it! They thought it was funny to see me so scared! I felt like I had no control over myself...it was way crazy...Never going on that again...I think I labeled it a roller coaster on crack! lol...

Dalen and Deveon waiting in line for the crazy ride

The kids had a blast playing with their Simi cousins. Lexi was able to share some sleepovers with her cute cousins Maya and Bree. who are her age...Dalen and Deveon had Kenzie and Bella sleep over at Grandma Miles {where we were staying} and Lexi went over to Maya's to stay. Then another night Lexi had Bree spend the night at Grandma's and Lexi spent the night at Bree's house a couple days later ;) It's great that they are all finally old enough where it's easy to take care of them...I feel like we have all had all these little kids for so long so now that there a little older it's way fun!

Lexi and Bree

Getting ready for book time

The three cute girls on their way to the movies for Grandma Miles birthday! Lexi and Maya are being crazy silly girls...but Bree looks great! ;)

A couple days after Christmasmy SIL April and I took all 11 of our kids to the Ronald Reagan Library a few days after Christmas to see the decorated Christmas Trees...I grew up across the street from this Library and had never once been there to see this magnificent tree trimming thing they do each year...It was beautiful...Every year they do smoething different. This year they decorated trees in each decade of American History. They had all kinds of different ornaments that had to do with that decade of history. It was way cool ;)

The Three Amigos; Noah, Linkin and Diego ;) in front of one of the historically decorated trees, of course the one that had a train...

1980-1989 {The decade of me ;) }

2000-2009 Tree {our present tree}

There were also other beautifull decorated trees around...
My favorite: The Princess Tree

and of course the ever famous replica of the White House

Blessing Day for Lillian Belle Miles

2011-02-19T00:07:00.000-08:00

Her Dress: Nordstrom $35, bow made by mommy

Her Quilt: Made by Aunt Julie

Her Smile: Priceless

We blessed Lily the day after Christmas when all our family could be together.

In the blessing circle:

L-R; Uncle Jason, Uncle Jared, Grandpa Miles, Daddy, Uncle Eric and friend Noah Barlow {whom I went to elementary school with}

Mommy and Daddy with our Lillian Belle ;)

Dubois Grandparents

Miles Grandparents

Lexi and Noah with cousin Bree

The Group

Linda

My Cute Little Pre-teen Niece ;)

2011-02-15T20:46:00.000-08:00

So I text my almost 12 year old niece tonight to ask her what she wants for her birthday and this was her reply in like 6 texts;

Ill send u my bday wish list but i dont expect to get all of them just one or something :-) -K
FWD: Birthday Wish List; 1. Black Cap 2. Credit Cards/Birthday Money 3. Dominoes 4. The Game Life 5. Anything Justin Beiber. (Perferobly a shirt or CD.
) 6. Radio 7.New theme or at leaste bed spread for my room. (At least paint it a different color.) 8.Own video/camera. (Because my phone doesn't take videos and I need pictures for my scrap book.) 9. New cloths. 10. ? That's all I got for now. THANKS! Send to the whole family. (WILL SEND #10 11 12..ECT WHEN I FIGURE THEM OUT SO WHAT OUT FOR MORE. :-) ) FWD: Birthday Wish List (Continude) 10. Big Fluffy Giant Teddy Bear from Target. (Perferobly the light-brown one. Not the blackish-brown one) Ill keep u in touch for 11...12..ect

I Love Her ;)

PS You heard her Miles family...now get shopping :P

Talk on Family Prayer

2011-02-13T15:59:00.001-08:00

Yesterday Josh and I gave talks in church. Mine was on Family Prayer and his was on Learning from the Scriptures...It's always so funny how we learn the most out of anyone as we sit and ponder what the Lord wants us to teach. Right now in my little family we are working on having better scripture study and family prayer habits. It's actually going really well however as I was preparing this talk I realiized we weren't praying half as much as the prophets counsel us to. So I thought I would share ;) It has a lot of really great quotes from different prophets from our Church. {The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints} Quotes are Large, Personal Stories are Purple and Scripture References are Italicized. ;)

Modern prophets have consistently taught that family prayer is essential if we are to protect our families from the perils of today’s world.

President Gordon B Hinckley has taught us on many occasions of the importance of family prayer. In a general conference address he was plain and to the point with “Parents, safeguard your families…Pray together. There is no substitute for family prayer when all kneel together before the Lord.” He counsels us that nothing can take the place of kneeling with our families and petitioning God for His help, guidance, and mercy. If we would help save and strengthen our families, nothing else we do can replace family prayer.

He also counsels that a “return to the old pattern of prayer, family prayer in the homes of the people, is one of the basic medications that would check the dread disease that is eroding the character of our society.”

This is counsel that other prophets have consistently given us throughout the history of the church. President Heber J. Grant shared his feelings about family prayer: “I am convinced that one of the greatest things that can come into any home to cause the boys and girls in that home to grow up in a love of God, and in a love of the gospel of Jesus Christ, is to have family prayer. … I believe that there are very few that go astray, that very few lose their faith, who have once had a knowledge of the gospel, and who never neglect their prayers in their families, and their secret supplications to God.”

As an adolescent I did not have the opportunity to pray together with my family. We were still learning how to go to church every Sunday for 3 hours being that I joined the church at age 14 and my mother a year after me. Praying to Heavenly Father was very new to us since the Catholic church taught us prayers were to be memorized and recited to the Lord. I remember being so scared to pray in front of the young women at meetings let alone praying in front of my own family…It took some getting used to. And now I don’t even remember what it is like to not have that life line of praying to our Heavenly Father. I literally need it every day. ;)
Brother Christenson in our ward, mentioned a week or two ago how he has noticed that his youngest child Ethan is already learning how to pray without even being instructed. It has just been learned by observation. I love this. I see it in our own family too. I know by experience that it is never too early and it is never too late to kneel in prayer.

When I was preparing this talk the other day I thought I would ask Noah my 3 year old and Lexi my five year old a few questions regarding prayer: When I asked Lexi why we fold our arms and close our eyes she answered “so we don’t touch things and we can focus on Jesus. When I asked Noah “does Heavenly Father hear our prayers?” He answered quickly and matter of factly “yes” and then I asked him where Heavenly Father is that he can hear our prayers and he answered “the moon” ;) It was very sweet.

President Spencer W. Kimball taught us that family prayers should be “appropriate to the need. A prayer of a single couple would be different from one for a family of grown children or for one of small children. Certainly, it should not be long when little children are involved, or they may lose interest and tire of prayer and come to dislike it.”

He continues to teach us parents that: “No mother would carelessly send her little children forth to school on a wintry morning without warm clothes to protect against the snow and rain and cold. But there are numerous fathers and mothers who send their children to school without the protective covering available to them through prayer—a protection against exposure to unknown hazards, evil people, and base temptations.”

Today’s life is busy for all of us. It can be easy for families to fall into the habit of rapid prayer or no prayer at all. Even years ago, Church Leaders were concerned about this intrusion of busy schedules into family life. President George Albert Smith warns us: “I fear that, in the midst of the world’s confusion, of hurry and bustle, many times homes are left without prayer and without the blessings of the Lord; these homes cannot continue to be happy.”

And later, President Kimball counsels: “When we kneel in family prayer, our children at our side on their knees are learning habits that will stay with them all through their lives. If we do not take time for prayers, what we are actually saying to our children is, ‘Well, it isn’t very important, anyway. We won’t worry about it. If we can do it conveniently, we will have our prayer, but if the school bell rings and the bus is coming and employment is calling—well, prayer isn’t very important and we will do it when it is convenient.’ Unless planned for, it never seems to be convenient.”

Our children are still young, but I know there are many families with older kids and I’m sure it probably can get a little discouraging at times. As I see our family starting to get busier each year with sports and various activities, work and school schedules, I’m sure it gets a little tricky to heed the prophets advice to gather our families to the same place and same time for family prayer. Elder Joe J Christensen of the presidency of the seventy gave encouraging counsel to parents: “Remember family prayer every day. With schedules as they are, you may need to have more than one prayer.” Meaning we may have to have prayer in different waves as different members of the family leave the house each day. I guess it is up to us moms for that one…That is a lot of praying ;)

President Hinckley has encouraged us parents to be hopeful and persistent in holding family prayer even if the blessings promised are not immediately apparent. He testifies using Hebrews 11:6 “I give you my testimony that if you sincerely apply family prayer, you will not go away unrewarded. The changes may not be readily apparent. They may be extremely subtle. But they will be real, for God ‘is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him’ (Heb. 11:6).”

In keeping with the theme of safeguarding our families, these three prophets give us great counsel;

President James E Faust counsels us: “In the past, having family prayer once a day may have been all right. But in the future it will not be enough if we are going to save our families.”

Aside from mealtime blessings, President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “Just a few words added to the blessing on the food, as is becoming the custom in some parts, is not enough. We need to get onto our knees in prayer and gratitude.”

During difficult times family prayers in the morning and the evening will not always be enough. President Kimball said: “Never hesitate to gather your family around you for your prayers, especially in those times when more than morning and evening family prayer is needed. Extra needs require extra prayers.”

Just the other day we were having some of that ‘looking for homework’ type issues at home. Things got a little tense { you know where baby’s crying in the background as if we don’t have enough craziness just looking for the right book or whatever} and in my head popped a thought I should use this time to teach the kids to use prayer during crazy moments like this. We all gathered together and had family prayer…I don’t recall any grand miracle after that but I do know that every time we pray together as a family we grow closer to our Heavenly Father and my children will find it a little easier to say a prayer and be more comfortable in talking with their Heavenly Father on their own.

President Kimball tells us even very small children should have the opportunity to voice family prayer. He states “One cannot learn to pray by merely listening, but must be given experience.” He also reminds us that “If the father ishome, he takes charge, and calls on one of the family to pray. If the father is not there, the mother is in charge. If both are gone, the oldest child is in charge, and every night and every morning, the family is on their knees in prayer to the Lord.”

As children participate in family prayer and hear their parents speak to God in humility, with faith in Jesus Christ they can begin to learn things of the soul in a setting that cannot be duplicated anywhere else. During family prayer, children may begin to consider the answers to the great questions of the ages: “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” “Where am I going?” Through family prayer—and their own personal prayers that are encouraged—children will begin to learn that they are sons and daughters of a loving Father in Heaven, that they are here as part of a great plan of happiness, and that they can return to their Father after this life.

I believe parents can have such an impact on their children if we pray as a family that our sons will prepare for and be worthy to serve missions. That our daughters and sons will stay morally clean and keep themselves worthy to enter the holy temple to be sealed for time and all eternity. As our children hear us pray for the spirit to be in our home, they will know the importance of praying for the spirit to be in their own lives. If they see us praying for help for difficult challenges and trials and witness answers to those prayers, they will learn to do the same.

In Matthew 7:7-8 It says, Ask, and it shall be bgiven you; cseek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that aseeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

President Kimball reminds us parents that “Your little ones will learn how to talk to their Father in Heaven by listening to you as parents. They will soon see how heartfelt and honest your prayers are. If your prayers are a hurried and thoughtless ritual, they will see this too.”

Parents can also learn much about prayer from their little ones, as did a group of Nephite parents when the resurrected Savior appeared to them and loosed the tongues of even their small children.

3 Nephi 26:14 And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he did bloose their ctongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto the people; and he loosed their tongues that they could utter.

Sometimes words given to a small child in prayer are more than they can understand but a humble, listening heart can hear the Holy Spirit that speaks through them.

Sometimes there are instances where a spouse or a child declines to participate in prayer. But if the spouse will allow prayer or the child will be present, even without participating, a heart can often be softened and humbled by this loving example. They may learn the benefits of family prayer even if they do not realize it.

President Hinckley has said: “I know of no single practice that will have a more salutary effect upon your lives than the practice of kneeling together as you begin and close each day. Somehow the little storms that seem to afflict every marriage are dissipated when, kneeling before the Lord, you thank him for one another, in the presence of one another, and then together invoke his blessings upon your lives, your home, your loved ones, and your dreams.”

In 3 Nephi 18:21 we learn that after His crucifixion, the Savior appeared to the Nephite people and comforted them with the counsel to “pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.” What peaceful counsel for all of us to take and use in our families today.

John H Groberg of the seventy speaks of a family where family prayer was used for healing…Recently a good father and husband passed away unexpectedly in his home. He was only in his 55th year. His youngest son found him while the mother was away in a nearby city. The boy’s older brother and sisters were contacted at work. Friends and neighbors came to assist. The children gathered at the hospital with extended family and priesthood leaders. Medical personnel tried in vain to resuscitate the father, but he was gone. There was much sorrow and grieving. Mother was finally contacted and sped to the hospital, not knowing that her eternal companion had already passed away a few hours earlier and that her children had been heartbroken and awash in grief and pain for some time.

Upon arrival, this mother was informed of the loss of her husband and taken to the small hospital chapel where her children had been waiting. What a trial and test lay before this woman! As she entered the chapel, her children rushed to the comfort of her arms. Immediately, before much else was said, this wise and steady mother said to her sorrowing children, “Let’s have family prayer.” And so a family whose life and future had looked so bright and promising that morning knelt together, arm in arm, to petition their Father in Heaven to help and comfort them as they began the process of rebuilding shattered lives. The members of this family testify that God heard their prayer. From that moment on, there was strength and comfort. Testimonies were reaffirmed, hope was steadied, and love and understanding filled the family circle. Father was gone, but they knew it would be only temporary. Uniting in family prayer, they had been reminded that through the grace and Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, they would be together again as a family.

Elder Groberg reminds us that for this family, for other families in the Church, and for all families throughout the world, the words of a living prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, bring comfort, guidance, and promise of everlasting spiritual growth: “There is no substitute for family prayer.”

We need to call our families together. It needs to be a priority item. If you aren’t doing it now, it may be awkward at first and since Satan doesn’t want us to do it at all, he will throw all kinds of excuses at us. But if we persist we are promised great blessings.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Chirstmas 2010

2011-01-30T08:21:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas vacation with our family in Simi Valley

The boys in front of my parents tree...

Christmas Eve

Dalen and Lexi performing 'When Christmas Comes to Town' for my parents

Noah loves his 'Mouse' toys ;)

Grandma Dubois and Lilypie ;)

Dubois Grandkids on Christmas Eve at my brother Kevin's home

{Dalen, Lexi, April, Lily, Noah, Sophia, Vinnie and Deveon}

Lily in her Christmas Jammies...

Christmas Day

Lexi and Lily {with Grandma's kitty} waiting for the cousins to arrive ;)

Noah ;)

Our Family

The Valusek Family

Lexi and Bree opening presents

Deveon and Bella looking for presents

Dalen and Kenzie playing games

My baby boy with his baby blues...

Cute cousin Linkin

...not sure if this will become a tradition or not but the kids really seemed to enjoy the Miles Money Grab courtesy of Uncle Jason ;)

The Nutcracker Ballet

2011-01-06T00:10:00.000-08:00

Over Christmas Auntie Steph and Bree invited us to go with them to see the Nutcracker Ballet at the Fancy T.O. Civic Arts Center. The girls had a ball and it was great cause this year Lexi's ballet class will be dancing to one for the songs from this ballet! We wanted to make the day special so we took the girls out to Claim Jumpers for an early dinner where they both ordered their very own Mac n Cheese ;) I hope these two cuties will always be good friends...after all they do share the same birthday!

Waiting for the show to begin...

...and the girls both had to have a pink glittery nutcracker to remember the show ;)

kooky cookies

2011-01-05T00:13:00.000-08:00

We had our own little Christmas night with our good friends the Stoeckles...We had a Christmas family night lesson decorated Christmas cookies, exchanged gifts, and had dessert. Simple but so much fun!

Dalen & Noah

Sarah & Lexi

Our Christmas Card

2010-12-31T12:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends & Family
Some highlights of our busy year...

Joshua just ran in the CA Int’l Marathon this December. He is still working for Cardinal Health and is busy helping out with the family. He is now serving as Elder’s Quorum President at our church.

Lauren had my fifth/last child as planned {before my 30th} and am now training to run in Disney’s ½ Marathon 2011. I still enjoy crafting and am crazy busy with our kids. I am still serving as the Cub Master for my son’s scout pack.

Dalen {8} our 3rd grader was baptized this year and is loving cubscouts. He is busy preparing for another play; Disney’s Musical 'Aladdin' as the Head Guard/Vendor.

Deveon {7} our 2nd grader completed his first year of soccer and loved it! He loves playing games and he and his brother Dalen just ran a 2.6 mile race.

Lexis {5} is loving Kindergarten! She is still dancing and was crowned CA Gold Coast Tiny Talent this September. She loves having a new baby sister.

Noah {3} my baby boy is no longer a baby. He talks up a storm and runs wild with the kids. He is such a sweet and funny little guy!

Lillian Belle {3mos} joined our family in September. She’s starting to sleep longer at night and loves to watch the kids play.

The Kids...

We wish you all a great Christmas and a prosperous 2011

G'ma and G'pa Miles were with us when we took our pictures...;)

Noah's Mickey Mouse Party

2010-12-30T00:42:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to my Noah!

'ME Three!'

"Happy Birthday to Noah..."

Little Miss Dasiy

Thanks to all who came and for all the wonderful presents!

Enjoying Christmas

2010-12-22T10:12:00.000-08:00

Our Advent Calendar

The kids love to see what's next to do on our Advent calendar...

Our Yearly Ornament Tree

An ornament for every year our family has changed ;)
Hmmm...I wonder if we can find one with 5 little ones on it this year...

Our Christmas Tree

This is my Living Room Tree. It's all silver and gold and it display's my beautiful glass style ornaments I love to collect...along with my Christopher Radko collection...The one I want this year is the choo choo cheer...

My Gingerbread Town...

Our Stockings...

Top; Dalen, Deveon and Lexi's

Bottom; Mommy and Daddy's {ours match}, Noah and Lily's...

...when I brought Lily's new stocking home, Lexi said her stocking needs some sparkles on hers too...So I guess we'll have to bling hers up a bit ;)

...Some more decorations around the house...

Our cute family room tree with home made and fun decorations

...and of course our cute little elves from the North Pole, Frissbeay and our newest addition Lucy...Lucy now has her very own Princess Pritty that me and Lexi left out for her one night ;)

More Running...

2010-12-17T22:11:00.000-08:00

California Int'l Marathon Sacramento

26.2 miles

Dropping Josh off at the start line at 6:45 am

'Do I have everything?'

Now off to the MaraFunRun at the finish line right at California's beautiful State Capital @ downtown Sacramento

The MaraFunRunners; Dalen and Deveon in their new running gear

2.62 miles

The little supporters Lexi and Noah...{Lily stayed with a friend so she could be warm and cozy during our event...}

Noah is as happy as a clam ;)

Josh finishing his race...

Looking at his time ;)

Josh and sis April who ran the Marathon too...we couldn't find her husband {who ran it as well} to get a group shot :(

Congratulations to these wonderful Marathoners!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-11T19:57:00.000-08:00

Our Ward's Christmas Party

Dalen and Lexi got to sing a duet as part of the entertainment that night...we loved watching it back and seeing Noah dancing on the side...

We hope you are enjoying the Holiday Season ;)

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

2010-12-08T21:45:00.000-08:00

We took Grandma and Grandpa Dubois to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom on Black Friday this year...It was 'Holiday in the Park' time and they even have a snow hill and it's decorated all 'Christmas~y'

It's not Disneyland but hey it's still fun and there are barely any lines...oh wait but since it's holiday hours, they close like half of the kid rides...oh well...We made this trip more about the animals and we definitley made our way to the crepes place for fresh donuts, nutella dipping sauce and hot chocolate! We finished our night off by going to IHOP for pancakes...;)

Feeding the Birds in the Aviary

Feeding the Giraffes

My favorite animal...

They were actually going a little crazy as we waited in line to feed them...

and

the beautiful butterflies...

Cute Lily~pie getting a diaper change and time for a stretch ;)

All snuggled in her stroller with her lovie...

...and that's bunks in the car~seat stroller ready for our walk back to the car ;)

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-07T21:28:00.000-08:00

We are so thankful this day...

...for family, especially babies...

...for food so yummy...

...for Grandparents so kind...

...for Daddy who loves us so...

...and for sleepy time...

I think we all slept good that night ;)

Soccer 2010

2010-11-30T15:01:00.000-08:00

Deveon's first soccer practice

1st Game

Banner I had made for the team...

Deveon In Action

Deveon as Goalie

Spectators...

Lexi at her soccer clinic...

This little boy had a cute little crush on Lexi...

My Lily's Adorable Baby Shower

2010-11-14T19:28:00.000-08:00

My adorable baby shower for me and my Lily~pie

Me and Lily

Lexi posing in front of the spread...

Lily being cute ;)

The fun at the Shower!

We did crafts...cute baby iron~ons to bibs and onesies for Lily

We played games...The 'who has the most kid related items in their purse' game, bottle sucking contest and who knows Lauren the best questionnaire

And there were gifts...Bebe~Pod seat and tray, a new high chair {since there are no more seats at our dinner table for our booster}, new jammies, diapers, GC's to Babies R Us and a cute little book named Lily's purple purse ;)

Lily Belle @ 2 monthes

2010-11-04T23:04:00.000-07:00

Tonight after Josh was done feeding Miss Lily her ba-ba milk, I looked over at this little cutie pie on the floor having tummy~time on and I thought I can't believe she is already 2 monthes today!

Why does it have to go so fast now...

A few nights ago I was putting all the kids to bed and since Josh was already sleeping {he's on the opening shift this week} I was doing the whole bed time rituals on my own...While Lily entertained Lily on the bottom bunk I tucked the boys in first {since there's 3 of them in one room they tend to be a little on the crazy side until that light gets turned out} I then went into Lexi's room to get her situated. While I was putting laundry/new clothes away and laying outfits out for the next day {complete with matching accessories} I noticed Lily just drifting off to sleep. I thought okay, we'll try it tonight...Lexi quietly climbed up on top and I tucked both girls in and It was only 8:30...Lily slept til 2am! And this has been her new schedule for the last three days! I got all kids down by 8:30pm!

She gives very few smiles but they are definitley there and are so stinkin' cute! See her Baby Zebra picture below...I love her smiles...She smiles most right after a meal ;)

She loves her binky but only in the evening...She doen't need it every night though.

She loves being out n' about...

She tends to get bored at home...

She is a great eater and goes from mommy to bottle no problem...

She sits in her Bumbo chair and loves to watch all the goings on around her.

Last Sunday everyone heard her poop loudly twice in 3rd hour combined at church. I changed the first one and Josh changed her the second round...I felt embarrased for my little one ;) but everyone poops...

She completes our family just perfectly ;)

...this is the result when the camera comes out...

big brother Deveon and big sister Lexi

Lily's Photo Shoot

2010-11-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

This was so much fun...I love taking pictures of my kids and I have done all of my babies announcement pictures and I wouldn't change it for the world...I promise I will get the announcemtents out this week ;) I know all the others were out as soon as I was home from the hospital...This one is a little slower I know...They will get out!

Her Royal Highness

Miss Bathing Beauty

Little Fairy

Little Flower Girl

If you get a Christmas Card from me then you will receive an announcement...If you do not receive a Christmas Card from us each year but would {LOVE} to, Contact me with your address so I have it and you will get an announcement and then be on our Christmas Card List :P

Halloween Night 2010

2010-10-31T21:30:00.000-07:00

~ The Wild Animals ~

Baby Zebra Lily

Little Triceratops Noah

Pretty Peacock Lexis

~ Fighting Ninjas ~

Ninja Dalen

Ninja Deveon

Halloween Parties

Friday was Crazy Hat and Sock Day

Friday Night was our Church's Trunk or Treat Party

Halloween Night Trick or Treating

The Group

{Lexi, Adam, Sarah, Deveon, Dalen, Noah, Grace and Jillian}

Miss Peacock Princess

Lily out Trick or Treating

"Roar"

{as he would call his costume}

Deveon's Ninja Pose...

Miss Ladybug Sarah

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T14:00:00.000-07:00

Crafting...

Lexi's Third Eye

Making Cheesecloth Ghosts...

And they came out adorable...

...and pumpkin cookies to decorate

Costume Party at Music Makers

Noah crashes a Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

The Preschoolers

"my big pumkin"

Pumpkin Carving and Decorating

Results from the Pumpkin Contest

Tied for 1st Place

Spider Princess Witch ~ Daddy and Lexi

Spider Webs Pumpkin ~ Dalen

2nd Place

Gooey Eyes ~ Noah

Tied for 3rd Place

Bat Caves ~ Deveon

Medley of White Pumpkins ~ Lauren

Happy Halloween!

More Pictures from the Trunk or Treat and Halloween Night to come...

Dell Oso Farms

2010-10-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

On our way home from So. California we stopped in Tracy to hang out at the Big Pumpkin Patch and do he Corn Maze...we had been in the car for about 5 hours thus far so it was a much needed stretch...but due to the rain the night before the Corn Maze was too muddy so we opted for a train ride and a couple kiddy rides...

"Me Big Boy"

2010-10-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

Dancin' Noah...

Calls everyone 'Fat Butt'...It's usually pretty funny...but not always ;)

He is SUCH a Ham...

I Love him soooo...

My Growing Lily-Pie

2010-10-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

~2 Months~

...Or Lily-Pill as we call her sometimes cause she is just that sometimes...she seems to be happiest when she is upright and able to see the goings on her at home oe anywhere for that matter...She loves to be on the go and is liking her little exersaucer...

Dresses in Sunday Best...

...and Comfy Cozy

Gold Coast State Finals!

2010-10-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we decided to go to Gold Coast's State Pageant as a last minute decision. We wanted to go and root for my niece Sofia who was competing for the Little Miss California title and was also competing in all the modeling as well. Lexi did this last year, see here and here and we know first hand what a big deal this is and how much work it was to get ready for all the competitions so we were excitied to go and cheer Sofia on. It was a lot of fun to see our Gold Coast Family and Friends...It's a pageant reunion every time I go...and it's fun to go and be with all these people who are just as crazy as you are about the pageant world...it's like our own little secret club ;)

Oh and since we were going to the pageant but it was last minute, I asked Lexi if she wanted to do the Talent Competition since she qualified back here and she was excited to do her Bumble Bee routine again...

Friday Night Costume Party

Dalen came with us to hang with some of the pageant kids...My nephew Steven and friends little boy Connor...

My Lily and I

Lexi and cousin Sofia

Lexi and Dalen had a great time dancing and getting free stuff thrown to them from the DJ...

Saturday's Modeling and Talent Competitions

Sofia did so great in her modeling competitions! Here she is with her award for bathing beauty...and she placed either 1st or 2nd in the other three...

Later that evening Lexi competing in the Tiny Talent division...

...and was crowned CA Gold Coast Tiny Talent Winner 2010!

{this is her first round crown and state title!}

I didn't get a video clip of it when she competed because I was too busy being nervous for her but she did awesome...

Here she is performing the next day at the Beauty Portion of the pageant while we waited for the winners to be crowned...

she really loves being up there ;)

Sunday's Beauty Wear Competition

My beautiful niece Sofia waiting to compete

Lily looking cute all weekend with her first tiara ;)

{she really does want to be in a pageant}

Lexi hanging out waiting for pageant results for sophia and her friend Morgan

Sofia is crowned CA Gold Coast Little Miss and Morgan is crowned CA Gold Coast Overall Portfolio Winner

Cute little Queen Cousins ;) stop for pictures on our way to dinner...

Waiting for the end of the evening for Royalty Pictures on stage...

Stage Pictures...

CA Gold Coast State Royalty 2010

packing up to drive home...with Lexi still wearing her banner...she wore it home to my parents to show Grandpa ;)

See all photos here in my facebook album

Lexi's Kindergarten Tea Party

2010-10-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

...While Grandma Miles was out she went me and Lily to Lexi's Kindergarten Tea Party

Lexi's little friend Gavin

Grandma Miles Comes to Play

2010-10-20T15:52:00.000-07:00

Grandma Miles came up for the weekend to meet baby Lily and spend time with her 'baby' Josh and his family ;)

We had fun with Gma Miles and hope she had fun with us...

Walking Lexi into school...

My Pretty Girl

2010-10-20T03:40:00.000-07:00

Lily Belle @ 3 weeks

Sometimes I wish she would GROW faster...

{like when she's crying or fussy}

...but most of the time I know she's GROWING way to fast

Sleeping Beauty

2010-10-13T03:52:00.000-07:00

I love her

Dino Eggs

2010-10-12T03:26:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do is to spend a Saturday afternoon with our friends Tami and Erick...Sometimes we'll go to lunch and then split off and the guys plus half of the kids go one way and me and Tami go shopping with the other half of the kids...{our kids now total 7} So a few weeks ago we did just that...Josh wanted a new LCD TV for the playroom so we drove out to Roseville and went to Claim Jumpers and then the guys went one way to Fry's and Tami and I went to Lakeshore {teacher store}...While we were there Dalen really really wanted to buy something so he was on a major mission to find something I would say yes to...He finally found this Dinosaur egg that you can dig away at to reveal a tiny dinosaur...It was $6.95, but I thought okay that sounds like fun so I said yes. Then I thought Lexi and Deveon would really enjoy that too so I bought them one as well.

The next day they opened them up and started digging...The quiet but messy project didn't last as long as I had anticipated but they really loved their little dinosaurs until...

...while playing, Dalen tosses Lexi's dino down the stairs for Lexi to catch but Lexi misses and it breaks on the floor. Lexi in tears, Dalen in trouble so we make him give his dino to her. Then...

...later on our way to the park Noah is holding Deveon's dino, drops it, and his little neck breaks off...Then...

...the next day, Dalen has Lexi's dino {Dalen's original dino} decides to slide it across the kitchen floor for fun? and it hits the under side of the cabinets and the legs break off.

So all in all,

All Dino's have been extinct.

They are now in my 'to be fixed' drawer waiting there turn to be put back together by mommy's glue gun ;)

Lily's 1st Week

2010-10-10T03:22:00.000-07:00

Love dressing up my little doll...She has all of Lexi's old clothes plus some new stuff I found just for her...Every girl's gotta have some of her own new things ;)

I made her the butterfly blanket. It's minky brown on one side and flannel butterfly print on the other...it's way soft and it stays in her car seat...

After her first bath ;)

Her 1st Dr.'s appt...Perfectly healthy little girl...

Summer Playing

2010-10-08T03:06:00.000-07:00

Goodbye to Summer...

Noah drinkin' from the hose...

They were very excited about their new pool...

Hangin' with friends at the park...

...and my kids favorite park...Noah calls it the wa-wa park...

Noah and Deveon sliding down...

Dalen lost in thought...

Peek-a-boo Noah

Dalen and Sarah spinning fast...

The kids even excercised at the park...

...and rock climbed

...and one night at the park Lexi found a 4 Leaf Clover!

...and Noah found a 3 Leaf clover and did the happy dance for Lexi...;)

gma and gpa

2010-10-05T06:42:00.000-07:00

While G & G Dubois were here they took the kids to some fun places...My kids had never been to Funderland here in Sacramento...Grandpa took the boys to Miniature Golfing and of course took all the kiddos to Chuck E Cheese...

Thank You Grandma and Grandpa

Labor Day

2010-10-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

Our good friends had us over for a BBQ on Labor Day, just two days after Lily joined our family...

It was nice to let the kids play and they loved the new pool...

Tami introducing Adam to Lily...

2010-09-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

Our First Meeting...

She took 5 hours of induced labor and was out in 1 push. I had to redeem myself after being such a baby with the IV {which they had to do twice} and the oh so scary epidural. The nurses were proud ;)

This pregnancy definitley felt the longest, maybe because I had miscarried 5 months before I got pregnant with Lily or maybe because I had 4 other kids to take care of and didn't stop any of their activities or maybe it was because we knew it was our last...Well at least Josh knew from the beginning it would be our last...I wasn't completly on board yet {until furhter into the pregnancy}

However things were going good as a whole until they 'deemed' me with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus {GDM} at 29 weeks. I was crushed. I thought I had these pregnancies whipped. It's my fifth one, I'm still young {enough-28} and I had never had any problems with any of the other pregnancies. So I had a bit of a melt-down, cried for a few days, was mad at Kaiser for sending me to Roseville{40 min drive} for some special appointments until I could get my sugar numbers in control. I took some classes {they made me take} and I learned a lot in the end. In my last 9 weeks of pregnancy I managed to exercise {for as much as a pregnant woman can in her last trimester} eat very well {atkins diet style} and I lost 10 lbs. It actually turned out to be good. I had no swollen feet, my face didn't get 'huge' at the end and I was kicking off this last pregnancy by losing weight! And the best part was they promised to induce me one week early. GDM rule.

So exactly 39 weeks,

Saturday September 4th 2010 Lillian Belle Miles is born.

Weighing 8 lbs 6.7 oz and measuring 19.5 in long

{not my biggest baby either, she was exactly in the middle with Dalen and Deveon being the biggest and Lexi and Noah being the smallest}

Her blood sugar was way low when she came out so they fed her a bottle and tested her throught the night and she was just fine. It was funny to watch the nurse feed her like this and to see Lilypie just chug that bottle. She was a very hungry little girl.

Meeting Grandma Dubois who held my hand while I pushed...

Meeting Daddy who was and has been the perfect coach for each and every birth.

Meeting Tami {mommy's bestie} who was part of our party crew in the birthing room ;)

Lily tested twice at the hearing station but failed. Two weeks later we went back and she passed ;)

Since Lily came at 10:24pm The kids didn't get to come meet her until the next day...

Dalen and Daddy came first and brought me a yummy Donut {since I was missing sugar} They were ready for Church.

Lexi a proud big sister

Deveon one of the big brothers

and Noah who really wasn't that interested ;) he came around eventually

Lily ready for a nap

At Home

My parents stayed for a week to help out with the kids and make sure they had a fun time for their last week off track...

Doting over our Little Lilypie

Noah's video of counting

2010-09-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

This was from back in July...just forgot to post it...he was too cute eating his cereal trying to count...love this little guy and am missing my alone time with him now that Lily is here but he is enjoying being the "big boy helper" and he's all I've got now that the big kids are in school. Today we went to Music Makers then ate lunch, organized Lexi and Lily's closet and then we all 3 layed in bed watching Little Einsteins and Go Diego Go until it was time to pick up the big kids from school!

Our New Baby

2010-09-07T15:35:00.000-07:00

Lillian Belle Miles

born 9-4-10 at 10:24pm

8 lbs. 6 oz. 19.5 in.

Little Summer Getaway

2010-09-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

Our Trip to Modesto

{but we didn't find Susan and her friends}

Each summer Josh usually covers for a pharmacist in Redding, CA for a week but since it was so close to my due date and the closest hospital is an hour or so away his work arranged it so he could work in Modesto for the week instead and had the pharmacist covering in Modesto go to Redding instead...it was very nice of Cardinal to do that for us...and so off we went to Modesto to stay in a hotel for a week with Daddy! The kids love staying in a hotel...I think this is all they know of a vacation thus far other than G&G's in SV and Tahoe...;) they liked Modesto so much they were talking plans of moving their after they become Dr's... ;)

I'll be honest...I was excited about Modesto too for three main reasons...

Hoping to use the Kaiser Hospital there in Modesto since it's newly remodeled and they serve a romantic steak dinner for you and honey after you give birth ;)
Pool and paid for hotel and meals
Mall with a Crazy 8, a huge Forever 21 that had all departments {including kids}, an H&M and Babies R Us

Every night we had swim time and the kids were able to practice some new things...jumping in, swimming without floaties, and snorkeling...

Lexi learned to snorkel and jump in...

Dalen showed us he could swim all the away around the pool without having his snorkel gear on...

We finally got Deveon to jump in after bribing him all week with all sorts of things...The thing that won him over was a snickers ice cream bar all to himself...

The kids loved playing in the pool and spa

and Noah loved having the freedom to roam the pool with the little swim ring that was just his size...He liked his freedom a little too much...crazy kid...here he is going "round round too-tools" {circles} in the pool...

Happy Birthday Josh

2010-08-09T21:29:00.000-07:00

31...

reasons we love him

donut store {deveon}
teaches us new games
makes money for us {lexi}
takes us out to eat
teaches us about the gospel
loves us unconditionally
plays with kids
takes me to the temple
supports my crazy ideas
priesthood holder
bakes for us
takes us on walks
makes our yard beautiful
takes us to fun places {deveon}
smart
helps us with homework {deveon}
savvy
gives us fathers blessings
cooks when needed
generous
does laundry
forgiving
teaches the kids trash duty ;)
hard working
but not too much
patient
responsible
takes care of us {deveon}
has healthy habits
loves us {deveon}
helps mommy with chores {deveon}