Catching up

This past week we had beautiful weather. Joey was able to take Monday off for President's Day and we headed to the San Juan Capistrano Mission.

We all had a great time. Here is one of the fountains on the grounds.


Here is part of the mission that withstood the earthquake back in the 1800s.


This is the part of the mission that was damaged during the earthquake, just seven years after it's completion.

Me and Link!

The kids in a traditional house of the Native Americans living in this region.


Proof Joey and Jude were there. Thanks Joey for being excited about this family activity. I love stuff like this and it's hard to do with kids, but he was a trooper!


Here is a random picture of my cute kiddos on Sunday before church. The grandmas need to see this!

Happy Birthday Boys!

Happy Birthday, Spencer and Lincoln!

Here are the boys the day they were born!

This might be my all-time favorite shot of the boys together. Spencer is on the left and Lincoln is on the right.

Spencer enjoying his cake on his 1st birthday.

Lincoln playing with his cake on his 1st birthday.

They have grown into handsome little men! Here is the most recent shot of Spencer.
Here is our Link!
We took the boys to a pirate dinner show last Saturday for their birthday. They had a great time! My favorite part was watching their excited faces.


Spence and Link are incredible individuals and we are lucky to have them both!

Jude's Blessing

We were able to have Jude's blessing this week. We are grateful for this little guy. He is a wonderful addition to our family.


Joey, Bobpa (Joey's parents came down from NorCal for a visit) and Jude.

What cute kiddos! And look at Hayden's new hairdo!

"Ode to Joe"

Happy Birthday, honey! I know Joey will find this super cheesy and make fun of me for it, but here are 29 great things about Joey!
1. He is a great hubby.
2. He is an incredible dad, man he loves our kids so much!
3. He converses with the TV during sporting events. He doesn't just yell at it like many sports fans, he actually has conversations.
4. He makes a mean mac n' cheese.
5. He loves root beer.
6. He loves two-day old, refrigerated brownies.
7. He doesn't show his romantic side often, but when he does it melts my heart.
8. He thinks I'm beautiful whether I'm all dolled up or 9 months pregnant.
9. He isn't easily intimidated (I wish I had this quality).
10. He is way too smart.
11. He wants to be on Jeopardy someday (and I know he is going to do it someday, see #10)
12. He wants to go skydiving but won't because it scares me to think of him doing it.
13. He loves Italian literature and art.
14. His dream job would be to teach high school English and coach football.
15. He tells it like it is and I need that!
16. He has strabismus, don't worry it isn't life-threatening, it's just a fancy way of saying he has a lazy eye.
17. He came up with Hayden, Lincoln and Jude's names.
18. He doesn't think so, but he has a great singing voice.
19. I love hearing him speak Italian.
20. He has very hairy legs and I like it!
21. He is very confident, and he should be, he is pretty fantastic.
22. He has very soft feet.
23. He loves getting his back scratched.
24. He can name artists and songs, from all genres, like nobody's business.
25. He doesn't like white sauces, no mayo, no cream cheese, no sour cream.
26. He plays tennis with me just cause I like it (he is really too good to play with me).
27. He is a great secret-keeper.
28. He expects a lot out of the people around him, but it's because he believes in the people around him.
29. I feel completely at home with him, that's more about me that him. He is a strong, honest, spiritual man and I'm lucky to call him mine!

Happy Birthday babe! Enjoy this last year of being in your twenties!

This is just about an hour after he asked me to marry him. Best decision of his life, I mean, best decision of MY life!

Playing with the kiddos!


I couldn't do the mom thing without an amazingly supportive husband. Isn't he handsome with our little Jude!

All Smiles!

Yup, he's smiling and melting our hearts!

Christmas Recap

We had a great Christmas and here are some of our favorite moments.

Our Christmas tree. I loved sitting in this room after the kids went to bed and just looked at the tree with all it's beautiful lights.


The boys getting ready to eat our Christmas Eve feast.


Spencer did a great job decorating sugar cookies for Santa.

Lincoln did a better job eating Santa's cookies than decorating them.


The girls in our Christmas jammies.

Hayden sitting in her stash of Christmas presents. Santa brought her the Barbie house (not pictured) she has been asking for!


The kids got Joey this great bowl so he doesn't have to share his popcorn!


Christmas morning cuddles!


Santa brought the big boys some great riding toys!



Oh and this guy was there too! Jude had a great Christmas too. Isn't he cute?

Our little guy...

We have been so blessed to have Jude in our home. He is such a sweet baby! The poor kid is dealing with his first cold, but I suppose that is to be expected with three older siblings. I look at my children and see precious gifts from God. Sometimes it's hard to remember that when they are kicking and screaming but I'm trying my best to stay calm and to cherish this time in our lives.

Here is a quote I LOVE that helps me get through the tough days:

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know."

-Pres. Thomas S. Monson

Here are a few pictures of our Jude. (Disclaimer: I am NOT a photographer and I know many of you out there are, so just deal with my amateur shots!)