**Cooper turned 6**

First I will start off with how busy we were the week of Cooper's birthday that when his real birthday came on Saturday and his big party I got extremely mad because I thought the new camera I bought myself was dead!!  So a few hours after the party Ryan checked it and the battery was just loose...GRRRR! 

On the Monday before Cooper's birthday we surprised him by first Ryan showing up at his school with Subway and they had lunch together then the other kids and I went to Safeway and got cupcakes and drinks!!  He was totally surprised which made it really fun!  His teacher also held Ryker almost the whole time so that was really nice for us!  

 Here is Cooper with his birthday crown as he ate a cupcake!!

 And of course upside down...

 This is Cooper's teacher Mrs. Frederick and of course she is holding Ryker.

 Ryan snapped a few pictures from his phone during the chaos of Cooper's party...I made the mistake of over inviting since I sent invitations out late and we ended up with a lot of kids...Looking back it was crazy but Cooper had fun and I am glad he had lots of friends there!!

This is when we were singing Happy Birthday to Cooper!!  We started the party with playing a balloon game but due to me not planning on 15 kids I didn't have enough balloons and they kept popping so that was quick then we decorated cupcakes which was fun!  Cooper got lots of fun presents and then we had a Batman pinata stuffed FULL of candy!!!

Happy Birthday Cooper!  We love you SO much and can't believe you are 6 years old!  We are so proud of how smart you are and how much you have grown physically, emotionally, and spiritually!  You are such a good big brother to your 3 younger siblings and we know that you are going to grow up and be such an amazing person with lots of friends and family who love you!  Who would have known your wish would have come true for us to move back to Idaho as that is all you have asked for since we moved here to Arizona!

Catch up time.....

This is catch up time for us for the month of January although not over yet it's just busy!!  Life is so busy but we are trying to take every opportunity we have to see sites and go places as only have 4 more months here! Time flies so fast and I really wish we could just have more hours in the day!!  

 Ryker 5 months

 Chloe riding her new bike Santa got her!!

 Cooper riding his new bike Santa got him!!

 Reese and Carrie after our bike ride aka Carrie pulling Reese on her bike!!  She hasn't quite figured out how to pedal but we are working on it!

 Chloe walking at the Mesa Temple Lights.  They do this every year and it is amazing although Ryan took all 4 kids by himself one night while I was at work!  They also do concerts every night for weeks!

 Chloe, Reese and Cooper smiling for Daddy :)

 Ryan making Reese a beard...This is what goes on while I am at work!!  But he is bathing them I couldn't ask for anything more!!!

 IKEA and their free face painting!!!  Reese and her butterfly she picked out!

 Ryker LOVING everyone talking to him while we wait for the older kids to get their faces painted!

 Chloe and the "Elf" who pained her snowman on her arm!

 Cooper and his snake with stars!!  

 Reese all tuckered out one day after running errands.

 Ryan and Cooper up on the rock with the hole in it at Papagos Park!!

 Cooper quite scared if you couldn't tell up in the hole...I promise he was not right by the edge!!!!!

 Just a fun little place to have a BBQ at Papagos Park so we snapped a quick picture...

 Then it turned into this!  Hey Chloe is at least smiling :)

 Ryker LOVING his baby food!  I can't believe he is old enough for it!!

 Ryan took Cooper and Chloe to Papagos Park for feed the ducks!!  

Cooper and Chloe by the big hole in the rock!!

December flew by so fast with Christmas, Ryan's mom was here and then working!!  January is going by even faster!  So far in this month of January both Ryan and I have quit our jobs and have new ones although I haven't started yet (needed a break) but will start soon, Cooper turned 6, my brother Ian is here visiting, Ryan's grandmother passed away and he is in Idaho right now for her funeral and then he will return again for a boys snowmobiling trip beginning of February.  Life is crazy but we wouldn't have it any other way!!!!!!

Family Pictures 2010

In the beginning of December we had family pictures taken! One of Ryan's friends from high school lives here and she referred us to a great photographer who is also affordable!! We did a mini session even though she spent more time with us than she usually spends with people and considering how young our kids are and after the drive there I am impressed that she was able to get decent shots!! Here are some them...

We are planning on taking more family pictures in March/April with an Arizona theme...I am excited!!

7 years and counting...

I know I am a little late but better late than never right?! On November 29th Ryan and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary and we actually went on a date. Ryan got the night off of work and I got a babysitter and we left a little later than planned due to kids not wanting us to go but it worked out great! We ate at a restaurant we had never heard of but it was good! It is called Chevy's and at first I thought it was a burger place but it was Mexican. We split a platter meal and the food was really good! Then we headed over to the mall which around here everyone keeps saying all the malls are ghetto!! Only the really expensive ones are good where you wont get robbed but really I think times have changed and these malls aren't as bad as they once were. We have not encountered anything scary and I actually want to take my kids back there to the play area!

The best was right after that we headed off for our massages :) We got a couples massage and it was very much needed! My friend from work said her massage girl was great so we booked her and I got some random girl but she was good! We had a great time just chatting and talking the whole time but then it was time to go home! We came home to our night owl Chloe who was still awake at almost 10pm but soon feel asleep after we were home!!

Ryan and I have been through a lot together and have really grown to love each other even more every day! When we were first married we loved each other don't get me wrong but after having 4 kids, moving more times than I should mention and at this time in our life relying on each other for a lot more than we have ever had to it really makes us truly appreciate each other more! Love you Ryan!!

Ryker is 4 months

Ryker was 4 months back on November 25th and went to the doctor on November 29th. He weighs 15 lbs 12 oz. and is 25 3/4 inches long. The back of his head is flat like Cooper's was when he was this age! Ryker is so much fun! He started to roll over about 2 weeks ago and loves it! He LOVES to chew on his hands and suck his thumb when he finds it!!

Cooper, Chloe, and Reese are all so good to Ryker and just love him! They are always willing to sing to him or tell me if his diaper smells or put his binkie in his mouth! He is full of rolls all over his body from his healthy eating. When we took him to the doctor I told her that he is still congested and it has never moved into his lungs but he has been this way since he was born. She said it might be due to the formula we use so we switched him to Soy. He has been on that for two weeks and I think his cough has cleared up a lot and his congestion is slowly!!

We love you Ryker and want you to know you are a blessing and joy to our family.

Wow, how time flies! Ryker was 3 months old on October 25th and he is such an amazing baby! He puts up with lots of love from his sisters they just can't get enough of him! He almost sleeps through the night only getting up about once. He is growing so fast and loves to talk and be tickled! Although, sometimes you can't tell if he is laughing or on the verge of crying! Not sure when this picture was taken but right around 3 months! We will be doing family pictures some time soon just have to find a place that the kid will love and be good at! Wish me luck!

Sleeping Beauty

Reese was talking to me one minute and the next she is asleep! Luckily she didn't fall over so I was able to get this picture! If you look closely you can see she sucks on her tongue while sleeping. She threw all her binkies away when she was 15 months old and has continued to do this ever since!

Happy Halloween!

Saturday we were able to go to our ward Trunk or Treat which is the only trick or treating the kids did! They made out pretty good even though at the end Cooper said we had to keep going until his pumpkin bucket was full ...Not to self - I will buy smaller ones next year!! This year Cooper was Optimus Prime, Chloe was Snow White, Reese was a pirate princess and Ryker was a pumpkin!

Not quite sure who the vampire kid is but Cooper, Finn and Henry hanging out!!

Chloe and her best friend Lily who she prays for every meal.

Chloe and Reese posing for me!!

Cooper and Chloe impatiently waiting to start trunk or treating!!

**Ryker being such a great baby as he always is**

This year since Halloween was on Sunday so I switched days working so I could have Saturday off and worked Sunday. Saturday was a big day for us as Ryan was able to go our friend's sealing. They were able to adopt a newborn, 6 months ago and now legally have adopted their daughter so we are so happy for them! Also then on Sunday they were able to bless her! It was so precious and what a great experience for us to be here with them at this time in our lives!!

Ryker's Blessing Day (9/26/10)

Ryker was 2 months and 1 day old when Ryan gave him a blessing in our ward here in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was great to have friends there to be with us as we know our family couldn't make it down. I searched and searched for a blessing outfit for him the last week after we had decided what day to bless him because I lost track of time I didn't have time to take anyone up on their offer to make him one! I hope that one day I am good enough at sewing to do that! So this is the one from the church clothing store! Ryker Benjamin Frank is his whole name. Ryker we found on the internet and the site we found it one says it means becoming rich. Benjamin is from Ryan's side of the family since I have used the names from my side of the family for the girls and we use Ryan's side of the family names for the boys! Now it's fair!

Ryker also had his two month check-up the day after the blessing which I wasn't too shocked at his stats since he is gotten heavy to carry! He is 12 lbs. 6 oz, 24 inches long, and his head is actually small and 15 1/2 inches round! Ryker is such an amazing baby he started smiling about 2 weeks ago and just loves to look at people and talk and sleeps through the night! He sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night but if I get home from work I try and feed him so I can sleep in one long stretch!

The kids did great during his blessing and every day are so good to Ryker! He gets lots of love from the girls! I have to remind them he is not a doll but their brother :)

**LOVE YOU RYKER**

Sorry for the turned pictures but we lost our memory card and they didn't get downloaded to our computer first so I took them out of our email.

Happy Birthday Reese!! (late)

Reese's real birthday was on August 27th, and we went out shopping and had a great night together as a family! I can't believe Reese is two! She is so much fun! Honestly, she is so cute that when she does something bad she has this smile like, "you aren't going to punish me cause I am cute" and then you just tell her no and really ----she listens! For now!

She had her two year check up yesterday with our new pediatrician and when you are two you get a book at your appointment and a sucker and a sticker so it was almost another birthday for her! She is still small except for her head!! She is 34.5 inches tall, weighs 24 pounds and her head is 18 3/4 inches around (which is the same way Cooper was!)...So she is well rounded!!

Fun things about Reese are she just got 7 teeth in these last 3 months so now she finally has 14 teeth and gets to see the dentist for the first time next Thursday! She loves to brush her teeth, play with dolls, books, blocks, color, watch movies, run errands, go to the regular parks, water parks, swim, dump things out and put them back, and she loves to sing and dance! Most of all though she loves a sippy cup and her blanket! You know she is tired when she whines for those! I have cut her hair a few times but the girls and I will be going out soon for REAL haircuts!

Reese is very loving! She gives some of the best hugs and kisses! She loves everyone! So when someone comes over before they leave she has to hug and kiss them! Sometimes we have to tell her to stop hugging and kissing but it is so precious!

I have started working so we made a cake that day which the girls helped me make and another reason I am behind on blogging this! I hope to get better about it since I am done training and studying every night but working full time! I love my kids and husband so much! And doing this makes me appreciate all the blessings I have!!