Our Christmas Tree Cutting Adventure

So I had this grand idea that going up to the mountains to cut down our own Christmas tree this year would be a fun adventure with the family. Even though it ended up taking the whole day, and unfortunately we witnessed a bad motorcycle accident which delayed us a bit, we still had a great time. As a bonus, we were surprised to see snow up on top of The Rim, and the kids thought that was just awesome. Our tree is more like a "Charlie Brown" tree, but it's got character and some fun family memories.

What a cute girl

She's getting so old! Whitney got glasses today. it was very cute to see how excited she was for her new glasses (when most kids would be upset about it.) On the way home she just kept laughing and giggling about "how CLEAR everything was!"

Halloween is just around the corner!

We are very excited at our house that it's almost October. Last night we dug all the Halloween decorations out of the garage and Jaylee is already asking me how come we can't go trick or treating yet. I have been burning the pumpkin spice candles and wishing it would at least fall below 100 degrees so we can really get into the Fall mood. I love all the costumes, candy and face-paint, etc. I always feel like once Halloween is here it's like the kick-off to the holiday season, and I'm so ready for summer to be over and get celebrating!

Dear Halloween, please hurry. We need a good sugar-high and some cooler weather!

Jaylee's Birthday {June 10th}

We celebrated Jaylee's 4th birthday in June. We had a family party for both her and Aunt Lyndsay, and Uncle Cameron made cakes for both of them. It was a guessing game as to what Lyndsay's cake was for some people, but I got it right off- Jeans baby! Jaylee of 'course had a pink princess castle cake- just right for this girly girl. Thanks Uncle Cam! Here are some of my favorite pictures of her party, and when she was opening the presents Grandma & Grandpa sent.

The Birthday Girls 

Sorry for posting this one Lynds, but I just loved Jaylee's expression here- 

The Daddys were making everyone laugh, but Jaylee wouldn't play into it.

The Birthday Cakes- What's the label on those jeans anyway?
(notice where Blaine put her candle... nice.)

What??- This IS a princess party right?

She fully enjoyed opening her presents, you can just see it in her face.

What was her favorite present??- Of 'course the PINK & Purple Leapster!

Jay is also way into Barbies and Fairies- 

Silver Mist is her favorite Pixie Hollow Fairy right now.

Well, this girl is one of a kind. Yesterday, she got into my lipstick and when I tried to get mad at her all she had to say was, "but I wanted to be fab-lu-lous." How can you argue with that? Don't we all?

Well, Jelly, you are my sweet little blue eyed baby when you want to be. I love you so much and I'm so proud of how smart you are (even if it's the same reason that makes me want to lock you in your room!). I am really looking forward to this next year with you, as you get to start preschool. I know it's going to be a fun-filled year as you get to grow and explore. You have such a special spirit about and you, and I know Heavenly Father has many great things for you to accomplish and experience in your life. You are a special and unique part of our family that really livens our lives & brings so much joy to others. You are a true beauty, inside and out. Love you baby girl. 

-Love Mommy.

Here I am playing catch up again (School Memories)

So I never got around to posting pictures from the last day of school, and my kids loved their teachers so much, I just had to journal the memories for them.

Bye 2009-10! (Can you just tell she's thrilled Mom is picture happy?

Ethan and Ms. Silva- We loved her, what a fun teacher!

Whitney & Mrs. Matthew- I can't begin to say how Whitney adored being in her class.

 This one makes me crack up... he's such a ladies' man already.

Now that summer is more than half-way over, the kids are already getting antsy to get back. We look forward to another fun school- year starting in August!

What a relief!

I am so so SO happy that I am able to actually post, well even access, our family blog again! My blonde must be shining through because somehow I locked myself out of my email account, our blog and everything else Google. I was seriously so scared that I might never again be able to get into our family blog here that we've had for a number of years, and I might never get it all back. Well, FINALLY, I got it all back and my number one priority is to get my blog book printed! It's costly but SO worth it, especially when I think of all these memories just floating somewhere in cyberspace, never to be accessed again! Well, with all that behind me now, yes.. I have made all the back-up's I possibly can to be able to recover things if that ever happens again. 

Also, I want to update anyone who hasn't heard that because of all this I have a new email address. 

Here it is: Cotter's new email address

This also made me decide to go private as well. So many of you have done the same and I don't want weirdo's sending me junk or stealing my account again, so after next Monday, the 5th we'll be private. Please send me your email addresses so I can invite you, if you want to keep up with what's going on with us that is.

Thanks everyone! Oh, yeah, Yea for me- just finished my final paper for another class tonight. Love my two week break coming up :o)

ETHAN IS 6!

Where has the time gone? My little boy, is now my big boy and such a grown up guy. Today is his actual birthday, but we had an early little family party and he's been lucky enough to get presents spread out over the past three days or so. I love Ethan's birthdays because he's just such a darn sweet kid, he loves every single present he gets. However, as we all know, Lego's definitely rule as the ultimate prizes in this kid's world. Grandma Jean and Grandpa Chuck got him a Fire Station set that he has been showing me pictures of on the computer all month long. Man, did that make him happy! Grandma Joanne also got him a Lego watch and he just had to wear it to bed tonight. I'm thinking that one's not going to come off his wrist for a long time. Anyway, thanks everyone for the great presents, Ethan loved them! Oh, and Daddy made a Wall-E cake for him. I have to laugh because I think of all characters, Wall-E is a perfect caricature of Ethan.

Ethan has always been my happy little guy- I just love that smile.

This is typical for him... his cars are his friends he has to put to bed like baby dolls :O)

 What a baldy! Now that I look back at these pictures it's so funny to see Brecken without all his hair! Seriously though, did it take Ethan FOREVER to get hair or what??? You are all so nice for not saying anything...

Ethan was my smallest baby at 6 lbs. 11 oz. and he even dropped down under 6 lbs. after he got home. Scared us all, he was such a tiny thing. Wow, this seems like forever ago!

I love so many things about you, Son. Your sweet and gentle kindness, and your silly sense of humor. I love that you still (even though you're so grown up now) want to sit on my lap and give me hugs and kisses. You are such a special part of our family, and I love that you want more than anything to be just like your Daddy. I am excited to see what you will do in your life. With your talents and abilities I know you will do some amazing things. Me and Daddy love you to pieces! Happy Birthday, big E-man!

Etiquette with Ms. Jay

Today's lesson is on manners. When someone sneezes, the proper thing to say is "Ten Shoes."

Check back tomorrow for more helpful advice from Etiquette guru Ms. Jay.

We miss the Olympics a little

Ethan's version of the Olympic Bobsled Team. That's my boy! Everything in his world revolves around legos and any mode of transportation.

No wonder!!

No wonder he won't go to sleep! It's fun to have a sleep over :)

Brecken- 16 months

He's growing up WAY too fast!

Cool new way to study the Scriptures

So I found this cool new application to study the scriptures and keep all your markings and everything all synced up no matter where you read. Check it out!

http://ldsscriptures.com/

Say no to crack

 So it seems I'm at no loss for crazy things my little Jelly is doing. Here's a great one from just after Thanksgiving that I forgot to post, but it's way to good to let it go by without letting everyone get a good giggle. Gosh, this girl is just full of personality, there's no one like her. Love my Jay Girl!

So driving home from St. George we stopped to play in the snow at Jacob's Lake...

The kids haven't seen snow that many times so they were all really excited.....

Then, Jaylee bends down with her back to my window... 

I know that there are possible dire consequences to being the kind of parent who will hang on to these kinds of pictures until she gets to be a teenager, but who would have been able to resist?

This one's just stinkin' cute.

Christmas in Idaho

Grandma worked hard on making all of these blankets for her Grandkids. Nine- count 'em nine! Actually plus three more that got shipped off to Florida too. The kids LOVE them and they are lovingly referred to as their Grandma Huggies... Grandma said every time they snuggle up, it's a hug from Grandma.

Grandma and 14-month-olds Brecken and Barrett

Jaylee opening her Baby Alive

She looks thrilled for what Santa brought her doesn't she??? J.k. she was really excited to get Guitar Hero, I guess we must have just said one of those stupid parent comments right before snapping the picture.

Sydney

David and his gi-normous remote that can never get lost

Ethan- Suns fan just like Dad and Grandpa

Taylor- Definitely feeling older finally getting his own cell phone

Joel- Cool watch man!

Whitney- gift card from Grandma, yea!

Ethan- Love that smile- he never looks at the camera!

This is how you corral two babies once everyone else gets out the small presents :)

Joel, everyone loves nerf

PLAYING REINDEER GAMES

I forget the name of this one, but it's something like Snowball Soup?? Anyway Jaylee was awful at it but it was so funny to watch her think she was getting all those snowballs in the bowl :)

Whitney scored big time at it

Pass the ball with the feet!

This was supposed to be a no-hands pass the ball with the neck, Jaylee obviously thought those rules were just wrong and made her own.

Now, I wish SO BAD that I had gotten a picture of Blaine and Dave showing everyone how to play! David got the creeps from Blaine's stubble- ewwwww! They got a little closer after playing together :o/

Syd and Joel got it down!

What do you do when there are nine kids in a house and not enough places to sit for dinner??? Put 'em on the stairs- Aunt Tamara is very resourceful!

The face- off... Who's going to end up with the toy?

Brecken and Bear got along pretty well... no huge fights, just wait until they are two! So much fun to have them together though. It's fun to have a cousin 12 hours apart. I hope we can get them together for their birthdays a lot!