Jacob's 4th Birthday!

Our amazing little four year old, Jacob!

I captured about 20 different expressions on Jacob's face in all the birthday pictures I took. I love them all, but this is my favorite. A genuine, happy smile!

He kept changing his mind about what kind of party he wanted, but a couple days before his birthday, he decided he wanted a Superman cake. His birthday was on a Saturday, which is always the best, because Daddy is home, and we can play all day! After a nice breakfast, Bradley gave Jacob his present.

It was a Superman cape!

After that Jared took Jacob to get his hair cut, and the rest of us went to a big yard sale and found this fun magnet set.

That afternoon the Nelsons joined us and we opened presents, had dinner, and then cake.

I had fun trying some marshmallow fondant for my second time with Jacob's cake. Jared helped frost the cake and cut out the Superman symbol. We love making our cakes.

Pretending to eat the cake :)

Opening presents. He wanted to do this first, as soon as his cousins arrived.

Time to blow out the candles!

Caitlin loved the cake too.

Trying out his new Power Ranger mask.

Telling Caitlin a secret.

Jacob at 4:

Jacob has the most fun, little personality. He lights up the room wherever he goes. He's never afraid to talk to anyone and considers everyone his friend. We were at a restaurant recently, and the waiter came and introduced himself, and Jacob replies with "Can you go tell everyone that the Power Rangers are from Japan?" They had a great time talking the rest of the night. He loves playing Star Wars, Power Rangers, and anything else that involves weapons with Bradley. Their little imaginations just run wild and and they play for hours. He loves playing with both his sisters also. He LOVES his screen time, and always thinks he needs more than he is allowed. :) He still gets really sad in the mornings if he wakes up and his Daddy is already gone to work. As soon as his dad gets home, he starts climbing and jumping on him, and doesn't stop until he goes to bed.  He always wants to help us out, and is especially good at helping to bring the groceries in. He uses the word "actually" all of the time: "I actually don't want this for dinner." "I'm actually too tired to go to bed." "I'm actually going to play one more game on the computer."  He's a smart little boy, and is just starting to put his letters together to read small words. He loves going to his Sunbeams class, and his teachers are always telling us how sweet and well behaved he is. He took gymnastics class this summer and had a wonderful time there.  He loves to swim! He is always making us laugh. The other day he told me (another actually phrase) "I'm actually allergic to toys when I have to pick them up." He has the most wonderful laugh that just sounds like pure delight coming out of his mouth. We love Jacob and are so blessed to have him!

Jared's Birthday

Jared turned 34! The kids had been telling him they were going to get him a pink fluffy dress for his birthday. When his birthday actually came though, they gave him these pink fluffy flowers instead.

After he got home from work, we had some delicious chicken wings for dinner, and then opened up some presents.

Happy Birthday Daddy

He did well.

He invited some friends from work over for some cake, root beer floats, and fun in the backyard.

Jared at 34!

He's pretty much the same as he was when he was 33....fun, playful, hard working, and brilliant.

Summer 2013

After we got back from our trip to Yakima, my parents and Heather followed us back the next day. My dad and mom left a couple days later from the SLC airport with April and Scott for their trip to Europe. Heather stayed with us a couple of days, and then flew out to visit Derek's family. She came back about the same time my parents came back, and then they drove home a day later. It was fun to get to see them all a little more. 

 

 During that same time, Nini was in Utah helping Ashley out. She came to see us for one day and it was so great to see her!

 Riding on a train. Is is the only picture I seem to have taken with Heather here. Oops.

We went to dinner with my parents and Heather right before they left, and Caitlin loved her spaghetti. :)

Painting one morning.

 I brought back an old dress of mine from home that Grandma Davenport had made me. Mackayla loves to wear it!

Here is a picture of me wearing it, back in the day.

  Jacob and Caitlin snuggling up

 The kids were running in the rain one evening, and Caitlin wanted her dad to run her out to the stop sign and back in the rain. She thought it was so fun and made him do it many times.

 Playing with Star Wars toys with Sophie and Lexie one afternoon.

We go to the dinosaur museum once during the summer and always take the same pictures. :)

 Eating some pop-tarts on a nice summer morning.

 We went for a hike to Battle Creek Falls one Saturday afternoon. The kids did a great job and were amazed at the "hundreds of hours of miles" they thought they walked.

 Caitlin fell asleep on the way back down.

 We got a new cousin this summer when Max was born. The kids made a candy bouquet of flowers to take to Sophie, Lexie, and Reese to say congratulations.

 

 Such a cute baby!

 

 All the cousins

 Caitlin sleeping on Mom's and Dad's bed.

 We spent a lot of time at the Lehi pool this summer. The kids were working on learning to swim and having a great time. We bought the Utah pass-of-all-passes this year also, and were having fun going to the different venues that is gets you in to. We didn't make it to Seven Peaks in Provo until the end of the summer, but everyone loved it. We were only able to fit it in twice before they closed up for the season.

 This is the view I see so often. Caitlin comes and grabs our hands and says "come on."  She likes to have someone with her all the time.

Jared took this adorable picture of Caitlin kissing the baby in the mirror.

 An afternoon fishing at Silver Lake up American Fork Canyon

 Utah is beautiful. We love the mountains.

 Another big event of the summer was Youth Conference. Jared and I were the Youth Conference Coordinators. In early August we were in charge of three days of fun. Thursday night was a temple trip and ice cream at our house. Friday was a morning service project, and then we headed up to Salt Lake City. We got to tour the Bishop's Central Storehouse and tour around on Temple Square. I went home after that to get the kids that were being babysat, but Jared and the rest of the group hiked up Ensign Peak for a short devotional. It was a late night. Then Saturday was a boating trip to Deer Creek Reservoir. We needed to reserve a pavilion, so we took the kids up early in the morning and played for a few hours before the youth and leaders showed up. I was going to take the kids home shortly after that, but they were being so good and staying out of the way that I ended up staying with them for the whole day.  Here are a couple pictures of the day.