Whale Watching

One of the activities we really wanted to do before we leave Monterey was whale watching. We went January 2, 2014.

(Michael, Joseph, Joshua, Katie, Hyrum under the blanket, me, and Hannah)

My babies and I ready to go.

Watching for whales and dolphins.

It was a 3 hour ride, so the kids needed to warm up inside and get a snack.

Katie enjoying the ride. The boat ride really was the best part. It was pretty cold out there.

Hannah and Michael enjoyed watching the water rush past through the holes in the side.

Joseph found a great place to sit and chill.

I love that face! She did really good the whole time. Hyrum slept in my wrap the whole time. I was glad he stayed toasty warm in there. We saw quite a few gray whales, risso dolphins, and seals. nothing very impressive. I thought we would get closer than we did but everyone still had a great time!  





The kids playing on an old anchore waiting for Josh to get the van.

Funny Little Sleepers

My kids fall asleep in the funniest ways. I love to go check on them after they are asleep at night to see where they've ended up. My phone camera doesn't take very good night pictures.

 Joshua made himself this bed in the bucket. He actually slept like this for about 2 night.

 Michael and Gabriella (his cousin) fell asleep at the aquarium.

 Hyrum was sleeping in his car seat with both of his hands above his head.

 This time holding his foot.

 Joseph almost standing.

 Hannah

 Michael face down in the couch. Katie's a loving sister and let him sleep on her lap.





Joshua made a bed under his loft bed on the desk. My kids do have bed. Really they do!

Hyrum

My sweet little Hyrum is 5 months old! He's about 23 inches long and weighs about 15lbs. He has been pure joy! I have loved to hold and snuggle him. I'm not sure if he really is just an amazingly easy baby or he just seems like it compared to how hard Hannah was. He's such a happy baby. He has rolled over once, is sitting up pretty well, and just started solids, and LOVES it! He is almost constantly entertained by someone. Everyone loves to play with him. He laughs and smiles a lot! I wish time would slow down. I don't want these days to be gone so quickly. I blinked and Katie's 10. Maybe because he is number 6 and I know how fast they grow up, but I have treasured my time with my little guy! Not that I didn't with the others, but I was always so eager to see what joys the next stage would bring.  I love my crazy, messy, little monsters! 

Our giant van doesn't fit in the garage so we have swings in the rafters. The kids love to play in there. Hyrum loves this swing! All my babies have loved swings. I am such a blessed woman to be these wonderful childrens' mom and get to be home with them everyday! 

Hannah



My little Hannah will be 3 in April. She is full of energy and fun! She is such a spunky little girl. She loves to play with her siblings, being outside, being the boss, dress up, and riding her bike.

She is a problem solver. Once she got a yogurt and needed a spoon, so she used Katie's recorder!

 She also love to color!

 I'm a luck mom, she enjoys cleaning up her messes almost as much as making them!

 Hannah is VERY independent. She love to pick out her own clothes and dress herself.

I need a pin for her that says, "I dressed myself today!".

 My phone is often "missing". When I find it I get a lot of fun pictures like this one!

Hannah loves her Daddy!!

She loves to play on the beach. She's been fun to tease around the water. She would cry if I tried to play in the waves. A few weeks ago she finally got brave and now also plays in the waves. She also like to go out in the kayaks now.

I love this fun little trouble maker!!

Michael

Michael will be 5 in June. He's a spunky little 4 year old. Michael is one who you always know what mood he's in. When he's happy, he's very happy and when he's mad, he's very mad. Michael loves to play at the beach, play on the trampoline, ride his bike, play video games, wrestle, and help his baby brother. Most of the time he's our happy, fun boy. 

We try to have dates with each of the kids every few weeks. On Michael's date night we painted. He painted Darth Vader and his name. He also did Yoda, Luke, and Chewbacca (My favorite!)

His painting of Chewbacca!

Michael is a very sweet and loving big brother!

Michael on a sand dune! I love my happy little Michael!!!

Joshua

Joshua just turned 6. I'm so glad that I decided to keep him home with me this year.  He has changed so much this past year. He is a true baby lover like his mom. I have to fight him to get a turn with Hyrum. The other kids a happy to give the baby back to mom if he's crying, but when I ask Joshua if he wants me to take Hyrum he always says he's fine. He calms him down and makes him happy. Joshua is a hard worker, competitive, fun boy. He loves to ride his bike, play video games, play at the beach, and helping me at home. Katie made him this balloon sword for his birthday. 

 Joshua loves being a big brother!!

He's loves to be useful. He and Hannah were helping Grandpa take apart an old telephone pole. 

I love my little helper!!!

Joseph

Joseph will be 8 in April. He is our little bookworm. He loves facts, but isn't crazy about school. He love science, anything electronic (wii, computer games, phones, etc....), he loves jumping on the trampoline, riding his bike, ANIMALS, and talking!  

 We went to my parents house for Thanksgiving this year and even those it was cold my Dad wanted to play in the mud with all the grand kids (He's a fun grandpa!). Joseph was very muddy and cold.

I have great memories of doing this sort of stuff with my Dad when I was little. It's fun to see my kids loving it too! Thanks Dad (and Mom for helping clean up!)!!

Joseph at the dunes with Katie. He's crazy out there! My little monkey!

I love you Joseph!!!

Katie

Katie Will be 10 this week! I can't believe it!  She is our peacemaker. She is enjoying school, crafts, her heelys, building things, riding her bike, sports, the beach, kayaking, and really anything outdoors. Here she is at the aquarium with the sea otters.

 A note she wrote on our whiteboard, "You can say a prayer night, day, lunch, breakfast, and dinner. Anytime and anywhere. By Katie May". I love her goodness! 

 Katie loves to find critters in the tide pools. Here she is with a crab on her shirt.

 We enjoy playing on the sand dunes.
A few weeks ago we had Family Home Evening on the dunes. It was a beautiful, cold evening.

Katie jumping off a dune. My phone camera caught her jump weird.

I love my sweet Katie Girl!!

Monterey, California

I Have set a goal for myself to add a page every week. We have a printed blog book, and the kids love it.

I have a lot of catching up to do.

This year Katie (4th grade) and Joseph (2nd grade) started public school. As with everything there have been things we love and things we hate about it. I miss the kids. They love the field trips, recess, and friends. We don't like that school now takes up their entire day. I have Joshua (kindergarten) home with me this year. He has blossomed this year being the oldest child most of the day.

There is so much to do here. The kids loved riding on the trolley during the summer months.



The kids love the "Bird Man" on the Wharf.
Katie was first.



Michael with a bird.

Joseph!

Joshua!

Hannah!

Hyrum, Michael, Hannah, Joseph, and Katie watching a movie.

We've gotten to see a lot of my family living here. We go to Fresno about once a month and they come here about the same. We love it. Here's Grandpa with Hannah, Christopher, Carly, Joseph, and Nahaeva (Josh and our new van are behind them).



We had a giant family sized (nasty) sunday a few weeks ago. Each of the kids got to pick a topping. The kids loved it!