I am so glad I captured this moment

After Emily turned 14, I realized that for a short period of time (one monthly really) we would have the best ages ever. Starting at the youngest we have 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16! That is pretty stinking awesome! Well, at least I thought so but Naomi was less than thrilled to have to do this when we got home from church. Just needed to save this forever!

I finally decided to celebrate Kevin's birthday at home! We were at the Payne Family Reunion for his real birthday. I bought an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen and we celebrated his birthday a month later. Oh well. He knows we love him!

Not sure why I took this picture. I don't remember what was going on or why I thought I needed to take a picture of my son and husband, together in the school room. Significance is not locked in my brain. This is why I should be better about blogging at the time of rather than almost a year later.

Everyone enjoys Saturdays!

Camdilyn cat drawing in the library...

Baby found her hands in the living room...

Marissa learning art techniques in the school room...

Emily, Xiomara, Kemiah, Domonique and Ben building with Lego bricks in the playroom...

Marissa trying out watercolor painting because she finally decided on one to try...

Sweet sleeping baby...

Surrounded by awesomeness!

Yes, I can say that I am surrounded by awesomeness.

Harmonie helping with dinner.

Naomi just being so cool.

A painting Marissa started at a Young Women activity,

and finished on her own.

She is truly talented in all things artsy.

Kemiah created this "mitten" all on her own.

(And she made another one and gave them to Kayla Deibel.)

Reading and sharing and loving and sleeping.

We do it all!

One of their favorite memories

My parents are here for a visit - for the baby and Thanksgiving! What a treat! One of the kids' favorite things to do is watch my mom (Grammy) put on her makeup in the morning. Since I don't do that stuff it's very interesting to them and they try to watch her every time she comes - or when we visit their house. Funny tradition!

Always remember

I love it when Camdilyn is coloring and she starts singing Primary songs. It helps me remember years ago, when Ben and Marissa and Emily were small and they would sing Primary songs, too. What a wonderful thing to hear and treasure.

I love when I walk into the living room and see the little girls all "reading" books. They look intently at the pictures and turn the pages and are just enjoying some quiet time, on their own. Naomi will even sit on the couch or the floor and look through books. The older kids love to read, too, so I guess we just need to make sure we have good books available for them to enjoy.

I love watching the little girls be creative in their play. I don't love their messes but I do love that they will play together and have fun pretending.

I love watching my little baby wiggle inside me. I love anticipating her arrival. Which also helps me to love time with Naomi before the new one arrives.

I love the autumn colors.

I love chatting with my older kids and trying to help them deal with life with a better attitude - which is sometimes hard for me to do so I need to be patient with them as they try to figure it all out.

These children of mine are pretty awesome and I just need to remember!

Lined up for Family Home Evening skits. Love these sweet kids of mine!

Fun line of kids!

For Family Home Evening, the kids wanted to do scripture skits. We had them line up and it was the best thing for me to watch. They got each other in their proper places and Naomi ran to the end of the line. It was so fun! There they were, my crew, all lined up and looking so awesome! I hope they remember how much fun they had doing these skits. They are always so funny and creative and playful and silent. They don't talk during the skits, they just act it out and even the little kids get into it. What fun memories!

The day after the birthday excitement!

She is loving the idea of reading!

She is also loving climbing on most anything.

Today she put them together as she climbed onto the ottoman

to do some reading.

Done with school and breaking out the Star Wars Chess!

Thought I should capture her black eye.

She ran into a door knob on a door that a sibling was shutting.

Yowch! The door knob got her right on the eye brow.

It happened a couple days ago,

so this is how it looks now.

Moved on to Star Wars Clue!

Naomi loves this doll.

Mainly for the full head of hair!

She sat at the bottom of the stairs for quite a while, 

just holding the doll and sucking her thumb.

Settlers of America

 I guess it was a good game. Ben was playing with some of his sisters and so he wanted to record it for all time. I'm glad they enjoy playing games together.

Playing, Working and Eating

The kids were excited for it to be a bit warmer outside and sort of enjoyed doing some yard work! Well, it was until Harmonie jumped out of the pile of leaves and Ben tried to mow them all up. Then it became a bit of chaos! Such is life.

We got the recipe of the bread they made in Nauvoo, and Emily was dying to try it. So we did but it didn't quite turn out the same. They ate it anyway.

A moment in time

We went to the play ground at the Price Nature Center for Family Home Evening tonight. I thought the lighting was good for portraits so I made my kids let me take their pictures. Of course, they weren't dressed nicely but it does give a good record of life.

Just had to have a funny picture.

Yep, he is so funny.

Are all kids like this?

Group funny shots!