We Give Thanks for . . .

-our Savior
-the gospel
-prayer
-scriptures
-everything that goes with the church
-Sonic the Hedgehog
-our house with electricity, running water, and flushing toilets
-nature
-toys
-dolls
-blankets
-chocolate
-ice cream
-hot apple cider and hot cocoa
-rainy, lazy afternoons
-talents
-computers
-video games
-school
-dancing
-the temple
-forever families
-wonderful friends
-Disneyland
-sports
-Grandparents
-Aunt, Uncles, and Cousins
-Sisters and Brothers
-Parents
-President Thomas S. Monson
-a free country
-the founding fathers of our country
-soldiers that fight for our freedom
-a stable job
-football
-singing
-playing
-riding bikes
-taking walks
-stores and shopping
-seasons
-holidays
-clothes
-learning and education
-Primary
-Book of Mormon stories
-our bodies
-yummy food
-snuggling and relaxing
-movie nights
-playing games together as a family
-conversations with our kids
-Family Home Evening
-Kids Meetings
-Our happy healthy life

Holy 5 years old, Batman!

Five years ago on Saturday, we welcomed Jacob Paul Stuart into our family. He was such a good baby and has turned into quite the little man. Jake was always mellow as a baby and toddler but that is completely gone now. He is definitely our wild one and fits the third child stereotype. He is the funniest kid I know. He says the most hilarious things and his mind is always turning. When I talk to him, I can see his little brain going as he stares at me while sucking his thumb (yeah, that's another thing we are going to work on). He'll come back with some retort and I can't help but laugh.

Jacob has had the most injuries in our family. Besides his plastic surgery for his lip when he was 3 months old, he has had stitches twice on his cute little face and will probably have to have oral surgery within the next year or so. It wouldn't be as bad if he didn't have the loudest wail/cry/scream I have ever heard. Every time he cries, he sounds like he is dying. I don't even run anymore to see what is going on. I just wait for him to calm down and then tell me what happened. He also loves Band-Aids. Every little sore or red spot has to have a Band-Aid. We go through those about as much as we go through toilet paper. It is ridiculous!

I think Jake still wants to be the baby of the family. When he is asked to do things his reply is always that he is too little. He loves to snuggle with me on the couch after we take Clark and Kate to school. We always get a blanket and snuggle while he watches The Backyardigans. I love that time that I just get to hold him. It means my day doesn't get started until about 9:30 but I'm glad that he still wants me to hold him. Jacob is also very imaginative. He is always playing with action figures and talking back and forth with them. I love that he will play with his toys for hours. He doesn't like to read and write on a regular basis but he does love to play. He also likes to do poses and make funny faces. He'll do something and then ask me, "Is that cool, Mom?" And his favorite word is "AWESOME!" Everything is AWESOME!

Since his birthday fell on Saturday, he got to plan the whole day. Jake had asked for waffles for breakfast but when I started to make them Saturday morning, he told me, "Not homemade waffles, Mom, Eggo waffles!" What kid wants Eggo waffles on their birthday when they eat them about every other day during the week? Oh . . . I guess my kid. So I fixed French Toast (my favorite) and Eggo Waffles (Jake's favorite) for his birthday breakfast.

After getting ready for the day, Jake opened his gifts. He got Lego Batman for the Wii, a Batmobile, a Playmobil Skate Park, Kung Fu Panda, and a build-a-bear penguin he named Flippy. He was pretty excited about everything. He then requested that we go to lunch at Panda Express. Steph and Jim had stayed with us during the week so they enjoyed lunch with us before heading back home. After eating, he declared that he just wanted to go back home and play Lego Batman and check out his new toys. All of us were throwing out suggestions of things to do but that was what he wanted so that's what we did. I put Carlee down for a nap, Joe helped a family move into our neighborhood, Katelyn and I read, and the boys played Wii and "skater boys". He got tired of playing around 5:00 so bowling was next on his agenda.

Heavy, Heavy, Hang, Over Jake's poor head . . .

We headed out to Santa Fe Station for Cosmic Bowling. It was fun with the lights out and all the neon lights flashing. The bowling alley was big and clean and there were a lot of families there. You actually walked into the smoke when you left the bowling alley so it was nice. The kids had a great time although I think they should do mini-games for kids. They are done bowling by about the 6th frame. Carlee enjoyed the air blowing out from the vent and dancing in the lights. Clark was insistent on not having bumpers but after he had about 5 gutter balls and everyone's score was ahead of him, he caved and asked for the bumpers. When the last pin fell, we piled back into the car and headed home for cake and ice cream. I made a simple cake--the Batman calling sign. It was so easy and I am not a cake decorator by any means (they turn out 10 times better in my head) but Jake thought it was "so awesome, Mom!" and as we were tucking him into bed, he said it was the best day ever!

I agree. It was a pretty awesome day and you are a pretty awesome boy. Happy Birthday, Jakey! We love you so much and are grateful for that sweet personality. Thanks for being you.

We Say the Darndest Things About Each Other

Since we interviewed the kids, we decided to see what each other had to say about the other:

1. What is something your spouse always says to the other?
Joe: "JOE!"
Kristen: "I love you!"

2. What makes your spouse happy?
Joe: "When you get all your projects done and I answer dumb questions like this"
Kristen: "When I recognize the things you accomplish instead of looking at the things you still need to do"

3. What makes us sad?
Joe: "Your kids growing up"
Kristen: "When I'm too critical of you and point out the negatives"

4. How do we make each other laugh?
Joe: "When you do silly dances"
Kristen: "When you shake your booty"

5. What were you like as a child?
Joe: "Responsible"
Kristen: "Happy, full of energy and life. A lot like Jake, I assume"

6. What is your spouse's favorite thing to do?
Joe: "Blogging"
Kristen: "Play the Wii, look on the computer, watch TV"

7. What do we do when the other is not around?
Joe: "Clean, shuttle kids"
Kristen: "Go to work seeing patients and doing cases"

8. If your spouse becomes famous, what will it be for?
Joe: "Organizational consultant"
Kristen: "Some type of medical cure or an orthopaedic break-through"

9. What is your spouse really good at?
Joe: "Lots of stuff. Too many to list"
Kristen: "Major kissing up, making me laugh, home improvement repairs and projects, video games, surgery, trivia questions, internet research"

10. What is your spouse not very good at?
Joe: "Sports"
Kristen: "Cleaning up after himself and organizing his papers"

11. What does your spouse do for his/her job?
Joe: "Everything"
Kristen: "Orthopaedic Surgery"

12. What is your spouse's favorite food?
Joe: "Mexican"
Kristen: "Steak, potatoes, and veggies"

13. What makes you proud of your spouse?
Joe: "You're a wonderful wife and mother and raising our children in the gospel"
Kristen: "Our family always comes first and you are true to your priesthood. You have a good heart and will do anything for me!"

14. If your spouse were a cartoon character, who would he/she be?
Joe: "Minnie Mouse"
Kristen: "Superman"

15. What do we do together?
Joe: "Shop for your stuff"
Kristen: "Shop for YOUR stuff (we just like to shop, period), go out to dinner, watch movies"

16. How are we the same?
Joe: "We share common goals"
Kristen: "We have the same ideals on the important things in life"

17. How are we different?
Joe: "You think your projects should come first"
Kristen: "I like things clean and organized MY WAY"

18. How do you know I love you?
Joe: "By your service"
Kristen: "You tell me all the time and compliment me"

19. What do you like most about your spouse?
Joe: "You're understanding and fun-loving"
Kristen: "Your sense of humor"

20. Where is his/her favorite place to go?
Joe: "Disneyland or a craft store"
Kristen: "Target and Germany"

21. What is your favorite thing about your spouse?
Joe: "See #19"
Kristen: "Personality"

22. What does your spouse do that is silly?
Joe: "Funny little dances"
Kristen: "Hip-hop dances complete with pelvic thrusts"

Kids Say the Darndest Things About Dad

This is all about Dad with a few side notes from me. Since he doesn't do our blog, he can't defend himself. Hee Hee Hee.

1. What is something Dad always says to you?
Clark: "Hey Clark, wanna come with me?"
Katelyn: "Let's play Wii"
Jacob: "You can go in the pool"

2. What makes Dad happy?
Clark: "When I follow him on Lego Indiana Jones"
Katelyn: "Our smiles"
Jacob: "When I'm nice and not bad"

3. What makes Dad sad?
Clark: "When I eat 3 ice cream cones"
Katelyn: "When we touch his computer"
Jacob: "Touching his i-Phone when he doesn't say"

4. How does Dad make you laugh?
Clark: "He tells jokes"
Katelyn: "He tickles us"
Jacob: "To do funny things"

5. What was your dad like as a child?
Clark: "Hard-working"
Katelyn: "He was smart"
Jacob: "He liked Grandma and Grandpa"

6. How old is your dad?
Clark: "33"
Katelyn: "33"
Jacob: "34"

7. How tall is your dad?
Clark: "He's like 5 feet and 10 inches"
Katelyn: "He's 5 feet and 10 inches"
Jacob: "100 feet"

8. What is his favorite thing to do?
Clark: "Get on his laptop or play the Wii"
Katelyn: "Play Wii"
Jacob: "Play Wii"

9. What does your dad do when you're not around?
Clark: "He works because I'm always at school when he's not around"
Katelyn: "Plays Wii"
Jacob: "Plays Wii"

10. If your dad becomes famous, what will it be for?
Clark: "His doctoring"
Katelyn: "A rock star"
Jacob: "A firefighter"

11. What is your dad really good at?
Clark: "Making bread" (Very true. He's a great cook! Thanks, hon!)
Katelyn: "Playing on his laptop"
Jacob: "Playing Wii"

12. What is your dad not very good at?
Clark: "Cleaning his part of the closet and following Mom's rules" (Mmm hmmm)
Katelyn: "Cleaning"
Jacob: "Being a rock star"

12. What does your dad do for his job?
Clark: "He's an orthopaedist of doctory" (OK?!?)
Katelyn: "Orthopaedic Doctor and he takes out other people's bones"
Jacob: "He works at his work where you do surgery"

14. What is your dad's favorite food?
Clark: "Sushi"
Katelyn: "Ice cream"
Jacob: "Noodles"

15. What makes you proud of your dad?
Clark: "He gives us what we want when we ask him to" (Mmm Hmm)
Katelyn: "When he makes his good bread for us"
Jacob: "Playing the Wii with me"

16. If your dad was a cartoon character, who would he be?
Clark: "Knuckles from Sonic"
Katelyn: "Mister Crabs from Spongebob"
Jacob: "Luigi"

17. What do you and your dad do together?
Clark: "Play Wii"
Katelyn: "Play Wii"
Jacob: "Play"

18. How are you and your dad the same?
Clark: "We both like to golf"
Katelyn: "We have brown eyes and messy rooms"
Jacob: "We have the same hair"

19. How are you and your dad different?
Clark: "I follow Mom's rules and he doesn't" (Apparently there's a pattern here as well. I'm a clean freak and Joe is a huge softy that spoils our children with ice cream and no rules!)
Katelyn: "We have different favorite colors"
Jacob: "We have not the same clothes"

20. How do you know your dad loves you?
Clark: "Cuz he's my dad"
Katelyn: "Cuz he helps me"
Jacob: "Cuz his heart loves me"

21. What does he like most about Mom?
Clark: "That she's nice"
Katelyn: "She's cute"
Jacob: "He likes that she loves him"

22. Where is his favorite place to go?
Clark: "The sushi place"
Katelyn: "The computer shop"
Jacob: "McDonald's"

23. What is your favorite thing about Dad?
Clark: "That he loves me"
Katelyn: "He's a part of my family and I love him"
Jacob: "He plays with me"

24. What does he do that is silly?
Clark: "He says funny jokes"
Katelyn: "He sings songs"
Jacob: "He dances funny"

Kids Say The Darndest Things About Mom

Here's a fun interview I asked my kids about me . . .

1. What is something Mom always says to you?
Clark: "I love you!"
Katelyn: "Go to bed!"
Jacob: "Jake, clean up!"

2. What makes Mom happy?
Clark: "When we do something the first time you ask us to"
Katelyn: "The kids"
Jacob: "Us cleaning up"

3. What makes Mom sad?
Clark: "When I'm bad"
Katelyn: "When we don't do what you say."
Jacob: "Not cleaning up"

4. How does Mom make you laugh?
Clark: "When you, uh, um, I don't know. Oh I know, I know, when you play with us. I mean, when you play funny"
Katelyn: "When you say funny jokes"
Jacob: "Funny stuff"

5. What was your Mom like as a child?

Clark: "You were spoiled" (I was NOT! No way! NOT! NOT! NOT! ;))

Katelyn: "You had weird teeth"

Jacob: "You liked Grandma"

6. How old is your Mom?
Clark: "32"
Katelyn: "I think you're . . . 32"
Jacob: "32"

7. How tall is your Mom?
Clark: "You're 5 point 23"
Katelyn: "5 foot 5"
Jacob: "100 feet" (And it's all legs, baby!)

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Clark: "Blog"
Katelyn: "Blog"
Jacob: "Play with us"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Clark: "You watch your shows"
Katelyn: "You clean"
Jacob: "You clean up and do the laundry"

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Clark: "Making up ideas"
Katelyn: "Fashion designer"
Jacob: "It will be for us" (I hope that means they will be well-known for their goodness and successes, although with Jake, I sometimes worry)

11. What is your mom really good at?
Clark: "Being our mom" (Aahhh, sweet boy!)
Katelyn: "Cleaning"
Jacob: "Being nice"

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Clark: "Playing Wii"
Katelyn: "Spankings"
Jacob: "Being bad"

12. What does your mom do for her job?
Clark: "Take care of us"
Katelyn: "You take care of us"
Jacob: "Do the laundry"

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Clark: "Shrimp"
Katelyn: "Sushi"
Jacob: "Noodles"

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Clark: "That you love me"
Katelyn: "Because you help me clean my room" (Are you seeing a pattern here?)
Jacob: "Because I love you"

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Clark: "Amy from Sonic"
Katelyn: "Hannah Montana"
Jacob: "Mario"

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Clark: "We do homework"
Katelyn: "We do crafts and go shopping"
Jacob: "We play with each other"

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Clark: "We both have blonde hair"
Katelyn: "We both have yellow hair"
Jacob: "Cuz we clean"

19. How are you and your mom different?
Clark: "I play video games and you just blog"
Katelyn: "You have a lot of freckles and I don't"
Jacob: "Cuz we don't clean"

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Clark: "Cuz you take care of us and you give us shelter and you love us"
Katelyn: "Whenever I go to school, you give me a kiss"
Jacob: "Cuz I love you"
.
21. What does your mom like most about Dad?
Clark: "He's good-looking"
Katelyn: "He's hot"
Jacob: "He plays the Wii" (Um, whatever, Jake!)

22. Where is her favorite place to go?
Clark: "Disneyland"
Katelyn: "The outlets"
Jacob: "McDonald's" (ewww)

23. What is your favorite thing about Mom?
Clark: "That you love us"
Katelyn: "You're pretty"
Jacob: "You're nice"

24. What does your mom do that is silly?
Clark: "Nothing"
Katelyn: "You do funny dances like this . . ."
Jacob: "Play the Wii" (Because I'm terrible at it and Jake thinks it's hilarious because I'm the only one he can beat!)

My Baby Girl

My sweet and incredibly talented friend, Melissa, took these pictures of Carlee one day for fun when she was babysitting her and I have been wanting to post them because I love how they turned out and I need to journal a little bit about her for my memory's sake.

I can't believe that my baby is growing up. She will be 2 years old next month and it is so crazy. I am actually going through this thinking phase where I'm freaking out because all my babies are growing up. I want to freeze time. (Well, actually I want time to continue for about 3 more years. I don't want any more diapers to change and I want Clark to be 12 and Jake to be baptized.) I have been feeling this way because all of our birthdays are between September and December. And of course, I reminisce about carrying and giving birth to these sweethearts and the fun memories of them growing from developing babies to curious toddlers to energetic young ones to a little more independent older children, trying to let go but don't quite want to.

They still blow me kisses, wave goodbye and yell, "I love you!" when I drop them off at school. They still follow me around to make sure I'm close by. Their sweet faces light up when I surprise them at school for lunch or volunteering. They still want me to read them bedtime stories and tuck them in. They still love to snuggle on the couch with me during movies. They still think I'm pretty and dress cute ;) They still think I'm fun, cool, and have good ideas. Although it is challenging, busy, and sometimes stressful because they still need me so much, it is so rewarding and incredibly worth it when I get those kisses, hugs, and snuggles.

Carlee has especially been attached to me lately. But it is actually kind of cute. I tell her to go play but her reply is always, "I help Mommy." She loves to help me with dishes, laundry, and vacuuming. She brings me a book and when I'm done reading it, she yells, "The End! Another story?" Since the kids started back to school this week, I've been taking advantage of them being gone and doing some Christmas shopping so instead of taking a nap, she has been hauled around to different stores when Jake is at preschool. Yesterday I went to put her in the car to pick up Jake and she was so mad because she wanted "another store." Carlee loves to walk and look at things and is actually really good at "looking with her eyes, not her hands." She likes to carry around purses, put on Katelyn's makeup, and push her baby in the stroller. She loves holding my hand and sitting on my lap. She especially loves to talk on the phone. When she isn't talking to an aunt, grandma or Daddy, she'll hold it on her shoulder and jabber, laughing and throwing her head back. It is so funny to watch. Carlee has an amazing vocabulary and is a fantastic talker for not even being 2 yet. She loves to talk and ask questions about things. She loves when Daddy comes home and runs to him with the biggest hugs and kisses. She likes to play with my hair and put her cheek next to mine with her arms tightly around my neck.

Carlee is very spunky and independent. She wants to be a big girl and tells me, "I do it" and "Lahlee's turn." She has the cutest run with big back-and-forth arms, straight legs, and wiggling hips. I make her run to me just so I can smile and get a giggle. This girl can eat too. She loves food and taking "just one bite" of everyone else's. She has a major sweet tooth and will climb on anything to get what she wants. My ears are tuned to the chairs being pushed around the kitchen floor and I always come running.

One of my favorite things about Carlee (and I still need to take a picture of this) is the way she sleeps. When we moved to Vegas, we got rid of the crib and put her in a big bed (twin). During the first week she kept falling out of bed during the night so she wouldn't sleep in her bed. She would grab her pillow, blanket, and baby and lay on the floor. When we finally bought a bedrail and showed her that she wouldn't fall out, she started sleeping in her bed. The funny thing about her sleeping is that she wads up her blanket into a ball and puts it under her belly and pelvis as she lays on her tummy. I can't imagine that being comfortable but she will toss and turn until that blanket is balled up just right before she falls asleep. I also have to lay her baby right next to her with her own blanket, kiss and hug them both and tell them "Sweet Dreams" before she'll go to sleep. Carlee is actually the best at staying in her bed when it's bedtime too so that is amazing too.

Clark, Katelyn, and Jacob can't get enough of her and she loves to play with them just as much. Although she is a "Mama's Girl", it just doesn't feel right when they are all at school. She asks about them all day long and is so excited when they are home. She loves it when they play with her and involve her in their clubs, plays, and shows. Carlee watches them in awe and loves the attention when she does something cute and they laugh. We are so grateful for this little munchkin. She has the most darling personality and sometimes I wonder where she comes from but she definitely brings something unique and fun to our family. We love our baby girl to pieces. Thanks for being you, Coco!

Happy Halloween

For Halloween this year, we decided to drive up to Utah and spend it there. We arrived late Wednesday night and started the festivities on Thursday. After some shopping and errands in the morning, we headed to Gardner Village in the afternoon. "Witches Night Out" is so cute to see. There are animated witches all over the village. The kids also rode on ponies with their cousins, Sierra, Jaxson, and Brooklyn.

Katelyn "hanging" with her new friend.

Grandpa and the kids, plus Brooklyn. Notice the sign. Hee Hee.

Clark's new girlfriend. Isn't she pretty?

After a yummy dinner of taco soup and bread bowls, we got our jackets on and headed to Hee Haw Farms. We jumped on the hay, slid down the tube slide, walked through a spook alley, played in the corn box, shot the corn cannon, sped down the gunny sack slide, and braved the corn maze in the dark. It was a lot of fun and the kids had a blast. Uncle Kyle even scared Clark half to death when he jumped out of the corn in the dark.

Cute Girls!

Friday morning we carved our pumpkins and then headed to BYU for a trip down memory lane and a shopping spree at the bookstore. Joe and I took the kids to lunch at Training Table (where we had our first lunch date), showed them the apartment complex where we met, The Riviera, and walked all around campus telling them about the buildings and such. It sure has changed in the last 10 years. I even thought that we could pass as college students if we didn't have our four children in tow, but Joe completely disagreed. He reminded me of how old, mature, and experienced we are. Thanks a lot, babe! We bought tees, hats, sweatshirts, and polos at the bookstore and then grabbed an ice cream cone at the Creamery. Yummy! Go, Cougars!

We then headed to my sister's house for chili, homemade root beer and trick-or-treating. Cath made 2 different types of chili and they were both delicious. The homemade root beer was fun and the kids loved the dry ice. Joe taught them all how to suck it up and blow it out so that kept them entertained for a while. After a few little bites, too many questions of when they could get into their costumes, and "Where's my trick-or-treat bag?", "I can't find my shoes", and "Mom, did you bring the make-up?" we started the chaos of getting ready. The kids got dressed up, posed for pictures, and were on their way. It was a warm night for trick-or-treating. We did have a few little rain sprinkles but the kids were happy and loved every minute of it. Kyle and Jenn even came dressed up as Prince Edward and Giselle from Enchanted. Joe and I got to take the kids together this year and that was a real treat for us. After an hour of begging for candy, we loaded into the cars and headed up to Grandma and Grandpa's. We showed off our costumes, dumped out our candy and dug in (at least, for a few minutes). Then we had donuts and apple cider and played a family round of Neon Leon (our revived favorite game that is played all the time!). Then pajamas were on, teeth were brushed and we all snuggled up to watch Tinkerbell. Half the kids fell asleep during the movie so it was a great night.

I don't know what's worse--the pumpkin guts or the bedhead!

Expert artists and carvers

A bear, a princess, a lion, and a bunny

Carlee wiggling her nose like a rabbit.

Saturday was spent hitting the great stores that you can only find in Utah. Joe took the boys to Nordstrom and Boondocks, a family fun center/arcade and I took the girls and went with my parents to IKEA, Hobby Lobby, Tai Pan Trading, and Rod Works. That afternoon and evening was spent watching football, eating pizza, and playing. My parents had tickets to the Jazz Game and I wanted to go but I couldn't get a date (football vs. basketball, hmmmm) and he convinced me as to which was better so they and Geoff went to the Jazz Game and the rest of the family came up to cheer on BYU, watch Texas, and the Utes. They were good games so I'm glad I stayed, although the Jazz won too in a good game. The kids played in the basement for hours while we watched football and it was nice to just relax after a couple of crazy days.

Great Halloween, great shopping, great weekend, great family.