Sundays

Some people are exhausted after church......

and some people are not....

Sittn' Sassy

Any of you who know Sassy (Ava) know that she is not one who likes to lay around. Ever since birth she has been a girl on the go. However, this week she has discovered the joy of sitting up. Thanks to Buffie who gave us her bumbo seat and to Nana and Papa who bought her her very own pink and purple saucer, Sassy now has a totally new view of her surroundings. Don't get me wrong, she can't sit unsupported, but with these handy new toys she is able to think she is sitting up without help and feels that much more empowered! The boys had alot of fun playing with the toys on the tray. Luckily she still doesn't mind sharing, I know that will end all to soon. The pictures really don't do her justice. For some reason everytime she sees a camera she opens her mouth and eyes as wide as she can. I do love the picture of her and Jack talking. He is so good to her and she just cracks up when she sees him!

Ava's new stroller

Grammy got Ava a new stroller and she LOVES it!! Jack wanted to sit in his next to "Sassy" I didn't pose Jack like that he did himself. Doesn't he look so proper? I mean if it wasn't for the tatoo and puppy pajama pants. I also didn't really look at the background while I was taking the pictures, I probably should have moved the vacuum, oh well! And yes, as you can tell by Ava's tights I was and always will be a Punky Brewster fan :)

Bailey Annmarie Downs

I didn't post anything on Bailey's angel day because I didn't know what to write. Today I received my Bereaved parents newsletter and found this poem. I wanted to share it because I really liked it. Sorry for the poor quality of the picture. I took a picture of a picture and well you get the idea.

The Broken Chain

We little knew that morning that

God was going to call your name.

In life we loved you dearly, in death

we do the same. It broke our hearts

to lose you, you did not go alone;

for part of us went with you,

the day God called you home.

You left us peaceful memories,

your love is still our guide and although

we cannot see you, you are always by our side.

Our family chain is broken,

and nothing seems the same.

but as God calls us one by one

the chain will link again.

Bad Kharma

Never be mean to your siblings! I tell that to my kids 100 times a day, yet I don't practice what I preach. Tonight Whitney and I were going through Ava's shoes. We were oohing and ahhhing and everything was going well until I decided to seperate the shoes that were still attached with those little plastic tags. Instead of cutting the tags I pulled the shoes until the tag broke. Innocent right? I thought so, but Whitney yelled, "OW!" The harmless plastic tag had flown off and hit her right between the eyes. (Luckily she had her glasses on) I thought it was so hilarious that I purposely aimed the next pair of shoes at her. I pulled my hardest while laughing my best bully laugh and SNAP the tag flew off and hit me in the chin. It hit me so hard that I started bleeding. I now have a welt and i'll probably have a scab tomorrow. So learn from me and NEVER be mean to your siblings. If you have to be mean at least plan a little better then I did and make sure that you won't get hurt.

Baby Blessing

Ava and Emma were blessed this last Sunday. I am so thankful for all of you who came to the blessing to share the special day with us. Ava looked like such an angel and she was so good. Before the blessing she was fussy and I was worried that she'd cry the whole time. I was mainly worried because I had bet that Emma would cry, and Ava would be fine, but they both did great!

Happy Birthday Owen

Owen turned 6 years old today! I have to brag for a minute and say that he is the coolest, kindest, most giving, easy to get along with child I have ever met. I am so thankful to have him as one of my children. I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father sent him to me to keep me sane!! Now usually this is were I would put that I can't believe he is six years old already, but not with Owen. He acts more like he's fifteen. Owen has always idolized teenage guys. Whenever he sees a guy with a mohawk or tattoos he tells me he wants to be just like them, I know, I am scared for his teenage years. Maybe he'll get it all out of his system while he is young, or at least that's what I keep telling myself. So for his birthday this year all he wanted was a skateboard, a real one, not a cheapy walmart one. In fact he asked for one with a skeleton or the devil on it, I was waiting for him to ask for his first tattoo as well, but luckily he just wanted the skateboard, i'm sure the tattoos will come later. He also wanted "cool skater clothes". That is what I absolutely love about Owen. He not only knows what cool is, but he IS cool. I was never a cool kid, so to give birth to one somehow makes me cool, right? O.k. maybe not. So back to Owen's birthday...We started the day with him opening his presents from Devin and I. We did get him a skateboard with a skeleton on it and a hat with a skull on it, because it looked cool. We went to Wendy's for lunch with Aunt Neenee and Emma because Owen LOVES the chicken nuggets they have there. Then we went and visited Nana and Papa. Grammy met us back at our house and brought Owen his own cake with his name on it and cupcakes for everyone else. I must say they were the best tasting cupcakes I have ever had! After a while we headed to chuck e cheese's for Owen's party. I was surprised at how well the party turned out since I am such a spazz that I never sent out invitations. I totally forgot to send them and then we went on vacation. So if you weren't invited, please don't be mad at me, you probably were invited I am just not as organized as I need to be, O.k. anyway...When we got home I asked him how his day was and he yelled, "AWESOME!" so I guess he had a good day. Now this officially closes birthday season for our house. We start the next season with Ava's first birthday, but that's not until April 2nd, so be ready!

Pictures of our vacation

Picture # 1 Ethan and Owen shooting their bb(?) guns. We talked about senseless killing, so no animals were hurt by these weapons, just alot of cans and bottles.

Picture #2 Beautiful Ava sleeping while the boys fished

Picture # 3 Fishing

Picture #4 Family picture on the 4th of July

Picture #5 Jack throwing rocks

Picture #6 more fishing

Picture #7 Jack before the fireworks

What we learned on vacation

Most of you know (because most of you were there) that we just got back from our vacation to Utah. It was alot of fun and there is alot that I can write, but i'd probably just bore you with the details, so I decided to write a list of what we learned. There will be more pictures with my next post, I just have to wait for Devin to get home with his computer (another long story) so for now I just have these two pictures and "The List"

What Tiffany learned on vacation:

* It's possible for a child to ask "Are we in Nevada yet?" 400 times in one minute.

* Blueberry pancakes are worth waiting an hour for at IHOP.

* A queen size bed is not big enough for an adult and a three year old that never stops moving, even in his sleep.

* A fourth of July parade is not a parade without a 100 million ton tank driving down a rather small main street.

*Eating homemade taffy that was thrown off a make shift float will not kill you.

*All craft ideas start in Utah and get pretty diluted by the time they reach Southern California.

* Firework shows are so much better when it's 108 degrees at 10 at night and you have a trembling three year old curled up in your shirt.

*My grandparents are very interesting people that have lead very interesting lives.

*Uncle Jack was an alcholic, who would've guessed?

* Fishing is as barbarrack as I thought it was, yet so excting to see my boys catch their 1st fish, and then their second, the third got kind of boring and by the fourth and fifth I was ready to go. (See picture above)

* Sunblock is not as affective while fishing.

*Frying fish is easier then I thought, but I would have to be starving to actually try eating one!

*Everything tastes better when it is cooked in a dutch oven especially peach cobbler!

*Devin has an incredible blood supply in his chin.

*With a little creativity I am able to make a pretty good pressure bandage in a hotel room at 11:00 at night (See above picture)

* There is no such thing as to many scones.

* I do not know much about astronomy and making up answers no longer works.

* It takes 8 hours to get to Cedar City and 13 hours to get home.

What Devin learned on Vacation:

* Tiffany will wait an hour for blueberry pancakes

* Fishing is pretty easy at a 12 and under pond

* Wearing a helmet while riding quad runners is always a good idea.

*Chins can bleed alot!

*Someone always has to use the bathroom no matter how many times we stop.

What Ethan, Owen, and Jack learned on vacation:

*Mom will tell us when we get to Nevada, we can stop asking.

*Hotel beds are much more comfy if you jump on them before you lay down.

*Fishing with Daddy and Papa Casey is really fun, especially since they bait the hooks, cast the line and take the fish off the hooks.

*We are more afraid of blood then we thought.

* Mommy and Grandma DA are good cooks, but are not able to make fish sticks or sushi with the fish we caught


*Pretending to eat our good food, then filling up on junk food will result in a tummy ache every time.


*We shouldn't name a fish that we are going to eat, it's just weird


*Throwing rocks into a pond never gets old


*Fireworks aren't as scary when watched from the inside of mom's shirt (Jack)


*Wrestling in the back seat while driving on the freeway really makes mom and dad mad.





What Ava learned on vacation:


*My family is crazier then I originally thought!





We did have alot of fun and we all realized just how lucky we are to belong to such an amazing family. Nothing beats sitting in the circle in Kanaraville and connectiong with your roots. I feel blessed every day for my family and trips like this really make me remeber how lucky I am!