Girls Dance Recital

Now that Christmas is over I am going to have to spend the next few weeks catching up on my blogging! On The 19th Emberlyn & Liberty had their Christmas dance recital. It was really cute! Their teacher works so hard with them. They all wore their jammies and did 2 numbers. One of which was "I got chicken pox for Christmas" (explaining the red dots on their face). It was Libertys first "performance" and I was worried if she would participate, but she did GREAT! As long as she didn't get sidetracked watching the twins play, she did a good job keeping up with the other girls. They both love being in dance and it is so fun to go and watch all the progress they have made!

Merry Christmas (Eve)

Since I don't have addresses for a lot of you, I thought I would send a Merry Christmas shout out! (and, for those that I do have addresses, I guess they are now going to be Happy New Year cards--I tried!) We hope that all of you have a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year brings great happiness to your family! I am so grateful for this blog, I know that sounds silly, but I really am. I have "found" friends that I have been missing for years, I'm able to keep in touch with those we love who have moved away from us, and all at the same time, I'm keeping a journal of this adventure that I am on with my 7 (almost 8 !!) beautiful kids. I would never document the things that I do if I didn't have this blog, and I LOVE it! Thanks to all of you for your friendship, your adorable blogs that I love to read, and for your wonderful comments that you leave on here. I LOVE hearing from you.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

We love you all!

Devin, Kristina, Austin, Hunter, Mason, Emberlyn, Liberty, Brinley, & Brigham

(I have seriously thought about just going to numbers instead of names; it takes like a whole min. to actually type every ones name!!)

Temple Lights

On Monday December 3rd we went to the Temple with my family to look at the lights. We haven't been in a long time, so we really enjoyed it. Inside the visitors center they have nativity scenes from around the world that you walk through and look at; I would recommend taking a min. to do that if you are there. They are beautiful and amazing, and so fun so see the different cultures displayed through nativity scenes. Here are some fun pictures we stopped to take before we headed to Mom & Dads for hot chocolate and WAY too many goodies!














Cassie & her favorite sister!



















Tiffany, Piper, MaKenna & Mike

Crystal & Jacob

James & Amanda














Jeremiah, Cassie, Tiff & Piper
(don't think Tiffany was supposed to be in that one!)



















Dad & Mom

MAKE IT STOP!!

Here is a list of the junk I have in my house right now!
* cookie candy
* candied popcorn
* chocolate mint brownies
* rice crispy treats
* cinnamon rolls (oops, not any more, just had the last one)
* peanut brittle
* banana bread
* brownies

I LOVE the holidays, but for heaven sakes gaining 10lbs. just might not be worth it! The biggest problem is that you wouldn't believe what weird kids I have....they haven't touched hardly any of it! They wouldn't even TRY the peanut brittle! They would probably eat the banana bread over all of it! Guess who that leaves to consume all the goodies! YUP, the prego lady! Oh well, guess I better enjoy it b/c come March all the feasting on the goodies comes to a rapid halt and it's hello diet, yet again! (story of my life!!)

Funny kids!

Who ever says that your too old to annoy your mother, is greatly mistaken! My brother Jeremiah left for Utah last month (he's back now, thank goodness!) so of course my mom wanted to take about 100 pictures of her kids together. Pretty much one of our most favorite things to do, is to draw this out for about an hour, which is how long it takes for all of us to quit making faces, and actually get one good picture. (I think 1/2 of them got deleted and I didn't even put all of them on here!) No worries though, even though it gets a bit annoying, my mom is cracking up the whole time! (although our husbands don't quite find the humor in this, which only makes it even funnier!!) I really do love my brothers and sisters though! Somehow I missed the funny jean, but that's what I have them for because they seriously crack me up! Until 2 years ago everyone but Tiffany, and Jacob (off and on) lived in Arkansas. So I really enjoy every minute I get to spend with them! We always have a good time and I am so glad I don't have to be without them anymore!

Gotta love Dad!

(my older kids really need to step it up! I never have much to post about anyone but the babies! Maybe cuz they are home all day?)

Anyways, so Brinley found a pair of my shoes that she decided MUST be worn for as long as possible, but would completely FREAK when they fell off her feet; every 5 seconds! I was getting tired of bending over to put them back on, so Devin helped her out! Yes, they are taped on her feet w/painters tape!! I seriously thought that after about 2 min. she would be flippin' out until we took them off, but I think she ran around the house with them taped to her feet for over an hour. Leave it to my husband to think of taping them to her feet....he totally cracks me up!!

Still at large! Two toilet terrorists!!

WANTED:

Two Toilet Terrorists

BEWARE! Still at large. May be armed with blankets, toys and toilet paper. Not considered dangerous; unless your a toilet! Reward if captured; preferably alive please!

So every ones babies play in the toilet, mine certainly have! But Brinley and Brigham take it to a whole new level! This is the top to an air freshener spray that Devin pried out of the pipe last night after having to take to the toilet apart. These two kids are like heat seeking missiles if there is a bathroom door left open. No matter where they are; they KNOW! They run as fast as they can and start shoving everything they can find in the toilet while the other one is frantically flushing as many times as possible until they are discovered and the fun is put to an end. Afew days ago I got them out of their cribs and they took off to go play (haha) by the time I got to my bedroom door I realized that the baby gate might be off of the bathroom at the other end of the hall. I literally ran down the hall (quite a sight w/my big ol' belly) and by the time I got there they had a blanket, 2 toys, a book and a cup I think, in the toilet with Brigham flushing furiously! AHHHHH!!! Even though its SO frustrating (more for Devin than me, because he is the one that has to fix it) it really is funny! I'm not sure what goes through their little minds sometimes! "Hurry she's coming!" "I know, two more things and the clog will be UNSTOPPABLE Ah ha ha ha ha!" Gotta love it!

Emmys latest photos

Here are pictures from Emberlyns latest photo shoot......keep in mind, I don't even know she has taken the camera until I go to look through the pictures! Oh Santa, PLEASE bring the girl her own camera!!!!!

Brynn & Brigg @ 18mo.

HALLELUJAH!!! We finally made it to nursery!! I can't even tell you how joyous Sunday was getting to actually sit through 2 whole hours of class! I was in heaven!! Here are what my two tornadoes are up to.

Brinley

** LOVES to put on shoes, carry purses and play with dolls (it is so fun to see the boy vs. girl 1st hand at every stage of the game)

** she has actually calmed down a bit with the brother beatings and loves on him a lot more (thank goodness!)

** finally says mommy, but is still a complete Daddies girl.....she ran into the bedroom the other day where Devin was and yelled, "it's Daddy"......too cute!

** can climb anything, loves to play outside and LOVES to tattle on Brigg; even though she had just stopped doing the exact same thing to come and tell on him! (I'm not sure this one will ever stop!)

** can be super sweet and loves to cuddle w/me as I take her upstairs to put her to bed

Brigham

** ALL boy! Loves, trucks, cars, and being outside

** still completely enamored w/the camera and won't stop saying cheese until you put it away!

** every time he gets hurt (even when he's not really hurt but wants the attention) he won't get over it until he takes 2 seconds and lays his head down on my lap, leg, arm--any body part will do, and gives a couple fake cries...then hes off to play, good as new.....it's really cute!

** loves his big brother Austin, loves to be sweet and loves to cuddle

I can be having the worst day ever, but when I walk in a room and see the two of them happily playing together it always melts my heart. When Devin & I check on them at night, Devin will still look at me and say, "two, we got two!" I love it!! They light up my life and as crazy as it gets I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

My Thanks

Here are just some fun pictures. We watched MaKenna and Piper Halloween weekend and everyone had so much fun. Then we have Mr. Brigham enjoying some chocolate ice cream and finally Brinley trying on my wig that I wore for Halloween. I figured that I have this blog that I use for my journal, so I really should take the time to write afew things I am thankful for.

**My family is numero uno on my list! I adore my children and my husband and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank my Father in Heaven for blessing me so abundantly. I always wanted a big family, but still feel truly blessed that the Lord has aloud me to have each of these special spirits in our lives. They bring me great job and much laughter and I couldn't live without them.

** My husband deserves his own shout out. There really aren't many like him; he is my hero, my best friend, my support, the love of my life and such an amazing example to me and to our kids. He loves us unconditionally (that means crazy pregnant lady and ALL), takes care of us, helps me, teaches his children...........I could go on and on! People ask me all the time, "how do you do it" well here is my secret....Devin!! I would NEVER be able to do this on my own and he is an amazing help to me. Weather it comes to cooking, cleaning, giving baths, grocery shopping, planning FHE, running my "in town" errands; you name it he does it. I love him so much!

** I am truly blessed and grateful for my extended family; parents, siblings. They are all such a huge support to me and I have truly found my best friends in my family members!

** I am so grateful for the health and strength of each of my family members; children, husband, parents, siblings......with all of the things life throws at us, I find myself being very thankful that we are all healthy!

** I am very thankful to have been brought up in this gospel and to have a husband who helps us continue to grow and learn. I couldn't imagine going through life without the knowledge of a loving Savior and Heavenly Father. And that no matter what I do I always have somewhere to turn and find comfort and solace through prayer and scripture study.

** I am grateful for the ward we belong to and the area in which we live. There are amazing people out here and I am blessed by the people around me and their kindness and good example.

** I am really thankful for my beautiful home and our reliable vehicles that we have. I don't think that is vain or "worldly". I see the Lords hand in everything and I have much gratitude for the things I have been blessed with. Especially with the amount of children I have, I am so thankful to have room in our house for all these little critters and a nice vehicle to cart them all around in. I know that none of that would be, with out the Lords blessings.

** I am very blessed and grateful for the gifts the Lord has given me and love all of my friends and family whom I hold so dear to me.

My mechanical son

So I have said 100 times how much Brigham is like Austin and this is just one more reason! He LOVES anything that is mechanical! He has been obsessed with my sewing machine since the Halloween costume extravaganza; he just wants to watch it go. (he likes my kitchen aid too & has to sit on the counter when it is running) He will stand on the chair and watch me sew for 20 or 30 min.! And who says kids don't have a very long attention span?? We were in JoAnns afew weeks ago and he was sitting in the front of the cart; I couldn't figure out what he was spazin' about until I realized we had passed the sewing machine display! It was hilarious!! I love that he likes to watch and he is really good about not touching (for the most part) Oh, and a little side note---my prego belly is NOT that big; I just look huge in these pictures cuz I have on one of Devins t-shirts. :)

Tagged again!

I've been tagged by my sister in law Crystal...this is a new one!

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. Learning about a new baby!
2. Enjoying not having to go to work everyday (not that babies aren't work, but I'd much rather be at home than have to go to a job everyday!!)
3. Getting ready for Thanksgiving and looking forward to my family coming to spend Christmas with us in our SUPER tiny duplex!
4. Watching the new show ER w/Devin every week
5. Serving as the Laurel advisor in our ward even though I was only 19!! Yikes that was awkward!! (Especially when I wasn't thinking what T-shirt I had on when I had to drop by one of the girls house and she said, "oh my gosh, did you graduate in 96'? I almost died cuz I had done a good job at keeping my age a secret!!)

5 things on my To-Do list today:

1. Get Devin to hang the bathroom door before his family comes for Thanksgiving
2. TONS of cleaning before Thursday!
3. Finish my Christmas cards
4. Finish painting down the hallway
5. Decorate my new bathroom! (that's a post for another day!!)

5 snacks I enjoy: (this is right now, it might be totally different in 2 weeks!)

1. DONUTS (that actually never changes, but I only allow myself to super enjoy them when I am prego!) The donut holes from Wal-Mart are the BEST!!
2. yogurt
3. granola bars
4. peaches & cottage cheese
5. hot chocolate (ok, ch. milk most of the time cuz it's tooooo dang hot!!)

5 songs I know the lyrics to:

1. Seriously I don't know if I know 100% of any lyrics!!

5 things I would never wear again:

1. a PERM (I do think never is an awfully strong word cuz I know 20 years from now I will read this and be cracking up cuz I am "wearing" just that!
2. leggings tucked into my socks (that one is a definite!)
3. My bangs ratted and sticking STRAIT up; my Dad used to ask if I stood against the wall and sprayed them so they would stand up like that. HAHA
4. dresses that button from top to bottom; usually with little lace along the bottom
5. ANY 80's/90's maternity clothes YIKES!!

5 of my favorite toys:

1. Any gaming station; usually racing games against Devin
2. ANY of my fun scrapbooking stuff......ok, truth be told, I don't have any fun scrapbooking stuff, it's all my sisters, so I guess the real answer is my sisters fun scrapbooking stuff!
3. My kids....that sounds funny, but really you can't ask for much more entertainment!
4. Devins truck. I have always loved trucks and his is pretty sweet!
5. Any games that we play when we get together w/my siblings.....they definitely make it fun!

I tag everyone, but especially Michelle (both), Crystal Cummard & Saralyn

Happy 10th Birthday Austin!

I can't even believe that I have a 10 year old!!! I feel so.....OLD!! AHHHH! I watch Brigham and he is so much like Austin that it makes me feel like it wasn't that long ago when Austin was running around getting into trouble! He is such a great kid and such a wonderful help to me. Here are some things I want to remember about Austin right now.

** He ADORES his brother Brigham and loves that Brigg loves him so much

** He is doing really good in school and is amazing at Math & Science

** He is so much like his Dad! He loves to watch the same shows; How it's Made, Myth Busters, Modern Marvels, Dirty Jobs......I could go on and on (did I mention TV is one of his favorite past times!)

** He will sit for hours and hours building things w/his Legos; I never see him!

** He is really good about getting his chores done and anytime I ask him to do anything he jumps right to it!

** I guess 10 is the age when they start realizing that Mom doesn't live on Red Bull and everything doesn't magically get done! The morning of his Birthday he came downstairs and saw all the cupcakes on the counter for his class and asked, "Mom, how early did you have to get up to do all this?" I told him I didn't get up real early, I just stayed up last night. "Did you stay up allllll night?" "no, just a little bit late" That was followed by his bear grip hug and , "thanks mom for all you are doing for me" I almost cried! Finally, after 10 years, some recognition; I loved it!!

** He loves going to scouts, playing w/his friends, driving the golf cart & loves having his own room and his own space. Life with 6 siblings can get a bit crowded and I'm glad he has some space of his own.

Thanks Austin, for filling our lives with joy over the past 10 years. You have brought so much love & laughter into our lives and I appreciate all that you do to be a good son!

Happy Birthday Amanda!

AHHHH! My little siblings are growing up! (going backwards once again) We celebrated my sister Amandas 24th Birthday with our traditional cake & ice cream party @ my Mom & Dads. (my kids LOVE going to their house!) Since Tiffany & Amanda share October birthdays we are going to go for our girls day in November.......we're smart like that......one pedi in October & one in November Yipee!! Here are some things I love about my sister.

** she is a great cook and has always enjoyed cooking & baking for us

** I love that she has found her true love and is living her happy ever after

** She loves kids about as much as I do (and I can't wait for her to have her own!!)

** She has many talents and isn't afraid to share them

** She is the only daughter in our family to have gone to College....go girl!

** She is always happy to help anyone with anything and is very giving of her time

** I love that she loves to laugh (shes like me; it doesn't take much to get her goin')

I love you Amanda and am so blessed to have your giving example in my life. Thank you for all that you do!!

MaKenna turns 3!

Ok, so I know I am going backwards, but I was waiting for pictures (and Halloween to be over!) My sweet niece MaKenna had her 3rd Birthday on October 28th. I LOVE having my very own nieces...it's just different than my nieces and nephews on Devins side; NOT that I love them any less, it's just different. (and can't wait to get more of them!!) I feel like Kenna is a part of me and I have LOVED watching her grow from the day she was born! Here are some things I love about her:

** MAKES ME LAUGH! (last night we were leaving the scrapbook store and she asked Tiff, "could ya just hurry up?") HAHA

** She loves her cousins! Always running to say hi to Brigham & Brinley especially, like she hasn't seen them in forever!

** I adore her long hair and makes me jealous for my girls! (if they just could have put down the flippin' scissors!!)

** She is quite the smarty! She doesn't miss a thing.

** I love her attitude--it reminds me of her mommy! Heaven help her! :)

** And mostly I love how she never sees me w/out a greeting hug & a departure hug & kiss.

I love you tons MaKenna Illeen & couldn't live without you!!!

Halloween Fun Tietjen style!

Make your own slide shows and scrapbooks

Annual Tietjen Pinata Bust

Every year we get together with the Tietjens for our annual Pinata bust; it is my kids favorite party of the year! My sister in law makes tons of pinatas and all the kids (I think there is over 50?) get to take their turn trying to bust it open. When we are all done the kids each get a bag of candy that we put together ahead of time. It really is a lot of fun, and one of my kids favorite parts of Halloweeen. We were REALLY sad this year that I had to take 1/2 the family and leave my sick Devin home with sick kids! :( Devin, Emmy & Brigham were all home with the stomach flu and we really missed them. Especially because this was the twins 1st year to get to take a turn. I guess they will be really good at it next year!

Ward Trunk or Treat

I really love my ward! We had our Trunk or Treat tonight (sorry, no pictures cuz I wasn't 100% done with all the costumes, but I will be on Wednesday!!) and we had a great turn out, yummy food, and fun games for the kids to play. I have realized how different things are when you have a ginormous family like I do.....when we had 3 & 4 kids, I knew EVERYONE in our ward, had tons of friends, went and did tons of things and was really sociable. Now, life with 7, is way different. I probably only know about 1/2 the people in my ward, which makes me insanely sad. (it's so bad...I don't even think I know who all my kids Primary teachers are.....yikes!) I am soooooo busy with my kids that my social life has been on the back burner for quite some time. Not that I can't live w/out a huge personal life....it's not like that. I just miss knowing everyone and having things to talk about with lots of people. Hopefully now that I have older kids to help corral the younger ones, I can start getting to know people better. But, besides all that, we really do have a great ward, with lots of really neat people and I love it!! Hmmmm.......maybe Michelle will be a pal and send me some of the pictures she took :)

pictures of the trouble