Big Brother Riley Turns 8!

Riley and Kaiya with cousins Cora and Alec on his birthday.

This week Riley turned 8!! I can’t believe I have a child that old! I remember when I turned 8, and at the time, my mom seemed a lot older than how I feel now. Riley is an awesome kid. He is very sensitive and thoughtful of others. Every once in a while he sneaks in my room to make my bed or leave me a nice note. He loves to read, play LEGOs, and ride his bike. He just started piano lessons last week and he is on the swim team and loves it. He is very gentle and a great helper with the babies.

Riley and the new bike he got for his birthday.

Fun Facts about Riley:

Favorite Colors: Blue and Green
Favorite Food: Pizza
Least Favorite Food: Tomatoes
Favorite Treat: Ice Cream
Grade in School (2008-2009 school year): 3rd Grade
Favorite Subjects: Reading and Art
Least Favorite Subject: Math
Favorite Superhero: Spiderman
Favorite Thing To Do: Play with friends
Favorite Restaurants: Rudy’s BBQ and Taco Bell
What he wants to be when he grows up: Moviemaker

Favorite Riley Quotes:

Riley (at the start of every meal): “What do I have to eat to get dessert?”

Riley: “Mom, what does it mean to be famous?”
Mom: “It means a lot of people know who you are.”
Riley: “Oh, I get it, so we are famous, but not rich.”

The Scene: We walk into Jamba Juice where two older ladies are sitting at a table, drinking their smoothies. Riley suddenly starts sobbing.
Mom: “Riley, what’s wrong??!?”
Riley: “I just don’t want you to get wrinkles!” (sniff, sniff)

Riley (almost seven) in the Bluebonnets--the Texas State Flower

Riley (6 years old) playing T-ball

Riley (5 years old) on his first day of Kindergarten

Riley (4 years old)

Riley (3 years old) has always loved to dress up--in anything!

Riley--2 1/2 years old

Riley--1 year old

Riley--9 months old

Riley--5 months old

Riley saving the universe--4 months old

Riley (2 weeks old) on his blessing day.


Cast your vote for which baby looks the most like Riley in the poll to the right===>

Big Brother Riley Turns 8!

Quint Olympics

My husband, Jayson, made a video of the babies in the first ever (at least that I know of) Quint Olympics. Riley and Kaiya also star in the video as the commentators. Jayson posted it on his blog a couple of days ago but I am not sure how many people read both blogs, so I am posting it here too. We had a lot of fun filming it and I think Jayson did a great job putting it together. (If you've already seen it on Jayson's blog, than I appologize for the redundancy.) If you like this video, stay tuned....there are more events to come!

Quint Olympics

My Three Favorite Fathers

In honor of Father's Day, I want to do a short post about the important men in my life who are fathers.

First, of course, is MY Dad! He is one of those people that everyone likes. He is outgoing, creative, diplomatic, funny and smart. One of my favorite stories about my dad was when he was 19 and serving a mission for our church. He served for two years in upstate New York. While on his mission, he spent a lot of time knocking on doors trying to share a message about the gospel of Jesus Christ. More often than not, this resulted in doors being slammed in his face. At one house, the lady that answered the door was particularly rude and unfriendly. After the door slammed in their face, my dad and his companion quickly ran around to the back door and knocked again. The same lady answered the door. Before she could speak, my dad smiled really big and said, "Whew am I glad to see you--that lady at the front door was so grumpy!" At this the lady softened and invited them in for a drink of water.

Red Hair buddies--My dad with Rustin

My dad with newborn Kaydence--It's hard to believe she was every that tiny!

Second is my husband, Jayson. He is such a great father to all our children. The minute he gets home from work, he steps right in and helps with the babies. He is usually the one that reads to Riley and Kaiya and tucks them into bed at night. He even gets up in the middle of the night (more often than I do) to move fussy babies into "solitary confinement" (pack-n-plays in places like the closet and storage room where babies can fuss without waking up the whole crew). He has a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh. He also puts up with all my imperfections, which is no easy job.

Riley and Jayson

Ryder, Rustin and Jayson. This picture was taken in November--I can't believe how much the boys have changed!

Third is Jayson's dad, Kevin. I appreciate the example that Kevin has been to Jayson throughout his life because it has helped make Jayson into the wonderful person that he is. Kevin is also a terrific Grandpa. When Riley was two, he took a week of vacation to take care of Riley so that Jayson and I could go to Hawaii with my family. Since the babies have been born, he has come by himself a couple of times to help with the babies. I don't know a lot of father-in-laws that are willing to use their vacation for babysitting.

Kevin with Kyndall, Rustin, Kaydence, Kassidy and Ryder

Kevin with Kyndall. I think Kyndall looks just like her grandpa (only cuter)

My Three Favorite Fathers

"Outtakes"

Most of the time, I like to post really adorable pictures of the kids. This really isn't that difficult to do because let's face it---I have really adorable kids. (in my totally biased opinion of course--doesn't every mother think her kids are the most adorable things around?). However, to be totally honest, the cute smiling pictures I usually post aren't always the whole story. Today, I decided to share a "behind the scenes" look at what really goes on when we take pictures at our house...

The Cute Smiling Picture I Posted on the Blog...don't they look angelic?

Kyndall, Rustin, Kaydence, Ryder, Kassidy

What really happened during the photo shoot...

Cute picture of my cousin Christine and the babies.

Christine with Kaydence, Rustin, Kassidy, Ryder and Kyndall

What really happened during the photo shoot...

You probably don't recognize this next picture because we never did get a "cute" one to post to the blog. Have you noticed that Ryder does not like getting his picture taken? Even the Cheerio's we put in his mouth during this photo shoot were not making him happy...

Kyndall, Rustin, Kaydence, Ryder, and Kassidy

Kaydence was clearly unaffected by Ryders tantrum, but Kassidy decided to take matters into her own hands...

Poor Ryder!

No one was very happy in this shot of my friend, Halli, and the babies

Halli with Kyndall, Ryder, Kassidy, Rustin and Kaydence

But sometimes a change in location can do wonders...

Riley and Kaiya are not exempt. Even with all the pictures we take around our house, they have a hard time giving a real smile. Their "fake" smiles make it look as though they are being tortured (maybe because they rank picture taking right up there with eating a large bowl of raw tomatoes), but when we try to coax a "real" smile out of them, it usually ends up in laughter.

Before

After

Before

After

I think we usually average around 10-15 "bad" shots for every good picture we get. For the calendar, the number was more like 50. Thank goodness for digital!!!

"Outtakes"