tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57477140779214733502023-11-16T05:28:18.570-07:00The Jeppesen FiveBrooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-3419943729779417542014-06-30T13:17:00.001-06:002014-06-30T13:17:55.862-06:00Mac's Eight Step Life PlanI wanted to write this down before I forgot. The other Morning Mac came into my room and told me about his 8-step life plan. <br />
Step 1- Get Baptized<br />
Step 2- Go to High School<br />
Step 3- Go on a Mission<br />
Step 4- Go to College<br />
Step 5-Get Married<br />
Step 6- Have Kids ("Because I really want to have kids!")<br />
Step 7- Be a Dad<br />
Step 8- Die ("Because I am pretty excited to see Heaven!")<br />
It appears to me that he has got it all pretty much figured out!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMO5FK5Zw6eI1LHRodyhxKxTSC4HFDnzx1I6UhuezqrB-soDjHcFanzH-nA9O46YaeVB_NE8kK_GrKEBeFBMVCMMmNvzgdRD5llSut4Aqw9VaxwyNtgJPxvSfxjua1EbfDCwysay_8q6E/s1600/IMG_4943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMO5FK5Zw6eI1LHRodyhxKxTSC4HFDnzx1I6UhuezqrB-soDjHcFanzH-nA9O46YaeVB_NE8kK_GrKEBeFBMVCMMmNvzgdRD5llSut4Aqw9VaxwyNtgJPxvSfxjua1EbfDCwysay_8q6E/s1600/IMG_4943.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-26195646695321058302013-09-01T21:38:00.000-06:002013-09-01T21:38:09.280-06:00Daddy SundayEach fast Sunday Ryan spends a few minutes of one-on-one time with each of the children, and we call it "Daddy Sunday." The kids look forward to it each fast Sunday. However, because tomorrow is Labor day (no school + no work), we decided to let the kids stay up for a late night family party.<br />
<br />
So, when it was time for Daddy Sunday, Mac had other things on his mind. When he and Ryan got together, Mac quickly said "Dad, I don't have much time. I am really happy in my life right now. I love my parents. Anikka is the best big sister because she does so much for me. I love Ben because he is fun to play with. And Ryker is my best buddy. I love my life. That's all. Can we be done?" Mac certainly keeps us laughing and on our toes at all time.<br />
<br />
Ryker, who is only 3, bore his testimony in sacrament meeting for the first time today. After nearly dragging Ryan up with him, he stood up all alone and said "I'd like to bear my testimony and I know the church is true. I love my daddy. I love mom. I love Anikka. I love Ben. I love cats... and I also love dogs (yes, he forgot to say he loves Mac too)." Ryan had to cut him off and help him end because we didn't know how long he would go on. He's growing up fast.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-52878114764707616352013-02-20T15:55:00.001-07:002013-02-20T15:55:08.708-07:00Hello!Wow, life gets busy fast! This is what we have been up to.<br />
Ryan: Still working at Domain Surgical, he also does side work. He is the first assistant in the High Priest Group. He is still drawing and painting amazing pictures. He recently made all of our kids their own wooden swords. The swords are really amazing! He helped Coach Ben's football team this last year. We are celebrating our 15 year anniversary later this year.<br />
Brooke: Still at home with the kids. I am in Nursery with the oldest group and I really love the 2-year-old stage. I still want to move anywhere just for the sake of moving. My Grandpa Rawlings passed away in September and my Grandma Rawlings followed him just 147 days later. I really appreciate their good examples.<br />
Anikka: She is in the 6th grade and is really excited to turn 12. She is babysitting a lot and loving every minute. Her sword is named Courage because she is not afraid to do the right things.<br />
Ben: He is in 2nd grade. He played Football last year, after an undefeated season they lost the first game in the playoffs and were out. His sword is named Truth because he loves rules and is usually very obedient.<br />
Mac: He is in kindergarten and is so happy all of the time. He is our optimistic child, for example he was very sick the other day with the stomach flu and he turned to me and said "well, at least I feel better from my cold!" He does look on the bright side. His sword is named Light because he is so charismatic.<br />
Ike: He is 2 and stays home with me. He recently potty trained and life is now so different without diapers. He is very funny and speaks so well. He is in my nursery class and we love to spend time together. His sword is named Strength because he is the youngest and also his name Ryker means Strength.<br />
Hopefully we can keep up with a journal of our lives because it is so fun to go back and read later!Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-12944549855505961352012-08-04T21:45:00.000-06:002012-08-04T21:57:03.355-06:00Today Was A Great DaySo, it has been awhile since I last posted something and in that time we have had six birthday celebrations (we are all now a year older), one lost cat, two new cats, a horrible kidney stone episode, some good days, boring days and fun days. But today was a really great day. Ben was Baptized today. I wasn't too stressed and the whole day has ended up feeling really blissful. Ben looked very handsome in his suit and we had so many wonderful friends and family come and join us to welcome Ben into our Church. I just really love Ryan's friends and what amazing people they are. I am so grateful to all of the family that was able to make it today. I am especially thankful for Ryan. He is so incredible! He gave the most beautiful blessing for Ben. I am so grateful for our family and for the Church and for good choices. Today was a really great day!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZBRhM50aoP7M1QkdFJD4fBXnqYx3yYZonU9C0j2yJfopCk0hNqm6r0axBNlovYjP75XzdSvgbSJs_moV3tS0a0wcvyqtAYPuhvZFlLTAMpLwilgL_LMJlpjypO5k0gxfq9bbZDe-teE/s1600/IMG_4513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZBRhM50aoP7M1QkdFJD4fBXnqYx3yYZonU9C0j2yJfopCk0hNqm6r0axBNlovYjP75XzdSvgbSJs_moV3tS0a0wcvyqtAYPuhvZFlLTAMpLwilgL_LMJlpjypO5k0gxfq9bbZDe-teE/s320/IMG_4513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-27660597854373246952012-03-19T14:49:00.002-06:002012-03-19T15:50:47.446-06:00Yes, But Will There be an AudienceMac is my darling attention hog. We were talking about what activities he would like to participate in this summer. He talking about baseball and I told him that I would like to have him do tumbling. The kid loves to do cartwheels and most of them are pretty good too. He also can do the splits. When I asked him if he would like to try tumbling his answer was "Yes, but will there be and audience?" We will always be there to watch him. Mac was also stopped by one of his most favorite primary teachers that he has ever had yesterday at Church. She told him that he was getting so big. He said "Yes I am getting big, Do you know why? It is because I sleep so good. Sometimes I don't want to sleep but I just close my eyes and I am asleep, then I wake up and I grew." I am surprised that he was able to breathe through that run on sentence.<br /><br />Ike is also growing. He loves to sing. Yesterday he was singing "Frere Jacques" especially the ding dang dong part. Last night I rocked him to sleep and when I stood up to take him to bed I jostled him enough to get him to sing in his sleep, "ding dong" . Really sweet! Today while driving errands I couldn't see if Ike had fallen asleep so I said "Ike , are you asleep?" his response was "I wake". I love that he speaks so well.<br /><br />Anikka and Ben both got really great report cards again. Anikka with straight A's and Ben with nearly all 4's. We are so proud of them and their hard work.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-9333114359518729432012-02-20T10:16:00.002-07:002012-02-20T10:39:06.899-07:00Swim LessonsWe finally signed the kids up for swim lessons. Anikka and Ben both did really well and now it is Mac's turn. It was so scary for me to watch. I was shaking the whole time. Their system works really well but Mac is still little to me and it was really hard to see him flail and go under water. He on the other hand is so excited to be taking swim lessons and gets ready six hours before it is time to go. I think he will learn quickly. On Friday we left early and took a drive before his lessons. We were talking about delivering pizza as a job and Mac wanted to go on a pizza run right then. I told him he has to be able to drive. He said okay I will wait until I am 20. I said that he can't go on pizza runs then because he will be on his mission. Mac then asked what he will do while on his mission and would he be able to sleep in a tent. I told him no that he would stay in his apartment and do missionary work. He replied with a knowing, Yes and I will do what the Lord wants me to do. He is such a smart boy and I love the "Liken the Scriptures" movies.<br /><br />Ike has made a jump in vocabulary recently and is really funny. He is repeating everything. and is really good at saying "I want it" and "I get in" and "I do it". On Friday night after Mac's swim lessons. Ike practiced diving in the bath tub. He would stand up and lift his arms high above and then jump and land in the water. He would just laugh. It is just amazing to see what they pick up.<br /><br />We also had another very successful "steak" conference. I love it when the kids all eat their dinner and say mmm the whole time. They all say how much they love steak and Stake Conference. It sure does make it exciting to go twice a year.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-2346083521960915102012-02-16T13:12:00.002-07:002012-02-16T13:20:33.893-07:00Conversations with IkeIkey is growing up. He is so cute and so smart. We had our first conversation the other day:<br />Mom: "Ike, is Anikka awake?"<br />Ike: "No"<br />Mom: " Well, go wake her up."<br />Ike: "Kay"<br />and off he went to wake her up. And Anikka was very nice about being woken up too.<br />Yesterday, he started telling unintelligible knock-knock jokes. He has the knock-knock part down but mumbles the rest and then laughs about it all. Super cute! This morning Ike brought me my shoes. He really is helpful and likes to clean. I love that kid!Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-36544324078916901392012-01-31T17:17:00.001-07:002012-01-31T17:45:19.785-07:00Oh Look! I Do have a BlogI have so many half started posts in my head and finally just sat down to actually get them out. We had a great New Year's and we started a new tradition. We are going to pick a country and celebrate their time and the country. This year we celebrated Brazil. We ate Cafe Rio, made Brazillian Lemonade and said "Feliz Ano Novo" at 7 pm our time. Then we were all asleep on our regular schedule. I love it and next year we are celebrating Vietnam at 10 am. <br /><br />We are really busy these days. Anikka is doing swim lessons daily and that is getting tedious. I love them and they are so good but it is a lot of time. Ben will start them next. I am getting anxious to move just because I don't know how to live in any one place for very long. The longest I have ever lived in one place is four years. We are closing in on three years here. There are no plans to move at all and I am trying to be patient and learn to stay in one place. It just isn't time to even look. <br />So to summerize our life right now. School is Good, Church is Great, Life is tedious and good, often at the same time.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-8020402857731842712011-12-11T15:29:00.005-07:002012-01-31T17:17:46.284-07:00The End of the YearI always get a little sentimental at the end of the year and feel the need to write up a Christmas newsletter. It helps me to be more mindful of the good times and blessings of the year.<br /><br />Ryan: Ryan has had a very eventful year. He became a High Priest in March and changed jobs in May. He loves his job. He really enjoys working for a Medical Company. Something about doing good in the world, and something about not having to be in touch with his feminine side. No more crafts and no more pink. Ryan has been traveling more the last half of the year. He likes it but I really miss him. Ryan got a new calling today. He moved from being the Ward Mission Leader to the 1st assistant in the High Priest Group. We will have to wait and see what the new calling entails. My guess is busier Sunday's and less busy Thursdays'. Ryan is still an amazing artist and creative guy. He is the coolest one in the family which is evident in the fact that everyone wants to sit by or on him at Church.<br /><br />Brooke: One thing I've learned over the past year is that life has a way of getting busy. I guess chasing around 4 growing kids will do that to you. I love to spend time travelling with my family. We got to do a few more road trips this year and I loved every minute of it. Sometimes I feel that I struggle to find my own identity in the middle of raising a family... but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love to see my kids grow and to see each of their personalities develop in their own independent way. <br /><br />Anikka: Anikka is growing up a little bit each day. She is starting to develop opinions in everything. It has been great to watch. She is in 5th grade and doing very well. She has been getting straight A's. She did a sports camp over the summer and really enjoyed volleyball and tennis. She also played flute this semester and while she had fun, she is ready to move on to the next thing. She continues to be the best big sister that three little boys could have.<br /><br />Bennett: Ben is such an obedient child. If we say "kids go get in the car," He is the first one there. Ben is developing his drawing this year. He is also a very visual learner. His report cards have been stellar! He is reading very well and loves math. He is even showing off his multiplication skills to his 1st grade class. Ben played tackle football this year. He had an okay time but really loved being a part of a team. We loved watching him. <br /><br />McKay: Mac has been so funny this year. He just wants to have fun. He is in preschool and really loves it. He likes super heroes right now especially Captain America. He gets really excited about all things. On Christmas morning we came downstairs and Mac ran straight to Ryker's pile and said "Wow, look at what I got!" We said Mac that is not your pile, yours is over here. He turned to his pile and said "Wow, look at what I got!" He was just happy to get something. Mac has Charisma and we just love him.<br /><br />Ryker: Ike really keeps me on my toes. He is such a Momma's boy and I am not really discouraging it. He loves to cuddle with me and will not stay in Nursery. We have not tried very hard to get him to stay. He is our last baby and it really is bitter sweet to watch him grow. He is into everything and is very stubborn. He loves Anikka, Ben, and Mac so much and loves to yell their names when ever he can. He speaks very well for a boy and is so good in the car which is such a great thing since we are in the car a lot. Our lives are totally complete with him in them.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-62624203148346370302011-11-19T15:29:00.002-07:002011-11-19T16:00:01.356-07:00I Would Be Happiest...I am trying not to have this blog be all about Mac but he is just so funny right now. On the way home from Preschool the other day he started telling me that I "built him human." I told that I did build him human as he grew in my body. Then he proceeded to tell me the story of how we really got him. "You [Mom] went to a group of Monkeys and asked them if there was a baby monkey that you could have and they gave you me. Then you took me and built me to be human. And I am Wolverine too. I was a Wolverine Monkey and then you built me human. And you know what Mom, I would be happiest if you just took me back there." Can you tell that he recently watched "Tarzan"? He has got the most amazing imagination. I am just hoping that he will someday like his own name and want to be called be it.<br /><br />We had to quickly do our entire month of thankful pennies so we could give them to our primary for the deadline of Pennies by the Inch fundraiser. So we just wrote down and counted all the things that we were thankful for for the whole month. Here is our list.<br />11th 13 for our 13 years of marriage<br />12th 10 for tithing<br />13th 10 for the years we have had Anikka<br />14th 7 for the years we have had Ben<br />15th 4 for the years we have had Mac<br />16th 1 for Ike<br />17th 3 for our Bishopric<br />18th 12 for the Prophet and Apostles<br />19th 9 for all of our Primary Teachers<br />20th 4 for our Home Teachers and Visiting Teachers<br />21st 10 for our copies of the scriptures<br />22nd 0 no debt on Ryan's car and Credit Cards<br />23rd 13 for the Articles of Faith<br />24th 2 for our Cats<br />25th 2 for Ryan's jobs<br />26th 12 rooms of our house<br />27th 2 for Food and Water<br />28th 12 years of the kids education so far<br />29th 2 for the Doctors we know<br />30th 6 for our Modern Conveniences<br />The grand total of our thankful pennies was 382. It doesn't seem like that much when you put the decimal in the right place, $3.82. It was really fun and the kids loved it. I think it will be a great thing to do every year.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-65256828510315588032011-11-10T16:41:00.002-07:002011-11-10T17:04:35.148-07:00More ThanksYesterday I was rear-ended. It wasn't very fun but with all the really nice people that I have been dealing with it has just become a minor inconvenience. It was just Ike and me in the car and we are both totally fine. I am thankful for nice people and safety. <br />On Saturday we were thankful for Grandparents so we put in 4 pennies. On Sunday we were thankful for all of our aunts and uncles and we put 15 pennies into the jar. On Monday were we thankful for our cousins and we put 15 pennies in the jar. On Tuesday Ryan said he was thankful for water, gas, electricity, TV, Internet, and garbage pick-up so we put in 6 pennies. On Wednesday, Ben said that he was thankful for Temples so we put in 135 pennies and nickles. (Cool, huh! 135 and that does not include the 15 under construction or the 16 just announced). Today we put in 2 pennies because we are thankful for our cars. I sure am liking this penny jar. It is so visually cool to see all the things that we are thankful for.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-67600464033539765622011-11-04T10:29:00.002-06:002011-11-04T10:40:31.390-06:00Mac = BigMac has a huge personality and he often over shadows everyone else in the family. Especially quiet and obedient Ben. He is big fun and also big trouble. We are trying a few new discipline tactics around our house. One is the Repenting Bench. It is a gospel centered time out. When they sit on the bench they are to think about what they did wrong, say sorry and then ask for forgiveness. Mac spent a lot of the time on the Repenting Bench the other day. That night when it was time to report and say good night to Dad who is in Chicago this week, Mac told him that "Today was the happiest day of my life because I love the Repenting Bench!" Ryan couldn't help but laugh. We have a long road ahead of learning to balance him and the rest of our children.<br /><br />Today we were thankful for our eyes and we put 12 pennies in the jar.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-58667330902179493092011-11-03T09:02:00.002-06:002011-11-03T09:24:17.385-06:00Stealing ThankfulnessWell we are hanging in here. Life is rough and good too. I have had more down days than up over the past year. I am just dwelling on the negative and thinking mostly about myself. I am wallowing and I would like some sympathy for it too! So in trying to act like I am a happy, thoughtful person until I become it (fake it til you make it), I am stealing a super great idea from one of the great blogs that I read. My friend Beth's blog vermillionrules.blogspot.com is so great and she is the most service oriented person I know. She is so kind and thinking of others all the time. Every day in November she and her family are counting things that they are thankful for and putting that amount of pennies in a jar. The jar will then be donated to a charity at the end of the month. The other day they counted shoes. I love this idea and I am so totally stealing it. On the first day of November we put in six pennies for every person in our family. Yesterday Mac said he was thankful for God. We put in 3 pennies for Heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. Today Ben said he was thankful for our country. We put in 50 pennies. I am excited to see how this evolves. I am very thankful to others for their great ideas.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-36938778944714237652011-09-13T15:30:00.002-06:002011-09-13T15:40:15.636-06:00The 2nd Bi-Annual "Steak" ConferenceSteak Conference was semi successful this year. The Steaks were awesome,thus the success, the children were less than reverent, thus the semi. Ryan and I spent most of the time in the hall with the two youngest who did not want to sit in the dark watching the TV screen speakers. On the plus side at home that evening Mac informed us that he is "The Strongest Man in the World." We laughed a little bit and said "Oh Yeah" He said " Yes, cause I hurt Dad." I guess that Ryan used to be the strongest man in the world until Mac bent back his fingers (during Stake Conference) til they hurt. Ryan has lost his title to the 4-year-old. He will try to earn it back soon. We wish him luck, maybe he can have some of mine!Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-14560793044004859632011-09-13T15:20:00.002-06:002011-09-13T15:30:09.543-06:00My Lucky Streak ContinuesI have considered myself to be lucky. When I was a kid I won a week's free lessons to a Karate studio. That is when I started thinking that I was a lucky person. Today I won a $25 Gap gift card. I am pretty excited. When your a Mom it is really the small things that make your day. In the past I have won $50 from a weekly drawing, a sweet Breville panini grill (that is probably the largest thing that I have ever won), I have won a gift certificate at the school book fair and a gorgeous baby quilt from a drawing. But probably that luckiest I have ever been was when I met and married my husband. I feel so lucky and blessed to be married to him.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-49678104996751702902011-09-08T14:57:00.003-06:002011-09-08T15:27:59.493-06:00The Things Mac Says and The Rest Of UsOh my little Mac. He is just a force of nature. The other day he and Ike and I were in Mac's room and he turned to me and said "Mom, are you keeping Ryker?" I swallowed my guffaw and said "Yes." Then he looked very sad and said "Then how am I going to be the baby?" It is very funny that after 15 months he still had doubts over whether we were going to keep one of our children.<br />Mac has started preschool. It was very fun for me to see him be a little bit nervous. That is an emotion that I rarely see in him. He said that he would miss me. I love him! When school was over I asked him if he had a good day and he said "yes I got gummy bears and popcorn!" I asked if he learned anything and he told me no. I said "Did you listen to your teachers?" He said "Yes, when we said more popcorn, more popcorn, she told us to stop and we did." I am glad that he listens. <br />Ben and Anikka started school and we have officially become a busy family. It has been a little hard to find time to read the scriptures together, we had to move from right before bed time to early morning, I have never wanted to move it to morning but that is the best time. What we do for the benefit of our children. Ben has started Football, which is really time consuming for both him and Ryan who is helping as an assistant coach. Anikka started band and is learning to play the flute. She seems to really like it. But now there is a 45 min. window to make and eat dinner between picking Anikka up from band and seeing Ryan and Ben off to football practice on Tuesday's and Thursday's. It is busy and it is only going to get worse over the years! It is a really good thing that Ike is so good in the car because he is going to have many, many car trips over the years.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-52924950058873961962011-07-27T14:38:00.002-06:002011-07-27T14:52:36.460-06:00Ben's BirthdayBennett turned 7 on July 19th. I am so proud of my browned-eyed boy. He is so interesting to watch. He is a rule lover and really wound tight. He got that from me. He wanted a Pirates of the Carribean cake, and Dad really came through. Ben started football recently and I could not be happier. I love football! I really hope that he loves it too. Ben has learned to watch out for his two little brothers and he is the first one to help set up chairs when we get to Church. He is such a good boy. He played T-ball this spring and he was the kid that was always two steps behind the Coach and listening to what he said. Ben really knows how to follow directions. Ben also has epic tantrums. He is trying to work on controlling his temper, it is a learning process. I took Ben shopping for school clothes and he really didn't know what to do with himself as the center of attention. It was quite funny. We really love our sweet, obedient child!Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-1827327251765966672011-07-05T17:30:00.002-06:002011-07-05T17:48:03.577-06:00What Do You Do In The Summertime?Well, I have not been blogging. We have not really been on the computer at all. June was a good month. We celebrated Anikka's 10th birthday and our 13th wedding anniversary. Anikka is just learning to enjoy going shopping and out to dinner for her birthday. We had fun. I appreciate her so much. She is the best big sister and so not shy. She is really good at public speaking and still bears her testimony on a regular basis. She is the first to volunteer for anything and is really an independant person. She was able to stay with her sweet Aunt and Uncle for five days, to help out. She had the best time and was not homesick at all. <br /><br />The 26th was our Anniversary. I am still very much in love with my husband and could not ask for a better man. He is so thoughtful and dependable. He takes such great care of us. He is enjoying his new job quite a bit. He is having fun and still misses working full time for the old bosses. When I asked him what was different about the new place he responded with, "Well, there is a lot more swearing now." It was a good move for our family and I hope provides a good future too.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-39602405438671251072011-05-31T09:24:00.002-06:002011-05-31T09:50:20.779-06:00Ryker's BirthdayIt is still fine if I do a post in the month of his birthday, right? Ike turned 1. It is really a weird feeling to have my baby grow so fast. Each kid grows faster than the one before them did. His birthday was May 9th and we made him a cake. He recieved a new outfit and one new toy. He is the third boy so we have plenty of toys. He speaks really well for a boy. His very first word was mama but he has since expanded his vocabulary to include: bath, bye-bye, dada now daddy, go, he will even say go bye-bye. So maybe that is his first sentence. He is walking pretty well now. He took his first steps shortly after turning 11 months. He has the cheese face down and can yell his displeasure well. He loves to watch Mac and go outside to play with the big kids. Anikka and Ben love him so much and help him and me with anything. Mac also loves him and wants to tackle him regularly. I really like that his birthday is two days before mine. I also had a good birthday and Mother's day. For Mother's day Ryan bought me flowers and nice european chocolate. and for my birthday Ryan and I went out to dinner at the Blue Boar Inn in Midway. It was really fun and thanks to my sweet sister-in-law it was kid-less and quiet. We are really grateful to have such a sweet little boy to be the baby in the family.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-36803420585903378052011-05-02T13:06:00.002-06:002011-05-02T13:33:19.101-06:00Mac's BirthdayMy little ball of fire turned 4 on April 30th. He is so busy and into everything. Over the last year he has earned the nickname of Mac the Destroyer for obvious reasons. The kid just enjoys being destructive. We made up a little story for him in an effort to teach him to be nice. It goes like this.<br />Once upon a time there was a little boy named Mac the Destroyer. He was a special little boy. He good bounce off the walls. He could talk his Mom's ear off. He could knock down buildings with the sweep of his arm. One day Mac the Destroyer slowed down long enough to notice something. He noticed that everyone around him was sad. When he asked why they were sad they told him it was because he broke their things. Mac the Destroyer did not want others to be sad so he promised to stop destroying things and use his powers only for good. He learned to help others and be kind to their things and soon they changed his name to The Amazing Mac. <br />He likes his story and I can only hope that he catches on to the moral of the story soon. We had a good family birthday party for him. He requested a lava cake so Ryan and I put forth some of our best efforts and tried to make a volcano cake with red lava icing spurting from it. Not the best looking cake ever but it really did taste good and that is really what counts. Mac is so stinking cute and really funny. He is also very polite and is quickly learning the power of words. Like if you say something nice it sure gets you far. We are so grateful to have our sweet white-haired little boy in our family.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-66092601243016312892011-02-20T14:33:00.001-07:002011-02-20T14:35:24.498-07:00"Steak" Conference<P>Last year around the Holidays, Ryan commented that there really needs to be a holiday that celebrates steak. So we spent the remainder of our drive discussing when would be a good holiday in which we eat steak. We decided that Stake Conference is just the time and place to celebrate. We had a very special Stake Conference today. Ryan was Sustained to be advanced to the office of a High Priest. Ryan said that all this means is that he will have to be really good at doing his home teaching from now on. I sure love him. He is so great and special and he is really humble. I think this is the perfect Sunday to start our new tradition of Steak Conference.</p>Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-10355813165055417062011-01-10T15:01:00.002-07:002011-01-10T15:14:52.620-07:00When I Cry, I Get LittleMac is going up a lot lately but he still reminds me on occasion that he is still my little boy. One morning Mac put on his socks and shoes all by himself and I was very impressed. Later that afternoon, the boys were fighting and Mac ended up crying. As is often the case when they fight I think it is because they don't have anything to do so I give them something to do. I told Mac to go and get his shoes on because we needed to leave shortly. He brings me his shoes while still whimpering a little bit. I said "Hey I thought you could put on your shoes all by yourself?" He answered "I can't, when I cry I get little." Me too Buddy!<br /><br />Today, He was telling Ryan that he only likes Ben, Mac, Ryker and awesome Dads'. He does not like Mom or Anikka because we are girls and he does not like girls. He just likes boys. He is really into the boy vs. girl thing. Anikka and Ben were not into the boy vs. girl thing nearly as much. Here is to hoping that he learns to like his Mom and sister because we are really not that bad and we smell good too!Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-50068749426748995362010-12-15T10:50:00.003-07:002010-12-15T13:43:33.031-07:002010 A Year in Reveiw<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">RYKER</span><br />It has been a great year for Ike so far. He was born. We are so lucky to have such a sweet baby join our family. He is just so pleasant. He is working on his first two teeth and is 7 months old. He is a great roller and I think he will be crawling soon. He is happy and smiling 95% of the time. If he fusses I just have to look at him and he is smiling again. He loves baby food vegetables and is not into fruits much. Prunes and bananas make him gag and shudder. He loves all of his older siblings and loves to watch the cats. He is also a very tactile baby. He loves to feel anything. The other night while I was rocking him I rubbed the palm of his hand softly and he smiled himself to sleep. I am so pleased with my sweet baby and have really enjoyed him immensely.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">MACKY</span> KAY <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">RAWLINGS</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">JEPPESEN</span>(this is what he says when you ask him what his name is)<br />Mac is Mac. He is so funny and wild. He doesn't like to listen too much and I think it is just that his mind is moving too fast to the next thing that he can't stop to listen. He is such a fun kid. He is our dare-devil and reminds me that it is okay for him to do dangerous stuff because "I am amazing, Mom". Mac is looking forward to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">pre</span>-school next year and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">talks</span> about it often. He did go through a bit of sibling rivalry with the new baby and he still likes to pretend that he is a baby. He loves to play the part of the baby when <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Anikka</span> has friends over. He is so funny and I sure love having him in our family. He is good, smart and AMAZING.<br /><br />BENNETT<br />This has been a banner year for Ben. He turned 6 in July and headed to Kindergarten in the fall. Shortly after school began I received a phone call from his teacher. She was asking permission to work with Ben on her reading recovery program/class that she was taking. She said that because he tested so well with his literacy and his personality that she would love to work with him. She also needed my permission because they would be observed by the others in the class at the end of the semester. It was so wonderful. I would drive him to school Monday through Wednesday a half hour early and they would work together on reading. I was able to go and observe with the others on the observation day. It was so neat to see Ben work with his teacher and their rapport. I loved hearing the comments that the others made about Ben and his teacher. He is reading at a level E and they want kids to be at a level C when they start 1st grade. He also got such a great report card, all 4's with the exception of two 3's. I am so proud of him and wish that I could take all the credit for him being so smart and such a good reader but it is all Ben. He is such a good, smart and wonderful boy.<br /><br />ANIKKA<br />Anikka is growing up so much. She turned 9 in June. Anikka is the best big sister that three boys could ever ask for. She watches out for her brothers so well, especially Ben. She and Ben have such a good relationship. It would not surprise me if the grow up to be best friends. Anikka is also doing well in school. She got straight A's on her report card. She continues to amaze me spiritually. I love to hear her get up and bear her testimony. She is so thoughtful and kind in all she does. She has started writing poetry and songs lately. She also loves making paper crafts. I love her creativity and the way it is starting to manifest itself. I love having a good and sweet daughter.<br /><br />BROOKE<br />I have had a good, sometimes bumpy year. The first part of my year was spent waiting on Ryker's arrival and the last half of my year has been spent focusing inward on our family. I am thankful on Ike's good timing of not being born on my birthday. He was a great Mother's Day present. I am enjoying motherhood quite a bit more this last year. I have spent more time living in the moments and less time looking for what is going to happen next. I try hard to be a good mother, a good wife, and a good person, sadly this does not leave me any room to be a good housekeeper. The poor house suffers. Better that than my kids. Recently I have been participating in my Relief Society's challenge "Forty Days Closer to Christ". It is a challenge where we read the Book of Mormon in forty days. It has been hard but I really wanted to show myself that I can do hard things and I will be able to let my kids know that they can do hard things as well. I have learned a lot and feel like I have grown. I feel like I am a better wife and friend to my great husband.<br /><br />RYAN<br />This year Ryan started a new job in January. He loves his new job. He feels useful. He thinks that he is able to use his unique skill set more fully at this company. Along with his new job he inherited new habits. He has been working out 5 times a week with his bosses. He is stronger than ever and that is saying a lot. He feels better, too. He paticipated in a mini triathlon in March and was happy to not be the last person to finish. He is still the most amazing person that I know. So incredibly talented and smart. I love being married to him. He impresses me daily and is a rock for me. I can really depend on him.Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-87733590735459314752010-10-21T19:05:00.002-06:002010-10-21T19:12:51.057-06:00Ma Ma Ma Ma<div id="ms__id15">Ryker said Ma Ma today. Actually it was ma ma ma ma ma. But still I was happy that he can copy these sounds. He is growing up so fast and I love it and miss it all at the same time. Mostly I love it. He is very funny and seems to love to touch things. The other day when I layed him down for tummy time, he bunched up the blanket that he was laying on so that he could touch the carpet. He then just rubbed open hands up and down just to feel the texture of the carpet. He just really loves to feel things. Babies sure are fun.</div>Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747714077921473350.post-53096960230508428962010-10-12T16:11:00.002-06:002010-10-12T16:47:32.176-06:00The Evolution of Ben's Toys<div id="ms__id13">Ben is a collector. Not to be confused with Anikka's hoarding. Ben is very precise in what he collects. He knows what he collects and so help you if something goes missing or if I go in his room to "clean" aka throw away stuff. It all started in Nursery. Ryan and I were called to nursery shortly before Ben was old enough to attend. We started to notice that the moment the toys came out Ben would start his search for all of the Fisher Price farm animals in the same set. Once he had them all he would just hold them until it was time to clean up. His obsession moved onto the Seven Dwarfs. Some how he found one little 2 inch figurine and that is all it took. He soon acquired all seven of the dwarfs and knew all of their names. He carried them around for months. He was always so cute during his obsessions and so excited when Mimi (my Mom) would buy him something else. They soon made weekly trips to the thrift store in search for more "characters" for Ben. His love of the characters grew into Super Heroes and soon he had many little super hero figures. The Super Heroes grew into Star Wars. His Star Wars phase still continues slightly to this day. He and Mimi spent countless hours on ebay searching for new guys. I don't know very many 4 year olds that can navigate ebay as well as he could. He knew to look for free shipping and under $5. And the joy he would get when they won their bids. If he becomes an ebay addict and maxes out all of his credit cards when he is older I will totally be blaming Mimi. His toy circle continued to grow until it encompassed the Wii. All of the Wii Lego games which are really fun helped pave the way for his new obsession of Legos. I don't like Legos they are so small and get everywhere but it is now all he wants and all that I have heard about today. I do however really appreciate they way that he takes care of all of his toys and for his focus on all the stuff he likes. Evolution is a good thing for Ben.</div>Brooke & Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310598081136516174noreply@blogger.com2