The Tingey Family

Everything is Better in Texas!

2012-01-15T13:27:00.007-07:00

A few days post Christmas, we hopped in the good ole family van and headed south to visit with our wonderful Texas family. The drive down was a little more exciting than we'd like, given that Jack decided to throw up three times on the first night's drive. We had to stop a little early due to our pitiful little babe, but after a good nights sleep (and a thankfully after we had a load of laundry done), we continued our drive and finally made it to Texas. As always we had many fun adventures, ate some pretty amazing food, and had lots of wonderful family time. And then, in a blink, the time was gone, and we headed back to Utah, grateful to be back in our home, but sad to leave our Texas family. So long till next time Texas, we sure do love you:)

Fort Worth Zoo

Cousin time at Chick Fil A

Ice Skating

A Little Belated XMas Spirit

2012-01-13T21:31:00.005-07:00

It took us awhile to share our Christmas festivities, but we couldn't overlook them, because they were oh so wonderful. We had a fun filled Christmas Eve, and it started with the traditional opening of PJs. We then headed over to Grandma & Grandpa Tingey's for our first ever live nativity, which despite chaos at times (five grandkids 5 and under!!!), was definitely a success, and it will be fun to see how it changes each year as the kids get older and more grandkids enter the picture.

The kids woke up on Christmas morning to the excitement of the cookies having been eaten and the carrots chewed to pieces and of course to presents. They were thrilled at what Santa had brought and we had a great, relaxing morning opening and playing with presents. Daddy made a yummy pancake breakfast, and we were able to enjoy a great Christmas program at church.

After church we headed back to Grandma & Grandpa Tingey's to celebrate Christmas with our family. The kids had a blast opening presents and playing with cousins.

What a wonderful holiday season, and a wonderful end to 2011. This year we feel truly blessed for all that our Heavenly Father has done for us. We are grateful for our Savior and marvel at his birth and life. As we enter 2012, we couldn't be happier as a family and wish the same for all our family and friends.

Christmas Programs

2011-12-21T15:53:00.005-07:00

Since both kids attend Hidden Treasures Preschool but are in different classes, Mommy got the fun opportunity of attending TWO Christmas Programs. It was really fun to see the differences in the way the kids performed. We all know Kaden is fairly comfortable being in the spotlight, and he didn't disappoint. He sang loud and proud and even shook a hip or two. The biggest surprise was little Sis. I wasn't sure how she'd do, and I honestly thought she'd stand up there looking a little deer in the headlightsish, but in all honestly she did way better than I thought. She sang and she danced and she was really good with her drum sticks. They had a blast showing off the songs they learned and Jack and I had a blast watching the big kids do their thing.

Bubba's Program

Sissy's Program

Christmas Happenings

2011-12-21T09:44:00.004-07:00

Fun things have been happening in the lives of the Tingeys! Christmas preparations are in full swing and thanks to my crazy levels of OCD, we are completely ready for Christmas, so now we can just enjoy the holiday season. We have seen Santa on multiple occasions, and Kaden was even able to see Buddy the Elf at Grandpa's work. The older kids are pros with Santa this year, happily sitting on his lap and proclaiming their niceness and giving him their recited list. Jack Attack is at the freaking out stage, and so we just let him sit back and observe.

We even tried to spread some holiday cheer! We had a few marathon baking days and the kids caroled to our friends and neighbors as we delivered the treats. They joyfully shook their jingle bells and sang Christmas songs. I really think they enjoyed the spirit of giving, and Matt & I had a wonderful time tagging along!

We have been to a couple of family parties, and we even took a fun family trip up to This is the Place in Salt Lake courtesy of Grandma & Grandpa Tingey. We had never been, and it was charming and beautiful. We saw reindeer, a live nativity, the elf village, and Father Christmas. The kids made crafts, went on a train ride, and Kaden even put his name on the nice list. It was a fun night with our family.

Kaden with Dasher & Dancer

Writing his name on the nice list

Temple Square

2011-12-08T10:48:00.003-07:00

We're officially in the Christmas home stretch, and one of our favorite holiday traditions is going to Temple Square to see the exhibits and the lights. I love being able to teach the kiddos about Christ's birth and Temple Square is the best venue to do it. We all had been a little under the weather and almost didn't go, but we really had such a wonderful night. The kids are getting to be such perfect ages to learn and really take in the whole experience. It was cold but beautiful, and a great way to usher in the holiday.

I always love seeing kids' reactions to the Christus. They are as in awe as I am, and it's beautiful to watch.

Turkey Shoot

2011-12-08T10:37:00.004-07:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving enjoying time with our family. We ended the weekend with our first Turkey Shoot. The Kemps were nice enough to invite us to their annual tradition, and we had a wonderful time. The kids enjoyed shooting and getting dirty, and I think Matt is officially hooked!!! I was pretty impressed with my husbands shooting, and I even tried a few times (but I wasn't nearly as good as him). Thanks Cam & Kamie and the entire Kemp family!

Matt & Kaden shooting Kaden's BB gun

Kaden even shot Uncle Cam's gun. I think he might take after his Daddy:)

Kamie was throwing the clay pigeons here, but she shoots better than most of the boys!!

Matt & Cam showing off!!!

I think I need a smaller gun

The Spirit of Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T09:50:00.003-07:00

This week I'm excited to celebrate one of my most favorite holidays. Thanksgiving is such a beautiful holiday filled with two of my favorite things, family and food!!! Matt & I have commented to each other that in the rush to get to Christmas, Thanksgiving and the spirit of Thanksgiving seems to get a little lost in the shuffle, even in our own household. So for our FHE, Matt decided to discuss the things we are thankful for as a family. I loved hearing what the kids are thankful for, which included numerous friends, their toys, our church, and our family.

So in keeping with the spirit of Thanksgiving, I decided to make a list of the things I am personally thankful for, something I should take time to do more often.

-My wonderfully, amazing husband. He truly is my better half.

-My beautiful children! They consume me, they ground me, and they bring me so much joy.

-The gospel of Jesus Christ...it guides our life as a family and is a constant source of peace and happiness. I could make an entire list of gospel principles that I am grateful for but that would be a post all it's own...a prophet on the earth, the Book of Mormon, the temple, my testimony and that of others, callings and the opportunity to serve in the church, the plan of salvation, and the list could go on and on.

-Our lovely home, as crammed as it may seem at times, it holds so many memories and is a refuge from the world.

-Our extended family who gives us so much support and love.

-A mother who is my best friend next to my husband. She is one of the most selfless people I know. She knows me, she listens to me, and she bends over backward for our family.

-My conversion...I often ponder on how miraculous it was that so many people and things fell into place in order to bring me into the gospel. I will for ever hold a special place in my heart for Sister Pack, Sister Ormestan, and my dear friend Erin. They are angels in my eyes.

-Genealogy...I'm thankful for my family past and present and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to learn of and become familiar with those that have come before me. Their lives teach me and definitely define who I am today.

-Matt's job...we are so lucky he has always had a steady stable job that has allowed us to own a home and have children, provide for our needs, and has allowed me to be a stay at home mommy. I'm also grateful for a husband who has worked so diligently through school and in work in order to provide for our family. He is a wonderful employee and I know that has served him and our family well.

-Health...I'm grateful for a healthy bodies not only for myself and my husband but also for my children. I hope we never take health for granted and always try to keep our bodies healthy and clean.

-Our ward and neighborhood...we literally live in the best neighborhood anyone could ever ask for. Our ward family has truly become an extension of our own family, and we have made life long friends here. We have also learned and grown so much by watching the examples of our wonderful neighbors and friends. They have taught us the true meaning of service.

-All the men and women in the armed forces...I am thankful for their service in order to keep us free and safe. I'm grateful for all they sacrifice in the service of others.

I feel that this list could go on for days...and by writing down all the things I am thankful for, I am reminded how truly blessed I am. What a wonderful, amazing life I have!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Snow, SNow, SNOw, SNOW!

2011-11-20T20:35:00.004-07:00

I was writing the title to this blog, and the song from White Christmas came into my head and was the inspiration for the title. Many of you probably have no idea what the hey I'm talking about so if that includes you, just ignore me. But I love the seen in White Christmas where they are on the train in the dining car and make the mountain of snow out of a white table napkin, and they bust out into song, CLASSIC!

It's amazing what excitement snow brings, especially with children. I think they somewhat forget the joys of the snow from one season to the next, so each year it's even more wonderful in their minds than it was the year before. We woke up to about an inch or two of snow on Saturday morning, our first official snowfall of the season, and of course the kids were ecstatic. By 9am they were rummaging through snow boots, gloves, and hats and were out the door by 9:30am. Each year they last progressively longer playing in the snow, with the littlest tiring of it first, followed by the middle giving up a short time later, and the oldest wanting to stay out for hours on end. Kaden has already become an excellent snowball maker/thrower and as Matt says, he is relentless! They all came in wet and cold, but after a few hours passed and the snow melted, they were already anticipating the next snowfall.

"We'll Bring the World His Truth"

2011-11-16T15:25:00.003-07:00

The much anticipated Sunset 3rd Ward Primary Program came and went, and as usual my type A first child flew through it with ease. He even gave his first official line, "Repenting when I make a mistake", without a hitch.

He had been prepping for this day for almost a year, by singing his little heart out, sometimes in the most inconvenient places. The primary kids were learning "Praise to the Man" this year, and Kaden took that challenge to heart. We would sing during FHE or before bed, but for the most part, he learned that song all by his little ole' self. He was even so diligent in his practicing that Little Lou learned every word as well.

My kiddos have enjoyed singing for a while now, often requesting song upon song at bedtime, in the car, in stores, etc. They have always enjoyed singing hymns the most, and to my surprise, along with everyone else who has ever heard me sing, they enjoy MY singing! Singing is definitely not my forte, which has given me cause to ponder, why on earth do they request me to sing them to sleep almost every night. But as the primary children sang their sweet songs on Sunday, and particularly as they closed the meeting with "We Will Bring the World His Truth", it occurred to me that it doesn't matter the caliber of singer when it comes to singing songs of truth. The primary children are not a world renowned choir and very few of them have yet to develop the talent of singing, but to my ears it was one of the most beautiful hymns I have ever heard, because it testified of truth. Now I'm not under the delusion that when I sing that my children think that it is the most beautiful song they have ever heard, but I do believe that their love for hymns comes from the feeling they receive as they hear them. Whether they realize it or not, the spirit speaks to them constantly, and it speaks to them very strongly through music.

So I'm going to continue to sing with and to them, loud and proud (and most likely out of tune), and I hope their love for the hymns of the church will never fade. I hope they always hold then near and dear to their hearts and never stop seeking for the spirit in their lives.

Kaden's Birthday Wrap Up

2011-11-12T13:51:00.004-07:00

What a fun day devoted to our biggest little man! It started with a pancake breakfast and opening presents with Ya Ya & Pop Pop via webcam.

While Sophie was at preschool, we got to spend some quality time with the birthday boy eating lunch and running a few errands in preparation for his birthday party that evening. I forget what a luxury it is when both Matt & I get to spend good quality time with just one of the kids. I really think he felt special and appreciated the alone time without his sister (as much as he loves her).

We let him pick a fun activity, and he chose Kangaroo Zoo. We met up with cousin Tate, and the four of them wore themselves out jumping.

We had a family dinner at 5 Guys, which was Kaden's choice for the sole reason that they have all you can eat peanuts. Who wouldn't want that?!?

We ended the day with a family party at the house, complete with Spiderman balloons and a Spiderman cake. He was quite the lucky little boy, and I really think he enjoyed all the love and attention, but he deserves it!

Matt made this awesome cake. He is a pretty amazing Daddy!

Another Year Older...

2011-11-10T08:36:00.005-07:00

At 3am this morning five years ago, Matt and I became parents for the first time. We were new at this parenting thing, we were definitely unexperienced, we were scared out of our minds, but we were the most excited and happiest we had ever been. Kaden was two weeks early because of blood pressure problems I was having toward the end of my pregnancy, but he was our biggest baby to date, weighing in at 8 lbs. He was admitted to the NICU for two days due to difficulty breathing and eating and looked like a giant lying in that bed surrounded by premie babies. In an instant he was the center of our world. It was an immediate HARD love, the kind that made us wonder how we ever lived without him.

I look back at that time and it seems like it happened just yesterday and forever ago at the same time. We've gone through those emotions two more times now and those feelings never change, but there is still nothing like the experience of having your first child.

Now here we are, and our first born is five years old. I could go on and on about him, and maybe I will, so bare with me...He is bright and articulate. He is wild and subdued, sometimes within the same minute! He is thoughtful and kind. He is sensitive and vulnerable. He truly cares! He is definitely the typical oldest child in every sense of the word. He is my pleaser boy, never wanting to disappoint. He is my consumer...I always say that the toy advertisers specifically target kids like him...he loves toys and treasures the things he has. He is a good big brother (most of the time) and when it comes down to it, he says his siblings are his best friends. He mature in the gospel beyond his years and loves going to church and learning. He is definitely in that awkward transition between being little and being big and I know that at times that's a struggle for him. I love looking into his little face when he doesn't know I'm look at him...it's such a perfect little face and I love watching him thinking, observing, exploring, wondering...I love the serious look he gets when he's deep in thought! He is a wonderful leader and example, and I have no doubt he will pave the way for his younger siblings.

Next year we will send our oldest off to school, and even though I have months to prepare myself for that event, I don't think that any amount of time can truly prepare a parent for that moment. To me that moment signifies a beginning, things change after that moment, and if I think life moves too fast now, I think it will kick into freeway speed then.

We love you Bubba and we love all that you are and all that you are becoming! You are the coolest kids around and we hope you have a wonderful 5th Birthday.

So for his 5th Birthday, I conducted a little interview and it went something like this...

Q: What's your favorite color?

A: orange, green, red, and blue (this answer has definitely expanded over the years)

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: spaghetti (no surprise there)

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: A guy who finds dinosaur bones (this has changed recently from a zookeeper, both great choices, I must say)

Q: What's your favorite book?

A: Anything dinosaur

Q: What's your favorite TV show?

A: Go Diego Go (this could change at any moment)

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: Star Wars

Q: What is your favorite toy?

A: Star Wars figures (this is his newest toy from Disney, but this could change at any moment as well)

Q: Who's your best friend?

A: Sophie (no offense Jack, I'm sure when your old enough you will be included in this as well)

Q: What are your favorite things to do?

A: ride my bike and watch movies

The End

Milestone

2011-11-08T18:24:00.004-07:00

For the better part of a month, Jack has been "toying" with the idea of walking but has never fully been able to give up his signature bear crawl...

Until now!

Meet the new, upright Jack!

Today was definitely a milestone day. We went from walking occasionally to walking about half the time and from walking between pieces of furniture to walking across the room. So proud of you baby! And you are definitely proud of yourself:)

The Tingeys Do Halloween!

2011-10-31T22:12:00.006-06:00

Our Tingey Halloween went something like this...

We started with a few preschool Halloween parties...an appetizer to the actual night itself...the kids loved debuting their costumes.

We took a late afternoon movie break, but obviously felt no need to remove the costume.

We started Halloween night in our neighborhood doing the traditional trick or treating with friends, and for Kaden this year's trick or treating was serious business!!! Sophie was content tagging along with the older kids, and as always Jack was just happy to be there.

We ended the night with a visit to see the rest of the Tingey family, where the kiddos were able to fully examine their loot and of course taste a little!

Happy Halloween from the Tingey family!

Pumpkins & Patches

2011-10-29T09:59:00.005-06:00

More than Halloween itself, I love the traditions associated with this time of year. I love autumn time, even if it does mean that the dreaded Utah winter is right around the corner. We love going to the local pumpkin patch and corn maze. And there is nothing better than letting the kids pick out their own pumpkins and taking them home to carve, even if Mom & Dad do most of the carving:).

With Hidden Treasures Preschool at the Pumpkin Patch

With the Cruzes at Cornbelly's

Carving pumpkins with Ya Ya

Carving pumpkins with the Tingey family

We also had a blast at our ward's Fall Carnival. The kids had a blast playing with their friends, playing games, and getting their faces painted.

Disney!

2011-10-25T12:45:00.009-06:00

We toyed with the idea of going on a family trip to Disneyland for the past year, almost going a few times, and then we finally committed and used Fall Break as a good excuse to head out of town and enjoy some quality time as a family in sunny California. We're sure glad we did it! It was a relatively quick trip, driving all day on Wednesday, enjoying Disneyland and California Adventure from sun up to sundown Thursday thru Saturday, and then driving home all day Sunday. Matt and I are both of the mindset that if we're paying of it, we are going to get the most we can out of it, and so we did! We were up at the crack of dawn most days, cramming ourselves on the hotel shuttle with three kids, a stroller, and way too many odds and ends. We packed lunches and snacks most days and ate dinner in the park and never left before 8pm. It was the most exhausting trip we have ever had, but it was one of the greatest as well. We really had the most amazing time, and already can't wait to go back!

The first morning waiting to get in!

The kids got autographs and took pictures with almost every character they could, we rode almost every ride that the kids were tall enough to ride, watched some amazing shows, including the World of Color, the Disneyland Fireworks, and the Soundsational Parade, and ate way too much junk food. The kiddos were quite brave I must say, even if they didn't always know what they were getting themselves into. The Materhorn and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad definitely got the biggest reactions, ones of terror mixed with a small amount of excitement/enjoyment.

Waiting for the Soundsational Parade! A definite highlight! (Gotta love the cotton candy hanging out of Kaden's mouth)

Finding Nemo

Peter Pan

Jack even enjoyed the rides he was able to go on and tolerated the characters more than I thought he would. Pluto really seemed to take a liking to him:)

The highlight of Kaden's trip had to be the Jedi Training, where he was selected from the crowd along with about 20 other kids to learn how to be a Jedi. At the end of the lesson, he was able to fight Darth Vader!!! He couldn't have asked for more, and neither could we!

The highlight of Sophie's trip was meeting the princesses and Tinker Bell. It sounds corny but they really make the little girls feel so special. They take so much time with each of them, talking and taking pictures. It was so sweet and cute!

So long till next time Disneyland!

Our Big One Year Old!

2011-10-15T08:39:00.009-06:00

On Thursday we celebrated Jack's 1st birthday! I can't believe he is already one year old. It's amazing how much growth happens in one year.

We had a pizza party and of course cake and ice cream. Jack enjoyed the attention and was such a cutie! His favorite parts were the balloons and of course the cake!!!

My sweet Mom came just for the occasion!

Enjoying one of the neatest presents of the night;)

Do you think he liked it?

What a wonderful addition this little guy is to our family. This guy is definitely a special spirit and was meant to be in our home. He has brought us so much joy over the past year, and I know the best is yet to come! He definitely wins the sweet award and is so good to tolerate the overabundance of "love" from his siblings. He is changing and growing everyday and is always up for a big hug and wet kiss. We love you Jack Robert and Happy Birthday big boy!

P.s. We went to his one year doctor appointment and here are his stats:

Weight=20lb 13oz (45th percentile)

Height=29 1/4in (40th percentile)

SO BIG!

Just Doing A Little Shopping...

2011-10-15T08:35:00.002-06:00

He just needed to do a little shopping, which encouraged him to do a little walking:)...

FALL

2011-10-06T15:14:00.003-06:00

Fall is definitely in full swing here in Utah. The leaves are changing colors, and those cool nights are definitely upon us. I love opening the windows this time of year and not having to turn on the air conditioner. It's definitely one of the most beautiful parts of living here in Utah.

This past weekend we enjoyed a pre General Conference breakfast at a park with our family. The leaves were so beautiful that we couldn't help getting a few cousin pictures, and what wonderful little picture takers they were. You'd think that getting five kids four years and under to sit still for a picture would be difficult but these little guys made it look easy. Pretty cute I must say!

Oh Honey!

2011-10-06T15:06:00.005-06:00

A couple of weeks ago the guys harvest the first batch of honey from the beehive. It was quite a cool process and the kids enjoyed participating as well, and what a neat result!

The frames before they were harvested.

Scraping off the bees wax.

The spinning...

And the bounty! (We got almost 40 pounds of honey

The kiddos were quite proud as well!

And we have already gone through a few jars! Yeah, I think we might like it:)

Busy Boy

2011-10-06T15:00:00.003-06:00

This little guy is definitely growing up. I can't believe that one week from today my baby is going to be one year old. He is definitely starting to act more like a toddler than a baby and he has the moves to prove it. He's become quite the little climber and his favorites include the stairs, the ladder on the kids' bunk bed, and the fireplace. We definitely have the bruises and scrapes to prove it, but what a fun age of discovery!

Double the Preschool

2011-09-05T20:18:00.004-06:00

Given that Kaden & Sophie are only 21 months apart, they will most likely always be only a year apart in school. And so it begins...we returned from Texas and jumped right in...Sophie began preschool the day after we got home, and Kaden started the very next day. Kaden is in the older class now at Hidden Treasures Preschool, which means he goes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon. Sophie is in the younger class and goes Tuesday and Thursday for 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon. This schedule is a dream come true! Each kid loves going to school, and the one that gets to stay home loves having the toys and Mommy all to themselves. Most days Jack naps in the afternoon so I really do get to devote most of my attention to the one at home. I think this is going to be a great year!

Sophie's favorite things about her first day of preschool: Show & Tell, The Stranger Danger Song, learning letters, friends

Kaden's favorite thing about his first day of preschool: sharing his "About Me" page, friends, coloring & painting

And although this guy is a long way from starting school, he is top of his class in his Mom's book. He's mastering the art of eating with his hands, teething, jibber-jabbering, drinking from a sippy cup, crawling, bugging his sister, and as of late, standing & taking his first steps.

Our Texas Adventures

2011-09-02T13:57:00.002-06:00

We always have so many wonderful adventures when we go on our trips to Texas. It all starts with the drive which is always an adventure in itself. Two parents, three kids, a dog, and lots of stuff all crammed into our minivan. Believe it or not, we actually enjoy this. Some would see it as torture, and at times it is, but we try to make the best of it. Good food, good movies, lots of coloring stuff, and an occasional game or two. This time the favorite game became "Get the semi to honk at us". Mom and Dad even had to participate as it was hard for the drivers to see the kids in the back. Mom did it reluctantly while Dad's inner child made him a pro. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.

We had only been in the Lonestar State two days when we backed up the van again, this time adding Ya Ya & Pop Pop and headed down to San Antonio to the Hill Country Resort. This was the most amazing hotel. It had a whole water park with a lazy river, slides, and kiddie area. It was heaven for our kids.

They also had lots of great kid activities. On Sophie's birthday, Kaden & Sophie got to make sand art and homemade ice cream.

We went to see the San Antonio Temple at night. It is one of the most gorgeous temples. About seven years ago, Matt & I both went to the open house, and I was there for the dedication. This temple is definitely special to both of us, and it is beautiful to see it at night.

We also visited the Alamo in downtown San Antonio. The kids were oddly very interested in the story. Kaden asked lots of questions and kept thinking he heard fighting coming from inside:)

When we finally made our way back to Arlington, we went to cheer on our Texas Rangers. Unfortunately they had a bad night, but we had a blast watching and eating ballpark food.

Legoland was definitely a highlight of the trip. It is definitely right up Kaden's ally but Sophie loved it as well. They had rides, a fun house, tons of legos (of course), and a 4D movie. Kaden had fun building lego towers and cars that you could race. Sophie loved the slides and "princess area". Needless to say, we were dragging them out of there at the end of the day.

Even though we stayed very busy, we still made time to go on bike rides, swim at Joe & Diane's (Ya Ya & Pop Pop's wonderful neighbors), and eat A LOT!

(Eating at Risky's in the Fort Worth Stockyards)

Definitely a trip to remember! Can't wait to go back at Christmas!

Texas Family & Friends

2011-09-02T12:45:00.006-06:00

One of our favorite parts of our trips to Texas is seeing all of our wonderful family and friends. Besides spending lots of time with Ya Ya & Pop Pop and Granddad, we were able to visit so many other people. One of our first nights we had a pool party at my aunt and uncle's house. We saw all of my mom's side of the family and had a blast splashing around, eating, and visiting. They always make me remember why I love Texas so much.

We were also able to see my friends from high school, Miriam & Walter, who were visiting from Colorado. They have two adorable boys, and we were so glad our trips overlapped.

In Austin we were able to be there for the blessing of our friends the Baumeister's twins, Aubrey and Cohen. They are two of our best friends and even though the visit was brief, we are so glad for the opportunity. We also were able to visit the Reed family in San Antonio. They are a great family that Matt met on his mission and stays close with. They have six kids and still made time to visit with us and even surprised Sophie with a birthday cake.

On the way back to Arlington we stopped to see my Grandpa & Grandma Morgan and my Aunt Susan and Uncle Larry in Belton. It's been a long time since we last visited with them and it was a wonderful visit. Grandma was sick in the hospital but we were all able to crowd into her hospital room and get caught up.

We also had a date night with our great friends the Brinkerhoffs. We always love our date nights with them and hope we can keep the tradition alive every time we come down.

We also were able to see the Springtown Tingeys. This has become a tradition and we always love our dinner with them. It's always full of laughter, and they are so much fun to be with. We can't wait for Christmas:)

So many wonderful friends and family! We wish we could see you guys more. We love you all and are so grateful we could come for a visit. See you next time:)

Feliz Cumpleanos Sophie!

2011-08-25T21:29:00.006-06:00

Howdy from deep in the heart of Texas! I had to take a moment from our fabulous trip down here in the 100 degree heat to give a shout out to our big THREE year old! On August 22nd our little Lulu turned one year older. It's amazing how time flies. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing our baby girl home from the hospital and learning to cope with the realities of having two kiddos. Now here we are three years later, and she is no longer the baby of the family, we have switched to coping with the reality of having three kiddos, and meanwhile our little sassafras has taken it all in stride. Despite her sassy, dramatic nature, she really is a pretty easy, go with the flow child. She is quick witted, blunt, and always tells it how it is. She is joyful, energetic, and smart. She loves her parents (which her Daddy and I are pretty happy about), and she loves being sandwiched in between two brothers. She loves to sing and she loves her babydoll. She has an odd hankering for tomatoes, cucumbers, salad, and a variety of other rabbit food. She loves anything girly, especially lotions, potions, polish, lipgloss/chapstick, jewelry, etc. Our little family would not be the same with out her bright, contagious energy. Happy Birthday Sophia Elizabeth and to many more to come!

We had a little family park party in Provo before we left for Texas. Dora the Explorer was the theme, of course! We let her invite one friend, her bestie from nursery, Paige! She had a wonderful time and enjoyed herself thoroughly.

Sophie & Paige

Enjoying her new big girl bike with big brother!

While we were here in Texas, she had her actual birthday. We were in San Antonio and so we took her to a traditional Mexican restuarant in downtown. They had a Mariachi band sing to her. She held a straight face almost the entire time, showing no emotion, but she secretly enjoyed the attention. They brought her a piece of cake with a candle, which was definitely her favorite part (that's my girl!). Happy Birthday big three year old!

Moon Lake

2011-08-08T20:41:00.007-06:00

There really is nothing like camping in the great outdoors! Matt had a nice four day weekend, and we packed up the three kids, the dog, and LOTS of camping gear for a two day, two night stay at Moon Lake in the beautiful Uinta Mountains. The kids were beyond excited!

We arrived to a little rain but that didn't stop us! We set up camp and took to the lake to catch some fish for dinner. Luckily the fish were jumping and biting like crazy, and we were able to take a few back to camp for our dinner.

The kids enjoying their catches.

S'more making, always a favorite!

Our campsite

The view of the lake from our campsite.

The next morning we were up bright and early, enjoying our hot chocolate and oatmeal. We played Chutes and Ladders with the kiddos by the lake and they found some from friends to play in the sand with.

We hiked around the lake and enjoyed some absolutely beautiful scenery!

We practiced our casting...

Ate a lot of good food...

Where's Sophie? Oh of course, under the table eating raw corn! Probably one of the reasons the kids started having tummy problems, you think?!?:)

And took lots of silly pictures...

Mom had to participate...Sophie's orders!

Sophie pretending to be sleeping. Very convincing huh?!?

Sophie pulling a silly face while pretending to be sleeping. That's some talent!

Some upset tummies sent us home a night early, but what a fun adventure we had. I can't say enough about my little family! What a joy they are, and it's always made more apparent when we're off on our own, no distractions, simply enjoying each other. Life doesn't get much better than that!

Family Pics Courtesy of Rusty Bucket

2011-08-06T18:51:00.012-06:00

Well they are finally here...our new family pictures! And we couldn't be happier! Michelle Kemp from Rusty Bucket Photography has taken our family pictures since the kids were small, and she is truly gifted. We had two...almost three...rainouts before we got these done, and it was definitely worth the wait. Mom, this is for you, I know you are almost as eager to see them as I am to show them to you:) Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy!

Perfection

2011-08-01T14:40:00.004-06:00

I think everyone has had moments, events, and outings in their lives that were in their minds perfect in every way. This past weekend we took the kids to Vivian Park to go fishing in the pond there. We took up sandwiches and our poles and some family joined us. The night was cool and overcast and the mountains smelled wonderful.

The younger kids played on the playground...

And my Big Bub eagerly waited for his first cast of the evening.

But then the rain came, and you'd think this would have ended the fun, but oh no! As Sophie, Jack, & I ran to the pavilion for shelter and the rest of our group threw in the towel and went home, Kaden and his Dad had a moment out in the pouring rain that I hope Kaden will remember for forever. As it poured, they fished and fished some more. They were drenched but having the time of their lives, and as the rain began to subside, their efforts paid off with the first fish of the evening. The first fish that Kaden has caught completely on his own from casting, to hooking it, reeling it in, and the finished product...

One happy, wet, & excited boy...Perfection!

And this was only the beginning of our luck...

Sophie's catch (very reluctant but still proud)

Kaden's second catch (the biggest fish of the night)

And as for Mommy & Daddy this will probably go down as one of those nights, where everything was just right. We were doing something we love, somewhere we love, and most importantly with the people we love the most. It was perfect.

Price Please!

2011-08-01T14:22:00.003-06:00

Since three of our favorite people live in Price, we thought we'd make the hour and a half drive down to spend the day with them in the place they call home:) What a fun day we had! We visited their local swimming/wave pool and had a blast there with the kids. We took a picnic and enjoyed the waves. Good thing all these kiddos love the water.

We had a barbecue at their house that night and as always they treated us to a wonderful meal. We definitely share a love of good food! And the kids got to play with their cousin Riah, which is always a treat for them.

We ended the day with a trip to DinoMine Park, where the kiddos mastered the monkey bars and the rock wall.

Thanks Cameron, Kamie, & Riah for such a perfect day!

The Tingey BEESness!

2011-08-01T13:23:00.003-06:00

About a week ago, Matt along with his Dad and brothers invested in their very first beehive. Matt's been talking about buying a hive for a few months now but just needed a little push to make it happen. Needless to say, bees have been the talk at meals, at bedtime, at family functions, etc for the past few weeks. Matt is OBSESSED, but oh so happy, and that makes me happy!

The kids have even been getting involved too and are surprisingly interested, especially Big Bub. He even got up at 5:30am the other morning to help move the bees.

Here he is with a drone. Don't worry, the drones don't have stingers.

We'll be excited come fall when we can harvest the honey for the first time. Oh and Matt has big hopes for a future business and lots more hives:) So wish this beekeeping family luck!

Pioneer Day 2011

2011-08-01T13:03:00.004-06:00

We decided to have a very last minute Pioneer Day fireworks/rootbeer float celebration, and sometimes the most spontaneous things are the most successful! We had some leftover small fireworks from the Fourth, and we added a few more plus our very first arial firework to the bunch. We invited our family and some of the neighborhood kids over, and it really turned out to be so much fun.

The kids (Matt & I included) loved EVERYTHING! They had front row seats the whole time, and after their great response, I think we need to make this a new tradition.

Kaden & Sophie's Snack Shack

2011-07-18T15:58:00.006-06:00

A few weeks ago, Kaden saw someone on TV having a lemonade stand. Since then he's been a little obsessed with the idea of having one of his own. So obsessed that he's tried to sell old grape juice from the fridge to the neighbors. His objective was simple: To make enough money that when combined with the money he has already saved would give him enough to buy the Spiderman backpack he has been dreaming about for the past year!

So on Saturday, we finally humored him and helped him make a sign, lemonade, & chocolate chip cookies. Of course we had to include Sophie, who did NOT have any objective in mind other than eating the cookies and drinking the lemonade! Mommy got involved and tried to make it look nice so that potential customers wouldn't have to question the snacks they were being served.

Now we were more just trying to teach him a lesson about hard work rather than being sticklers about him earning every penny on his own, and we were planning on making up the difference so that he could get the backpack, but whether it was their extreme cuteness or the nicest neighbors, family, and friends ever, I don't know, but he made enough to pay for his backpack and then some.

Enticing future customers with their cuteness:)

Our little entrepreneur! (And Sophie partaking of the goods)

Lesson learned and backpack bought, oh and we had a blast doing it!

And Sophie got a prize for helping too! (Chapstick, of course)

Summer Part 2

2011-07-13T21:01:00.005-06:00

Independence Day 2011

All of our favorite things, Ya Ya & Pop Pop were here for a visit, we enjoyed awesome fireworks, BBQs with family, and of course the parade. What a wonderful holiday, and the perfect reason to celebrate. I'm beyond grateful for the service of so many men and women and the freedoms we in joy in this great nation.

Battle Creek Hike

None of us had ever hiked Battle Creek before, and since it seemed to be a pretty tame hike for kids we decided to give it whirl, and I'm so glad we did. It was a beautiful morning for a hike, and the waterfalls were gorgeous. The kids loved finding walking sticks, rocks, spiders, butterflies, and overall are great little hikers in the making. We can't wait to expand our hiking horizons and take advantage of this great state of Utah!

Oh and by the way, this little guy turned 9 months old today! Time sure flies when your having fun!

Summer Part 1

2011-07-03T22:16:00.007-06:00

I can't believe summer is almost half way over...it seems like it has just begun, but here at the Tingey house we have been very busy, and we don't plan on stopping. Since summers are so short here in Utah, we have to get in all the fun we possibly can. Here's what we've been up to.

Strawberry Days Rodeo

We love this tradition and are so glad our kids love it as much a we do. The strawberries and cream were awesome, we had beautiful weather, and we loved spending time with some of our siblings. We even talked Kaden into participating in the cash cow. He was one of the littlest ones out there but he was so enthusiastic. I was laughing so hard that I was crying, watching him run his little heart out down in the arena. He didn't get any money but had so much fun! It was a definite highlight of the night.

The Manti Pageant

A week ago, we took our kids to the Mormon Miracle Pageant at the Manti Temple for the first time. The last time we went was when I was pregnant with Kaden so it had been five years. The Manti Temple is gorgeous and there was nothing more amazing than seeing that beautiful temple set up against the night sky lit with stars. Kaden took in every moment of the pageant, asked tons of questions, and really seemed to enjoy it. Sophie and Jack slept through most of it as we guessed they would. What a neat experience!

Balloon Fest

Every year Provo has a Balloon Fest around the 4th of July holiday, and I can't believe that we have never been until now. Maybe it's been the fact that you have to be there at 6:30am but since Ya Ya & Pop Pop were visiting from Texas we decided to finally do it. It was so neat and the kids just ate it up! It's definitely going to have to be a new family tradition. They had all sorts of balloons: Darth Vador, a pig, Smokey the Bear, a giant Coke bottle, and lots more. You could even take your picture with Darth and the Storm Troopers.

SWIMMING!!!!

We've taken advantage of the heat and visited the pool a few times during the past month. The kids are really enjoying the water, and swim lessons are definitely on the agenda for the second half of the summer. Little Jack (who was taking a break in the shade with Ya Ya when this picture was taken) is also loving the water and is a true water baby!

Go Jack Go!

2011-07-03T22:03:00.005-06:00

In the past month our little man has really started moving! He's mastered the crawl both on hands and knees and the bear crawl.

He's pulling up on everything!

With all this movin' he's really started getting into mischief. He's ripping magazines, chewing on cords, dumping trash cans over, and even tried his first taste of dog food (and I'm sure it won't be his last:)). Despite being such a busy boy, I sure love this age (I know I say that of every age...I just can't help it, every stage is just so much fun)! We our such a fan of our little Jack Attack! Go Jack Go!

Dad's Day

2011-06-21T22:18:00.002-06:00

In celebration of Dad's Day...a little homage to all the dads in our lives. We are sure grateful for all our dads, grandfathers, and uncles. We love you all!

The kids and I especially wanted to pay tribute to the Dad of our family. Goodness me, how did we get so lucky. In Sophie's words, "You are the best Dad in the WHOLEST world!" and we all echo that sentiment. You are good, you are kind, you are wise, you are true, and we are so glad you are ours. Happy Dad's Day to our FAVORITE! Love you!

Stand Up Baby!

2011-06-16T20:54:00.002-06:00

I love walking into this...

minus the tears of course. Look Momma...I'm standing (for the first time)!

Splash Day 2011

2011-06-13T11:23:00.004-06:00

I think our Texas family will appreciate this...our Utah version of Splash Day 2011. Back in Texas my family celebrates every Memorial Day at my Uncle Doak & Aunt Susan's pool for Splash Day, the official opening of the pool for the summer. Well since very few people here in Utah have pools, we have to improvise...and lets face it, kids don't know the difference, a pool is a pool even if it's only a foot deep!

So on the first eighty degree day, out came the pool and of course out came the friends and we had our first splash day of the summer!

Homemade water-slide

No pictures please!

Happier in his DRY swing!

How many more kids can we cram in that thing?!?

Love them:)

Straight threw the sprinkler.

Her version of running STRAIGHT threw the sprinkler...barely a drop on her.

California or Bust!

2011-06-07T20:46:00.016-06:00

We just got back from a wonderfully awesome family vacation to Northern California. The main reason we went was to visit the fabulous Broughton family. They live in a little town called Lodi surrounded by beautiful farms and vineyards, and they were wonderful enough to let us invade their new home for over a week. So thank you Broughton family from the bottom of our hearts. We love you guys, and thanks for showing us your neck of the woods.

We took many day trips during our week and half in California and logged more miles in California than traveling there and back combined. We spent two days and one night on Monterey Bay. It was beautiful weather and an absolutely gorgeous place. We went to the tide pools, Fisherman's Warf, Dennis the Menace Park, & Cannery Row.

Another highlight was Big Trees State Park, where we saw the giant Sequoias. They were so majestic, and I'm so glad we finally got to see them.

We got in a little swimming in, but it was unseasonably cool, so it didn't last very long.

We went to the Jelly Belly Factory and came home with eight pounds of Jelly Beans!!!

We all had to wear these hats on the tour...we looked pretty dang silly!

We celebrated Matt's 28th Birthday with dinner out, and a trip to Fenton's Creamery from the movie Up...some of the best ice cream I've ever had!

We took the BART into San Francisco and took the cable car down to Fisherman's Wharf, the piers, and Guiradelli Chocolate Factory.

There was also lots of park trips...

And lots of good food...

Wonderful cherries from the Lodi Farmer's Market

And of course great friends!

The 3rd Child...

2011-05-19T16:13:00.002-06:00

With our first born, almost every minute of his life was documented by a picture. He had all my attention most of the time, and the pictures are proof. Sophie had slightly less but all in all a pretty comparable amount. But with #3, I've noticed a drastic slip in the amount of pictures I take of all the kids, but especially my sweet Baby Jack. This is not an indication of any less love, if anything it's an indication of an overabundance of love for this new little addition, and not just from his parents but from his siblings. Constant playing, constant feeding, constant tending, constant refereeing, and the list goes on. With every babe, the love within our home magnifies, but sadly with the increase in love, the documentation of this love declines. So Baby Jack as you read this in the future, know that you were loved, loved so much that the proof was documented more in memories than in pictures...and Mommy is going to try to be better about the pictures:)

So with that said...here's a month in the life of Baby Jack...Enjoy!

The bouncing continues, and always with a smile on his face!

Sadly, I think this is one of the few pictures I have of me and sweet babe, due partly to my ever growing desire NOT to be photographed and partly to the fact that I'm always the one behind the camera. And this one is courtesy of Sophie...I was pretty impressed.

First attempts at crawling...he's now mastered getting up on all fours and pushing himself backward, which makes a little baby pretty frustrated sometimes, but forward moving will be coming soon I'm sure...just gotta be patient little guy!

Showing off his two pearly whites...I sure love those chubby cheeks.

We can't get enough of you Baby Jack!

CARS Tent!

2011-05-19T16:09:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I forget...it really doesn't take much to please these guys! Case in point...the CARS tent! Two nights of entertainment, watching movies, eating treats, giggling, and all was made 100x cooler doing it from inside a tent. And they were even so content that they slept together in total peace...imagine that!

Father & Sons Campout

2011-05-11T15:29:00.007-06:00

This was Kaden's first experience with the Father & Sons Campout, and he was counting down a week before hand. When the day finally arrived, he was thrilled and spent the day planning with Dad what they should take for dinner and what sports equipment might be fun to play with once they were there. It turned out to be a very hectic day leading up to the campout, and they were a little late leaving (my fault, I'll admit it). Poor Kaden was ready and waiting about a hour before they even left...backpack, pillow, hat & shoes on...it was too cute!

They ended up taking sandwiches, pretty uneventful but it is what the boy wanted. They set up camp and Kaden gave a few poses for the camera (it was Mom's only request, lots of pictures please...Matt did pretty well).

I love that when asked to pose, he gave the "OK" sign...pretty awesome.

They couldn't have asked for better weather, and apparently he had a blast playing with all his little friends...they played frisbee and football. As you can see the s'mores were a highlight. Before bed they had a short fireside and even sang his favorite song "I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ". He was even excited to head off to bed because he couldn't wait to sleep in a sleeping bag in the tent with his Daddy. So all in all a huge success!

Lastly, a quick word of props to my husband...I'm grateful for a husband who was pretty much as excited about Father & Sons as his four year old was. Thanks honey for making memories with our Bubba and all of our kids on a daily basis, the time you spend with our kiddos is just as priceless to them as it is to you. Thanks for never being too busy and never being too embarrassed to play Mr. Mom (They were late getting to the campout because last minute Matt was decorating mini cheesecakes, cleaning house, and tending to kiddos in an effort to help me get ready for a baby shower I was throwing that night...really, how did I get so lucky). I'm grateful for a true partner on this parenting adventure and for a righteous example for our children to emulate. To many more Father & Sons!

The Broughtons...Need I Say More

2011-05-11T15:05:00.004-06:00

A few weeks ago, Matt was going out of town for a conference and of course I was feeling a little bummed. But to our surprise, the day before he left, I got a text from Erica saying that not only were she and the girls coming for a visit, they were coming the very next day!!!! Pretty much the best surprise ever! So she and her brother traveled the 11 hours from California with the three girls and stayed with us for 5 days. The kids were in heaven and I was a pretty happy camper as well. The weather wasn't the greatest but we made due. We went on a few little outings because six kids under the age of five under one tiny roof can get a little crazy but they really did so well. It was like they were never apart. The older kids played so well together. Sophie & Brooklynn loved playing babies together, and Madison & Kaden continued their puppy love...Maddie even stole a little kiss here and there when she thought no one was looking. The babies were just along for the ride and did really well considering all the chaos. The only positive to them leaving is that we get to see them again in two weeks. This time it will be us making the drive to California and we really can't wait! Love you Broughtons, thanks for coming to stay:)

Easter

2011-04-24T21:28:00.004-06:00

Easter is one of my most favorite holidays. It's a beautiful time of renewal. I love to see the flowers in bloom and the green grass. It brings the start of warmer weather...hopefully...I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one. There is a wonderful spirit about this holiday, and we really enjoyed spending it with our children and our family this year.

On Saturday we had our family over for a bbq and easter egg hunt. The weather unfortunately wasn't the best but we made do, and as usual the kids had a wonderful time even with the rain and cool weather. They ended the day with loads of candy and treats and some great memories.

A little too young to hunt but happy as usual

Easter Sunday

Bruno the Bruiser Baby

2011-04-12T16:28:00.005-06:00

This little boy is growing by leaps and bounds before my very eyes, and he truly rocks my world! He'll be six months tomorrow and has really started getting oh so fun. He is sitting so well now, which makes for such a happy baby! He just cut his first tooth and is really enjoying eating all kinds of new food and seems to love just about everything. He is so lovable and jolly and his cheeks are just so kissable! He is quite the big baby. My mom once said that he is such a bruiser so we joke that his name should be Bruno the Bruiser. Hopefully he'll just be a big teddy bear and won't go on to stealing other kids' lunch money. Here are a few pictures to document his last month...

Kid Talk

2011-04-12T16:12:00.003-06:00

Since Jack is way too young to talk yet, instead of baby talk, we have CONSTANT kid talk, the ramblings of my two and four year olds either to each other, to me or others, or even to themselves. It can be wise, it can be silly or weird, and mostly it's just plain hilarious.

Sophie has the habit of starting out statements with "when I was a kid" followed by some something as simple "I rode the bus". Most of the time these statements aren't even true, and I have no idea where she came up with them. While staying at their grandparent's house, I guess Kaden finally had enough, and in true word vomit form state something like this: "Stop saying when you were a kid. You ARE a kid. You were a baby and now you are a kid. You're still a kid so stop saying when I was a kid." So funny, I wish I could have witnessed it first hand.

The kiddos are also very aware of there "emissions" (foofs, burps, poops, throw ups, etc). Both kids have had a little throw up and diarrhea over the past few weeks and find it interesting to remind us over and over again about these occurrences. Sophie constantly tells people "I throwed up yesterday" even though it was more like a week ago. So we were at a store where they have a little lego set to play with while parents shop and come to find out, while I'm shopping my son is informing the entire group of children about the issues he's been having with diarrhea that day. Needless to say, that group cleared out pretty fast. YUM!

I can't wait to see the things that Jack has to tell me!

Our Bigs!

2011-03-14T20:34:00.005-06:00

Parents have many hopes and dreams for their kids, and as I'm watching these precious kiddos grow, I so wish them to grow to love respect one another. I want them to be good kids, good kids who have fun with one another and enjoy being around each other, good kids who encourage one another to be better. I want our kids to be each other's best friends, and I always hope that they put family first. Since Kaden & Sophie are our older two, and they interact with each other the most, I find myself watching their interactions and the way they treat each other, and I find myself CONSTANTLY teaching. The teaching never seems to end, and sometimes it just doesn't seem like you're getting through to them! But sometimes you see glimpses that your teaching is paying off and that's what makes it so worth it in the end. Even though they bicker and argue like crazy sometimes, I'm seeing more and more moments of love and friendship and that sure makes a momma's heart ache with pride. They look to each other for opportunities to play, learn, and serve, and I can genuinely say that they are each other's best friends, and I hope that never changes and just expands to include their other siblings as well.

Our Bigs have had some fun times together and made some fun memories these past few weeks.

They made giant snowman together!

They hiked the Y and made it ALL the way to the top! (And enjoyed every minute of it!)

Look out summer camping and hiking trips, here we come!

And when Sophie wakes up sad from her nap and Mommy is busy with Jack, it's big brother Kaden to the rescue to give a comforting hug and snuggle! (And amazingly he shares his treasured Lotso bears just to ensure that she feels better)

What would we do without our big kids to lead the way!

Bring on the Good Stuff!

2011-03-14T20:22:00.002-06:00

Well I guess I wouldn't call it good stuff, but in baby world I guess it will have to do! Jacker's is five months now, so we decided to introduce a little rice cereal. I love starting to feed my babies foods. I love seeing how they react and what they like and don't like. Just another little milestone in growth and another moment for me to commemorate.

He does look awfully eager here! Just you wait little buddy, the best is yet to come.

READY!

SET!

EAT!

Final verdict: Rice cereal is a little mediocre, a little gaggy...will definitely be ready to move on to something little more substantial, but in the mean time, I guess it will do!!

First Crush

2011-02-21T16:05:00.003-07:00

Well it's official, our Kadester has his first big crush! And poor little guy, it had to be on someone completely unattainable. The lucky girl is Mariana from the Fresh Beat Band on Nickelodeon. He saw the show at preschool and came home asking me to turn it on, so I found out what it was and obliged my little guy. It was evident immediately why he had such a liking for the show. He gazed at the TV with a shy grin on his face and when he saw me looking at him he stated shyly, "That girl's got a cool face and cool hair," and then he went back to staring with that goofy grin on his face. The next day he asked his Grandma to print a picture of her off the computer. He proceeded to cut it out and requested that I tape it on the wall by his bed (thus the picture). Anytime you as him about her or tease him a little, he gets so embarrassed and buries his head in his arms. So as you'd expect, the Fresh Beat Band is his new favorite show and Mariana will go down as his first big crush. As his mom, I hope they are few and far between, I sure don't want him growing up to fast, but in the meantime, it's pretty stinkin' cute to watch this little 4 year old boy blush!

Jack's 4 Month Stats

2011-02-21T15:54:00.002-07:00

We visited our favorite pediatrician this morning for Jack's 4 month appointment and here are the stats for our little budda baby:

Weight: 15 lbs 2 oz (60th percentile)

Height: 25 1/2 in (50th percentile)

Head: Can't remember exact number but he was in the 50th percentile

So looks like our babe is pretty average which is good enough for me. He's definitely growing and changing everyday and we can't wait to start him on some solids in the next month or so. He's found his hands and his feet and they are constantly in his mouth. He's starting to grab for things and play a little. He loves to watch the big kids and is usually content laying around, just watching the goings on. He looovvveeesss his bathes as you can see from the pictures. He'll splash around, kicking his legs like crazy and smiling ear to ear. He is such a chill little guy, and just goes with the flow. He is such a blessing in our lives.

Blessed Babe

2011-02-09T21:41:00.003-07:00

Our little Jack Robert was blessed by his Daddy in church on Sunday. What a spirit filled day it was. I really felt like I was going to bust, I just felt so blessed. The blessing was beautiful and Matt did such a wonderful job. It was a blessing filled with hope for the future, filled with sweet insights into who our little guy will grow to be, and at the end of the day, I was a proud, beaming momma!

The man of the hour! Happy as usual!

The whole gang

Ya Ya & Pop Pop were so great to come from Texas for the blessing.

Grandma & Grandpa Tingey are always there to support our family.

Our Tingey Trio!

Growing TOO Fast!

2011-02-09T21:27:00.003-07:00

Certain milestones tell me that my little ones are growing, and while it's bittersweet, I sure love watching my babes mature and develop, even at a ripe old age of 4 months. It seems with every baby, the time flies by even quicker. It's sad but true! The busier I get, the faster time flies. I'm already seeing the baby time with little Jacker whizzing by and sometimes I just want to put on the breaks a little bit, take a moment and breath in his sweet baby smell & milky breath and get a few more slobbery open mouth kisses. What a joy of a baby he is! I really can't get enough!

Holding his own with his older brother.

Enjoying some tummy time & cartoons.

I'm so lucky to look at this sweet smiling face all day long!

Growing into his bumbo & starting to enjoy his toys (and his fingers).

What a big boy!

Still Smiling

2011-01-19T15:47:00.001-07:00

And what's Baby Jack been up to...

Still smiling...of course!

Our New Living Room

2011-01-19T15:38:00.002-07:00

When we set our mind to something we mean business. So when decided to redo our living room with new carpet, paint, and couch, we did it all in less than a week. We returned home from our Texas trip with a plan and the next day we started it. We've needed new carpet from almost the time we moved in, but it wasn't till now that we finally got around to it. We have many of our neighbors worried that this is in preparation to sell our house, and it is somewhat true but only time and Touro University's decision will determine that. In the meantime, we are loving our new family room and are going to enjoy it to the fullest.

Christmas Wrap Up

2011-01-19T14:24:00.008-07:00

Christmas was a wonderful whirlwind as usual! Full of memories, food, fun, & family! It started with Christmas Eve at Grandma & Grandpa Tingey's and opening Christmas Eve pajamas. I was surprised at how excited they got over their new PJs and slippers; and they looked darn cute in them as well. We left cookies & milk for Santa and carrots for his reindeer, which a you can see, they thoroughly enjoyed.

We woke up bright & early Christmas morning to see what Santa had left, and the kiddos were more than pleased with what they found. We enjoyed a yummy waffle breakfast (courtesy of Daddy) and enjoyed the morning watching the Disney Christmas Parade and playing with our new toys.

Not the best picture but the only one I got of them in their PJs

We continued the day with Christmas dinner and presents at Grandma & Grandpa's and fun with our family here in Utah.

Kaden took the present opening very seriously & patiently waited for it to be his turn.

Sophie with her purse and dogs, a definite favorite from Grandma & Grandpa Tingey

Even Jack had some presents to open (he slept through most of it though!)

As has become our tradition we headed to Texas the next day to spend the holidays with Ya Ya & Pop Pop. We've really grown to love our drives to Texas. It's wonderful time together as a family, and we really enjoy getting to talk and listen to our books on tape. The kids (and Lincoln) do great, and we couldn't ask for better kids on a road trip. We got there and back without a problem except for the small incident in Santa Rosa, New Mexico where we rolled in to our hotel room at 1am to find someone else in our bed. But it all worked out and we got a free room & a funny story out of it:) Of course Texas was warm and wonderful and the time went by way to fast. We got to see tons of friends & family and ate way too much yummy food.

Opening presents at Ya Ya & Pop Pop's house.

Visiting Cousin Saxon's fire station

Family photo time

The second generation of cousins.

As our family grows and our kiddos get bigger, we love starting our own traditions and teaching them about this special time of year. I'm so blessed with an amazing family and look forward to another wonderful year. Happy New Year to everyone!

UPDATES!

2010-12-16T15:59:00.001-07:00

Lots of new posts, so just keep reading!

Jack Attack!

2010-12-16T15:49:00.003-07:00

Our newest little man is now two months old. I really can't believe it. He's getting so much bigger, I'm guessing he's close to 12lbs but I guess we'll see at his appointment next week. He is the most chill babe I have ever had, and we joke that we forget about him sometimes because he's just so quiet. But lately he's really started changing.

He's becoming so much more alert

He's cooing!

And with a little encouragement from mom, he's smiling!

Love you Jack Attack, thanks for coming to our family!

I'm a Hidden Treasure Kid!

2010-12-16T15:32:00.003-07:00

What a success preschool has been for our little Kaden! He absolutely loves it! He is thriving and learning so much. He can right his name and many other letters now. He picks out letters wherever we go and is starting to sound things out. Miss Carol has been amazing and even gives him extra work when she sees that he is getting bored. He colors better than any 4 year old I know and is a singing machine (he's converted his sister into one as well).

Some of our favorites include the Hidden Treasure theme song:

Look at me, look at me,

I'm a Hidden Treasure kid.

Look at me, look at me,

I'm a Hidden Treasure kid.

Everywhere I go,

The people want to know,

I'm a Hidden Treasure kid.

A Halloween Favorite:

I am a mean old witch with a hat,

I fly around with my broom and my cat,

My chin is pointy and my nose is too.

Better watch out of I might scare you. Boo!

(And cackle like a witch...Sophie has gotten really good at this)

And when we really want to laugh, the stranger danger song set to the tune of Frera Jaqua:

Never ever talk to stranger,

If you do, if you do.

They might push you in their car

They might push you in their car.

That won't do, that won't do!

Today he showcased his talents at his Preschool Christmas Program. It was adorable, enough said. He never fails to make me proud and bring tears to my eyes. He's growing up way to fast.

Twinkle, twinkle

Singing his little heart out!

Bringing out the big guns...the drumsticks!

Look at me, look at me, I'm a Hidden Treasures Kid!

Love you Kades, keep up shining!

Sledding

2010-12-16T14:47:00.003-07:00

We've have a beautiful new sled since last year, and since we didn't get much snow last year, we haven't been able to use...until now! After a couple of good snows and a day off work for Daddy, we headed up to just above Sundance and broke our sled in.

Kaden was in love immediately and couldn't get enough.

Like father like son!

Sophie in typical girl form was more content just watching than participating, so Sophie, Jack, & I cheered Daddy and Big Bubba on!

Santa

2010-12-16T14:16:00.003-07:00

Lately my two big kids have been switching off, pretending to be Santa. Even Sophie approaches Kaden and in a deep voice says, "Ho Ho Ho, what do you want for Christmas?" She even pretends to be Santa when no one is around and usually answers her own question by saying "a dolly", "a box", or whatever else pops into her mind. The kids had been excited to go see the big man himself, so for family night a few weeks ago, we got them dressed up and went to visit him at the mall. I was already well aware of what each were going to ask him for and Kaden wanted to ensure that he go what he wanted so he colored a picture of Lottso Huggin Bear from Toy Story 3 to ensure that Santa knew exactly what he wanted.

When it was our turn, Kaden was slightly hesitant but quickly ran up to Santa and sat in his lap. I knew Sister would be less enthusiastic because in the days prior she kept saying "I no sit in his lap!", but with a little convincing she approached him to at least get in her request. She approached him very unsurely and quickly squeaked out, "I want a dolly", and then immediately backed away. She was done at this point so in order to get the picture, they put her on the rocking horse and then slowly moved her closer in, thus the perturbed look on her face.

Now Kaden was very proud of the coloring page he brought to show Santa and had no intention of giving it away, but just as I thought Santa assumed it was brought as a present for him and quickly took it and put it with the rest of the pile. Kaden handled it really well in the moment, and it wasn't until we were leaving that he cried out "I want my picture". I definitely wasn't going back to request that Santa return it, so poor little Kaden had to come terms with it but eventually justified it by saying that it was Santa's Christmas present from him.

Of course Jackers was his usual chill self, never even making a peep! We love this guy.

So it turns out that this was a dress rehearsal and a week later we were able to see Santa again at a family Christmas party. It was almost a complete repeat of the first time, down to Sophie's shy approach and frantic plea for a dolly. The kids have definitely gotten their fill of Santa visits this year and given us good laughs and memories as aways.

Bring on the Lights!

2010-12-06T15:01:00.005-07:00

This past weekend we continued our family tradition of taking TRAX (or the train as the kids call it) to see the lights at Temple Square. I look forward to this every year because it really seems to get us in the Christmas spirit. We sure missed the Broughtons going up with us this year but we loved having the Hutchins come along. Uncle Tyler and Aunt Rebekah are some of the kids favorite people.

We stopped off for a quick bite at Chipotle (how could we resist) and then headed up. Before we left Matt had somewhat jokingly told Kaden that maybe we'd see President Monson. Kaden must have taken it to heart because the whole train ride he looked expectantly out the window and when we got close to Temple Square he said disappointedly, "Dad, I still haven't seen President Monson!" Maybe next year Kaden.

The lights were beautiful as usual and the kids couldn't have done better. They loved seeing the nativity, the Christus, and the exhibits at the Visitor's Center. Even our Baby Jack was as happy as can be hanging out with Dad in the backpack. We couldn't have asked for a better start to our holiday season.

Let's Party

2010-11-15T16:24:00.007-07:00

Kaden's 4th Birthday went something like this...

Woke up on November 10th (his actual birthday) to presents from Mom & Dad and Ya Ya & Pop Pop, a Daddy-made breakfast of Mickey Mouse pancakes (a common occurrence in our house, but it never seems to get old), and a day of fun with the family, which included a lot of playing, a trip to Toys R Us to spend our $3 from Geoffrey Giraffe, and a dinner with Grandma & Grandpa at Brick Oven.

A couple of days later we had his Toy Story themed party. He made his mind up a while ago that he really wanted a Kangaroo Zoo party, so we compromised!

We started at the house with a little coloring...

Some cake & ice cream...

A few presents & some help opening them...

And then it was off to Kangaroo Zoo! Now this part Matt & I will probably do differently in the future. Loading up and taking six kids 4 and under to Kangaroo Zoo, turned out to be a little more crazy then we bargained for...but we made it and the kids had a blast jumping their little hearts out. Here's the proof...

(Matt was definitely the hero of the day. He ran around with the kids, playing & jumping, and the kids just loved him!)

Even our little jumpers had fun...

But most importantly, our little birthday boy had an absolute blast!

Big Bub Turns 4

2010-11-11T13:54:00.003-07:00

Yesterday our Big Bub turned 4! I really can't believe it! He really seems like a preschooler now and not a toddler. How did that happen so fast?!?

Kaden's Favorites: PB & J sandwiches, green & orange, Disney anything, riding his bike & scooter, playing with friends, preschool & Primary, coloring, dinosaur books, learning his "school stuff" (his numbers & letters), and the list goes on and on (this boy loves everything)

Matt & I were able to reflect yesterday, and we really couldn't be prouder of Kaden. He is tender and sweet, joyful and kind, outgoing and introverted at the same time, and getting smarter and smarter everyday! He is the best example for his younger siblings and he tries so hard to be helpful and lead the way. I know this is just the beginning of the wonderful person he is going to grow up to be. We love you Birthday Boy!

Picture Perfect

2010-11-09T13:58:00.005-07:00

I'm a big fan of pictures so a while ago, I scheduled family pictures for May, thinking that by then Jack would be sitting and smiling, and I would have a chance to lose my baby weight, but once he came, I just couldn't wait. He was just too cute, and I couldn't wait until May to have his sweet cheeks face on my walls. Luckily, my sister in law, Shannel, just got a new camera and is loving playing around with it, so she offered to come take some pictures of us and Baby Jack. They turned out so great, and I'm so excited to have some new pictures to tide me over until May! Thanks so much Shannel, we love them!

Here's a couple of my favorites. The first few are from the hospital, and the rest are from our little photo shoot.

Long Overdue Potty Post...

2010-11-03T14:42:00.003-06:00

Many of you already know this, but our little Lulu is officially potty trained! Don't think this didn't come with a lot of headache & A LOT of accidents! Since early summer little miss has been obsessed with the potty, constantly taking off her diaper, pottying on the floor, and basically driving us crazy! She wanted to be big like bubba but just couldn't quite seem to make her body do what her mind wanted. So after many failed attempts at potty training and just after her second birthday, she made up her mind that she wanted those Tinkerbell panties after all. And when Sophie makes her mind up, she usually doesn't back down. So we gave her another chance and believe it or not, it worked! It was just in time too...we were able to avoid having to buy two sets of diapers. And we hear that she has converted a few of her friends as well, it's amazing how little kids are far more likely to do something when they hear that their friends are doing it (even at 2 years old!). This picture most accurately depicts our little Lu...crazy, spunky, and oh so much fun!

Sophie's Outfit Pick: PJ's, tutu, Dora backpack, hot pink tennies, & a little bed head for good measure!

Halloween Festivities

2010-11-02T10:20:00.004-06:00

Our trip to Pumpkinland...(Jack wanted in on the fun too!)

Halloween Night...

The Football Player

Princess Belle

The whole gang ready to go trick or treating...

The gang trick or treating just before it started to down pour! We only made it to three houses before we had to huddle under a garage awning. Thankfully Grandma & Grandpa Tingey hosted a way fun Halloween Party so the kids weren't too upset.

Happy Halloween from the Tingey Family!

First Days Home

2010-10-21T16:30:00.003-06:00

Since we've been home there's been a lot of...

Cuddle time

Sleepy time (look at those lips!)

And we've even had our first bath time!

It's been a joy being home with this little guy! He's been a pretty perfect baby so far and we just can't get enough of him!

Our Bigs!

2010-10-19T17:11:00.005-06:00

It's amazing how big your older kids seem when a new baby comes! Not only do they look older but they seem to act older as well.

What a shock to their little systems bringing in a new baby must be. I feel for them, and they are handling it so well. I wish they knew how much I truly understand, even if I am a little more impatient with them lately. What a great transition they have made so far.

Kaden is the best big brother. Constantly holding, consoling, and sometimes mauling our newest addition. He loves his new role and takes it very seriously. He's so proud and wants everyone to know about his little brother. What a cute pair the two Tingey boys are!

Now as for Sis, she definitely had a little harder time adjusting as we knew she would. At first she wanted Grandma to take Baby Jack to her house, but after the first day or two and definitely since we've been home, she's come out of it and loves Baby Jack.

I know every mom is proud of their kiddos but nothing gives me greater joy than seeing our family grow. The love that I feel for these kids is unexplainable, and I'm so privileged and proud to be a momma!

Showered With Love

2010-10-18T22:35:00.004-06:00

He may not even be a week old yet but Jack has already been showered with love! Thanks to everyone who has visited, called, emailed, and shown love & support. We truly have the best friends and family! Little Jack is one lucky boy!

And Now We Are 5!

2010-10-17T16:46:00.004-06:00

And now we are officially a family of 5! Introducing the newest member of our little family, Jack Robert Tingey. He was born October 13th at 4:14pm, weighing 7 lbs 7 oz and measuring 19 1/2 in. He is one healthy, happy boy! More pictures to come!

Sophie's First Haircut!

2010-10-05T11:20:00.003-06:00

This is a little late coming considering this happened a month ago, but better late than never...

So I finally caved and we cut "the mullet" as my husband liked to call it! It was long overdue and our little Sophie looks adorable. She was very unsure at first but settled in and our hairdresser did a wonderful job. Her first big girl haircut!

Tinkerbell Turns 2!

2010-09-02T13:50:00.005-06:00

It's amazing how time flies. You go from this...

To this, in an instant!

I can't believe my little Lulu turned two on August 22nd. Ever since Disneyland she really seems to like Tinkerbell (and I even think she looks like her), so that's what we chose for her party. We went on a special date and picked out her party stuff and invited our family over for a small little celebration. My mom even came in town from Texas, which was really special. She loved her balloons and all the decorations, but as always, all the attention seemed a little overwhelming.

We started with presents...

And she was spoiled way too much! She now has her very own tricycle & scooter! Now she can keep up with Bubba!

She blew out her candles...

And then they dove into the purple icing (what was I thinking?!?)

I really think she enjoyed her day and that's the most important thing.

Sophie brings so much energy and life to our family. She is definitely harder at times than Kaden ever was. She is stubborn and has the strongest will, but she is also adorably sweet. She is so bright, and everyday she shocks me with what she will do and say. She loves anything girly and is obsessed with having her nails polished and she loves lip gloss and lotion. She loves her Bubba so much, and it's fun to watch them start to play and interacting more. She's become quite the Daddy's girl lately, which definitely warms Matt's heart, especially since he's been so busy lately. But Mommy definitely gets her time as well, and I wouldn't change having my girl for the world. You brighten our life Sophia Elizabeth, and we can't wait for many more wonderful years to come!

Preschool Boy

2010-09-02T13:38:00.002-06:00

"Preschool Boy"...this is my new nickname for Kaden, especially when I want to bring a smile to his face and make him proud! He has been talking a lot about going to school lately and it's hard to break it to him that it will still be another two years before Kindergarden because of his late birthday. As I've been thinking about Baby Jack coming and my attention being even more divided, I decided to look in to a small preschool for him. He's such a good kid that it's really more just to give him something special of his own to look forward to, than it is to take pressure off of me. I got lucky and found an inexpensive preschool run by a lady in our neighborhood. It's perfect, it's Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9-11, just enough time to get him started! Tuesday was his first day and he was SOOOO excited! He picked out his new spiderman shirt the night before and insisted on taking his backpack, even though it was empty. He wasn't at all shy to go and even gabbed Miss Carol's ear off when we arrived. He came home with tales of bean bag songs, letters & numbers, painting, & a calendar that has his name on it for when it is his turn to do show & tell (or "how & shell" as he calls it). I'm so excited for him, and Sophie seems to enjoy the one on one time with Mommy as well.

Mirror Lake

2010-09-02T13:17:00.004-06:00

So here comes quite a few updates. I've gotten a little behind on my blogging. Blame it on lack of energy, wired children, and some fun but busy weeks with house guests. All in all we've just been having to much fun and staying far to busy!

First on the list, Mirror Lake! We recruited our favorite "outdoor adventure" couple to come explore the Unita Mountains, and as always, they were good sports, got up at 7am with their new baby, and trekked the hour and a half drive up the canyon to Mirror Lake. I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't completely looking forward to it, but I was pleasantly surprised as I knew I would be. It was a beautiful drive and the Unitas were even more beautiful than Matt had described. It was cool and sunny and we hiked around Mirror Lake until we found a good fishing spot. The boys fished, the kids explored, and Kamie & I (and Riah) enjoyed kicking back in our camping chairs.

We had decided the day before to start potty training Sophie, which turned out to be somewhat bad timing. I brought a change of clothes but that proved to be not enough. She must of had over five accidents that day. We were constantly drying her clothes in the sun and thus she was pant-less most of the day which made for some pretty funny pictures. Good thing she could seem to care less.

Kaden loved the chipmunks that gravitated to the scraps the kids would drop, and he really enjoyed helping Daddy & Uncle Cam fish.

It was a great day to spend with our family outdoors, and since Cam, Kamie, & Riah moved to Price about a week later, we really enjoyed getting in some last minute quality time with them.

The Wedding

2010-08-12T15:34:00.003-06:00

Chris & Kellyn's wedding has come to an end and what a wonderful day it was. It was so exciting to see them sealed and to share in the day! We love you guys and are so excited to see what the future holds for you because we know whatever it is, it will be great! Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Tingey!

Wish I had some pictures of the reception because it was beautiful!

House Guests

2010-07-25T16:51:00.006-06:00

We just had a two wonderfully busy weeks. First we had a great visit from Ya Ya & Pop Pop, and as usual we are all spoiled rotten when they are here. We went swimming three times, Kaden went to see Toy Story 3, Matt & Pop Pop enjoyed some of the best fly fishing they have ever had, Baby Jack got some new clothes, Kaden & Sophie welcomed two new additions to our house, a pair of beta fish that they lovingly named "Dumbo" & "Incredible", and Mommy & Ya Ya enjoyed a "girl's afternoon". We didn't take many pictures (probably because we were too busy having so much fun), but Ya Ya did manage to snap a few keepers. As usual we can't wait for them to come again soon. We love you Ya Ya & Pop Pop.

Hamming it up in Pop Pop's fishing hat!

So excited to be setting up Dumbo & Incredible's new home.

He loves to read, and I hope that never changes!

Caught with the I Phone!

Ya Ya thinks this shows how much we look alike...you be the judge!

Luckily, after Ya Ya & Pop Pop left the fun didn't have to end! Our friends the Broughtons were back in town for a family reunion and we had them stay for a few nights at our house. The kids were in heaven and enjoyed every minute of it and Matt & I were pretty happy ourselves. We went bowling, to the park, to the swimming pool, and made the most of our two days together. Can't wait for more visits from the Broughtons, we love you guys!

Into the Wild

2010-07-21T21:20:00.005-06:00

Zoo Day with Grandma & Grandpa was a long awaited trip, and it definitely did not disappoint! Thanks for joining us Grandma & Grandpa, it wouldn't have been the same without you.