Whoosh

This post will be all about pictures, a picture explosion. I am indecisive and couldn't decide which ones to post, why not just post them all?
46 days and 500 pictures later (no I am not posting all of them!), I am back in California. The trip to Utah went by way too fast. I came home with one boy who can mostly walk, (he prefers crawling). He can also go up and down stairs. Another boy that is laughing and almost rolling over.It was so nice having lots of people around to hold babies, they didn't seem to mind one bit!
Last Friday two of my sisters came for a sleepover and to help me work on a quilt I'm trying to finish for Jake. Jake came home with the fabric for this quilt he wanted me to make for him. He drew up an altered pattern on some graph paper. I quickly got to work...and then got sidetracked, and then got babies, and then realized it's almost 3 years later! It will be done in time for a Christmas present!

My niece Sabine also joined the sleepover

This past Tuesday my mom, dad and I were able to go to the Draper temple. Thank you sister Emily for babysitting! Unknown to me, smaller temples don't rent the clothes...ack! Now I know for any future visits.
Jake left right after work on Tuesday and arrived in Utah around 2am.
We spent Wednesday and Thursday at my parents house. Thanksgiving was at my parents with just my immediate family, 25 people! We were even missing about 6 people. That's what you get when there are 8 kids, their spouses, 14 grandkids. I made a pecan pie and rolls and helped with various other things. I love cooking for a crowd, I think it's fun and exciting.
What an exhausting day. Xander fell asleep in the bathtub. You can't see the water but he kept rolling half his face into it. Wish I could have let him sleep.

Friday and Saturday was spent with the Stevens. Friday we gathered for family pictures. We took them outside so it was quite chilly.

Jake and his siblings.

"Jesse, let me tell you how it's done, I've had a lot of experience"










One of the highlights of the week was blessing Alexander and his cousin Jesse. I am so grateful for the Priesthood in our home and that Jake is able to bless us in so many ways.
I have to say, thank you Anne for this outfit. It was perfect for this special occasion!

Xander was blessed by his daddy Jake (if you didn't figure that out already)Jesse was born the end of July. It was so fun to be able to bless them on the same day.

He was blessed by his dad Cameron. It was so nice to see Cam again. We haven't hung out since before Kaleb was born!Thank you so much to all of our family that was able to come and support us on this special day.
After the blessing we had lunch and just squeezed in as much family time as we could.



















Sadly, after this we had to pack up the car and head home. We had to tie the stroller to the roof of the car since we had more stuff than we came with. It was an uneventful drive and we only had to stop a few times. We arrived home around 6:30am exhausted. The boys were ready to start the day. Kaleb was excited to see his wooden truck. He seemed unsure of what to do and where to go, or where he even was. Church didn't happen but I'm excited to go next week to see everyone. Now if only I can find the will to unpack and clean up our mess.
Thank you again to all our family for letting me stay with you and putting up with loud, puky boys. We love you so much and are so grateful for you and for all you've done for us.
I miss you already!