Dayten's Birthweek

Dayten turned 11 on December 11....WOW I can't believe he is 11, where does the time go? From the day he was born I was head over heels in love! I was sooo excited to be having a little boy. I grew up with all sisters so having a boy in the family was very new and exciting! I was looking forward to life filled with dump trucks, balls and dirt! Dayten is such an old soul. He is so wise and smart....smarter than he realizes. He sits back and takes it all in and he analyzes everything! His mind is always working even if he is just sitting his wheels are turning. He randomly out of blue asks questions some of which I don't have the answers to......I love that about him! He keeps me in check that's for sure! He has always been such a sweet and loving little boy especially when his little brothers and sisters started joining our family. He loves his family and isn't embarrassed to show them off. He loves when the babies run up to him after a football game or practice to congratulate him or hug him, he embraces them and he could care less if his friends think that is uncool......it melts my heart. I love the way he loves his family. I love to watch him love....it is beautiful, pure, innocent, unselfish and perfect! He has such a big heart and it is full of love. He is definitely the mediator in the family. If things are getting crazy and out of control he is the one to settle things down. He loves to make people laugh. He definitely has his Daddy's sense of humor, he is always clowning around. He is such a great helper. He steps in even when not asked. He will even change a poopy diaper...lol! He is my right hand when Daddy is at the station. He just steps up and takes on the role of man of the house. He is a great example to his brothers and sisters. Dayten has a way about him that just makes you smile. His big blue eyes and huge smile that goes from ear to ear... you just can't help but smile when he is around. Dayten is such a wonderful young man and such a great example to me. He really knows whats important in life and what truly matters. At times when I loose sight of that he is there to remind me. He is such a blessing to our family and to the world. He is destined for greatness and I'm privileged and honored that he calls me Mommy and that I get to bare witness to these things. I love you so much sweet boy and I thank god for you each and every day!

Fun Facts about Dayten:
***Loves football
***His favorite football team....Az Cardinals
***favorite player...."Fitzy"...Larry Fitzgerold
***plays for the Poston Butte Bronco's
***position-wide receiver and corner
***Favorite food.....beef stroganoff
***Favorite color....red
***Favorite subject in school.....science
***loves airplanes-jets-helicopters
***attends Entz Elementary and is in the 5h grade
***loves magic-performing magic tricks for people
***thinks Criss Angel is the coolest person ever
***loves hunting, fishing,camping and being outdoors
***listens to Green Day and his favorite song is 21 guns

I got this really cool idea from a friend of mine's blog and I decided to give it shot, actually it turned out pretty cool! You start celebrating birthdays a week early so instead of a birthday you would have a birthweek....cool!

Day 1:
We hung a Happy Birthday banner in the kitchen that would remain there all week. We asked you what you wanted to do for day 1 of your birthweek and you said dinner and a sleepover at grandmas house. Well since it was Friday that plan worked out GREAT! You got to open your present before you left and man o man you were in heaven. You had been asking for a flight simulator for the computer so when you unwrapped it you went crazy!! You played with your new toy for awhile and then off you went! Daddy took you to dinner at Nando's Mexican resteraunt....you loved it! It was just you and Daddy and you enjoyed the one on one with him! After dinner he dropped you off at grandma and grandpas. They were ready for you. Grandma had your tent set up and had already gone to the grocery store to get what she needed to make biscuits and gravy! You a had a wonderful first day!




Day 2:
Grandma brought you back home and stayed to help put up the Christmas tree. We decorated the tree and you boys went outside and helped Daddy put up lights and decorations. We asked you what you wanted for lunch and you said pizza so we ordered pizza! After lunch we let you open another one of your presents.....mento's bombs and Night of the Museum 2 movie. You were so excited to let off those bombs. Mikey and his brother Jesse came over to play and you guys ran over to the park and started lighting them off. You guys played for hours! It was time for every one to go home. We ate dinner, got the little ones to sleep and then watched your new movie.....cute movie! The Bishopric also came over that night to welcome us into our new ward. They were really nice and you were so excited to tell them about your birthweek which they thought was cool!



Day 3:
Today would be a lazy day. Daddy went back to the station and being Sunday we decided to just take it easy and chill. We laid around and watched movies and ordered pizza again. We made a cake and you opened another gift....MONEY!! You thought this was super cool because you could now go to the store and pick something out yourself! You were very happy! Mommy's camera was broken so I had to use my cell phone to take pictures...dang I didn't take enough...sorry;(


Day 4:
You got up and went to school. Mommy was going to come get you for lunch but Jirzey got sick and I had to take her to the Dr. and Daddy was still at the station. You came home from school and you were so excited to open another present. I felt bad because your birthday lunch was ruined so I let you open it right then with Jesse and Mikey there too. It was a fishing game for the Wii!!! You guys played this game at Bass Pro and loved it! Now you can play it whenever you want! You went outside to play and I made your favorite dinner, beef stroganoff. We made cookies and Mommy put the little ones down while you and Dusty played the Wii. I decided to let the two of you sleep on the couch and play until you little heads hit your pillows. I knew you had school the next day but I thought you's be out by 10 at the latest....I was wrong...lol! You didn't fall asleep till about 1. I remember thinking oh man I hope they don't fall asleep in class tomorrow...lol! Oh well it's your birthday!!


Day 5:
Daddy came home from the station today. You went to school and Daddy went to the hobby shop to get your next birthweek present! Oh we could not wait until you got home from school. I made you cupcakes so you'd have them when you got home from school. Tonight we were planning on meeting Jim and Tiffany and the boys at the temple to walk around and look at lights and then out for ice-cream. It's storming today and if it doesn't stop raining we aren't going to be able to go:( Let's pray it stops raining! You finally got home and we let you start unwrapping. This might be the coolest present yet....a remote control helicopter!! You went nuts...lol!! You ate a cupcake and then you and Daddy headed to the park to fly your new helicopter. It is still overcast but no rain....yay! You weren't gone for very long because it started raining. Crap we couldn't go to the temple so we went to Mcdonalds for dinner and then home for games and treats. Wow what a good week your having so far! I just wish I would've taken more pictures....dang it! I need to get my camera fixed ASAP!!!



Day 6:
Once again you got up and headed off to school! It was still storming and raining so Grandma came and took you guys to school and she brought donuts...what a treat! Mommy and Daddy went to visit Corey and Rikki and their new baby Jagger and then Brittany and her new baby Khole so Aunt Sasa was here when you got home from school. We got home about an hour after you did and Daddy started cleaning out the pool. The storm blew sooo many leaves in it was gross! We were all out there with Daddy and your crazy little brother Dusty asked if he could jump in. You instantly jumped in on the conversation and the next thing I knew you were both in the pool....lol!! It was freezing and I thought your little hearts were going to stop. Daddy didn't let you stay in for very long but I'm sure you would've swam all night if we would've let you! We ate taco soup for dinner and then played the Wii!! It was a fun day! Once again the camera was broke so we didn't get very many pictures:( Daddy was videoing your swim with his phone so these shots were the best I could do!



Day 7:
You went to go and when you got home Papa Schuerman was here to pick you up. You were going to dinner with him and Nana. It was also Aunt Suzy's birthday so you met up with her and uncle Dusty at the Cheescake factory. You love that place! After dinner you guys went to an orchestra concert. You said you had a good time but almost fell asleep. I think Nana and Papa were trying to combine 2 birthday's in 1 that's why they chose the concert. You were a great sport about it! They got you the new Madden 10 for the Wii......you were excited about that! Sorry no pictures:( Hey Christmas is coming maybe Santa will bring Mommy a new camera!

Day 8
So today is your actual birthday! I can't believe your 11!! We were supposed to be leaving for Cali today. We were going to take you to Knotts Berry Farm but it's storming over in Cali. (geez Dayten your birthday brings on rain) so we decided that we weren't going to chance it and we'd just stay in town instead. We took the 4 little kids to grandma's and took you 3 big kids out of school early and we headed to the mall. You and Daddy and Dusty got the car washed and me and Sassy headed to Old Navy. We got what we needed and headed back home! We changed our clothes and headed to Dave and Busters. You had never been there before and you were excited to go! We ate dinner, sang Happy Birthday and then played games. You guys played and played and won lot's of tickets....over 3000! You guys cashed in your tickets and each picked out a toy! We got in the car but weren't ready to go home yet ...what were we going to do? As we were driving we looked over and the Drive In movie theater was staring us in the eyes! We all started laughing and you said if the new Christmas Carol movie is playing we are totally going. Well sure enough it was playing so we pulled in and got a spot! You boys went to the snack bar and came back with I think the whole place! We couldn't stop laughing! You kids thought it was coolest thing...the Drive-Ins! Oh man we just had the car washed and now we were parting in it....lol.....that's ok it's your Birthday! The movie began and within 30 minutes all you kids were passed out! Well we did start watching the movie at 10:30 and you guys were exhausted from playing all those games! Daddy and I decided to head home. I didn't fold up the seats and wake you up! We got home and put you all to bed! Your biggest surprise was yet to come and you had no idea what was in store for the next morning!






So it's Saturday. We woke you guys up at 5:30 and told you that we had one more thing to do for Dayten's birthday! I got you dressed and we piled in the car. Daddy had arranged for you to take a ride in Brian Reed's airplane. We told you were we were going and although nervous you were sooo excited you couldn't wait! We finally arrived at Deer Valley Airport and met Brian about 7:30. He told you that you could take your brother if you wanted to and of course you said yes!! We said goodbye and off you went. We watched you walk onto the runway and get into the plane. I was sooo nervous my stomach hurt! We watched you take off and then we went into the cafe and had breakfast and waited for you to come back! You were only gone about an hour but it seemed like forever! When you landed Brian came and got us and we went onto the runway with you. He said you did amazing and he was surprised at how much you knew about the plane. I wasn't, after all you are obsessed with them! We took pictures (thanks to grandma's camera) and said our thank you's and then headed off to grandma's to pick up the little kids! You could not stop talking about it! You guys flew to Prescott and Wickenberg and then around the valley. You definitely were in heaven!






When we got to Grandma's she has another surprise too.....a new basketball hoop and ball!! Just what you wanted!


Dayten you had such an amazing week and I hope you will always be grateful for your family and the things you are blessed with. Always count your blessings and never take a single moment for granted! You are such a special little boy. I love you so much and I hope you had an amazing Birthweek!

Our New Home

The weekend after Thanksgiving we moved our family back to Mesa! We found a perfect house for our family and I can't wait to make it our home! We are so exited to move back home to where we both grew up. I'm excited to be close to family again and back to civilization. I'm soooo thrilled for the kids, they will have so many opportunities and they will be able to do so much more. I love our new home and can't wait to make it our own! We will definitely need to build on but for now it works out! I love it and I will post pictures soon!

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with my family this year! My Mom is an amazing Mom and Grandma, she always has fun things for the kids to do....she takes over and I get a break! She had bought the boys a dart board and remote control cars and the little kids had their big wheels from a couple weekends back. They loved playing with their new toys and they especially loved when Grandma played Hop Scotch with them....Go MOM!!!!! Of course the men were camped out on the couches glued to the t.v. watching football. My uncle Randy and his wife Dawn also stopped by for a little street football with the boys. They live in Prescott so when they do come down it's always nice when they stop by to visit! Granny and Papa also stopped by for a visit. Dang camera died so I wasn't able to get pictures with them.....darn!!



My Mother's food is AMZING, we always look forward to family gatherings especially holiday's so we can stuff our faces with food...heeheehee!!!!! We had the traditional Thanksgiving feast.....turkey, one smoked and one traditional, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, fruit, pies, ice-cream.... geez that's a lot of food and man did we eat..lol!! I think I was sick by the time we left!


We have so much to be thankful for and man I'm THANKFUL for my family! I'm so blessed to have 7 BEAUTIFUL children and a WONDERFUL husband. Blessed to have AMAZING parents and fantastic sisters! Friends who are amazing and who I consider part of our family! We are blessed!!

Family Picture's and a Night at Bass Pro

As Christmas was creeping up fast my Mom was eager to get Christmas cards done and sent out. She wanted the picture on her cards her, my Dad and all the grandkids. So my sister and I talked and coordinated our kiddos in matching outfits. In the process we decided we should just make a family night out of it! The kids could see Santa, play games, write letters and color pictures for Santa and we could all eat at the delicious restaurant there. We also decided that we should all wear matching clothes and get a family picture as well! It was a fun night! The kids had fun running around while the adults enjoyed the time together. The Christmas cards turned out cute!

Weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's

With football finally over we now have our weekends back...YAY!!! Trent was at the station both Friday and Saturday and my Daddy was at the lake fishing a tournament so I decided to load up my kiddos and have a girls weekend at my Mom's! We had a blast!! I love going to my parents, it gives me somewhat of a break. I get to sleep in, I have help with the kiddos and I get to lay around and just be lazy....wonderful! My Mom goes above and beyond to make our stays unforgettable. The kids love going over there. She always has fun things for them to do. This particular weekend we played games, went fishing in the pond behind her house, watched movies, made tutu's and necklaces, rode bikes up and down her street, went to Walmart to get some Christmas decorations and the twins new big wheels...cool and Aunt Kesha and Uncle Greg took the 4 big kids to Gameworks for an afternoon of fun!



We always eat like royalty when we are there. My Mom loves to cook and man she can cook!! Before we come to stay she always asks the kids what they want her to make for breakfast, lunch and dinner and every time without fail they say,"Whatever you want Grandma your food is awesome but we have to have biscuts and gravy for breakfast." this is a favorite amongst our whole family....YUMMY!!

This time Grandma had a surprise for the boys.....a tent!!! They helped her set it up and they now had their own domain......a boy's only club house! They loved it and Grandma thought it was a brilliant plan until the girls started fussin because they didn't have a girls club house. I'm pretty sure that next time we go to Grandma's there will be another tent!!


We were sure sad to leave on Sunday but were excited to go home to Daddy! It was a wonderful weekend with lots of new memories made! Thanks Mom we love you!!

Kitty Cat

We were having a lazy day when Trent came up with the idea to load up the kids and the Arctic Cat and head to the desert for some fun! It was a perfect day. It was overcast and slightly breezy. Perfect day to be outdoors! We stopped at the gas station to fuel up and buy treats. About 15 minutes later we arrived at our destination! Trent and Dayten unloaded the Cat while I unloaded the kiddos. Dayten is actually really good at driving the Cat and he is a huge help!! We set up day camp on the trailer and Trent looked at Dayten and said have fun!! I was like what are you talking about??? This would be the first time Trent would allow Dayten to just take off with no adult...YIKES!!!! Well of course Dusty and Sassy had to go so the 3 of them buckled up and off they went! Dayten was thrilled and did very well!! What a little man he is becoming:( The little kids had fun playing in the dirt and running around while waiting oh so patiently for their turn!!! They finally got their turn too and so did Baby J!! Jirzey girl loved it! She screamed and waved her hands in the air....she went crazy....too cute! Tuffy boy loves the "Kitty Cat" he would sleep on it if we'd let him. He kept saying, "Daddy I go for ride on the Kitty Cat?" Geez that kid is alllll boy... rough, tough, dirty and fearless!! We even took a family ride...YES ALL 9 of us on the Cat at once.....crazy!! We had a perfect family day!!

Last Game

The kids have been playing tackle football for 4 years now. Sassy has always been a cheerleader for their team and we have always been with the ACYFL Wildcats. This year a new league formed, the Postaon Butte Broncos, we decided to try it out. Jordynn was finally old enough to cheer which meant we would 4 kids in football/cheer.....holy moly expensive!!! Oh well It was worth every penny!! Although the team didn't win many games the kids had so much fun meeting new friends and playing with new kids. Dayten started out as QB and Dusty center and D-line. Dayten after the first couple of games moved to wide receiver and corner and Dusty remained at center and on the D-line as well as all special teams! Dusty boy since day 1 of ever playing football has played the entire game! Sports just come natural to him especially football.....he loves to hit and crack people! The girls did AWESOME!!! Sassy has cheered for a few years now and has gone to 3 competitions and won several awards but for Miss Joey Layne this was her first go at it! She shocked me....she is AWESOME!!! She can already do a toe-touch! She adds a little sassiness to the squad...lol! I'm so proud of all 4 of my little athletes.

Halloween

This year for Halloween my sister Kesha and her family came to our house. We had yummy soup and bread, dressed the kids in their costumes, took pictures and then off we went Trick-Or-Treating! The kids had such a fun time! This was Jirzey's very first Halloween and I was sooooo excited to dress her in her costume...BumbleBee....CUTE!!!


Halfway around the block the little ones started to get fussy and I could tell we were about to have some major melt downs so Kesha and I decided to head back to the house. The boys wanted to finish up and hit the haunted house in the neighborhood so I let them tag along with friends. This was the first time I just let them go with friends without adult supervision and man I was on pins and needles....YIKES!!! Trent had to work this year so when the boys finally got home we decided to load up and take a trip to Daddy's fire station. He had massive sized candy bars waiting for all of them...Jirzey included! We played around and took some pictures and then off we went! Trent is such a good Daddy and it was fun to share our Halloween fun with him. I know he always gets down in the dumps when there is a Holiday and he is at the station. He was so excited we made the trip.




On our way home we made a few more stops....lol! The boys were begging to let them Trick-Or-Treat in the neighborhoods surrounding the station. Well I gave Miss J her bottle, stripped the little kids down and around we went! They ran up and down the streets, house to house and I just followed behind in the car. They were thrilled to get more candy I was thrilled all 4 little ones fell asleep...Halloween was GREAT!! Oh wait how am I going to unload 4 sleeping babies by myself......oh well it was quiet on the ride home..hahaha!! Happy Halloween!!!

Pumpkins and Fire

My sister and her 2 kids came over and we spent the night decorating pumpkins. The boys have been begging for weeks now to have a fire in the pit, well I finally gave in and made one. We roasted hotdogs and marshmellows and anything else the kiddos could find in the pantry...lol! We all had a blast!!






I can't get enough of this BABY GIRL! This is Miss Jirzey Rayn's first Halloween....I can't wait to dress her up in her costume!!!