He is Risen!!!

Jesus has risen. An angel descended from heaven and rolled away the stone. Jesus appeared to His disciples asking them to teach and baptize others and promised to always be with them. Matthew- 28

Somehow the Easter Bunny knew the kids wanted pillow pets. Tan got a dolphin, Brookie got a unicorn and kadster got a monkey.

The kids were thrilled to have yummy french toast with strawberries cream and candy. I enjoyed watching them while I ate my exciting rice chex with banana and rice milk. There's hope for next Easter...

It was a little bright outside.

Our first family picture with the six of us.

We will be together forever!!!

Tanner-Tanner Bo Banner

If I like it or not our Tanner turned 7! Seven years ago, when Tanner made me a Mother, I had no idea the unconditional love that would grow and over flow from my heart to my little guy. He's helped train me and make me the Mommy I am today. Still lots of training to do...

My dearest Tan-I love your inside-your outside, your happy side- your sad side, your silly side- your grumpy side, your sweet side-your snuggle side.
I love you through and through yesterday today and tomorrow too!
xoxo
We treated Tan with a new bike a month early so he could ride his heart out while he was off track. His first bike he's had for three years and it's totally thrashed. He rode it into the ground.

On Tan's actually b-day I made this little cake. He didn't want me to frost it. He wanted to do it himself.

I suggested that we skip homework for the day and he thought that was the best ever!

When the cousins came over we sang once again to celebrate another year of having our awesome Tanner-Tanner Bo Banner in our lives!

We went camping for his b-day weekend just like he wanted to do. Unfortunately, I forgot to pack a very important thing... our camera! Tan forgave me but I'm still bummed. Camping pics are the best. The details were: Tan picked cheeseburgers and hot dog's for dinner, and of course smores for dessert. Dad took him fishing and the kids had a blast running around with the Kayalji boys.

After waiting several weeks, Tan and Dad got to go on their bowling date.

It was cosmic bowling during the day.

Tan's 1st real bowling game so Dad knew to document the score!

Father and Son's Game Night at Clara Barton
(This mini pic will be replaced with a regular one)

Colby Story

My piece of Heaven came with a bit more challenges than I ordered. For those of you that haven't heard... I'm on the "Kaden Diet" again! Yes Colby's little body in EXTREMELY SENSITIVE just like Kaden's was. He has multiple food protein intolerance enterocolitis. What does this mean...

(he had severe diaper rash so his cute bummy was getting some fresh air.)

Many food proteins can act as antigens in humans. Cow's milk proteins are most frequently implicated as a cause of food intolerance during infancy. Soybean protein ranks second as an antigen in the first months of life. From school age on, egg protein intolerance becomes more prevalent. Colby's protein intolerance goes beyond those items. He's one of the 2% of the babies that are born with this temporary problem.

Angel Colby cannot tolerate any food that contains: dairy, soy, eggs, wheat, corn, nuts or fish. Aside from these protein items. Colby is sensitive to all acidic and citrus fruits, cinnamon, caffeine, and chocolate. The best part of this all is that Colby should grow out of all of these intolerance's just as Kadster has.

What do I eat now a days... brown rice, brown rice tortillas, brown rice krispies with rice milk, white rice, black beans, pinto and refried beans, chicken, squash, zucchini, broccoli, asparagus, and potatoes. Carrots and bananas have became my on the go snacks. It's great that all the kids have started eating more carrots than they ever did before. Maybe my diet should be called the " healthy diet!" Well occasionally I'll make or buy the most hideous desserts that I am able to have. Daddy thinks I'm crazy to eat them but after not having the real deal they actually are worth chewing.

Though it's EXTREMELY challenging...who wouldn"t sacrifice for this sweet precious angel. He's innocent, divine, precious and about the most spiritual of the family. Dad and I are so grateful that he's strong and healthy... oh and I can't forget how exceptionally adorable he is.

Love & Beauty

I love to see the temple,

I'll go inside someday, to covenant with my father I'll promise to obey.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love a beauty.

I'll prepare myself while I am young,

This is my sacred duty!
__________

In March we were blessed to visit Redland's Temple with the cousins and Newport Temple with some great friends. They were thrilled to visit both temples the same month. The kids are always jealous when we attend the temple without them. Our sweet children already understand how special the temple is and have a hard time understanding why they can't go inside with us until they are 12 yrs old. I try to smooth it over saying that they did get to go in the temple when they were in my tummy. Since Colby was born, Kaden has randomly sung " I love to see the Temple" at least twice a day. He knows all the words to both verses. Sweet Kadster's singing has been such a blessing to me. He brings the spirit into our home amongst the chaos since Colbster has been here!

OUR CIRCLE HAS GROWN

Everybody is born to care
It's something we were meant to share
Not to keep to ourselves all alone

If we make room for someone new
Doesn’t mean that there’s less for you
Only means that our circle has grown

Love knows, love grows

Bigger than before
In your heart there’s always more

It’s magic the more you give it away
The more love comes back to you everyday
You are my all and I am your forever

Always forever wherever we go
So Love knows, love grows
Bigger than before
In your heart there’s always more
always more....

My Simple Joys

Brookie has seen how busy and over whelmed I've been since sweet Colby has arrived. She has really stepped up and helped beyond what my sweet 4 yr old should be doing. She has said several times, " Mommy just go lay down and I'll finish the dishes" or "Daddy, Mommy needs to nurse Colby, you need to do...". Mind you Daddy is doing so much already around the house.

Kaden's growing up so fast. Recently when Kaden is asked to do something he don't want to do like eat his food or get ready for bed he'll respond by saying one of the following: Sunday, Yesterday, Saturday or tomorrow. The family has decided that he answers that way because those are often the answers we say to him when it's not time for something he's requested. Occasionally he'll hang out in his room during nap time refusing to sleep. After it's been captive an hour I'll release him. He assures me that he slept, " Mommy I slept a lot a lot!" Oh really Kadster.

Tanner has continued to be amazingly helpful and mature. He sees when I'm stressed and being needed by more than two siblings. He steps right in to help. He gets them snacks, cleans up spills, reads them books and practices sight words with Brookie. He rocks Colby to sleep a couple times a week and walks around (on the carpet) with Colby when he's fussy. We started potty training Kaden. I was upstairs nursing, I heard Tanner coaxing Kaden to go potty for candy. I came downstairs to find Tanner had just changed Kade's poopy diaper, got him to pee on the toilet and wash his hands. I thanked Tan and told him that he never has to change Kaden's poop. He said, Mom it's not a big deal I like to help you. I appreciate his selflessness and understanding. He's going to be a great Dad just like his!

When Colby and I came home from the hospital Kaden was so amused by Colby nursing. When Colby would cry he'd say. " Mom Colby wants your Milky!" Once he ran downstairs to get his own milk sippy to share with Colby. Luckily I was there to explain that it would hurt brothers tummy. He often laughs and says, "Colby's eating your boobies!" It does appear that way. I just say Heavenly Father made my boobies so the babies can eat.

General Conference week Brookie asked how many more days till she got to see President Monson? I explained we don't get to see him in person just on TV. She got tears in her eyes and said, "But Mom, my primary teacher said!" I tried to explain that she meant on TV. She still was disappointed. It's so amazing to us that she's so excited to see him in person. Hopefully he'll live long enough for her to see him in person in a couple years when we go to conference ourselves.

Tanner has gotten the raw end of the deal since Colby's been here. With all of Colby's problems, Colby keeps me busier than Tanner and Brookie ever did. He's had great QT Daddy time but individual time with me is spare. About 70% of the time when I'm talking, reading, or snuggling with Tan we are disrupted by Colby and or Kaden screaming. Tanner has said more than once, "All babies do is eat, sleep and poop!" He sees that I'm bothered when we are interrupted and he stays calm and knows I have to help them. This phase shall pass. I'm so blessed our Tan is so patient.

On the same note Brookie asked if I could make designer cakes like our friend Nazar. I told her that I might be able to some day but I've never tried and I don't have time to practice. I suggested that she learn when she gets older. She said, "Mom, you know when I grow up that I want to be a Mommy. I won't have time. I'll be busy changing diapers and nursing all the time!"
This is obviously a result of her seeing how life with 4 kids has changed a bit. I told her that we will try and decorate a special cake together in the next couple months.

Kaden calls the Book of Mormon and the Bible "Scripture Powers". He loves the song, "Scripture Power". He also will randomly open the scriptures and pretend to read as he moves his little finger across the pages saying... the Prophet... Adam... Jonah Prophet ...Joseph... etc.
Brookie and Tan were disagreeing about something. Senstive Lynn got her feelings hurt. She shouted,"Tan then I'm not going to marry you!" She still has it in her mind that it's ok to marry Tan. She loves him so much!

Brooklyn has prayed for months that she won't have nightmares. She usually will ask that everyone in our family will have good dreams and no bad thoughts. Recently she prayed that her friend Reagan and their whole family won't have nightmares. I love her imagination!

All three kids continue to pray for their sweet Uncle William that's serving a mission. They recently continue praying that he will drive home safely. William serves in NY. He walks and takes the subway. I think Brookie and Kade expect him to drive to Cali safely, like now. Tan understands it will be some time before we see him again. Brookie doesn't quite understand we need to wait till next February. She can hardly contain herself.

The kids continue to fight over Colby. They never seem to hold or snuggle him long enough. They melt my heart. I remind them how fast Colby is growing and that he will be awake a lot more in a few months.

Brookie has some cute words that she uses and we never want to forget them.
Hamaise a.k.a. Mayonnaise, tish-can a.k.a. tissue, brocomoli a.k.a. guacamole, and frumbrella a.k.a. umbrella. She can pronounce the words correctly but we love hearing her version of them too much to correct her all the time.

I love my precious angels for all eternity!!!!
xoxo

Who's Who???

Who

is

Who

Tanner, Brooklyn, Kaden or Colby???

There are similarities between them all; there are differences between them all.
Most of all they are all a part of ME! Oh and Dad too! All are full of love, life, joy, and fun!

xoxo