Swimming is Over

We just finished swimming lessons and the girls did great!! Kennady finally learned to swim!!! It was the year that it all clicked for her. She really loves swimming now. I am so proud of her for trying to do things that use to scare her.

Sydney also did a great job. Sydney loved doing bobs!! She tried really hard and her teachers loved her. I am so happy that she worked so hard.

We loved going with the Pitchers and we really love the outdoor pool. We had a great time and Avery can't wait until next year so she can do swimming lessons too.


Kennady swimming


Sydney doing a bob.


Kennady doing her front float.


Sydney swimming with her teacher.

6 Weeks Old

Audrey McCaul



Well Yesterday Audrey became 6 weeks old!! I am so happy because she is getting a little easier and I am feeling much more in control of my life. But I am sad because she is my last baby and I am not sure how fast I want her to grow up. She has already began smiling (especially at the kids). She gave Sydney the biggest open mouth grin this morning. She is so attentive and concentrates so hard on your face when you are talking. It is like she really wants to know what is going on around her. She is also trying to talk back. She moves her mouth and tries to make sounds. It sometimes works.

She is also sleeping in the night great. Last night she went to bed around 10:00 and only got up at 5:00 am to eat then she went back to bed until 9:00am. It was wonderful. She is getting really good at night!!

She is getting bigger too!! She has a few rolls on her arms and legs. She has a round face with chubby cheeks. She also has a cute, big, bald head. We try and put bows or something on her head so she looks like a girl!!

Here are few pictures we took yesterday when she was 6 weeks old.





This is one Sydney took. I thought it was a cute one of her yawning.



We love having Audrey in our family!! She has been really good overall and I am so glad that she is healthy and growing!! I also went to my 6 week check up and everything is great. I can finally get back to doing some of the things I love like exercising, cleaning the house (really well), pulling the weeds and all other yard work, playing with my kids, and many other things I feel like I haven't been able to do in so long!!

Our Friends

We were so lucky to have our friends over this week. We have been friends with this family for a long time now. They have been living in Arizona but have recently moved back to Utah. We are so excited to have them close by again. We love getting together with them and having our kids play. It was such a nice day.


We first met our dads and had lunch at the park. It was great to have the kids run around and get to know each other again. We then headed back to our house. The kids played inside then decided it was time for some summer fun in the backyard.









Audrey just hanging outside with all of us. She loves being outside!!


It was so fun to hang out again. I can't wait until we can see them again!!

Thanksgiving Point Farm

We went on our neighborhood field trip to the Thanksgiving Point Farm. We first had a picnic lunch!!



Inside the farm there are lots of animals for the kids to look at and touch (if they dare). Sydney was really brave. She liked petting the animals. Kennady and Avery weren't as sure about the touching part.




It was also fun because Reddek and Collyn were there. We always love hanging out with our cousins.




It was so nice to get out and do something with the girls. Avery loved seeing the animals and all of the girls loved riding the horses the most. Kennady can't wait until she can go on a real horse ride.






I had to walk by Avery but the whole time she kept telling me to get away. She just wanted to ride the horse by herself like a big girl!!


Overall it was a fun afternoon!! By the time I got home I was worn out. It is hard work having 4 children. I hope in time I get better at it.

Swimming Lesson!!

We began swimming lesson again!! WOW what an adventure swimming lessons are. First having a new baby makes it interesting to leave the house every day ready to go by 9:45. Second, Avery really wants to swim too. She kept asking me today where her swim suit was and when she was going to get in the pool too. I finally had to have her go walk around in the kiddie pool. Luckily we go with our friends the Pitchers. Georgina helps me with Avery or the baby. Today the baby slept the entire time. That was a blessing. Hopefully after all this work, the girls will know how to swim and I will have a little tan!!

Happy Father's Day

Hi to all you fathers out there!! I know so many men who are such wonderful fathers. I am so thankful to all of you for the example and influence you are on me and my family. So thanks for all the uncles, brothers, cousins, friends, and neighbors.

I have a give a special mention first to my own dad. He is awesome. He has a wonderful sense of humor, he is a wonderful example of strength and leadership, he is very smart, he is very giving, and he is always there for me. He makes the best breakfast ever. He loves to go on vacations and we are lucky enough to be invited to some of those adventures. He has taken us to Yellowstone, Big Bear California, Smiley Creek, and my kids favorite... Disneyland.
My dad is so fun to hang out with because he is easy to talk too. He is always telling jokes but he sometimes says the punch line first. He loves to fly. He has his own airplane and has taken it on many flying adventures. He is very giving. He is always looking out for his family and he only wants what is best for us. I am thankful to have him as my dad. His testimony has given me strength many times in my life. When ever I need a rock for support I look to him.
Thanks Dad!! I love you!!





I also have to give a shout out to Joe. He is such a great husband and dad. I love every minute I am with him. He is as hard worker, he loves to play with his daughters, he loves music and has made it so my girls love music too. They sing all kinds of songs from Ricky Neilson to Cold Play. He enjoys sports and likes to be active. He is very smart and is a great leader. He is a problem solver and can often come up with solutions I had never thought of. He is really good at decorating a home and designing a yard. He has made our backyard a place that we love to be in. He is also a great spiritual leader. He is patient, kind, and very thoughtful of others. He wants to be a friend to all. I am thankful for his friendship. He makes me laugh almost every day. He supports me in all I try to do. He also listens to me when I am complaining or crying or both!!! And finally he is great looking!! I am so glad that I am able to share my life with this wonderful guy!!


I also have to say that his girls LOVE HIM! He is a great dad. They always want to hang on him, play with him, listen to music with him, dance with him, read with him, anything with him. They love being with him because he is so much fun and so kind and caring with them. I have often told him it is his fault that we have all girls because he is so good with girls. Avery says that he is her prince and she often tells us she is going to marry dad because he is her prince. Every morning when the girls wake up if Joe is already left for work they are sad. They are also very excited when he comes home!! Thanks Joe for being such a great dad.

Summer 2004 vs. Summer 2008

Today we had the Pitcher kids over for a picnic and for some swimming fun. As the kids were all playing it reminded me of some pictures I had of the kids playing 4 years ago.

Some of you may not know that the Pitcher family were our next door neighbors in Payson. So our kids have been friends for a long time. We always laugh because Tanner and Sydney have been friends since they were 3 months old. It is crazy how time flies. Here are some pictures I took 4 years ago of the kids playing outside.

Summer 2004- This is Kennady, Sydney, Ethan and Tanner


This was in Payson Utah. Kennady was 3 and Ethan was 4 years old and Tanner and Sydney were both 1 year old!!





Tanner and Sydney- Best friends even at one!!!



Now this is 2008. The kids had a great day playing in the water. We had the swimming pool out and the sprinklers under the trampoline. It was a fun day!! We are so glad that we are able to still be so close to the Pitcher family and that our kids still get along great!! We are also glad that we have added Allie and Avery and now Audrey to our families. I guess it is just more fun!!


The older kids spent most of their time playing with the sprinkler and the trampoline!!


The younger girls just sat in the pool!! They love going down the slide!




Avery is really enjoying the pool. She loves being in her swimming suit!!

Being a new mom

Well if I thought finding the time to blog when I was pregnant is hard it is even harder with a new baby!! But here is a little update. We have had come adventures with our new little one. We went to Manti last Sunday for a family baby blessing. Joe's niece, Amber, blessed her new little baby. His name is Kayson. He is really cute and his dad Jesse did a great job. It was so fun to hang out with Joe's family and talk with all the girls!! My kids had a great time hanging with their cousins. They never want to leave Jessica's house.

We also took a day and went to Logan. It was really fun to see everyone. We were able to see my sister's new house. It is really cute!! Her yard is huge! I have to admit I left a little jealous of that yard. Oh the fun things I could do with a yard that big. My dad also made us home-made pizza- yummy!! We were also able to see my step mom's parents, The Swensons. They are always so fun to see. They are great people. We ended our visit with a stop at my grandmother's house. My aunt Ann was there. She held Audrey and kept saying how much she reminded her our my dad. My grandma was also able to hold Audrey. I am so glad that she was able to do that.

We also went to Pony express days. It was a lot of fun. We went with Joe's brothers and their families. The parade was crazy. Between Katie jumping up and down and Joe passing out big candy bars I think that everyone around us thought we were nuts. But we had fun and so did the kids. The kids went on rides and had a lot of fun. I have pictures on my phone so I will try and post those when I learn how to get them from my phone to my computer!!

And finally here are some pictures of Audrey. She will be 4 weeks old tomorrow. She is growing so fast. She is getting such chubby cheeks. We are loving her and we are so glad she is in our family. It is amazing to me how quickly we learn to love the new babies that come. It doesn't take long before we are so attached!! Audrey was wearing an outfit the other day that said, "Love me forever." Kennady said to her that we would always love her forever. I had such a feeling of peace knowing that because of the gospel and because Joe and I were sealed in the temple that the second she was born we became able to love her forever. It felt like such a blessing that no matter what this life brings the Lord has provided for us a way to be with our loved ones forever. What a great blessing. We love our little Audrey forever......