Alexander the great!

Alexander's birthday was yesterday, June 29th, and we went and celebrated at Taylorsville Dayz with fireworks and all since that was how he wanted to spend his birthday. It was lots of fun! I still remember being pregnant with him as I weighed 230lbs and went 2 weeks over in the summer. How can I forget that! My water broke around noon on the 29th and I thought I was just peeing my pants over and over. I walked over to my friend Peggy's house (who was studying to be a nurse at the time)  and asked her if she thought I should go to the hospital. She said my water broke and that I needed to go. So I walked all the way back home as I kept wetting my pants. The labor took almost 12 hours and it was only 4 minutes until it was the 30th and Jared kept telling me to just wait because 30 was a cool number. I think if I would've had to push one more time I would've passed out. I think the doctor knew I was done so she pretty much pulled him out on her own as I tried to push. Man I was so happy he was out! Not for long though...

This is Alex a couple minutes after he was born!

Life is so much peaceful when Alex is asleep ; )

I'm joking when I say that, but for those that know Alex know what I mean. Out of all my kids he is the brightest most intelligent and loving but at the same time the most challenging. He is the one that is teaching and helping Jared and I to become better parents and people. As a baby Alex was very hard. Boy would he cry! When his teeth came out and he became mobile he had this thing for pulling hair and biting which caused him to be kicked out of nursery at church numerous times and made girls cry. He even bit a newborn (that was in his carseat on the floor) at Old Navy while I payed at the register and made him bleed. You can imagine how upset I was, and I know the baby's mom was too, but thank heavens she was very nice about it. Being super shy he also gave people dirty looks when they tried to say hi to him and would turn his head as if he was annoyed. When he turned one I was pregnant with Caleb, and boy did he make me run. Any opportunity of freedom he found he would run unexpectedly. Before I knew it he was climbing everything and everywhere. He was, and is, very busy. Always in need of attention. When Alex smiles you see mischievousness spelled all over his face. When he was almost 2 he jumped into the pond at grandma and grampa Reynolds house causing grandma (who was tending him) to jump in after him with her cell phone in her pocket. Alex I'm sure is famous in our neighborhood for being the naked kid, or the kid in underwear, that lives around the corner. He loves to be naked! But we have agreed that he at least has to wear his underwear. It's funny now but it sure will not be funny to have this teenager running around home in underwear... hoping he'll grow out of this soon. He is also the biggest tease of all the kids, just like his dad. He is very intelligent and is in a gifted and talented immersion program at school where half his classes are in Spanish. Now Jared and I cannot tell each other secrets in Spanish because he understands everything! He has a super contagious laugh that goes well with his big smile. Now don't anybody tickle him and make him laugh too hard because he will pee his pants. I wonder if he can't really hold it or if that is just the weapon he uses to get out of the situation. Now that we are talking about pee... I don't think anybody has ever peed more anywhere other than a toilet than Alex. That is probably why the plants in our yard look so nice. My Alex is a cute chunk because he loves food a little bit to much, which he got that from me I'm sure. His favorite food is Chinese and his favorite cookies are Oreos. Alex for sure has a very old spirit in him. He acts like a kid but asks questions and thinks like an adult. He is the one to make us feel guilty if we don't read scriptures as a family and mostly always is the one to say its time for prayer. Alex for the most part wants to choose the right and wants to force others to choose the right also which sometimes starts fights with his brothers. He is my most crazy but I think a lot of it is because he is also very shy and my most sensitive. 

Alex is a lot like dad!

If I were to ever be told that I had to give up one of my kids, I'm sure people would think I would choose Alex, but the truth is I don't think I can live without him. Some great things about Alex is that he likes to share and is thoughtful of others. He loves to help out and to help others. He is often the first to think of others when he gets a treat or has something nice. He likes to work hard and help me with chores and help his dad cook, fix things, and work outside. With our close family and friends he is often the favorite like with James and Wallys. He loves to learn, he is great in school and tries to always listen to his teacher.

I can see so much goodness in Alex through this picture.

I have come a long way since I had Alex. With having him as a son, I have learned to seek for the good in others, to make the best out of every situation, to laugh even when I don't feel like it, to be patient, and to love immensely. I love everything about you Alex! I'm so grateful to have you in my life and I thank Heavenly Father for choosing and entrusting me to be you mom. Happy Birthday!

He is my messiest eater after Franco.

Cute!

This is Alex's friend Kara. Out of everyone she got bit and her hair got pulled the most by Alex.   I think she forgave him though since they get along very well.

Wanted to play in the snow and got ready all by himself forgetting his bottoms.

Alex 3rd B-day!

Alex helping Caleb look towards the camera looks more like he's trying to choke him.

So much energy he can't stand it.

He's so loving to Sofia.

Loves to have fun and is very adventurous.

Loves to help specially in the kitchen.

One of the many times he has washed the dishes without me even asking.

He was so embarrassed as he received his kindergarden diploma.

He got teacher's choice award!

Alex being silly!

Alex watering the tree.

His Chinese birthday party.

He is a pretty scary creature when he gets mad.

It was so awkward for him to meet his 1st grade teacher.

He sure loves his sister

This is Alex alright!

Alex acting scary.

Loves to play dress up.

My sweet boy!

So shy!

We thought it would be easier to watch him if he was buried.

Being crazy!

He loved to bite so I thought being a vampire suited him well.

At a very young age Alex learned to eat from others plates and to tease which he got this from daddy. Can you tell Franco did not like this at all.

How sweet! Holding tiny little brother Caleb.

Contagious laugh and smile!

One of the many things he climbed.

Helping Daddy!

Running wild!

Trying to punch me with a smile on his face while I was trying to take pics of him.

He wanted an Avatar birthday so we buzzed his hair and drew an arrow on his head.

Always smiling!

When Franco was born I thought he was the most beautiful perfect baby. I was in awe when I became a mother. Out of all my children Franco was one of my most difficult babies and still is. There are many great things about Franco. He mostly always has a smile on his face even when he's in trouble which get him in more trouble because then he makes me smile. He is always up for a hug and still at the age of almost 11 loves to cuddle. He is my most sensitive child which can be hard but shows to us he has the greatest heart. He loves to look at himself and smile at himself in the mirror (which I heard he get's from Wallys) and I'm not kidding about this it is so true! If Franco isn't smiling it's because he's singing. And although shy at times he doesn't mind singing to a pretty girl. He has a fetish for girls ever since he was very, very young which got him suspended from school in first grade. He is a social butterfly, definitely a people person. He is my most confident child and has no fear of standing up in sacrament meeting every month to bear his testimony. He has such a great spirit and I have been able to witness him feeling the spirit, which is pretty amazing and comforting for a mother to see when your child hardly takes anything seriously. At times he can be very demanding on wanting wanting wanting but truly enjoys the simple things of life. To him life is something that is to be enjoyed and takes that very seriously. He's all about just sitting back and having fun. One of the things I love about Franco is that he's very passionate and has much love within him and I absolutely love your beautiful smile. There are so many things that make you shine and make you as special as you are. I just hope that someday soon you realize that if you really want to travel the world like you mention so often you better start loving to work hard and do your best in school. You have great potential and I truly believe you will do great things in your life. Keep smiling! I love you Frankie!

Being silly...

My fun loving boy!

The best big brother and son anybody could ever ask for...

Of course that would be Parker! Parker and I first met when he was 3 years old. I thought he was a nice kid and all, but once I new Jared and I were going to get married, and already being Franco's mom, I only hoped and prayed that I could love Parker as my own. Soon enough he was calling me mom and I began to learn what a great and special kid he was. Now that little 3 year old is almost 12. Parker always wants to do what is right and is such a great example not only to the kids but to me as well. He can be shy at times but is super funny and can bust the best dance moves ever! Every time I ask him to do something he does it without complaints and helps without being asked. He is always finding ways to make others happy including me and will give up anything to bring peace into our home. He has such a good heart! There is such a great spirit within him; one with a great testimony. He is so dedicated to the Lord at such a young age that amazes me. I have no doubt Parker has a bright future ahead of him. I'm so proud of you and am privileged to be your mom. For a while now I can say I love you as my own. And no matter how things may seem, you are my son. 

  

                             

He's so grownup!

Looking towards his great future.

I can't believe he can already mow the lawn!!!

One of the several times he has successfully put Sofia in bed.

My little fashionista

When I was a little girl I thought my mom was so beautiful and wanted to be just like her. She was big on being clean, well dressed, her hair was intact, nails and makeup always done. I have been told that my grandma (my mothers mom) was the exact same way. And for those that know me I'm that way as well. So I guess it is in our blood. I say it's in our blood since my grandma died when my mom was very young and I pretty much grew up with my dad so it wasn't something they taught us to do. Well my Sofia is the same way. If it were for her she would wear her dresses with my high heels everyday. Every time I do my makeup she wants me to put lipstick on her tiny lips. And when I do my nails hers have to be done before mine. She loves to wear jewelry and has the most sweetest girly voice unless she's really mad. She is so girly and I love it! I just hope she doesn't become a monster once she's a teen. I do keep this in mind and will do my best to teach her well so this doesn't happen. But who knows? For now all I can say she is the sweetest girl ever and we love her to pieces. Here are some fun pictures of Sofia being a girl.

She did not want to let me wear my shoes for church a few Sundays ago because according to her they are her princess shoes.

This is Sofia about a year old after I did her hair she wanted to brush it.

When she was 18 months old she put on lipstick for the very first time

She saw me applying powder so she wanted to try.

She was almost 2 when she asked to wear lipstick for her dance performance.

Her first and hopefully last attempt of applying mascara while we were in a tent inside the house watching general conference.

This was just a few weeks ago. Red is a great color on her.