SpRiNg BrEaK PaRt OnE

OH MY GOODNESS..

We had so much fun! It was crazy busy!!

Spring Break started right after school on Friday for us! We had been fighting the flu all week and were so excited for fun!!

Friday night, Jonny and Bekkah took the girls over-night and Brandon went to his best friend's 12 year old sleep over birthday party. We don't normally do Sleep-Overs unless it's family but the kids didn't sleep so does that count??

Saturday morning, we got up and grabbed Brandon and went to the annual Orme family  Easter Egg hunt! 

When we got home we dyed Easter Eggs and ate my Dad's famous hamburgers  Brandon went to The Festival of Colors with his Aunt Meg.

Once we got the kids to bed and everything ready for Easter; Mom, Gina, Aubrey, Meg (Not Bran's Aunt Meg- My Meg), and I went to see the movie The Host. I went to steal Meg's Picture off of Instagram but it wouldn't let me :(.. We had so much fun!!

Easter Sunday..

We got up and went to church. Came home and saw what the Easter Bunny had given us.. We had a Ham dinner and I think I'm going to put up some pics of the day..

Bane was so tired.. Poor Boy

It was a great Easter with Family and Chocolate!!

Monday:

April 1, 2013

Brandon's 12th Birthday!!

Brandon had a few of his closest friends and family over for Pizza, Cake & Ice Cream, and backyard fun. Jared set up the PA and there was a ton of football games, basketball games, and dancing. It was great!

We had so much fun! It was an amazing time for Bran. He loved every minute of it!

TO BE CONTINUED..

Crazy BUSY and SO FUN!!

Our Vegas Weekend

So much happened!!

I'll try and go quickly..

Valentines Day was awesome!! Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures.. 

We got heart-shaped pizza from Papa Murphey's and had a stay-at-home night. It was awesome. We got our kids a stuffed animal and chocolate. They loved it!

The next day, Friday, my family took off for Las Vegas to help my grandma sell everything she has because my grandparents are going into assisted living & to attend a farewell. Jared and I stayed behind to help one of my dear friends.

Saturday we got everything ready to roll for our trip to Vegas. Bekkah came over and if it weren't for her, I'm sure we wouldn't have made it. When she got to the house I wasn't packed AT ALL and I had the worst migraine EVER. She helped me get motivated. So after quickly packing and then getting ready, Bekkah watched the kids and Jared and I took off to help my friend celebrate her daughters sweet sixteen party. Jared was the DJ. He and Jonny had so much fun behind the speakers. I stayed with Meg and helped her chaperon  Once we got home, cleaned up, and loaded the truck it was about 12:30 and we took off, with very sleepy babies, to Vegas.

I don't think that we will ever attempt that again. We were so tired. We arrived in Vegas at about 8:30. (we stopped an rested and got the kids breakfast) We got to my grandma's house while the yard sale was still in full swing and we recouped a little and then got everyone ready for the farewell. It was an amazing meeting. My poor husband looked SO tired and Jay slept through the whole thing. I don't know why but I had good energy! After church we went to dinner as a family. After dinner, Jared and I checked into the time-share that Jonny & Bekkah so generously shared with us. (They were coming down to Vegas at the end of the week for the Tim McGraw concert)

After we dropped stuff off and changed, we went to Sjanna's house where we loaded up some bunk beds and bedding that she had for us. (Our girls are so excited!!) Then we headed over to Karl and Liz's (the new missionaries) to have a lite dinner and be together as family & friends. Afterwords we were SO tired. We were going on 38 hours with NO sleep.. We went back to the hotel and CRASHED.

The next day we got up, got some breakfast, went to Sjanna's and picked up the trailer, and headed for my grandma's house. The Yard Sale was coming to a close. My Mom and Craig finished it up and then my mom hit the road home to Utah. We stayed at Grandma's and Sjanna put some extensions in my hair. I have always wanted them because my hair is SO thin and brittle. I think I've wanted them for 9 years. Sjanna just happened to have some that matched perfectly so we sat in my Grandma's living room and she put them in.

After that we went to the Hotel and got ready for dinner. Sjanna, Mokie, Mark, and our family went to Joe's Crab Shack. It was awesome. They had an outside play area right off of the patio. So, we sat on the patio while the kids played. A woman came over and made the kids balloon animals. It was great!

Brandon with a Shark on his head

My gorgeous sister, Sjanna with Bane

My handsom Hubs

Afterwords we decided to go to the strip and on our way, Jayda & BrookLynn fell asleep. So, Jared took me, Jay, Brookie, & Bane back to the hotel and took Brandon to the strip. They drove the length of the strip and went to Coke World and the M&M store.

We woke up the next morning and got everything loaded up into the truck and trailer and picked up Mckayla and got on the freeway to come home to Utah. It was a much nicer drive. I had so much fun. 

RSV

I think that my family gets sick more than most. I swear! It's been a rough WiNtEr... 

BrookLynn got a cold about a week and a half ago, then it turned into daily fevers, following quickly after was a full body rash, then the vomits..

On our second trip to the doctor he informed us that she has asthma and RSV. The rash is her bodies way of telling us that she wasn't getting the oxygen that she needed. This little lady.. She knows how to get sick..

While we were at the doc, I asked if he would take a look at Bane. He had a few fevers, stuffy nose, and a cough that seemed to be traveling to his little lungs. (There was a rattle in his chest) My doctor diagnosed Bane with RSV as well. :(

We saw the doctor last Friday. So.. This weekend was full of zipped up jammies, medicine, and humidifiers.

Saturday night Jayda threw up in the middle of the night. 

It was a crazy weekend!

BUT.. Now it's Tuesday! Jay was well enough to go to school, Brookie's rash and cough are gone, and Bane spirits are high!

It was a rough weekend!

Glad it's OVER! :)

What We're Up To..

I wanted to post something about the happenings in the Raulston home..

Jared is back to the grind. With two other men he is launching a company that make carbon fiber bikes. We will have more information soon. 

He is working so hard. He is also teaching the 14-15 year old kids in Sunday school and loving life!

I am a mom of four. Need I say more? I do lots of laundry, dishes, and driving. I love every minute of it! :) ~Especially nap time~

Brandon had an incredible Christmas. He is so spoiled! He is looking forward to saving money for his Baseball and Football seasons. He will be trying out for the Major league at Orem City and hopes to make the team this spring. He then will be working his tail off to get all the money he needs for tackle football in the fall.

Little miss Jayda is loving kindergarten and primary. She is the queen of play dates. She just loves everyone. This year was the first year that she stayed up to ring in the New Year with us. :) She loves to read. I love watching little ones learn to read. It is a miracle. One day she just got it. Now she reads books, magazines, instruction/warning labels.. Pretty much anything that she can get her hands on. She just found out that she loves to shop. :) She loves the best of the best. 

BrookLynn is as fun as ever. It's crazy that we're registering her for her second year at pre-school. It blows my mind how fast life is flying. She loves pre-school but misses nursery at church. Yes, she is now a Sunbeam in her primary class. :) She had a rough go at her first couple week but we are hopeful for this coming Sunday. :)

Bane is SO much fun!! He is now 5 months old and loving all the attention. His First Christmas was so fun and he did stay up with us to ring in the New Year! He is scooting around in almost an army crawl. He's perfected rolling around and doesn't stay still. He loves to talk and squeal and giggle. He cries just to hear his own voice. It's adorable. 

We are so excited for this year. :) Fun, Birthdays, Pool Days, Friends and Family! 
(I wrote this a couple weeks ago and forgot to post it! :)

My Birthday!

Oh my goodness..

I

AM

30

I had such an amazing weekend! 

Saturday..

Jared made me the yummiest breakfast in bed..

We were able to go on our favorite date, the temple. Then we were going to go to Tucanos (a Brazilian grill) but the wait was 2 1/2 to 3 hours so we decided to go get a drink at Sonic and pick up Chinese for the family instead. 

Sunday...

We went to church! 

I was able to substitute BrookLynn's class for a friend who was out of town. After church Jared made pumpkin chip cookies, brussel sprouts,and parmesan rolls and my dad made fried chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy. Mom and I tended the baby and read our books. We are reading The Host right now getting ready for the movie to come out in March.

Justin, Whitney, Gina, Mom, Dad, Baylee, McKayla, Jared, Brandon, Jayda, BrookLynn, and Bane were with me as we ate dinner and then they sang Happy Birthday to me :)

We had cake (that my mom made for me) and ice cream and opened presents. 

Monday.... (My actual birthday)

Baylee and Brandon watched the kids so that Mom, Gina, Aubrey, Meg, Tiffany, and I could go to Chili's for lunch. It was so much fun. I don't know why I didn't take a camera for a pic. But it was great!

I had the best birthday!! I love my friends and my family! It was so fun!! :)

~Happy 2013~

We had such an incredible Christmas!! It was such a wonderful opportunity to be with friends and family. 

Jared's family has 2 major holiday parties for the grandparents on both sides. It is so fun to see all of Jared's family. We had a blast. On Christmas day we were able to go to Jared's parents house and have our Christmas with them. I am so thankful that I have the best in-laws. I am so lucky!

Sjanna brought my grandparents up from Las Vegas and the Herrera family was all together for the holiday. It was wonderful! They came on Sunday the 23rd and left that following Friday. I love it when my sister comes up! 

We started cooking on Friday and by Christmas eve we had so many treats! It was so fun!

I think I personally gained 10 lbs. But with the flu we lost a few.. :) Ha! 

It was one of the most amazing Christmas' I've ever had. 
We had such an incredible year altogether! We had our 4th child & we were sealed in the temple in 2012, among many other incredible wonderful things. 
We are so excited to see what 2013 brings to us. 

I'm Thankful

2012

☆

I am

thankful for

One incredible year.

I am thankful for my faith

I am thankful for my Savior

I am thankful for the atonement

I am thankful for my forever family

I am thankful for my extended family

(Side note~I am SO thankful for my husband)

I am thankful for the scriptures and scripture study

I am thankful for Brandon, Jayda, BrookLynn, & Bane

I am thankful that I know that there is more to life than life

I am thankful for the opportunities that my family has had this year

I am thankful for the wonderful people in my life that I can call dear friends

I am thankful for the birth of a child and the sweet passing of an elderly Great~Grandma

I am so grateful for two vehicles that run well and a roof  over~head that protects my family

I am thankful for service

I am thankful for My Love

As I was creating this post and started listing things that I am thankful for I decided mid-post to try to make it look like a Christmas tree. To make it look progressive I had to rearrange some of the lines and it was interesting to see what rose to the top..

I hope that all of my friends and family have a Happy Thanksgiving NEXT week and have a happy holiday season!