Jump on It!

Tasha and I met up at Jump on It with the kids. It is a huge warehouse full of trampolines all hooked together... even some on the walls! Jacob went crazy and ripped his pants :) There was also a few blow-up jump houses for the little ones. Mark will love this place... we will come again!

It's Official... Tasha's little one is a real boy!!! I met him in real life! (inside joke)

Austin's 13!!

Happy Birthday Austin!
We always love an excuse to get together. Austin is the oldest Kirby grandchild (now 22 of them) and he is now a teenager... crazy! One candle wouldn't go out... his face turned bright red as everyone teased him about having a girlfriend. Good Times!

Discovery Gateway

We spent the day at the Children's Museum. The kids had a great time and loved the hands on theme at the museum... usually I am constantly telling them to not touch... At this museum it is all made for the kids to touch, climb and explore.

Hard to Say Goodbye

Yesterday I said Goodbye to a friend and teammate in a way that was extremely hard. Heather has been suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) for over3 years.

Heather along with her amazing husband Jeff have decided it is her time to return home. I pray I never have make a decision like this in my lifetime. It was so hard to see my spunky teammate trapped in her paralyzed body but I was greatful for the chance to say goodbye... sometimes loved ones leave and we don't have that chance.

I talked with her and thanked her for the many laughs and great memories. We sat as a team and told stories and laughed... she definitely was the leader of any mischief we got into. She could do "the worm" better than anyone. It was amazing to see the 100's of people coming to say goodbye. She has touched many lives!

The room had tears but was mostly filled with laughter and memories... just how Heather wanted it.

This was one of life's tough days!

Jr. Jazz
Basketball

Jacob started playing basketball on Saturday. I love watching the little guys play. It is hilarious. They have all improved so much from last year. Jacob made 3 baskets and had a few steals... he did great.

Not the best picture but he was running around the court trying to get open for a pass. He has his hands in the air... his arms are covering his face, but he is the only white jersey! Find him?

He really enjoys basketball... but can't stop talking about playing football next fall. The deal is he has to start eating, or he can't play... and that means MEAT!

...we're working on it.

Guitar Hero Wii

World Tour

If you haven't played this yet... come hang out and have a blast. We like guitar hero but only 2 can play... this involves everyone and creates some major laughs.

Todd and Anna came for the evening and Heather and Chuck are always with us... so time to party. Some of our "Kirby" voices were hilarious!!! Chuck and Mark actually sound like the real thing... You Choir Boys!

Anyways... Total Blast!
Baby Claire just slept in the swing and didn't mind our squeaky voices.

Iree and Nate had a great time... they always have so much fun together. Princess Pull-ups and all. ;)

Ireland's Dance Recital

Her performance was back in December... I just noticed I left this out so I am adding it now. I don't have many pictures because I was recording it instead...

This is Iree and Maelyn (her close friend) before the big event... I could tell Iree was getting nervous... she told me she didn't want to go up on the stage. The parents were supposed to wait with them until they are about to go on stage...I asked Maelyn's mom if she could watch Iree also so I could avoid a breakdown... I knew she wouldn't throw a fit for another mom. (she only saves those for me!)

She went out and did great!!!

8 Years Ago...

January 6th, 2001
Mark was baptized!

This picture is very blurry but I can't find any others. This was an amazing day for both Mark and myself. I fully believe it changed the course of our lives. It is crazy to think that in a few months Mark will have the opportunity to baptise Jacob... Wow!

A little Memory...
We lived in California, married about 6 months and going to school. Mark didn't have much interest in the church and I didn't push him. One day I saw the LDS institute on campus and decided to take a class. Mark said he would take it with me. He likes to learn about everything. The institute director was amazing... Mark was wanting to be baptized after a few classes. We took the missionary discussions and I learned right along with Mark. He was baptized few weeks later.

He asked his coach, Jim, from UVSC to baptise him. He was a big influence on Mark. Their team happened to have a tournament in Santa Barbara, CA and they were all driving to the baptism after their tournament. We were all at the chapel waiting for Jim and the team to show up. We were all pacing and the director kept asking "are you sure he is coming?" About an hour later Jim and Mark's old team showed up in their sweats giving him hugs! It was so amazing to see the support he had from his team and so many people from our ward.

I don't know what direction our lives would have taken if this event hadn't happened. Mark was a great guy before and he is an amazing guy now and I know the gospel has had a lot to do with that. 8 years wow!

Who Wouldn't Love This Dentist?!

My kids had their 6 month dentist check-up yesterday! (I hate dentists... no, I am scared to death of the dentist!) When I told them we were going, they got ready fast and were begging to leave... "Can we go yet mom?"

Why???? Who would be excited to go to the dentist?

Oh, maybe it is because the dentist is nice, and fun and talks to them... and they get a cute little bear when they don't have any cavities for 3 visits. We now have a bunch of these bears and the kids can't wait to go back in July!

I had a horrible dentist experience as a child. I am still scared to go to the dentist. I am so glad someone has learned how to treat kids and make their experience at the dentist a positive one.

This guy is Great!!
Thanks Dr. Poulsen!

Hollywood Connections

Friday night I took Jacob and Iree to a friend's party at Hollywood Connections... I had never heard of the place but it was great and the kids had a great time.
Jacob was off with the party group and I had one-on-one time with Iree.

Iree and Me on the carousel... I can't count how many times we rode this thing... She tested out every horse. But look at that smile... she was loving it.

Jacob loved the bumper cars... he sprinted from ride to ride... making sure to get his fill of the roller-coaser, spinning (throw-up) machine, golf, bumper cars and rollerscating.

We went rollerskating and Jacob picked it up quick. My back got a big workout from dragging a scarred limp body around the rink... It was dark and the stobe lights were on and the music was so loud I she couldn't hear me. She wanted her shoes back on "immediatly" She sat with some other none skater kids in the group and I got to take a few rounds with Jacob.

It was a great night to spend with the older kids... I usually put so much energy into Mason and they get the left over. It was nice to focus on just them!

The Love Budget

I have decided to join a good friend in a New Year's Resolution.

Check it out...

The Love Budget

White Christmas

On Christmas Day it snowed a ton. I love the snow as long as I don't have to be anywhere. We actually didn't make it down to my Mom's for Christmas dinner (we resceduled). Mark and I put on all the gear and started clearing the walks and digging out a few stuck cars. Some people are crazy trying to drive a little car through the 3 foot drifts!! It was nice to stay home and relax on Christmas Day.

Christmas Morning

Santa Stopped Here!

Jacob got the AT-TP Walker from The Clone Wars. He can fit 3 clones in the AT-TP and shoot missles at his remaining clones.

Iree got Baby Alive... It pees and cries and she absolutly loves it. She loves playing mommy.

Mason got a wooden train set. He loves anything with wheels!

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at my brother Andy's House. We did the traditional nativity scene and the kids loved it. We stayed late playing games and having fun.
We headed home about 11:30 and Jacob and Iree were so worried that Santa had already come. We checked the "Santa Tracker" online and it said he was still in Montana so the kids hurried to bed. It is so fun to see their excitement

The whole cast:
Joseph, Wanda, Andy, Ireland, Heather, Chuck, Mark, Liz, Kathryn, Tianna, Scott and Jacob.

Ireland was Mary and felt so special... Jaquelyn was the donkey and Joseph was Joseph.

Mason was a Shepard but he tore off the robe before the performance... He helped me take pictures.

Kirby family Christmas Party

We had our Christmas Party at Heidi's house. We all slept over and had a blast. We stayed up laughing and talking until 2 a.m. and then crashed in various rooms of the house. The kids all slept on the floor downstairs.

White Elephant gift are always a big hit. My mom got these giant underwear.

The kids played Dance Dance Revolution for hours.

The kids all had their gift exchange and got some cool stuff.

Girls putting on make-up with Sammy's new make-up kit.
Aren't they Pretty!

Mark and I got Brogan's room. Of course Mace had to sleep between us so it was a tight fit.

Here are all the kids crashed out on the floor.
There are now 22 under 12 (It's getting a little crazy at these parties)

Grandma and Grandpa gave all the Grand kids new pajamas... they love having matching pj's with the cousins.

The Mace Man's Surgery

Mason has had a rough two months. He has had a chronic ear infection and has been on several antibiotics (which scare me) but it just won't go away. The doctor suggested ear tubes and a adenoidectomy (removing the adenoid) something I didn't even know existed.

He was loving the little gripper booties they gave him.


Dad is always great at explaining what is happening "Mace, they are going to put tubes in your ears... long ago they didn't put tubes in kids ears and kids were fine... oh yeah but back then lots of kids died... anyway you are going to be fine."
Always helpful :)

Had to bring the favorite monster truck "The Grave Digger"

Our matching tags... they wanted to make sure we took the correct child home. Don't worry, we got him and he is doing great!!!

Finally a Snowstorm!!

It has been a mild fall... warm with no snow... but it is here now.

Iree is all smiles out in the snow.

Mason, Maelyn, and Iree tubing.

Mace and Jacob

Mace throwing a fit because he wanted to stay outside...

Efficiency!!

I don't know about you but Sunday mornings are a little hectic at our house. It doesn't matter if we have church at 9:00 or 1:00 we are always rushing to get the cushoned bench seats instead of the metal chairs.
Jacob had the idea of swimming instead of separate showers/baths. That way no one gets a cold shower. The kids had fun and I got my hair done while they played. I had all kids and myself ready with an hour to spare...miracle!

Make room for more!

I have finally cleared my computer of thousands and thousands of pictures.
I took a break here and there to play around with a photo editing program so here are a few of my favorite ones. I am a little obsessed with Sepia plus a little color.

Cute now... blackmail later!

So I was doing a little work in the office (my room) and when I came out Iree had Mason dressed up in her ballet leotard. They were doing gymnastics and I just had to take a picture.
When Jacob got home from school his face turned red and he was saying "Mom! take it off him... he looks like a little girl!"

Well, while looking through pictures I found this... So... Mason is not the only little boy to dress up... I knew this picture would come in handy some day. :)

Jacob 2 1/2 or 3