We love Uncle Towel! Boise Trip 1-16 thru 1-19

We took a trip to Boise for Human Rights Day, since I had off school, and Jake had the friday before it off. We had SO much fun with Uncle Towel (Kyle) and Courtney! They took us to a Museum of science, and we got to check out these hands on science experiments and how things work. It was so fun. We also went sledding with Kyle on Monday, and it was SO nice and warm, and the boys had a blast! Thanks guys, can't wait to see you again soon! We love you both!

One funny day!

Me and My Baby 1-13-09

Oma (Jacob's mom) got Taelin a baby doll, that came one night. We opened it up while I was making dinner...and Taelin was instantly in LOVE. It came with clothes and the baby bag she got for her birthday (opened at party). Here is her and her new baby, which she loves and holds and rocks and carries everywhere. The baby is only 91/2 inches tall, and perfect for her little hands, it also has real molded dar hair, and pretty pretty eyes. She's so excited!

Thank you Oma!

BYU-IDAHO OR BUST!!

Alright, so I'm taking one final semester (9 credits) at BYU-Idaho and will be graduating in April! By then, I will still have 2 online classes to finish, but I will walk since Lindsay is graduating in the summer and Kyle in the winter...that way they won't have miss anyone walking. And I will just get my diploma when I finsih the other online classes (by May). So, if the blog is negelected for a while, you will know why! Wish me well, or tell me I'm crazy- cause at the moment I'm not sure which one I really am! :) At the end of these next few months, I should have a Bachelors of Science in Psychology with emphasis in History and Child/Family Studies! Can't wait to be done!!!

Thank you to Jacob and my family who has stepped up their usual responsibilities to make this dream of my come true; (i know that kinda sounds corny) but I've always loved education and learning, so I'm so excited about getting back to school! I can't wait!

Happy 1st Birthday Taelin!

Walkin' Girl: 12/10/08

I can't believe she's so little and walking! My baby is growing up, and yesterday Kelton asked me to have more kids because he loved Christmas. Not sure what they have to do with each other, but he wants "a lot and a lot of boys".

This little girl sure gets around, and now turns and runs if she has something she's not supposed to have. She also loves to hit people or bite them and hear them say oow! and then she laughs. She's halarious and loves to play on-one-one where she belly laughs if you head butt her back in the tummy or body. I thought she was kissing my knee the other day to realize she was head-butting it. She brings our home a ton of smiles and bright days.

Choffin Family Christmas 2008

All the boys together. All getting so big!

Ryun, Beau, Corey and Dad

Chase, Jacob, Kyle, Kelton and Bryce

Jacob took this lovely picture no one was ready for!

Lindsay and Rylin, Vanessa and Taelin, Kimber

Katey, Mom and Talea

We just love this girl! Kyle and Courtney together. We are excited for them and how happy they are together. Girl, I already love you like a sister, so I just hope someday soon you will be!

Overall, we had a great Christmas. I'll post a slideshow in the gifts...too many funny pics of the kids to post one at a time! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Our Busy December

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Kelton (4 1/2) , Chase (2 1/2) and Taelin (11 mon) Jansen

So far, Christmas prep has been fun. They all love wrapping gifts, rearranging presents, making cookies, attempting snowflakes, delivering cookies, shopping for needy families and decorating the house. Kelton is SO excited for Santa to come...we try to remind him of the real reason of Christmas, and I think he's gotten that its Christ's birthday, but not much else. Not giving up! They are so surrounded with Santa, gifts and what they want; sometimes you have to repeat the real reason even more.

Hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year with your families!

ALLERGY FREE!?!?!?!

Those of you who know us well, know that all of our children have multiple food allergies. Kelton is milk and eggs (and many environmental that he takes shots for) and Chase is peanuts, milk and eggs. So, needless to say, that when Kelton got his testing when he was 1 yr., and then again about 3 1/2 (things sprouted even more the second time), we were advised to get our kids tested at age one. With Chase, I went completely off of eggs, since I can't have milk anyways. He still fussed and had some issues, then we found out it was also peanuts. Taelin always seemed alright. She has a rash from birth so at 2 weeks old I omitted peanuts and it seemed to clear. I have been without eggs or peanuts for a year and when she got tested yesterday, I didn't see the usual welts that come from the ichy cries! She only had ONE 3+!! tabacco (which the boys have 4+ of and so do Jake and I)....Can you believe it?!?! She had tiny reactions to tomatoe, potatoe and pork, but they weren't even on the scale of anything to worry about!

SHE'S ALLERGY FREE!!! Here is our 20% chance baby!

They are watching her closely in the next year to make sure that she isn't just a late bloomer.

So were not introducing her directly to any eggs, milk or peanuts until at least 18 months. But, just the idea of handing my baby a regular icecream cone, or mac and cheese is so strange since I'm always so guarded. With me and allergies, if I know it will hurt my babies, I can't bring myself to put anything in my mouth close to what they could be allergic to, but today I ate POTATOE SALAD GUILT FREE (and a peanut butter sandwich)!!!!

Here are some of her pictures from the office on my camera phone. And yes, that is red punch and yes, she did get it all over my white shirt when she spit later. can win 'em all.

So...you think YOU can dance?

This little boy never ceases to crack me up. He's so intense on so many levels, but keeps me going with his funny phrases and jest for life. He has always known what he wants and expresses that very clearly, even if others don't think it's "cool". He knows who he is, and has just an amazing sense of self. I kept replaying the car commercial since he was so stinkin' funny!

Videos of Florida

Chase and Taelin played this game for about 25 minutes or more after dinner one night in Florida. They are playing so well together lately, its SO nice!!

The Power Of Prayer

For those of you from good ole' Belfair, Washington, and that have now moved out across the nation, or those still in Washington, and remember the Ruddy/Sides family, please keep them in your prayers. The mother, Cheryl is very ill. Please give your prayers for her family at this heart aching time.

My mom has traveled to Tempe, AZ. to see her one last time, and to be with her family. Cheryl is an amazing mother, wife and friend. Kind and always light hearted, quick to laugh and to ease worries. Such an phenomenal woman. Her battle with cancer will soon come to a close, so those of you who have been privledged to know her, and even those that have not, please pray for her family. Comfort I am sure is greatly needed.

For now, all our love and prayers to her children and husband.

Remembering All the Times

"Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still loves you."

After my first semester in college, coming home from Christmas Break, my plane had been cancelled, so I ended up not getting home until really late the night before classes began. We had two new roommates that semester. It was within the first hour of being in the same room, that I felt something tell me that I needed to be her friend, except I kept calling her Mary, no good. Gotta remember the girl's name if you want to get to know her!

Little did I know how much we would go through, how many times we would cry, eat green pepper pizza (1/2 no cheese) like 42 times, watch each other get our hearts broken, take road trips to college, and eventually marry the men of our dreams and have baby girls just days apart. Marie, thank you for knowing me, the real me, and still loving me. Here's to you!

February 2004

Dropping Marie off at the MTC to serve in the Ventura, Ca. Mission (spanish speaking). I am about 4 weeks from delivering Kelton.

August 2006
Marie's wedding in the Orlando Temple...just weeks after Chase was born.


November 2007

Pregnant together in St. Augustine, Florida. Marie due Dec. 22ndish and Vanessa due on January 5th. Someone actually asked us if Jacob was "responsible" for both of us. What a stupid stupid man that was. We just rolled our eyes. I think he was drunk.

May 2008
Our baby girls, Taelin Marianne (born on Jan. 8th) and Emilia Claire (born Jan. 5th)



November 2008

Our girls again, getting so big. It was fun to dress them up alike. I think they'll be great friends! We got to spend the day with just the girls at Marie's house. It was so fun to just hang out.

November 2008

Marie and I at the Jacksonville Zoo, just after this picture, Jacob didn't realize that his mom was slightly moving down the ramp in her wheel chair and we thought she was going to crash into a crowd of people watching the howler monkeys, but it was funnier to see Jacob's expression than anything else...we laughed so hard that whole day.

Thanksgiving in Florida