my hobby

jake and i have been taking pics alot lately (these all taken in az) to spell out names. its been fun.

p.s. for those of you who don't know, this is my maiden name: CHOFFIN

my little chasipoo

bzzzzz....we're biizzzy!

Da' Life: (don't wanna read? there are short explainations above the pics...i won't take offense)

I always love reading my friends blogs that live far away, because they write so well and I feel like I get a little window into their fun and interesting lives. Lately, we've all been sick. Well, since Christmas its been 3 weeks sick, 4-5 days off, then someone else starts up again and mommy gets no sleep at night. This time our sweet little guy Evan got the first bug, with Taelin 2 days behind him, Jacob 2 days after her, and Kelton 3 days after Daddy. Wew. Chase and I are trying to stay out of it, but Chase has been sleeping a TON, so i'm not sure if he's sleeping it off or if he's sick. No fever, so I'm going with what I have. After 3 dr. visits with our little Evan, and a rough rough week (wheezing hard, congestion that wouldn't expectorate and a relentless fever) we finally got a diagnosis....pnemonia (well, had a good dr tell me what taelin had, and luckily evan was on the same meds to treat it, good thing WE asked for them!).

We headed to Boise this weekend and started his anti-biotics...he still fevered and then Taelin puked and fevered on Friday night at a game...urgh. Anywho...we are home now, hanging out in our pj's and yet I do have to make a public apology for the way I looked today. It was horrific...but I am sure the gymnastics teacher, pharmacist, school teachers and mcdonalds people have see comparable. And thank you Kelton for not being embarrassed when your mommy came to school in her warm ups and icky hair to make sure you were breathing ok. Today has been one of those days...but at least I got my crown put on (even tho they had to strengthen the contact between the tooth in front of it by replacing a filling on the tooth in front of it) and now I can DRINK WATER without turning my head and using my tongue to filter the water thru the right side, I can also chew on the left side (after only 8 weeks!). I'm officiall DONE with dental work...says the girl that's getting BRACES next month. Grrrr I say. Grrr....

Evan is 6 months old and got pnemonia!

Taelin is now in gymnastics! She LOVES it...and her "outfit"!

We attended Girls State Basketball Tournament in Boise, Idaho: Sugar Salem WON! And our auntie Kimber did terrific!! We love her!

Chase did a Basketball Clinic offered by: Back to Basics (grpa's company)

He played with the 5-6 year olds and was amazing at defense. Whatever kid he was on, never got the ball and i'm pretty sure he was bugged with Chase in his face the whole time! :)

We got a new TV! Evan loves it...

Kyle and Courtney Sealing

We traveled down to St. George for Kyle and Courtney's sealing the end of January. We love being around these guys. Our kids get SO excited to them and hate saying goodbye. We are so happy for them! Congrats guys! We love you so much!

The kids were just getting over the sicknesses, and I had just been diagnsed with influenza B the previous week...luckily I was not contagious tho! But, we still had a great time! The kids traveled great and altho Evan is getting busier and doesn't like the carseat at much, they still did awesome. We went swimming, minature golfing, ate at yummy iggy's and got to spend some time with family! It was a fun weekend, wish we would have had another day!

A Few Firsts

Look Who's Sitting Up!!!

It happened overnight it seems. It seems like everytime I turn around, he's doing something new. I finally feel like he's a normal part of the family. Not sure why it took me that long...but I always see him and feel like he's new. But now, he's a big boy and loves to sit and play with toys!

Eating Some Oatmeal With Breastmilk added in...SO yummy. For the first few bites he just tried to put his lips to the spoon and make a sucking motion....but he quickly figured it out.

"i got skills mom"

So, I have a confident child...but his favorite part of basketball...taking the ball out. EVERYTIME the referee goes to take the ball out and calls red, Kelton is right here ready to pass it in. And I love how he guards, never looking at the ball, just watching the person he's guarding. Talea has plays with him on this team (she was gone this weekend). I love how he always looks to her to pass. He's really having fun...and now wants gymnastics open gym. He's always looking forward to the next fun thing!

Update on Evan

Evan, weighing in at 16 1/2 lbs. 4 months old and seems slightly tall. In 9-12 month clothing and is my first child to keep on socks! He cooes and talks to his siblings, giggles loudly when anyone puts his hands on their face. Will sit quietly and observe his surroundings. Has learned how to put his own binky in and blow spit at people. He has also found his fingers and thumb...which work great when the binky is unavailable. He poops out his clothes daily, with great assistance to the Bumbo he sits up in frequently. He is easy going, mellow and such a joy to have in our home. He sleeps great, only waking up once in the night to nurse. He can put himself to sleep, but at the moment, is sick and almost falling asleep watching me type this. Gotta run.

3 going on 16....

3 Years Ago, I was holding my first daughter in my arms, just days old. She came out with red fuzz and quite the personality. She has grown up so fast (i know, i know). But seriously, I wouldn't trade her for all the world. Those blue eyes that see others with love (or enemy). That redish brown hair that we've cut and she's cut, and that she hates to brush everyday. But how pretty it looks when its done. Those red plumpy lips she adornes with "lippy" everyday of her life....that also speak words far beyond her years. And those freakles...oh those freakles. They remind me that she's still little, cause someday they will be covered with makeup...but for now, she's only allowed that on halloween. The fingernails she bits polish off of; those toes she asks to be repainted day in and day out. And of course that soft little belly button; when you poke it, she giggles like crazy!

PRINCESS PARTY: Taelin's House on January 8, 2011

Pink appetizers and juice served on Great Grma's china along with fun princess games

Christmas Vacation!

Our original plans: L.A. and San Diego for post Christmas. Ride roller coasters, walk piers and ride boats, stay in hotels and go swimming. We got San Diego Cards which are super great deals for doing a lot of activities for one low price. We were sooo excited.! Then, California was under water, flash flooding and dangerous. With California declaring a state of emergency, we decided to get our money back and change routes. We stayed in Idaho an extra few days and attended the temple, went bowling with the family (sorry, no pics), and got sick (especially courtney). So we stayed low and got better to make the most of the rest of the week.

Here's our post Christmas Vaca:

Salt Lake City and Park City, UTAH

They are all out of order but here was our trip:

We stayed at the Shilo Inn, PERFECTLY placed in the SLC downtown area. There was a New Years Eve Snowboarding/skiing show and concert just across the street from our hotel...and 2 yummy restuarnts. It was perfect.

Taelin, Courtney and Evan; Man they love her!

Trying to get a pic before we left...but she was bashful (taelin is NOT good at goodbyes)

Ice Skating in Park City: Taelin kept yelling: "I'm skating, I'm skating!" As her feet were anything but on the ice. Good thing Courtney rocks at skating.

Kelton got really good. He fell a few times and said it really hurt, but we were proud of him for getting back up and skating some more. He is super excited to find a rink around here so that he can go skating again soon.

Kyle letting Chase do some "tricks". He'd do one foot and was so proud of himself.

TEMPLE SQUARE:

Us at the Conference Center. It was decorated for a Christmas program...but it was fun (we did get the quick version of the tour). We especially loved all of the art work.

Temple Square. We wandered around and found the nativity. It was breaktaking with all the lights on the fountain floating. It was freezing...but the kids warmed up at the visitors center and conference center...I think Evan slept the whole time.

I think I'm going to make an album of these two. Taelin is always at her side...and when Courtney uses the bathroom, taelin is asking/looking for her within seconds. :)

They have this really cool model of the temple and all the rooms, just like a doll house in the new Visitors Center. It was neat to see all the upper rooms and show the kids. They kept calling it a castle.

The girls went to the outlet malls a few days and realized we're making it an annual trip, the sales were CRAZY; ate out at some yummy places, and the kids did great; the boys found an amazing arcade and chose to spend their time there; we went swimming and jake got a hugely bloody nose from Chase; listened to the "concert" of some guys dressed like KISS; saw scantly clade girls walking on New Years Eve; lost Kelton in the hall to sleep walking @ 10:30 pm; went to a tubing hill down in Park City where it was seriously FREEZING or below many degrees; Got TONS of videos of being silly; Didn't get lost once (thanks to droid); and altho there were stressful moments...we really had a lovely time. We've decided we travel best when we take our time. With 4 little kids we can't rush things anymore. We're learning to enjoy the moments. We are striving to let go of our perfectionist ideas and enjoy the silly moments with them, before they are gone. Thanks Kyle and Court for being our extra hands. We love you!

Christmas Morning 2010 -

What special moments we've had this year. I love this one of my little Evan, with sleep still in his eyes, and sitting so quietly....ready for the fun. After our morning at home, with Oma and Opa on the computer....and playing with some of our toys...we headed North. To the Jansen Kids, Love Santa.

This is what my mom got rylin and Taelin...taelin wore it for days straight. she got pretty good at shaking those hips! :)

What a good lookin' man. I love this guy. Admist all the chaios the day brings, he stayed chill, opened/put together presents, changed diapers and kept sane. We had a yummy soup bar (we all brought crock pots) and had yummy bread bowls. What a great relax day!

Christmas Eve 2010

I have decided, that since we have a big enough little family, we should try to really get going on these family traditions. This was the first EVER Christmas Eve spent at our house since Jacob and I have been married. That day, I knew there were some things that I wanted to do at the house, 1)play in the snow/build a snowman (which turned into a snow fight) 2) open gifts from eachother 4)bake something yummy. I REALLY wanted to make donuts...but that will have to begin next year. We went to my mom's house in Rexburg and played some fun Minute to Win It games...SO funny! and altho we kept it NON-competitive (anyone who knows a Choffin knows we are competitive)...it was so fun! definitely a repeat!

We came home, got the house all ready for Santa, and the kids even set out their favorite (no egg or milk) cookies. Next year, we are definitely making donuts for him...the kids were so excited to do that...good thing they roll with it. They all signed the letter and were very excited. It was nice to have Christmas Eve be a good night of sleep too.

So here's to some new traditions, some old traditions and one great Chrsitmas Eve.

Early December

Chase has become the smootherer lately...but this was cute. Chase wasn't really asleep, and we can't do this with Evan anymore, since he's so wiggly, but thought I would snap a quick one with an ideal moment like this. Maybe I'll remember my children young like this instead of the busyness that I feel! :)

daddy got a new phone...so they've been playing angry birds all the time.

love you sweets.

Ok. So I'm REALLY behind here...but this is early December and the kids just hanging out. We went to Rexburg a few times and hung out with our cousins, attended all of our activities and kept pretty darn busy. I do admit that I have gotten used to Kelton being at school all day, so the break was nice, but a little tiresome trying to keep everyone busy and playing nicely. I do miss him being home eachday tho. Its bitter sweet. Maybe I'll just keep him home on his sweet days. :)

Between shopping the sales and getting our Needy Families done for Christmas, I was really super glad that we did a "mommy store" for the kids getting each other gifts. It saved a TON of time and requests while walking down all the isles. I admist, I didn't take a ton of photos...we saved that for our vacation time! :)

Christmas Card 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010!!!



LOVE,
the jansen's
Kelton (6), Chase (4), Taelin (2), Evan (4 months)

Happy December!

the kids on the 19th of dec...christmas dress and all. evan was sleeping. still getting used to taking a "kids pic" with him! :)

So, its been a while since I have gotten on blogger, and my oh my did I have a sour attitude last post! I don't remember being as annoyed and rude as it came across...so I apologize for my awnriness and thanks to Erika for the sweet words.

We can only run as fast as we are able right?! Even tho, sometimes I wish I could fly. But then I am sure I would miss all these sweet moments "walking" with these little guys.

Life is so much better seen thru their eyes. I am learning, and I hope to learn more quickly in the future. I have learned that if I am having a bad day, immerse myself in them, and my day so quickly turns around. Kelton told me I was beautiful today and he loved my hair. How precious those words are to me, and how quickly I could have strugged him off when my "busy" errands were on my mind.

I'm thinking SIMPLICITY is going to be my 2011 challenge. I am always trying to go too big and over the top. I am grounded by those around me, reminding me that if you won't remember it in 100 years, its not worth it. So, sorry that Christmas letters didn't get out this year, I was wayyy too stressed about it. I figured I won't remember the year 2010 I forgot. I'm hoping at least! :)

So, here's to a stress free holiday! Remebering the real reason, our Lord and Savior and his life. I am blessed to be entrusted with this children to direct home to our Father in Heaven. I am so blessed. So blessed for peace, a home, my husband's job, 4 healthy children, loving family and some great friends. Simple, think Simple. That's my goal.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES (graham crackers and all...sooo yummy!)

my oh my how time has flown with this sweetie. he's a blessing. such a mellow jello that reminds me of all the good things in life.

Thanksgiving in Arizona!

I know I am always super behind these days. Oh well, for the two of you that read this, suck it up. That's my mood today, I really could care less. That's why I am sitting in my pj's and so glad that my children are all playing well together. When they come to me b/c one of them got hurt, I simply say I am sorry they are hurt, kiss it and off they go. I have nothing left, this headache is taking it all.

We drove down to Page, AZ. for Thanksgiving. It was an orginially 10 hour drive, on the way down we took an hour in Cedar City and got lost one hour (thankyou, or no thank you mapquest). But on the way down, Evan slept 10 hours!!!! (one being awake at mcdonalds) and on the way home to Idaho, he slept 8 1/2 out of the 10 hours! He was AMAZING and with the help of Mr. DVD player, and some new dvd's the kids all did great! We brought the little "potty seat" for Taelin, and that was a life saver in the middle of southern Utah. Wew!!!! The poor little boys had to bare it all in the wind! :)

We were there for just over a week (our stay was extended due to the flu, so other than that- it was an excellent trip!). We visited the Glen Canyon Dam, took a few small hikes, visited with Courtney's family who were also visiting, visited Kyle's soccer practice, went to a Page High School basketball game (its in our blood) and went to the Grand Canyon! It was a very fun week. We kept our tradition of turkey cookies, altho they were slightly different this year. We tried to keep it all dairy free. We let the kids watch supervised Avatar and Kelton was in LOVE.

Overall, we loved being there! We wished they lived closer...but are so happy for them to have good jobs! And we get a great reason to travel south into the warm...