Stepping on Legos

The Many Hats of Jonny

2011-10-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

Jonny loves hats.

At Legoland

At home while playing with his dudes. He got this Magician's hat from a birthday party and he wore it everywhere for weeks.


At the Train Park. He made this crown at the Library Story Time, and insisted on wearing it.

In the Car. A hard hat also acquired from a birthday party.

At the Father's & Son's Campout.

What can I say--the boy likes to accessorize!

Shopping

2011-10-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made the mistake of taking all of the kids to the store with me. We had had a busy morning, I baked muffins and pumpkin rolls in the morning, we had made it to the 9:30 class at the gym, and I just needed to grab a few things at the store before we headed home.

So I found myself at Costco, in my sweaty work-out clothes wrestling 3 children who were all attempting to escape out of the cart. Finally, I just let them walk. It was slow going, and before long I was getting looks from fellow shoppers. A few smiles and "oh your kids are so cute". A few impatient glances and one "Ugh..who's kids are these?"

Fair enough. Kate had been walking slowly and crookedly in front of their cart, and they were probably feeling as impatient as I do when I am driving behind an obviously drunk driver. I grabbed my groceries as quickly as I could but of course to get from the groceries to the checkout, you have to pass by the new Christmas Isles. My kids ran straight towards the decorations and toys.

Jonny immediately found a dump truck that made a loud noise and shook when you pressed the button on its side. He recruited Ben and Kate and the three started pushing every single button they could reach. Before long the whole isle was loud and vibrating. An older couple squeezed past my kids. They looked like they were doing some early Christmas shopping for their grandchildren. I looked up to apologize for my kids standing in the way. The sweet white-haired Grandma looked at me, smiled and said, "These are the golden years...you will miss your children being young when they are grown." And with that, I simultaneously felt like laughing out loud, and crying.

It was definitely nap time...for all of us.

Four Generations Strong

2011-04-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

Kate Elise, Me, My Mom--Kandee, My Mom's Mom--Grandma Button

Easter

2011-04-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Easter this year was celebrated with all of the Button cousins at Grandma Button's house.


Hyrum Hatch, Seth Godfrey, Thomas Hatch, Benjamin, Hannah Godfrey & Carley Carpenter lining up for the egg hunt.

Mike likes to "help".

He may or may not get a little competitive. Read: "Hey look Ben, there's one over there."

"Come over here Ben, let's see what you found"

"Hmmmm....this is looking pretty scarce, I bet we could do better than that."

"Let's see your basket Seth, yea you don't need so much candy. I'll take some of that off your hands."

hahahaha Busted.

Happy Easter!

Branch Fiesta

2011-03-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Branch attempts to fit as many Fiestas into the calendar as is humanly possible.

What can I say, we like to party!

Uncle Joe & Aunt Maren

And within those Fiestas, the Branch attempts to fit in as much entertainment as is humanly possible.

And you better believe that the entertainment is not only reserved for the kids.

Hermano Covarubia, Presidente Alvarado, Mike, Joe

Aunt Maren playing Musical Chairs

El Cumplianos de La Sociadad de Socorro

2011-03-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

Las Hermanas

I love these women.

Back Row: Erica Vasquez, Rosura Serrano, Alma Duran, Maria Contreras Maricruz Curiel, Me, Isabel..., Norma Alvarado

Front Row: Debbie, Karina Curiel, Monica Fajaro, Monica's Mom, Isabel's 2 granddaughters, Maren McKellar

Melanie & Henry's Wedding

2011-03-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Seesters (and a brother)

Mike bonding with Camille's baby Maddie

Gila Valley Temple

2010-05-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we tagged along with the Young Men on a trip to the temple open house.

On Friday we went through the Temple. It was absolutely beautiful. Their chandelier is the most spectacular thing I have seen.

Off the Charts

2010-04-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

When Baby Kate turned 2 months old she went in to her monthly Dr. check-up. At a whooping 13 pounds and 25 inches she is off the charts for her growth. I love chubby babies!!!!!

Here she is!!!

2010-03-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

I have lived just 27 years and 1 month and I have it all...A handsome husband, two beautiful boys and now a baby girl!!!

Ms. Kate Elise Tejada was born February 22 (right smack on her due date) at 1:45 in the afternoon.

Now, in my family there are basically 2 schools of thought on the best way to deliver a baby. The first is championed by my father, who insists that pain medication slows labor and you should wait as long as possible to check into the hospital because labor is much faster when you are able to get up and walk around.

This is me at about 11: 45 in the hospital parking lot right before we checked in.

On the other hand there is my Aunt Trulee, who 2 weeks before my delivery told me that she thought it best to go to the hospital as soon as she felt a few regular contractions in a row, and tell the nurse immediately that she was in horrible pain (even if she wasn't) so they would administer pain medication right away.

Note to future self: Listen to the one who has delivered 7 children!!!!!

This is Kate about 2 hours later. She came FAST! Too fast, in fact, for any type of medicine. This was my first (and hopefully only) all natural delivery. Mike was smart to turn the camera towards our precious new baby and away from me because I was just about as angry as she was at this point. Women don't lie when they say that it hurts!!!!

Women also don't lie, though, when they say that you soon forget the pain. This is a much happier me taken a few hours later after I had eaten my after-delivery snack. Who knew that fruit and cottage cheese could taste so good?

Ms. Kate all dressed up and ready to go home and see her brothers.

Welcome to the world Ms. Kate!!!

Sewing Project #3

2010-02-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

Because we are expecting our precious new baby Kate ANY DAY I decided to make a baby quilt for her. Anything to keep my mind off of still being huge and pregnant. My inspiration was this quilt made and posted on the Moda Bake Shop web site.

http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/02/baby-life-quilt.html

Sorry I don't know how to show the pictures from other websites yet. Here is the unfinished top of my version of the blanket.

The backing is going to be the pink cloth off to the side. The colors are a bit bold, but so fun.

Joy School Christmas Play

2009-12-18T16:43:00.001-08:00

(benjamin--handsome little wise man)

(stephanie, chase, benjamin)

(stephanie and benjamin)

(benjamin and chase)

Halloween

2009-10-31T23:30:00.000-07:00

So for Halloween, Benjamin decided he wanted everything superhero. Mike helped him carve his pumpkin into an "X-Men/Spiderman" pumpkin.

After which they both decided together that Benjamin should be wolverine for Halloween.

Yup. This is my sweet baby boy in a wife-beater. Mike couldn't be persuaded otherwise though. The costume had to be perfect. Since Mike chose Ben's costume, I was allowed to decide on Jonny's. I found the cutest little Hershy's Kiss at the store and forced the poor little boy into it. He hated it.

So off we went on Friday--day before Halloween--to our ward Trunk-or-Treat. Ben's costume was, of course, the hit of the party. And poor Jonny squirmed the whole time in his costume and was twice mistaken for a baby Girl.

So the next night, for Halloween night Mike insisted that Jonny sport a more manly costume. So he went as a lumberjack--whiskers and all. Needless to say all of my boys were much more happy.

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Birthday.....

2009-08-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

To our favorite Uncle in Australia. I am just surrounded by handsome men in my family.

Arizona Rain

2009-08-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

The summer after my Senior year in high school, I went up to BYU with my two best friends, Whitney and Katie. One beautiful Utah night, it began to rain. While all of our new friends groaned and complained, Whitney, Katie and I promptly ran out and began dancing and playing in the rain. Our new friends all thought we were crazy.

But anyone who has lived through an Arizona summer knows that rain is something to celebrate. So this morning--that is what my boys and I did.

Here's hoping that today is the beginning of the end.....the end of the summer heat that is.

Sunday Family Dinners

2009-08-09T22:23:00.000-07:00

Nothing is more comfortable than a Sunday family gatherings. This particular Sunday Mary was reading us David's latest report from the mission field, while Ann juggled baby Jake and Jonny roamed free around the house reeking havoc.

Later the conversation digressed into dreaming about our next family vacation. For some reason our conversations tend to drift that way quite frequently.

Meanwhile, Mike tries to keep Hyrum the Hurricane preoccupied with computer games.

And the newlyweds snuggle on the couch.

I love my family.

Birthday Boys

2009-07-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

The first week in July is a big one for our family. The 4th of July begins the week--after which we celebrate Michael's birthday which is then followed closely by Jonny's birthday. This year, we just filled the week with festivities. We started out taking the boys out for dinner on Mike's birthday. The birthday boys:

For Jonny's birthday 2 days later, he got to eat whatever he wanted for breakfast. Ben and Jonny both picked chicken nuggets for breakfast.

Then for a family outing to the mall. The boys got juice and cookies and a fun ride in the wagon.

But what birthday celebration would be complete without the Sunday family gathering?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Summer Nights

2009-06-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Last night, our boys did not want to go to sleep.

So today, I did not let them take late naps and we went swimming. Now by 7:30 PM, this is my peaceful life:

If only Jonny would follow suit.

Oh well, I'll take what I can get.

Big Shoes

2009-06-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

Benjamin is a very loving child. He adores our family and friends. But there is none that Benjamin admires as much as his Dad. Ben wants to be just like his dad when he grows up. He is always so excited when Mr. Tejada comes home, jumping up to run and meet him at the door. He loves to stay up way past his bedtime with his dad, both watching TV together while drinking Hot Chocolate and eating cheese toast on a napkin. He always wants his snacks set up properly--complete with a napkin, a spoon, and a cup of juice in the corner. Just like Dad. Ben has picked up some of his most hilarious and charming quirks from his dad. They even have their own inside jokes. When we are all sitting around the dinner table, Ben will sporadically hold up his cup--and Mr. Tejada knows just what to do--he holds his own cup up and they both declare "cheers!" Benjamin will also spout out quotes from his dad's favorite movie "Nacho Libre" on demand. Without fail, every time he sees corn, Ben says, "Save me some of 'dat corn for later". Ben will do almost anything to make his dad laugh or smile in pride. He wants to be just like his Dad. Ben sure has some big shoes to fill.

Livin' La Vida Loca

2009-06-17T20:11:00.000-07:00

I'm finding myself having to pause when someone asks me my age. It's pretty sad if you ask me, I know, and thank goodness I was born on an even year, 1980. That just makes it so much easier to calculate. I could blame it on the kids, on the stresses of a job, planning a career, finding the right home or maybe just nature taking its course. Whatever the reason for those synapses not to...well...synapse, I am quite coherent of the life I have lived thus far. May I say quite proud!
Megan and I are raising two wonderful, hilarious, handsome young boys who look nothing like their papa. I know you're thinking that's probably why they are such charming little people. I can't help it if my wife's genes shoot the moon every time but I'm still hoping for that Latin beauty that I know is within me. Either way, we can't go wrong because Megan is so darn cute. Ben, our oldest at 3, is a pretty comical character himself who is always down for a good laugh at the expense of someone else. Fall down on purpose and you can make him roll hysterically for hours. His curly hair and dimples make him a dead lock for Homecoming King one day. Finally dad can live out that dream through his child....I mean, let's talk about Johnny now.
So you would think that by naming one of your sons after one of your names (his first name is Jonathan which is my middle name), you would get something out of him that resembled you. All he got was my straight hair. The rest, yup, you guessed it, is from Megan. But he definitely is becoming his own little charming self. Our kids seem to have the human anomalies in their appearance; Ben has the dimples, Johnny has the "Kirk Douglas Chin" which Megan unattractively refers to as The Chimple. At least I have his birthday close enough to mine to remind me that I'm that much farther away from 1980.