Family

We sure are going to miss these guys!

This is Jeff's one and only brother Steve, his wife Tricia, and their girls Ashley, Megan, and Hannah. Steve joined the Army back in June. In June he left for boot camp. Straight from boot camp he went to tech school. He graduated tech school a month ago, and after almost a month of delays, he FINALLY came home late Thursday night. Yesterday we got together with Steve and family and Jeff's parents before they leave for Georgia on Tuesday morning. While we were all together, we took some pictures. I believe the last picture we have of all of us together is from our wedding almost 8 years ago!

Jeff's parents, Curtis and TeresaThe "original" Borders family

Brothers

See! Jeff gets his craziness from his side of the family. He tries to say he wasn't cray until he met me. I've never believed him, and now I have proof!
The "original" Borders family, with the two better parts, the daughter-in-laws.
Now with the six grand kids! Can you tell that the Borders' genes are very strong?

Grand kids with their Papa and Grandma


And of course we all had time to love on the newest addition....and to play....I think if they were not moving so far away, Megan would have moved in with us, just to hold Shiloh all the time. She would have soon realized that I don't share my baby well (never have with any of them). Just ask Mason. He is constantly asking to hold her. I tell him "in a minute", with not much intention of really giving her up. I'm sure Jeff would side with Mason on this one.
Shiloh with her Uncle Steve
Hannah the Knight
Slam dunk Coop!
Dr. Ashley with her patient, Cooper

What if....

I just love this picture of Cooper with Jeff's dad Curtis. What I don't love is what Cooper was asking him. I don't remember exactly what he was asking, but I do know it was a question that started with "What if". This is all we hear from these boys lately! What if a peanut butter ate a peanut butter? What if we were peanut butter? What if we ate this? What if we did that? What if, what if what if...
I would be one happy mommy if I never heard a "what if" question again. I know that will never happen though, so I guess I better get over it and be happy anyway.

Shiloh's quilt

Shiloh's quilt is done! If you remember, I picked out the material I wanted for Shiloh's bedding and asked my sister DeAnne if she would help me. She agreed. We, well, she got the skirt and the quilt pieces done before Shiloh was born. She took the quilt with her to the Tri-Cities to finish it. Someone she knows down there offered to quilt it for her for free. DeAnne came up to Spokane this week and brought the quilt with her. I love it. It is just what I wanted for my little miss Shiloh!

What I love about newborns

WOW! Shiloh is already one month old! Can you believe it? Yeah me neither. I really don't have anything "new" Shiloh is doing so I thought I'd post the things I love about newborns. Someone else posted the things they love about babies and I thought it was a great idea. Please comment and add the things you love too.

-The way they stretch when they wake up, arching their back and stretching their arms WAY out.
-The glazed over, almost drunk look they get one their face after nursing.
-The milk mustache/beard.
-Getting a good burp out of them after feedings.
-The noises they make while sleeping. Shiloh makes more noise while sleeping then she does when awake. No joke.
-The way they smell, esp after a bath.
-That they know their mom's voice from day one and will turn their head in the direction for their mom's voice.
-Their tiny toes.
-Their tiny hands.
-Well their tiny everything.
-They way they snuggle up on your chest and fall asleep.
-Their helpless little cry when they are hungry.
-Their soft skin.
-The first time they smile. And every smile after that too.
-Snuggling them.
-I love how perfect they are.
-I love thinking about how they just came to earth, just leaving the presence of our Father in Heaven.
-I love how much closer I feel to my Father in Heaven just after having a baby.

What do you get...

when you spend a whole day downtown with your kindergartner?

One tired Daddy and a little girl who missed him.

Kindergarten Field Trip

Last Thursday was Mason's all day field trip with the kindergarten classes at his school. We went downtown and had a sort of scavenger hunt. The above picture is Mason and his best friend Brennan, they were assigned to me during the trip. I was asked several times if they were twin brothers. Do you think they look alike?



All of Black Team lined up in front of the Bank of America building (supposedly the tallest building in Spokane) and our starting point.

Our group decided to head to the park first because the weather was actually nice and we feared it would rain later. Here we are crossing over a sky walk (one of our tasks).

We needed to stop in a department store, so here we are in Macy's. Mason needed a potty break too.

There were still ducks and geese down by the carousel.

We also had to feed the garbage eating goat, so here Mason is with the rest of his group, Brennan, Danika, Lacey, Macy and Catriona.

Feed that goat Mace!

Next on our list was sliding down the Big Red Wagon. It was a little wet, but that didn't deter us.

All the other kids lined up on the Spokane blocks except Mason. His butt was wet so he was standing with his butt to the sun to dry it off.

After the park we went to the mall and did some more of our list. Mason and Brennan didn't want to sit on Santa's lap (sorry no pic for that.) They were hungry so we went to eat. After lunch we went to the library, post office, and the Davenport hotel to see the Christmas trees. Here is my favorite. Bet you can't guess why.

After the Davenport Hotel, we went to the safari room at the Davenport Tower, and from there with very tired and hungry kids we went to a place called Madeleine's for a snack. On the way home Mason and Brennan sat in the middle section of the "springy bus". It spun when we turned the corner and they had so much fun.What a day. I am just glad I had the day off to go and spend with Mason.

Cooperina

I guess he wanted to be a pretty pretty princess like his baby sister.

Shiloh's baby blessing

Today was Shiloh's baby blessing. Shiloh's blessing was absolutely beautiful. Each baby blessing day has been very special to me. But this time it was a little different for a few reasons. ONE: She is a girl and I got a glimpse into how fun it can be to dress girls up, she looked like a little bride. TWO: The night before I went into the hospital to have Shiloh, Jeff and my Dad gave me a comfort blessing. After the blessing my Dad leaned down and told me about well...I guess you could call it an experience he had that involved Shiloh. What he told me took my breath away for a split second and almost made me cry. Which if you know me, it takes A LOT to make me cry. Don't ask me what he told me, I won't tell you as it is something that is too special to me to share. THREE: I am humbled each time as Jeff gives our new baby their blessing. Humbled at the tremendous love I feel from my Heavenly Father for me and my baby. With the arrival of each new baby I feel this overwhelming pressure to raise them right, to teach them to gospel, to do for them everything my Heavenly Father wants and needs me to do in order to help them return to him. When Jeff pronounces their blessing I am reminded that I can do all the things I feel pressured to do because if I couldn't, my Heavenly Father would not have entrusted these children to me.

Shiloh looked so beautiful in her dress! I couldn't help taking so many pictures of her in her dress.One big brother, who loves his "Shiloh Diloh".
I also had to get some of her dress without her in it to hopefully capture some of the details in her dress.

Our family of five.

Us with Jeff's mom and my parents.

Family that came for the blessing, minus Bill and Rachel who both had to leave early. Most of our family was not able to make it for one reason or another, sick kids at home, working, or out of town.

In Shiloh's blessing circle was:
Daddy
Grandpa Meador
Uncle Jared
Uncle Bill
Uncle Mike Leeds
Bishop Springer

Newborn Pictures

Last Saturday, November 27th, Shiloh had her first modeling photo shoot. The photos were taken by Cali Jenae Photography. Cali is the daughter of a wonderful couple in our ward. If you would like to check out her blog click: here. I love love love all the pictures I have seen so far and can't wait to see the rest. The hard part is going to be which ones to hang on the wall.

Look at those piggies poking through the yarn. LOVE IT!

Big Brother Lovin'

This modeling gig is so tiring.....yawn.

So which one is your favorite?

This is how...

Jeff has a snowball fight.
(sorry the video looks a little fuzzy, I shot it from inside the house in front of the screen)