Westover family!

This July on Pioneer day, my entire family got together for a little reunion of pictures and crabs and lots of family time! I have more pictures of the visit, but here are the pictures taken of our entire family. 2 parents, 4 children, 4 spouses, and 9 almost 10 grandchildren. (there is one in Aprils tummy that was too scared to come out when we were all there.) It was crazy though we had to bribe children with smarties to get them to stay in place and you can't tell from the picture but they were running all over the place. The poor photographer had to hurry and take the picture before another kid ran off.

The whole family at downs park. It was too sunny to take pictures of the whole group by the water, but they look beautiful regardless.


Grandma and Grandpa with all the grandkids. It was not easy to get all the kids to stay seated and look at the camera, smile ect...but this is the best. Only Caroline isn't looking.



Mom and Dad with their 4 lovely children. Everyone wore khakis, but Grandma refuses to wear khaki.


Me and my siblings.

Craftiness!

So I finally downloaded all 500 or so pictures that were on my camera for the past 4 months. So it is gonna be blog overload. I apologize. Plus now I have more free time to blog now that Caroline is in school, though I am sure I should be doing more productive things with my time like dishes. Anywho I have been working on several knitting projects. mostly hats and blankets. Everyone I know is having a baby. Everyone just had a girl this summer except one friend and now this winter and spring everyone I know is having a boy! So I have to go pick out some cute boy colored yarns. Anywho here are some pictures of the progress of my latest ones. Some of these babies have been born already but you know how I roll.

This one was so slow. It was hard at first, but then I got the hang of it. But it was very tedious. It looks nice, but I will never make this one again. Now if I could just mail it to the baby it is for who is almost 2 months old now.

Yes if this one looks familiar you aren't seeing things. I have been working on this one forever now. I have promised it to someone now so I really need to get going. I have made a little more progress since this pictures, but this is also a slow moving one and also tedious and just hard in general. But definitly will be one of the most beautiful ones I have made I think.

I really like this one, but if you can't tell from the picture...I have messed up a lot on this one. There isn't anything particularly hard abou this one and it actually goes by pretty fast. I have actually gotten much further on it than this picture, but for some reason it is sooo easy to mess up on. I just think it has too many steps. When there are too many steps I start to get them confused, but I think I have worked out all the kinks and should be smooth sailing from her on out...considering this baby was born almost a month ago. Opps.

There are others I am working on but either I haven't shown them to the people recieving them yet or they aren't far enough along for a good picture. I am teaching a lady in our ward how to knit on thur for a personal progress project. I am so excited. I love to share the joys of knitting!!!

First Day of School!

So we sent Caroline off to school today. It was hard I am not gonna lie. Well only for me. Caroline had no problems and even told me she didn't want me to come have lunch with her. She is growing up too fast. I was good though I didn't cry in front of her. Everytime I was in the car today I would look back and panic for a second cause Caroline wasn't there, but then I remembered oh yeah she's at school. I still can't believe this is happening even though she is already gone. I guess I just didn't prepare myself enough for this day. Who knows you all are probably thinking I'm crazy. Well I hope she had fun and I should be on my way to go pick her up.

1st Day of School

Daddy and Caroline

Jack wanted to do his school work too. hehe he was being so funny and cute this morning. We ran around all day today so i don't think he has had time to miss Caroline yet, but I enjoy my time with my little man. It's so weird to just have one again. I used to have to think so much about Caroline when planning our activities but now I only have to think about Jack and the things he would like to do. I think we will both enjoy this time we have together...but I still miss my baby girl.

One year of blogging!

I just noticed that I have had this blog for a year now. So I figured in honor I should actually blog something. I have posted 26 blogs though. I'd say thats pretty good more than once a month. I know I know I said I would do it once a week, but obviously that didn't work out too well. Anywho I guess I can give everyone a quick update on the kiddies and everything that is happening around here. Caroline just turned 4 in June. I can't believe it and she is going to start all day pre-K in two weeks. Oh goodness how did this happen. She is so smart, too smart for her own good. Last Sunday her Sunbeams teacher told me they were having a lesson on saying you are sorry and she asked Caroline, "If you get mad and push down your little brother, what should you say?" Caroline responded with, "Tell Mommy he fell down by himself." Oh goodness and whenever he cries from the other room and I ask, "Why is Jack crying?" and Caroline responds, "He just fell down by himself." So we had a family home evening about lying. I don't know if she totally understands, but she will tell on herself now if she lies and calls us out if we lie. They notice everything you do. It is amazing. You think your kid isn't watching but they are and they will know you are full of it if you say one thing and do another. That is one of my biggest challenges as a mom. To always be a good example to my daughter. Why should she not yell if I get angry and yell? Why would she say thank you and please and talk politely if I don't speak to her that way? It is the suttle things sometimes. I know some believe that you are the parent and they should respect you blah blah blah...but I think they are people too and deserve to be treated the way you would like to be treated. It's hard though. Hopefully I don't screw them up too much. I try to remember that they are special gifts from our Heavenly Father and try to think how he would have them raised and how he is with his children. Because he and Jesus Christ are out ultimate examples. Anyway, Mr. Jack is getting so big. He is walking very well now. And he only says few things, but is very well at communicating and knows some sign language and he knows where his belly button, nose, ears, and hair is. He is so cute and sweet and loving. He is kinda naughty too and is in the hitting and pushing phase. Hopefully he grows out of it as Caroline did. It is hard to help a 1 year old understand why you can't hit/push. But he will give hugs afterward and he puts his head on you. Thats how he shows love. He is so cuddly, I love it! Anyway we had lots of fun this summer and hopefully once I get all the picture down loaded I can blog all about it. But now I have to start to get into a routine with school and everything. Hopefully I can get here there on time. Here are a few more recent pictures of the little monkeys too and other happenings.

This is the picture that was in the Waco tribune. Taken at the fireworks in gatesville on July 3rd!

Super fun night. We saw a random guy get hit by a car in the parking lot right in front of us, by a poor old lady. He was fine of couse she was probably only going 5 miles per hour and that dude wasn't watching where he was going. So it was actually pretty funny. I am sure that poor old lady was saying to her husband, "uh oh they are taking our lisence for sure now."

Jack and Caroline in the pool in the back yard. Now the dogs pool.

Me and a few of my YW at girls camp. Now I know I said I wouldn't post these photo's but I don't think that any of them will notice hehe. I love them and love to show them off! And they looked so beautiful without any make up on and were so happy and filled with the spirit when I came to get them.

Last blanket I finished, back in May. Actually finished it before the baby was born. I gave it to my friend Janis who had a baby girl successful VBAC. So proud of her! This was by far the funnest blanket I have made. I love how it looks like a quilt. I have several in the works and will post pics of my progress once I get those photos downloaded.

Caroline waiting for her turn to show off her gymnastics skills. She did gymnastics and at the end of the classes they had a big showcase. She did so well and loved it. I don't know if we will continue though with her starting school, but I can continue to teach here things at home.

Caroline doing her handstand. Probably her least favorite of all the skills she practiced. She would always try to skip in during practices.

Jack after Ryan took him to get his hair cut at the army barber. They cut all my little boys hair off, but he looked like a little man and now he gets it down all the time and everytime we cut it he gets blonder and blonder.