Lexie's Blessing

Kayci, Jake, Karlee, Lexie, and Abby all smiles on our way to church to bless Lexie!

 

Two of my nieces, Brooklyn and Madi, stayed the night with us the night before the blessing.  The girls had a blast playing with their dolls and hanging out with each other.

 

Our growing family.

 

Grandpa Reed and Lexie

 

Great Grandma Peterson and Lexie

 

Great Grandma and Grandpa Clayton and Lexie

Memorial Day weekend we had the opportunity to bless Alexa amongst many family members and friends.  (We had 60 people at our house after and realize just how small our house really is!)  Layne gave Lexie a wonderful blessing.  The spirit was very strong and Layne was brought to tears several times while trying to give the blessing.  It was amazing to have so many priesthood holders around her during the blessing.  Layne had 4 brothers and a brother-in-law plus his dad.  I had 2 bothers in law, 2 grandpa's, and my step dad. Thirteen total with the bishop and Layne.  We're so thankful they were all there.  I had decided to make Lexie's dress a couple of months before and I was really happy with how it turned out.  The whole day was just really beautiful, even though the weather didn't really cooperate.  I am so thankful to have Lexie in our family and so thankful to be part of two amazing families!

Working on the Fence

Layne and Jared working in the lovely Idaho weather.  It snowed so hard they had to quit twice because they couldn't hold on to the screws any more.

 

Layne, the perfectionist, making sure each board is right where he wants it.

 

Jared was such amazing help, thanks!

 

Making progress, slowly but surely.

We have been wanting to put in a fence for a few years now, but it seems like something else always took precedence.  However, once the snow finally melted this year and we watched Jake go back to the ditch behind our house over and over again, it was evident we were going to have to get the fence in right away.  So the week after Lexie was born, Layne and Jared dug the holes (not an easy job in Rigby) and the project progressed from there.  Most mornings Layne would go out at 6:00 a.m. before work and try to get a little bit done and then when he got home he'd work until dark.  After four weeks of horrible weather, a lot of early mornings and late nights, and lots of help from family and friends, he finally finished the fence.  I had really hoped it would be done for Lexie's blessing and with the help of Brian, Alex, and Mike it was completed the day before.  We can't thank them as well as Jared and Don for all the time they put in on the fence.  Matt even came up to help finish up the gates.  All we have left is the staining.  It sure is nice to be able to let the kids play and not worry about them going where they could get hurt.  Thanks everybody! 

Lexie's First Few Weeks and Another Birthday

Great Grandpa Kinghorn came to see Lexie

The kids helping me give Lexie a bath

She likes to be bundled up in her swing with her hands by her face

Karlee and Andy at FHE, they really are best friends

My one birthday picture, good shot Abbs!

It has been three weeks now since Lexie was born, and we are still working on getting into some kind of routine.  She really is a good baby besides not sleeping too much at night.  The kids love to hold her and have been a huge help.  We still can't decide who she looks like but I think she is favoring Kayci except that she always has the same scowl that Karlee did when she was born.  Jake calls her Yucky because he can't say his L's or X's yet, but it is still cute and he really loves her.  He gets really worried when he doesn't know where she is.  She had a checkup last week and is up to 6 lbs. 10 oz., so she is growing great.  We love having her in our home.

In the middle of all this baby business and mother's day, I had another birthday.  I turned 32 this year and it's kind of like Layne's mom says - they're really all downhill after 8!  I had a great birthday, though.  We had my family over for FHE on Monday and Layne made me a cake.  My family all really spoiled me and on Tuesday I heard from so many friends and family.  Thanks everybody for a great day!

Mother, Daughter Tea Party

All dolled-up in our fancy hats to go the party

She really is beautiful!

Abby and best friend Brylei

Abby and Taylor making their lip gloss

Abbs and mom with the finished lip gloss product - it was a lot of fun!

The day before Mother's Day, Abby invited me to go to her Mother, Daughter Tea Party.  It was a fancy hat party, so we borrowed some old fancy hats from my grandma and went to the party which was so much fun.  We made lip gloss and beaded bracelets as well as had a light lunch.  It was so fun to be with just Abby for a little while.  She is such a beautiful young lady and I really would be lost without her.  She helps me so much and brings so much joy in to our home.  I love it when she gets laughing and can't stop.  She can get us all laughing just listening to her.  She has such a strong testimony and really tries to do what is right all the time.  I wish I could have been as strong as her when I was her age.  Thanks for a wonderful day, Abbs!  I love you!

Mother's Day

My amazing mom and sisters who are all amazing moms, too!

Big Hug for Mother's Day!

Heidi and Lexie - this is Heidi's first Mother's Day

Grandma Reed in her new apron with the grandkids

Layne with his mom and the kids.  I've never met a man who loves his mom as much as Layne does.  She is a great blessing in our lives!

When I signed up to be a mother, I obviously had no idea what I was getting myself in to.  Five children later, I realize I'm just beginning to catch a glimpse of how much I have been blessed and how much I truly love this calling in life.  I have five wonderful, beautiful children who make me so happy.  I don't know what I would do without them.  I also have a wonderful mother who has given up so much for me and my sisters.  She is an inspiration to me.  Her ability to love unconditionally makes me aspire to be just like her. 

I had a wonderful mother's day.  Layne had early meetings, so I was totally surprised to be woken up by the girls serving me breakfast in bed (all on their own).  They had prepared a little tray with cereal and juice and all the little gifts they had made for me.  It was a very special morning.  They thought it was especially funny when I spilled my breakfast all over my bed!  When Layne got home he had a few other little gifts for me.  He is incredibly thoughtful and was proud to know his girls had done exactly what he would have done had he been here.  I was able to take the kids to sacrament meeting while Layne stayed home with Lexie and then switched me.  I was so proud to sit in church with those amazing kids and realize just how blessed I am.  After church we had my mom and Don over for dinner and then headed to Holly's for dessert with my sisters.  We then were able to run up to Sugar to see Layne's mom.  We made both grandma's aprons that said, "Hands Down Our Grandma is Best."  The aprons had little handprints and names for each grandchild.  They turned out way cute and they both really liked them.  It really was a great day!

Alexa Ricky Kinghorn has finally arrived!

Alexa Ricky Kinghorn

Born at 8:22 a.m., April 23, 2010

Probably the easiest delivery I've ever had!

Proud papa of #5

He loves his little girls!

They brought Lexie back all dolled-up.  Isn't she beautiful!

The kids couldn't wait to come see her.

Jake was very excited (I don't know if it was for the baby or just to have his picture taken)

I can hardly believe he's not the baby anymore.

Grandma and Grandpa Kinghorn stayed with the kids that day.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

We had lots of visitors:

Great Grandma and Grandpa Clayton and Great Aunt Sharee

Heidi, Holly, Grandma Reed, Great Aunt Jeanine, Great Grandma Peterson, and Great Aunt Jody

(They were all in town for my cousin Cassie's bridal shower)

Brittany, Taryn and Lexie

Trey and Lexie

Our wonderful friends the Anderson's - Laura and Lyndel

We are so excited and thankful to welcome the newest little Kinghorn to our family.  Alexa Ricky Kinghorn was born Friday, April 23, 2010 at 8:22 a.m. in Idaho Falls.  She weighed 6 lbs. 3 oz. and was 19 inches long.  She is our tiniest baby by just an ounce under Karlee.  She was due on April 27th but on Tuesday of that week I called the doctor to see if we could schedule to go on Friday just for the sake of planning.  I was worried about farming out four other children, getting them to school, and making sure they were taken care of.  Luckily Layne's parents had the whole day off from the temple and were able to come stay Thursday night and be with the kids all day Friday.  We were supposed to go in to the hospital at 6:30 a.m. on Friday but about 2:00 a.m. I started having contractions about 15 minutes apart and then eventually 10 minutes apart.  I woke Layne up just before 4:00 a.m. and told him I wasn't going to make it to 6:00.  Just as he got out of the shower, my water broke.  So we left Layne's parents a note and headed in to the hospital.  When I got to the hospital, the nurse ordered the epidural and I basically didn't feel anything.  All it took was a half of a push and it was all over. 

Alexa is perfect in every way and we feel so blessed to have her in our home.  The kids have been so excited about her coming and now that she's here, they have been absolutely wonderful help!  They were all instrumental in naming her.  In fact, it's a good thing I like her name because I would have been easily out voted.  Her middle name is special to me because it honors my dad.  I had decided long before we knew the sex of this baby that it's middle name would be Ricky.  When we found out it was a girl, it just seemed even more right to give her his name.  I hope he's proud of me and the decisions I have made.  I love and miss him and wish he were here to be a part of this time in my life, but I know he's watching over us. 

I love my not so little family so much.  I was really unsure about having baby number five, but there is no doubt in my mind that our family would not be complete without Alexa!  I thank my Heavenly Father for blessing me with such an amazing husband and "5" amazing kids!

Easter, Easter

Jake was very excited to use his new football Easter basket

 

Kayci hits the jackpot!

Karlee finding her treasures hidden on the piano.

The kids after their morning Easter egg hunt.

Kayci, Andy, Max, Annabelle, Jake, Abby, Karlee, and Taryn at Grandma Reed's Easter egg hunt Sunday afternoon.

Jake was super excited to run around Grandma's yard and find eggs

Kayci lovin' the eggs and the sunshine!

I love Easter when it falls on General Conference weekend.  I love being able to just relax with family, enjoy the messages of conference, and give thanks for the remarkable gift of the resurrection.  The morning started out with a simple visit from the Easter bunny which the kids had really been looking forward to.  Before they had their egg hunt, we all sat on Layne and I's bed and talked about the last week of the Savior's life and the blessings we have because of His sacrifice.  It really gave us a chance to contemplate why we celebrate Easter and I am always amazed at how much the children know and understand.  After the kids egg hunt and breakfast we all looked forward to another day of listening to the leaders of our church share their messages of the gospel.  They were truly wonderful.  After conference we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Reed's for Easter dinner and the kids egg hunt.  Greg and Cara were able to come up from Pocatello and be with all us girls and our families.  It was and always is fun to be together.  Mom my is an amazing host.  It really was a great day!