Joy comes in Small Packages!

Well, I guess the Holidays are coming to an end. We've unwrapped every last gift, drank the last sips of eggnog, and uncinched our belts for those expanding waistlines. I have to say it has all been worth it. My four little ones were just a joy this Christmas season.
Each one of them believing in the magic of Christmas (Tommy still might be a little small.) and wanting to share in giving gifts to family and friends, but mostly trying their hardest to be good in hopes that they wouldn't be giftless Christmas morning. I don't know what I'm going to do without the threat of Santa not coming. Here are some of my favorite Holiday moments.
1. Advent Calenders-Just the little store bought ones my kids always want and I never buy. They all got one this year after about a week they realized that the chocolate in those cheap calenders was yucky. They then would just ask me how many more day until Christmas. I guess I'll never have to buy those again.
2. Christmas shopping with the kids. They had so much fun picking out gifts for the names drawn in our own family and for cousins. This time because they have earned a little money I made them each contribute a dollar to each gift. Wow. It amazed me at how much more they felt excited to give those gifts.
3. Decorating with my kids. I did most of the decorating on my own, but they loved to help when they felt like it. I laughed when charlie had put a few dinosaurs on our Christmas tree and Bella kept putting little nick-nacks everywhere. I never knew how a little girl could be so much more into the decorating. It's been fun and a little cluttered. I have to say they were also really good little gingerbread house decorators too.
4. Watching the kids participate in acting out the nativity for both mine and Rich's families. They looked so cute dressed up for their parts and Bella did such an angelic job reciting her angel part to the sheperds. I hope that they remember with all the hustle and bustle the true meaning of Christmas.
5. Of course we had fun opening presents and seeing the kids feeled with excitement. But we also has fun visiting Santa, visiting Temple square and seeing the lights, going to a few Christmas events put on by the city, driving around looking at Christmas lights, making hot chocolate, making eggnog, making chocolate covered pretzles, making gingerbread men. I guess I'm beginning to see why our pants are a bit snug, but that's why we have New Year's resolutions right?
We are so greatful for a wonderful Christmas with family and friends, but especially with our four sweet kids who really are such a JOY!

A Fab' Fall!

I can't believe how quickly time is flying by. We have been in our home for three months now and it's really starting to feel like home. We have been busy still getting home organized, but mostly with school, soccer, scouts, piano, family vacations, and just playing a lot. Maybe that why we're still getting organized

My kids loved dressing up for Halloween and all the festivities and candy. I loved dressing them up too and helping them look the part.
In early November we took a trip to California with most of my family. It was wonderful-perfect weather, great days at Disneyland, San Diego, and Laguna beach. We have been going each year for the past four years. We may have to start going a little less frequently, but we sure do love it.



We loved seeing a lot of our family on Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for them and the many ways in which we are blessed. So with that Christmas here we come!

Star Struck- With My Little Ones!

I have always thought my children were darling, but that's because they are mine. However, I have had quite a few people tell me James looks like a young Taylor Lautner and Charlie like a little Matt Damon. Wow, what babes and sooo tough! I still think my boys are even better looking, but again that's because they're mine. Well, we now have little Thomas in the boy mix. Who is he going to look like? My sister once thought Harrison Ford- I think in his more youthful Han Solo days. We got pictures of Tommy last week. Who do you think he looks like?

Rich and I laughed when we saw this picture. We both thought he looked like a little Chris Farley. Maybe it's the double chin the hand kind of on his hip I don't know, but we were reminded of "Tommy Boy" (a nickname we use). I guess none of the other pictures look as much like the funny comedian, but if he makes us laugh as much as Chris Farley did we should have some fun days ahead.




I'm so thankful for this precious, sweet and maybe funny little guy and for the big boys and Bella. (As a side note we think Bella looks like Repunzle aside from the 70 foot long hair, which she is determined to grow out) I'm thankful to be blessed with these great children who fill our days with a little more craziness and a lot more love. Thanks Patience for your awesome and affordable photography skills.

There's no Place like Home

We have had a lot of change in the last couple of months. With all the change and craziness updating my blog came in complete last place. So I guess you could say we are finally settling in and life is settling down.
Our biggest change was finally finding a place to call home. After making offers on two different homes and losing them because we couldn't sell ours we finally sold our home in April without a place to go. I guess we had a place to go. We hunkered in with my Mom and Dad. Which could be a whole other blog post. I'll just say it was wonderful and blog about it later. We stayed with them for four months and house shopped to no avail. Except for one short/long sale that didn't seem to budge. It was okay though because neither Rich or I wanted it to budge. We just kept waiting and hoping that another house would come along that we would just love.
We decided to go through an older home in my parents ward, which was a great home, but not unlike the home we sold. We were hoping for something bigger. When we left that house showing, Rich said he liked the house across the street. It wasn't for sale. Three days later I picked up James from a friend and drove home down that street and that house had a for sale sign up. Well, the rest is history. I guess that's what they say. We got the house on August 22nd. Everything just worked out without a glich. Which was not the case with any other house. We feel very looked out for and so grateful to be in a home that we are thrilled about.
I guess the rest of the change comes with the territory and mostly for the kids. New school, new ward, new stake, new friends and really just new territory. They have handled it all wonderfully. It surprises me that moving probably less than a mile away can cause such newness for us all. I'm glad that the kids still can call old friends and really it is not so hard to get them together.
We're grateful to have a place to call home and such a beautiful and safe neighborhood to raise our children. and yes we are even in my parents ward, which might really come in handy.

It's Great to be Eight!

We are so proud of James and his decision to be baptized. I have had so many friends tell me what a special day it was to have their son or daughter baptized. Not that I didn't believe them, but it really was a special day. I guess better than expected.

Rich and I decided to start the day by going to the temple, so early, the 0600 session. It was a nice way to start the day and for me it's been a while with little Tommy. Then we got ready for the baptism. We decided to have an open house at In-and-Out Burger, which we thought may be crazy, but they have an outside pavilion, so it actually was fun-we could actually visit. What I loved about it was we did not have to worry about food and cleaning in the morning we just prepared for the baptism and helped James.

Our stake does baptisms by ward so it ended up just being James. Our family got to put on the entire program. It was fun to have our families give talks, do musical numbers, and everything else. We had all of our families there excluding cute Jon and Rachelle in New York. We missed them. We are so thankful for our wonderful supportive families.

We are so thankful for James. He has been a joy in our family and a great example to his younger brothers and sister. Now if this growing up thing could just slow down a bit.

Such Blessings!

We had an extra special Easter this year as in coincided with our little Tommy's baby blessing.

We have had a few crazy weeks in our family. We moved out of our home of the last four and a half years. Sadly, the home we were trying to get sold before we sold ours, but we decided in this market we should go through with our sale and hope that we find our dream home. So we're in transition and staying with my parents. It has been fun so far. Maybe, this is our dream home. Ha! I'm sure my parents will be glad to get rid of wild children after a few more weeks. Moving was hard and I'm so glad to have it done. So after a few crazy weeks it was so nice to enjoy our baby and so many wonderful family members that came to celebrate with us.

Tommy is now 2 months old and weighs in at 12lbs 7oz. He has been such a sweet baby, a pretty good sleeper, and I think he is easy going (maybe the fourth baby has to be) He has started smiling at us. We all love to get a cute, dimpled smile from him. Rich say that Tommy looks at me like he's in love with me. Well, it's mutual we have a little bond me and this cute boy. He melts my heart with his charming smile. We all adore him and I'm thankful for the way he makes us all a little sweeter. I love to hear my big boys talk to him in high pitched baby talk voices.
And Bella is turning into quite the little Mom as she like to help with baths and even diaper changes. (She just gets the wipes) She can't go by him right now because she has a bad cough, This has proved to be very difficult for her. She love to hold his hands and hold his little face in her hands. We are so thankful for this cute boy. He really has been such a blessing to us.

One Month Already?

I can't believe how quickly time goes by with these little ones. Tommy is one month old today. He has been such a wonderful addition to our home. James says that one of his favoite things about Tommy is his sweet little smiles and he of course wants to hold him as soon as he walks in from school. Charlie just thinks Tommy is all around cute! And Bella thinks it is pretty cool that all he eats or drinks is milk. We really are all fasinated with this dimply, darling boy. We Love you Tommy!

Welcome Baby Tommy!

Thomas Redd Oborn has arrived. Weighing 8 pounds 1 oz and 21 1/2 inches in length. Today he is two weeks old. We are loving having him in our home. I think his sweet little spirit brings a little more peace in our home and has created so much happiness. Our kids are all just in awe of this little brother and so are we. We sure love him!

The Family I love, love, love! and one more to come.

We are all anticipating baby number four. I think especially me. All of our babies have come at 39 weeks, so I've told my kids it will come about Valentine's Days. But as they realized that yesterday was Valentine's, and still Mom had a growing, moving belly and the house was short of a cooing, crying baby, they all started to ask why baby wasn't here yet. I'm wondering too. I now feel overdue. I thought I only had 39 week pregnancies. I'll try to be patient, but time is definitely moving slower. We are so excited to add another special little person to our home coming soon!

Bella is curious about baby. I apparently need to make it look more enticing and magical because she has commented, "I dont want to grow up and have children", while looking at my tummy. She does carry her dolls around with the name of "Tommy" and takes care of them. I think she'll change her mind, say twenty years down the road. I thankful for all my babies.


Charlie is very curious about this pregnancy. Always full of questions and interested in growing Mommy. My favorite was him cuddling up to me one night, rubbing my arm, and commenting so sweetly, "I love you even when you are fat." It made me smile. I don't think Charlie is to in to outer appearance, but in almost all his prayers he prays that "Mommy will be cute and that Daddy will be strong." Such a funny boy. I'm thankful for the prayers.

James is getting so big and smart. He recently was in his school spelling bee. He was one of two to represent his class. Well, being new at this I didn't realize that he was the youngest child and that they were against all other grades and classes. Seriously. We were proud of him as he stood in front of the school and tried to spell his work "auburn" o-b-o-r-n. Well, we only practiced second grade words this was a fourth grade word and I guess it kind of sounds familiar. I was happy that he came home proud of himself. He is excited for baby too and I think and hope will be a big help.

Such a sweet, little family to Love and so excited to add another little lover!

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Merry, Merry Christmas to all of you and A Happy New Year. We had such a fun time this Christmas season. It is magical with young kids, who believe in Santa. Each of our kids were old enough to leave the ornaments alone and to not unwrap early presents under the tree. That will be out last year of that for a few years. We felt blessed to be surrounded by friends and family who we love, We missed Rich's family though who got pretty sick just in time for Christmas. They are all doing better now. Even though I'm a little late I thought I'd post a few pictures from Christmas vacation and of the progress Meg, Katie and I are making in our pregnancies. We are all due here in the next 5-8 weeks. Yikes, we'll have a lot of babies all at once, but so much fun! With that may the new year bring you blessings and love!