Fall Is Underway

School has started in full force. We've just about got back into our new routine for the year. It was like starting over since this school year is different than last year. I now have four kids in three different school, It keeps me busy!

Our summer was one of the hardest our family had to endure and it disrupted our lives in so many ways. We had barely started our summer when we lost our nephew Jonathan. Our children had to experience the loss of a family member at such a young age. We miss Jonathan terribly. We really felt like we missed out on a summer break. We just survived. I missed meetings and forgot lots of things, barely even kept track of our bills. I was not ready for school to start but now I am thankful for some normalcy in our lives. To help us get back on track.

Akayla-Joy is in pre-school now! She goes every afternoon for 3 1/2 hours and loves it so much. She was so excited when she was going to be dropped off and picked up like the big kids! Her teacher says she is very careful in everything she does; from coloring to cutting on the lines to putting things back where they belong. She has already learned different signs for the song "Brown Bear".

Jayden goes to Kindergarten for 3 1/2 hours every morning. I was a little nervous about his teacher but it has seemed to work out fine and he says he enjoys school. He goes to school for 3 1/2 hours every morning and then spends the afternoon home with me while Akayla-Joy is at pre-school. They each get their time with mommy and less time to fight at home together!

Jaylen is in 2nd grade this year. I can not believe how big and tall he is getting. He is having to adjust to more homework as well as Jayden. Jaylen enjoys reading which I hope he will continue as he gets older.

Aryianna is in Jr. High...I have to catch my breath! I am totally unprepared for a Jr. Higher! We bought her a phone as well....Sorry, another breath! There are so many changes for her this year. She is now riding the bus to school and home. She has 7 different classrooms and teachers to adjust to. It is so crazy to watch her grow into a young lady!

Alaya is the one home all day with me. She gets to ride with me as we drop off and pick everyone up. She hates to leave Akayla-Joy because she wants to stay and play. It took a few days for her to not cry when we had to leave. Now she says good-bye and is so excited to see Akayla-Joy when we pick her up. She is such a cutie, talking full sentences now. They grow up too fast!


I can't believe summer is over and school has started with fall around the corner. God has brought us through a lot in the past few months and I am so grateful for my family. I love them dearly. I pray this year does not fly by so I can enjoy the little things with my kiddos.

BIRTHDAYS GALORE!

We have two birthdays within 3 days. Alaya and Aryianna are almost exactly 10 years apart. Aryianna is definately a proud big sister. Aryianna Kaylene Faith Gunter was born June 30th, 1998. She was 9lbs, 3oz.

Her daddy named her Aryianna because he like the name. Kaylene is after her and grandma Kathy and auntie Shaylene combined together. Faith is after another grandma. As she got to be a little bigger I always thought she looked like Shirley Temple. Cutest cheeks, blue eyes and curly blond hair. Especially since she was a baldy for so long! So adorable!

Aryianna is growing to be quite a beautiful young lady. Always new she would but can't believe we are at 12 years old already! My little girl is no longer a little girl! She is diligent in her school work. She started a new school last year and worked hard to get good grades.

She is still taking piano lessons and enjoys kids choir at the church. She is excited for VBS because her and her cousins, Bree and Caitlin are on the VBS stage this year! Will be fun to watch her. We hope to get her in soccer this fall. She is looking forward to starting Jr. High as well!

She was so surprised that she would have to go to seven different classes during the day!

Aryianna, I love watching you grow and so excited to see what God has in store for you.You have a unwaivering faith, which I have seen grow in just the past few weeks. Your middle name is Faith and I will never forget watching you and your daddy praying together in Faith. Remember no matter what God is still God and He is still faithful, no matter his answer to our prayers. I love that you are not ashamed of Christ and stand up for what you believe in. You take your bible to school and tell your friends about Jesus! I love the self-confidence you have in yourself and know God has great things in store for you. He will use you in great ways. Stay strong and focused. I love you so much. ~Mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAYA

These past few weeks have been so crazy that we actually forgot Alaya's birthday. I do have to admit that I did put it on the calendar wrong as well, so I may have celebrated it on the wrong day no matter what! At least she is too young to realize. I can get it right next year. She did get to open presents on July 4th with her sister Aryianna (who turned 12 on June 30) and cousin Hailena (who turned 7). Fun with the family, our favorite thing.

My baby Alaya Geri Nicol Gunter was born on June 27th, 2008. Her middle name Nicol is after my sister and her auntie, Yvonne Nicol, and Geri is after her Grandma Geri Gunter.

Alaya weighed 9lbs. 13oz. She will be able to claim that she was biggest baby since she is our last. Five is our lucky number!

Alaya is quite a big girl now or so she thinks. She talks just as good as anyone else. You have no problem figuring out what she wants because she lets you know. She has such a cute personality, very social and playful. She wants to be right there with all the big kids. She has even started trying to go potty on the toilet! If only she could actually be potty trained! No one can resist her large blue eyes and curly blond hair. When we're with her cousins she loves to help Grandma take care of baby Lena, she just loves her. It is fun to watch her grow and see her become a little girl.

I just hope it doesn't go too fast since she is my last baby to enjoy!

I love you Alaya. God knew we needed a fifth little one to enjoy in our lives. You are a great addition to our family. I pray God's protection over your life. Jer. 29:11. That you grow to be a strong woman

of God!!! Happy 2nd birthday.

Happy Birthday Akayla-Joy

Aryianna, Jaylen and Jayden were already here when I found out I was pregnant with Akayla-Joy. She was a surprise considering that Jayden was only 6 months old when I found out we were going to have another baby!

It was so hard to decide on a name for her. Going into the hospital she was going to either be Alaya or Jordan. She was neither when we left! We got her name from the movie Akeelah and the Bee. My mother-in-law liked Akeelah and created the name Akeelah-Joy. (Joy being my middle name). I wasn't as fond of Akeelah but I like Akayla-Joy. It had been thrown out but when she was born I brought it back. Jean is after my mom and grandma. My grandma's middle name was Imajean thus Jean for my mom and Akayla-Joy. That year my grandma had been fighting cancer and passed away the day Akayla-Joy was born. Lee is a 5th generation name on Stephen's side. (Being his middle name and her Grandma Kathy's as well). We put it in, not knowing if we would have another little one to be able to use the name again!

Born at 8lbs. 9oz, she made 4 in all, at the time! When she was born Jayden had turned one January 14th and She was born March 15! I actually liked the age difference being so close. Akayla was a laid back baby, which is what I needed since Jayden was the opposite, very busy!!!

How time flies! I can't believe she is 4 now. She is all girl! Loves pink and purple. Purses, dresses and shoes! Wants to wear a dress everywhere we go. She couldn't be more girly if she tried! She is so ready to go to school just like Jayden who she will always follow behind. She is a smart cookie, already writing the A's and Y's in her name! Just recently she

got her new glasses. She got to pick them out, pink of course. Praying it corrects her lazy eye and her vision as well.

I recently discovered her love language is touch! She is the queen of kisses and hugs. When you say good-bye you have to give hundreds of them to her, but I really don't mind!

She is now one of 5 and completes our family, as do each of them. I Love You Akayla-Joy! I am proud to be your mommy! Happy 4th Birthday!

Treasured Moments

Last weekend we had a Mother Daughter Tea at our church. I took my girls (minus one, leaving the baby at home with daddy) to enjoy the tea with them. We got all dressed up, of course something Akayla-Joy loves. It was Akalya-Joy's first time going since she was old enough and we all had a great time.

Pastor Joyce spoke about

Treasured Moments; sharing stories her mom had written down for her of when she was a child. I am so

glad that I have already started that with my children, I am so sentimental.

This is all the the girls at our table. My friend Kelly decorated the table and her daughter Alysia joined us. Kathy was at our table with my children and their neices; Caitlyn and Bree as well, including the youngest Shalena.

Aryianna looked like such a grown up girl!

My friend Kelly made hats for all the girls. Of course

Akayla-Joy's was pink! Her favorite color!

I love being with my girls and having those moments to share together!

I am Truly Blessed!

Let's Party!

My boys! Boy how they grow!

Jaylen turned 7 in December and Jayden turned 5 in January. I have always waited til February to have their b-day party so that it is not so close to Christmas and because they are only 2 weeks apart. One party is easier than two. I may just have to change that for next year. They are getting older and realized this year that there was no party on their b-day! Hard to explain your party is going to be in a few months to kids who want to have cake and presents sooner!

16 kids at McDonald's quite the party! Lots of cash to spend, they enjoyed every minute.

Now it's time to start planning for the next b-day in March!

Love

Wow, February is here and another holiday is fast approaching, Valentine's Day! I have 4 kids have Valentine's parties next week, so many cards to get ready!

February obviously makes us think of Love. I've been studying about love in different ways lately. In my MOMS group this past month we've been talking about Birth Order, different Personality Types, Learning Types and Love Languages people have. It's been great! I have discovered so much about my children.

I'm also studying Genesis in my bible study group. These past few weeks have been about Creation. How God created us in His image and for a purpose. He loved us so much that He created us to love Him as well as created man and woman so that we would not be alone. It's amazing how the God that created this awesome universe and all that is in it is also intimate with each of us! We watched this amazing video "Indescribable" by Louie Giglio. It is one of the most incredible things I have ever watched! It puts our lives into perspective! It shows how small we are in comparison to God yet how important we are to Him. I would highly recommend watching it if you have time or to make the time, it will rock your world! The link below is the first video in the series. If you see the first one I guarantee you will be looking up the rest of the series to finish!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewKtSKbWZUI

Realizing relationships are so important I wish that everyone learned the different ways we all are wired. I think it would change everyones relationships with their spouses, children and those around them! In the end I found out I am a first born, otter, watcher who loves Acts of Service! For those who wonder what that means you can ask and I will explain! Learning though has helped me understand those in my family and how they all operate because that is who God designed them to be! For those who want to find out their different styles I have added links below. Have fun discovering more about yourself and your family. I'd love to hear what you find out! God Bless!

References for your viewing....

The Birth Order Book by Dr. Kevin Leman

http://developmentalpsychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_birth_order_changes_your_life

Personality Types:

http://ortegatv.com/Documents/Personality%20check%20list.pdf

Learning Styles:

http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

Love Languages:

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/learn-the-languages/the-five-love-languages/

Quiz : http://www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/

They Say It's Your Birthday!

How time flies! Jayden Ernest John-Thomas Gunter! What a mouth full! (Of course named after people in the family). Born Jan. 14th, 2005, he weighed 8lbs. 13oz. I thought he looked like a little man when he was born and loved his little nose! Jayden has been busy since he was in my belly! I would always say "He moves so much" and he hasn't stopped yet!

Aryianna (7yrs) and Jaylen (2yrs) came to visit Jadyen the next day. I remember Jaylen seemed so big to me after Jayden was born. Who knew we would have 2 more after he came along!

I asked Jayden last night if he would go backwards and turn 3 instead of 5 and he said "No, I don't want to be little!" But I do!!! Now he is in preschool and has learned to write his own name! He is the life of the party, full of personality, very social and so much fun. Just like his daddy!

His favorite event of last year was when daddy brought home his bear! Daddy just can't wait to get Jayden out there hunting with him! He is truly a boys boy!

Love you Jayden!

Happy 5th Birthday!

For the "Experience"!

This past weekend we had the Pinewood Derby race at our church. Last year Jaylen and Jayden were the only ones to race but we saw that anyone can race in the open class so this year all 4 of the kids built a car. Steve cut out their cars and put their wheels on but the rest was all done by the kids.

Aryianna decided to make a army truck.

Jaylen wanted a racing car and Jayden copied Jaylen even down to the color! Jaylen's was #7 and Jayden's #4 for their ages.

Akayla-Joy made hers all girl, which included pink, of course!

This year none of the kids placed. I kept saying our cars were made for the "Experience" rather than the race! When it was over Jaylen told Steve that he wanted to shave the wheels on his car next year. Steve was surprised and asked "How do you even know you can do that"? Next year he just might have to learn how to shape the cars to give them more than just the experience! At least they still had fun. Fun with dad was the probably the most important!

If you haven't gotten to read all my blogs make sure you go to the right side of the page to see the blog archives and you can catch up!

STARTING THE YEAR OFF WITH A BANG!

A New Year which brings New Things! I had created a webpage quite a few years back but was unable to keep up with it because I didn't have a computer at home to work on it. I hadn't really thought of creating a new website or even blogging yet here I am! I have lots of family and friends that are out of the state and many I have been able to catch up with on Facebook, which has been great. Yet I thought I would give blogging a try and see how goes. Maybe I will really get into it especially since I LOVE pictures and LOVE showing off my family!

Our New Year started off with a bang. We hadn't been up to the snow in almost 5 years. Our last visit was when

Jayden (soon to be 5) was only a few weeks old! We thought it would be great to go again considering Jaylen was only 2 at the time, so neither of them was really old enough to remember. And now we also have Akayla-Joy and Alaya who had never seen the snow either! So now we had a total of 7 of us to dress and prep to get up to the snow! Each time I go to the snow (which as you can tell isn't often) it reminds me why I don't enjoy the it and kids make it much harder! There is just so much "stuff" needed!

So, all dressed and ready to go, we drive almost 2 hours towards Tahoe to get to our destination. There is a place you can park for $10 and slide down this giant hill! They had a smaller hill but the boys had to brave the

big one first. Their first run was was fun! They flew down; all the way to the very bottom. Even Aryianna and Akayla-Joy braved the hill and made it without a hitch. So, of course, mommy asked them to go again so she could take pictures! (Now mind you this is all with-in 10 minutes of our arrival).

(Everyone is up on the top by the giant snow ball) (Aryianna and Akayla-Joy's run down the hill)

Then came the big "Bang"! On their second run down the hill they hit a big bump and the boys went flying and Jaylen got the brunt of it. In the car ride home we came up with a "Super Hero" name for him. So Jaylen was officially changed to "Ice Face"! He hit the snow (more like ice) and banged up his pretty face! Jayden was sad that we didn't talk about the scratch on his nose since he gotten hurt too. Yet Jaylen had the fat lip and long rash across his cheek and chin to prove he braved the sled ride down the hill!

(The "Bang" Moment!)

Akayla-Joy had fun but her fingers got too cold and Alaya cried to go in the sled again and again. (Down the small hill of course). Jaylen even braved the smaller hill after he got a treat of hot coffee and M&M's. (Chocolate always makes you feel better!) We also found a place where they were able to have a snowball fight and did get to enjoy playing in the snow. Overall it was a great time, though I do not think our next trip will include the giant sled hill!

So the New Year has begun. Vacation is over and we're back at school. We are getting back into the swing of things. Amazing how a few weeks off can make you forget how it was to get up in the morning! Yet I am excited for what the New Year is going to bring for us. Our next venture is birthdays! Jaylen turned 7 Dec. 28th and Jayden will turn 5 on Jan. 14th. I am beginning to put together their birthday party for February. Jaylen is going to be starting baseball and Akayla-Joy will start up her pre-school class as well. We will be busy soon enough!

It's amazing how time just keeps ticking by and you have to stop to remind yourself to not forget the big picture. These moments are to treasure because they go by so fast. I try to imagine what my kids will be like when they are all grown up. I pray they love the Lord with their whole heart, unashamed and unafraid! And in that I have to remember today is more important than tomorrow because today shapes who they are tomorrow.

I hope that you enjoy catching up with the Gunter Clan once in awhile. I think I just might enjoy this blogging thing!