Family Pictures

As you can see from my updated layout, we recently got family pictures taken. I love them, the color is amazing, and most of us look good (sometimes the youngest 2 kids were grumpy). Colby and I haven't had our picture taken with just the two of us since we were married. And I love how it turned out. Thank you so much Stacie. For those of you looking for a great photographer, Stacie Shupe does an amazing job. I always love how our pictures come out. Past and present professional pictures on this blog were done by her, and after getting her permission, I uploaded them giving her credit for each and every one of course.

Remember when.....

I keep seeing this pop up on friend's and family's blogs, and I have finally decided to try it.

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, post one memory that you and I had together or just what you thought about us (Koch clan). It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or alot, anything you remember.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

Happy remembering!

Peek-a-boo!

So, I was just getting up to date on other's blogs, when I turned and caught Tristan and Braxton playing peek-a-boo with each other. Braxton was hiding in the pantry, and Tristan was sitting there with a huge smile waiting for him to talk to him through the door or open it and say peek-a-boo to him. Next, Braxton had him squeeze in with him and play peek-a-boo with me and the camera. These two boys play so well together. I wish Gabe would cooperate more often, but he was having a major time-out in his bedroom at the moment.

Who am I?

(x) Gone on a blind date. Only once, and I don't remember much of it.
(x) Skipped school. Never an entire day.
( ) Hitchhiked.
(x) Mooned a complete stranger. I wouldn't call him a complete stranger, but my Aunt Linda and I mooned my brother-in-law Rob.
( ) Been kicked out of school.
( ) 86'ed from a drinking establishment.
( ) Kicked out of a church.
( ) Watched someone die.
( ) Been to Canada.
( ) Been to Europe. No, but I really, really want to.
(x) Been to Mexico. Ensenada Cruise, but Ensenada was not that impressive.
( ) Been to Florida. Again no, but I really, really want to go to Disneyworld.
(x) Been on a plane. Oh, how I love to fly.
( ) Jumped out of a plane.
(x) Been on a Helicopter. I think we might have had a ride when I was small.
(x) Been lost. When moving Colby down to California, we were lost, and he said,"I'm just going to keep driving.", instead of turning around to try to find where we were supposed to turn. We were in Thousand Oaks and ended up in Simi Valley, before we all shouted at him to turn the car around.
( ) Been on the opposite side of the country.
( ) Gone to Washington, D.C.
(x) Swam in the ocean. I love the ocean, can't wait to get back there in August.
(x) Cried yourself to sleep. Hey, I'm female, haven't we all?
(x) Played cops and robbers. My brother Seth and I used to play this all the time when we were young.
( ) Recently colored with crayons.
(x) Sang Karaoke. Fun, but I'm a terrible singer.
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only? McDonald's breakfast for the whole family...in change.
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?
(x) Made prank phone calls. With friends Emma and Christina, remember flipping through the phone book?
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose. Yes, and it is usually soda, unfortunately.
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue.
(x) Danced in the rain. Both as a child and an adult. Though the latter is better, especially with the one you love.
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus.
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe. It is usually me instigating the kiss, though.
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about. Those are the best sunrises ever.
(x) Blown bubbles.
(x) Gone ice-skating.
( ) Gone skiing.
(x) Been skinny dipping outdoors. If a swimming pool or hot tub count, than yes.
(x) Gone to the movies. Last Saturday I saw "Get Smart" (hilarious by the way) with my older sister, and on this Friday I will see "The Dark Knight" (can't wait) with friends and Colby, then maybe "Mamma Mia" (highly anticipated) the same day or on Saturday with some girls.
(x) Been to a drive-in movie. Yes, good memories.

I want to know more about you.

1. Any nickname? Rae, Rae"Babes", Babes, Racipher more recently. Rosie in high school.
2. Mother's name? Ila Rae
3. Favorite drink? Dr. Pepper
4. Tattoo? Nope
5. Body Piercings? Nope
6. How much do you love your job? I am still adjusting to being a stay-at-home mom (4 years now), it has it's enjoyable moments.
7. Birthplace? Brigham City, UT
8. Favorite Vacation spot? Disneyland and California in general.
9. Ever been to Africa ? No
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? No, we usually save that for breakfast. Mmmmm, especially Pumpkin Chocolate Chip ones.
11. Ever been on TV? I was in the audience at a Dr. Phil show.
12. Ever steal any traffic sign? No
13. Ever been in a car accident? Yes
14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? Both, Honda Pilot and a Toyota Paseo convertible. I love our cars.
15. Favorite salad dressing. Italian right now, bust I also love Ranch and Catalina.
16. Favorite pie? Raspberry Creme from Maddox and Mom's.
17. Favorite number? 6
18. Favorite movie? Too many to name.
19. Favorite holiday? Halloween and Christmas.
20. Favorite dessert? Ice Cream from Cold Stone Creamery.
21. Favorite food? Mom's cooking and Mongolian BBQ from Wok 'N' South in Thousand Oaks, CA.
22. Favorite day of the week? Friday
23. Favorite pass-time? Hanging out with friends without kids.
24. Favorite toothpaste? Crest at the moment.
25. Favorite smell? Colby's deodorant.
28. How do you see yourself in 10 years? 38 and married to a 36 year old; with 16, 13, and 10 year old sons. Hopefully, out of debt and traveling a lot more.
29. Farthest place you will send this message? I don't know, it's on the web and I have friends and family all over.
30. Who will respond to this message first? The first person who has the urge to post a comment.

BONUS QUESTION: Top 3 things on bucket list:
1) Go on a Caribbean Cruise.
2) Visit Europe with Colby.
3) Really, really love where we live and what we live in. It's always one or the other.

Our Frontrunner Adventure

Last Tuesday we finally got the opportunity to ride the Frontrunner down to Salt Lake. I have been wanting to take the boys to ride on this, but never had the guts to go alone. So, a friend of mine agreed to go with us, and we invited others to join us. I left Tristan at home with a babysitter, and took Gabe and Braxton to the Union Station in Ogden to catch the 11am train. The boys wore their swimming suits so that we could play in the water at the Gateway Mall when we got down there. We met up with some friends and rode on the upper level of the train. Gabe was enthralled the whole way down. Yes, he still sucks his thumb, if you know how to help me break him of it, let me know.Braxton either didn't get enough sleep or woke up on the wrong side of the bed, because he did not have a very happy day. Here is one of his happy moments with friends Kelly and Christopher.When we arrived at the station, we quickly hopped on Trax and rode over to the Gateway. We all, four moms and their kids (minus 2 babies), found the food court for some lunch first. After lunch we trekked over to the fun water area in the Olympic Legacy Plaza. I don't know whether or not to call it a fountain, but if you have been there, then you know what I am talking about. After a couple hours in the sun it was time for some slush to cool us off. Here are all the kids drying off in the heat.The moms did a little shopping at the clearance section in The Gap, and then we caught Trax back to the Frontrunner station for a train ride home. Gabe and Braxton with good buddy Erin. Gabe passed out from exhaustion and the heat, and Braxton had a good time chatting with his friends on the way home. Overall, we had a good time, Gabe and I more so than Braxton. But we will definitely be taking Colby with us next time, it was fun.

A day with the Petersons

Yesterday we decided to go visit some friends in West Valley. So, we dropped Braxton off at his cousin's to play, and drove down to meet Mike and Christina at the hospital in Salt Lake where their new little baby girl is in the NICU. Mardi Ione Peterson was due August 18, 2008 but came into the world on May 13. She is the strongest fighter in the NICU, but the nurses say that white females seem to always be the toughest. This little angel has finally made 3 pounds, and hopefully will be able to go home with her parents in 6 weeks. Mike took me in to see her, after scrubbing for 3 minutes up to my elbows. I instantly fell in love. While taking pictures I got a bit emotional and had to step aside and wipe my eyes. Next, Mike watched our 2 boys in the lobby and Colby got to take a peek at her. He got to see her 2 days after she was born. He agreed that she looks much better. Little Mardi seemed to get a bit excited when Colby started talking to her, even to the point of opening her eyes. She just cried a bit and slept when it was just me and here parents there. But, this is to prove that I think Colby still needs a baby girl in his life. Hopefully by next week she will be in an open bassinet, then her parents will be able to hold her as long as they want, and anytime that they want to. After our hospital visit, we took them out for Chinese.

Gabe using 2 spoons and 1 fork to eat his Ham Fried Rice.

It was delicious! Thanks Christina for introducing us to that place. Next we followed them out to their home in West Valley and observed their turn at irrigating their yard. Gabe had a blast following Christina around direction the water, and Mike helped his ride a little bike they had. But my boys always love these two people, so that's no surprise. Mike is one of Colby's friends from high school. We always have a good time with him. He looked after me when Colby moved to CA. He would stop by my house and take me out for lunch, or he and his girlfriend at the time would bring me a pizza at work. They worked at Papa Murphy's Pizza three office doors down from me at Blockbuster Video. I guess Colby had instructed all his friends to look after me for the time between him moving out of state and us getting married. Anyway, Mike introduced us to Christina in October after we moved back to Utah. She fits into our little group of friends perfectly. Funny coincidences: They were married last year 1 week after Tristan was born. We upped the date of his birth,

Ben, T.K., Ty, Colby, Mike, Christina, bridesmaids.

Flower girl, Braxton, flower girl.

so Colby could be one of the Best Men, and Braxton could be the Ring Bearer at the wedding. Their anniversary is 1 day after ours. Their little girl was due on Tristan's first birthday.

We love them dearly and can't wait for Mardi to get safely home, so we can throw her and her mom a baby shower.

Oh my 4th of July!

Whew! What a long weekend. We started off the crazy whirlwind with a trip up to the Uintas to camp at "The Ranch". Every year since I was born, it is tradition on my mom's side of the family to camp at some family property up in the Uintas. It is located between Evanston Wyoming and Mirror Lake in Utah. We are right on the border of the two states, but you have to go through Wyoming to get back over to Utah.

The Ranch is meant to be used for crazing cattle and sometimes horses, besides this, we are allowed to camp throughout the summer and everyone we are related to on the Reg and Amelia Burt side is invited on the 4th of July.

Anyhoo, I have only missed 3 years in my 28. One, when I was a punk teenager and thought hanging out with a boyfriend was more important; and two while living in CA. Luckily the other 4 years in CA, we made the drive up. Since we have had more than one child, we just drive up the morning of the 4th of July, we leave about 4:30am, to get there by about 6:30. Dynamite goes off at 7am to wake the campers and announce that it's time to eat "The Best Buttermilk Pancakes in the World". Well, this year we decided to try our family at camping. We have hesitated with this prospect because Gabe is, let's say,"too curious for our own good". But the boys camped beautifully. No one fell in any of the 3 ponds. No one fell off the tractor ride. There were no firecrackers in cow pies exploding in anybodys face (This has happened to someone in the past, I kid you not). So, we left North Ogden about 10:30am and arrived at 1pm. We made a food stop, gas stop, Redbox stop and Walmart stop for more diapers. Usually it doesn't take that long to get there. After Colby and my cousin Ben found the perfect spot for our ginormous 9-man tent, it was time to setup camp. Braxton helped for about 3 minutes, then it was up to Colby and I. When we finished, we trekked over to chat with family and more relatives than you can ever imagine.

(My sister Tyra, her husband Rob, and my eldest nephew Wyatt.)

The 3rd was spent snacking, chatting and chair hopping to find the best seat in shade.

Gabe spent some time in the wading pool my Uncle Dennis set up for the little tikes (Thanks Brindi for the swim diaper).

(Taryn, Carson, Coleman and Braxton. Coleman made them all bow and arrows.)

Braxton hung out with cousins galore, exploring anything and everything.

(My dad and T.)

Tristan, when not chillin' in the stroller, was passed among many loving hands until he felt he could hang out on the grass. That night we enjoyed an abundance of fireworks put on by cousins Ben and Aaron. Of course my kids covered their ears and refused to watch them, except Tristan. My mom handed out glow sticks to all the kids there, and believe me that is a lot (She ordered about 200-400 of them just in case). After the firework show it was off to tuck kids in bed, the glow sticks came in as handy night lights. Colby and I watched a movie in the car while waiting for the two smallest to settle into a deep slumber. (Okay, so I always wanted to do matching family shirts just once. We look like complete dorks. The boys shirts are actually girl shirts, but I didn't know it until I put them on. They were hanging in the boys section when I bought them. All day long myself and others lovingly called them my little girls.)

The morning of the 4th was started with a trip to the outhouse, and then breakfast after the two sets of dynamite this year. I got to eat alone, it was heavenly not to have sticky hands wanting things left and right. All my boys slept through the blasts, I had to go wake them after I ate. After breakfast there is usually a tractor ride for all that can fit on. We missed the first ride, but caught the second ride before lunch.

(Ginger Burt and my mom.)

We had a lovely presentation put on by several relatives honoring my Aunt Ginger and all she does in taking care of the Ranch. We hope and pray that she will still be with us next year, all at the Ranch love and appreciate her dearly. I visited for a couple more hours, while Colby napped, before it was time to take down camp and pack it all back up.

(The boys enjoying a snack, while we muster up the energy to take down camp.)

It took longer than expected, and by the time we were done, it was time for the huge Dutch Oven potluck. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture, but just picture about 3 large picnic tables lined full of dutch ovens, salads and desserts on each side. The line took a long time, but was definitely worth the wait. According to my mom's numbers, we had 155 people that camped from the 3rd to the 4th, and over 200 for breakfast, and I am positive even more for lunch. They were having a special tribute to all the missionaries in the family on the 5th, but we couldn't stay for it. Next we traveled home for the second half of our annual 4th of July celebration.

(Poor B with his cold sore.)

We unpacked the car, changed clothes to be cooler, and headed over to Colby's parents home for(By the way, each of these tanks describe my boys exactly.)

our annual BBQ and watching the fireworks put on at the High School from their patio. We made our own shish-ka-bobs, and had potato salad and fresh fruit. Colby and his brother later made a Slurpee run, because it was SO HOT! The little boys all got in the tub, and then enjoyed sparklers. We didn't end up staying for the firework show like we usually do. The kids were way too tired from the long excursions. Overall, we saw family from both sides, ate lots of great food, and discovered our kids are great campers. It was a great Independence Day!

Oh yeah! Before I forget, Colby's brother Ty took care of our kitties while we were away. But, he set off our alarm twice. The poor guy was having technical (user) difficulties entering the buttons in the right order. So for those of you in our neighborhood who saw the police car at our home on the 3rd, everything is fine. The police officer got to the door and held up his finger and told Ty,"Just a minute. I was just chasing a guy through the Wal-Mart parking lot." While he pants and tries to catch his breath, Ty offers him a glass of ice water. Thank goodness it wasn't a burglar just hanging out in our home, offering strangers drinks. Good times!