Well, it certainley has been a LONG time!! So much has happened I don't know where to begin...

I think these pictures pretty much define Averi's life. She just has to sit and take whatever her brother and sister decide to do to her. Whether it is playing zombies with Park, or being attacked by silly string by both Park and Ell, she's always just chill and just takes whatever comes. Gotta love it.

This picture really doesn't do these two justice. Averi had glass stuck in her head and her scab on her nose keeps getting bigger and bigger. When ever I wipe her nose it bleeds and the healing process starts all over again. She also has a black eye from falling off the couch in the trailer. Elli decided to kiss the cement while running at mock 3 so, her goose egg on her head stuck out about 1 1/2 in from her head. Steve wanted to go out for dinner and I told him people would take one look at our kids and call social services. Steve and I won't be getting any parenting awards this week. If only we could put a fluffy net around them.

This past weekend we went camping with the Crowther family. Yes, it rained A LOT! Yes, it was muddy, but we had the time of our lives. Between Gavin and Parker killing all the zombies, we were safe in the mountains. Averi took a nose dive 5 min after we pulled in, so she was officially the first blood drawn. Dad took Averi for her first 4 wheeler ride, she liked it for the first minute, then was done. Coop was so funny, he just RAN the entire time, he found every puddle, dirt mound, worm, anything messy he was all over it. He was so funny to watch. Even though it was cold and rainy, just being with family makes my day. Thanks guys.

PS Crystal-everyone tells me Averi is too dark to be in my family, that she belongs to you and Britt. So, here is what your baby will look like if you have a girl. :-)

Parker and Elli USUALLY play together really well. They play house, but not just regular house they play "Tyler and Lisa". (Who are my brother and sis in law, and what are they teaching my kids? :-) ) They are so funny to watch. Their little imaginations are funny. We have a little kitchen, and Park asked Ell if she would make some cookies, Ell asked "How much will you pay me." "Tyler and Lisa" have about 25 kids who are frequently in time out for saying "damnit". I tried to get video of them just playing so eveyone could join in the hilairity, but then they stopped playing and said "cheese".

Parker had his first friends party for his happy birthday! We had a housefull of 10 little friends. He had a pinata, and decorated cupcakes, had pizza. It went great. He's getting way too big!

Here is my baby! She is 7 months old as of Sunday. She's a happy girl, loves to play, easy goin. Now I consider myself a fairly smart person, I've had 3 kids, I would think I would know when my baby is sick. She has had a cold for about 2 weeks that just keeps hangin' on. She sleeps a lot but I figured she was getting over her cold and just to let her. Yesterday she woke up and had a fever of 102 so I gave her Tylenol, when she woke up from her nap I took her temperature again it was at 104, so I freaked out and took her to the doc. In the end and after several tests it ended up that she has not one but 2 ear infections, bronchiolitis, and oh wait not done yet RSV! The poor thing! I felt just awful! I cried through the whole visit. Doc says to watch her close and if her breathing gets worse she has to be admitted to the hospital for oxygen treatments. I know (because I asked the doc twice) that there was nothing I could have done, that bronchiolitis, and RSV are both virus' that must run their course, but it make you feel just awful when your kids are sick and there's nothing you can do. Needless to say, we are under house arrest for the next 5-7 days. :-( Thank goodness for the scrapbook expo last weekend!

OK so, I haven't updated for awhile so I shall tell you a little tid bit about our lives this past 3 months.

So Christmas was great!! We had a Finley Party a couple of weeks before Christmas. Unfortunatly it snowed pretty hard that day so Jen's family wasn't able to amke it. We partied hard with Paul and his fam though. It's always fun to get together with them! Then we loaded up the ol Pilot and spent Christmas at my mom's. All the brothers were there, we played games, the kids were up to their ears in wrapping paper. So much fun!

I have so many cute pics to share, but after an extensive search party went through the house, cars and local wal mart, the memory card to my camera if forever lost. A moment of silence for 1/2 of Averi's life......

Let's see, for New Year's we had friends over and cooked crab, shrimp, and steaks and stuffed ourselves til we could hardly move. Then our good frends from St. George came to stay. FUN! Any one who knows me knows I love games and so do the Rowley's! So we had a blast!

Jan. was our recovery month, recovery from Christmas, Averi's dr bills started rolling in, we didn't do a whole lot. I have started a little group that gets together once a month and does a craft. LOVE IT! I am always looking for new ideas, so if you have any send them my way. I'll post pics when I get a new memory card. We have done modge podge stars, paper bag books, growth charts, birthday calendars, but we need fresh ideas! I love it, it's my time to get away with the girls, and i get a sense of accomplishment to see what I've made.

Went to the cousins party last weekend. So good to see everyone. We had 20 show up which was pretty good. I don't know if the Mandrin like us or not, but I sure had fun.
Parker's 5th birthday is on Sat. wow it goes so fast! He is having his first friends party, funny how you worry when you are a parent. I hope kids show up for his party, I hope he has fun. He has been to several friends parties that had pinatas so now he thinks your party is not complete without one. Now that I think about it, really, what party is complete without a pinata? They just make life a little funner.

I also started going to the gym and am not geting the results I want. I go 10-12 hrs a week, I have decided to change my goals and instead of focusing on the end result, I am trying to lift more or pedal faster, or run farther. I am still pretty discouraged though. Anyone have any ideas to get me through the funk? I'd love to hear some feedback!

That's the Steve Finley clan in a nutshell. Will write again soon! Ta Ta

Here are Prince Cooper, Princess Averi, Princess Katie, and all the Princesses with their Fair Godmother and the Princes.

Party on Party People!! Thanks to everyone who made Elli's Birthday so fun! The Prince's got swords and then Princess's got tiaras. Even the moms got into the fun with tiaras. The more royalty the better right?

Elli turned 2 over the weekend. Oh how the time flies! We had a Princess & Prince Party! Complete with a Fairy Godmother (Grandma Jill) who painted faces and granted wishes. She was a great sport. All of the kids loved her. We decorated cupcakes and there was DANCING! Elli loves to dance to Pink, so we all had to do it. Oh the ways you'll make a fool of yourself for your kids. Yes, I led the dancing party! Elli got 3 princess dresses and a tutu. She's set for awhile. All her friends and cousins came dressed up and made the party a success. Happy Brithday Elli!!

Here she is getting ready for her party! She couldn't walk in her princess shoes very well so she opted for her favorite boots. She's all girl!

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

I love this little Stinker Bug!! She certainly has her opinions, she's as stubborn as they come, but a pure entertainer! She sings, and dances, and loves dress up. She's one of the brighter stars in my life. I love you Elli!!

We had Averi's blessing this last weekend. It was so much fun!! We had so many people here. I stopped counting at 60. It was fun to have everyone here to support us. Special shout out to Wendy, HOLLA, for all your help with the kids and keeping me sane. Thanks to everyone who brought food, delicious! Thanks for all your love and friendships. You all helped make it a great day to remeber. :-)

Happy Halloween! Glad the kids had fun, glad it's over! Gave away all their candy, brushed their teeth and called it good! Elli is obsessed with the monster teeth! She's really good at keeping them in! Had to take another pic. Here are all 3 kids and dad in their costumes. (Steve is a trophy husband for halloween. I am working on the trophy wife part, but my costume wasn't ready for Halloween, but we'll gidder done.)

Pics, pics, pics. When I had Parker I took TONS of pictures. I thought he looked so cute in every outfit, so I had to take a picture of him. With Elli, she was my first girl, so the clothes were so much cuter and I took lots of pics. Poor little Averi is going to think she wasn't every a newborn. I am such a slacker. The first month my excuse was the post natal fog. Now, I have no excuse. Is it just me or does it get harder the more you have? Well here are pics of Averi.

These are the most recent pics of Park and Elli. They are growing so fast! Elli can say whatever she wants, speak in about 4 word sentences and her favorite phrase is, "Damnit Parker!". I think she gets it from the neighbors! :-D

Here are my little monsters. Whatever Parker does Elli has to do also, and if you don't let her WATCH OUT! She's a little spitfire who tells it like it is. We love them both. This is Halloween Week. We haven't survived it yet. We've had 3 parties and 2 carnivals and it's only Thursday. I'll get Averi's pic and post it soon. Ta Ta

This is a photo of me at 9 1/2 mo prego!! Whoa Nelly! Get this baby out! They started me and after a gruleing 2 1/2 hours of labor baby Averi arrived. This is the latest photo of the Finley crew!!

We had our first visit to the ER in Evanston, WY in June. Elli fell off a tire swing in the mountains and we had to rush her to the hospital for 5 stitches. I don't know who was more tramatized her or mom!

We spent a weekend with the Crowther Family in the Uinta's at a friends cabin. It was great!The kids were especially excited we were doing a rendition of Lord of the Flies and the Dirt Children.

We have a new addition!! Averi Adalyn Finley arrived on 8-22-8. Coming in at 7lbs 21 in long. She us a sweetheart and I think we'll keep her!