Another month has gone by and there's one thing that will never change...I will always have a ton of pictures to document our lives with! I am always taking pictures and I love it! There's no better way to capture our lives and our growing children than with pictures. People probably think I'm crazy with how my phone/camera is always attached to my hip but I don't care because this is so important to me. I love my family and I love capturing every little detail of our lives!

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Our moving date is coming up fast! We only have about 3 weeks left here on the West side. It's a very bitter sweet feeling. We can't wait to get back into our house and continue our lives together there, but we will miss all our family and new friends we have made out here in Peoria. Kylee has made so many new friends and everyone out here has made this journey, of Carter joining our family, with us. Our time out here has been precious and memorable. Kylee started sports out here (soccer) and gymnastics. It has been a great experience for her.

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Kylee is excelling in soccer! She scored her first goal during her 4th week of the season. I jumped up and screamed when she scored her goal. All the parents must have thought I was crazy. Haha! It was a very memorable moment for me because I naturally am an athlete and extremely competitive and it makes me so proud to see Kylee excelling in sports! She loves to be goalie but now that she is getting more aggressive, she always want to be the center so she can score goals! Here she is during an action save as goalie...



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Our sports star in action...

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I just love this picture of my loves! After Kylee's soccer game we went to "The Place" for brunch. I love my little family!



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 Daddy and Carter watching Kylee play soccer. I just love Carter's little smirk in this picture. Love my boys!

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In late April, Jodi came down from St. George for her baby shower we threw for her. Words can't express just how much I love my friends. It's very rare for friends to stay close after high school but we have such a unique bond that will never die. So thankful for amazing friends! I don't know where I'd be without their love and support throughout my life.

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Kylee had her first field day at school this month. Unfortunately we weren't informed that children weren't allowed on campus during field day. We were so bummed. So David went in to watch and support Kylee while Carter and I watched from outside the school grounds. We could still see her but she was far away. Sad faces...

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Field day!!

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Later that day we went to Brigham's baseball game. Kylee was a little red, dirty, and stinky after a long day of outdoor activities...but that is what makes for a great day! Here she is with Keaton...

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Something that is semi-blog worthy...our family started playing temple run last month. Haha! Sorry David but Kylee is better than you! We were hooked for like 2 weeks but it's starting to die down a little!

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Kylee and Sarah! The one person she is probably going to miss the most when we move. They have been besties since we moved out here. They are in gymnastics together and go to the same school. Love these girls!!

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Onto Carter boy....so much going on with this little man. He is 6 months old now and is scooting everywhere! It's more like an army crawl. He loves to be on the go!

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He loves going on hikes with Momma!

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And keeps getting more and more handsome everyday!

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He started eating solid foods back in March and has been packing on the rolls! I LOVE it!!!

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Another pre-hiking picture...love this little man!

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Sadly with solid foods comes some difficulties. Our poor baby was constipated so bad for about a week. His sad little face makes me want to cry. But he was comforted in the arms of his Daddy. Luckily it has passed and he is good to go now!

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We just introduced him to graham crackers and cheerios this week and he loves them! So fun to watch him eat new foods.

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At the doctor's office for his 6 month check up. I just love this nakey baby!!! He weighs 17.3 pounds (87%) and is 27.5 inches long (50%). He got 3 shots and of course didn't like them. Poor baby!

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And of course these two sillies just love each other to the moon and back! We took Kylee lunch at school one day and she loved to show him off to all her friends and teachers.

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Sunday morning snuggles! Best friends for life!

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During story time one night, Kylee decided to read Carter an adoption book that was given to me at one of my baby showers. It was the sweetest thing to hear her reading it to him. I am so incredibly blessed with the most amazing children ever!

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David and I got to have a date night with our good friends the Walkers. We went to dinner and FINALLY saw The Hunger Games! I read the book a few months ago and have been dying to see the movie. It was so good and I can't wait to see the other ones. (We take the best pictures together)!

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I love me some Heidi time! We met up for sushi and girl time a couple weeks ago. She has been my best friend since early Elementary School days and I don't know what I'd do without her.

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We were lucky enough to be able to go to California in May and to visit with family and friends. We of course went to visit Carter's birth Mom Erynne and her family. We had a blast!

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David and I playing a little chess at the mall. I won of course! Haha

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I just love the beach! I refuse to get in the water and I hate getting all sandy, but getting dirty is worth it because it's just so peaceful and beautiful. Something about the beach...it just gives you the best feeling!

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We are so blessed with this little man!

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He is the luckiest boy to have so many people that love him as much as we all do. Words can't express just how much I love Carter's birth Mom. She is an amazing woman and I am forever grateful to her.

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Kylee got to help weigh in the trucks at Grandpa Jigg's feedlot. She had so much fun!

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The love Jiggs has for Carter is so special. Jiggs lights up everytime he see's him and holds him. It's like he gets 20 years younger everytime he see's him. It melts my heart. Carter is so special!

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My beautiful beach babe!

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I love this picture. Together forever!

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Of course we had our annual Mother's Day lunch at Olive Garden this week. I look forward to these lunches! I am so thankful for my Mom. She has done so much for me thoughout my life and continues to be everything I need in a mother. She's wonderful!

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 The Montez women (minus Olivia). I just love these amazing women in my life!

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Sisters!!! I don't know what I'd do without my sisters. They each play such an important role in my life and I need them for so many different reasons. I thank Heavenly Father everyday for them. They are beautiful inside and out and are my best friends.

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And so the story goes....until next month! 

And time goes on...

Here is my once a month update, which means there is a lot to cover and a lot of pictures to post!! I LOVE it!!!

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Starting with Spring Break! Well, "pre-spring break" is more like it. All of Kylee's cousins in Queen Creek started their spring break a week before she did so Kylee got a few extra days off! They all went to California to visit Grandma Deede and Grandpa Jiggs. Kylee LOVED it! However, it still warms my heart to know that she loves us so much because every night we either Skyped with her or talked with her on the phone because she missed us so much. She will always be my sweet tender-hearted baby girl and I love it!

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Here is the whole gang that went. They went on a hike, played at the park, went to the movies, ate lots of yummy food, swam in the cold pool, and made lots of great memories together! Grandma Deede was VERY anxious for the 5 day visit to end! Ha!

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Kylee's ACTUAL spring break......We had a very special visitor come during this week. Carter's amazing birth Mom Erynne! She stayed in Natalie and Deron's guest room so we had a few sleep-over's at their house during her visit. We had so much fun playing games, going to the zoo, eating lots of yummy food and candy, and just hanging out getting to know each other better. It was a great week and we are so glad she came!

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Kylee Alexa.......She is 6 1/2 years old and more beautiful than ever. I took this picture below to show how long her hair is getting. I've only cut it twice since she has been born, and each time I only allowed about 3 inches MAX to be cut off. I love her hair!!!

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This dancing, tumbling, and ballerina girl started soccer this year! We have been anxious to get her started in sports and felt soccer was the best option to help with her coordination. She loves it and is getting bettter and more aggressive with each practice and game she has. Her coach gave her the "most improved" award after her first game. So proud of our sweet, athletic, beautiful, and very talented girl!!

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Carter Aaron.....Oh how he is discovering new things every day and becoming such a big boy!! On March 2nd, we started him on solid foods! We tried feeding him green beans the first two days but quickly realized he did NOT like them!! So on the 3rd day, we swtiched to carrots and he loved them! So we have been keeping him on carrots for this week and will try something new next week. We have tried starting him on oatmeal and applesauce in the mornings also but he doesn't seem to be much of a fan of that either. We will keep trying though!!!

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On March 28th this smart boy figured out how to roll over! Once he rolled once, he never looked back. And 0n April 7th (yesterday), our sweet little man turned 5 months old. Time keeps on passing by even though we are begging for it to SLOW DOWN!!! He is such a sweet little boy and is such a dream baby. He is perfect in every way and we count our blessings every morning we get to wake up to his perfect smiley face!

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We also got to meet with our adoption lawyer on April 4th...which meant that all the California documents have been finalized and it's time for us to sign the AZ petition and get the ball rolling over here! We are so excited to be making this next step!! With this done now, the adoption should be final within 90-100 days. We are anxious for that day and can't wait to be sealed to our handsome angel!

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EASTER!!!!!! Easter is quickly growing into one of my favorite holidays. Probably a close second with Thanksgiving. First of all, the candy at Easter is the BEST candy of any holiday. I can't get enough of chocolate eggs, chocolate covered marshmellow bunnies/eggs, and reeces eggs. Pretty much any candy shaped into little eggs always tastes better! Ha! And I love the traditions my family has at Easter....especially our egg cracking game. It's always my job to dye the eggs, which has become Kylee's new favorite Easter tradition to do with me. This year we had Kyrstin and Dylan's help too.

David was napping when everyone showed up so he got a nice "dog-pile surprise"!

A new Montez tradition.....arm wrestling! We have 10 boys and only 3 girls so any kind of wrestling is pretty popular when we all get together. But this year Kylee jumped right in and arm wrestled Keaton, who is 5 months older than her. Kylee took him down like a champ! Ha!

Baby boy's first Easter Egg hunt!

Let the cracking begin!!!!

Brigham was the winner this year!

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The Easter Bunny came!!!!

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After church today (Easter), Kylee and I did a few crafts together! Love making memories with my sweet girl!

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Pretty princess ready for church!

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I really wanted a family picture for Easter in our church outfits but my parents had already left and it was just us. So I figured out how to set the self timer on my camera phone....and, um....this is the best we got! Ha! I'll take it!

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So much happens between my posts and I absolutely love it! Growth, memories, and lots of laughs! I love my sweet little family so much!