My Fav's of the Season

Here are some of my favorite photos that we took during the recent holiday activities. We really had an enjoyable time this year. The kids are at the age that they are mesmerized by all the holiday spirit, which makes it that much easier to get into the spirit of Christmas. The kids, I believe, got everything they could have ever wished for, and were not at all disappointed. And Cameron made my day, and his cousin Jacob's day, when he decided to give away the brand new bike he won at school to Jacob. The look on my nephew's face on Christmas day when we rolled in the bike and told him that it was his was great.

Another B-day

Today I celebrated birthday # 32. I can hardly believe it. I still feel like I should be in my 20's. I don't like my thirties. Which means I am really not going to like my 40's. But I can't stop time so I will just have to get used to the years coming and going.

It was a pretty good b-day. Went to church and was wished happy b-day by those who knew it was my b-day. Afterwards I headed out to my parents house for some nice warm soup, presents and cake and ice cream. When that was finished we headed out to the Christmas Lights, but to our dismay the rain settled in and we had to drive through and not get those great pictures of the kids with their big eyes looking at all the many lights. On the way home my poor little Madeline got sick and I got to finish my b-day by cleaning up a really yucky mess.

If it weren't for the mess, I think I would have had a much better b-day. Oh well, there is always next year to make up for this one.

When the House Goes Quiet...

I have now learned that when my house goes quiet my little munchkin is up to no good. And of course I have to get pictures of my little munchkin up to no good.

Madeline has turned into the typical girl and wants to do everything that mommy does, hence it was quiet in the house and Madeline decided to put on make-up all by herself. Here are the pics to go along with the mess she left me to clean up.

As The Leaves Fall

My dear sweet little boy Cameron has been bugging me for weeks to start raking the leaves in our yard so that he could have some fun in them. I had been putting it off because the leaves fall so late in our neighborhood that I wanted to wait for the tree to drop all the leaves so that I would not have to do the job twice.

Well I gave in to his constant pester and took advantage of Madeline being down for a nap to start raking in the fun for Cameron. Granted I did most of the work and he had most of the fun, but I got some amazing pictures of my big boy having some little boy fun. I did not however get any pics of our blond bombshell, she slept the afternoon away.

And we of course had to rake leaves twice because the tree had not dropped all the leaves the first time. But it was all worth it in the end.

Thanksgiving Weekend

It was a really enjoyable weekend. Got to spend time with the family. We went up with my family to the Christmas tree farm to hang out and watch everyone pick out their tree. We didn't get a tree at the tree farm. We are planning to get a tree come this Friday if all goes as planned. I hope everyone was able to have an enjoyable weekend also.

Another Fall Weekend

We had a fairly calm weekend this week. Friday I spent most of the day catching up on some of my cleaning and organizing. Saturday was a lot of fun. I got up and played b-ball with some other women from the stake. Came home had some lunch and hopped on the bikes to ride out in the nice weather.

Cameron has had some trouble learning to pedal his bicycle so we bought a little bike that attached to the back of Paul's bike. We are hoping that this little bike trailer will help him better with his coordination so that he might be able to ride his own bike on our little bike rides. He had a lot of fun riding it, but after about 35 minutes he had had enough of sitting on the little seat, so we set out to stop for a break at the park not far from our house.

With the weekend came a change in my church calling. I had been in Young Women's for just over 2 years and today I was released from the Young Women's organization and called as the First Counselor in the Ward Relief Society Presidency. I can't tell you that I was surprised by this move because I had the impression about three weeks ago that something like this was coming. The Lord is preparing me for something in the future. I am excited and nervous at the same time, considering I have never spent and extended period of time in Relief Society. I was always called to the Primary or Young Womens organizations for callings. I am looking forward to my calling because it will be a learning experience for me and will prepare me for my next calling.

Birthday Party

We had Madeline's birthday party on Saturday. It started out rough for her, but it got better in the end. Here are some pics of her special day.

And Then She Turned 2

Today is the day that we celebrate our little Madeline's birth. Saturday is her big birthday party with all her cousins and friends, but today she got to spend the afternoon with her family at John's Incredible Pizza, and feel like the special little girl that she is. Although she is not little by any means nor did she start out little, she was a wonderful blessing on a bright Sunday afternoon 2 years ago.

If I could sum up my little girl in a phrase it would be "she keeps going and going and going". She really is a bundle of joy, laughter and non-stop entertainment. She loves to be chased around the house by her big brother Cameron, scared as she is running past our many hiding places, and spend as much time as she can outside. I let her get away with more because she is my little girl and I don't want her to grow up too fast. She has the most beautiful blue eyes and bright blond hair, has a stubborn disposition like her daddy, but makes up for it when she smiles.

I don't know what I would do with out her. She was my little angel from above, but can be a little devil. She can always make you laugh no matter how bad you are feeling. She is definitely going to be a handful in the coming years, but at least she will keep me on my toes.

Happy Halloween!!!!

This year was all about Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Having kids gives us an excuse to dress up as a theme. We are still in discussion about next years theme, but are leaning toward The Three Little Pigs.

An Exciting Weekend

It has been an exciting weekend for our little man. We are one week shy of the end of Cameron's first year playing soccer. This poor guy has wanted to score a goal during his games since the first week, and on Saturday he finally accomplished his goal. He scored the very first goal of the game. His coach was so excited for him and Cameron was so excited, his coach had him run off the field to give Mom a great big hug (made me melt). You couldn't wipe the smile off his face for the remaining of the game. I am so glad he was able to do what he set out to do.




I also got a rare opportunity to spend away from the husband and kids to spend a girls night out at our local "Color Me Mine", painting a ceramic snowman. It was so nice to get away for just 3 hours and talk about girl stuff. I think this is probably going to be my newest hobby. We are already talking about going again next month. Especially since on Saturday's it is their pajama party day and only charge you $2 to sit and paint, but you still have to pay for the individual ceramic pieces that you paint. My snowman will be completely finished on Wed. after it has been glossed. I can hardly wait.

A New Tradition

With our brand new bed able to handle more bodies, I thought that I would start a new tradition with the kids. So now on Thursdays, Madeline gets to pick a movie and we watch it in bed. Usually consists of Dora the Explorer or a Disney DVD that has a lot of music in it. Cameron has school so he doesn't get to participate on Thursday. Cameron gets to pick a movie on Fridays. I am trying to give the kids more one on one time so that when they are older they don't feel as if they were jipped in some way. I had to snap a pic of the kids during one of our movie bedtime parties.

I'm Loved

Today was one of those days that I knew I was going to be extra tired. I was up early to get Cameron off to school and Madeline to grandma's house before 8:30 am. Then it was off to work for me until about 5:15 pm (alot of you out there can relate to this even if you don't work outside the home). Paul had said that he had to work late so I picked the kids up and grandma's and was racking my brain as to what to make us for dinner (we had waffles and sausage). I don't care for long days at work and no help after work with the kids. But today Paul surprised me by not having to work late and showing up with flowers and a very sweet card. It is not often that my husband buys me flowers. I can count about six times, seven if you count today, that my husband has bought me flowers. So it is a rare occurrence that I receive them, but I love surprises like these. Maybe next time it will be a trip to Hawaii (I can wish can't I).

Lots of Soccer, Lots of Parties

It has been a busy last couple of weeks. We have had lots of soccer games, school parties, birthday parties, and fun little outings. Here are just a few of the pics of our adventures over the past two weeks.

I Miss My Ricks College Buds!!!

It has been one of those days today that I just couldn't feel happy for any reason. Husband has to work late and I can't find the time to get even the simplest of tasks finished. I have little ones who are tugging on my apron strings (so to speak), a pile of dishes that never seems to end, laundry that can't fold itself, and a really rotten mood to boot. I have come to the realization that I miss all of my Ricks College buddies. A time that was the absolute best for me. Your best friends were down the hall, next door, or a stones throw away from your apartment window. Where time stood still for a short time. Where we had some wild and wonderful times. Now if only we could repeat that at this point in time. It's a wish that I hope someday will come true. Here's to wishing on a star. So all you Ricks College buds (and you know who you are) I hope you enjoy the pics. And p.s. why didn't someone tell me about my hideous eyebrows.

Flashback-Our Engagement

We bought new bedroom furniture a few weeks ago (a life saver) and were cleaning out all of our old furniture that we have had since we got married. As I was cleaning out one of our many junk drawers (you know, the drawer that has all the birthday, christmas, anniversary, and special occasion cards along with loose change safety pins, etc.) I came across our photos of when Paul had proposed to me.

It was nearly a year to the day at the summer fest concert we had attended that was our first outing together as a couple. So nearly one year later, Paul pulled some strings and got it worked out that he would propose to me on stage at the concert. I of course was completely oblivious to what was going on.

My dad was the entertainment writer at the time so I figured my mom had come to the concert to hang out with my dad. All our friends had come also, and again I figured it was just to hang out all day at the concert. We arrived at the concert and Paul made sure to get a place near the stage, which was weird because we usually like to be more toward the middle in order to get a good look at the entire stage. Paul kept telling me that when he asked I was to put on my flip flops and follow him, I of course agreed and followed him on stage. The staff from B93.1 kept me occupied while Paul was being prepped about the microphone and then the band that I was totally looking forward to seeing kept telling me they weren't ready to start and not to introduce them yet (this is what I thought the surprise was) and then I heard every girl at the concert gasp, I turned to see Paul on one knee asking me to marry him. So in front of 10,000 concert goers I was proposed to. I of course said yes and have now been married almost 8 years and have to beautiful kids to show for it.

My Baby Girl

Unfortunately kids do grow up way to fast. And my baby girl is not so much of a baby anymore. With that said I could not help but post this most recent picture of my adorable little blondie, Madeline. She is a real spitfire and always keeps me on my toes. She is always one step ahead of her mommy. I am definitely not looking forward to the teenage years.