wow-another month without posting. It has still been winter. Winter steals my soul. It steals my energy and it steals my interest and desire.

I went outside the other day looking for spring. I just know that it has to be coming. The snow is melting. The robins are returning. I have seen Canandian Geese resting on their way back home. I know that real spring has to just be hiding around the corner.

I found my little crocus flowers! They are the sweetest little flowers that had to have been created just for people like me. People that need Spring.

Hopefully, now that I have found my little spring crocus I will be able to emerge from this winter swampland.

August-Really?

Here it is August 2nd. I feel the summer starting to slip into the oblivian that happens every August. School prep(which involves too much shopping for this girl) football, tennis, and cooler mornings.

I am not ready to give up summer. I am however ready to have more sleep. I am also ready to have LESS laundry.

One day soon I am going to try and actually put pictures depicting our lovely month of July. It had moments of sheer bliss, and lots and lots of laundry!

April 25, 2009

Saturday April 25, 2009

Dance competitions are always a bit stressful--the girls work so hard all year learning their dances. I love to watch them nail their dances.

April 24, 2009

Friday April 24, 2009

Today is Daddy's 41st birthday. What did we do to celebrate? We went to a dance competition!

We did go out to dinner after the competition.

April 23, 2009

Thursday April 23, 2009

Today was preschool park day. Little J had fun playing at the playground the entire day. He was one tired little boy after both classes were done.

April 22, 2009

Wednesday Aprill 22, 2009

Baseball practice has begun for M--this is where we will spend many hours this summer.

April 21, 2009

Tuesday April 21, 2009

MissE has her Mom and Miss party for Achievement Days tonight. They had a darling demonstration about how to have high standards so that they can truly be Daughter's of a King.

They all had such a fun time!

April 20, 2009

Monday April 20, 2009

For more than two years D has been the Bishop of the singles ward. Every Monday night we have Family Home Evening. Tonight we met at Angie's house and played volleyball, roasted smores and just had a fun time.

April 19, 2009

Sunday April 19, 2009

Nine years ago today this cute little girl entered our lives!

Today we celebrated with a brownie cake that she made. Happy Birthday E!

April 18, 2009

Saturday April 18, 2009

MissE got to go to Salt Lake City with her Grandma for her birthday today! They rode the FrontRunner train, Trax and then went to Build a Bear workshop where MissE made a darling little bear. After they ate lunch at Costa Vida's and headed home. She is a pretty lucky girl.

April 17, 2009

Friday April 17, 2009

D's single's ward participated in the Relay for Life event at Weber State University. We fed more than 50 people and all walked around the pond for the luminaria ceremony. We had done this to honor Paulette Barnes and cancer survivor. It really was a very special evening. We closed up shop around 2:30 am and headed for home-so we could be at Stephanie Casper's wedding the next morning!

April 16, 2009

Thursday April 16, 2009

April 15, 2009

Wednesday April 15, 2009

Celebrating our anniversary a day late Little J and I went to SLC to have lunch with Daddy. We went to Tucci's--in the snow! I forgot to take a picture of D and I--so I took a picture of the tired little boy on the drive home---still in a snow storm!

April 14, 2009

Tuesday April 14, 2009

Today is our 19th anniversary. What did we do to celebrate? D went to work, I taught preschool and then he went to the church and I shuttled kids around! While getting into the suburban--again, I noticed this lovely butterfly on the garage floor.

Maybe next year we will really celebrate!

April 13, 2009

Monday April 13, 2009

Family Home Evening with the singles ward. There was a great Easter egg hunt. The clues were out of the scriptures. MissE was totally into finding the hidden eggs.

April 12, 2009

Sunday April 12, 2009

Easter Sunday!

Waking up Sunday morning to a delivery by the Easter Bunny. This year the bunny did things differently. Each child had a different color of eggs that they were supposed to find. A and M's were hidden much harder and much higher. Little J loved all his Easter candy and was so excited when he would find a blue egg.

April 11, 2009

Saturday April 11, 2009

Little Miss Hollie! On our drive home she wants to be as close to Daddy as possible-and think that she is actually driving! We love this little dog.

April 10, 2009

Friday April 10, 2009
One of the traditions while at Lake Mead is going to Echo Marina and feeding the fish. There are these massive carp that just make the water boil when popcorn is thrown in the water.

April 9, 2009

Thursday April 9, 2009

We have a favorite spot at Lake Mead. We named it Sand Beach! E,J and M found a sunken boat--and started digging. They spent forever working on getting it out of the sand.

April 8, 2009

Wednesday April 8, 2009

Big Motorhome breakfasts! This is one of our favorite things about camping. Motorhome potatoes, bacon and eggs done to order by Dad.

MissE has become an expert potato,onion and pepper cutter.

April 7, 2009

Tuesday April 7, 2009

Vacation! Leaving for Lake Mead Nevada. This has to be one of D's favorite places on earth. Driving the motorhome is another! I am always glad when I don't have to drive!

April 6, 2009

Monday April 6, 2009

April 5, 2009

Sunday April 5, 2009

Saturday and Sunday have been our Semi-Annual General Conference. It was a wonderful weekend of inspirational messages.

April 4, 2009

Saturday April 4, 2009

I have been on a quest for great cinnamon rolls. Well, today I found them! They are a recipe from my neighbor Wendy and they were fabulous! The rose so beautifully and tasted incredible! We will be sticking with this recipe!

April 3, 2009

Friday April 3, 2009

The two big kids had activities so Dad thought a movie was in order.
We saw Monsters vs Aliens. The kids loved it, me not so much!

April 2, 2009

Thursday April 2, 2009

April 1, 2009

Wednesday April 1, 2009

J has been my little shopping buddy for years. He has now figured out the sample tables! He will go right up to them and try what they offer.

March 31, 2009

Tuesday March 31, 2009

Daffodils--they are another sign that spring just has to be coming!

March 30, 2009

Monday March 30, 2009

Every Monday night we hold some sort of Family Home Evening with the singles ward. Tonight it was volleyball. Jessie came in and was just as cute as ever.

March 29, 2009

Sunday March 29, 2009

This is what it looked like on our way to church. Another blizzard!

March 28, 2009

Saturday March 28, 2009

We spent the afternoon at Willard Bay trying out the new boat. It works great! It is so big and roomy. We had so much fun although it was terribly cold. We had loads of blankets and warm jackets.

March 27, 2009

Friday March 27, 2009

The end of March and there is another snow storm. Will spring ever come?

March 26, 2009

Thursday March 26, 2009

March 25, 2009

Wednesday March 25, 2009

The little man was wiped out. He laid down to read his book and did even get it open before he was fast asleep.

They are such angels when they are sleeping!

March 24, 2009

Tuesday March 24, 2009

Amazing! MissA cleaned her room--without being told! Cute room when it is clean!

March 23, 2009

Monday March 23, 2009

Tonight we went to "Donkey Basketball" at the High School. It was crazy! Five or six girls from the ward were involved so it was even funnier to watch.

March 22, 2009

Sunday March 22, 2009

Today was the final dedication of the new Draper LDS Temple. We were able to attend this ceremony at the Stake Center. MissE and M attended with D and I. It was a truly lovely experience. I especially loved the ending--that is when I truly could feel the Spirit so strongly. We are so blessed to live so close to so many Temples.

March 21, 2009

Saturday March 21, 2009

Today was our Steph's bridal shower. Stepahine Casper has been just a joy in the singles ward. We are so thrilled that she is getting married soon.

March 20, 2009

Friday March 20, 2009

The first day of spring! We celebrated this beautiful day with a bbq! Those were the best burgers! Burgers always taste better outside! It was fun to have a few extra bodies join us!

March 19, 2009

Thursday March 19, 2009

Green Smoothies--They are supposed to be good for us!

March 18, 2009

Wednesday March 18, 2009

Spring has arrived!

March 17, 2009

Tuesday March 17, 2009

Grocery shopping--such a part of life.

March 16, 2009

Monday March 16, 2009

Being beautiful takes a little bit of pain!

March 15, 2009

Sunday March 15, 2009

March 14, 2009

Saturday March 14, 2009

Mr. Sweetness and I went to sunny California so he could officiate at a wedding.

I think that I was meant to live by the Ocean.

March 13, 2009

Friday March 13, 2009

There are little evidences of J all around. This morning I awoke to these two little cars lined up so nicely. The first picture doesn't really show WHERE they are. The second does!

In my bed!

Funny little boy!

March 12, 2009

Thursday March 12, 2009

Strange things happen! We had to get a few things for the kids after school today so I asked them where they would like to go to dinner. ALL of them said MCDONALD'S! I about passed out there on the spot! The older children hadn't wanted to go there for years. M did have to be convinced a bit, until he found out they had the Southwest Chicken salad.

March 11, 2009

Wednesday March 11, 2009

J is the youngest with a 4 1/2 year gap. When we go out to eat as a family McDonald's Playland is not usually in the plan. So J and I occasionally take a trip to town so he can play at McDonalds. It is one of my favorite afternoons, just me and my littlest guy.

March 10, 2009

Tuesday March 10, 2009

A stayed home sick today. After watching too much t.v. she found an old BYU sweatshirt and climbed in J's bed.

March 9, 2009

Monday March 9, 2009

Practicing the piano-it is a common site around our house.

March 8, 2009

Sunday March 8, 2009

Spring was just beckoning on our door today! E and J could not resist the beautifully bright sunshine! There are beginning patches of grass starting to peak through the mounds of snow. There are daylilies that are beginning to emerge from their winter slumber. A few birds are starting to reappear and there are the slightest bumps of buds beginning on the trees.

Spring is coming!

March 7, 2009

Saturday March 7, 2009

I have been a mother for almost 16 years. In that time I have always had a love/hate relationship with stuffed animals. The kids love them. I hate picking them up. The kids will choose an animal that is their special friend and carry it around with them constantly, occasionally for years. Then it happens, their affection changes to something else, often another furry creature and then finally to some type of electronic device.

Over the course of 16 years I have purchased very few stuffed animals. They are usually given as gifts. What I have found, however, is that stuffed animals multiply in the night. You start out with one or two special furry friends and then one day you wake up and your house has been overcome with frogs, bears, wolves, giraffes, buffalo's, unicorns, Minnie Mouse, pigs, dogs of various varieties, care bears and a host of others. This multiplication happens so slowly that you don't even realize that you have been overtaken. Then---you realize that your 4 year old has inherited all the stuffed animals from the 15 1/2 and 12 year olds. He cannot possibly keep all those wonderful furry friends on his bed---there isn't room for the actual boy!

Adoption anyone?

March 6, 2009

Friday March 6, 2009

Finally the bedroom furniture mission is complete! We went and picked up A's bedroom furniture and got it set up. It looks so nice. Although almost anything would be better than an air mattress propped up on an old box spring!

March 5, 2009

Thursday March 5, 2009

Sometimes "normal" is just really messy! Tonight there were no outside appointments for anyone in the family---that is a rarity. When this happens we try and do something to just chill. Tonight I bought special popcorn and we all sat down to watch The Biggest Loser. The only requirement? They had to help me fold clothes.

So--a real look into our house on a Thursday night in March!

March 4, 2009

Wednesday March 4, 2009

We went and picked up a dresser/mirror and night stand for E and J's room! They are as pleased with this dresser as I am.

J started putting his clothes in immediately! I hope that he will be so excited in a few weeks!

E is thrilled to have a placed to display her beautiful Madame Alexander Dolls.

March 3, 2009

Tuesday March 3, 2009

Today was M's last basketball game of this season. It has been a hard season. They have lost every game, not by a little.

(terrible picture-cheap point and shoot camera)

March 2, 2009

Monday March 2, 2009

Once a week we have Family Home Evening with the singles ward. Once every three months or so they all come to our house. Today was the day.

I actually cleaned for 8 1/2 hours getting ready. Sad to admit but it is true. The really sad thing is that most of the things that had to be done are things that are only noticed if they are NOT done!

We had a dating conversation. It was very interesting. Then we had cookies and ice cream. I think that J ate about half the cookies while we were having the lesson! We really enjoy having these young adults in our home.

March 1, 2009

Sunday March 1, 2009

Dad in Polynesian Drag!!

E is always wanting to "do" someones hair. Unfortunately for her she always pulls my hair so I do too much whining---so---she always goes after Daddy.

How does one know that they have a gem of a Daddy and a husband? When that man lets his eight year old daughter dress him up and do his hair(with 1/2 a gallon of hairspray and a bottle of gel). Better yet when he will actually get up and model!