Kids Pictures

I finally got the disc of pictures!  Yay!!!  I am soooo excited!  There are so many great pictures!  I love even the ones that aren't perfect because they really show each of the kids' personalities.  I'm so excited to get prints made and make some great galleries in my house.  Now if I was just a millionaire to afford it all!

(I love this one of the three of them!)

See! So cute!

Everyday Angels

I am constantly amazed at the wondrous ways the Lord works in our lives and how He blesses us with angels here on Earth. I have learned that angels come in many forms and many times they come and don't even realize they are being an angel in my life. Many times they come when I don't even know I am needing them.  They come as friends, neighbors, family members, even strangers. And now with the technology we have, they come as bloggers, Pinterest posts, Facebook statuses and many other ways. I am grateful each and every time I am so blessed by one of these many angels.

Recently I was playing in the wonderful world of blogs and came across this talk by President Benson.  (I am not going to say too much on it, just please go read it for yourself, it really is a powerful talk) I have heard/read pieces of it like...

"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place..."

but never knew its source. This talk really struck a chord with me. It's time for me to put the Lord first in my life. All my decisions and actions need to be based on my love for him. I am sure that if I do this, as President Benson said,

"...God’s pay is the best pay that this world or any other world knows anything about. And it comes in full abundance only to those who love the Lord and put Him first."

I know that my life will be extremely blessed if I just put the Lord and his will first and foremost in my life. Yes, I will still have trials and heartbreak but with the Lord on and by my side, I will be able to have the strength to get through anything.  I can have His comfort and love in my life every step of the way if I will just reach out and ask for it.  I know that each and every one of us can have these blessings in our lives.  They are there for the taking, we just need to do our part and reach out.

P.S. If you want to hear an extremely beautiful and powerful song, go here.  Make sure you watch the video clip too.  I love Hilary Weeks!

Ally's Hair Cut

Ally has been begging me for a while now to cut her hair and by cut her hair, I mean short. I've been putting her off because I love her long hair. She is so cute with it long. I recently cut my hair off and the first thing she said to me when she saw it was "that's how I want my hair." That night when Jim got home she told him the same thing. I had been hoping he would tell her to keep it long but nope, he said to cut it short if that's what she wanted. I lost. But after cutting her hair, I'm glad I lost. This girl looks cute with her hair any way she does it. The great news is that we could donate her hair for breast cancer wigs. It wasn't quite long enough for Locks of Love but the breast cancer foundation takes shorter hair so it worked out perfect. Ally was really happy getting her hair cut would help someone else out. Holly put her hair in a braid.

And then she started cutting. Ally's hair is so thick Holly had to cut the top layer first and then go back and cut the bottom layer. It was amazing. The cut looks really cute on her and she is extremely happy to have short hair!

Here she is with the braid that is being donated.

I have no clue what she is doing with her eyes. She is goofy.

And, here she is as we are leaving Holly's, very happy.

Kids' Pictures

It's that time of year again, the time I decide to drag my kids to get their pictures taken. This year my mom found a coupon for a place called Camera Shy so I decided to try them out. We got up, got ready and headed out to Lehi where their studio is located. The moment we walked into the studio I was in love! It is so cute!! And the girl who greeted us matched the studio, super cute! I was really happy when she informed me she would be our photographer because she had the greatest personality and was so cute with each of the kids. We went back to the room and I was shocked. All the walls are painted and decorated different so you have many backdrops. The other room is their outdoor room which has a bunch of different walls that look like they are outside like bricks, metal door, etc. I love that we got so many different options and looks without even having to leave the studio. Vanessa struggled to do what we wanted her to do but all in all, we got some really great pictures. This photographer even got Andrew to smile. I mean a real, great toothy smile. Amazing!! Camera Shy is great because they Photoshop the pictures and burn them all to a disc that I could pick up 1/2 hour later. Love it! I was disappointed when I got home and only one picture was on the disc but they were more than willing to burn me a new copy and drop it in the mail. I can't wait to get it!! Don' worry, once I do I will overwhelm you with the fabulous pics they did of my kids. For now, my at home picture will have to do.

Zoo Field Trip

Ally is first grade which means zoo field trip. She was so excited to go. This is one field trip I make sure to volunteer to go on, I know I'm crazy but I just don't like the thought of my kids at the zoo with anyone other than me. I took Vanessa with me which proved to be as interesting as I thought it would be. She does not like to be in her stroller so I did a lot of chasing her as well as trying to keep track of four 1st graders.

Here are my girls.

They were such cute girls and were really well behaved the entire time. Ally took the map at the very beginning and decided she was in charge of telling us where to go, surprise, surprise!

We decided our route and were off to see all the animals.

The zoo is currently constructing a new exhibit for seals and polar bears so they have taken out quite a few animals. Many of the other animals were sleeping and my girls got bored. We decided to spend the last little bit of time we had at the playground where all the kids had tons of fun running and playing.

Ally started throwing a fit when it was time to leave because she didn't want to ride the bus home. After many tears, threats and bribes I finally convinced her to ride the bus back to the school. I received a call from the lady we carpool with because they couldn't find Ally after school. She heard that one of the buses broke down on the way home. I felt like the world's worst mom. My poor daughter didn't ride the bus and then it breaks down on the way home! Yep, that's my luck! I went down to the school to wait for the bus to get there. All the kids and teachers and parents that were on the buses looked very tired but all were okay. Thankfully it wasn't the bus Ally was on that broke down. The bus she was on went back to rescue the other kids which she thought was pretty cool. All in all it was a really fun day spent with my two girls and the cuties in Ally's class.

Feeding Fishy

One day as I was in drying my hair Vanessa came into the bathroom and said "mom, fishy hungee." I told her that the fish wasn't hungry because Andrew fed it that morning. She said "okay Mom" and left bathroom. I came out after getting ready and found

bits of apple and popcorn floating in the fish bowl. She is definitely my entertainment throughout the day.

School Carnival

I let my kids talk me into taking them to the school carnival again this year. No, it really was a fun day filled with fun games, yummy treats and a goldfish. Yes, I said a goldfish. Andrew won not one goldfish, but two. Thankfully they let him trade one of the fish for a bag of food. Sadly, the fish has already died. One of the many reasons I do not like fish, my son's broken heart because his beloved fish didn't last a week. Darn thing!

Vanessa's favorite part, the cotton candy. Yes, she is her mother's daughter.

Camping at Palisade Lake

For Conference weekend we went camping with my parents and Jac and Kelly at Palisade Lake. It was such a great weekend for camping, beautiful weather, great company, wonderful conference talks and tons of fun and great memories.

The kids had fun playing in the lake (the water was a little too cold to truly swim).

The younger kids also had fun playing at the playground while the dads, grandpa and Andrew went golfing.

While Dixie enjoyed fetching sticks in the lake.

We also enjoyed s'mores and campfire pies and stories from Grandpa.

Other than Vanessa not sleeping, it was the perfect camping trip! We all had a great time!

Interesting Toys

Vanessa has a knack for picking interesting toys. Her favorite for a long time has been the dishwasher tabs and she always comes up with creative ways to play with them.

See, so much fun!

Halloween Crafts

I have yet to decide whether Pinterest is a good thing or an evil thing. There are so many creative people out there with some really fantastic ideas. Some that Kelly, my mom and I decided to make for this holiday season. The reason why it's evil is because it occupies too much of my time and money. My kids and my house have really been neglected while I've making these cute crafts. Another bad thing is there are still more things I'd like to make but I think they'll have to wait until next year or I'll just have to make the Thanksgiving and Christmas stuff I have found. Darn creative people!

Turned out super cute didn't they? Yep, so worth the time and money!

I did have some 'helpers' while making the wreath.

If you can really call those two sillies helpers!

My Little Helper

One day while I was steaming out bathroom floor Vanessa came in with her 'steamer' (a roller toy that makes music) to help me. I moved the steamer in on the tile floor so I could vacuum the kitchen floor and she quickly disappeared (still not a fan of the vacuum). When I went to grab the steamer I saw this

I just had to laugh. I thought it was so cute! I steamed the kitchen floor and then left the steamer there so I could vacuum the tile. When I went to get my steamer

Yep, there again. She is so cute! She makes my day busier and much, much happier!!

Austin Texas

Jim and I try to go to an away BYU football game every year. This year we chose to go to the Texas game. We picked this game because 1) neither of us have been to Austin, 2) we figured it would be a good game against a very good team, and 3) (the best reason for me) my sister Tricia and her husband live there. It was a two-for-one trip, we got to see BYU play and we got to spend time with Trish and Tim, the perfect trip! We got there late Thursday night so we hung out for a bit with them and then went to bed. Friday we slept in a bit (hey, what would be a vacation without kids if you don't take advantage of being able to sleep in) and then we went for some yummy tex-mex for lunch. After lunch we went to the capitol building which Tricia told us is bigger than our nation's capitol in D.C. Pretty cool! Yep, they do everything big in Texas ;). The capitol truly is amazing!!!

I absolutely loved all the detail work from the wood to the light fixtures to the doorknobs and hinges. I really should have been an architect. Maybe my next life.

We went back to Trish and Tim's house and hung out with both of them and went and grabbed dinner.

The next day we got all dolled up in our team gear ready for the game.

(Every time I see this picture I hear the Sesame Street song "one of these things is not like the other" in my head.)

(Aren't they so cute?? I love these two!!!)

We decided to go walk around the campus for a bit before the game. It's a really pretty campus. I especially loved the tower. Tricia told me there was a giant bronze bull somewhere on campus but after walking around and around we gave up on finding it, much to my disappointment.

And then it was into the stadium we went. A girl that used to work with Jim hooked us up with some amazing tickets! We were on the 35 yard line, row 7. In a stadium that seat 100,000 people, our seats really could not have been better! We are so grateful for Christy!

Then it was gametime! I love the beginning of games! The anticipation! The excitement! Plus, there's just something about when the players and coaches come onto the field, so fun!!

It was a great game! This was Trish at the beginning...

Then Texas started coming back and she became happier.

And this picture sums up how we felt at the end of the game

Yes, BYU lost. It was really cool to see how Texas celebrates their wins. All the players go to the end of the stadium where the band is and everyone sings the school song. While they are singing there is a shot of the tower on the big screen and then the lights on the tower switch to orange.

It was really cool. Even though BYU lost,

we still had a great time at the game and were really glad we got to go!

It was a great trip! Jim and I had so much fun! It was so great to get to spend time with Tricia and Tim and see where they now call home. A very, VERY special thanks to my mom and Kelly who came and watched our kids so we could go on this fabulous trip!

Just Being a Mom

I have a confession to make. Now for those who really know me (or have seen me out and about with my kids) you will already know this and will not be surprised. I am not a good, get on the floor, or outside, or go anywhere play with my kids type of mom. It's just not something that comes easy to me. There are so many times that I put housework, exercise, computer play, TV watching, talking with friends, etc, etc. before enjoying play time with my kids. In fact, even on the rare occasions that I have actually sat down and played with them my mind is always on the other things I could or should be doing instead. Am I proud of this? No. Does it make me feel guilty? Yes. But I always chalk it up to it's just who I am and how I was made. I've recently had a few experiences that have reestablished what is truly important and what should matter most. I have realized that even if I'm not great at playing the games and toys with my kids, it's not important. They aren't going to remember that my Barbie said some really goofy things or that my paper airplanes nose dive every time, but they will remember that I took the time to sit down with them and played Barbies and made those airplanes. The play time spent together does not have to be perfect to make memories.

I have learned that I need to let go of my selfish need for 'me' time. My very wise Bishop said to me not too long ago that "Heavenly Father does not have hobbies outside of his children. He does not go golfing (or in my case play bunco). His children are his everything." Now don't get me wrong, I don't think taking time for yourself and having hobbies is a bad thing, but I have let my want and need for this 'me time' affect my relationship with my kids. When my Bishop said this to me, it really made me think. But, unfortunately I did not change. Then I heard this in conference...

"Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze in the time. It is what God gave you time for."

This quote, coupled with what my Bishop told me not too long ago, made me realize I needed to change my attitude. I needed to put my kids and the time (that is going by way too fast) I get to spend with them first. I need to cherish the times they WANT to be with me because I know there will most likely come a time when their friends, school, jobs, etc. will come before me.

So, this weekend I did just that. I rode wiggle racers with Vanessa, took the kids to the school carnival, played many intense games of war, enjoyed listening to Ally read me stories and just enjoyed being a mom. It was such a fabulous weekend!!! I realized how much I LOVE being a mom! I have some amazing kids! Now, I know it's important for them to live in a clean house, eat home cooked meals, have clean clothes, etc. so I can't totally quit my day job but I am grateful I got to enjoy this time God gave me to enjoy just being a mom!

Sometimes I Don't Ask

I just let her do what she's going to do. I really have no idea why but for some reason she decided her bunny crackers would taste better being able to see the view out the window.

Any questions as to why I can't tell this cutie no???