"Follow-up Facial"

I am a sucker for anyone trying to give me pointers on how to apply my make-up, what colors to wear, etc. So, when my friend Shan who does Mary Kay approached me about doing a "Follow-up Facial" at my house, I took her up on it. The day before the facial, she called me to see if I could round up some friends to "share the experience with." Awesome Cami and Autumn agreed to come over. (We had 11 kids in my backyard playing with the hose during our "Mommy Time.")

Autumn showing us how it is done...I love that Maddie is checking everything out. She copies putting on makeup all of the time!
Cami was concerned putting on eyeliner and eyeshadow...Don't know why....she looked like a hot babe after!!! Here is our after picture...we kept joking the whole time about looking like hookers because we were trying colors we wouldn't normally try (don't think Shan appreciated our comments!)...I think we look fabulous! Thanks gals!!

A couple of requirements when one goes to the doctor:

1. Blue shades-not to be removed

2. Pink crocks-on the wrong feet of course

3. Elmo stickers in abundance for afterwards

4. Favorite cousin getting picked on more than me

5. A nice red sticky sucker

Maddison Turns TWO!!

On Wednesday, the 25th, Maddie turned two. Where has all of that time gone?? I can still remember heading to the Provo Hospital to have her and Jeff making me cry by saying: "It's okay, if you don't have her tonight, you'll probably have her in a couple of days." I was at a 5 when we got there....

This is the first present she opened a couple of days early. She did a "YAY!" cheer for it!!
On Wednesday, we went to Target to pick out her big girl bike. When we got home, I thought I'd put it together so she could try it out. It took me a FULL HOUR and then when we showed it to Maddie, she tried to take one of the boys' helmets to wear...then threw a tantrum since she did not have a helmet to ride her bike with. So much for that delightful hour....
We went to Los Hermanos for her family birthday dinner. YUM!! Maddie discovered the yummy salsa and kept dipping the same chip in a bowl and licking off all of the salsa.
Here is her pretty cake!
Opening presents. She got a helmet! We had a great time!!

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!!

I Met A Celebrity!!

On Saturday, Christina and I went and visited some of the elderly sisters in our Ward. We had a good time reminiscing about the "old days" and seeing their treasures. One sister has a pretty decent sized house that is wall-to-wall with "treasures." After she gave us a grand tour, she told us that she owned the house beside hers and just used it for storage. WOW! Another sister that we met was Beulah Lewis. She told us quite a few stories one of which was about a girl that couldn't get into her prom date's car because her dress was too big...they had to "haul her in the back of the truck." This sister is sharp as can be and has been known to hang her own Christmas lights and climb her peach tree to pick it. Christina got brave enough to ask her how old she is now. She is 98!! I know from then on, I just sat there with a dumb-struck "look of awe" face staring at this sister. When we got home from our presidency meeting Tuesday night, Christina called me and told me that Beulah was on the news. "WHAT?" This sweet, dear old sister went skydiving!!

Here is a clip from the news: http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=54E0F2558E59C7A2B485B0565D0FA896?contentId=6842192&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

AMAZING!! I hope that I not only am still here at 98 and as with it as she is, but that I am also as brave she still is!! I can't wait to see her again and ask her about her skydiving adventure!!

Garet's Friend Party!!

This year for Garet's "Friend Party," we went to the Lehi Legacy Center pool...a definite favorite for our family. We are so happy that are city has such great facilities!!

Garet's "Pirates of the Caribbean" cake.
Mckade, Everette, Garet, Hayzen, and Jace.
Picking out what part of the cake they want.
I think Maddie enjoyed the blue frosting the most....I was just happy we were right beside a large body of water to wash her off.
Opening presents...again older brother checking out the new lute to share.
We all had a great time!! Glad all could come join us!!

Does this make me a bad Mom??

(Please pause the music before you start this clip.)

Does it get any cuter than this?? She loves this song!! We crank it up in the car whenever she gets grouchy and it works like a charm!!

Here's the end of the song...bare with her...she gets sidetracked by a boogy.

YES that is Kaleb and Garet in the background singing ALL of the words! We love the Beastie Boys at our house....

Maddie's "Big Girl" Room

The boys were out of the crib by the time they were 18 months...so, we finally moved our little girl out of the crib at 23 1/2 months. She has been shaking the crib so much that the front "gate" was always down when we went to get her. We were a bit concerned for her safety.
Here are the before pictures of her room:

Okay, her "baby" room didn't always look this. I don't have any digital pictures of it before we started taking things out: the bumper because she pulled the strings off of it....the mobile because she hung on it and broke it...etc.

I am really proud of the before and after pictures of her dresser. I was told by several "experts" in the painting department that there was "no way" that I could paint over the veneer. Well, two big bottles of toll paint and new knobs and "Voila'!" a dresser that matches her new room for under $10.

Here is her new bed:

We stayed with the "Butterfly and Pink Gingham" theme.

Overall, this project was a great success! Maddie loves her new room and goes to bed easy in her new "Big Girl Pretty Bed." She has been really good about staying in it.

F.Y.I.: When I took her crib apart, I did not have to use a screw driver to loosen any of the screws...her shaking did the trick!! We are so lucky it never collapsed on her!!

Yesterday...Today...and Tomorrow Tag

20 Years Ago....

I was almost 11 years old. It was '88. This was not a happy time in my childhood. My mom was cheating on my dad while he was in the military in Japan. With some of her "winners," we had gun violence in our home. My little sister Margaret was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. We lived in our car a lot. My sisters and I were taken away from my mom and put into foster care. I went to 6 different schools that year. My dad committed suicide that year. Thank goodness it got better!!

10 Years Ago....

I had been married for a little over a year. I lived in our 4-plex, where Autumn was my neighbor. She was also my Visiting Teaching partner. I am so grateful she made me go, I now have a testimony of it that she started!! I worked as an Assistant Manager at Modus Media for the Netscape Team. I loved my job and I loved being in charge. Jeff joined his brother Bryan in partnership of their construction company. Life was good and we started "trying" to have a baby.

5 Years Ago....

We moved back to the 4-plex after selling our house in Payson. Our second little boy Garet was having medical problems, so it no longer made sense to live so far away from Primary Children's. We had also missed Bryan and Autumn and their family....we realized that we really wanted our children to grow up with their cousins as more than mere acquaintances. Autumn and I became better friends this year....I am sooooo grateful for her. I remember we did water aerobics that summer. We would go to aerobics and afterwards drive to Orem to get a doughnut at Krispy Kremes:)!!

3 Years Ago....

Kaleb went to first grade. Garet and I hung out all day. I learned what an awesome little boy he turned into. ( He had been a REALLY hard baby) I could drag him to the hair and nail salon any time I needed to and he would entertain himself...he is still like that. I worked on my yard a lot with Garet just hanging out watching me. Jeff's business was doing really well...the house market was on fire!! I got called to serve as the first counsellor in the Primary in our Ward. I thought the Bishopric was joking...I was never a "kid" person...especially other people's kids. It turned into a great experience. I learned so much serving with Michelle and she remains a dear friend. Later this year, the Stake changed our Ward boundaries and put us into an "older" Ward. I was devastated to begin with. We started to get little promptings that our family was not complete. We went to the OB/GYN to start the process of "trying." That same night, we were called into the Bishop's office. I was getting called as the Primary President and Jeff was getting called as the second counsellor in the Young Men's. So much for taking it easy and focusing on our family for a while....Of course we got pregnant that first month(it had NEVER happened before!!).

1 Year Ago....

Life was just happening to us...nothing exciting. Jeff's business was doing well. We were enjoying being "established" and not putting in a yard. Kaleb got baptized. Jeff went to the feed store with the boys and brought home "Chick" and "Duck" who had only hatched that day. He started watching "Dirty Jobs" faithfully and got the crazy idea to raise a pig for meat. Needless to say, the one pig that was supposed to live on a vacant lot in Pleasant Grove turned into four pigs living in my back yard. AAAHHHH! Right after this, Jeff's dad got really sick and was later diagnosed with leukemia. We became regulars at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

So Far This Year....

Jeff's company has been struggling with the housing market collapse. We went to Disneyland for Thanksgiving. Jeff's parents took all of their six boys and spouses to Hawaii. Garet graduated from pre-school. Jeff's dad's leukemia came back. I got called to be the secretary in Relief Society.

Yesterday I....

Got up late. Put our dinner (Broccoli cheese soup with chicken--YUM!) together in the crock pot. Took a shower to get ready for Church and broke out in hives. I had to take my prescription medicine since they came on so fast, so I stayed home from Church and slept once it kicked in. (It has a severe side effect of knocking me out.) Later, Jeff took the kids up to the Huntsman to visit his dad and Maddie threw-up in the car. He got home at 7, so I finally got out of bed and cleaned up throw-up out of her car seat and gave her a bath. Cleaned up the house some since I was finally out of bed and then watched the new "Hairspray" before going back to bed.

Today I....

Went on a four mile run pushing Maddie in the stroller and the boys riding their bikes. I always dread going, but we have fun. (Or it seems like it was fun afterwards?) Got ready for the day. Fed the kids lunch. Put Maddie down for a nap while I ran to get gas (spent $100 and did not even fill my tank all the way up. RRRRRR!) and to the library (yay! more books to read!!). Will make something?? for dinner and then we will go up to the Huntsman for FHE and root beer floats. Maybe go to yoga if we get back in time. Hopefully not go to bed too late so that I am a "nice mommy" tomorrow.

Tomorrow I will....

Get up early and do yoga (I hope!!). Mow my front yard. Get ready for the day. Take the boys to Tae Kwon Do. Go shopping with Maddie for her birthday present (Hey, the boys are the only ones that will remember it, right??). Pick up the boys and eat lunch. Put Maddie down for her nap and take a resty myself while starting a new book (IF all of the above items are done). Clean house some. Make dinner that hopefully all will like and not complain about. Put kids to bed. Go to Relief Society presidency meeting. Update blog some more ( I have two posts that I still need to do). Hopefully not go to bed too late so that I am a "nice mommy" the next day.

In The Next Year I....

Will send two of my three children off to school. Go to the temple more often. Try to start going on dates again with my hubby. Start working on my unfinished scrapbooks to hopefully one day catch up to when I started blogging. Order my 2007 Blog Book. Hopefully lose last ten pounds of Maddie weight if possible. Complain less and enjoy my life and family more!

I'm tagging Cami, Susie, Jacci, Heather and Christina. Good luck gals!!

Happy Birthday Garet!!

On Wednesday, Garet turned 6. Where has the time gone?? We celebrated his big day with the Halliday Family. We had dinner at IHOP...a definite Garet fave.

Mr. Cutie getting his birthday ice cream.

"I'm SIX!!"

Opening presents. (Take note of older brother anxiously watching:)

YAY, more Lego's!! Garet loves to build things with Lego's!

Then, we went to Boondocks (or "Boon-dogs" if you ask the boys) to have some fun. We played lots of games, played a game of laser tag, and then rode the all-time favorite: bumper boats.

Waiting in line.
Unfortunately for Uncle Bryan and Jace, Bryan was just tall enough in the boats that he was a hard target to miss....
So, Kaleb chased him down over and over again to "get" him.
Little wet Garet!
DRENCHED Uncle Bryan and Jace!

My boys are still telling stories about how funny it was to "get" Bryan.

(Poor Bry!! Thanks for entertaining our boys for the evening!!)

Garet had a great time!

Happy Birthday, Buddy. We love you sooooo much!!

Just to make you smile....

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote 'Revelation 3:20' on the back of it and stuck it in the door. When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, 'Genesis3:10.' Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.' Genesis 3:10 reads, 'I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked.'

Happy Father's Day!!

Here's the handsome Dad that we have:

We love him dearly and are very grateful for him!! He tries his best to love and support us in the best ways that he knows and we wouldn't want it any other way!!

Happy Father's Day!!

Kaleb Tests for Blue-Black Stripe Belt!!

On Saturday, June 7th, Kaleb tested for his Blue-Black stripe belt in Tae Kwon Do. Here is a clip of the "attack and defense" moves that they learned for the blue belt:

(The first little boy messes up a couple of times because he is so nervous. Kaleb got to do the moves on both of the other boys that were testing.)

He passed!! We are so proud of him!!

Utah State Tae Kwon Do Championships

On Saturday, May 31st, we went to the Tae Kwon Do State Championship competition in Grantsville. Kaleb has been taking Tae Kwon Do for the past 13 months and has been doing great. He amazes me with how fast he learns the different forms for each belt...I still barely know the first belt's form and he is on his eighth. He competed in the Blue belt form:

And he rocked!! He won first place!!!

I love this picture!! The kid that won second is awesome!! He is always nice and positive in competitions, while the sulky boy who placed third, likes to intimidate his opponents and talk trash to them.

Kaleb sparred next. Unfortunately, the officials had the boys who were competing sit on the sidelines together for a while before they competed....Kaleb had to spar "Mr. Sulky Pants" first after hearing him trash talk him for half an hour. We were really hoping Kaleb would put him in his place....but, it was not to be. Kaleb wound up placing third in sparring. He was ecstatic that he placed in both competitions!! (Later, he actually decided that his third place medallion was cooler than his trophy. How I love this kid!!) He has qualified for the Regional Tournament, but I don't think we'll be making it. We'll wait and see once we get more info. Way to go, Kaleb!! We are so proud of you!!

"Keepin' It Real" Tag

I was double tagged by my little sister Jax and my cute friend Cami. Thanks guys!! Actually, my house is okay right now, so I have to hurry and do it!!

This tag is all about keepin' it real! The rules are to take pictures of the things listed below, but no straightening, primping or prepping. Leave everything just as they look and take the picture. Then tag five victims...um, I mean people.

1. Fridge: Amazingly, no Kool-Aid puddles in the bottom today. Does everyone else's Fridge look like this on the outside?? My kids have to add everything that has a magnet to our "collection."

2. Closet: I love to have order in my house....but, this is where all of my "projects" rest until I can get to them. It looks like I better get cracking, I am running out of shelf space to stick them!
3. Kitchen Sink: Just cleaned up from dinner. I am pretty neurotic about it, though.

4. Laundry room: I love having a laundry divider that I use faithfully, so when one is full, that is when I wash that load....a little neurotic about laundry getting done....I hate to iron, notice my hanging "pile" of things to be ironed....it usually gets done when I don't have enough room to hang things up to dry.

5. Toilet: had to wait for it to be vacated....Glad he put the lid down. Yes, our magazine rack is home to our Reader's Digest subscription....
6. Favorite Room: My bedroom. It is just so warm and cozy and hard to leave some days!!

7. Favorite pair of shoes: I love these....they make me feel young and sexy whenever I do wear them...unfortunately, they also make me taller than Jeff...

So these are my "old faithfuls" that I wear almost daily.

8. What are the kids doing right now?: They are rough-housing with Grandma. What a great grandma they have!! :)

9. Self Portrait: SERIOUSLY?

Okay, so today has been one of those lounging days: finishing my book, doing laundry, recouping from doing our huge yard yesterday AND cleaning my whole main floor.....my excuses can go on. Actually, been putting off getting ready all day because I kept thinking I would go run first, but here it is almost 9:00 pm and I haven't left the house. Tomorrow I am back on the work-out bandwagon! (Hopefully...)

10. Where You Want To Go: On a LONG Mediteranean Cruise with my Hubby. I love to hike and see ruins and castles and history, etc. It would also be great to be able to be on the beach, too. I just think it would be great to get to see so many cool places, but not have to feel like I am living out of a suitcase the whole time. (I am one of those that unpack my entire suitcase when I check in to a motel for more than a couple of nights.)

I am tagging: Heather, Tanya, Laura-u can do this:), and Susie!