tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79972873821437203212024-03-09T18:46:33.400-08:00Christensen ClanAmiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-18397158568029439482012-04-23T20:36:00.002-07:002012-04-23T20:36:41.919-07:00A facelift for the kitchenEver since we moved into this house we (I think me more than Bryce) had planned to refinish the wood floors --which needed to be done very badly the past few years-- and change the color to something more our style. Bryce was in the middle of getting his master's degree so we decided to wait till he was done before undertaking such a big project. He has now been graduated for almost 4 years and with lots of convincing on MY part... he conceided to finally taking the plunge and getting it done. Well... since the cabinets and railing matches the floor, and I wanted the floor a darker color, those things needed to change too. I wanted white cabinets and with our white countertops that we already had... the countertops needed to change too. :) After lots of looking, price checking, stressing, etc... here is what we ended up having done: *Put in laminate countertops in the granite color that I loved *Installed a new stainless steel sink and faucet which I love cause it is way bigger and deeper than our other sink! *Painted the kitchen cabinets white, repainted the kitchen doors and kitchen trim *Added handles to the drawers and cabinets *Removed the wooden ballisters from the railing and replaced them with iron oil rubbed bronzed ballisters *Stained the railing darker *Sanded, stained and refinished the wood floors a darker color.
Luckily we had most of the work done by professionals and that was such a blessing to turn those things over to them! I have to give a big shout out to our painter, Mike Stevens, who did an absolutely AMAZING job on the railing, cabinets, doors and trim!!! He was also a HUGE lifesaver when the copper pipe that feeds water to the fridge decided to crack and leak all over in the basement in the middle of this project. He stopped what he was working on and came down to help me get it stopped and guided me on what to do to start drying everything out. (Of course Bryce was out of town when this all went down.) I will have to do lots more thanks at the end of this post cause I wouldn't have survived it without lots of support! :)
Anyway- on to the pictures!<br />
Before: Ignore the mess-- I can't seem to find the picture I took where it was actually all cleaned up. And those are little paint cards on the kitchen cabinets from<br />
me trying to decide on which "white" I liked.<br />
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I am SO happy it is all finished! I love the way it looks and am dying to go find some sweet rugs and a few other colorful accessories to add into my new look! It has been one insane month and a half but we survived thanks to lots of great friends and family assisting me along the way. Big hugs are owed to Bryce for the projects he did himself and for all of the inconvenience it caused him when he didn't have one bit of interest in doing any of this. THANKS EVERYONE!!! Now to paint the kitchen stools red.... :)
P.S. I have many more important posts to make-- like Mason's 2nd b-day and such but after fighting this website for the past hour and a half to do this simple post-- it is going to have to wait for another night.Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-29773070844933417422012-01-25T16:11:00.000-08:002012-01-25T16:18:12.757-08:00A small toilet triumph!Mason peed in the toilet for the first time today! Such a proud and happy moment! He likes to get on the toilet several times a day and half of the time I find him naked from the waist down cause he wants to get on but it is always AFTER he has done his business in his diaper. I am sure it was a fluke tonight that he went and I don't expect him potty trained overnight but we are taking steps in the right direction!<br /><br />It is funny cause Bryce and I always joke that he will be potty trained before he talks. This might be true. Mason now has 4 words in his vocabulary (doubling that from the last week of 2 words) and about 10 different signs. He is my little "stealth mode" child. <br /><br />Cross your fingers we will have more toilet triumphs and can get this kid out of diapers!!!<br /><br />FYI- Mason is almost 22 months old.Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-88114724765473230272012-01-07T20:48:00.000-08:002012-01-07T21:29:57.074-08:00Heartbroken and Grateful...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYF_AGejS8jTIyr9zRsvMQ1TqwUxCtzm8WubBdZZT-0EA8vDhLFVBfPkMIa9iNLpm90n6KjPn9NYpGKQIS6HkEWodkmZKDYoY2Q2Fzu76S3hXoXF3244l9VSoyuFVPSpdrsdDsRFHqyVY/s1600/scan0001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 207px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYF_AGejS8jTIyr9zRsvMQ1TqwUxCtzm8WubBdZZT-0EA8vDhLFVBfPkMIa9iNLpm90n6KjPn9NYpGKQIS6HkEWodkmZKDYoY2Q2Fzu76S3hXoXF3244l9VSoyuFVPSpdrsdDsRFHqyVY/s320/scan0001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695129026348038242" /></a><br />For all of my tears you would think that I had just lost my own mother and in a way I kindof felt like I did. Judy Dimond, aka... Matt & Michelle's mom, aka... Sis. Dimond was like my second mom. I spent practically every spare second I had in high school over at my best friend, Michelle Dimond's house. I had many chats with her mom at the kitchen table as we hung out or I waited for Michelle to finish getting ready for something. I was included in many family get-togethers, went up to their family ranch with them, attending church basketball games for the boys and giggling with the girls. Judy was always so welcoming, loving, funny and busy serving everyone around her, especially her family. She lived for her family and fought valiantly to stay with them as long as she could. She was a huge example of what it meant to be a loving mother and wife to me. I hope my home is filled with the same love that she filled hers with. It was a place that was always nice to be.<br /><br />I can still remember just like yesterday one night that the group of boys that Michelle and I always hung out with (including Michelle's twin brother, Matt) thought it would be funny to scare the living daylights out of us girls by turning off the car's headlights and driving down Canyon Road in Cedar Hills towards Pleasant Grove. We were so scared, mad and totally shaken up by the experience and we wanted revenge. We were sitting at Dimond's kitchen table trying to come up with a plan (and this is at least 10 pm) when in walks Judy. We hushed our talking since we didn't want her to know that we were planning something mean against her own son and instead she had already caught wind of our situation and came in to HELP! I was blown away by her sense of humor. We ended up making some cookies with horrible ingredients in them and took them over to Jon Taylor's house where the guy's were hanging out. We had attached an apology note on the plate of cookies saying how sorry we were for yelling at them. They were pleased with our peace offering and immediatley dove right into the cookies. It took about 5 seconds for the shock and disgust to hit them as they realized they had been punked. Judy's just laughed as we told her the reactions of the boys. Never did Judy have a mean bone in her body but she did have a sense of humor.<br /><br />Today as tributes were made and goodbye were said I can't help but think of all the angelic work that she did while she was here and what great things she must be doing in heaven. There isn't a life that she didn't come in contact with that wasn't deeply touched by Judy. She taught her kids well and they will continue on her legacy of faith and love. I know that she will be reunited with those that she had to so sadly leave behind this week and that does bring comfort. My heart still breaks and the tears flow as I think about all of the times that they will wish that she was still here with them as new grandbabies will be born, her last son will be married, birthdays will be celebrated and quiet moments of advice and hugs can't be given. <br /><br />Sis. Dimond- thank you for making such a huge impact on my life, teaching me true happiness and letting me be a part of your family for so many years. I will miss your infectious smile, your contagious laugh that filled the room and your warm heart that enveloped everyone. You are truly an angel and I wished I would have told you sooner.Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-1245009690861575982012-01-03T21:36:00.000-08:002012-01-03T21:50:45.257-08:00Putting things in perspectiveAs I whine about small inconveniences in my life I just have to take 30 seconds to log in and read the update on my sweet friend's family and I have no more complaints. I am actually embarrassed that I was even complaining in the first place cause not once have I ever heard Lisy or Tyler complain! <br /><br />Lisy is the cute little mom of this amazingly strong little bunch. Lisy has always been such a positive example to me in my life. It has also been fun getting to know her husband, Tyler, a little bit more over the past year and a half that Lisy and I have had a chance to reconnect (thanks to Braxton and Matthew becoming instant best friends in kindergarten).<br /><br />Anyway- if you need a reality check on how good your life really is-- take a moment to check out their blog. Just a warning- have tissues on hand.<br /><br />http://fishesformarrowwishes.blogspot.comAmiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-45214754909409014562011-12-19T20:24:00.000-08:002011-12-19T20:56:39.495-08:00Happy Holidays!I can't believe it is December 19th already! I swear we just had everyone over for Thanksgiving last week. As always things have been nuts around our house (or at least it feels that way for me.) I had a blast having everyone over here for Thanksgiving. It was my first time hosting Thanksgiving dinner and thanks to everyone's help, it turned out awesome and it wasn't stressful. We had just over 30 people and we partied from lunch till late at night. We couldn't stop there though so we had everyone back over again for leftover pie and a spaghetti dinner the next night. It is just too much fun getting together to leave it to just one day! :)<br /><br />Our December started off with a bang as we had something every day that first week in December. We have done things just a little differently around our house this year. We were a little slow on getting all of our decorations out and didn't put up our Christmas tree until tonight. I didn't want to stress the whole month about having to keep Mason out of everything. We have had other decorations up for a few weeks but not the tree. We decorated it tonight with every ornament except the bulbs. (They resemble a ball too closely and I didn't want them thrown and shattered.) It was a fun time. I TOTALLY let go of control and the kids decorated the whole thing while I handed them ornaments. Nobody fought, argued or cried. It is definitely no "Festival of Trees" but it is to our kids. I guess the backwards ornaments and branches with 5 ornaments to a limb just give it it's own style and pizazz. I am trying hard to make sure that we have HAPPY holidays and not "perfect" holidays so I have had to back off a bit. I do miss having that creative feeling and satisfaction when I step back to see how beautiful things are transformed for the holidays but I figure in a few years from now I will get that chance to do some more of it again.<br /><br />I am surprised at how much I have liked not having our tree up during the whole month. It has given us something to continue to look forward to doing and I think our kids haven't had the "gimmies" as much during this holiday. They are SOOOO excited for Christmas but rarely talk about what they want to receive. It has been more about what are we doing for others or fun activities we get to participate in. Landen has been the cutest this year. He can hardly stand it till Christmas gets here. He has been putting a sticker on his little calendar chart each day and at least 10 times a day he checks to see if another day has come and he missed putting a sticker on. He mixes up his numbers too so he will ask, "Is it the nine one day today?" instead of asking if it is the 19th today. He does know that Christmas Day is on the two-five and he is constantly telling us how many more days till it is two-five.<br /><br />I am excited that we get to make treats tomorrow! Bryce will be done with his "Biggest Loser" competition that he is doing with the boys on his side of the family. They do their final weigh-in tomorrow morning and I can make caramel, English toffee, fudge, chex mix, etc... I hope the kids and I have fun doing it together. We will definitely enjoy eating it! Bryce's "diet" has been good for us and actually helped me lose the weight that has been bothering me for a while at my stomach. I didn't exercise at all but we have cut out a lot of sugar, snacking after dinner and a few other things. Hopefully we can continue to keep a few healthy lifestyle changes that will just keep us in good health.<br /><br />I wish that I had pictures to post but I am still without a good camera. I have taken a few photos with Abbey's camera that I will have to add sometime-- maybe. Until then... I will just have to keep these good times in my memory bank and let them keep getting better and better as time goes by! :)Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-25244755964182629582011-10-31T20:18:00.000-07:002011-10-31T20:48:52.382-07:00Happy Halloween 2011<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9jVj6NcXg6DhIblvmW6rJArAhIhZUzBmKyy8635XmorZ3ZK3Vwcs67Vt73YpBtxWBKjfSXJvwjkowyrWd4qZGNn0rQM30KF9UIliSFKSy_LVNuHM8ao6Fwlk_vhyphenhyphenBG1jb8fHhmq8bmUt/s1600/Halloween+with+Hannah+Ormond+2011.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 221px; height: 166px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669867088341654594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9jVj6NcXg6DhIblvmW6rJArAhIhZUzBmKyy8635XmorZ3ZK3Vwcs67Vt73YpBtxWBKjfSXJvwjkowyrWd4qZGNn0rQM30KF9UIliSFKSy_LVNuHM8ao6Fwlk_vhyphenhyphenBG1jb8fHhmq8bmUt/s400/Halloween+with+Hannah+Ormond+2011.jpg" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0-AC5wqRE2VCqZyid5ohM2kbn0Lwxna5TixdnH5g-T9xMg__bWL-SaNcikNhuO0RJlEIBflo9gbZIkPRR0x8BwuBZnl9Qqc1Ncaz5tjOSxaN6kpKBNSjyR24In_DvbNjOHA8yeP9QgAq/s1600/Halloween+with+Hannah+Ormond+2011.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div>We have officially completed our marathon weekend of Halloween! It started Thursday with Landen's preschool party, Friday's family Halloween party at Karen's house, Saturday was full of parties for Abbey and we finished it all of with a grand finale for today. It started with the cute costume parade at the elementary school, then off to take care of a funeral luncheon for a sweet little old man in our neighborhood, dashed off to trick-or-treat at Lisa's office, visited Hannah Ormond and Joe, trick-or-treated the neighborhood (in absolutely fantastic weather!!!), dashed off to Uncle John's & Aunt Christina's, Grandma & Grandpa Bezzant's, the spook alley at "Grandma Walker's" and we finished off with a stop to Karen's. What a night! I am SO exausted!!! We had a blast and the kids came home with an enormous haul of candy! They can't stop talking about all of the fun they had. This was the first year I didn't make them sit down and eat a real dinner. They ate so much candy that they had no appetite. It was actually nice to not fight them to eat--just this once! This was also the first time that I let Braxton and Abbey run off through the neighborhood all by themselves. They did almost the entire thing before it got dark. They literally RAN from house to house enjoying the "big kid"freedom and the chocolate greed running through their veins. This holiday rivals Christmas in the eyes of my kids.</div><div> </div><div>I wished we could have stopped and visited everyone we wanted. There just wasn't enough time and once I sat down in the car tonight- my energy hit a brick wall. It was game over for me! I think my high heeled boots that I have had ALL day didn't help that.</div><div> </div><div>Such fun times! Thank you to everyone to put on such fun things. Karen threw an awesome party full of fabulous food, great pumpkin carving and a fantastic fishing pond! </div><div> </div><div>I am now off to bed. I promise myself that I will do quick and easy posts so that I will actually post something so enjoy the one picture I uploaded from my phone for Halloween. :) It is of the kids with our good friend, Hannah Ormond. *Abbey is a black cat. *Braxton is a ninja (but he didn't like to wear the mask) *Landen was batman--as he slowly lost pieces of his costume all night. *Mason was a lion. Cute stuff and we didn't have to do makeup!! Yipee!!!</div></div></div>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-36496300248050612342011-10-27T12:08:00.000-07:002011-10-27T12:16:47.144-07:00Hugs!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13oyBqRbos_Z-XQIpWi0kAb_Q2orfBRHMnlgsoMKnioHe_AzMoUzAEUpsRrIOpqgUuxsIEyz41ssd0zV1JhQ6JmX3JPvk43hA8pW7zRi8eM7llUTWoXrQXmQVdy-OClhBidGXsZlZPwoi/s1600/IMG00494-20111027-1305.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668252577504168706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13oyBqRbos_Z-XQIpWi0kAb_Q2orfBRHMnlgsoMKnioHe_AzMoUzAEUpsRrIOpqgUuxsIEyz41ssd0zV1JhQ6JmX3JPvk43hA8pW7zRi8eM7llUTWoXrQXmQVdy-OClhBidGXsZlZPwoi/s320/IMG00494-20111027-1305.jpg" border="0" /></a>Hugs! Hugs! And MORE HUGS! Mason can't get enough hugs from me when I put him down for his nap or to bed for the night. He lays down, we get his two favorite blankets (one from each grandma) and then instantly his arms go straight up in the air with the sounds," Husss" coming out as he is begging for hugs. You can't just give him one or two hugs. Each time you hug and kiss him he instantly asks for more. His big smile and gorgeous blue eyes are a heartbreaker so of course I give him more and more hugs and kisses. WHY NOT?! When I finally don't think my back can handle bending over the railing and into the crib anymore- I promise Mason more hugs when he wakes up. He is good with that and out the door I go trying not to look back at the cute little guy laying there in the crib. Good times!Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-21892402997835647632011-10-26T12:39:00.000-07:002011-10-26T12:58:52.807-07:00Football Finale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6U2tbhYUTcggPpYhQ2THHMBG0bNf24G1bji3lCwXnFNy9MafZoZq4FD78D7-AMW05Of8Ir4V9Sq03_4cbv_ORxR27IEDSN4GqIosjZEp67EixQ9tzYJgPluICpuPWR-ftt3431V6ZPMW/s1600/scan0001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667892343062733234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 321px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6U2tbhYUTcggPpYhQ2THHMBG0bNf24G1bji3lCwXnFNy9MafZoZq4FD78D7-AMW05Of8Ir4V9Sq03_4cbv_ORxR27IEDSN4GqIosjZEp67EixQ9tzYJgPluICpuPWR-ftt3431V6ZPMW/s400/scan0001.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br /><div>Braxton played his last football game of the season last night. It was a nail biter! They were tied and had to go into overtime. They ended up losing the game but had a great time and had lots of other winning games. Brax is a fast little guy. He pulled lots of flags, had some good blocks and scored several touchdowns! I think that next year he will be the giant on the field with the 1st and 2nd graders since he was almost always one of the taller kids this year. Braxton also had fun having his cousin, Porter, on the same team with him. Good times for sure! Mason, Landen and Abbey also loved all the treats that Aunt Karen provided each game. Mason doesn't stop digging in her purse knowing that SOMEWHERE there is another piece of gum, swedish fish or fruit roll ups. A big THANKS to his coach, Victor Johnson, for the endless hours of practice and patience! He was fabulous.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>I am so disappointed that I have ruined my good camera and didn't get any good snapshots. I tried with Abbey's camera but it just isn't the same to not be able to zoom a ton, take quick shots and deal with the dusk lighting. Thanks Abbey for letting me use your camera though! You are always very sweet to share. I guess I should be glad we bought the team picture--too bad we are missing 1/2 his team in it though. Oh well- what do you do?</div>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-51116407242184289382011-10-25T12:16:00.000-07:002011-10-25T13:41:02.979-07:00StrategiesMy life is full of them. I am constantly trying to figure out the best and fastest way to get things to work in my favor. Some of my strategies from this morning-<br /><br />*First and my most important one--keep a positive energy going. The more I show appreciation or compliment on what a good job the kids are doing on something- the more likely they are to continue to keep up working and generally faster and more self-motivated than they were before. They love to "surprise" me and have stuff done that I wouldn't have expected to be finished yet. Surprise away!!! :)<br /><br />*To avoid a meltdown from Landen and a mess from Mason- all three of us brush our teeth at the same exact time and we all do it in my bathroom. I have moved their toothbrushes and toothpaste right into my cabinet to save me the hassle of fetching them each morning. <br /><br />*I also have to set the timer on my phone for 2 minutes so that Landen doesn't day dream all morning while brushing and when the timer goes off it automatically signals to him that it is time for me to brush his teeth (we call it finishing his teeth.) This usually avoids another meltdown.<br /><br />*Putting clean laundry away is tricky. Abbey and Braxton are self-motivated on this one now but Landen isn't. He can't race the older kids cause they smoke him every time and meltdowns ensue.. SO.... he races me. I get to put away my laundry, Bryce's laundry and Mason's laundry while Landen does his. This usually works out quite well. If for some reason I had to already get mine done we have alternative #2- counting. Landen LOVES it when I say, "On your mark, get set, GO!" and then I start counting to whatever number he has chosen. He thinks he is SO tricky cause he will start putting away whatever pile he has chosen as I start to say, "On your mark..." **We can only choose one pile at a time to put away--like pants, or underwear--or it is just too much for him to process and handle. Then we choose another pile and start the whole process over again. Some days I feel so annoyed to do the whole song and dance and think that he should just get his stuff put away but I have to stuff those thoughts back down into some black whole and just be grateful that we have a strategy that usually ends with smiles and the job well done!<br /><br />*The grocery store. Strategy- go during preschool (only have Mason). Go on days I drive for preschool so that we are already in the car and can easily head over to the store. If going to walmart- park on the pharmacy side - we have to avoid the produce section at all cost till the end of the shopping trip. Try to have my list in order along with coupons I want to use. The faster I get through the store the happier Mason and I both are. Hand items to Mason and let him throw them into the basket of the cart. Be careful to not let him linger with the items or he will rip them open and try to eat whatever it is, shampoo and all. Avoid the treat isle all together--best for both of us! And finally we pick up our produce and make sure bananas, grapes or apples are put into the cart last and hopefully in a spot he can't see them. If he does see it, Mason holds on to a bunch of bananas and we head straight to the check out. Mason is a ticking time bomb cause there is only so long he can stand to see fruit and not be eating it. He did quite well today at the store but there have been a few times I haven't followed my game plan very well and for the sake of me and the other 100 shoppers around us, we purchase a banana at the beginning of our trip and he eats it as we all shop in peace.<br /><br />One last strategy and I am speaking for Bryce on this one-- make ME think it is MY idea and I am happy to do it--no matter what it is! :) He has me figured out so well! No wonder he goes on so many dirt bike rides! ;)Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-77522118921227031572011-10-24T11:31:00.000-07:002011-10-24T12:40:08.152-07:00October 24, 2011Here I am again- ready to apologize for falling off the face of journaling. I have too much of good life to type about to waste my time on that though. Life is what it is and keeping a "cutsie" journal isn't one of them for me. It has been so long though that I wanted to jot down a few things so as I don't forget them.<br /><br />First off-- 3 out of my 4 kids have had birthdays since my last entry! I will work on seperate posts to highlight their individualness and fantastic qualities but I didn't want them to think that they were forgotten. Happy Birthday Landen, Abbey and Braxton!!!<br /><br />I never imagined that having 4 kids would be this busy. The summer went by in a flash--yet I lived every day of it. It was a fun but very hard summer. We had a great time doing swim lessons, playing baseball, dirtbiking a bit with Bryce, camping, swimming, celebrating my wedding anniversary, birthdays, holidays, trips to Idaho and just playing with friends and family. It was never a dull moment around this house. Not until the week before school started did I hear anyone say, "Mom! I'm bored!" How could they have been?! We were running 24/7 it seemed.<br /><br />I try to think why life is so crazy for me and then I take a look at some "normalities" of my life:<br /><br />*With the kids being out of school for the summer it must have thrown Landen for a major upset. We had bathroom accidents almost daily (and many times it was multiple times a day), fits every morning cause he wasn't the first one done making his bed, fits every time we went somewhere cause he wasn't the first one to the car, screaming fits if he was the last one out of the car and had to close the door and random fits for any other reason under the sun. Man, can that kid throw fits?!!! (I am just glad it has toned down SO much since school started. I was beginning to wonder if Landen was going to spend the rest of his life in "time-out".) I tried hard to help him understand that we aren't "racing" to do everything but that didn't seem to do any good. He is definitely my emotional child--on both ends of the spectrum!<br /><br />*Mason is a "go-er." He doesn't talk- he just does it himself. If he wants food- he opens the pantry or the fridge. If he wants a drink- he slides the stools around and finds a cup that somebody has left on the counter and drinks out of it. Needless to say- this usually leaves a mess with it all. Just this morning he emptied out the box of Honey Bunches of Oats cereal and had 3 seperate piles on the counter (and a huge mess on the floor of the ones that had escaped) just to fish out the raisins from the box. If only he would just talk and say he wanted rasisins-- I have a 3lb bag sitting on the shelf above that is just waiting to be eaten! <br /><br />*Mason is a "sneaky go-er." He is so quiet about most things that he does that you don't realize he is doing stuff until it is done. Like- unrolling the toilet paper off the roll, emptying the wipes container, one wipe at a time, exploring Braxton and Landen's junk drawers, unwrapping gum that he has fished out of Bryce's laptop bag, using the toilet plunger as a walking stick, rearranging the bathroom cabinet supplies and hauling extra shampoo, toothpaste, lotion--which is his FAVORITE all over the house. I know it sounds like we don't watch this kid, but we do! He can open child locks, open doors, climb on the stools to get to the kitchen counter and much much more. He is one smart cookie! I had him buckled up in his high chair the other day having a snack and there was something across the room that he wanted so he started throwing is body forwards and backwards to get his chair rocking and low and behold, he moved his whole high chair (that doesn't have wheels) across the room till he reached what he wanted. WHAT?! This kids is barely 18 months old! Maybe I have forgotten what kids do-- but holy heck! Then he just looks up at me with these big blue eyes and gives me the cutest smile with a look of innocence that says, "What-- I wanted ____ and I couldn't reach it." But of course, he doesn't say a word.<br /><br />*Relief Society- this has been the 2nd hardest calling in my life. (The 1st time I was Primary President was the hardest--I think; for lots of different reasons.) There is always something to be done and I enjoy doing so much of it. I think that the hardest part is trying to fit in all of the things I need and want to get done into my already crazy life. The activities are probably my hardest part to deal with. As a good friend put it, "It is like you have to plan a big party for people who are too busy to come to it." I struggle with trying to figure out what activities would be best for the ladies in our ward and will they meet their needs. I am so grateful when people volunteer or if anyone ever wants to create a little activity of their own. With my life being so crazy busy it is hard to think that other people might be looking for things to do- but I know that they are out there cause I used to be in that spot. And I also know that even being so busy, I enjoy time out with the ladies every once in a while. <br /><br />*Of course there is the usual cooking, cleaning, dishes, laundry, yard work, etc... that needs to get done. Rides to piano lessons, football practice, trips to the grocery store, school projects, last minute birthday presents help to fill in any empty cracks of time that might be wasted on relaxation. I have to say though- I love having laundry to fold at night cause I get to sit down and watch a little t.v. without feeling guilty about it. That only happens 2 nights a week but to watch a show and fold all of the laundry in the same hour- LOVE IT!<br /><br />Speaking of which-- I need to get back to work. My energy is sapped from having the stomach flu yesterday and I needed to take a break so I justified getting on the computer to journal for a minute while Mason is taking a nap. It is "early out" day today for Abbey and Brax so they will be walking in the door any moment. Time for homework, football practice, dinner, FHE, baths, more laundry, dishes, etc... <br /><br />I am not complaining-- just documenting the current state of life. It won't always be like this-- and in many ways that makes me sad. So for now-- I have a smile and a forever long "to-do" list that I am off to get "to-doing!" :)Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-57443468414817058032011-06-13T20:29:00.000-07:002011-06-13T21:00:17.608-07:00An update on life....Life is good! I can't really complain. It is even better that the house is quite, all of the kids are asleep and with the lights not on... I can't see all of the housework that it awaiting me! :)<br /><br />I am totally worn out today. We have had a fun day of swimming at the PG pool for Strawberry Days and watching Braxton play baseball. It was our turn for treats and I made round sugar cookies and frosted them like baseballs. They were cute. I am proud of myself for only eating 2! (yes- that is good for me!) Mason was getting REALLY restless at the end of the game so I let him have one of the extra cookies. He was head to toe frosting! And so was the stroller. After a dinner of spaghetti tonight-- I wondered why I was doing this to myself. Not planning the best dinners as far as cleanliness.<br /><br />Bryce is again missing out. He is currently in Texas and will be heading to LA tomorrow. He has had to travel quite a bit the past few weeks so we miss him. He works super long hours when he travels and comes home wiped out. I am glad that he is still loving his job and always has lots to tell me. I just try my best to keep it all straight so I can ask meaningful questions.<br /><br />Baseball consumes our evenings. Braxton has games on Monday and Wednesday nights. Landen has games on Tuesday and Thursday nights. I love cheering my boys on! Some days are a bit more hectic to get there than others. Landen can't seem to focus enough to get his stuff ready (shoes on, mitt in his hand and buckled in the car). He finds lots of other things to do along the way. My agenda minded personality wants to blow a gasket every time. And sometimes it does. I am trying hard on that though. His random thumbs up, winks, hugs and raised eyebrows from across the counter during dinner at me make me laugh and melt. He should probably try winking at me a little more during his fits....<br /><br />Abbey is loving gymnastics again this summer. It makes me want to consider her doing it year round. She is amazingly flexible and is cart wheeling all over the place!<br /><br />More Mason just cut 3 teeth this past week! A top molar on each side and a bottom tooth next to his two little middle teeth. He hasn't been the happiest camper. Not bad, but not the happiest. <br /><br />We survived our first week of summer. It was almost constant bickering, power struggles, life isn't fair complaints and so on from the kids. I was ready to go NUTS! It always takes about a week for them to figure out how to get along all day long. Today was much better so I hope that we are on the road to peace and friendship around here... or I am on the road to the looney bin!<br /><br />I am still going running in the mornings. With Bryce being out of town it hasn't worked out for me to go every day but I am getting out at least 3 - 4 times per week. I am now up to 2 1/2 miles with still some good hills in that distance. I could probably go further but I still want to stick to my 30 minute workout time and I need enough energy to keep up with the kids all day. I am seeing some improvement on my stomach and I know that my legs are a bit more toned up. I am frustrated though because a lot of my stomach roll issue is skin and I don't know what I can do about that, except surgery to remove it. And that isn't happening any time soon... or ever in my penny-pinching future.<br /><br />Oh- one more thing! We are going somewhere for our anniversary!!! This next week we will be celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary! Usually we celebrate by going somewhere for dinner (in mid-July). With Strawberry Days, Father's Day, Landen's birthday, etc... our anniversary always gets pushed aside. This year with Bryce being gone so much-- I needed some time and a good break! We get to go to away for the weekend and my sister, Karen, is taking the kids! WAHOO!! Bryce has asked me a few times what I want to do... and of all things that he can't believe I am saying... is SIT! I LOVE to go, go, go but I am tired, tired, tired! I just want to do NOTHING! I am sure that won't last super long but I can't wait for a completely relaxing weekend with my favorite person. Homestead... here we come! In a few weeks. :)Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-74969556293298726582011-06-13T20:19:00.001-07:002011-06-13T20:28:23.125-07:00Braxton playing coach-pitch baseball<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfv6i1EEDFDUg2TQ5WqXsCzRYy0VHfsrAQgeohxcquC285guPhgSLwqWCrxS7LdrCD_is8cg_lqDkEKii484nIOOpcb4BWAGn0B0EN3rchkb7W65wT6GbxZ_6c-lX7Ug93SD_C05e4UXWz/s1600/DSC_8239.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617910563381747330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfv6i1EEDFDUg2TQ5WqXsCzRYy0VHfsrAQgeohxcquC285guPhgSLwqWCrxS7LdrCD_is8cg_lqDkEKii484nIOOpcb4BWAGn0B0EN3rchkb7W65wT6GbxZ_6c-lX7Ug93SD_C05e4UXWz/s320/DSC_8239.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Braxton has now moved up to coach-pitch baseball</strong>. He is a great player and a real "go getter!" He seems to be loving it and his favorite part is wearing cleats. He wants to wear them all day, every day. He doesn't understand why I get upset when he wears them to run around on the wood floors in the house. Hmmm....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlb5o8EpSWOand13ac43jP1i2eX8J00UNfKdWsWGhgQkwrrFwzs2IIi81vRZt4KtnjK-BskP07ReBomogFoIiST7-V-6ZJq2Bv8Xu4jrb6LIv2F_UCmEdvhi-KVTAk1Dy63eNd66WbUp0/s1600/DSC_8216.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617910245196448226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlb5o8EpSWOand13ac43jP1i2eX8J00UNfKdWsWGhgQkwrrFwzs2IIi81vRZt4KtnjK-BskP07ReBomogFoIiST7-V-6ZJq2Bv8Xu4jrb6LIv2F_UCmEdvhi-KVTAk1Dy63eNd66WbUp0/s320/DSC_8216.JPG" border="0" /></a> I wished that I would have gotten a better shot of his big hit! He has a great coach, Victor Johnson, who is helping to teach them a lot about the game and some strategy to it.<br /><br />Braxton got to have a chance at being catcher today. He did pretty darn good.<br /><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWk-JJgFXgp5qAnIbcbBWcIwo7jaRrTzlU39WmnbE3b3iw-nP82QFxSUL90j_NgGL2vipBCQgcchH6zDEHhZ_OasN1moePtZE_1XZlKHRaf1yylk830ACtey-6qaR5yDarNjeFt1i21md/s1600/DSC_8228.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617910234273786802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWk-JJgFXgp5qAnIbcbBWcIwo7jaRrTzlU39WmnbE3b3iw-nP82QFxSUL90j_NgGL2vipBCQgcchH6zDEHhZ_OasN1moePtZE_1XZlKHRaf1yylk830ACtey-6qaR5yDarNjeFt1i21md/s320/DSC_8228.JPG" border="0" /></a>He is dashing off to 1st base!<br /><br /><br />Of course Braxton has to slide into every base, especially home plate. I am just glad he wore a pair of ripped jeans for the game. It might be worth getting a pair of baseball pants for this kid or everything is going to be grass stained and torn to shreds.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPNmlwRi6MQ3Voy-6vYkghB_DigTOirsbXrqyqqLNEwbemuyjBKcMdgN5JW_Wf15kCQFGJPBcUUvdSIZjZ5alI5hRx_KNOQrMWacYCuu-KBCuJd8vyGbK_gfLYMpMUcfFVG0CDSg5Vw9S/s1600/DSC_8238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617910242135577810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPNmlwRi6MQ3Voy-6vYkghB_DigTOirsbXrqyqqLNEwbemuyjBKcMdgN5JW_Wf15kCQFGJPBcUUvdSIZjZ5alI5hRx_KNOQrMWacYCuu-KBCuJd8vyGbK_gfLYMpMUcfFVG0CDSg5Vw9S/s320/DSC_8238.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1iVnG6YwgX9FrywDuGh6r-wnWCDFz4MTXE5UjgDDxlvWS3_bq0XSTHk7vmmYyq_BDhaEm2eJv8V8atAQVW43SX-IfiRcKqJV6zYfNbSr3saI8x7WjHCbGby06jtXlo3_KpShVhEPhbB2/s1600/DSC_8216.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-17386262162831319192011-06-13T19:49:00.001-07:002011-06-13T20:19:04.317-07:00Landen playing t-ball<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OK2TNO4DdKSxrSTN7ge6kHj3XgyJ-xXSEHMuS62AjOE7PqeJI-R8Bvqc-UJqd9i7Yi36vTlQnG39g9Twuk7F1F4P5q_djzaSYqJrYD6q_doIj2GtB1CK3JMcHKBDxb_Rcs-oCuvYg-CC/s1600/DSC_8136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617903641530314178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OK2TNO4DdKSxrSTN7ge6kHj3XgyJ-xXSEHMuS62AjOE7PqeJI-R8Bvqc-UJqd9i7Yi36vTlQnG39g9Twuk7F1F4P5q_djzaSYqJrYD6q_doIj2GtB1CK3JMcHKBDxb_Rcs-oCuvYg-CC/s320/DSC_8136.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Landen's 1st year playing t-ball</strong>! He seems to be having a great time! He is on a team with several of his friends and he has a fantastic coach who is SO patient with the kids!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHx6nmkCB2ANMX2hpLKPC1-3w-zkiunUG5vRRIqtWkoe9-ouCYleVq-u1j1otZ4rvODA4XUhdIjyejIasyIHfKBxKGMt2GU4sBNKOwYb2WNMVlanXBXpYOBATUxrUgQjrEO7i1uyibTHe/s1600/DSC_8162.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617903635833301778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHx6nmkCB2ANMX2hpLKPC1-3w-zkiunUG5vRRIqtWkoe9-ouCYleVq-u1j1otZ4rvODA4XUhdIjyejIasyIHfKBxKGMt2GU4sBNKOwYb2WNMVlanXBXpYOBATUxrUgQjrEO7i1uyibTHe/s320/DSC_8162.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Landen turned his hat sideways cause "he can't see to get the ball if it is on straight!" This is serious business! <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ph5hpqiOvEjLrT4_Pgx2At0ir_l7lp9g-azELsoYeEfZmMQR3sBiN2kyHeAfUky_-eRTb4QZJO0TQsHNhWB3T5i8wuFqZvNh_nuGZnJioFGh2M1vOE71e7BqU1BgRtDjNzrb6bbZBZJ3/s1600/DSC_8140.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617903174780006114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ph5hpqiOvEjLrT4_Pgx2At0ir_l7lp9g-azELsoYeEfZmMQR3sBiN2kyHeAfUky_-eRTb4QZJO0TQsHNhWB3T5i8wuFqZvNh_nuGZnJioFGh2M1vOE71e7BqU1BgRtDjNzrb6bbZBZJ3/s320/DSC_8140.JPG" border="0" /></a> Landen is in the middle of this hussle for the ball. Everyone wants to be the guy to get it! So much so that while Landen was a runner on 1st base he had a little misunderstanding of what he was supposed to be doing. He intently watched his teammate hit the ball and instead of running to 2nd base he ran after the ball, wrestled the other team's player to the ground and it took a grown man to peel him off of the kid and to peel the ball out of Landen's hand. He was SOOO excited that he got the ball!!! ...Then he had to run to 2nd base. I was on the ground rolling! (and was no help to the situation) Luckily in all if it-- nobody was hurt.<br /><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlN5uqFnjFS1rjABghM_Bhoa9rQm5I1aorq1b5m3w7xWZier4ZHNQLNPRi6w4e9zu_nBLyeWHDn1P3u1SXnPZajoSxOK2jK5k7Ap5O84cDTtyqNv9hNKbvgxJD3Nj2pbB7sT7VNtQtntV/s1600/DSC_8172.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617903158454306354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlN5uqFnjFS1rjABghM_Bhoa9rQm5I1aorq1b5m3w7xWZier4ZHNQLNPRi6w4e9zu_nBLyeWHDn1P3u1SXnPZajoSxOK2jK5k7Ap5O84cDTtyqNv9hNKbvgxJD3Nj2pbB7sT7VNtQtntV/s320/DSC_8172.JPG" border="0" /></a>Landen- keeping his eye on the ball.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi909ekUDqxUC5LjCQgVJXtwQEM5HJEyHuOYwAye6YjvVX8DOzLHLxtEIJHscuHeGMq9Lyjm8i6UHzZhKq33UMHWt5dFe2C5lFJ8NgiYaRtwRVBWvY2p7tgNqpnX4iKWkToFXIxCYLSUYYH/s1600/DSC_8167.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617903144410765698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi909ekUDqxUC5LjCQgVJXtwQEM5HJEyHuOYwAye6YjvVX8DOzLHLxtEIJHscuHeGMq9Lyjm8i6UHzZhKq33UMHWt5dFe2C5lFJ8NgiYaRtwRVBWvY2p7tgNqpnX4iKWkToFXIxCYLSUYYH/s320/DSC_8167.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiKFomqibOiEXDvrxweJs2YVjygDqSLHGUwK56gTLnl7lRmV3NUp2somqoYyj-ing9SOBZtjYzXhCqAtXg-c3zG1YBT2ZhIXttQldAxaGNmCIcRAN8ejWdP_XqrJvG6Q5IsbCtC7ccg6B/s1600/DSC_8169.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617903148812458530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiKFomqibOiEXDvrxweJs2YVjygDqSLHGUwK56gTLnl7lRmV3NUp2somqoYyj-ing9SOBZtjYzXhCqAtXg-c3zG1YBT2ZhIXttQldAxaGNmCIcRAN8ejWdP_XqrJvG6Q5IsbCtC7ccg6B/s320/DSC_8169.JPG" border="0" /></a>A big swing and he is off!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzTwSM_puAVWFeMI8jSZjt445AtPJl5E013aTo76ibpZHN6OTUg9HygAk66nqyYiB2xfk4JPtVqa9DyyvKQA_BwQnni3zbdV-XdTxCdCA2X47guJhdvvzzfHnJJEcpj7BF9JFZXyfu2yY/s1600/DSC_8177.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617903164999729138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzTwSM_puAVWFeMI8jSZjt445AtPJl5E013aTo76ibpZHN6OTUg9HygAk66nqyYiB2xfk4JPtVqa9DyyvKQA_BwQnni3zbdV-XdTxCdCA2X47guJhdvvzzfHnJJEcpj7BF9JFZXyfu2yY/s320/DSC_8177.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-57916625388216003962011-06-13T19:39:00.000-07:002011-06-13T19:48:36.802-07:00T-Ball at home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpBtJsVCcfzg1Lc-tM2JDz5FZYiLmY0bL-VjDJ4AdiMwE6ja9gx45rOquucUU5FW9d7KO6zR4mEe6t0IfLFZ7jVysY6RkYCEFjvM-v9fEysWcJUNoy1oP9I-mg92LTi6ldxveZ5jzFLpk/s1600/_DSC4477.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617900162385783186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpBtJsVCcfzg1Lc-tM2JDz5FZYiLmY0bL-VjDJ4AdiMwE6ja9gx45rOquucUU5FW9d7KO6zR4mEe6t0IfLFZ7jVysY6RkYCEFjvM-v9fEysWcJUNoy1oP9I-mg92LTi6ldxveZ5jzFLpk/s320/_DSC4477.jpg" border="0" /></a> After a fun Saturday playing in the little kiddie pool with neighbor friends, Landen and Mason played a little bit of t-ball. Landen was so sweet to help Mason and the two of them were getting along fabulously!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzI05ZVVq84FSp4FQNkmRKEnQUr30Ekn8zGMhrzEbFw1WyND7PLY8VMvZEoPQBvx_qLt2SJob3GtAXyta5lk5zsXhzO2GgmsmnqNSfJVNM7yBDSQYMZ7Ba1Or2xYZlWU2La-oYxTzZFbk/s1600/_DSC4479.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617900152816033442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzI05ZVVq84FSp4FQNkmRKEnQUr30Ekn8zGMhrzEbFw1WyND7PLY8VMvZEoPQBvx_qLt2SJob3GtAXyta5lk5zsXhzO2GgmsmnqNSfJVNM7yBDSQYMZ7Ba1Or2xYZlWU2La-oYxTzZFbk/s320/_DSC4479.jpg" border="0" /></a> Thanks to my great friend, Stephanie, for taking these fantastic shots! I took some pictures but they didn't turn out nearly as good as hers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsQJsHBCc-nM1twoRmqTyyCQnCmUvQ9QEPsCI0nCceIxQCgr6QqHIkbQfOM0NONOZSfh_3xfX_8WS0MTJ_2e67_Qw1GgBfYRg75_9T-x8iQHlT-v12UZlH2wPQirJHveXZ0VKwFGZPVYg/s1600/_DSC4481.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617900137726479682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsQJsHBCc-nM1twoRmqTyyCQnCmUvQ9QEPsCI0nCceIxQCgr6QqHIkbQfOM0NONOZSfh_3xfX_8WS0MTJ_2e67_Qw1GgBfYRg75_9T-x8iQHlT-v12UZlH2wPQirJHveXZ0VKwFGZPVYg/s320/_DSC4481.jpg" border="0" /></a> I love Landen's tongue sticking out in concentration! It was fun to see them laughing and having a great time together. I hope it will continue on later in life!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-29829008264459319412011-06-13T19:34:00.000-07:002011-06-13T19:39:01.194-07:00My little men in their ties<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ6tO3I7QB-2JtbUmJVimG1eeWsagG2bwdkH30FxWXLhwjzjzB7SfuNEGU7cRXjQdizJfNr66KIiajOqvrUaPSm5RCPe7Cop-x_9kQhMa-VfCeTZ1NsX25NZdVYFngXK6Grdj1tHY854D/s1600/DSC_8134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617899251745567778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ6tO3I7QB-2JtbUmJVimG1eeWsagG2bwdkH30FxWXLhwjzjzB7SfuNEGU7cRXjQdizJfNr66KIiajOqvrUaPSm5RCPe7Cop-x_9kQhMa-VfCeTZ1NsX25NZdVYFngXK6Grdj1tHY854D/s320/DSC_8134.JPG" border="0" /></a>I think that taking this picture made us a minute or two late for church... but what was I to do? They were all wearing the ties that I made them on the same day! :)<br /><br /><br /><p>Pretty handsome aren't they!!! For sure keepers.</p>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-22107170072480621172011-06-04T21:39:00.000-07:002011-06-04T22:59:19.385-07:00May Madness 2011<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614593247738670002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN58a_PM_DYcEzPkEU3AB8i3HYExJfwgKo9oCgmadoFvVWiSo9EXwZ2-2T0jLAQqszgBfpcwxTuITdRFYWYWIqfx8nd1liGa3DCyXe7KbtNRP4hvotGFzWbEkCGdB5uhdt67wsHbWHCkXg/s320/DSC_8080.JPG" border="0" />This post will be in reverse order again starting with the end of the month first! :) I am one proud mom!!! Both <strong>Abbey and Braxton won the Academic Excellence Award</strong>!!! Only two per class were awarded and they both earned it! As they explained in the awards assembly-- this is for the best of the best! Way to go Abbey and Braxton! I am grinning from ear to ear. What a way to end 3rd Grade for Abbey and Kindergarten for Brax.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsg-SvAImcBIhbCoGaI-yih0xCNWvapt0wndlxmk5ll0g1OWMYOW51IcDIz6voe_VLL-1Q11yT8-yuu-l6k8rCArj_kPPpc6ZGBJfVlJwr7ApHAvRscDTMhPuH1ybCVMyJ4PDL1pdz0r7Z/s1600/DSC_8077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614593236324488754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsg-SvAImcBIhbCoGaI-yih0xCNWvapt0wndlxmk5ll0g1OWMYOW51IcDIz6voe_VLL-1Q11yT8-yuu-l6k8rCArj_kPPpc6ZGBJfVlJwr7ApHAvRscDTMhPuH1ybCVMyJ4PDL1pdz0r7Z/s320/DSC_8077.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mJdFuF6OdH9KV_NY_ZPfpWbRbSx1qw-xLDkoLG7B89pH3pLZss3n8Yv5XDTL2hn3FMF3IUmF2UFPjVBMfZZcRHgQkbEMTlxmq8gXZYdDXxAOQIQaWH4ZFD_R-htaTduZ-F2nb0mlpTIN/s1600/DSC_8067.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614593228524706466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mJdFuF6OdH9KV_NY_ZPfpWbRbSx1qw-xLDkoLG7B89pH3pLZss3n8Yv5XDTL2hn3FMF3IUmF2UFPjVBMfZZcRHgQkbEMTlxmq8gXZYdDXxAOQIQaWH4ZFD_R-htaTduZ-F2nb0mlpTIN/s320/DSC_8067.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is Bryce's brother, <strong>Trent, on his sweet new bike</strong>! We had a great time having him come down to pick it up. Our garage isn't the same without it sitting there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryYdMY3Uhtgm9NB5G5RHgS3-U4COzvELeQ8vXsYMFAPLtq4oVgO7r3MUqapVCXmgjWUEgnAOuIAtUGF8aiP4PvjMxpgS5fSwh89LRZKSYGEXuJuONV8_leXaUM0UQcIdnb8_G7a8q1zTu/s1600/DSC_8063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614592636921572050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryYdMY3Uhtgm9NB5G5RHgS3-U4COzvELeQ8vXsYMFAPLtq4oVgO7r3MUqapVCXmgjWUEgnAOuIAtUGF8aiP4PvjMxpgS5fSwh89LRZKSYGEXuJuONV8_leXaUM0UQcIdnb8_G7a8q1zTu/s320/DSC_8063.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJMvVgku6dAGE5qJb00b8Co4_3qKgPINkfS-qc4YmBc64AN0eMCBUTfCWtB7pXFclNjWmN-ElV2QWOIdbhB_6D4Id6H__wFDsX6hJoXXxNqAzuQZfPov8w2UjWLL3YQLSZr_4Y_q4Lv_G/s1600/DSC_8061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614592629769580274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJMvVgku6dAGE5qJb00b8Co4_3qKgPINkfS-qc4YmBc64AN0eMCBUTfCWtB7pXFclNjWmN-ElV2QWOIdbhB_6D4Id6H__wFDsX6hJoXXxNqAzuQZfPov8w2UjWLL3YQLSZr_4Y_q4Lv_G/s320/DSC_8061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Trent had to take it for a quick spin up the street. Immediately afterwards he and Bryce packed up the bikes and headed out to Eagle Mountain for a little bit better ride. They just couldn't wait to test that baby out! Then they headed down to Green River the next morning with Tim, Dustin and Bryce's buddy, Brook Monroe. They all had a BLAST! I didn't get up at 4 am to take any of those pictures. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4yA5vbny3PuykL3_CDTPKk_ObRwpe7dz_j8NHFLwtIEbNhT2JykEqAEFPy90o4U6ZyuS0T79GX_O0lgG5awf8Llo3ramauNDT6h4z0t82izP8WdnsfdDXEMCz5HSe6Og9RZr17HHsvy2/s1600/DSC_8058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614592618549085378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4yA5vbny3PuykL3_CDTPKk_ObRwpe7dz_j8NHFLwtIEbNhT2JykEqAEFPy90o4U6ZyuS0T79GX_O0lgG5awf8Llo3ramauNDT6h4z0t82izP8WdnsfdDXEMCz5HSe6Og9RZr17HHsvy2/s320/DSC_8058.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here are some <strong>new ties that I made</strong> for the boys. Mason's orange one was up in his room and since he was sleeping I didn't go get it. It wasn't worth interrupting a nap for a photo. I was just going to make a tie for Mason but the other boys wanted to match him and it was easy to throw together a few more. Now Mason's ties go a bit beyond his mid chest. He was starting to look pretty funny having such a short tie with his big gut! Now I just need to take a picture with the 3 boys wearing them.<br /><br />I am also excited cause I made a total of 6 ties so far and have material for several more and only paid $10 for my stuff!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC72HrTu9pLR0cpRugKOQh7XeSQw6RQm5RHpmafKX-__obZeG94tXnkq9IzmOtvTX5KQnOCQC2v1eS3M4d2OGEPRmAp54ET5BzNZ3KYXzyNpIqTMVh4bMYWmAmbdp65W0EGxQgnCYdR9g4/s1600/DSC_8057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614592615526247970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC72HrTu9pLR0cpRugKOQh7XeSQw6RQm5RHpmafKX-__obZeG94tXnkq9IzmOtvTX5KQnOCQC2v1eS3M4d2OGEPRmAp54ET5BzNZ3KYXzyNpIqTMVh4bMYWmAmbdp65W0EGxQgnCYdR9g4/s320/DSC_8057.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiko1kVA-CaQDeg7czw5Yhrlb2pJ6eeenOpDl5Zs9PG33Z8eNQcNA2xr_o2xcQnaba0Go2IMe2b9gsTYs0NyVdyxRuDTxdgOKz04LAl5D0QFBg6nIN1AxmklLE_m_9FIbRn7YCmEIvR85Jg/s1600/DSC_8044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614592163369334626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiko1kVA-CaQDeg7czw5Yhrlb2pJ6eeenOpDl5Zs9PG33Z8eNQcNA2xr_o2xcQnaba0Go2IMe2b9gsTYs0NyVdyxRuDTxdgOKz04LAl5D0QFBg6nIN1AxmklLE_m_9FIbRn7YCmEIvR85Jg/s320/DSC_8044.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Grandma Christensen's 90th Birthday Party!</strong><br /></div><br /><div>I took a picture of just Bryce's siblings and parents. This was at the very end of the party and I didn't want anyone to shoot me for trying to get all of the spouses and kids gathered up for a picture. Half of the kids probably would have been crying anyway. L-R (Barry, Bryce, Brooke, Dustin, Trish, Trent, Tim & Celeste w/ Grandma Irene Christensen in the front on the chair)<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPt9NB8uSMBpTu7FFAQ39ojdVQyvjSGJbZ6mEz2UVCSGnlZN5MYJP94_35_xOFHjDGTLQP1pWbTJKUUBTbS4LLig2iDA-mZ_ibGE90q0bfvUUAsPF8eHPDxULihKS5nmCEpoamMsdwAtM/s1600/DSC_8039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614592156590517810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPt9NB8uSMBpTu7FFAQ39ojdVQyvjSGJbZ6mEz2UVCSGnlZN5MYJP94_35_xOFHjDGTLQP1pWbTJKUUBTbS4LLig2iDA-mZ_ibGE90q0bfvUUAsPF8eHPDxULihKS5nmCEpoamMsdwAtM/s320/DSC_8039.JPG" border="0" /></a> I had to laugh at this shot. She is reacting to something funny and I love her body language when you talk to her. She gets right into whatever you are saying.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LdIChb-Huz6mCEIjyU7Wl-26d46LhlLVd6-lyWe1__TgadSDYwxXg9jHZFVGZP5fB40Xna8Y_Xfi_qL7V59aEdi7q0WvhVr8015ukLNRn6CR0UH1-mbOaEA-eiymE23633ggrOCLiP8p/s1600/DSC_8037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614592149762078066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LdIChb-Huz6mCEIjyU7Wl-26d46LhlLVd6-lyWe1__TgadSDYwxXg9jHZFVGZP5fB40Xna8Y_Xfi_qL7V59aEdi7q0WvhVr8015ukLNRn6CR0UH1-mbOaEA-eiymE23633ggrOCLiP8p/s320/DSC_8037.JPG" border="0" /></a> Isn't she SO sweet! It was great to see so many people come out to wish her a happy birthday. She is a wonderful woman! She will randomly send us a letter in the mail and always include stickers for the kids. She is a teeny tiny lady. In fact, Abbey is just a few inches shy of being the same height.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Here is Grandma Chris (as Bryce calls her) with her kids. L-R: June, Van, Grandma, Tim & Bud.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBlE7PqL0O6FJSQpk31MRN0N97KH59Ugun422muInG-AuDBflY2kcjR6sHNhsSLThN7VstdYOi2ZBLK_ftjtF5DUOEzGyrMA7MmrpF63AIeIRhcymohkFStP5KtPLrsFTgD1wFBtv6Vpf/s1600/DSC_8034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614592142432890098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBlE7PqL0O6FJSQpk31MRN0N97KH59Ugun422muInG-AuDBflY2kcjR6sHNhsSLThN7VstdYOi2ZBLK_ftjtF5DUOEzGyrMA7MmrpF63AIeIRhcymohkFStP5KtPLrsFTgD1wFBtv6Vpf/s320/DSC_8034.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9KCqowC3OdgnvlDB_9OdtSPazBWjM_X30RyZE828tAnM7fSYffNf81rkpHP-10FYu0pUQy3GFmIEMny1Yg6QqQ6Hu1KpIlwS5MZ2MV76eu95AyJmYv3rucdya3Iya-nctg7Jnx3GjzhJ/s1600/DSC_8027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614591735449150498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9KCqowC3OdgnvlDB_9OdtSPazBWjM_X30RyZE828tAnM7fSYffNf81rkpHP-10FYu0pUQy3GFmIEMny1Yg6QqQ6Hu1KpIlwS5MZ2MV76eu95AyJmYv3rucdya3Iya-nctg7Jnx3GjzhJ/s320/DSC_8027.JPG" border="0" /></a> While we were up in Idaho we took a day to <strong>prune 2 apple trees</strong> in Bryce's parent's yard. They were planted in memory of twin babies that Trish lost in mid pregnancy. It had been a few years since they had been pruned and what we cut off was at least as tall as what was actually left standing. It was a lot of work but I love to do this kind of stuff!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIC7l-iUGfww_woI3ItGnFkQGOQRD7E7E_tv8O7M305cE2LNWKnQETxfF_P1QYLrgMg5jLPJY-LMvBAbsNuMqfoyHViRmnC85c5FjVpKkPK-x4pDJnEL30fR5dHIcTVAZNf_KUo95VBxzL/s1600/DSC_8026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614591728238298258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIC7l-iUGfww_woI3ItGnFkQGOQRD7E7E_tv8O7M305cE2LNWKnQETxfF_P1QYLrgMg5jLPJY-LMvBAbsNuMqfoyHViRmnC85c5FjVpKkPK-x4pDJnEL30fR5dHIcTVAZNf_KUo95VBxzL/s320/DSC_8026.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here is Bryce tying up a few limbs to haul off. Since they were to big and heavy we used tie downs to hook them to the truck and drug them back to the burn pile.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AjNKjbLQfmWnoQaI1FaklTvCUZm_n543Wm5qX2xJY8WkdL3YmOYU689dswkOfqt8NNgD-z3V8NHujAu5jN6DqDAuUYeVyUjdqZdktIqBTdkKHZYZNofsat4WcCErNEIoklYRBYU5GUI7/s1600/DSC_8021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614591716798812226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AjNKjbLQfmWnoQaI1FaklTvCUZm_n543Wm5qX2xJY8WkdL3YmOYU689dswkOfqt8NNgD-z3V8NHujAu5jN6DqDAuUYeVyUjdqZdktIqBTdkKHZYZNofsat4WcCErNEIoklYRBYU5GUI7/s320/DSC_8021.JPG" border="0" /></a> The before shot.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSB5I8G5knLsMCTNkGweKzHf9rXsNdBV6yQ1yH7c_dXDZK16DuTjjHE1cjO9DTqRl34BrFUtUpMpY5JDLP7hRuZTs9WF7JukhPDXu8S9zI-NKFBPlP4Em69lpwZzpcyYRoAW7_kl7Na4Vz/s1600/DSC_8030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614591394124809074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSB5I8G5knLsMCTNkGweKzHf9rXsNdBV6yQ1yH7c_dXDZK16DuTjjHE1cjO9DTqRl34BrFUtUpMpY5JDLP7hRuZTs9WF7JukhPDXu8S9zI-NKFBPlP4Em69lpwZzpcyYRoAW7_kl7Na4Vz/s320/DSC_8030.JPG" border="0" /></a> After a fun day of being outside at their Grandma Christensen's house, cousins Brayden and Mason are getting washed up in the tub. Mason is about 5 months older than Brayden. Two cuties!<br /><br />We always have such a good time in Idaho! It is fun to see and hang out with everyone. </div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div><strong>Landen's Preschool Graduation</strong>!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lOXrgWhhktdAJQmaA9sjbivt7Xk5mMozH4ps8_tk_oXAF-wmn45uuenlywsYjuXKGhqlKNNiT3G5OjDsykLVJFd9-9oSDBeJr_X2Woo9l7D3KbGbzS_yBqPFeWX06KgNMr9ezaSfKiMt/s1600/DSC_8048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614603348079548274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lOXrgWhhktdAJQmaA9sjbivt7Xk5mMozH4ps8_tk_oXAF-wmn45uuenlywsYjuXKGhqlKNNiT3G5OjDsykLVJFd9-9oSDBeJr_X2Woo9l7D3KbGbzS_yBqPFeWX06KgNMr9ezaSfKiMt/s320/DSC_8048.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here is Landen with my cousin's little boy, Aiden. We had fun carpooling together this year. I was hoping to get a shot with Landen and his other little buddy, Jake Hurd but we didn't ever see Jake at the openhouse and he was out of town for the end of the year party. :(<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLPVr-rqYlgI7tkeq8mL_F2LyZ_6jJgWJPiOTMdf9XJLf5Tl3JbygG6O_STmTd_49jaSIU8MWfWJRodY2wAow9EzszN1-DKmIEECME0MGH06TOemIJDFLKM1SEu-QyvRGGxcogA5Ny44E/s1600/DSC_8047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614603342792567618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLPVr-rqYlgI7tkeq8mL_F2LyZ_6jJgWJPiOTMdf9XJLf5Tl3JbygG6O_STmTd_49jaSIU8MWfWJRodY2wAow9EzszN1-DKmIEECME0MGH06TOemIJDFLKM1SEu-QyvRGGxcogA5Ny44E/s320/DSC_8047.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here is Landen with Miss Heidi. She is the BEST preschool teacher EVER! We love her to death and I am happy that Landen gets to come back next year. Miss Heidi needs to keep teaching till all of my kids are done with preschool. She is so sweet, patient, creative and loves the kids so much! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Heidi mentioned how Landen was always happy at school and did every activity that was going on. They never had to ask him twice to do anything. He just loved preschool! A few fun things from this year:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Landen: "If I were President, I would do my chores."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Landen: "I love peanut butter sandwiches."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>When I grow up, I want to be... "a dishwasher."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I like fall because... "I like to go trick-or-treating at Lisa's work."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Landen: "I am thankful for my bike."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I must do my motherly duty now and help Landen fulfill his dreams of being a dishwasher and doing his chores as President! Maybe if I make him president of his room he will do his chores now!? --In his credit- he is getting better about doing them if we can keep Braxton and Landen seperated during chore time.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br />A few other things to note:<br /><br />May has been a great month with lots of good things to talk about! We started off the month taking the kids to the <strong>Carl Bloch Exhibit at BYU</strong>. His paintings of Christ are AMAZING!!! I was glad that we took the kids so that they could see and feel how special it all was but I also wished that we could have spent more time there just looking and thinking. I waited too long to order tickets and could only get times in the middle of the day and there aren't many babysitters around so we just checked Abbey out of school and went! I am glad that we didn't miss out on it all.<br /><br /><strong>Mother's Day was awesome</strong>! The day before, we spent a sunny day outside doing yard work and Bryce cleaned my car inside and out! For me-- that is true love!!! He knows how much it bugs me to have a dirty car and he spent 2 hours cleaning it. Such a sweetie! Of course the kids gave me cute little things and Abbey made me muffins for breakfast. They were delicious! We had all of my family (except for Dave and his family that are in AZ) over for dinner. It was raining so we all had to be cramped inside. It felt like good old times to be together and that was nice. Dinner was easy since everyone pitched in and for ONCE I didn't stress out the whole day about it! Being with family was the best. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>As far as <strong>Memorial Day</strong> went-- it sucked. I was dying to get out of the house and go do something. It was raining that morning so we didn't go to the Memorial program at the cemetary. As we were getting our stuff done that morning Braxton crashed on his pogo stick in the garage. He hit a puddle of water and it made his pogo stick slip out from under him and his face smacked right into the concrete floor. No hands breaking is fall or anything. It knocked the wind out of him, instantly gave him horrible bloody nose and fat lips. He was pretty beat up. I held him for a while and he just cried and cried. The poor kid. I was worried about a cuncussion but he was good on those signs. He felt yucky all day and wasn't even up for a treat from the store till later that night. Besides sneaking down to the PG Cemetary to put out flowers on Grandma Bezzant's grave- we didn't go anywhere. I was bummed. More than bummed. I felt trapped but what do you do. I was so hoping for a change of pace before the regular week began and Bryce was back out of town, but no luck. The random rain all day didn't really help either. We survived and I am really glad that Braxton is ok. His lips are finally not so swollen and it doesn't kill him to brush his teeth. He is one tuff kid! I have a feeling that there will plenty more injuries in his future since he is such a goer.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-65565191647102410752011-05-23T10:03:00.000-07:002011-05-23T13:30:04.930-07:00Life- Living it and loving it! ... most of the time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeF0a6XeTeU_4O85OrXwFmV3NQgyx3nTb-ccK0OQOANXR_Bnftz5rDLhgS536Qg83kSpox3QaRQWR_IFfYoOkWMSU1md-hQ4GC1vcq5UmVL8zC4m1OTZYyltGn2sT-hmvlAAtPyRVCye-z/s1600/DSC_8007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609980235381206898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeF0a6XeTeU_4O85OrXwFmV3NQgyx3nTb-ccK0OQOANXR_Bnftz5rDLhgS536Qg83kSpox3QaRQWR_IFfYoOkWMSU1md-hQ4GC1vcq5UmVL8zC4m1OTZYyltGn2sT-hmvlAAtPyRVCye-z/s320/DSC_8007.JPG" border="0" /></a> This will be a marathon of posts since I haven't kept up on life very well. Actually- I have been so busy keeping up with life that documenting it has definitely taken a back burner. :)<br /><br /><br />I wasn't thinking when I uploaded my pictures so they are actually backwards-- the bottom is the beginning of April and the top is towards the end.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionp3YAs6EeotayorwjGEECi63PfJEWUVuKglp45ic3wYAiDGHA_hD1GWXvGpoGwnT8a1JTTqPZriEx8yQLJwakh0FXCVKVn4BNKWbTRDKWRGoCBODfFRQTe7DgjkFQZ8lMccMNrV8CWXr/s1600/DSC_8008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609980228121548914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionp3YAs6EeotayorwjGEECi63PfJEWUVuKglp45ic3wYAiDGHA_hD1GWXvGpoGwnT8a1JTTqPZriEx8yQLJwakh0FXCVKVn4BNKWbTRDKWRGoCBODfFRQTe7DgjkFQZ8lMccMNrV8CWXr/s320/DSC_8008.JPG" border="0" /></a> At the <strong>annual Bezzant Family wienie roast</strong>. My dad actually ate that big piece of scorched marshmellow that one of the grandkids so lovingly cooked to perfection for him!<br /><br /><br />My mom and dad sporting their matching John Deere hoodies. Now-- will we see them wearing matching sweaters that my mom picks out???? :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>My brother, Joe's birthday!</strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioC51oR883qi7OSrjA0cgpFZV1upHvQlUQvFWcGVCrFr5k4c9roqhO9KJesavmXePpTNbK64xV_JpF4uPDobvC_QxLC8xhUcqTJlLe7U8K52tDC4v1-99mRZLRNHZmN9WSRoAKZe1eiog7/s1600/DSC_8010.JPG"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609980225562167122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioC51oR883qi7OSrjA0cgpFZV1upHvQlUQvFWcGVCrFr5k4c9roqhO9KJesavmXePpTNbK64xV_JpF4uPDobvC_QxLC8xhUcqTJlLe7U8K52tDC4v1-99mRZLRNHZmN9WSRoAKZe1eiog7/s320/DSC_8010.JPG" border="0" /></strong></a> He loves these nanaimo bars that he had on his mission in Canada so I had to whip him up a batch for his big day. I reminded him that this shows how much I love him cause I don't spend 3+ hours on a dessert for just anyone! Seriously- Joe is a cool brother. He is ALWAYS quick with a joke and a teasing comment. We could say that he lives up to his calling as a brother to the maximum... even now that he is another year older! He has been a good sport to take the kids to a few Utah Flash basketball games-- which they LOVE!!<br /><br /><br /><br />My other brother, Dave also had a b-day in April! Unfortunately for us, he lives in Arizona so he spent his birthday in warmth and sunshine so I don't have any pictures to post just yet. They will be up for Strawberry Days and I did promise him that I would make his favorite strawberry shortcake when he comes. Dave is generous, hardworking and seems to look on the bright side of things.<br /><br /><strong>Easter Sunday 2011</strong>!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0VmglnSfux_RlmLdnCM0Ju0pWcDOQVgE2Y-MjvEbDhIVhlvYQVB1OOYY-oMod_TOEi5BOCs4ZiJeLUHQar9N1GiMIMe-8P6a8_UBrfM6MxPrmvCO5N0e3JA1nlTJbN1RHD_M8JF2_xhk/s1600/DSC_8013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609980216081451794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0VmglnSfux_RlmLdnCM0Ju0pWcDOQVgE2Y-MjvEbDhIVhlvYQVB1OOYY-oMod_TOEi5BOCs4ZiJeLUHQar9N1GiMIMe-8P6a8_UBrfM6MxPrmvCO5N0e3JA1nlTJbN1RHD_M8JF2_xhk/s320/DSC_8013.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBW9PVdQSnCPbVAs7x-Za_XVtnktLaak6yai0vbhvbKr43a6aqLTGCrZs5BlgUBWJrTf9I0ZjkbtHcNddzXpHDFWhpT9Gg4VSeOIq73VhatnVTJBszHTsSfRhigZuJ6HC9sBqUzeELrHf/s1600/DSC_8016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610006210941387074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBW9PVdQSnCPbVAs7x-Za_XVtnktLaak6yai0vbhvbKr43a6aqLTGCrZs5BlgUBWJrTf9I0ZjkbtHcNddzXpHDFWhpT9Gg4VSeOIq73VhatnVTJBszHTsSfRhigZuJ6HC9sBqUzeELrHf/s320/DSC_8016.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Last year Mason was just a few days old and I don't think I even took his picture so this year I had to make sure to get one of him alone. He loved hauling the easter basket all over the house and was even happier when he realized he had a few treats inside the eggs that he kept shaking! A new thing from the Easter Bunny this year was a solid large chocolate bunny! I don't think Landen's made it through the day-- he enjoyed each morsel so as it wouldn't go bad! :) Abbey got a double dutch jump rope, Braxton and Landen got Bey Bladers that they are VERY into and Mason got a beach towel. Everyone was very excited and happy for their stash.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIEQqLl1-N7lAmkTO5-s4OJCMg-IwBRngKDNkI-JPqOJbaJzhCBm_UD2Uc8_-HBqK9OSK8JA-xwyt2QqC79SUXaT673oD3N6dpHRSq1YN3MX24rnpeAUaQwOBQbTYLpnVGuKkl9bI1AC3/s1600/DSC_7990.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609979716466459954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIEQqLl1-N7lAmkTO5-s4OJCMg-IwBRngKDNkI-JPqOJbaJzhCBm_UD2Uc8_-HBqK9OSK8JA-xwyt2QqC79SUXaT673oD3N6dpHRSq1YN3MX24rnpeAUaQwOBQbTYLpnVGuKkl9bI1AC3/s320/DSC_7990.JPG" border="0" /></a> More of the <strong>Annual Weinie Roast & Easter Egg Hunt</strong>! <span style="font-family:Arial;">Abbey with her sweet cousin, Hannah.</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWnlaZdarWTesx0ImDAujZX80d85giZZ3s6dXHoJj7lrRNcD4CEljDWcB8aNYSChjb9ZBS7ExUl-dJF0u9o5sZssawS6j5YnMdyAluSqpDxppQmojSpLasbCVxkx82BZ7-tZFUnH2ywDj/s1600/DSC_8003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609979694211524994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWnlaZdarWTesx0ImDAujZX80d85giZZ3s6dXHoJj7lrRNcD4CEljDWcB8aNYSChjb9ZBS7ExUl-dJF0u9o5sZssawS6j5YnMdyAluSqpDxppQmojSpLasbCVxkx82BZ7-tZFUnH2ywDj/s320/DSC_8003.JPG" border="0" /></a> My dad giving the kids a ride on the trailer around the orchard. Of course my mom is checking to make sure everyone is safe and happy. Mason lasted about 2' before he started crying. Everyone else had a blast and wanted more!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5U7Bqf3dhSJ1gJ_qjwQ30jWOKoLkvZ5LmDYyQaZ8ZE-hCZJDtVRcVjumGoxvdoxGUCfHxDuDztx6hUKWFUa3q62CoPwD3GOhTKLcOFkefW0zXue1fz8hOWlTw48dCfXO9txiktjSK3sBz/s1600/DSC_8006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609979685841178450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5U7Bqf3dhSJ1gJ_qjwQ30jWOKoLkvZ5LmDYyQaZ8ZE-hCZJDtVRcVjumGoxvdoxGUCfHxDuDztx6hUKWFUa3q62CoPwD3GOhTKLcOFkefW0zXue1fz8hOWlTw48dCfXO9txiktjSK3sBz/s320/DSC_8006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Landen with a cheek full of roasted marshmallow!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQqEI9fj0Vcl07czTPgeGD0XlaEQrb1wIkDzqr8xeW7oVH7HiBHtI3aioY7mi_sVGMsfmlBATM3MccNLRfQiz_ivl9pS2eTVLi2liUlzXj582j3yHG7hZEDoNYSmNttqD7VzqE2upSOyM/s1600/DSC_7987.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609977675003207378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQqEI9fj0Vcl07czTPgeGD0XlaEQrb1wIkDzqr8xeW7oVH7HiBHtI3aioY7mi_sVGMsfmlBATM3MccNLRfQiz_ivl9pS2eTVLi2liUlzXj582j3yHG7hZEDoNYSmNttqD7VzqE2upSOyM/s320/DSC_7987.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Landen searching for Easter Eggs! He was so excited about it I couldn't get him to stop talking for a second to snap a smile! :)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtG8D5OqUDik7qKeBRzdLJo91pQ1sH6DEYLb54sIHwMZB6ZUHPXFo2TislB64zVph-j3F0jU8eHkdilE21VsG_1ltViQsDDKDuwgY6PdZb62Tjjj_UOJ7BCIACIlT8G175ZrjJKG79Z23/s1600/DSC_7984.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609977665739144706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtG8D5OqUDik7qKeBRzdLJo91pQ1sH6DEYLb54sIHwMZB6ZUHPXFo2TislB64zVph-j3F0jU8eHkdilE21VsG_1ltViQsDDKDuwgY6PdZb62Tjjj_UOJ7BCIACIlT8G175ZrjJKG79Z23/s320/DSC_7984.JPG" border="0" /></a> Can you see the egg in the middle to upper right hand part of the tree? Landen can and he is determined to shake that baby out of the tree! He got it down too!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdX_Dyo2uZS3NajShsAvikr6ivPlhSrTJwJ3piFCzjEtHQ_it7p9KMydslGT9NfSMNNuV9F-Xt0v9TSIgv84fynN05zt4hlbjkjFIcxg2N2hUPUW0yCsURGzoEcNjGZM1CE4yHVnkUtIe/s1600/DSC_7971.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609977655147193202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdX_Dyo2uZS3NajShsAvikr6ivPlhSrTJwJ3piFCzjEtHQ_it7p9KMydslGT9NfSMNNuV9F-Xt0v9TSIgv84fynN05zt4hlbjkjFIcxg2N2hUPUW0yCsURGzoEcNjGZM1CE4yHVnkUtIe/s320/DSC_7971.JPG" border="0" /></a> Braxton w/ his best buddy & cousin, Porter! What a tag team!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hZDFndIXPcDX-ASsD0zFn_NZPxzbSO0juCyE2ohJbslm8D8q7i5h2chFPczM-pPgV-dTANDFj-C9odvASiHD4Wfh2MF0zN0O8Xk77WYwDrWakYrPDVnsuKxfT7-zENPi_h1G8jUe0SEk/s1600/DSC_7964.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609977646098617058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hZDFndIXPcDX-ASsD0zFn_NZPxzbSO0juCyE2ohJbslm8D8q7i5h2chFPczM-pPgV-dTANDFj-C9odvASiHD4Wfh2MF0zN0O8Xk77WYwDrWakYrPDVnsuKxfT7-zENPi_h1G8jUe0SEk/s320/DSC_7964.JPG" border="0" /></a> Mason found one! He had a great time with that purple egg and didn't really care to find too many more! The rocks all over the ground that kept tripping him didn't help the situation either.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVUx-diEn878xyezrza0iZ5K3BxqG1VbPLcGFC74RCaKd2ewosOhN9KPlSqLUmb1xZJUpt3BNqXTdcsC0mlqnSs4iIQ65_uxZT9K_UqcgXuPiPffnB6ynybsN-y4OPXkR654sMMZh6eF-/s1600/DSC_7959.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609977631718529058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVUx-diEn878xyezrza0iZ5K3BxqG1VbPLcGFC74RCaKd2ewosOhN9KPlSqLUmb1xZJUpt3BNqXTdcsC0mlqnSs4iIQ65_uxZT9K_UqcgXuPiPffnB6ynybsN-y4OPXkR654sMMZh6eF-/s320/DSC_7959.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Yep- Mason is checking on his prized purple egg! He put that same egg in and out of his basket at least 30 times!</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>He has a concerned look on his face. Or maybe he is scowling at the rest of the kids to stay away from HIS egg!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Mxq5F55tFZFi4pfQFfOChB-2SlhegieTrJbZWUvzNxH9BO8Acuyc8uxrNAGTMIY32SbZGV4pBWvd3PEYY59xqfWUEdg8dAmFRIDTto-slZ2utu_Aawas5c5Pk7UPCeh4jIbr-wxLc9og/s1600/DSC_8000.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609989622152980786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Mxq5F55tFZFi4pfQFfOChB-2SlhegieTrJbZWUvzNxH9BO8Acuyc8uxrNAGTMIY32SbZGV4pBWvd3PEYY59xqfWUEdg8dAmFRIDTto-slZ2utu_Aawas5c5Pk7UPCeh4jIbr-wxLc9og/s320/DSC_8000.JPG" border="0" /></a> The girls w/ Mason. Me, my sister, Kristie, my mom holding my niece, Mindy, my sister, Karen and my sister, Lisa, holding Mason.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjo3LhRkPg8o11fyI9GEgZ65DB9B_AkOROx6QTwF4OKOM0lb3YrpW4PgDZwqL2pTV8DiyjYbGSMxJqWvHhndqLeaJD-80qlV6WetYSPhQqeEteWAiVbKP47hw7BF7SQoOyNYrGR1KJXJg/s1600/DSC_7992.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609989207078688978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjo3LhRkPg8o11fyI9GEgZ65DB9B_AkOROx6QTwF4OKOM0lb3YrpW4PgDZwqL2pTV8DiyjYbGSMxJqWvHhndqLeaJD-80qlV6WetYSPhQqeEteWAiVbKP47hw7BF7SQoOyNYrGR1KJXJg/s320/DSC_7992.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Is it a baby bird? Nope- just Mason getting spoiled by Aunt Lisa with roasted marshmallows!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6d_Z4hQoJVaGUxMMwVL5oI2mSkOlt3e-PRq2RRZiDbo2jn4wzF0jolE20Mtp0J5cdIKBmBEpF5ipK058p0po_ez7zKt5W_iPcurQCdOQmXbwD5Ljv-f2qWDuSPy13G3ZQ3-5w3XotjA93/s1600/DSC_7947.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609976513387473938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6d_Z4hQoJVaGUxMMwVL5oI2mSkOlt3e-PRq2RRZiDbo2jn4wzF0jolE20Mtp0J5cdIKBmBEpF5ipK058p0po_ez7zKt5W_iPcurQCdOQmXbwD5Ljv-f2qWDuSPy13G3ZQ3-5w3XotjA93/s320/DSC_7947.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>An impromtu BBQ with a neighbor and LOTS of kids! It was a last minute idea with scrounged up food from the house but we all had a great time! It was the perfect way to spend the evening. Now- I just need to plan ahead so that I have have ALL the neighbors over! :)<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6dMroPI5TG2gwXD_xytnsDga1IpGdeqK5nuqF_NHh72IUE7TlZ7n_4-hA6pxGg9d_XxsGtEXjbD3dKsOz-OY7_GIZ43-FfN8OQIL-CjjSbhFK6Ocjua_UmNbFSjIud3wa3dGVn0X9C51/s1600/DSC_7942.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609976509418971218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6dMroPI5TG2gwXD_xytnsDga1IpGdeqK5nuqF_NHh72IUE7TlZ7n_4-hA6pxGg9d_XxsGtEXjbD3dKsOz-OY7_GIZ43-FfN8OQIL-CjjSbhFK6Ocjua_UmNbFSjIud3wa3dGVn0X9C51/s320/DSC_7942.JPG" border="0" /></a> How did Bryce start off the month of April??? On the RIGHT foot! Literally!!! <strong>Bryce broke his left foot dirtbiking! </strong>He went out with a few friends down to Green River, UT one Saturday and ate it pretty good on his bike. He was going really fast through a whoop section and back end of his bike started getting out of control and bucked him about 15' in the air to which he came down and landed on his bike and broke his foot. Bryce wears all sorts of protective gear-- including big tough motorbike boots. He had to ride out several miles w/ his broken foot to get to the truck and then drive another 3 hours home! When he called me to tell me he was on his way he said," I think I hurt my foot." I didn't think anything of it-- a few scrapes and bruises are common and since he didn't give me any details at the time about his wreck-- I went about my night of feeding, bathing and taking care of the kids. He rolled in about 9:30 pm and I was busy in the office working on relief society stuff. I was trying to calm down after a really hard day with the kids. I was also probably having a bit of a pity party for myself. I felt overwork, underpaid and underappreciated at the moment. I was trying to figure out how I was going to strategically "let Bryce have it" to be a bit more aware of helping out around the house and spending more time with me. I was EXHAUSTED! (It didn't help that it had been rainy and cold ALL day, we were stuck inside with hyperactive boys that kept pushing each other's buttons while Mason quietly undid anything he saw was put away nicely!) Anyway- I hear the boys come home and then Bryce comes hopping in the house and down to the office. I said hi but kept working and didn't turn around. He started to tell me that his foot really hurt and that he couldn't walk on it. I turned around to give him a curtesy look and tell him to take some advil when I saw his foot! It was at least 3 times the size of his other foot and already getting black and blue! So much for my speech on "letting him have it!" How can you lecture somebody that is in this condition??? My sister, Lisa, ran up to the house to sit with our sleeping kids and off to the insta care we went. I have to admit- I wanted to cry all the way there. I thought I had reached my limit on people needing me and here is Bryce now needing so much help and is absolutely no help at all now! Heavenly Father was mindful of me and helped me work it all out. Bryce's foot has healed quite quickly and I had to learn to keep taking it one step at a time. So many people were great to keep checking on me and that helped my sanity alot!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlz7CXk0iLlFKbaiiWWiyPf5YbjAPprL6eK1nyJv9C101ggu0fFcJrNsIHO8jexejzDm9NHaE8XDSc0SWzsa2rNXO10Gk6dejC3dQuSUPLBDfec2qtDSwcJlTXuze7BKQ3nfbMZDdASIEP/s1600/DSC_7938.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609976504249408082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlz7CXk0iLlFKbaiiWWiyPf5YbjAPprL6eK1nyJv9C101ggu0fFcJrNsIHO8jexejzDm9NHaE8XDSc0SWzsa2rNXO10Gk6dejC3dQuSUPLBDfec2qtDSwcJlTXuze7BKQ3nfbMZDdASIEP/s320/DSC_7938.JPG" border="0" /></a> This picture doesn't even come close to doing justice on Bryce's foot. I should have taken more pictures the following day when it was completely black on the bottom and even more swollen. He sprained his ankle as well so that added an extra bit of fun for him to deal with! Luckily for Bryce they just let him use a special boot instead of a full cast (as long as he was careful.) From the picture above-- you can see how careful he is! :) Even now that it has been 6 weeks-- his foot still gets all swollen at night and he is limping around but is done with the crutches!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HQ9lZAjCBZbvlO65JiBCfzBbbK6zgQqt0cX_NQVZa7-r7Q_erO5wkI8szXjFPsqlrsIuroDRX__K9VRJB8XU9CNxFQvYM_Pjdis2TzRTzoMgoQHlteSPvlmvXKTjbH05sipNOrcysR7D/s1600/DSC_7951.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609976527360387218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HQ9lZAjCBZbvlO65JiBCfzBbbK6zgQqt0cX_NQVZa7-r7Q_erO5wkI8szXjFPsqlrsIuroDRX__K9VRJB8XU9CNxFQvYM_Pjdis2TzRTzoMgoQHlteSPvlmvXKTjbH05sipNOrcysR7D/s320/DSC_7951.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This isn't the best picture but I had to document how excited I was at getting <strong>my cherry trees all pruned up</strong>! It was an all day project but I did it! This isn't my first time doing it but with all that I have felt overwhelmed about-- I had to make sure that was included in.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7lwIgGgplNbR8KWPuMPVyAH55stqQpuUqlFF_5s0cQZvz7fmDmiDUyMVHeu0_jjrws6_9STKefdtMoeK6dwNqP-UQf-O63RjDQDRIfwxzHrkPeQ1LzCnuZ70rZxwgyTZcWQEAbMP308Q/s1600/CSC_7936.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610003623538429746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7lwIgGgplNbR8KWPuMPVyAH55stqQpuUqlFF_5s0cQZvz7fmDmiDUyMVHeu0_jjrws6_9STKefdtMoeK6dwNqP-UQf-O63RjDQDRIfwxzHrkPeQ1LzCnuZ70rZxwgyTZcWQEAbMP308Q/s320/CSC_7936.JPG" border="0" /></a> Four handsome fellows just about to head out to <strong>General Priesthood meeting</strong> for General Conference! Lisa's husband -Kellen, my brother- Joe, my hunk of burning love- Bryce and his brother- Dustin. Thanks for being good sports for a quick photo-- They didn't really want to participate. :) </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>A few other things to note from April-- I have kept up on <strong>planting my garden</strong> and I am so excited about it<strong>!</strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div>I <strong>started running</strong> each morning before the kids wake up. I go just over 2 miles but haven't been able to run the whole way until TODAY!!! I was SO excited today! I had a minor setback at the beginning when my back started spasming when I would run but that seems to be ok now. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Bryce still traveled quite a bit. He learned how to make it through giant airports on crutches and could leave everyone else in the dust. He would just show up to the boarding gate a sweaty mess! (I bet his seat buddy was happy about that.) He did have a close call though when he went to pass a guy who was walking really slowly down the terminal, accidently put one of his crutches down on the guys luggage strap which pulled the bag out of the guy's hand and made Bryce's crutch go flying through the air. Luckily he caught himself before he face planted in in the middle of the airport and the guy couldn't seem to get mad a cripple. :)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I got a <strong>new Relief Society</strong> calling! I am now the 1st counselor and am over the activities. JUST when I finally felt like I had a handle on things being the 2nd counselor! This made April CRAZY! Our secretary was taking some time off with her new baby so I was filling in as much as I could there, we lost our 1st counselor so she could be the YW president so I was trying to help there and then it became my job! After a few weeks they called a new 2nd counselor so I tried to help get her going on my old job while learning the in and outs of my new job! Whew! I am glad May hasn't been so crazy.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>That will have to be for another post though.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Oh- one more thing! The perfect note to end on... <strong>Bryce and I have been going on more dates</strong> lately!!! We have been trying to go on a date each week. Generally nothing big but it is SO nice to get away for a few hours together! We have been to dinner, the temple, shopping, an art exhibit and I can't wait for more! It hasn't worked out as well in May so far but we are getting back on track this week!<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-76682662478011583782011-03-30T22:26:00.001-07:002011-03-30T22:43:38.971-07:00Happy 60th Birthday Mom!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmF1ExvPTesIbvCaNdMiep-9Zoi_SpSEPXEO3h_mrp4UCokUTe37VUaHVXaQK2-txTzgnxxEO83KcULF4Q6n5sgsWT0Jrb7L_c65iz33qAyUxGee2Sl4mARTvCZV3Cpfzrk3l5bn0bgyd/s1600/DSC_7650.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590111816088768242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmF1ExvPTesIbvCaNdMiep-9Zoi_SpSEPXEO3h_mrp4UCokUTe37VUaHVXaQK2-txTzgnxxEO83KcULF4Q6n5sgsWT0Jrb7L_c65iz33qAyUxGee2Sl4mARTvCZV3Cpfzrk3l5bn0bgyd/s320/DSC_7650.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNcFA3v3JtFAMCKNukVNrLAozBzxuBKdLUSakDNGmDbUYA8TD7MmHVdWYxwaCeKbRiQwqLS38ChbLH-sQeLQXOdL1ZQMYtrTGol83G2hCWOYZgDV08AHw_VzGMqidTNGDoSRh_ZuA-szs/s1600/DSC_7651.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590111827920121074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNcFA3v3JtFAMCKNukVNrLAozBzxuBKdLUSakDNGmDbUYA8TD7MmHVdWYxwaCeKbRiQwqLS38ChbLH-sQeLQXOdL1ZQMYtrTGol83G2hCWOYZgDV08AHw_VzGMqidTNGDoSRh_ZuA-szs/s320/DSC_7651.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxOhBAoyjQCVfj6xxIG_V2RlTg-RvNwMfaSpvipDInt8PQjg5t-oQfjA54ROjX8uOHPYs1Tgs4Ih08wMQAW7fM6iXIY228Cu_M4nRvQLPizC8yoHzJvteQEkxPIxUnwTGCRwz38BsWhB3/s1600/DSC_7653.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590111834765342370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxOhBAoyjQCVfj6xxIG_V2RlTg-RvNwMfaSpvipDInt8PQjg5t-oQfjA54ROjX8uOHPYs1Tgs4Ih08wMQAW7fM6iXIY228Cu_M4nRvQLPizC8yoHzJvteQEkxPIxUnwTGCRwz38BsWhB3/s320/DSC_7653.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zo2qhSRyHxIP8qLqYRwNvl4hJAIDz_iCoRcDkXRe9_wA9KrOc79cnFz75d7CVZbQLX80HS0D-G4vqZheHXhogX0Bri-GhSEA5WitDABKFbDaQWeT7CJDbnArd4yRzVUNzkEbSOVa7kFO/s1600/DSC_7654.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590111840381606802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zo2qhSRyHxIP8qLqYRwNvl4hJAIDz_iCoRcDkXRe9_wA9KrOc79cnFz75d7CVZbQLX80HS0D-G4vqZheHXhogX0Bri-GhSEA5WitDABKFbDaQWeT7CJDbnArd4yRzVUNzkEbSOVa7kFO/s320/DSC_7654.JPG" border="0" /></a> This month my mom turned the big 60! She didn't want a big deal made of it so we did a family dinner at my house. It was SO much fun!!! Everyone was there except for Dave and his family that live in Arizona. It was like old times just hanging out talking and laughing. The cousins seemed to have fun playing together and the night went by WAY too fast! Lisa made the cake and it was lit up with 60 candles! By the time she blew them all out there wasn't much left of the cool whip on top of the cake. :) A few things I love and appreciate about my mom: *She is so sweet! *Always has a smile on her face *Her home is always open for anyone to stop in *She gives the best hugs *She sacrificed SO much to be a stay at home mom. She drove us everywhere, took the BEST care of us when we were sick and she taught us how to clean! *Mom taught me how to pray by her example. Especially seeing her saying prayers in private.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*Mom is a good listener and she tries hard to not get all worked up and butt into our lives... when she does get worked up-- I know it is only cause she cares so much.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*She is beautiful!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*She loves to shop for clothes and taught us to wait for good deals. She also taught us how to make sure things fit right! Especially shoes. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Mom- I love you to death and am the luckiest girl ever to have you in my life! I hope you had a great birthday!!!</div><br /><div></div></div>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-79057138073624363382011-03-30T21:28:00.000-07:002011-03-30T22:24:18.520-07:00In my own Bermuda triangle?!I feel like I have fallen off of the face of the earth for life as I know it. We spent almost the ENTIRE month of February home being sick. It was mostly the kids but I got to take my turn too. Bryce was also out of town most of February... literally... most of February, but fortunately when I was sick... he was kindof home. :) We jumped into a super busy March with Bryce still traveling a lot for work and a schedule packed in tight! He had lasik done on one eye and we are excited to see (literally) postitive results from that. He said the procedure wasn't bad at all but after watching it-- I will have to wear glasses if my vision ever starts to go. I can't handle eye drops in my eye-- let alone all that I saw them do to him! It grosses me out. Also in March we celebrated my mom's 60th birthday! (That will have to be another post though cause she is too great to be mashed in with this one!) One goal that I finally got accomplished this year was to build and put in a few grow boxes! I am trying the square foot gardening and am SO excited!!! I have planted some peas and onions so far. I am a bit worried that I haven't seen any sprouts yet but it has only been 2 weeks since I planted them so I can't get into a tizzy about it yet. With my black thumb... I do have cause to worry though! I have it all mapped out on what I want planted and when it needs to be done. I hope I can get it to work! I love gardening and being outside. There is just something about all of it that just gets me excited and I feel a huge sense of satisfaction making things look nice and watching stuff grow. I am trying not to lose my mind in the process of life. I seem to be on the losing side of the battle though lately. I left my camera outside (all night!) a few weekends ago and it poured rain on it! I was just sick when I realized it! I had taken it outside to snap a few pictures of the kids one Saturday and set it on the deck steps so it would be handy if I wanted a few more pics but also out of the way of anyone stepping on it. I also knew I would see it on my way back inside. Unfortunately I changed my plans without thinking. I helped the kids carry balls into the garage after we played "poison ball" on the trampoline and in the garage door I went to make lunch. Bryce was gone that weekend dirtbiking and life was crazy taking care of the kids and such. I didn't go out back again that day and we enjoyed a fun evening inside while it rained outside! After all of that my camera still works! I do think though that some stuff isn't the same. I am still upset about it. How could I let this happen to my camera?! I love that camera and DON'T want to buy a new one! I am going to keep taking pictures with it and see what they turn out like. :( On top of that great news of my camera... we also found out that AT&T is purchasing T-Mobile! What does this mean for Bryce's job??? Who knows. It will probably take a year or so for it all to really go through but it adds a sense of unease for me. I know he is working hard and it will all work out in the end... but I am comfortable with where I am now. Enough said. We will be fine. We have worked hard and have tried to make good financial choices to help support us in hard times so let's hope we did enough if we need it. I am glad that spring is coming and it is warming up outside. I have struggled a lot in March. My emotions have been all out of whack and some days I have to fight hard to want to get out of bed. I like to see accomplishment and feel like I am moving forward in my day. Mason is requiring SO much time and looking after that it doesn't leave much for anything else. He is like a tornado that leaves a path of destruction everywhere he goes. It is totally his age but some days I am not sure if I will survive. He totally wears me out and most days I need a nap to stay sane. It has been extra hard this time around. I think having Bryce traveling so much has added lots more to my plate of things to take care of and has worn me out fast! I think I fell into a pretty good depression in March. I wanted to shut down and I had a hard time dealing with people. I felt so bad cause I didn't even want to throw a party for Mason! Nothing against him but I couldn't face the work, the crowd of people and all the caious that comes with it. Fortunately I started to feel a bit better and it all worked out for his big day. I am trying to take things slow and steady and hopefully it will all keep on the up and up from here. The sun seems to help me a lot! I am trying REALLY hard to not turn to treats for my emotional support. I am mad that I have a gut and eating junk food to make me feel better isn't helping that... I wish it would though! I ran across a funny comic today that I tried to scan in and couldn't get it to work so I took a picture of it with my camera: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf532Ky9NFdh8mT0VRBC3KiwPlm6MnbIa_hV_6QuMTYFgSmKWq8BZhQ7P8SNkteh8oJxA5ygxU6ZXvqSEfMtKOp0-U29oYoGuEF65HpKjAEJS-t_iUEERAs-bB7myLbSlUH2Q5AP1ZLLzb/s1600/DSC_7929.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590109093538959458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf532Ky9NFdh8mT0VRBC3KiwPlm6MnbIa_hV_6QuMTYFgSmKWq8BZhQ7P8SNkteh8oJxA5ygxU6ZXvqSEfMtKOp0-U29oYoGuEF65HpKjAEJS-t_iUEERAs-bB7myLbSlUH2Q5AP1ZLLzb/s400/DSC_7929.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKMFLJvAXx-Rbki0JieDbpVtj81U1VP_cpjweVlAp8Z-Xb38W9ZDi_Dkd6NXedUuLyGmerP4igIAiQby1T7BxPDTz5yQuYvlwwS73i9ffLkx76icdJaHv8hOPGlqN_ZWFlX7dpTEAAHbN/s1600/DSC_7927.JPG"></a>This is totally how I feel every day! Except I don't mind actually eating the chocolate! That is half of the fun. My body is retaining more of the fat that I appreciate so I am cutting back and getting my rear kicked with my ab workout video. Speaking of which... I need to go do that. Well- one more day of March and here comes April! I can do this. I can do this! :) <br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-86479346473504867822011-03-30T20:53:00.001-07:002011-03-30T21:28:35.749-07:00Happy 1st Birthday Mason!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fO57L63f6wcoykLqtxCaDHCTAHA2QgEfsaCvyVFfOXBhQF8krkIrhvbDIQlRNo1S95kpmlnQl_CN7kObyS5TKotftHkte6Q_3XJLGmDgmUpzZPTh3HTZbKWEWYu6gJkpv7zV8yRbg5Zd/s1600/DSC_7712.JPG"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyIgALorkZ5mrafi8ebUa6AwRjdRcMsOsQkHKavpebZnUTXXHvk1JeH9T19UBFnZO4fHNkqFkHniMJ2mI31CnfBB_h1JFuFFCTQoR53ltNZ5MZ3QaF_TTzmpDiQar8lRMRLdAluSiVsle/s1600/DSC_7741.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590087817753716882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyIgALorkZ5mrafi8ebUa6AwRjdRcMsOsQkHKavpebZnUTXXHvk1JeH9T19UBFnZO4fHNkqFkHniMJ2mI31CnfBB_h1JFuFFCTQoR53ltNZ5MZ3QaF_TTzmpDiQar8lRMRLdAluSiVsle/s320/DSC_7741.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNhCYJBMpKZAC1ENb6Xj0jRsxZU6GTNh8V8apF0TVVZIHOV3iej_UTdpdd8kRUYu-Z7iOu1sBxKtoIaiKe11Dk4818Oak9d6iq5_I19DVvBGjYIkIs54nbGySUUkPY6QQN4d_0hyphenhyphen0xShb/s1600/DSC_7727.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590087814730819330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNhCYJBMpKZAC1ENb6Xj0jRsxZU6GTNh8V8apF0TVVZIHOV3iej_UTdpdd8kRUYu-Z7iOu1sBxKtoIaiKe11Dk4818Oak9d6iq5_I19DVvBGjYIkIs54nbGySUUkPY6QQN4d_0hyphenhyphen0xShb/s320/DSC_7727.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofQmD3J_6v28jpaxG0czI0pK1tFAExEZ224QFvhpMIciZsOSX6dw7uXjmyCeNe9CMwMPX2L_6BG3MkXqUkGeYSkWbBQlic-zCcRcoTKgXzVWiw3hMHuof-2GaZs72tmc_Vk5zKrvbLNDq/s1600/DSC_7849.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590089542561437218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofQmD3J_6v28jpaxG0czI0pK1tFAExEZ224QFvhpMIciZsOSX6dw7uXjmyCeNe9CMwMPX2L_6BG3MkXqUkGeYSkWbBQlic-zCcRcoTKgXzVWiw3hMHuof-2GaZs72tmc_Vk5zKrvbLNDq/s320/DSC_7849.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4b4Al5pQXm3Su-RwLYo_w1RWQWaArceNTv6UlP-hJOkrONV0H39861JcKq4WN2_rFws2QxqTJhrBhVv7i-FhgMS-QE2bWkIWA1OZYs3Jtj2VWm7KN9Ptt7rhtW4-JppIYOojyTRE4WM7/s1600/DSC_7888.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590087807789241618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4b4Al5pQXm3Su-RwLYo_w1RWQWaArceNTv6UlP-hJOkrONV0H39861JcKq4WN2_rFws2QxqTJhrBhVv7i-FhgMS-QE2bWkIWA1OZYs3Jtj2VWm7KN9Ptt7rhtW4-JppIYOojyTRE4WM7/s320/DSC_7888.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4xOpgxGY8uJvYegwkCzzDyCP-AiGkTV-ldxglXXvOo_VXnXZnf6pCkt08R9z46bATprKYPX_YD_2XqcMjr0SJLmEF46cjTsdTAyzdHahXDS_A9z0LgP714Lel6KDtt3TcydEwzuYQ-5J/s1600/DSC_7905.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590087805904065442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4xOpgxGY8uJvYegwkCzzDyCP-AiGkTV-ldxglXXvOo_VXnXZnf6pCkt08R9z46bATprKYPX_YD_2XqcMjr0SJLmEF46cjTsdTAyzdHahXDS_A9z0LgP714Lel6KDtt3TcydEwzuYQ-5J/s320/DSC_7905.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUcyxnZEXGeCF9Ay5CYAJqadp4M3c1XSpmX9eHuIwnUOCXvCN36WxyaocmKGl4djN2bXArM30JIY_Dqy8uANvdRigoAB-J36kWI-oqviAnNZ89Sy2-JNvkbS4lT-na_YM9z0KRi-hkVC-/s1600/DSC_7927.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590087799980890898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUcyxnZEXGeCF9Ay5CYAJqadp4M3c1XSpmX9eHuIwnUOCXvCN36WxyaocmKGl4djN2bXArM30JIY_Dqy8uANvdRigoAB-J36kWI-oqviAnNZ89Sy2-JNvkbS4lT-na_YM9z0KRi-hkVC-/s320/DSC_7927.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><div>Happy Birthday Mason! Holy cow...This past year has flown by! And what a good year it has been. We had fun celebrating Mason's 1st birthday. We partied it up the Saturday before his birthday with cake and icecream. As I was laying in bed that night we counted up 41 people attending the party! Wow! This kid is loved! :) Mason had a great time opening his presents and LOVED pulled everything out of the bags as fast as he could and handing it all to me. As we say in our house, "He is as fast as Lightning McQueen!" With all of the cousins there to have fun Mason stoood back while they played with all of his new toys. He seemed totally ok with that! This kid is generally pretty laid back. We took a million pictures all day but I am getting worn down in my old age and had to just pick a few to post.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>A few fun things about Mason:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*His favorite hobby is to empty out the kitchen cupboards, drawers, my bathroom cupboards, play in the toilet, empty the bookselves, turn on and off the XBox360 and stick his fingers in the VCR and DVD slots! He can do ALL of these in less than 5 minutes flat if I am distracted!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*Our house is a constant obstacle course with items that Mason picks up and leaves all over.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*He has mastered going up and down the stairs on his knees</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*He says "HERE!" and you better listen and respond in 2 seconds or the item he is handing to you will be on the floor.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*He knows how to sign "more" and he especially does it if he sees treats (cookies) or if he is hungry. It cracks me up cause he signs "more" even if he hasn't had anything yet.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*Mason doesn't really say much. He will say mom and here, but other than that he wanders around in silence.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*Maybe silence isn't the best description-- he likes to make different sounds with his mouth and jabbers. He has a loud commanding jabber if he wants your attention (and a high pitched scream if you take something away or make him come out of the bathroom)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*Mason is hard to photograph. He doesn't smile on command and usually looks like he is thinking about stuff, analyzing what is happening or actually moving to go check something out.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*Mason doesn't like to really sit on your lap and read for more than a minute but really LOVES to look at books on his own. Lots of books at once!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*Mason has gorgeous, HUGE blue eyes, blonde hair and 5 teeth. 2 bottom middle ones, 2 top fang teeth and he finally got it one of his top middle teeth on the day of his party! (March 26th)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*Mason LOVES my phone and carries it all around. He will put it up to his head, jabber a bit and set it back down. He kisses it alot and I am not sure if it is cause there are pictures of the family on the front screen or what!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*Mason has stopped waving good-bye but will give hugs and kisses to us and sometimes to others if he is in the right mood.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*He is trying to decide if he wants to switch down to 1 nap a day. Most days he won't go to sleep in the morning anymore-- unless I am out doing errands. This has been a challenge for me! Even if he takes one nap, he barely sleeps for over an hour. He definitely needs more than that! I need more than that! :)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Mason is a sweet kid and just melts my heart constantly. He is very well taken care of by Abbey, Braxton and Landen. They get him laughing so hard and are always on patrol for him getting into stuff. I can't imagine our little family without him. Happy 1st Birthday Mason! We love you SOOOO much!!!</div></div></div></div></div></div>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-5441851481896045752011-01-30T20:02:00.000-08:002011-01-30T20:18:46.508-08:00He gets it from me... Uh oh!Could it really be??? I don't want to admit it but I just realized this weekend that Braxton gets his bad sportsmanship from ME! We were playing connect as a family yesterday and I went head to head with Bryce and lost. That boiled my blood faster than the speed of light. I wanted to stomp my feet, cuss out some nasty words and hurl a large object at the tv! WHAT?! Over a game? I couldn't believe I felt that way! At that moment a light bulb came on in my head and I saw things through Braxton's eyes for a minute. I felt so sorry for him.<br /><br />I knew better than to act out on my previously mentioned thoughts and calmly walked away, eyes on fire, teeth gritted together and trying to take deep breaths.<br /><br />I have never liked to play sports or really any type of games and I think that is the case because I am WAY TO COMPETITIVE! I DON'T like to lose! I can't handle losing! I obviously didn't learn how to be a good loser. Maybe it is the perfectionist in me... who knows. <br /><br />So now Braxton and I can enroll in anger management classes together and both be taught now to lose gracefully. He is doing better at controlling his temper (for the most part). Or maybe he is just holding it in more like I did yesterday. <br /><br />Most likely I will continue to steer clear of competition so everyone keeps their head! :) I am sorry Braxton that you didn't get more of your dad's laid back personality.Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-43462265592792146152011-01-26T21:14:00.000-08:002011-01-30T20:01:43.505-08:00Jordan World Circus!There is a first time for everything! And this was a first time that the kids or I have ever been to a circus! Abbey came home from school Tuesday afternoon for free kid tickets with a paying adult. I did the math and it turned out to not be that bad of a deal. I checked my budget envelopes and was able to scrounge up just enough money to go. I warned the kids before we left that I was paying to get in to the cirucs and that was it... nothing more. We loaded up the kids pockets with their treats and headed for a good time. I was glad that I had warned them in advance about not buying stuff once we got there cause they get you coming and going with all sorts of different things. I did feel bad cause I thought it would have been fun to ride on the elephant. When at any other time in my life am I going to get a chance to ride an elephant? I had to remind myself of other goals and things I want to do in the next little while and that helped ease the pain of not spening 60 bucks on a family elephant ride.<br /><br /><br />We got 4th row seats just off to the right of the center stage a bit. We felt a part of the action. A few of our favorites were the elephant tricks (especially when the one large elephant did a hand stand!), juggling acts with swords and fire sticks, a balancing act with lots of chairs, a funny clown, 4 motorbikers riding at the same time in the metal "ball of death" cage and a magic act of changing outfits on a lady. The whole family had a blast!!! I was so worried that the kids would feel deprived for me not spending extra money on the extra stuff but the moment we were out of the arena they had forgotten all about it and just kept talking about the fun that they DID have. It was a great night and I am glad that we went.<br /><br /><br />We didn't take too many pictures cause we were busy juggling Mason and just enjoying the show. Thanks to Bryce for taking the pictures of the actual performances!<br /><br />Here are a couple of quick photos before the circus started. We were there early to get good seats before it all filled up.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoORsXbKzNMja162VJGa4R_gGNCV388YPeP8D8zPJ2tLLfwQE82siCfPAlrRWGw_5eXaGfMhUCuOAvkky3g-UBkz-oI7FfGZuxNolDm_gLV0_T73wlk2qlMXLUGlTTnM0vl4wi9sBj1ahA/s1600/DSC_7593.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568193828005477122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoORsXbKzNMja162VJGa4R_gGNCV388YPeP8D8zPJ2tLLfwQE82siCfPAlrRWGw_5eXaGfMhUCuOAvkky3g-UBkz-oI7FfGZuxNolDm_gLV0_T73wlk2qlMXLUGlTTnM0vl4wi9sBj1ahA/s320/DSC_7593.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFC_-09T2YqkbuBmTCHNiuyU_edplJyEm9Q3DAQ7qqGh5R2s0necZeaNgd0VskZzLknHDl2qN0h1_O7ILi_kyrWJeJM6tDxL8l59piN8FTT26_oOXCojeMqSKeigxQiuy-SGzkmj7VeR_/s1600/DSC_7594.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568193816138522466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFC_-09T2YqkbuBmTCHNiuyU_edplJyEm9Q3DAQ7qqGh5R2s0necZeaNgd0VskZzLknHDl2qN0h1_O7ILi_kyrWJeJM6tDxL8l59piN8FTT26_oOXCojeMqSKeigxQiuy-SGzkmj7VeR_/s320/DSC_7594.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnr8XCjAiCuVTVsL7GINd40f_k048-cNvYS1lnvIbCiUpzhFQv_x5mpkbL-D9alN0ma2yG_KOvXQLDy33huh1m1dv9qSrSp9YkcQne2fjTVe-fU70ey6XcVamBdTG0uhChA65E_Od6DB_s/s1600/DSC_7618.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568193813769821314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnr8XCjAiCuVTVsL7GINd40f_k048-cNvYS1lnvIbCiUpzhFQv_x5mpkbL-D9alN0ma2yG_KOvXQLDy33huh1m1dv9qSrSp9YkcQne2fjTVe-fU70ey6XcVamBdTG0uhChA65E_Od6DB_s/s320/DSC_7618.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Pictures don't do the balancing guy justice. He was really cool. So were the elephants. We were too slow getting the camera back out for some of their trickier stunts.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis6GPMUjfa0wCBYMBVGBSFnRQ3lyyGNLG8QbkuJlGlsoiDvkUVjvptYxOs-0Zug8XQAioDUpWfsK1zeWbb7701NV1gyOk2gbxKszofnvu8zQoKPCwueLvy9qIG5bTDv7Ts25X5ZLxg-8k/s1600/DSC_7631.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568193806711756722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis6GPMUjfa0wCBYMBVGBSFnRQ3lyyGNLG8QbkuJlGlsoiDvkUVjvptYxOs-0Zug8XQAioDUpWfsK1zeWbb7701NV1gyOk2gbxKszofnvu8zQoKPCwueLvy9qIG5bTDv7Ts25X5ZLxg-8k/s320/DSC_7631.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-73536447266414757902011-01-26T20:50:00.000-08:002011-01-26T21:12:51.021-08:00Update on Obsession...I have had a day of success, a few days of indulgence and a lot of realizations! First off, I have to say that I believe my body was going through withdrawls from sugar last week! I am still thinking about sugar a lot but I am not going as crazy as I was last week. I almost wanted to crawl out of my skin last week but survived! I ended the week with a GREAT success! Saturday night Bryce and I went to the adult meeting for Stake Conference. We had planned to go to dinner sometime that night but had both eaten a HUGE lunch of our homemade Cafe Rio sweet pork salad (me)/ burritos (Bryce) so we weren't really hungry for much dinner. Having in my head that we could just skip straight to treats I suggested we grab one after the meeting. As we were driving around nothing was sounding fantastic to me. I then suggested we go to Macey's grocery store cause there is bound to be SOMETHING in there bakery, frozen section or treat isle that would be delicious! I grabbed a basket when we walked in and Bryce instantly worried that I would fill it up before we left. We walked all over the store and left EMPTY HANDED!! Can you believe that???!!! I saw things that were tasty but nothing was "worth falling off the bandwagon" for. That was a proud moment for me! <br /><br />I must have gotten a little bit cocky cause then on Sunday I made cinnamon rolls for dessert. There were several extra which became my Monday morning breakfast and then another one that day as a snack and just one more after the kids went to bed that night. (I didn't want them to dry out and get all stale!) Horrible reasoning I know. It didn't help that I could smell them every time I walked into the kitchen and they just stared me down while I choked down Cheerios. They are so much better than Cheerios!!!<br /><br />We then took the kids to the circus last night and of course you need to have treats when you do something special like that! I dug a few more treats out of the food storage and we went off for a good time. I did use some self control to not eat the entire bag of stuff that we brought (which I would have done in the past without too much hesitation). <br /><br />I have realized that I can make a "special occasion" out of anything! I have been rewarding myself with treats for making through the day, to help me relax, to help me from being antsy, give me energy, etc... I know that life isn't going to stop happening and I have to deal with it in other ways than food. The spare tire hanging out around my waistline is a good reminder to stay on track! I can do this! :)Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-19959456933398190042011-01-26T20:17:00.000-08:002011-01-26T20:44:26.261-08:00A Glimpse of Heaven...There are lots of struggles in life, raising kids and the whole sorts so I just love the little sweet moments that make you step back, take a deep breath and say, "Ah ha! It might just be worth it!"<br /><br />Monday was just one of those days that seemed forever long, I was worn out and Bryce had to be gone during dinner to meet with a friend for a minute. It was quickly approaching time for our FHE activity and treat. I went down to the basement for a moment of peace and inspiration on what we could do that was easy and hopefully successful. I grabbed our memory game and some skittle packs from the food storage and headed back upstairs with a prayer for fun. We ate our skittles while we played the game and it was SO MUCH FUN!! We were all giggling, talking, taking turns and getting excited about each person's success. This is a breakthrough for us! Especially for Braxton! He has really struggled with sportsmanship and even though he didn't win, not a peep of negativity was shown. I didn't want the game to end (and it wasn't just the fact that I was actually winning) but I wanted to hold on to that moment forever! Maybe if we keep it up with Family Home Evening we will have another success one of these days! :)<br /><br />Another tender moment comes in the middle of the night on generally a nightly occassion. At some point in the night Mason usually wakes up crying and is ready for a bottle. Begrudgingly I pull myself out of bed, make a bottle and head back upstairs and feed him. After all of my "woe is me" thoughts on being woken up, Mason finishes his bottle and snuggles up into my chest and onto my shoulder completely relaxed and at peace. He doesn't really snuggle much anymore cause he is too busy moving around. The nightly snuggle only lasts a minute or so and I just breath in the sweet smell of baby, enjoy his tender little chubby cheeks squished up against me and marvel that Heavenly Father trusted me with such a sweet little guy. I lay him back in bed and stumble back to my own bed grateful I get that sweet moment only once a night! :)Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997287382143720321.post-27006506796505307992011-01-21T19:37:00.000-08:002011-01-21T19:42:59.192-08:00First StepsTonight Mason took 3 steps in a row completely unaided! He has done it several times too! He was just standing in the middle of the kitchen looking up at Bryce. You could tell that he was focusing on balancing and then Bryce squated down to his level and called him over. In socks, on the wood floor he took three distinct steps! He did it again down on the carpet in the family room. Oh Boy! I am not sure if I am ready for this but CONGRATULATIONS MASON!!! Since he isn't quite 10 months old yet I am placing bets that he will have this thing licked by his birthday.Amiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967786873084706712noreply@blogger.com4