Our trip to St. George ~ Day 1

We had lots and lots of fun on our trip to St. George! The weather wasn't quite as nice as we had hoped the first day or two but it turned out being just right in the end. We had a great time!

Even though it rained, and in some places was snowing, the drive down went pretty well. We left in the evening in hopes the kids would sleep most of the way. Soon after a late dinner stop at Wendy's in Nephi, all 3 kids drifted off to dreamland for the rest of the way. Wahoo, our plan worked!

Armed with their blanket and stuffed animal, Avery's v-smile and Quinn's leapster computer, a snack bag, and a drink, the kids were set for the long ride. Plus they watched The Princess and the Frog on the way too.

Lucky kids, what a way to travel!

~~~ Day 1 in St. George ~~~

This day was kind of a gloomy rainy day so we did lots of fun things indoors. It started with some fun times at the condo.

"Where's the baby?"

"There he is!"

Tryin' on Daddy's glasses.

You look so smart Hayzen!

They ended up putting this puzzle together at least 10 times before our trip was over! What fun!

For lunch we went to this yummy place called Brick Oven and ate the BEST southwestern chicken pizza. It had a creamy roasted pepper sauce with chicken, three cheeses, olives, cilantro and fresh pico de gallo on top. Oh it was delicious!

After lunch we did a little shopping at the outlets, did a little shopping at the grocery store to fill the condo kitchen with food, and then we went to the movie theater to see How To Train Your Dragon. It was a really cute movie and the kids loved it. When we were walking out Quinney said to me, "Mama, I seel {feel} wike I want to sight {fight} a dwagon." :) I love my boy!

HAPPINESS

Teeny tiny happiness.




Love this time of year!

Joys of Summertime

Last Saturday felt like Summer!

{That is until the sun went down and we were reminded that it still is, in fact, Springtime.}

We worked in the yard all day and got some much needed Spring cleaning done. All the new weeds and all the old remnants of last years perennials are all cleared out of our flower beds and now all you can see is new life re-appearing. Little green sprigs shooting up from the dirt everywhere. I love it!

After a long day of work we rewarded ourselves with a good ole Slurpee from the Sev.

For dinner we roasted hot dogs and yummy gooey smores on our new fire-pit. Yum-O!

Ummmm, yes please!

Can't wait to do this all. summer. long!

White Liar

Remember this shirt and how I was saying that it was a 'one time wear only' shirt?

Well, Avery got to wear it again. Wahoo!

She got to celebrate her 'pretend birthday' last week at school since her 'real birthday' isn't until summertime.

Speaking of 'pretend birthdays' and 'real birthdays', this little lady seemed to have been having a little case of amnesia that day and got the two mixed up!

I didn't know this until the next day when one of her little friends came over with a birthday gift for her. Then I asked her, "did you tell everyone it was your real birthday?"

I suppose you can guess what her answer was.....

Oh yes, and come to find out, in talking to this little friends Mom, there was a whole party planned at Chucky Cheeses that night too with invitations she just forgot to pass out..... Are you kidding me Avery???

It's maybe a little funny to me now, but last Wednesday I was mortified! And all to get a stinkin' present! What is this world {and my daughter} coming too? ha ha!

Needless to say, Avery returned the gift and apologized for her little out right lie!

I guess the good news for me is, she already chose to celebrate her 'real birthday' in April so when July comes around we won't have to. Hope you enjoyed your Spring birthday this year.

Yes, punishment is fun isn't it Avery! :)

My 30th birthday. Oh, AND MY CAKE!!!

I had a GREAT 30th birthday! My celebration started on Friday with a night out on the town with some great friends. We went to dinner at a yummy pizzeria and then to a comedy club @ Trolley Square. The comedian: "I got braces when I was 29 because I didn't want to get made fun of as a kid....." Needless to say, he "had to quit substituting at the Junior High"! ha ha! Aww, good times!

The next day my family came down and surprised me with a jolly good BBQ @ my house. Wahoo! Good thing because then we had plenty of people to enjoy my A-MAZE-ING birthday cake with us!

More on my A-MAZE-ING cake later, it deserves it's own section of this post!

Then on Monday, my actual birthday, Justin and the kids took me out for an oh-so-delicious birthday dinner @ Texas Roadhouse. {A place that I didn't want them to know it was my birthday because I didn't want to sit on that saddle! haha! Ten times more embarrassing than just having them come and sing 'happy birthday' to you at your table!} So we zipped our lips about my birthday and had a fun time! Of course I ate way too much, as I always do when we go out, but seriously, how can I not eat like 400 of those warm rolls with that scrumptious buttery cinnamon butter??? Just tell me. :)

The best birthday cake EVER, coupled with delicious food {multiple times} and the company of great family and friends makes for the perfect 30th birthday! Thanks everyone for helping make my birthday special! :)

Okay, now about MY CAKE!

Here it is, the crowning jewel of my birthday!


Isn't it the cutest thing?! My friend Brooke made it. She's been taking a cake decorating class and is so very talented.


I decided for my 30th birthday that I wanted a two tiered cake. I'm not sure why exactly, it's just something that came to my mind when I was thinking about my upcoming, very important, highly anticipated 30th birthday, and I liked the idea.


I gave Justin the particulars: two tiered, white cake with butter cream frosting. He then was going to talk to Brooke and get the cake ordered and it would be a surprise for me. Well, he claims that when I started saying things like: "but I don't want it to look like a wedding cake", "I want spring-y colors but I don't want it to look like an Easter cake", "I don't want it too fancy, maybe just one big hot pink bow on top", he got all over-whelmed and was afraid he wouldn't deliver the perfect cake. I'm I picky or what? :) Bless his little heart.


So, he sent Brooke my way so I could pick out my perfect cake. And I must say, it turned out to be an absolutely perfect "Holly cake"!!! So perfect in fact, I didn't want to cut the pretty thing. :)


So here's to me and my thirty years!


And yes, it tasted just as good and smooth and moist and soft and yummy as it looked! Delicious!

Coordinating @ it's best!

We wore our cute Easter Bests' for 4 weeks in a row {minus conference/Easter Sunday} and what do you know, I finally remembered to take pictures before we all got changed! Go me!!

Yesterday wasn't the best weather for an outside photo shoot nor was it at a great time of day, 2:14 to be exact. You know, 11:00 church just doesn't go too well with a napping baby.

Oh well, I'm just happy I remembered to take pictures this time!




Ummmm, maybe Hayzen's had enough.




I love seeing my children in adorable coordinating clothes! Call me crazy but it makes me SMILE!

Christmas in April

We finally got to set up the kids' Christmas present the day before Easter. Their new trampoline! Wahoo! It was freezing and very windy outside but we did it anyway.








Avery and Quinn have been having so much fun jumping on their new tramp. Hayzen also loves it, he squeals and squeals, his arms and legs are just a kickin' 90 miles an hour! Lots of fun on the trampoline! :)

Trolley-Boy

Elder Carles
Vancouver, Canada Mission

It's hard for me to believe that Ben, my little Buddy, is already old enough to serve a mission.

He is my oldest nephew and I was only 10 years old when he was born. He was the closest thing to a "younger sibling" that I had and we were best buds back then.

But once in awhile, like when I'd call him the nickname I made up for him, Trolley-Boy, he'd get really mad at me.

"I not Trolley-Boy, I Benjamin plain!" he'd yell.

He wasn't too fond of that nickname apparently.

Sometimes though, {when I was feeling mean I guess} I'd call him that just to hear his reply, because he'd say it so funny.

Oh, good times.

Ben entered into the MTC today and I am so excited for him as he embarks on this new phase in his life.

He is going to be a great missionary!

Love ya my little Trolley-Boy!

Easter Morn

Hayzen found his basket first, in the corner, hiding behind his toys. "Peek-a-boo!"

That sneaky Easter Bunny hid Avery's basket in the oven. Boy was that ever exciting!

Well what do you know, Quinney found his under the bathroom sink. Tricky Easter Bunny!

Justin's basket was hidden in a kitchen drawer, and mine, up on a shelf in the laundry room.

The Easter Bunny was good to us yet again.

Hoppy Easter Every Bunny!

{I am laughing out loud and can not stop at that last line! Maybe because I started saying it with a Japanese accent, which makes it WAY more funny!}

I am still laughing!!