I love having a photographer in the family

I am usually the one that is taking pictures of everyone and everything. But my father in law, Rich, recently bought a very nice (very expensive) camera, and took some classes and he was nice enough to take some great candid shots at Alyssa's party. I love them!!! Thanks so much for taking these Rich!!

My next big purchase for myself....a camera, and then I am going to take classes, to become a "photographer" (well, atleast that is what I will call myself)

...

Alyssa is 2

We had our family over to celebrate Alyssa's birthday with us. She wanted to have a tinkerbell party (the choice was made with Austin's help) so we made Peter Pan hats for all the boys and Tinkerbell tiaras for all the girls, that way everyone was included. She had so much fun and got more presents than imaginable. Thank you everyone for making this day so special for Alyssa and our family!


* more pictures to come, I am just short on time

Happy Birthday Alyssa

I can't believe it's been 2 years

two days until she's two

I'm in the kitchen cleaning up breakfast when I notice it is very quiet. CRAP!! OK, theres Austin watching 'Clifford' with Abby, theres Haylie playing with the baby doll, uh oh, wheres Alyssa...I run down the hall to her room and there she is covered in diaper rash cream, she flicks her head around looks at me with a big cheesy grin and says "hi, mama!" She is just giving me a preview of what is yet to come!

Earth Day

(and yes, Austin is still in his pajamas he is the new Hugh Hefner, he never wants to get out of his pajamas)

I know, I know I am a little late at posting this but I am glad I waited. Because on Monday in honor of Earth Day we planted some flowers in our pots for our deck and front walkway. Austin and Alyssa were "big helpers" Austin even has his own gardening gloves (Chad and I caved in after begging and pleading for them) Then today I looked out the window and there are our flowers covered in, you guessed it, SNOW!! Will Spring ever come?

I love my little man...

Austin is so cute!! He says to me... "Mommy can we do spring cleaning tomorrow?" I said, "You Bet!, Where should we get started?" And he said "Downstairs in the family room its a little bit messy."

Thanks Austin for keeping mommy on her toes! I love you!!!

Alyssa is going GLAM (with dads help)

Alyssa is such a girl girl! She loves her hair done. Love to play dress up. Loves to wear lip gloss and have her nails painted. And I am the lucky one that gets to do all of these fun things with her. I love it!!! For the last week I have been not feeling like doing much but sleep and eat popsicles for my throat, so daddy stepped up to the plate and painted Alyssa's nails....I had to get up out of bed and get a picture of this...it was too cute! And he did a pretty good job!

Spring Tease

As most of you know we got a little spring tease this last weekend. Unfortunately I was stuck indoors with strep throat! I was able to watch the kids out my bedroom window and see how much fun they were having. When I went to the Doctors Office I saw what seemed to be everyone in South Jordan City outside flying kites, going on walks, working in their yards, laughing and barbecuing rubbing in my face that fact that I felt awful bundled in my blanket on such a beautiful day. And now that I am starting to feel better, there is supposed to be another storm tomorrow, and guess what? still cold....bummer! Oh well, soon it will be 100+ degrees and we'll be waiting for the relief of winter...

Is it Spring or Winter?

Kevin caught the fever....

My brother Kevin who is 20 years old has been driving around a little 1995 Toyota Camry for the last couple years and he was planning on driving it into the ground. Well that day finally came! He asked that I go with him to the dealership to help him negotiate. (I may not look like the fighting type, but the moment I pull into a car dealership parking lot my whole personality changes and all who dare enter my path better watch out.) Well, after talking them down for over an hour, leaving the dealership, and listening to groveling phone calls from the sales man to come back in. He got the car he wanted for the price he wanted and not a penny more!! (your welcome!)


He got a Toyota Yaris....they are awesome, they look like a tiny wind-up toy car but they are so roomy inside!! Congratulations Kevin!!

Austin's a tumbler

Austin has so much energy and he is always jumping around doing flips and bouncing off the walls!! I decided to sign him up for a gymnastics class, so he has another way to get all of his energy out!! I signed my niece Abby up for the class as well, and they have the best time. They have the best teacher, who turned her downstairs into a gymnasts heaven. She has it all!!!
So hopefully I will be seeing a lot less of this inside the house (ya, right!)

My Niece Ashley Turned 14!!

It's Fixed

I dont know how he did it, but Chad fixed our camera!! He took it apart and put it back together and now it works---hooray!! I was a little bummed because I really wanted to get my "professional" camera, but thats ok, this will due for a while. Our camera now leaves a little halo around everything so we will see how long I can stand that.

Well, here are the rest of our pictures from our trip....enjoy!!

Our Drive Down

playing in the dirt, paintballin' and more

Spooky Gulch Hike

tid bits and more Easter

Easter 2008

We had a lot of fun this Easter. We went to Escalante, UT to visit Grandma and Grandpa Spencer (Chad's dad and step-mom) and Grandma and Grandpa Roundy (Chad's Grandma). On Easter Morning we woke up to find easter baskets full of goodies. The Easter Bunny must have got our letter that we left behind telling him where we were. The kids were "egg-cited" for their sunglasses and stuffed bunnies....they sleep with them every night. After breakfast we went on an easter egg hunt, the kids had a blast and were running all over the place. Afterward we blew bubbles and had a great morning! We went over to Grandma Roundys house afterward and played paintball and the kids got to play on the dirt hills with their buckets and shovels and tools of every kind, they had a blast. We roasted Hot Dogs and just visited with the family....we always have a great time down there.

Easter in Escalante

Tag....i'm IT!!!

I have been Challenged by my best-est bud from High School, Jessica. To tell you all 100 things you may know, or not know or not care to know about me... You owe me Jess!
1. I like to take crazy pictures of myself like this one...
2. I always thought I would be Rich and Famous
3. I have the ugliest feet! When I finally got the courage to go get a pedicure and let someone get up close and personal with my feet, I didn't make eye contact with the person once and didnt look up from my magazine, I practically ran out of there.
4. I love pedicures...go figure!
5. I love getting my hair done. (or ever played with, brushed etc...)
6. I played tag with my nephews for over an hour last night.
7. I still feel like a kid, and love to play and act like one.
8. I love to shock people by doing crazy things.
9. People think I am quiet and shy but when they get to know me....WATCH OUT!!!
10. I love to buy things for other people.
11. I like to be the person in charge.
12. I hate math and think it is made up, how do letter become numbers?!?!?
13. I love to jump on trampolines, and still can do a front and backflip.
14. I love to make people laugh. I can't stand when people are unhappy.
15. I used to be the queen of prank calls!!
16. I love to take baths but always have to shower afterward.
17. I have never flown on a plane. And have never gone more East then Utah.
18. I gambled in Las Vegas when I was 17 while holding my 1 year old nephew in the nickel slots, I won something but didnt see how much, I just kept walking.
19. I LOVE to sing!! I sing in the shower, in the car and pretty much everywhere and I don't care who hears. Unless someone asks me to sing, then I am embarassed.
20. I often laugh at jokes I don't get, then I figure them out later.
21. I stay up until 1am watching teenage MTV shows...I can't ever just walk away.
22. I LOVE to exercise....I wish it would show!!
23. I would love to be a photographer.
24. If someone would go with me I would try out for American Idol!
25. I would even try out for "So you think you can dance",just to give everyone a good laugh.
26. My niece and I dance with our hands out my sun roof. Just so people will look at us wierd.
27. I taught my kids to yell "bow chicka wow wow" out the window by example.
28. I dont have a favorite color.
29. I love sweets and that is the main food group in my diet. (thats why the exercise doesn't work)
30. I have been told several times by different people I could be a face model (hey, what about this body)
31. I love my 3 sister in laws and 2 mother in laws, but hate that they are all a size '0'
32. I have had 2 c-sections and no labor, and 2 beautiful children.
33. I am very competitive at everything. I hate it when I don't win.
34. I won't play Monopoly with Chad because I never win...I'm such a poor sport.
35. Before I had kids, I knew every word to every song on the radio, new and old.
36. I often go "shopping" fill up a cart full, then feel guilty so I park my cart somewhere and leave the store.
37. I love to bake, hate to cook!
38. I love to wash and dry clothes, I hate to fold and put them away.
39. My kids closet and drawers and Chads closet and drawers are immaculate and organized by me, but mine is an utter mess.
40. I used to make music videos with my best friend Jessica and Miranda. We were Awesome!
41. I have given my friend Jessica a hickey. (on her tummy)
42. Jessica and I used to walk to school even after we had our license. Just for exercise.
43. Jessica introduced me to Chad. We had gotten into a fight a few days before, if I hadn't told her sorry, Chad and I never would have met.
44. Chad was my first "real boyfriend"
45. Chad gave me my first ever roses.
46. Mine and Chad's first kiss was his "birthday present"
47. Chad was the first and only boy I told "I love you"
48. I have been told by 3 boys that they "love me" (I knew what they wanted)
49. I was baptised by missionaries when I was almost 14
50. I once dressed up in a trenchcoat and hat and danced in front of a school window while school was in session with my friend Jessica.
51. In the winter I dont shave my legs very often, sounds gross, but I am not very hairy.
52. I started dying my hair when I was 13, without my moms permission.
53. I pierced my own bellybutton and ear.
54. I am afraid to try new foods (I don't like sea food or oriental food)
55. I am a HUGE homebody.
56. I love it when people ask me for my advice.
57. I love to plan and host parties.
58. I tend to go overboard on holidays and special occasions.
59. I love to write songs and poems.
60. I can play several simple songs on the piano that I taught myself. I cant read sheet music.
61. In elementary school I tried out for every play but my voice was too quiet.
62. I think I talk loud but I have a small little voice.
63. No one makes me laugh more than Austin and Alyssa.
64. I am a very passionate emotional person, I often cry when I am talking about something I believe in, or that touches me.
65. I cry if I see someone else cry.
66. I used to get in fights with my old dog Wylie.
67. She hated me, she wanted Chad all to herself.
68. I saw Austin Powers in the movie theater 6+ times.
69. I love banana slurpees
70. I could do a backbend until a couple years ago. When I tried it again, I felt ever stomach muscle stretch beyond belief and I saw stars and fell on my head.
71. I like to mow the lawn
72. I hate to do the dishes. I made a deal that I will load the dishes but not put them away.
73. I wish I could go back to being as "fat" as I was in highschool.
74. I love to do crafts, even though I am not very good
75. I have 2 half brother/sister? that I have never met
76. I was in my sophomore Talent Show dancing doing various exercise video moves, afterward we got a standing ovation.
77. I can't watch scary movies they freak me out and I almost cry.
78. I am very interested in Serial Killers
79. I have wanted to be a Teacher, beautician and psychologist and now a labor and delivery nurse.
80. I am a fast runner. I hold a record still at Eastmont Middle School.
81. I was racing my nephews yesterday and didnt let them win once...I am so mean.
82. Chad is even faster than me and it makes me mad
83. I think it sucks that I never get to wear heels because I am already 5' 10"
84. I am a huge blog stalker and read about all of my friends, friends lives.
85. I love to roast marshmallows but dont like to eat them.
86. I like to go camping, but would love it more if there was a shower.
87. I love to go swimming, but hate getting out of the swimming pool. I feel like everyone is staring at me.
88. I get told I look familiar and look like celebrities a lot. (Katherin Heigl, Jessica Simpson)
89. I would love to be able to sing in front of a big crowd of people before I die.
90. I am afraid of falling off a cliff and falling to my death
91. I have never felt better about my appearance than when I was pregnant.
92. I still watch Austin and Alyssa when they sleep.
93. I took pictures of all of their features that I didn't want to forget.
94. I still remember the smell of Chad's neck on our first dance, and can still smell it from time to time on him, but can't figure out what it is.
94. I still wish on shooting stars, fountains, and eyelashes.
95. It might sound cheesy but I really think Chad completes me.
96. I am not a morning person at all, I could sleep in until noon, if no one waked me.
97. I would love to win the lottery and buy all the members of my family a house in a circle so we would all be neighbors.
98. My friend Keri and I used to make crazy videos while our husbands worked on our basement.
99. I bought a $850 bike and have only ridden it a handful of times
100. I love Disneyland more than is legal.

Now I tag, Ashley, Keri, Casey and D, and anyone else who is willing!

Look what we Bought!!

Honda Pilot 2008

Now that our buyers remorse has worn off we thought we would post our latest purchase. Now we can go camping and vacations without being packed in like sardines in our little civic. The new car smell is wonderful!

p.s. the color is called nimbus grey...as most of you know Chad is a huge Harry Potter fan, so rather than calling our car a pilot he calls it "The Nimbus 2008"

The "big snip" didnt work

As most of you know after we had Alyssa Chad had "the big snip" after the Doctors advised us not to have any more children. Well we found out today that we are expecting baby number 3 and 4 due in December.....We were thinking if it is a boy and a girl we were going to name them April and Fools, what do you think?


for those of you who have fallen victim of my past April Fools Day pranks, you know I do this same one every year, I just change it up a little bit, but there are still those of you that fall for it :D....I showed Chad and he said "again?" so Beware for next year when I get my creative juices flowing and think of something else to prank you about...(insert evil laugh here)