Bouncin' around

The kids were in heaven today!! The weather was so nice and enjoyable that Austin and Abby were able to go on a 2 1/2 mile bike ride and Haylie and Alyssa got to enjoy the 2 1/2 miles in a stroller looking at all the puppy dogs along the way. They played in the backyard all day!! Later that night, after Chad and I got back from our walk we played with the kids on the trampoline. We love the trampoline!! Last Sunday, we were at Chad's moms house and Chad, Nick and Casey played all their games that they played as kids and were brushing up on all their tricks, I have to admit, they were pretty good...Rich got some great pictures (I need a copy of those...please!!!) Here are some of our pictures tonight on the trampoline, I will see if I can post some later with the pictures Rich took... don't be jealous of our moves...

Check out the static electricity....


So HANDSOME...


Chad, we are so awesome!

I love their giggles...

Happy 7th Birthday Grace!!

We celebrated Grace's 7Th birthday this weekend. I can't believe how times flies! She is an amazing little girl who is so incredibly smart, and fun to be around! She is a big helper and brings a smile to all of those that she is around!!!
We love you Grace and hope you had a very Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday

A Day with Thomas The Train

We made the drive up to Heber, where Thomas the Tank Engine made a pit stop at the Heber Valley Railroad Station. We had so much fun!! Asenath and Dusten were able to come with us, which made for a fun day!!! We had lunch with live music, tattoos, we got to pet shetland ponies, balloon animals, ride on Thomas the Train and the list goes on....
(Sorry Jessica and Miranda, I can't believe I bought tickets for the wrong day, you'll have fun tomorrow)

.....*.....*......*.......*......

Goodbye Thomas!

A Manicure turns into a Facial...

Alyssa's new favorite thing lately, is to have her nails painted. Well, today I wasn't too careful and forgot to put the nail polish away. Next thing I know I smell the strong smell of nail polish. Alyssa comes to me and says "pitty, mama, pitty" with nail polish all over her face. She must have seen my face and knew to run, and hide. I found her under our table. She thought she was pretty sneaky!!!

(you might have to click on the picture for it to enlarge to see the "facial")

The New American Idol is....

David Cook!!! I found this out before it was announced on YAHOO! home page, I was bummed I wanted to see it happen live on TV oh well.....I wasn't too attached to either performer, I thought they were equally good! I did love his reaction, to see how overcome with emotion he was....what a life changing experience!

Welcome to the 21st Century...

Chad and I have entered into the 21st century, and there's no turning back, (at least not without an early termination fee and before our 2 year contract is up) We are once again cellphone owners!!!!
We both had one way back when there were only 2 different models to choose from and there was no such thing as a color screen and text messaging. But cancelled them when, we realized I was always at work, home or with Chad and Chad the same. My 14 year old niece has had one for 2 years, and I think she got tired of me asking her to borrow it when Chad and I would go on any sort of vacation of road trip, so we decided to get our own!!!! Guess which one is mine?!?!?

lights out!

Our power was out for a couple hours today. And because it was wet and rainy outside, and I had my sisters kids that I had to entertain too, I decided to take the kids to the Carls Junior playland. And after they got bored there, I took them over to the McDonalds playland and they had ice cream and played some more. And then when we got home the power was still off, but it had stopped raining so they played in the mud and made some mud pies...Now we have power again...Hooray!!! I am so thankful for electricity. And for our washer and dryer and the kids croc's (plastic shoes)

I love to see the Temple...

We are so lucky to live so close to so many Temples. The new one they are building was right down the street from our old house. A 5 min walk away. Now it would only be like a 15 or 20 min walk away, so we are still way close....I just wanted to post some pictures on the progress they are making....

Hogle Zoo

What's that red thing on the Monkey's bum?

We decided to buy a family pass to the Hogle Zoo. The kids love it there and they love the playground thats there too! And I have to admit, I love the kettle corn that they make and sell there. We went on Monday and it was warm but not too hot. We had a little picnic, went on the train ride and played at the playground. They had a little art fair from Utah students so we got to walk through and see how talented Utah's students are, it blows me away! We loved seeing all the animals, they are still very active, and we even got to hear the Elephant roar? not roar but, do their crazy noise! The kids loved it, we had a great time!! If you think you will take your family more than once to the zoo this year you should look into the family pass!

Splish Splash, we're having a blast!!

We took advantage of the warm weather this last weekend. We took the kids with us to Target and let them pick out a splash pool for the backyard (I would love one of those huge above the ground ones, but we have more of a kiddie pool budget.) The kids chose a safari themed pool that has a little slide and misters that spray you and cool you off through this crazy archway thing. Anyway, the kids love it!! Chad and I (more Chad than me) were a little lightheaded after blowing it up, and then my mom came out and said that she had a pump that we could use, after it was all done!! I lathered the kids in sunscreen, and let 'em loose, they had a lot of fun!!! Now what are they going to do this week when the weather drops to the 50's ?!?!?

Cutie Patootie!

My Friends Keri and James came over to visit before they left on their trip to Disney World (we are so jealous) they brought with them their stinkin' cute 2 month old boy, David. Austin loves babies so he got to hold him, and it was so cute, little baby David was cooing at him and smiling at him, Austin loved it!! But sadly they had to go home to get some sleep so they could make their flight to Florida (we are still so jealous) Thanks for coming to visit, I can't wait to get together again!

James, Keri and David


Austin admiring little baby David


Baby David, look at his smile!

Percentiles?!?!?

Before I had kids, I never understood what all the percentile talk was about. Now that I have two kids of my own I find myself talking percentiles with the rest of them. Alyssa had her 2 year old appointment today she got her last HEP A shot, and here are Alyssa's Stats and then I will explain the percentile:
5/15/08
Inches: 35 1/2 (90% percentile)
Pounds: 30 lbs. 11oz. (90% percentile)
Head: 48 CM (95% percentile)

OK so if you are in the 90th percentile that means that 90% of 2 year old girls are shorter than Alyssa's height and 90% of 2 year old girls weigh less than Alyssa and 95% of 2 year old girls heads are smaller around than Alyssa's. And 10% of 2 year old girls are taller and weigh more than her, and 5% have a larger head around than her.
It's crazy, I know!

Happy Mother's Day!!

I still can't believe that I have the privilege of being a MOTHER. Everyday is hard work but every day is more than worth every temper tantrum, every mess, every sleepless night, every week full of endless laundry. Because I get to see my kids growing and learning, I get to hear them say the most precious words I've ever heard "I love you mommy" I get to have the best hugs and kisses imaginable, I get to be looked at with adoration. I love my children so much and my sweetheart Chad for being my partner in this craziness that is parenthood. I am so lucky to have not 1 not 2 but 3 amazing MOTHERS in my life. They give me such great advise, and examples, of what kind of MOTHER I am striving to be. They are all amazing, beautiful women. Thank you so much for all you do. The list is never ending. I hope one day to have the same positive impact on my children's lives that the 3 of you have had on mine. Happy Mother's Day!!! I love you!!

Oh and THANK YOU, Austin and Alyssa (Chad) for my 2 dozen long stemmed red roses, they are absolutely beautiful and I love my cards that you made for me! Thank you for being the best kids ever and being so sweet and always giving me hugs and kisses and telling me how much you love me...I NEED that!!! And THANK YOU to my mom for the hand made by Robyn pillow with Austin and Alyssa's handprints on them, I love the fabric and will cherish those tiny handprints, especially as they grow, I love it!! And THANK YOU Luan for the "Faith" wall hanging and the wooden MOM block set they are both on my mantle. And thank you for the DVD and Book for the kids, we have already watched the DVD and Read the book several times!! Thanks for making me feel important and spoiling me....that feels good sometimes to be spoiled!! You guys are the BEST!!!

Oh and one more thank you...Chad thanks for watching the kids while I went to 3 chick flicks this weekend (What happens in Vegas, Made of Honor, Baby Mama) and for watching my new movie P.S. I Love You with me and not making fun of me while I sobbed through the whole thing!! You are the best hubby any woman could ask for!! And thanks for taking the kids to the instacare on Sunday and holding and comforting Alyssa while she freaked out for her steroid shot (she had croup...again!)

Dedicated or Dumb?!?!?

In June we are going to St George, where we are pretty much poolside for the week, sounds like heaven doesn't it? Well, it would be, but you see I have the worlds tiniest sister in laws and mother in law, they are all a size '0' and then theres me. I love my family but why do you have to be so skinny?!?!? So in my efforts to fight the battle of the bulge (I think it's winning) I am trying to lose any pound that will drop and any inch that will melt away before going to St. George. I know I wont make it to a size '0' but c'mon I have got to be able to lose something....
So I have been making sure I exercise everyday. And eating smarter. Yesterday there was a rainstorm. I looked out the window and said..."ha. A little rain won't stop me!" So about a mile into it, my clothes completely sopped and my face dripping with water and thunder rolling above, I kept going and finished the next 2 miles. I got home drenched and cold and thought to myself, hmmm is that dedication, or just being plain dumb?

I'm a BIG GIRL now!!

I don't want to jinx it, but, Alyssa made it all day and most of yesterday going potty on the toilet!! She has been going potty on the toilet since she was 1 just here and there when she wanted to be a big girl or be big like Austin, but I never pushed anything. Then yesterday she kept telling me when she had to go to the bathroom, so I followed her lead. We put on her Little Mermaid undies and we were off!! She is so happy and so proud, and so are we!!

Happy Birthday Nick!!

The BIG 3-0!!! Nick turns 30 on cinco de mayo (may 5th) so tonight we went out to celebrate. He chose to go to Charlie Chows downtown and then to a Real Salt Lake soccer game, and to my luck, they were playing the LA Galaxy(this is the team that my celebrity crush plays on...David Beckham...grrrr!) It was a lot of fun. Chad and I are going to get season tickets when the stadium in Sandy is finished. The game ended 2 to 2 and there was a little fight at the end, and we got to have some comic relief thanks to the crazy guys sitting behind us....he kept yelling things like "David I wanna have your baby!!" It got annoying at time but there were times that Kim and I were doing big belly laughs. Nick I hope you had a great time, Happy Birthday, your the most mischevious, teasing, brother-in-law a girl could ask for!

Bend it like Beckham...

....

How does $25 sound?

There is a new company called Revolution Money Exchange who's out to give Paypal a run for their money. They are offering $25 to everybody who signs up for an account before May 15th, and signing up is FREE! I've done my homework on this and it's legit, but you don't have to take my word for it you can learn more by reading this:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/corporatenews/2007-11-06-ted-leonis-steve-case_N.htm

I signed myself up today and am transferring the money into my bank account. It will take a couple of days to get my bank account verified, but it is no big deal. And if you sign up through the link on my blog I'll make $10 bucks. Then you can put the link on your blog and make $10 bucks and we'll all be rolling in the dough. So go to the link on my sidebar and sign yourself up. It's free money!