Easter 2010

Easter was pretty simple at our house this year. We just hid a few eggs in the yard and let them go looking. They had fun! Here is Cade doing a little collecting!

Preston grabbing a few for his basket!

Jaida looking intently at what she just got in her egg.

Alyssa grabbing one of the last eggs.

Here they all are after they found all the eggs. They got a few other fun things like kites, flashcards, candy, and other odds and end toys.

Happy Easter!!!

Holy Cow!

This past week I have been crazy busy with Usborne stuff! I was lucky enough to be invited to join the Holy Cow boutique in Pleasant Grove. Sales were awesome! Much more than I expected, since it was the Mother's Day boutique and I knew most shopper's wouldn't be looking for children's books.

However, our books are fabulous, so it doesn't surprise me. I also got invited back for the September show!!!

This week will be just as busy! I have a district meeting in Provo on Thursday with 17 Literacy Coordinators, wish me luck!!! Once that is over, that evening I am leaving for St. George to do a booth at the "What Women Want" expo on Friday & Saturday.

Business is booming, and what can I say...I Love It!

**In the process, I booked 2 more big events for summer! WAHOO!

Flashback Friday!

These are some of the biggest things my kids miss since we moved. Just the simple swing set that we had to sell when we moved, and our small sandbox.

They all loved to play on it, and got along so well together most of the time.

And the sandbox was the BEST! They would play out here for hours! This is a definate must with our next house!

More of Easter Weekend!

A Day at Hogle Zoo!

Here is the family at Hogle Zoo on March 21, 2009. We decided to head there for fun one Saturday, and we went with Eric's uncle and his family.

Here is Russ, Talina, and their kids.

Mr. Elephant

Still watching the elephants! Cade never smiled or anything. He just stared at everything. Not quite sure of what to think.

Oh, the favorite job at the zoo. Cleaning up elephant dung.
You definately gotta have a good back. :-)

A very tired rhino.

There were so many people!

A beautiful giraffe.

Russ and Afton

Here areall the kids together.

The kids loved to see the snakes.

They even have a new carousel ride since we were there last.

Alyssa and Jaida waving.

Eric and Cade riding a polar bear.

Eric and I.

Sally the camel has 2 humps. (Sorry, I'll never forget that from Barney.)

This is a cool elephant statue. It plays a little song, and in the summer it sprays water at you.

We had a good time, and now since it has started winter again,
we're glad we went when we did. Ha Ha

Flashback Friday!

SPRING PICTURES 2004

Today for my flashback friday post I thought I would post some old Spring pictures of my kids. These were taken in 2004. They were taken by me, so they are not that great, but man my kids are little cuties if I do say so myself.

Just being goofy. I'm not sure if Alyssa ever looks at the camera.

Here is Jaida leading us all in a song. :-)

Now the song is over, and she is getting ready to cut us off. Preston is just really happy to be there in the background.

Wow, adorable! They grow up SOOO fast!

Look at the chub in his cheeks! Man, that is long gone now. Now he is a bean pole! We are hoping to beef him up a little before high school.

Slight little mischevious, crooked smile. But adorable none the less.

You can't beat that little grin. Such a happy little soul! And look at her cute little bottom teeth poking out. I love these posts! It is so fun to look back.

4th Picture Tag!

Oh boy, this is an exciting 4th picture tag post. The rules are you are to go to your 4th folder, and blog about the 4th picture listed in that folder.

This is on Jaida's 1st birthday. Don't ask me why this photo was even taken, but here I stand, and my niece Jessica, and my sister Robin in the background.

Don't they look thrilled to be there?

It must have been a boring moment. I have no idea what I'm doing.???

Thanks for the tag Jenny, and Hydee a couple weeks ago! I wish it could have been a more exciting post for you all. :-)

Happy Birthday Girl!

Alyssa Turns 6 Today!

Alyssa Fun Facts:


Favorite color: Pink, Yellow, & Blue

Favorite food: Pizza

Favorite activity: Jump on the Trampoline

Favorite friends: Kylie, Marissa, and Jaida

Favorite Restaurant: Chucky Cheese

Favorite Store: Kid to Kid (with the pink "kid" door)

Favorite Song: Mary Had A Little Lamb

Favorite TV Show: Tom & Jerry

Favorite Movie: Pocahontas

We Love You!!! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Eric!

Today is Eric's 39th birthday!
While I am sure he loves me announcing it to the world, I am excited to celebrate this day as his wife!! He has been "almost 40" for several years now, so he isn't necessarily aging gracefully so to speak. However I do love the man, and here is why:

1. He is my best friend!

2. We can talk about anything!

3. We are both simple people, and love simple things!

4. He is a great dad!

5. It's not hard for him to say he's sorry!

6. We can relate on every level!

7. He has a sincere love for others, and can sense when they need help!

8. He has a strong testimony!

9. He has a strong love for the Savior.

10. He is very forgiving!

11. He loves to give service, and help others!

12. He is very loyal!

13. He would never hurt me!

14. He HATES gossip!

15. He works hard for our family! (Even if it has meant working more than 1 job at times)

16. He is honest & trustworthy!

17. He loves to learn new things!

18. He is very smart!

19. He is humble!

20. He is a great cook!

21. He is very loving and supportive of everything I do!

22. He usually drops everything to help me when I need him!

23. While in so many ways he can be a pessimist, he really never complains!

24. He knows when to "take over" if I need a break!

25. He calls me almost everyday!

26. I get a kiss goodbye everyday before he leaves for work!

27. He shows and tells me he loves me often!

28. He loves to do things together!

29. He can fix almost anything!

30. We compliment each other perfectly!

31. He's creative!

32. He's not afraid to cry!

33. He loves his family!

34. He makes me laugh!

35. He is a great teacher!

36. He is very helpful!

37. He is easy to love!

38. He doesn't give up!

39. He is patient with me!

Oh I could go on and on, but I will stop at 39 on his 39th! Happy Birthday Sweetie! I love you!!

How Low Can You Go?

Sometimes our little ones do the craziest things, and we just can't help but smile!

The other day the kids & Eric informed me that this was Cade's new trick. I had never seen him attempt this, or even seen the other kids showing him. He is just a silly, goofy kid. He comes up with some crazies that's for sure! But we sure all love him!

Sledding Fun!

I removed my old post of the slideshow because it was taking too much memory to run. Eric has been gone for several days and I am to stupid to figure out how to change it. So it has been deleted and here is a few of the stills!
Sorry to those who made comments, I love your comments, but it was driving me nuts!! :-)

Christmas Countdown-Day 7

(Just a cute funny! Author anonymous.)

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, MOM...!

Halloween Costume Party at the Cook's

Our friends Liz and Todd Cook have a Halloween Party each year as Todd is REALLY into Halloween. We were able to attend again this year, and it was a really fun time! It was nice to be hanging out with other couples and socializing in a fun way!

There was food, fun, games, and lots of great costumes! Here are a few highlights.

Pumpkin Carving!!

Last Saturday while I was doing the Ephraim Craft Fair, the kids got to spend a whole day with their dad. If that in itself is not fun enough, he took on the event of Pumpkin Carving as well.

They had a really good time and he was able to set up the tripod and snag a few pictures so he could be included (my request). I was sad that I had to miss it this year, but was happy they were able to spend some real quality time with dad! Luckily Cade was sleeping during this event, or he would have been in the middle of it all, literally.

Mapping out the plan!

Preston digs in!

Eric helping Alyssa with the top!

Just waiting and watching!

Looking good Preston!

Don't cut your fingers off!

Alyssa isn't so sure she likes the gooey stuff on her hands.

Alyssa's Masterpiece.

Jaida's masterpiece. Nothing fancy, but good old fashioned fun!