Swimming Fun!

Here's to the newest water fun additions in our yard. Jared's Grandparents give the kids some money for their birthdays to buy something FUN for them, so we decided to get a littler larger pool for the kids this year!

The kids were in heaven soaking in the sun and playing with all their FUN water toys from Brian and Ashley! (thank you again they are darling!!)

Bring on the SUN during summer time!

Here is Caleb saying, "It's COLD Mom!"

St. George Vacation

We were so lucky to spend the last week in St. George. I say, lucky because the weather there was moderate, but we heard that the weather back home was AWFUL! So if you know me at all you know that I really LOVE the SUN. So anytime I miss a snow storm or grey clouds and I have sunshine instead it's a good day! Thanks to Ashley and Brian they outfitted our kids with the BEST pool toys this year! All the cousins had SO much more fun because we actually had toys to play with this trip in the pool. It was so fun!

This swimming experience was SO fun. Alayna learned to swim across the pool. And so did Jake! Honestly is was so adorable to watch them learn new skills and have fun while doing it! My dad dared them $1 to swim out to him, and they both did it! Way to go kids!

Here is how Jared spent his vacation...reading book after book. I think he needed some much needed mental get away from real life to his intense (24 like) books. Let's just say in 5 days he finished two and a half books! I think he was internally happy that he took a pretty good spill on his mountain bike the 3rd day in because his arm was torn all up and open wounds, that he elected to sit by the pool and read instead of swim the last few days! Either way I was so happy to have him on an entire vacation (with the kids!) Let's just say when he's around to help it actually feels like a break or a vacation!

Alayna showing off her new swimming suit we picked up at the outlet stores!

A few Birthday Pictures

Alayna

Jacob

Caleb

We love to party!

The Cars cake!

Blowing out the candles!

The Birthday Boy!

His new bike! You got it! We are trying to get him to ride his two-wheeler with out training wheels! He's doing well, but needs more practice!

This snorkel gear has been his BEST present yet. Thanks to Grandpa Randy, he took him out for his little birthday shopping trip and this is what Jake picked. Honestly, this couldn't have been a more wanted item!

Here are our "4" year old boys!

Jake picked to have a "Cars" cake. So with much creativity on Shan's part we ended up with the best looking Radiator Springs Cars cake. Even though it wasn't a cake, we decided to do a sheet of brownies because they are so much easier to frost than cake. Either way these boys were TOTALLY pleased! Happy Birthday Jake and Isaac! We love you two!

It's my birthday!

It's my birthday and I can smile if I want to...smile if I want to!
Seriously, how has 4 years of his life passed already! All I can say is we LOVE this kid being in our family, we are truly blessed to have him! We love you Jakey!!

Happy Mothers Day

Does it really get any better than having three little monkies on this day? I think not! How grateful I am for them. I am realizing more and more how truly grateful for this amazing journey! I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Hip Hip Hooray!

Do you know what this smile is for? Well, it's been a two week long period of practicing how to ride a two-wheeler bike! Because today she said to me, "Mom, today is the day...I think I've got it figured out!"
Caleb cheering his big sister on..."Go Alayna!"

Off she goes! We have spent every day practicing. We have a family trip planned in the next few weeks and I wanted her to be able to bring her bike and ride with her cousins! We figured this summer we better take this seriously. So with her getting more and more brave and comfortable on the bike she has figured it out! This has been a BIG milestone week for her because not only has she mastered how to ride a bike she also learned how to tie her own shoes! Oh, my little kindergartner is growing up. I think it might be time for her to move on to 1st grade!

As we were out admiring how well Alayna was riding her bike Caleb was pointing out to me all our flowers. So I decided to take a few pictures to actually document COLOR is happening all around our yard!

A Day in the Life of an Ant...

What is it with little boys and ants...not really sure because I personally don't care for them. But little boys must!

All the boys around gathered together in this darling circle to watch the ants...and watch them...and watch them...until big mean scary mom said, "I'm getting the poison to kill them." Jake immediately put up his hand to tell me, "NO don't kill them...because I will drowned them with water, they'd like it better!"

So apparently I have learned Jacob's more preferred method of killing bugs. Let' them suffer and drowned.

Alayna decided to befriend some ants after Jake poured water all over his pile. She decided to let them crawl on her hands...until she couldn't shake them off! It turned out pretty funny. Really, I'm okay with ants out in dirt fields, but I don't like them close to my garage...I told the kids it's because they ate their Popsicles too close to my house. Next time they better eat those Popsicles on the grass. Honestly, these kids are so dang fun to have around. We really have lucked out having so many cousins and little friends live around us that bring all their bikes over for "parades" nearly everyday. Oh, maybe life is wonderful because the SUN has been shining for at least 4 days in a row...This is the time of year I truly love...

Herriman Easter Egg Hunts

Look at this crowd! Unreal...not to mention this was the section for the 6-7 year olds...They had 5 other areas for all the other kids of this great city. It was a PACKED park but it was totally worth it! I'm not a crowd person, but for some reason this doesn't bother me at all!

That standard fam shot.

The standard kid shot...at least they are smiling right?

I'm a BIG boy now!!

That's right folks...the baby crib is down! Hip Hip Hooray!!

They are sailing in their boat...

Let's just say that this little tike has caused more trouble than any of the other kids to date. He officially has climbed out of his crib and opened every door to escape out of his room during nap time. Not to mention in St. George he learned how to climb out of the porta crib too...So it was inevitable to just break down and make him sleep on a big boy bed. It's amazing how fast this time has come. The funny thing is that all my other kids were already doing this next step in life because I would normally be popping out the next baby in a few weeks. So with that being said, tonight was a great success, he cried and climbed off then after about 20 seconds of crying he climbed back up onto his bed and fell asleep! I'm not too nervous for night time but let's just say I have a feeling naps are going to change and become a nightmare! AHHHHH

Good Night our crazy little monkey man! Just so you all don't panic that paint color is actually darling...it matched the crib bedding but now it clashes with his early birthday present...his matching bed spread with his brother Jacob. Our plans are to switch to have both boys in the big room with the bunk beds and let our only girl have her own room in the old nursery...so hence the darling green can stay! Oh, is it ever possible to not have a new decorating project? It's a good thing I enjoy decorating so much!

There is nothing better than mini-vacations...especially when you find SUN!

That's right, we were all up in arms with the rain, clouds, wind, snow and nothing fun to do...so what did we do? We decided to hop in the car and head down to St. George to 80 degrees of warmth, SUN and swimming. Seriously, this kid couldn't have been happier about the little mini vacation. I really keep asking myself why I live where I do? Because seriously, we are happier in the SUN and with a pool nearby!

Caleb's new favorite scooter! He wouldn't share with anyone! Good thing he has birthday coming up in a few weeks...I learned two new great summer toys for him!

Thanks to ALL my sisters wanting the same exact FUN holiday weekend we headed down to where we all have connections to stay with people. We lucked out having so many swimming options. But thankfully my sisters family neighbors had this great pool that they welcomed all 8 adults and 20 kids to come over and go swimming! It was AWESOME! The best part was they lived right next door so all the little babies could take great naps while we were over the fence swimming. It was so MUCH fun!!Ice cream poolside is the best way to enjoy them!

Jake is totally proud of his Spiderman floaties he found!

There really is nothing better than cousins having fun together! This morning we played very competitive games of steal the flag and kick soccer before our afternoon filled with sunshine. After our last day of sunshine we had to pile back in the car to return home to our daddy! Jared was gone in Elko, NV once again for work for the full week so we were VERY excited to be home with him again. Thanks to all for such a great mini-vacation!!!

(Sadly, my shoulders are totally sunburned...since when does 30 SPF sunscreen not work for me?? Unreal, I feel like a teenager all over again in so much pain! ahhhhhh)

What have I been up to?

It's been two years since we moved into our house and let's just say there have been a few areas that have driven me crazy since the very beginning. So with the spring weather in the air and spring cleaning I couldn't help but seize the moment and make a few changes!

Let me introduce you to my new office...I should have taken before pictures, but I was TOO excited to have the old Target bookcases removed from my sight! After a date to Ikea and me explaining my reasons to Jared of why this change is a MUST we were leaving with my new vision in place. Our beautiful office furniture is just that, darling to boot but not functional at all. Since I am a girl who enjoys things to not just be functional but cute too, I new this would be just the trick. I needed some baskets that could hold all my camera gear up and away from little kid hands. Since I spent all night last night doing the book case, I have yet to start on the actual desk. I'll give you the entire office makeover once it's done. Not to mention the new family photo that will be hanging above this bookcase. Anyways, decor and organization must be brought to a stop since I'll be chasing sunshine for the next few days!

Project #2: Laundry Room. I don't know about you, but my laundry room was filled with ???? (Fill in the blank? ANYTHING but NOTHING all at the same time!) So, this room really gave me anxiety, from laundry baskets, to messy counter, etc. I finally had had it! I also got at Ikea matching smaller laundry baskets to place on the counter which will inevitably help me NOT put anything on the counter that doesn't belong! We now have a laundry system. The kids can help sort the dirty clothes, then empty the dryer and put them in the coordinating baskets. I have always felt super privileged to have such an amazing counter in my laundry room, but it hasn't been used to it's full organizing potential until now! I love it!

Project #3: Bonus Pantry
Way back two years ago when we walked through this house I fell in love with this extra pantry in my kitchen! It's amazing! It has the tallest ceilings and deep shelves all the way up. I first started with some food storage in here, then arts/crafts for the kids, then pots/pans, etc. Then I finally had had enough. I decided that whatever my method was, wasn't working. So I pulled out my measuring tape and began to utilize ALL of the space I had in the most effective way. On the same date to Ikea, we stopped at Walmart to find the perfect totes that would fit perfectly on those deep shelves. YEAH! We were totally successful and found just enough for what I needed. Yesterday morning the kids and I spent organizing, cleaning, de-junking and making our once "Oh, so MESSY" pantry super clean, not to mention with labels on everything!! With us cleaning the laundry room counter, I had to find space for all my "fancy" dishes, so up to the top they go. I know this breaks every single earthquake safety rule...but they are up and away for now!

What else have I been up too, well the usual messes around the house! Thanks to Jake finding our Easter eggs, he's been playing "Easter Egg Hunt!" all day long! I decided today I'm waiting for them to be home from school to pick up their own mess. I'm tired of doing it for them. Not to mention, I have my own piles of messes to still clean up!!
There is something that is so exciting about spring cleaning, I can't wait till Saturday because Jared will be home and we will clean out the garage! I hope the sun will shine on that day!!!