April

Nicer weather called for Fiiz cookies park time with my toddlers!

It's crazy how little people think everything us bigger people do is so awesome.

I hosted bunco in April and made these cookies.  Trust me - they tasted almost better than they looked!

My Caleb really made some major improvements on the soccer field this spring!  His coach was really good at making sure he had opportunities to take the ball down the field and try to score.  He's not a very aggressive kid and has a hard time processing his frustrated emotions - but I saw improvement in so many areas.

I was working at Crystal Inn one night and saw these pictures on Instagram.  The things that happen when mom isn't home!  Casey let the kids help him spray paint a zombie and then they tried to kill it with throwing knives.

We had a wedding to attend in the SLC area one afternoon and I wanted to check out Gardner Village in the springtime.  They had a fun little fairy scavenger hunt that the kids liked doing.

And beautiful wings all over the place for photo opportunities!

The girls had a field trip to the zoo.  It just happened to be on a Monday so we found a sitter for Luke & Lexi and both accompanied the girls and some of their friends at the zoo.  I was quite nervous because we arrived before their bus and so many buses full of children were being dropped off...I was positive it was going to be crazy once we got inside.

It wasn't that crazy at all!  We were able to see most of the exhibits just fine.  And watching them interact with their friends was pretty fun.  For how much these little girls look alike - they are so very different in every other way!

It was hat day/crazy hair day at school one day.  We put some pom poms and feathers in Taylor's hair and Caleb & Rylee wanted to wear their hats.

Casey has been wanting to buy a handle for this ax head forever...he finally remembered to do so and had his brother, Colby, personalized it for him.

The girliest girl in the world taking a little snooze!

Branding Festival

This guy needed some extra hands the last weekend in April - if you put all of us together we come up with those extra hands!  Some of my groups hands aren't that helpful yet, but they gotta learn!

 These ladies had so much fun.  Taylor was in LOVE with the hot shot and got nicknamed Tazer Tay by the end of the day.  And they rarely get their own pepsi - so WIN for them!

Rylee was quite curious at what all the guys were doing to the calfs in the chute - she got  right up front and watched the process go down.  Her face speaks volumes.  It was so funny.

 My 'big' boy!  I had him wake up early and go out with Casey.  He wanted to earn some extra money for a book and I told him that if he didn't complain all day long, he could earn $5 to go towards it.  He didn't complain once!  It was hot, dusty, and stinky (not complaining....just saying)  I'm hoping that he learned that your attitude can either make or break your day in so many different situations!  He was in charge of the gate and did a great job.  He also tried his hand at gleaking.  Good watching.

I'm glad that my dad has these cute brothers of mine to help him out.  I'm happy that they also enjoy the work!  That makes it easier for them and their dad.

 Angela smoked a brisket that turned out super tasty, I made dutch oven potatoes, and my mom brought all of the other lunch necessities! 

Luke got a little bit braver this year.  And he also got his own pepsi!  I told him that he had to stay behind Caleb and I think it is so adorable that he his hanging onto his big brother in the bottom picture.  Melting!

 Best part of the day.....BABY BUNNIES!!!

Everyone loved them so much!  When we were loading up the car to go home I couldn't find Rylee - she was over by the rabbits kissing them goodbye.

You are probably wondering by now - where is Alexa??  She actually got invited to go to the Dinosaur Park in Ogden with her cousin MaKayla.  These two ladies are best friends and so adorable when they are together.  From what I understand they had a blast!

 I came home and got everyone so fresh and so clean clean, and then it was my turn.  I put on a charcoal face mask after my shower and EVERYONE (except Caleb & Casey) just had to try it.

Spring Break Day 3

As I was researching what to do in St George before we left, Caleb was looking over my shoulder and saw that there was a wildlife museum.  This kid was so excited to go there!

It was a pretty amazing museum!  Otters have got to be one of my favorite creatures.  Caleb loves any type of wild cat!

The layout was really nice and it wasn't crowded at all!  I had all of the kids walk around and find their favorite display so I could take their picture.  Rylee loved the baby skunks.  Is she even my child?

 Even though skunks are a nasty creature...they babies were pretty cute!  And look at that bear!  HE IS SMILING!  They even had a room with some books and a tent and a tree house for kids to play!  As you can probably tell, I liked this adventure much more than the dinosaur place.

IT FINALLY HAPPENED!  Even though we had been in the pool a couple of times already, this afternoon was 100% dedicated to swimming!  My goggle squad.

Rylee and Taylor made new friends with the pool noddles.  Rylee ended up LOVING jumping into the deep end with her noodle.  It totally stressed me out.  But, we all survived.  Luke was so brave this time!  I've had another person attached to my side for at least the last 10 years, so I felt pretty naked swimming in the pool this trip!

After a few hours of pool time we headed to the beautiful Red Hills Desert Garden.  It was so beautiful and serene. 

All of the kids have been packing around their souvenirs so I figured this was the perfect place to document them!  Caleb's rattlesnakes tail even rattles!

I really loved this garden.  I must be my mother's daughter.  This little get away was so perfect!

After a delightful dinner at Denny's (cheap...kids eat free...no one got food poisoning...win!) we went to the temple visitor center.  We watched a video and played a few games they had.  It was the best temple visitor center that I had ever been to!  Casey was talking history with one of the tour guides so me and the kids went walking around.  Caleb had the idea to put the kids at the top of these stairs in age order.  I'm bummed he was in the shade!  Wish I would've noticed BEFORE we took the picture.

 The next morning we headed home.  As always it was bitter sweet.  I know that the memories I am making my kids probably won't remember much, but I hope to remember them all!  That is why there are a million pictures.  Time flies when we're having fun! 

I worked on my selfie game a bit on this get away.

Snooze fest on the way home.

 Watching a little movie...gas station treats...does it get any better?

This is the list I had made the kids before we left...I love so freaking much that Caleb illustrated it!

Spring Break Day 2

We started day to at the Dinosaur Track Museum.  This is the blurb on their website, "See thousands of fossilized dinosaur footprints at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm. This rare site preserves a 200 million year old lake ecosystem that includes dinosaurs, fishes, plants, sedimentary structures, and other animals."  

With that being said...it was kind of neat, but kind of boring.  Yes - there were fossilized footprints.  Old people.  An overpriced souvenir shop.  And a tiny outdoor area for kids to dig for fossils.  

 The tracks behind the kids I guess is the largeest preserved track known.  So, that's kind of cool.

 I could never make it as paleontologist.  But I'd look darling in the hat.

After that adventure we headed to Dixie rock.  It's fabulous red rock where you can climb all over the place!  The kids had a blast.

 Someone had carved a B inside of a heart.  Taylor said, "Look mom!  Someone made this for you!"

 Rylee was having a rough day.  She had tripped a couple of times, and fallen once.  BUT what was amazing is we saw her first grade teacher hiking around too!  What are the odds of that!

....so we had already been to the Dinosaur track museum and to Dixie rock.  That's enough, right?  WRONG!!  So we headed back to the hotel room to eat some lunchie and to have the kids change into their swim sutff.  We were headed to the Children's Museum!

I love this museum!  We went to the depths of the ocean....to mining country....back to the land of the dinosaurs and the science room is one of my favorites!!

The kids could've spent all day in the grocery store room.  The deli section you can make sandwiches and pizzas.  Weigh out and sort fruits and vegetables in the produce department.  Load your cart with all sorts of goodies and then check out with working cash registers.  Adulting is the best!

Want to know one of the best hings about the Cihldren's museum??  It's right next to the fabulous splash pad.  Not having to load up 7 people into blue steel (the mini van) is always a total bonus!

Before we got soaking we, there is a darling carousal next to the splash pad.  So we took advantage of that too!

They are mine...yep, all of them.

 Luke is a lot braver than you might think he might be.  He's an emotional little fella...but if he knows mom is right there, he's pretty brave!

 My other son is finding his sense of humor.  He thought he was quite hilarious pretending that one of the water streams was actually a pee stream.  He was cracking himself (and his parents) up.

 It was actually a pretty perfect day.  I love those.

As we were getting ready to go change for dinner we passed this painting and Caleb said, "Look!!  We did all of those things today!"  That is because your mom is awesome Caleb.  Please don't ever forget that.