Tearin' it up

I can't believe that 2 years in a row there has been enough snow out in promontory to play in!  I think that the dogs LOVE when everyone goes out west.  They get a lot of lovin' when the little kids arrive.

 Once there was a snowman.....seriously.  Once.  My dad said that he was almost certain there hadn't been one out there EVER.  With some assistance - I got er done.  His mouth, buttons & arms are dead sunflower stems and centers.  I love him.  I think he lasted almost 24 hours.  The rain washed him right away the next day.

 My dad had a heater going in the shed & it was rather warm!  We ate with the dead rodents.  Sandwiches, chips, donuts.  Delish!  Rylee sits with her knees together all of the time.  It is adorable, but it looks so uncomfortable!! 

 Everyone loves a good snowmobile ride.  I think that Eva & Taylor enjoyed them they most.  Ashley & Griffen somehow managed to tip one over....I missed that action, but I imagine it was good watching.  Glad no one was hurt!  Blake loves being pulled on the sled.  All afternoon Rylee would grab a snowball & run up to whoever was closest & scream, "SNOWBALL FIGHT!" and throw it at them.  It was funny.

My mom was so nice & watched Luke & Alexa for us so we could get some snow time in with the older kids.  I'm positive that everyone had a fun afternoon.

Who is turning three??

Look at what is happening this week!!!!  My little girls are turning 3 years old. 

 It is mind blowing how much they change & grow up from year to year.

 They LOVE princesses lately & they got a lot of fun princess stuff.   (In fact...as I type this Taylor is going pee singing, "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream!")  Angela took them to see 'Frozen' last week and they loved it.  They sing "Let it Go" from the movie every single day. 

Their party was FANTASTIC.  Casey's family & my family came over for the festivities and the girls were adorable.  Casey & I gave them a cute trunk that had dress up clothes & jewelry inside.  We also gave them some pretty realistic looking play makeup.

 They had princess balloons & a princess cake.  Taylor looked sick she was eating so much.  She LOVED it.  They were both funny trying to blow out their candles.  They couldn't quite get it done.

 Since their party they have played with their new makeup and stayed in the princess attire.  It is so adorable.

Here they are the morning after painting in their new Beauty & the Beast books from Colby's family.  They were so excited to put on their new Bubble Guppy pajamas from the Bodine's.

Rylee is a spunky little girl.  She LOVES to tease!  I think that teasing her big brother is her favorite thing to do.  She loves to sing & dance more than Taylor does.  Taylor is into coloring, painting and saying, "No" to whomever she can.  It's hilarious.  I have a hard time not laughing when she folds her arms & tells me no.  I usually repeat it and she'll stare at me and say, "FINE."  They love music.  Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Let it Go, Marry You (Bruno Mars), Roar (Katy Perry), The Wise Man & the Foolish Man (from church), and Just Give Me a Reason (Pink) are a few of their favorites at the moment.  My life wouldn't be complete without these two.  I am so happy that they are mine.  I am so glad that they give others a smile everywhere we go.



Picture Post

I must have the camera out more since I've had Luke & Lexi.  I have several cute pictures!!

 

 Looks comfortable, right?

 One of the kids favorite things this winter has been making hot cocoa.  We have went through a TON!  Taylor & Rylee have started dipping toast in it & I think it's adorable.  Caleb wont' even try dipping.  We'll convert him eventually - maybe next year.

Luke & his father...oh wait.  Wrong picture.

Here we go - Luke & his father.

 Jordon FINALLY bonded with one of the girls.  I hate to say this, but I think it's Rylee.  I'm not positive.

 These girls are funny.  They make sure that EVERYTHING of Luke & Lexi's is buckled at all times.  The swing, the bouncers, the car seats....It's not totally convenient when I go to put the babies into one of these things, but the excitement that Taylor & Rylee get when the see any buckle undone is priceless.

 Sledding in the back yard.

Caleb loved that Eddie was eating M&M's one morning.  Shortly after this picture the unthinkable happened - the girls touched Eddie & he had to go stay at the Elf hospital at the North Pole for a couple of days.  Poor Eddie....and poor Caleb.  It was quite upsetting!

 Best helpers ever!

 Caleb playing with his remote control truck while Casey shoveled the driveway.

 Caleb & Lexi enjoying the baby mobile.

 

Beautiful Kelly

My friend was killed last night.  She was killed alongside her mother & her children in a horrific murder/suicide at the hand of her husband.  I know that her husband loved her deeply & I can only continue to wonder what went wrong.  I honestly cannot believe it.  The sobbing keeps coming in waves.  I cannot wrap my mind around this.  You always read about these horrible things and think, "Oh that's sad." and then move on.  My mind is completely blown that this actually happened to a friend of mine.  We worked together at Flying J for several years & sat right next to each other.  I hosted her bridal shower at my house 7 or so years ago.  She moved to Spanish Fork shortly after getting married & we still kept in touch.  She was a beautiful person inside & out.  Her children were some of the cutest I had ever seen.  Heaven just received so many angels all at one time.  I pray for peace for those closest to them. 

Picture Post

These pictures sure make me miss warmer weather!  Not summer warm...but fall warm.  If it is going to be cold I wish that we would get some more snow!  We haven't had much this winter season.

 

Caleb & Casey raking leaves.

 Casey ended up putting the leaves on the trampoline.  The kids LOVED it.

 Caleb helped me put this turkey together for the front porch at Thanksgiving time.  I asked him, "Do you like this turkey?  It's awesome, huh?"  Caleb said, "Not really.  I don't like stupid stuff."

 More leaves!!  This time Taylor & Rylee got to help.

Casey & I met Shelby & Malissa at the Cheesecake Factory in Salt Lake one night for dinner.  It was nice!  It was a little noisy, but everyone got delicious food & we had some fun conversation.  My Aunt Sandra babysat the 3 older kids - what a nice woman!

 Caleb & his brother.  CUTENESS!

 I don't know who these orphans are.  But they sure do enjoy dirt & sticks.

 This is what happens when I tell the kids to go play downstairs.  They ALMOST make it every time.

 Mona came & helped me out one day with the kids.  The girls LOVE when someone lets them bring out the hairbrushes & combs!

 Rylee - talking on her phone, playing some Candy Crush on the kindle.

 Caleb helping Casey one day with Alexa's bath.

Ick - Resolution Time!

I was looking at last years resolutions....I sucked big time.  It makes me not even want to make any resolutions this year! 

Here are last year's resolutions....
-Lose 30 MORE pounds.  -  Um....more like gained 40.  Thanks Luke & Alexa!!
-Give Caleb more one on one attention. -  I'm going to give myself a 6 out of 10 on this one.
-Plant Green beans & bottle them. - Fail.
-Go on a date (with Casey) once a month - We did this Jan, Feb, March & April....then stopped.
-Try one new recipe for dinner once a month - Fail.  There was no way I was standing on my feet long enough to master a new recipe.
-Save more $ - Fail
-Find joy in every day (yes...again) - I really tried on this one!
-Stop eating after the kids go to bed.  - Fail

Well - let's hope the 2014 goes much better.  No more babies for me - so I can do better at the YEARLY resolution repeat which is.....
-Lose 30 (or more) pounds.   Shocked?  I'm on day 3 of Weight Watchers...I know it works, but eating whatever you want whenever you want is fun.  To bad I can't be skinny & do that!
-Quit saying "In a minute"  Chores can wait....my kids are only kids once.  If what I am doing can be done later - I am going to try to take the 5 minutes that my kids need me to snuggle....fix a toy....dance....whatever!  I also want to have a movie night with the kids once a week.
-Budget monthly & stick to it!!
- Pay our tithing
-Stop eating after the kids go to bed. - Unless I saved the WW points for something.

Fingers crossed!