It's So Great To Be 8!

We've been married 8 years & we're still smiling.

Sleepy Head

We can't decide if this is cute or sad.

Happy Memorial Day

Dear Megan,

I finally blogged. Sorry for the numerous posts you'll have to scroll down through. But, I think we're about caught up. I'll try to do better.

Love, Me

Weekend Visitors

Our nephew Michael graduated from High School this weekend, so Cheryl's mom & sister, Janae, got to come out for a quick visit. And it just so happened we had also planned on Rick's parents coming out this weekend, too. So we had a lot of fun with lots of visitors in a short amount of time.
While Rick's parents were here we headed over to the Butterfly Pavilion. This was quite timely because both Lexie & Joseph have been studying & "growing" butterflies in their school classes.
Andrew enjoyed looking at Rosie the Tarantula but Lexie was the only kid brave enough to hold her.

They all liked the aquarium area

& the play area!

It was awesome to see all of the butterflies in the rain forest area. We even had several butterflies land on us throughout our visit. Andrew showed great restraint in not touching the butterflies. But he certainly wanted to do so. He kept saying, "I hold it. Andrew hold one, please."

The weekend was filled with good food & fun games. It's always fun to have family come in for a visit.

Principles & Ordinances of the Gospel

Joseph gave a great talk today in Primary about how the principles & ordinances of the Gospel lead us to Jesus Christ. He did a great job helping me make a little poster that showed a path that went from Faith to Repentance to Baptism to the Gift of the Holy Ghost & ended at Jesus Christ. He had a little boy to move along the path throughout his talk.

It was very impressive that he was able to deliver the entire talk without any help (well, Dad did hold the poster for him). We love how much our children are learning about the Savior. It's awesome to see them develop a greater love for & understanding of Him.

A Major Breakthrough

He did it! He really did it! Today he finally said his own name! Hooray!

(Now if we could get him to put his pants on the right way, we'll be in even better shape!)

Happy May 12th

Yea for Spring!

Mother's Day 2010

We had a lovely Mother's Day. Joseph couldn't wait until Sunday to give me his present, so I opened it before he had time to put away his backpack after Joy School on Thursday. (Anything to please...) He is so stinking cute. I loved it.

Lexie made me some very pretty cards in school (I forgot to take a picture), but I love all of the details she put into each one.

I love that I get to be the Mom of these awesome kids! They bring me so much joy & happiness (& sometimes stress) & I love them to pieces!

We are so grateful for our awesome Moms who have given us great examples to follow. We are always striving to be more like them.

Being a Mom is the best job I've ever had!

Future Stylist

I think Lexie has a future as a hair stylist. It is so much fun letting her do my hair & seeing the hairdos she does on herself for school. I love having a little girl.

Click

"Mom, take a picture of me doing this silly face!"

Oh how we love this silly little girl!

April Trip to Utah

Our trip out to Utah for our niece's wedding started out so nicely. The kids played happily together & were just silly.

Then suddenly, violently, & without warning, WE CRASHED! It was an exciting crash. A little too exciting for all of us & we were extremely blessed! We were about 11 miles east of Vail coming down the mountain in a pretty good snowstorm. We were driving cautiously, but not enough I guess. As we went around a slight bend in the road we started to slide. We fish-tailed a bit, hit the concrete barrier on the left side of the road & spun around & ended up on the side of the mountain in a ditch on the right side of the road. Gratefully, a tow truck wasn't too far behind (about 15 minutes behind us) & he towed us out & took us to Glenwood Springs. It was strange, our car wouldn't start (I guess there is this inertia switch that you have to push after an accident so it will start again) & with the flat the way it was in the ditch we couldn't change it. We were glad for his help. It was also really funny having 6 people smooched into the cab of the tow truck. Not the most comfortable way to travel, but it was better than walking. We were very lucky to have such minor damage compared to how scary the situation was.

Unfortunately, it took almost 6 hours to get the tire changed & to check for any other non-cosmetic damage. This made for a really long day & a much later visit than planned stopping to visit Rick's Grandma. But we certainly enjoyed the time we got to spend with her.

The next morning we headed up to Logan for Kyra & Kevin's wedding. The wedding was beautiful & we really enjoyed being able to be there for it & to spend time with family. (Lexie loved getting to play with all of the girl cousins.)

It was also nice that all 11 of Cheryl's siblings could be there. We had a lot of fun playing cards & chatting with everyone.

Thankfully, our trip home was much more peaceful than the way out. We even found a dolphin in the sky. Can you find it?