the blessings of temple attendance

This is what was happening while I went to the temple this morning:







Cody made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich out of our living room. These pictures do not do the mess justice. There was peanut butter on every window sill...added after he colored on the sills and walls. PB on the back of the entire couch. Jam on the other two chairs in the room, the carpet and various toys. This, just days after getting a hold of orange juice and spilling it over the kids lamb skin rug and the carpet, and a week after spraying clorox bleach on the ottoman (you can barely see orange dots in the picture). This kid is naughty to put it mildly. Ellie never did anything naughty, so I got used to being able to leave cleaners and markers within reach. My bad. The hardest part about it is that Cody just has this thing about him that makes me want to squeeze him even when I am so mad, he just melts our hearts. I mean, just look at him!


(wearing Justin's old boots!) I called my mom to tell her about it and she said, "Can you just imagine how much fun he had!" It's true, he probably thought this was the best day ever.

I guess I should explain who was tending. Justin was, but he was in the office working and thought they were watching a movie. A $100 lesson learned (carpet cleaners).

babies in the air

It's crazy that for almost four years my kids were the only grandkids on Justin's side. Then Ashley had a baby 5 months ago and Brit will add #4 in July! Then I guess it's my turn again? :) Anyway, we wanted to give Brit a shower before our cousin Jess and I left for the summer so together with Ash we gave her a cute little shower at my house.


Ashley and Brit. There actually is a baby in there...I think.


Jaime, Caitlin, and Court


I made an "S" and an "O" and turned my "Happy Birthday" banner into "Its a Boy"


A little confetti never hurt anyone.


I made the invites, my favorite part of any party.

Ash made amazing chicken salad and mini cheesecakes. Served with endless strawberries and grapes from Sunflower Market ($1.00 a carton and .77 per lb! - go there on Wednesdays!) Jess brought the cutest blue and orange flower sugar cookies from SmartCookie. Yummo! Good luck Britty!

"What choo talkin' 'bout?"

Emily and Pete are out friends that actually celebrate things like birthdays, halloween, anniversaries, Valentines, etc. They even buy eachother presents at Christmas! Wierd. So every year we look forward to being invited to their birthday bash. This year Pete planned a surprise party at Noah's for Emily's 30th. It was totally awesome to the max!


Pete and Em - she totally looked like Deb. Pete got her entire outfit from Forever 21. I scared a little bit.


Rock Band now includes a 5th part, the aerobics instructor.


Emily, Me, Cammie, Heather


Pete the Party Planner workin the limbo. We also played pop eachother balloons, raquet ball, and a really awkward pass the cucumber game.


My hubby who is forming some nice biking legs by the way.

sleepovers

I'm not sure if I will get in trouble for posting this but this is one thing I love about Justin. Whenever I am gone for the night for a girls night or something, I always come home to this. All three of them sprawled out, still in their clothes, out cold after watching a movie. The kids love to have sleepovers with daddy. And I love it too because I sleep so well alone in my bed!

Frog and Toad

My Grandma Ruby and I took the kids to the Scera Theatre to watch A Year with Frog and Toad. It was one of the best plays I've ever seen, all Broadway plays included. The actors were great and the script and songs were so so funny. A lady I spoke with that works at the Scera told me it was the best production the Scera has ever put on. I tried to go back the next night but they were sold out. I hear they are coming to Orem High in May so if you get the chance, go! I'm glad we could go with my grandma, too. Justin and I lived in her basement while we built a home for 10 months - this was before we had kids. Her basement is not separate from the rest of the house so we used her washer and dryer, etc. I remember she was very overwhelmed by the amount of laundry we did. We owe her a lot for letting us live there - I love her tons. Even though she only lives across town we don't see her like we used to so this was a fun thing to do with her.

have you seen this?

this picture deserves it's own post

Valentines Day, 2009

st. george

We spent 11 glorious days in St. George during February. Only the last four days were sunny but at least it wasn't snowing and it was warm enough to take advantage of the outdoors. Our friends, Matt and Alissa came with their three kids as well as their friends and their three kids. We also hung out with our cousins Matt and Jessica and some other friends from APX, my friend Emily and her two kids and Heather and her little boy. Tons of people, tons of kids, and only one hospital trip. Ellie broke her arm again! We are pretty frustrated to say the least. A pin or plate will most likely be in her future because she can't even make it 6 months without re-braking it! She is a good little trooper though, she didn't even cry this time.


We left on Valentines weekend because I wanted to go to hear my uncle speak at the Dixie Art Show. He was a judge and guest speaker this year since he won the competition last year. He did a painting demonstration and his speech was hilarious. And he sold a Grand Canyon painting for $10K! I feel like I work for a celebrity!


Some of the paintings, Karl's is the large Grand Canyon at the top.


Alissa and Taj. They are such a cute little family.


Flying kites at the sand dunes.


Matt and Alissa. Going on a trip with these guys is like going to fat camp. They cook you super "clean" food, get you up at the crack of dawn to run, later in the day you bike, then maybe lift weights or hike or bike again. Look at what Alissa made us for dinner one night:


Bahhh! My favorite meal in the entire world!


We went to the Parade of Homes there as well. This parade is so much better than Utah Valley's. There is still a lot of granite/dark wood/brown couch but there are some real gems, especially out by Entrada and Kayenta.


Girls ride on Barrel Roll. A really fun trail. Pictured is Heather, Emily, Me, Jess, Staci and Natalie.


Zen Trail. This is my new favorite and it's so close! Loved it loved it, with all my heart! Me, Justin, Ty, Staci, Jess, Matt






While we rode Zen Trail, Emily and Heather babysat and took the kids to Snow Canyon, these pictures are too cute! Thanks for tending!


Can't forget a picture of Mini Ellie!


At least Ellie broke her arm the day before we left. This is her watching a movie on Justin's iPhone in the ER. She just slipped at the pool and crack! She told me on the way to the hospital, "I wasn't watching where I was going! I don't want to have a broken arm!" Too sad. But last week as we drove up to PCMC to get the cast on she told me, "I don't like it when my arm breaks, but I like to have a broken arm!" Ok...


She has learned to be pretty ambidextrous by now.

Oh, if you are in St. George go to Anazazi for dinner. You cook your steak on your own hot granite rock which is amazing but the best part was the Citris Salad...my mouth is watering. Thanks for dinner Eric and Natalie!