4th of July!!

We had a really great day on the 4th of July! It was filled with fun, food, friends, and family!! All must-haves for a great day, huh?

We started out the day by going to the parade. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Dave's brother and parents for saving spots early. It is always a mad house on the parade route, but lucky for us, we can show up right before it starts and sit down thanks to a great family! :)






The parade was the same as always...long and hot. But, there were some times when the sun went behind the clouds and that made the temperature absolutely perfect. The kids really enjoyed collecting candy, that is the whole reason they are there! :)



I joked that next year we are going to stay home and I am going to throw candy to them in the yard and call it good!! :) But, that just wouldn't be the same, would it?? :)

After the parade we hurried home to get ready for the BBQ we were hosting. I had a good group of friends all growing up and through high school. We are still in touch and try to get together as often as possible, but that ends up being once a year or so. But, it was great because several of my friends and their families were in town for the 4th. My good friend, Wendy from Seattle, Suzie from SLC, Kent and Kami from Colorado, and Danielle and Jennifer from good ol' IF! :) We missed a couple others, but hopefully they can make it next year! Dave and I set up shade canopies and the swimming pool and were all ready for a fun afternoon. And, it really was fun.






So great to catch up with everyone. Also very fun to see the new additions to the group: the spouses and kids. It made for a large, loud group. But, so so so fun.

Shortly after everyone left our house it was time to get ready for BBQ #2. We were having a smaller party with our good friends, Rachel and Michael and their 3 boys. I have known Rachel for about 10 years. She is one of the friends that I have that I suspect I was friends with in heaven. :) We just click. Even though we haven't done much the last couple years, we just pick up where we left off. She knows more about me than probably anyone but Dave. We worked together in a bank drive thru when we first met. It was just her and I in a back room all day, every day. We were forced into friendship...but I am so thankful we were!! ;)

Anyway, we made some really yummy shish kabobs on the grill. She made some excellent homemade jalapeno poppers!! So good.







Then we headed to a park where Dave and Michael lit fireworks and we also watched the big fireworks.







It was just a great evening. Really fun to be with good friends. The kids played really well together which was a big plus. The kids were super exhausted when they got home. They were asleep in about 2 minutes! :)

The next morning we went to our new little niece, Braylee's blessing. Afterwards was another BBQ. (Just can't get enough good BBQ food!) :) It was really great to visit with Dave's family. His parents were in town and it is always good to spend time with them. I always appreciate the help with the kids, especially Dave's mom taking Avery when I am having "one of those moments" with her! Thank you, Shirley!!! :) Wish you were always here!

So, that was our weekend. I told Dave as we headed home from fireworks that night that it was just a perfect day. So good to be with old friends. I was lucky enough to spend the day with some of the best friends I have ever or will ever have! Thanks everyone for a fantastic day!

Fun Times!

I haven't blogged in over a week! That is unlike me! We had a really good 4th of July, but to stay in order, I am first going to blog about the weekend before the 4th.

Last Saturday, Dave had his work party. We had dinner and then were able to go through the zoo. The kids had a lot of fun. We walked through the zoo with our good friends, Rachel and Michael and their kids. It was really good to have time to catch up with Rachel as we followed the kids around the zoo. Paisley wasn't as much interested in looking at animals as she was being a pack rat and picking up sticks and all other sorts of nature.



After the zoo we went and listened to a band that Dave's company had hired. They were really good and we sat and enjoyed the music for a while.






The girls couldn't stay sitting and had to get up in front and groove to the music! :)




They looked so cute! The singer said something to them, I can't remember exactly, but he obviously appreciated the enthusiasm! :)

Sunday afternoon we went to my cousin and his wife's house for a birthday bbq. The kids had so much fun playing out in a pool and slip and slide with their cousins.













The adults all had fun visiting and playing Wolfen! :) It is always great to get together with family!! :) Thanks Justin and Chelsea!

What a funny boy!

I put the kids to bed last night about 9:00. About 11:00, before I went to bed, I went around to check on them like I always do. The girls were just as always, sleeping in their beds. I went down to check on Easton and this is what I found....




A whole row of paper airplanes that were not there when I kissed him goodnight the first time. It suprised me! I don't think he stayed in bed, do you?

He told me this morning that he made 50 paper airplanes! Crazy kid! I sure love him!

Fun Friday

So, I am kind of having one of THOSE days, already!

I have been donating plasma for a couple months now. I am saving up that money for our vacation later this summer. I take the kids to the daycare that they have there when I go. This morning I had an appointment for 9:15. Not to brag, but my kids usually sleep until about 9:00, so I had to wake them up "early" this morning. So, I got up, very tired, and got ready. Got the kids up, did the girls' hair, fed them breakfast and rushed out the door at 9:00. (For some reason this is a hard task in the summer, during the school year it doesn't seem so hard.)

So, I got there, dropped my kids off at the daycare and go through the little routine. They check vitals and weight, etc. Well, I was up like 5 pounds, don't know exactly what happened there. (Okay, maybe I have an idea or two, I guess cinnamon rolls and things like that don't help to lose the extra weight!!! Who knew!?!) The weight gain made me really sad. Then they check my blood and my protein is pretty low and I can't donate today. This was after I ate a protein bar before bed and drank a protein shake at 6:30 this morning. Again, not sure what happened there. I was so disappointed! All that trouble to get there and they just turn me away!! So, I picked up the kids and headed home.

Oh yeah...it is raining today, and rained on us pretty good on the way home from the plasma center. Who cares that I washed my car for the first time in forever last night! I was thinking the rain might finally be over. NOPE! So, my clean car...not so clean anymore.

I got home and started some laundry and went to have some breakfast. I poured a bowl of cereal and sat at the bar to eat it. When I was just about finished, I looked down and there was a big pool of milk around my bowl. Apparently there was a big crack down the side of my bowl that I hadn't noticed. I looked on the floor and there were little drops of milk all across the kitchen where I had walked. Just add it to the list of fun this morning! :)

I am not trying to complain as much as it sounds. I was just sitting here thinking about all that has happened since I got up and it isn't even 10 a.m. yet! But, the clouds are leaving and the sky is getting blue. I am sure that is a sign that things are looking up, I hope!

On a happier note, Paisley lost her second front tooth yesterday! So, she is a toothless girl in the front.


After she lost the first front tooth and left behind a "snaggle tooth!"



Her cute toothless smile! :)

She lost her first front tooth not too long ago. The remaining tooth decided it must have plenty of room and so I swear her tooth moved it self right into the center. It was really probably an illusion, but it looked like one lone tooth in the center of her mouth, just hanging there. Needless to say, I was sooo happy that it finally fell out! :)

Easton and Paisley went swimming yesterday for a cousin's birthday party. They had so much fun! I didn't even think about taking a camera, but they had a great time. That is when Paisley finally lost her tooth...while eating a doughnut at the party!

This post is somewhat lame. Oh well. Just some typical, everyday events in my life. I am looking forward to the weekend!

Goodbye paci, goodbye old friend

Oh pacifier! How can I thank you for the many hours that you have pacified my sweet little Avery. You pacified and comforted her in ways nothing else could. She loved you so much.



We carried you with us where ever we went for the last 2 years. You have been like a member of the family. You came in all sorts of pretty colors. We must have owned at least 20 of you. But, no matter...we loved each of you just the same.




I am afraid,though, that you may have damaged my little Avery's teeth. They are not very straight in front, and I have a sneaking suspicion that her love for you has caused this. That is why we began to cut back on Avery and your relationship. She got used to not using you during the day...but oh how she still needed you at night.



You are to her a trusted friend. She felt she could not rest her weary head without you.



Friday night you were gone. We could not find any of you. I was so tired, Avery was so tired, and we were so ready for her to go to bed. I searched every room. I have no idea where you are hiding. So, I faced the truth...that was the night! That was the night that Avery would go to bed alone, for the first time in her life. Without you...without her paci.



She actually did well. She did ask for you, but I told her you went bye-bye. She seemed to be okay with that. She went to sleep. She has slept each nap and night time without you since then. Don't worry, you are not forgotten. She still asks for you. But I respond with, "Where is paci?" And she sadly says, "Bye-bye."



Good bye old friend. You have been good to us. You have been like a second mother to my baby. But she is not a baby anymore, we must give you up. And we have. I am so proud of my little Avery. Good bye paci...forever!

Happy Father's Day

I just wanted to take a few minutes and honor the great fathers in my life. There are so many examples of wonderful fathers in my life, but I choose to focus on 3.



First and foremost, the father of my children. Without him, I would not be able to experience this most wonderful of all gifts, motherhood. I love Dave for the caring father he is to my children. I am so grateful that he is such a playful dad.



I am not as playful, I am much more serious and worried about the daily needs of the household. I am so grateful that I got to witness my children's father out on the trampoline the other night just playing with my children. They were laughing so loud. It was a beautiful scene.

I can also see the love that he has for them through the way that he worries about them. He is not a worrier...I am. But, when it comes to the kids, he worries much more about them. It is not that I don't care as much...it is that I can not worry that much about every minute of their lives as a stay at home mom because I would be a basket case. I have learned to worry a little less. But, to me it is very sweet that he worries over them so much when he is at home.



I am extremely grateful for Dave being so helpful to me with the kids. He has changed his share, okay maybe not his share :), but MANY diapers, fed many meals, fixed many little plates, wiped many tears, given many hugs, and made many laughs for Easton, Paisley, and Avery.



He is such a wonderful help to me. Each week in sacrament meeting it seems that I hit a "wall". Usually with about 15 minutes left, I have suddenly had it with the constant busyness of dealing with 3 young children and trying to keep them quiet and entertained. That is when I turn to my husband and hand off the baby and take a few minutes to myself. He is always so willing to do this for me. I only need a couple minutes and then I am rejuvinated and ready to continue on. But, this happens in our daily life also, and I am so thankful that he is so willing to jump in and let me become rejuvinated as a mother.

Thank you, Dave, for all you do as a father and for my 3 most precious gifts!


Of course, it wouldn't be Father's Day if I did not take a moment to write about my own father.



I am in constant awe of my father. In my eyes, my dad does no wrong. I am confident that he truly does, I am sure he isn't perfect. But, my eyes don't see it, he is perfect to me. I love him so much for his example. He is such a wonderful man. He raised me so well and taught me so many things. I wouldn't be the woman I am today without him. Thank you, dad, I love you so much!

And, Dave's dad, John.


John looking very pretty in a Little Mermaid wig! :)

I am extremely grateful for him as well. Without him, I wouldn't have my husband. I am so grateful for the good man that he is. I always joke that Dave is just like his dad. Dave's mom will agree with me, I think. It is so funny to me. So, if you want to know Dave's dad, just get to know Dave! :) They have the same funny, teasing sense of humor. It took me a while to get to know John, because I couldn't read him. He would seem serious, but it was a joke. I know now that most of the things he says is a joke or a tease. It makes it fun to be around him, always laughter. I am sad that we can not be with him today. They live in Washington. But, John, I am thinking of you. Thank you for raising a great man. Thank you for making me feel at home in your family. Happy Father's Day!

I also am blessed to have wonderful grandfathers, uncles, brothers, cousins, and friends who are all great fathers. Happy Fathers Day!