Happy Birthday Jared!

Jared had a great birthday this year! He had a party with my family, with his, and with ours! So lot's of cake!!! I hope that he enjoyed all of them! Happy Birthday Jared!

Check out the awesome "laptop" cake I made!

Field trips!

Because we are not going to be going on a vacation this year, and because I haven't signed anyone up for anything....mostly because we are moving....I decided to put together a summer of field trips. Ya know...to give us something to do this summer. I thought it would be a good thing for my kids, but have opended it up, and invited whoever wants to come. We are meeting every Wednesday in the afternoon. And last week we went to the pet store. It was really fun! I think this will end up being a great way to have a fun summer! If anyone is interested in what we are doing, and would like to come along, please let me know so that I can get you the info. But for now, here are some pictures of last weeks field trip!

The Sharpie Marker..and the toddler!

This is one of the greatest inventions...the permanent marker! But for all it's positives, there are its negatives! And the one big negative about this marker is when it gets into the hands of a toddler! And not just one toddler (mind you)... TWO!

This afternoon when I went to pick up Josh from school, I entered the mini van to see that Eli and Scott were covered in black ink, and had put big lines of marker all over the seats, and floor. Normally, I am very careful about the Permanent markers. They are kept way high up, and I generally put them right back when I'm done using them, to prevent such experiences. But not this time! I had left it in the car from the day before when I used it to write a message on a zip-lock bag (another story). Anyway....I always open the car doors and let the kids get in the van while I grab my purse and phone and stuff, so they had time to find the marker and within only a mater of like two minutes, they drew lovely designs all over my minivan!!! Well, I amazingly didn't just freek out! But remained calm while I picked up Josh. Then I came home and gathered any and all cleaning supplies that I could possibly think of, and started trying! Well, HAIRSPRAY worked!!! I went on a recomendation from a friend (Thank you friend...you know who you are!) And it came off! Like it never happened! So there now you know....Hairspray will take Sharpie (permanent) marker off the fabric seats of a minivan! And maybe some other things too! (I say that because I have a friend who recently posted her own "Sharpie-kid-furniture" event.) So thank heaven for the Sharpie and for all the great ways we can use it! And thank heaven that it isn't actually quite so "permanent"!

Our little Preschool Graduate!

Breanne's first year of preschool is over! She did awesome and loved preschool! Her teacher had a fun presentation / graduation night. And all the kids looked so cute wearing their little caps. Breanne has learned a lot this year, and I think that she is well on her way to being a great student! She looked super cute wearing her new dress and hair bows! We are very proud of her!

Mother's Day!

I had a good Mother's Day! I'm just so glad to have such great kids! And such a great husband. This year I got a rotary cutter! I can't wait to try it out!

Mothers day with Josh!

It was really great to be the mother of a kindergartner this year, because that meant that I got to go and have lunch with this sweet boy! It was one of the neatest things I've done! First he read me this really cute book about mom's, and then I opened my present (his hand print), then the whole class got up and put on a wonderful performance where they sang songs and stuff. And finally we got to go into the lunch room and have lunch together. (I'm going to be honest and say that the food wasn't very good)....but the company was the BEST! Joshua is such a sweet boy! I am so proud of him. He is doing very well in school, is a big help around the house, and a great example to his younger brothers and sister. He loves his teddy's and to play video games. I love you Joshua! Thank you for making a wonderful mother's day for me!

Thanksgiving Point

We had our fill of Thanksgiving point this month! First we went with Joshua for his Kindergarten field trip. Then a couple days later, we went with Breanne for her preschool field trip. And it was fun both times! And it worked out great because with Joshua we did the wagon ride, and with Breanne we did the pony ride. Scott especially loved the animals and got very excited about them. It was a lot of fun, and I was very glad that I was able to attend both times. I especially liked the white horses, because the way the sunlight was shining on them made them look like unicorns or something. It was cool.

I'm sorry to have to say it, but...

I don't like Twilight! I liked the first book okay, but it just went way down hill for me from there. I didn't even read the fourth book (but had family tell me about it...and I was so glad that I hadn't read it). Tonight I watched the movie because I was going off a recomendation that I might like the movie better than the book, but...no....I didn't like it. I know that so many people love it! And I hope that we can all stay friends, but I just have to say it..."I officially hate Twilight!" Sorry to everybody who loves it...I still love you!

April SNOW!

It was pretty crazy to have to pull out all the snow equipment again! But I just couldn't let the opportunity pass! The kids had a lot of fun playing in the snow, and making little snow men. I knew that the snow would melt really quickly...and it did. (it was gone the next day). So I'm glad we got this one last chance to play it the snow this season.

It was amazing to see that much snow come down in April! But that is the way Utah Springs are... they tease you with the nice warm weather, then say. "just kidding" and bam...cold weather! Oh well. We are enjoying the nice days when we get them. And soon it will be Summer, and it will be hot! Fun stuff! I do like living in a place that gets all four seasons!

Decorating Eggs!

It is always fun to decorate eggs! And last year I got a kit that make glitter eggs in the "after Easter sales". So they had fun messing around with it all, and decorating their eggs!

Easter!!!

This year the kids got kites, and we all had a fun time flying them in the front yard! It was a beautiful day!

Here's the kids Sunday Morning with their Easter baskets, and a few goodies! We also did a quick egg hunt before church, and everyone was very happy! It was a good Easter!

Breanne had another dance recital. I did take pictures of her up on the stage, but none of them turned out. (the lighting in there is horrible!) But These were pretty cute. I especially love the one with the flower headband! It turned out great!

Breanne loves to dance! She had a lot of fun being the center of attention that night! Thank you to all the family that came to support her! I know it meant a lot to her, but it also really meant a lot to me!! We love you Breanne!

Another trip up the canyon!

We went up the canyon a couple of Saturdays ago, when the weather was nice. I was feeling really cooped up in the house, and just couldn't let such a nice day go without getting out! So we went up the canyon and went on a little hike! The kids loved it! We really want to go back, but go a little further next time!

We also had fun climbing on these rock wall things at the park.

This was the "hike" trail. The kids had a blast taking on the challenge. It was pretty steep! And Jared pushed the stroller up the hill (with his bad knee!) But we didn't go too far.

The time has finally arrived!

We knew it was coming, but we weren't sure exactly when it would hit....but yes...
we are finally MOVING!!! We've been told by the lady who owns this home, that she wants to move back in August. So that means we have to be out in July. So bitter-sweet! Bitter...because that most likely means that we will be leaving the ward that we have been apart of for SEVEN YEARS! (I almost can't believe it.) Unless by some chance something works out within the ward boundries. But most likely, we will be moving away. Not too far away though...hopefully. We would like to stay in North Orem, Lindon, or possibly South Orem. But we will see. We are starting the house hunt, and who knows what will come of it. But that is the sweet part. Sweet...because that means I will finally be in a home of my own...that I can PAINT, or do whatever I want with!!! And we will be somewhere a little more permanent, and all that. But I will dearly miss this ward! I have really grown attatched, and we have felt so loved and wanted here. My mother and father in law are most upset. And we will probably miss them the most too. What a treat it has been to live so close to them. The kids were pretty upset when we told them that we wouldn't be living right next door to Grandma anymore. But that is how life is, and like the great wisdom we heard this past weekend during General Confrence...Change is part of life, and we need to find the bright sides to all of life changes. So I just pray that we will end up in a ward and a house that is right for us, and that our kids will be in a place where they can be surrounded by good influences and good friends. I'm sure everything will work out. It has so far! It has been wonderful to be here for so long. We moved into that little basement apartment with no kids, and thought that we would only be here for 1 year. After we had Breanne, we actually started renting another apartment, but that fell through, and we came back to the ward. And then when we were pregnant with our fourth, the one bedroom would no longer do, and we thought for sure that it was going to be time for us to leave, and then this house worked out, and we were able to stay two more years. So we will see what happens. Knowing our history, there is a good possiblity that we might stay. (And I know many of you who would hope for that.) But I will keep you updated!
The house search begins.....