WEEKEND REPORT

FRIDAY NIGHT

We had a really fun weekend. We were thinking of going to Bear Lake, but it just didn't work out. So Friday night we headed down to Lehi to have dinner with my 2 sisters and my brother in law. Spencer is the best cook, he made us philly cheese sandwhiches and homemade pretzels. It was so yummy. Usually we are a bit hesitant to go to other people's house with all the kids, even family members houses; but the kids were so good that it gave us new hope that we can do that more often. After dinner the kids went down to the basement to watch a "kid" movie while we adults watched a movie. We watched "The Box", and I would not recomend it. It was actually a horrible movie. But it was still fun to be down there. The kids watched there movies and did awesome.

SATURDAY

Ben knows that I am my best self when I get some alone time, and lately that alone time is my running time. So Ben was so sweet to give me some time right after breakfast to go on a run. It was such a gorgeous morning. Spring is definately on its way. I love running outside cause there is always something going on. I ran past lots of houses doing laundry (I could smell the yummy smell of the clothes in the dryer), someone mowing their lawn, kids outside playing and lots of other runners. It was a saturday and a beautiful day so there were bound to be tons of people out running. I was hoping to get in about 7-10 miles (i am getting ready for the moab 1/2 and I'll be honest the longest distance I've done is 5 miles so I thought I better get some longer runs in), but I had to get home so I could drive over to my moms and do a haircut.

After we were all ready we headed to the place with the yellow arches, McDonalds. I don't love McDonalds but the kids have alot of fun playing there. We hung out there for a while and let the kids play. They got an ice cream cone and it was hilarious to see the difference in how Sam and Mason eat. There will be pictures to come on the comparison.

We picked up our sitter later and headed over to a friends house in the ward. It was so much fun! There were a bunch of young couples over to hang out and get to know eachother. We played some fun get to know you games and just hung out and chatted. It was great, except for when we got home and our kids weren't in bed and the house was a bit messy. I don't ask alot when I get sitters, but there are a few things that I would love to happen. 1) play with the kids and make sure they are happy 2) clean up whatever messes you make (mostly in the kitchen, I don't ming picking up toys when I get home but I don't like cleaning the whole kitchen at 10 or 11 at night) 3) GET MY KIDS IN BED AND ASLEEP!!!!!!! So I'm guessing she played with the kids, but the other 2 1/2 I'm not so sure about. Well, we walked in and both the kids were awake. Mason had tears in his eyes. And to top it off the kitchen was a mess. So it was 10 and we still had to get the kids in bed and asleep and clean up the kitchen. It is such a different story than when I was a sitter. My mom taught me to leave the house looking better than when I came. I would unload the dishwasher, fold clothes, everything. And we didn't watch tv the whole time (which I worry that some of my sitters do).

J and Spencer came out to hang out. Spencer and Ben were going to go rc car racing. And J and I were going to hang out and watch a movie. So the boys headed out and we girls hung out. Like I said, these 2 are always up for anything. I had just called them a few hours earlier to see if they wanted to come up. So it was fun that they came and Ben had a buddy to go rc car racing with him!!!!!

SUNDAY

I love it when you get up on Sundays and get ready so then you don't have to rush right before church. So that is exactly what we did this morning. Except I did give my 2 boys cuts this morning. Sometimes they are the last ones to get hair cuts cause we are just so busy. We take the time when we have it, plus their hair was getting really long. Seriously Mason has been waking up looking like a really mad scientist. So I gave Mason a really short buzz. It looks pretty cute. So then we were ready to head out the door for church.

It was the funniest thing. We were sitting in Sacrament Meeting and Samantha went to sit with a boy that is in her preschool class and his mom. (she just loves Jared and Miss Melissa) So she is a row ahead of us and over just a bit, and Mason finally noticed that she wasn't sitting with us. You have to know that Mason only has 2 volume levels. Loud and LOUDER!!!!! He sees that Sam is over there and says "that is our Sammi! We can't leave her" and of course everyone is looking and giving us those smile that say " shut that kid up" But he doesn't really do what we want all the time. He continued to be pretty loud the whole time. When the sacrament was coming around he said really loud that he wanted some bread. Then of course he was thirsty, so he let us all know that he wanted some water; and not only one but he wanted 2 of the little cups of water. Then he was poking the polka dots on a shirt that was sitting in front of us. Luckily it was one of my good friends that thinks Mace is a cute kid. But this went on most, no actually all of the meeting. He is so cute, but just so loud.

We came home and had the yummiest dinner. (i'll have to post the recipe) and hung out. Sam wanted to go see Grandma and Granpa B, so the girls headed out to the grandparents while the boys stayed home and watched movies. I love going and hanging out at my parents. I could stay there all night. So I had to force myself to go home, and when I got home I realized I had told Ben I would make him some cookies. So cookies at 10 pm, and they were good, but the dough was dry. I don't know what I did wrong, but they were still yummy.

It was just such a fun weekend to spend time with friends, family, and especially my kids and my hubby.

"where's the baby?"

I'm pretty sure Mason is watching too many movies. Actually he just watches the same ones over and over. His favs are High Shcool Musical 1, 2, and 3 , Ferngully, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Curious George, and of course Ice Age. When we are at home he loves to watch the Ice Age with the Dinosaurs and when we are in the car it is Ice Age (the first). So since they watch it ALL the time, I listen to it ALL THE TIME!!!! I pretty much have the movie memorized. And apparently so does Mason.

I was feeding Luella this morning and Mason came up to her and stood looking at her. He put his hands over his eyes and said "Where's the baby?" Then as he was pulling his hands away said "There she is!"

He did this a few times and I just thought it was the cutest thing ever. He saw this on Ice Age when Diego plays peekabo with the baby.

It's probably not the best thing for him to be watching a bunch of movies, but I guess it is his little coping thing. Whenever he gets in trouble or is tired he wants to watch a movie. Kinda his way to relax. And he honestly just sits through the entire thing.

"WHERE'S THE BABY? THERE SHE IS!"

Sick kids are seriously no fun. Last week we were in major survival mode. Mason wasn't sleeping at night, at all. He was waking up multiple times in the night, and just not happy. I finally took him to the doctors and come to find out he had an ear infection. So we got the antibiotics and he is doing so much better. In fact, (knock on wood) he has slept all the way through the night for the last 3 nights. That is huge here since it has honestly been months since he has done that!!! Yay for us. And our poor little Lu, has been a bit sick. It is so sad to see such a little baby unhappy and not be able to tell us what is wrong. She was coughing a bit, and a little congested but then her breathing sounded a little bit off. I then took her to the doctors and she was at the tail end of a mild case of RSV. Sounds scary but she is a champ. She did have a little infection in her eye that they wanted to give her some antibiotics for and she would not take that pink stuff. So we ruined a perfectly cute and white nighty trying to give it to her, so I had to figure something else out. I started putting the medicine in the tip of one of the nipples to her bottles and then she can just suck it down. Worked like a charm. It is amazing the difference it makes when your baby is sleeping all the way through the night, and then she has some off nights of waking up alot. After the fever was down and she was a bit more comfortable with some Tylenol she was sleeping like her normal self. Thank goodness cause I decided that I really like my sleep, and need it for that matter. I took this cute little picture when she was just not feeling her best. I love it when my kids will just lay and sleep however and whenever when they are sick.

(don't you just love those leopard print socks!!! and that is the cute

little nighty that now has a big pink stain in it, how sad.)

I have decided that doctors make their money through co-pays. I went to the doctors at least 3 times in the last month. All nonscheduled appointments. And don't get me wrong, I am the kind of mom that is better safe than sorry. So I take them and sometimes there is absolutely nothing wrong and sometimes there are those cases that there is something wrong, and something to be done about it. Plus that fact that I just love my pediatrician!!! He is great and I totally trust him. I never really question why, I just do exactly what he says.

And even though I have been in the last 2 week for both Lu and Mason, we are going in another 2 week for their scheduled checkups. Maybe next time my kids get sick they can all get sick together so we can make 1 trip to the doctors and be done with it.

But there is no greater feeling than having your kids healthy and happy. My mom always tells me that a mom is just as happy as her least unhappy child, and that is something that I totally believe.

FAIRIES

Samantha is on a roll. And I might as well blog about it since this is my journal. These are the cute little things that I don't want to forget about.

We have Disney Channel on TV and they were talking about tooth fairies. Then Samantha asked me when the tooth fairy was going to come to our house. I told her the tooth fairy would come when she started loosing teeth.

Then she asked me when the Hair Fairy comes?

Well, I told her I didn't know. Honestly has anyone ever heard of a Hair Fairy? Then she proceeded to tell me that the Hair Fairy comes at night when we are asleep to check and see if our hair is clean.

Ok, now I remember. I think I told her that one a long time ago, probably so she would let me wash her hair while she was in the tub.

Then she asked when the Ear Fairy comes? I told her I had no idea, but she wouldn't take that answer. So I asked her if the Ear Fairy comes when we are asleep to check and see if our ears are clean? Yep, that is it!! It must have been another one of those little white lies to get her to let me wash behind her ears in the tub.

So I am really sorry for the rest of you who only have 1 fairy visiting your house. Here at our house we have multiple fairies visiting all the time. It is quite busy in the middle of the night when they are making the rounds in the kids bedrooms!!!!!

I just hope that when they realize they get money from the tooth fairy they won't expect money from all the other fairies that visit. Poor Ben and I will very surely be broke.

(Could you imagine if all the fairies came at once? I think this is what is

what it would look like. It would be one really crowded room!!!)

James' Poor Kitty

Sam and I were in the bathroom just now, and she looked out the window and saw that it was snowing and this was out little conversation . . . .

mom "It's snowing"

Sam "I sure hope James' kitty isn't outside in the cold!"

mom "Who's kitty?"

Sam "James. The kitty would be so scared and sad."

Seriously even though these little kids have their naughty moments they are so dang sweet.
James is our neighbor across the street, and I had no idea that Sam even thought about his little cat. But apparently she thinks and worries about it more than I know.

I love my little Sammi, she is so sweet!!!!!

SATURDAY DATE NITE

Ben and I had a really fun date night tonight, thanks to a really cute girl in our ward who had been asking to watch our kids. Samantha and Mason were so excited to have her come over. They were asking me all day if it was time to go pick her up, and I kept on telling them that it wasn't time and that she can drive herself over. (she is 21) So Brittney came over and Ben and I were off. It is such a nice feeling to leave your kids with someone and not worry one bit. The only thing I ever worry about it is if my kids are being nice.
So Ben and I headed over to Laser Quest. Laser tagging really isn't my cup of tea, well to be honest I hadn't ever done it before. (and Ben said I wasn't fun when I told him that he could go and I would just sit out and wait for him). My sister in law Anna wanted to go for her birthday, so we met everyone there and laser tagging it was. Just so you know, you probably shouldn't wear any sort of a heel or dress up shoe laser tagging. I show up in my cute "date nite" apparel. You know the cute boots, and the cute shirt with the belt and everything. Everyone else shows up in their tennies. So word to the wise, wear tennies next time I go laser tagging. If there is a next time. It was fun, but not all that. We got done and I looked at Ben who was totally sweating and all hot (like temperature hot, even though he is hot hot!!!) I asked him why he was sweating? I didn't understand that people were running around the whole time. But that would explain why I didn't see anyone the whole time, except Tiffany. And she kept on shooting me. I won't be walking in front of her next time either. But now I can say that I have laser tagged.
We got done and I was really hungry. It was around 8 or so and we hadn't had dinner. So we thought we'd go and find somewhere close to a movie theater, since we were going to catch "Valentine's Day" We went to Iggy's and ordered ribs and a side salad. Mistake #2 don't order ribs if you have only 30 minutes in the restaraunt. When we realized it was almost 9:10 and our movie was about to start, and we hadn't gotten our salad or ribs we had to cancel our order. So we quickly shared a side salad and hurried off to the movie theater.
Luckily they have my favorite kettle korn, so a big bucket of that would hold us over perfectly. The movie was really cute, predictable but cute. And we downed the whole bucket of popcorn. As we were walking out of the theater I looked down at myself and realized that I had popcorn crumbs all over my front. I then looked at Ben and his front was totally covered as well. We must have been really hungry cause we were wearing our food. It gave us a good laugh.

I just have to say that as the movie was beginning Brittney text me and told me that all 3 kids were in bed and asleep. Shocker right, that my kids would go to bed better for others than they do for Ben and me. Brittney was so sweet to want to come and be with my kids. They love her and were so excited to hang out with her. Thanks Brit!!!!!

And of course what is the irony that right about the time that Ben and I are going to go to bed Mason wakes up crying. This is such the story of our lives right now. But I think it is just too long of a saga, so I will have to save that one for a post all of its own.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA!!!!!

I know I have more pictures of Anna but this is the only one I could

find at the moment. But it does fit her perfectly. She is way fun and always

ready to have fun. It has been so much fun to get to know her over the past

few years. This girl makes the best cookies. Seriously every kind of cookie I have tried

has been awesome. She is always up for anything and everything, which is nice

cause you can always count on her. She is really reliable. We recently planned

a baby shower together, and I think this girl did all the work. That's probably why it turned

out so cute and so much fun!

I hope you have an awesome birthday Anna!!!!!

BEFORE AND AFTER

I got this really cute hat and onsie outfit the other day. It is so dang cute, the hat is zebra and there is a cute zebra on the pink onsie. So I got home and tried it on my little Lu before she went to bed. Well, sad enough the hat didn't fit. It is a 3-6 month hat, but it didn't fit my little lady. So when something doesn't work, you make it work.

I turned this cute little hat into . . . .

this totally adorable flower bow!!!!!

I didn't have a black head band to go with it so I quick whipped one up.

I tried to take a top picture of the bow, but Luella was trying to look at me

as I was taking the picture.

So seriously, I think that this little outfit is so cute, and even cute since now the hat that didn't work now works and is so cute. I love the feeling of taking something and changing it into something even better. I love seeing the end result!!!

And I just think this little girl is the cutest!!!

Here is the picture of my new car, finally (sorry it took so long Heather). So my brother called it a goober-mobile! Isn't that sad, I don't think it looks that bad. My sister in law actually says that I look like a minivan mom. It is a goodlooking car, and it is a really nice ride. I guess I am still just having a hard time picturing myself as a 26 year old minivan mom. I think of myself as a 26 year old SUV mom. But this minivan if growing on me.
It has actually changed the way we travel. In our tahoe, my kids talked and talked and talked. "Turn the music up", "Don't hit me!", "Give me a treat". So that is how it used to be and now in our new car, it is just pure and complete silence. The only thing that is said is when the movie is over "Can we watch it again?" So as you can tell the new car has a dvd player, but not just one but 2 dvd players. Mason can watch his movie and Sam can watch hers. Great right, wrong.
The original rule was that they couldn't watch the movies on short drives, but that was gone right away. So the other day, we dropped Sam off at school and Mason was watching a movie. We pulled into our driveway, pulled in the garage and Mason didn't want to get out of the car. Seriously, so I sat in my garage, at my lunch and then finished the movie with Mason. So what turned into a quiet ride, has now turned into just wanting to watch the movies and not talk to me. It is quiet but sad that they are just glued to the tv. So my new rule is that if they are going to watch tv in the car, then they can't watch it at home.
So even though I don't think of myself as a minivan mom, it is a sweet ride. You can't beat the doors opening and closing by themselves, the easieness of buckling Mason in (who sits in the back), Sam's booster seat is built into the chair, Ben downloaded ALL my music into the harddrive of the car so it is there at my fingertips, and the list could go on. Ben was great to be the convincing force to get the car.
I do really like it and I'm grateful to have a car that works!!!!!

BIRTHDAY LUNCH

We had a fun birthday lunch at my house for Jessica's birthday. It is always fun to get together and chat and have some yummy food. Thanks everyone for coming. (my dad was the one taking the picture and my brother micah came and had to leave early)

Happy birthday to my sister Jessica!!!

I just wanted to give a shout out to JJ. She is such a great sister. My kids adore her and Ben and I love her me out. She takes my kids (more often than not) and they love going to her house. She comes over to my house and plays with my kids, she runs around with them, plays outside, anything and everything. She is tons of fun! She married the greatest guy, Pencer, almost 3 years ago and we just love them both. They are always planning great parties and

are always up for anything.

I hope you have a great Birthday and an awesome year to come!!!!!

I hope I can repay you even just a little for how much you have helped me

out and been there for me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Choices and Consequences

I try to teach my kids that for every choice there is a consequence. And not all consequences are bad, there are just consequences.

Today we went to my mom's house. She is so sweet to watch my kids while I run over to one of her neighbors and do a hair cut. I got done and told the kids it was time to go. Micah helped Mason out to the car (it is so nice to have extra hands at those moments of strapping 3 kids in) and I got Luella in her carseat. I kept on telling Sam that we needed to go home, and she kept on telling me that she didn't want to come. I told her that we had to go see Dad and have dinner, and she told me that she wanted to eat dinner at Grandma B's house. My mom leaned over and told me to give her one more chance, or tell her one last time that I was leaving and then just leave. So I told her that I was going to go over to the neighbors for a second (to show off my adorable 3 month old), then I was going to put Lu in the car and if Samantha wasn't in the car I was not going to wait for her; I was just going to leave.

Well, I went and did my showing off, and I came back to the car and Samantha wasn't in. So what did I do? I pulled out and drove away. I got home and we had dinner, my visiting teachers came over and about 7:30 Samantha got home. My mom brought her in and got her in her jammies and my mom slipped out before I had a chance to ask her how it all played out. Sam didn't seem to be phased by any of it. She just went right to bed.

I called my mom and apparently as I was backing out Micah had gone in and told Samantha that mommy was leaving. She tried to hurry and get her shoes on and her jacket, but by the time she got outside I was already gone. My mom said she came in with a frown on her face and her eyes were welling up with tears, but my mom didn't make a big deal about it. Samantha asked Grandma to take her home, but my mom said she couldn't right then, cause she was making dinner. Sam sat as everyone ate, but she didn't want to eat. (my brother Taylor gave her a hard time at dinner, what are uncles for?!) During dinner she asked if Grandma would take her home, but she said she couldn't because she was eating dinner, but she would in a bit. Samantha kept on asking, and saying that she wanted to go home and eat dinner with her family.

My mom told me that on the way home she talked to Sam about choices and consequences. It wasn't a bad consequence that she had to stay at Grandma's, but since she chose to not listen she didn't get to eat dinner with her family and she didn't get to spend time with her dad. She had to come right home and get in her jams and go to bed.

I just love these little life's lessons!!!! I love it even more that Ben and I aren't the only ones teaching them to our kids. I love it when my mom steps in and helps me out with the tough lessons. (there have been plenty of times where the kids have been put in time out. One time while Heather was visiting from Ohio, Samantha, Mason, and Martha all got in trouble and had to go out and sit on the back porch. It was the cutest and funniest thing ever to see them sit there and wait to be invited back into the house)

Thanks mom for helping me teach Sam about listening and obeying right then. I'm sure she loved staying a little bit longer at your house. We love you!!!!!

Sick Kids

It is no fun to have sick kids. One is kinda managable, but two is way not fun. Samantha and Mason both have coughs. It was so weird though, Sam hadn't been coughing and then when we went to church there was a cute little girl that was coughing. So Sam started coughing, I just thought it was an attention thing. (the mom had cough drops and Sam really wanted one)
So anyways, then she kept coughing later that day and then Mason started coughing too. The saddest part is listening to them cough while they are sleeping. No wonder Mason isn't getting a good nights sleep. (he doesn't normally anyways, but this isn't helping any) So when Mason doeasn't get a good nights sleep, and Ben doesn't get a good nights sleep, you can only imagine who else doesn't get a good nights sleep. . . . . Mom!
The only saving grace (knock on wood) is that Samantha and Luella sleep through Mason waking up in the middle of the night. He wakes up and screams and cries, it is truly so sad.

Another really sad side note is that I was going to start the week off getting in a good habit of running in the morning, and well it didn't happen today. So hopefully it will happen tomorrow morning. I really just need to start doing it. It isn't so much for the body image (well not entirely, a little, but not entirely), but for the way that I feel after. There is definately something about working out that is good for me. It makes my body feel good, and not to mention 30 minutes to 1 hour of just Whitney Time!!!! Listening to whatever music I want and not having to think about anything else. The best part is that I can just let my mind wonder for that whole time, and that isn't a luxury that happens during the day. There isn't much down time at my house. So I will be heading off to bed here pretty soon so I can achieve my goal of getting up early and heading to the gym. And let's hope that Mason has a good nights sleep for my sake, for Ben's sake and for poor little Mason's sake. He needs it so he can be a happy little boy!!!!

Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!

Well, I just have to remenisce about Valentine's Day 7 years ago. That was Ben and my first date. We went out to see "How to Lose a Guy in 10 days" and then we went back to his parents and had heart shaped pizzas and hung out. It was way fun, and I'm sure I knew that there would be many more Valentine's Days to come with this guy. Little did I know that they would vary in so many ways.

Valentine's Day when you have no kids and Valentine's Day when you have kids is so different. When you don't have kids, there isn't the worry of finding a sitter, being too tired to even go out, and everything else. Our first Valentine's Day married we headed to Bear Lake for the weekend. It was so fun, we were way young, totally in love and not a worry in the world.

6 years later, Valentine's Day is a little bit different.

Since Valentine's Day fell on a Sunday this year, I for sure thought that we would either go out on Friday or Saturday night. Well, Friday night came and went and Ben was nice enough to let me have a little quiet time to myself. I went out and just browsed for a bit.

Saturday morning came and Ben thought it might be a good time to try to find a sitter for that night, bless his heart. Saturday night came and Saturday night went. Needless to say we didn't find a sitter. We got the kids in bed and Ben went out and got us Zupas, it is one of our favorite places to eat lately. The cauliflower soup and the turkey pesto panini . . . . mmmmm it is so tasty.

Sunday morning the kids ran out to find their Valentine from Mom. I had gotten the girls matching slipper socks. (Sam had been wearing mine, you know the really comfy socks that are almost slipperish, so I thought it was a good idea to get her some of her own) And while I was out Friday night, I saw the cutest Spiderman hat, and thought of my cute little boy. So they all put on their Valentine and we went about our day. Church, that we barely made it through. Dinner at Honey and Poppy's, way fun and very tiring (for both the kids and the adults) and then home to get the kids in bed.

Really that isn't that exciting of a Valentine's Day if you ask me. I don't mean to sound like a brat, and I don't ask for much. I did tell Ben that I would just like him in the future to get a sitter so we can have a night out together. I want him to think of me, him find a sitter (I do find all of our other sitters the other 364 days of the year), and take me out just the 2 of us.

I don't think that is too much to ask, but really you have to be realistic when you have kids. Things don't always go as you think they will, and you have to be flexible.

So on this Valentine's Day, I would like to wish Ben a Happy Valentine's Day. I really love you and am greatful that we had our very 1st date 7 years ago on this Lovey Dovey Holiday. There is no doubt in my mind that you still love me after 6 years of marriage. I love you and can't wait to have alot more Valentine's Days together.

(I just have to say how cute it was when Sam came home from school on Friday. She had her bag of Valentine's from her friends at school, and the first thing she wanted to do was share all of her candy with her brother. They sat outside and ate every single piece of candy that was in that bag. They really do love eachother.)

This little boy is outside whether it is cold or not, rainy or shine. Nothing keeps him away from his basketballs and his hoop. He just gets on his shoes and socks and his gloves and heads out.
I think he could stay out there all day if I didn't ask him to come in.
















Who says your 4 year old can't take your dog on a walk? That is a walk in your own back yard, on a leash that is attached to a bike, and the bike is being ridden on the deck.
Yep, that is one of Samantha's usuals. She puts Molly on a leash and even walks her around the house. She will park her outside the bathroom while she goes potty (when I say park, she attaches her leash to a door handle). Today Molly was lucky cause she got to go on her walk outside. Sam just rode back and forth, back and forth, back and forth and Molly just ran along side her.



















Luella had some firsts this week. She has been getting so hungry in between feeding so I thought I'd try giving her some baby food. Well I don't think she liked her peas that much.













I put her in the jonny jumper while I got ready one morning. She liked it ok, but then she realized that she was staying in there and it wasn't that much fun anymore.
And when Sam and Mason came in and were swinging her back and forth, she didn't look so sure.

























Then instead of giving her peas, I thought I'd try rice cereal with some sugar in it. She ate some of it, but it definately wasn't the bottle, and she let me know that.










I met my sister Rebekah during her lunch break and went walking. It was such a beautiful day, Luella was probably wondering why I bundled her up like the abominable snowman, but she looked so dang cute. And it was so bright that when Mace saw Bekah and Mom with our sunglasses, he had to have his.







Saturday we went to the boat show with Coby and Tif and Joanne. The kids had a blast getting into all the boats, and Tif and I had fun walking around with our little ones in our Mobys. I just love my moby, it is so comfortable.














Even though Lu doesn't look so happy, she didn't make one peep the whole time she was in there.
She would smile but her cheeks are just too big. Actually her cheeks are one of my favorite things about that little girl. She is just growing so fast, I can hardly believe it.




















Here are the boys and the older kids. Don't they just look so happy to be on the boat. They would be even happier if the boat was on water, and actually if the boat was ours. Summer will be here before we know it and then we can be at bear lake all we want!!!!!

Joint Baby Shower

Joanne, Tiffany, Anna and I threw a "Beary" cute baby shower for Marianne and Sara. Sad to
say that Sara wasn't there, but on a happier note she isn't pregnant anymore!!! We missed you,
but hopefully you are getting lots of good rest.

This was our gift to Marse.

A way cute and very girly diaper cake.

This one was for Sara.

Rally manly and boyish!!!

There was lots of yummy food and treats and great company.

Thanks to everyone who came and

expecially thanks to Marianne and Sara for

having a baby so we could have a party!!!!!

Duncan James Rich

Congrats to Bob and Sara!!! They had their cute little baby boy early this morning.

We are so excited for you and your cute little addition. He is adorable and we are glad he is here. We love you!!!

I have come to realize, not accept yet, but realize that there are things that I sometimes want to do and things that I need to do. There is a huge difference. Like I really want to go running, but what trumps that? I really need to clean my house. I really want to have just a quiet moment to myself. I really need to be with and play with my kids every moment that they are awake.

So this is the realization that I have about running and my body. Even though I have no excuses why I don't get up in the early morning (Luella is sleeping about 11 hours a night), I am just way too tired. Call me crazy, it's not like I have a million things going on during the day with 3 kids to take care of, a house to keep clean and everything else that comes along with being a stay at home mom. Which I love, don't get me wrong. But back to my running and the body I would have if I had all the time in the world to run and work out and the body that I will have to settle with for right now because of my lack of time.

That is the sad truth for me right now. I have signed up for a 1/2 marathon in March and to tell you the truth, I have not been training like I should. I am just hoping that the running after my kids, cleaning my house, driving carpool, ect will get me ready enough for the race. I average about 1 run a week, which isn't much.

So I just keep imagining what I might look like with that body that runs all the time. But for now I will just watch what I eat, and keep on doing what I am doing and hope that it is enough. After all isn't that about what every mom feel at some point?

It is all I can do and I hope it is enough!!!!!

(what I want to do is sit here and browse the net, but what I really need to do it get my sweet baby and give her a bottle!! happy blogging days)

7 years ago today

I just have to say that I met Ben 7 years ago today.

I have to tell the story, because aparently not everyone knows it. I was out on a double date with my sister Rebekah. She had just gotten home from her mission and our dates were friends, so we went out. (I don't actually remember my dates name, but I guess it doesn't matter now does it?!)

So back to the meeting part. I had actually been sick that whole week and was thinking of canceling my date, I just wasn't feeling it. A friend at school told me that I should go, and maybe something good would come of it. So I went and something great came of it.



We (the 4 of us, my sister and her date and me and mine) went to a young singles adult dance. The guys were on the committee. We got there and I'll be honest, I was less than interested in this guy, (as you can see I don't even remember his name). So I was out mingling with some friends from high school and I seriously looked down the hall, saw this way goodlooking guy and thought to myself "I have to meet him" Well, he stopped, introduced himself, and we sat and chatted. Actually we ended up hanging out all night. (my sister Rebekah reminds me that she hung out with my date while I was with Ben). Ben didn't know I was on a date, but when my date took me home, Ben came to my house just a bit later, picked me up and we went and hung out for a bit. (yes I had totally arranged this beforehand, I wasn't going to let the chance to hang out with him pass me by)

So we hung out and I hoped and hoped that he would come into my school and see me the next week, and to my huge surprise he did. I was thrilled. He asked me out for Valentines Day, (which was our first date) and is has been history ever since, 7 years to be exact!

I am so glad I went on that blind date with good old whats his name. You never know if I wouldn't have met Ben or not. But I am just grateful I did meet him. He is a great husband and an awesome father. I hope he is as glad as I am that we met that night at a singles adult dance . . . I guess they really do work.

Sunday Get Together

Today was not only Super Bowl Sunday, but it was also Luella's blessing day. It was great to have both of our families there. (we missed you Micah, but I'm glad you came over after) I love having my mom and dad, all my siblings, Ben's mom and dad, and all his siblings there with us. Ben gave her a great blessing. The one thing that I thought was ironic was this morning as I was getting ready for church, I had a thought about Ben blessing her to be a peacemaker in our home. I didn't say anything about it to Ben, but that was one of the things he said in her blessing. Ironic, right?

She looked so gorgeous in her little dress (it is the same dress that Sam was blessed in). I had to take some pictures.

She looked so serious here, I think it is so cute!

My sisters were helping me with my little "photo shoot"

if you will. Lu was smiling like crazy for them.

Every 1st Sunday my family gets together, so since everyone came for the blessing we decided to come over to my house after. And I guess it was a bonus that the Super Bowl was on, well a bonus for some. And for the others who could have cared less, well everyone was just kinda doing there own thing.

For those who didn't want to watch the game, they

were upstairs watching a regular at our house "High School Musical".

(isn't that cute, my parents holding hands? They don't

usually sit right next to each other, but they always

hold hands)

Mason was having a good moment of not being attached to

Ben, but only for a moment. He sat on my lap with his blanket,

chocolate milk, and of course a basketball.

We sat and watched his favorite "HSM"

Luella sat with J watching the game, so I could take care of Mason.
Unfortunately we don't always have good times at our house.
Mason was having a major fit. When Ben is home Mason is
Ben's little shadow, and mostly he just wants Ben to hold him.
I feel bad there isn't more I can do, but when a kid wants his Dad and
you are a Mom, what can you do?
I caught Sam while she was just running around and having fun. I
snapped this pic and she really does look like me.
She is at such a fun stage, she is pleasant and good for the
most part. She does her own thing, helps out when asked, and
is just really enjoyable to be around.
I guess that's what comes when you are 4 1/2 and really want to
be a big girl and mom big helper.
Some were sleeping, or actually Rebekah was sleeping.
I love it that when people come over to my house, they can just make
themselves at home and do whatever they want.
Jessica took a nap in Sam's room, and baby Charly was sleeping
in my room.
Matt was doing homework. That is such lame sauce. He was watching the
game earlier, but I guess homework trumps the game.

And the crew that were really into the game. They didn't even

come up for dinner, dinner came down to them. Taylor, Spencer,

Jessica, Luella, Ben and Mckay.

After a long day of church and partying, happy kids and really unhappy

kids, lots of yummy food, good company and great conversation, I am

spent and ready to hit the pillow.

Thanks for the party, I love you all!!!!!

New Car

So we have had some car trouble, more like our car died. So we couldn't decide what to do. Get a new car or get a new engine. We went and looked at some cars or more like some minivans, and I have to be honest I wasn't totally sold on the idea. The cars were great, but I just couldn't wrap my head around me as a minivan mom. I have just loved being an SVU mom. I love my tahoe. I am way up high, in a load roaring car, what could be better? How about automatic doors, 2 dvd players, built in booster seats, and lots more.
So the decision became final beginning of last week when we got a minivan. I didn't drive it for a couple days, because I still felt a little weird. ( ben thinks I need to get over it) But we looked at the Honda Odysee which is the hype right now, but then we looked at the Chrysler Town and Country. We ended up getting the Chrylser. It is black and it is good looking. They look about the same, but I just keep telling myself (probably to make myself feel better) that the Chrysler looks like a sporty minivan. Dumb right, but it actually does kinda look a bit sporty. My brother came over and saw it in our garage and at first he said he really liked it, and was looking at it and opening the doors, and then he said "you got a goober mobile" He said it didn't look like a minivan at first. He thought it was a smaller SVU. So once I take a picture of it, you can be the judge. But really for the convience of everything that comes with a minivan, how can you beat it. So now I am the minivan mom and Ben is the tahoe dad. I just keep reminding myself that I can drive the tahoe when it is just me or when Ben and I go out.
Oh and as for our Subaru, it is now a center piece in our backyard. Not really but it is behind the gate, which is in the yard. If anyone is interested in a car for 500$ we've priced out the new engine. And until further notice, it will be in our yard.
(the Subaru was my very first car that I could call MY OWN . I remember where I was and where I took it on my first drive. I just loved it cause Ben bought it just for me!!!)

Luella 3 months

I can't believe Luella is already 3 months. She has changed so much and I wish now that I had taken more pictures of the "newborn" phase. It's just too bad that right after you have them you aren't always your best self, at least I'm not. I try to put myself back together as quickly as possible, but it doesn't happen over night.

Luella at 3 months . . . .

Sleeps awesome (better than Sam and Mason and they were both great sleepers) She goes to bed around 9 or 9:30 and sleeps til around 9. If that isn't awesome then I don't know what is.

I love the little noises she makes, but one of my favorite is her little cry right before she is really going to cry. It almost sounds like a little kitty cat. It is quiet and just so darling.

She is smiling like crazy. But not only is she smiling at everyone she sees, she is smiling at herself. I've been holding her up to the mirror to see herself, and again and again she smiles back at the cute little girl in the mirror.

Lu is such an easy going baby. Samantha picks her up and plays with her, Mason mauls her with his love, Mom leaves her in the swing (sometimes for a while) and she just takes it.

I love getting her up in the morning and kissing her cold cheeks. Smelling that baby smell on her head, cheeks and neck. The baby smell is one of my favorite things about her. I love when I go to kiss her cheek and she turns her head (as if thers is food near) and I end up kissing her mouth. She's always pulling a quick one on me.

She is starting or trying to giggle. When I change her clothes and pull her arms out of the sleeves it must tickle her a bit, cause she tries to get some giggles out. Then I continue to tickle her belly, under her arms and I love how she tries to giggle but it is still just kinda a little giggle/grunt. Gotta love it.