Idaho

Every year Tyler asks me what I'd like to do for my birthday. For the past couple years it's always been the same thing. 

I want to go to Idaho and play with my family.

So off we went again. Yippee for me!

I absolutely love having 3 out 4 of my siblings so close. My sisters and I have such a great bond that I love being with them. I include Dan's wife Jessica in my sister count. She's as close to being a sister as you can get with out blood involved. I love her!

I have the best brothers too. Not just Dave and Dan, but my brother in-laws are both amazing men. We we all get together there is so much laughter and silliness. It's the best gift I could get.

Now the kids are a whole different story. When we get Utah cousins together with the Idaho cousins there's no underestimating what all 11 of them can do. It's funny how they seem to pair off and all do their own things. Sometimes it can actually be quiet. However, when all them come running in together for meals or drinks, crafts, or a scheme someone cooked up it's far from quiet or calm. 

I am so grateful and thankful that they get the chance to be together. Priceless memories.

Oh boy, these 2 boys. It might be a good thing Ivan is in Idaho.

I have my hands full with Dawson and Sawyer. 

I can't imagine throwing in an Ivan too.

Mackenzie and little Miss Lizzy.

Lizzy and I have a special bond that no one else gets to have with her.

We're awesome like that.

Dan and Jess with their super cute kiddos.

Thanks Dan and Jess for taking time out of your busy packing and cleaning to play with us.

Ivan and Sawyer having too much fun to pause for a picture.

Me with curious Daphne and chilled back Lizzy.

One thing we never get enough of when we're all together...

Sleep!

Naiya and Xander playing.

Aunt Katie and Sawyer singing,

"Squishy Fishy."

While we were there, Missy surprised me with a beautiful birthday cake.

(not good for the diet)

It was devils food cake with a middle layer of whipped cream and crushed scor bar.

And boy was it ever so yummy!

Thanks Missy.

I didn't have the heart to cut it, so I made her do it.

It was just too pretty.

Sliders

When Mother Nature doesn't cooperate with you.
When you have too many wiggles to get out.
When all you want to do is play.
Sometimes you just have to take measures into your own hands.
That's just what my 2 little creative men did.

Guess there's a bonus to having a long set of stairs.

These 2 relaid all those blankets out over and over again.

As I sat in the living room all I could hear was,

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.

Followed by hysteric squeals and laughter.

These 2 boys sure do make an inseparable team!

Shhhhhh?

Yesterday the kids were playing outside because we had beautiful weather.
They played with bubbles, sidewalk chalk, rode bikes, ran around and got many, many winter built-up wiggles out. Yippee for spring!
 It was so nice to be able to let them outside to run around, be loud and have fun with neighborhood kids. Our alleyway was filled with 12-13 kids having fun and soaking up the warmth of the sun.
While they were outside a lady came out and told them to be quieter because she needs a nap. OK  now I'm not stupid, I know Dawson is the loudest child ever! But, seriously it's 4:30 in the afternoon. Kids have been cooped up in the house all winter and then in school all day. They need to be kids and have fun and run around. You're asking 12 kids to be quieter while playing outside.
Well, she was looking directly at Dawson.
And what does Dawson do in response to her request?
He takes off running and screaming saying, "Ahhhhh, a stranger." To which all the other younger kids (about 6) follow suit.
Poor lady. She wanted a nap and it resulted in more running, screaming, and laughter.
I feel bad, but not really. After all, we live in a kid filled neighborhood and in an alleyway that is perfect for containing little ones, yet giving them freedom. And kids will be kids. Lets face it, noise comes with kids.
Welcome to the alley lady. Where kids, moms and noise come to play.

No Girls. Or Zombies.

I couldn't help but take a picture of the drawings that adorn my boy's bedroom door.
They crack me up every time I walk past them.

This sign says,

"No girls in room. If 1 comes in you will pay candy.

If not you will be locked up and never come out."

The bottom part says,

"No, girls, girly girls, or Zombies."

"Aliens in room."

The middle picture says, "Meat eaters in room!"

The pictures are a chicken leg, steak, and a turkey leg.

They crack me up.

I guess all girls and zombies can consider themselves fairly warned. If they enter without candy then the meat-eating aliens will lock them up forever.

It's Us!

Sometimes ya just gotta catch the silliness in a pic.

I love my family and all their silliness.

Hope you do too.

Nothing says, 'Relaxing, Sabbath Day' like a head lock.

My 3 sons.

Mackenzie, my beautiful daughter.

Trouble!

Me and my youngest.

Picture This.

Here's my kiddos.

Valentine Love

Ty came home from work early on Valentines Day and with him had these.

He loves me!

February Craftiness

Have I ever mentioned how much I love making crafts. Well, I do.

Here are my latest crafts.

My valentine dangles.

My front door decoration.

My newly finished St. Patties Day dangles.

 It seems that crafting runs in my family. When Sawyer sees me sand, paint and glitter all the time, it's only natural he'd want to do a craft too. During a recent trip to the craft wood store Sawyer picked own his own project to do. He chose a cute cupcake to make.
I let him pick the colors he wanted and he chose sparkly glitter too.

Here he is helping paint the cupcake wrapper.

He picked pink for the wrapper and bright blue for the frosting.

He wanted blue sparkle frosting.

It's almost done.

Sawyer and his cupcake.

After we sparkled the frosting he decided he wanted the pink part sparkled too.

Here are all the blue sparkles on my floor.

That's what happens when a 2 yr old helps you craft.

The mess will clean up, but the memories we made will last forever.

February Is Over?

How can it be February has come and gone and I didn't blog once. I know I've been crazy busy, but I didn't think it was that bad. Holy Moly where has the time or month gone.

Let me just share a quick little story with you from our February.

On Valentines day, Mackenzie wrote a special Valentine for a boy in her class.
Insert a cheesy smile and giggle here......
Here's what it said,

"To:.........
Happy Valentines Day.
I think you're cute.
From Kenzie."

She then secretly placed it his back pack. How adorable is this!
A few days later she had a reply in her back pack that said,

"Kenzie,
That was a surprise, but I feel the same way.
From......
P.S.
I called home sick today because I got bit by the love bug and I like it."

Oh my goodness my daughter has her first little crush. She showed me the note and was grinning from ear to ear and jumping up and down. It was so awesome to have my daughter trust and love me enough to share her first love letter with me.

Another quick story.
As we were sitting in church, Kenzie was talking to me about this boy (he's in our ward too). She said, "mom I think ...... is cute. And he's smart too. That's very important cause he will be able to get a good job and provide for his family. I don't want to marry a dummy."