18 Years Ago...

Dave and I were married 18 years ago today. It's been the happiest 18 years of my life! I love you, Dave. Happy Anniversary!

Best Home Teacher

We have the best Home Teacher! When we couldn't keep our appointment for Sunday - Wayne came over with Happy Meals :) I had the best day because whenever I thought about what I should make for dinner - I'd remember that I didn't have to cook!! We had such a fun evening with you guys! Thanks Wayne (and Britt and Molly!)

My Jazz Fans

In honor of the Jazz game. I'd thought I'd post pictures of my "Die Hard Fans!" Bronson said that they were dressing up in Jazz colors at school and he came down wearing this jersey that I had put away in his room. It's a size 2T. Next to his pictures is the picture we had taken when he was about 13 months old with his cousin Chase and Brock. It's funny that Bronson hasn't grown since then - except upward :)





This is Maddie when she was 15 months old in her Jazz cheer leading outfit. She and Bronson had the same sock on!

My Little Journalist

Have any of you seen the American Girl movie "Kit Kittredge?" It is a wonderful movie and we have loved watching it over and over. It takes place during the Great Depression and it's about Kit's family. Kit writes articles that she tries to have the local paper publish.

Our Emmie is a writer. She spends hours and hours writing. She NEVER plays anything (except UNO) and would rather spend time in her room reading and writing stories than do anything. I take that back - she would rather be outside being a "tomboy" too. She told me the other day that she wanted to be a journalist, just like Kit! This is where you will usually find Emmie when she's home...

Another fun fact about the Kit movie (and the Depression) are the hobo marks they talk about. We looked them up on the internet and Emmie made her own copy. These marks were carved in the fence posts of people's houses and it told other hobos if the people were nice, mean, would feed you, had a mean dog, etc.

Dave's grandma had one of these marks on her fence in Oregon. The men would hop a train and stop close to her house. She was a wonderful lady who would always feed the "hobo's". She wondered how they would always find her house until one day one of the men told her about the mark on her gate.

Maddie's Prom

It has been a busy week for Maddie with her Dance concerts the past 2 nights, Prom, and then she has another dance recital next weekend with her studio. I feel like I'm totally neglecting the other kids and blogging about them but they will catch up with her business!

This is a picture of Maddie before her date, Taylor arrived. I think the sleeves we made turned out really cute and I think the dress is much cuter with them.

This is Maddie being mad from all Dave's teasing!

Pinning (or trying) on the flower

Maddie getting her coursage

Maddie and Taylor together

Leaving for the fun evening! Taylor drove an awesome "ride" today that made it fun. I think he bought it just for prom! (Actually I think it was his dad's :) They went and played games earlier in the day because their original plans for biking (bicycles built for 2) up the canyon got rained out.

Sweet car! Taylor is such a gentleman and we have really grown to love him since we met him a few months ago. We've been spoiled parents because the dates Maddie has been on have been such great guys. We haven't had to worry an bit!

Look Who I'm Tending

Brittany is doing so well and she even went to Walmart by herself today. She left Boston at my house and we're having such a great time together!! This is my terrible camera, trying to capture his big smile :)

Tonight and Friday night is the OHS Dance Company Concert. We're so excited to go watch it!

Now Look at Them!

After one week, this is what our vegetable plants are looking like. It's so exciting!!

Prom Season

Spring is an exciting time and I can't believe there is only 1 more month of school left! I'm not sure if I'm ready for summer!

Maddie is excited for prom and we found her dress a month or so ago online. It is the best place and it sells "vintage style dresses". We got this dress for a fraction of what most prom dresses cost. The downside of the website (and most stores ) is that very few dresses come with sleeves! Luckily, this dress came with a huge sash and we were able to use the material to make darling sleeves for the dress. I'll post pictures after Saturday so you can see it!The shoes she picked out are so fun! Maddie can wear high shoes but even though we wear the same shoe size (my foot is the only thing on me that stopped growing!) I feel like I'm going to sprang my ankle when I wear her shoes. We had to order them because they didn't carry a small enough size in the store. She got them yesterday and she can walk in them (amazingly). Dancing might be a bit trickier. Especially since I just found out that they are hold prom on the football field (don't ask me why!). That lawn should be nice and "aerated!"

From this picture they don't look like they would match the dress very well, but they actually compliment very nicely :)

Look What's Growing...

Look what we have growing after 3 days of being planted. We have radishes, broccoli, and cucumbers sprouting already. It's so fun to watch them grow everyday!

Congratulations Sandy!

Last night Dave and I went to the "Brick Oven" with Sandy, Steven, Alisa, and Robert. We were celebrating because Dave's sister, Sandy was accepted into the Doctorate of Nursing program at the University of Utah. Way to go Sandy!!

We ended up having this huge private room all to ourselves because they were making balloon animals all over the restaurant and Sandy has a severe latex allergy and her throat will close up if she even walks into a room with balloons in it. It was a fun evening.
Talbie is our professional babysitter and she tended Charlie while we were gone. They had a wonderful time together.

Spring Break Coming to a Close

Well, Spring Break is technically ending and we made it though and had fun, even though we didn't leave town. Today was extra fun for the kids because Grandpa was home! My dad has a bank in Las Vegas and he spends the week in Vegas and is home during the weekends to see his family (and he is still a Bishop so his life is extra busy!) When Grandpa's home, he likes to party and we usually reap the benefits too!!

My dad and I took the younger kids to see "Race to Witch Mountain" today and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.

Bronson can't wait until "Terminator 4" comes out. Let's hope it's not rated "R" or he will be a sad little boy! He and his dad are hooked on the TV series.

Tonight we went to "Carraba's" One of our favorites!

Maddie, Dustin, and Talbie

My dad somehow manages to never be in any pictures. I captured this one as he was teasing Maddie about something. We love you mom and dad!

Maddie and Her Cake - Update

Many of you commented or asked me if anyone had touched the cake before Maddie got up. Everyone is pretty afraid of Maddie around here - EXCEPT for me, and like I said - I wouldn't touch that cake after I saw all the nose rubbing. I did end up having some when it got eaten towards the middle and it was actually very good.

I was at Brittany's house when Maddie finally woke up and let everyone have some cake. There is actually another video documenting it that Talbie took. Maddie had found candles in the kitchen - a number 1 and a number 8. Then she put 2 plain candles on it. Why you ask?? Because she's "16" of course. Get it, a "1", "8" and then subtract the 2 plain candles to get "16!"

She lit the candles and made everyone sing "Happy Birthday" to her (even though her birthday was 3 months ago). Like I said, she's a "nut job!"

The cake was devoured and there wasn't a trace of it by the end of the day!

Planting My Garden

When you wake up during Spring Break to this...


...you don't think you'll ever get to do yard work and plant a garden. But, Dave went to Home Depot yesterday and came home with this great stuff.

So I got started on my garden today :)

I figure these little guys can grow for at least a month before it's safe to plant them outside. By then, I should have a jump start on my garden.

What a Nut Job!

Maddie is a night owl! Last night around 10:00 I was looking in the store room and we came across a cake pan that used to be my mom's. It's a big tennis shoe cake mold. Maddie said, "I'm going to make this cake right now!" I told her I was going to bed!

I got up this morning and this is what I found on the stove...

She had stayed up until - who knows when - and made this cake. I have to admit I'm impressed with the decorating. I'm even more impressed that the kitchen was spotless when I got up!

She made a couple of videos of herself making this and I'm tempted to post them because I laughed so hard at her! I'm also a little embarrassed for her so I'm still debating :)

Alright - I watched the video again and decided I had to share it - even though it shows what a nut my daughter is. Also - I don't think I want any cake after watching her rub her nose and then touch the cake. EEWWW!

Sunday Best

We had a beautiful Easter Sunday and the weather was just perfect! I'm so thankful for my little family!

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ

Happy Easter to everyone. I have seen this video on lds.org and on some friend's blogs and I think it's a perfect message for today as we celebrate Easter. Have a beautiful day!

Easter Saturday

Today we did the "Easter Bunny" part of celebrating our Easter weekend. I have always had the hardest time with the "Easter Bunny" and I haven't kept that tradition going with my kids - but we do get Easter baskets and have egg hunts. I think of it more of a celebration of Spring so we can reserve Sunday for the real reason we celebrate Easter.

We got an early start because we had a full day of fun and family parties ahead of us. I got up and hid the kid's Easter baskets. That is one of our family traditions - the kids have the HUNT to find their baskets.

Emmie's was in the dryer this year

Talbie's was in the stove. The kids are getting really good at this and it only takes them about 5 minutes to locate them!

Then we had a little egg hunt of our own. We timed this just right because right after we did this, it started raining and it didn't stop all day!

Opening their eggs and finding their "loot".

After we did our little family thing, we headed outside for a block party and a fun egg hunt for the kids.

Then it was off the grandma and grandpa's in the afternoon for pizza and more egg hunting! For those of you that haven't been to my mom's house, her basement is decorated with her Santa collection - all year long. We haven't mixed up our holidays :)

Dustin and Maddie - feeding their faces!

Me and daddy

Some of the "loot" we could win!

Brock and Bronson

My dad getting the eggs ready! We have a very different - but fun "hunt" with my family. We don't hide the eggs, but put them all out in the middle of the floor. We take turns picking an egg and opening it. Most of the eggs are filled with money so it's a very exciting - and stressful time!

Ally is the youngest so she got to pick first!

On Emmie's first pick she got $20~

So did Bronson!

Brittany trying her luck! She wasn't very lucky :)

My brother, Cody is a CHEATER!

Some how he always ends up with the big money! On this pick he got $50!

I told you Brittany wasn't very lucky :)Dustin was also very lucky! He ended up with the most money, with Maddie in a close 2nd!

Dallin and his $5

Me and Boston :)


After the party was finishing up, Bronson and Brock found the "George and Barbara Bush" masks. So funny!

Logan and Talbie trying them out