Three!!!

Ethan turned three in April and wanted to have a Spiderman Birthday...so we did. Here is the Birthday Boy trying to figure out how to put up three fingers...hmmmmm. Blowing out his candles...

Awesome super hero presents...

Spidey even made an appearance!!!

The cake (I really liked how this one turned out...way better than the last one I did, thank you very much.)

Mom and Ethan and the "cake picture."

Happy Birthday to our Spidey!!! We love you Ethan!!!

My Annual Mother's Day Pics

Here are my annual Mother's Day Pictures. Once again...they were not really cooperating (besides Jenna). But I love that it really just shows their little personalities. Buddies...

The only really decent picture with Ethan...and I love it.

My sweet Jenna...

and the boys...I feel like a such a lucky mom to get to raise these kids. Today during church I was reminded how fast time goes while raising kids. It made me get teary eyed and appreciate all the little messes, snotty noses, bed time routines, dirty loads of laundry, soccer practices, baths, hugs and kisses, talks, play time, etc. even more!!! I am so lucky and blessed have these three amazing kids! And Happy Mother's Day to all you amazing Mom's out their (you know who you are) including my own Mom and Mothers in-laws!!!

Drew is FOUR!!!

I Can't believe that my boy is four. We had a great day celebrating the day at Chuck e Cheese. Then a few days later we had another party with the Grandparents and cousins.

The cake I made...it did taste good...even if it looks like a total mess. Drew loved it though. Another Toy Story cake request. He was HILARIOUS to watch opening his presents. He loved everything he got and was spoiled rotten. New Buzz Lightyear, leapster games, Iron Man jammies, books, a remote control Iron Man...and more. What a haul Drew!!! Happy Birthday Bud!!! You are a pure joy and make life so fun!!!! I never know what is going to come out of your mouth but you make me laugh every........single..........day!!!

Drew's Frog Cupcakes

Well, this boy had a birthday back in January. Since he is a lover of all things green and slimy, I figured I would make hime frog cupcakes to take to school. He loved them and I was told they were a total hit!

Going to see the Komodos

We were getting a little cabin fever here in the Inland Northwest so we decided to go on a little adventure over to Seattle and go to the zoo. Seattle was absolutely gorgeous and clear, BUT it was freezing cold. The wind was blowing hard and frigid. It didn't stop us from completeing our goal of seeing the Komodo dragons at the zoo! The kids were champs and we all had a blast! A trip to the zoo wouldn't be complete with out a visit to the African village. This is Jenna's favorite part and I get this shot of her every time we go. She is getting so big!Here is Drew having some fun in the indoor playland at the zoo. Thank goodness for this place, we were able to warm up and the kids burned some energy!!! We went to the bird house and bought a seed stick. All of these little birds were so happy to walk on your stick and have a treat. Ethan is a total freak when it comes to birds. We were once attacked by seagulls in a park once (shame on me for throwing out a fry) and he has never been the same...but I think he totally over came his fear. He did so well.Jenna loved it too! The birds were flocking to her stick...three landed at once on it until she screamed in the bird house. Ethan's favorite part of the zoo was the poision dart frogs. We had to go and buy a little momento from the souviner shop...a blue dart frog.

Here is Drew...totally loving the Komodo. I think he is saying "KOMO--DOOO!!"

This big guy loved getting his picture taken. He was a blast to watch and put on quite the show for us.

My favorite part of the trip...taking a little side trip to Red Mango to get a frozen yogurt. So worth it! Also my sweet husband drove me to Ikea to look around while he waited in the car with the kids. I told him I would be 20 minutes tops...are you kidding me??? An hour later I finally found my way out of the store. Next time we will all go inside. We all had a great time!!!

My favorite time of year...

Some fun times on a tractor. Drew found his pumpkin!

Jenna was happy as could be. We sent her into the maze by herself with my cell phone. I nearly had a heart attack. She didn't answer the phone and was out in 5 minutes...what the heck. Joel and I were certain she would play in there for at least a half and hour. I can't handle that stress. Forget when she starts to drive!!!!

Train rides in water buckets...sure!

Ethan finding Mom the perfect white pumpkin with his Ironman toy.

I LOVE FALL!!! LOVE IT!!! And I love Greenbluff. I always tell Joel that we could sell everything, quit his job, and move to the country and open a little orchard/farm and I would be so happy. Maybe when the kids are older. In the mean time I'll just happily visit and not do any heavy labor.

Halloween

This year for Halloween I had a Buzzlightyear, Spiderman, and a Witch. We had a lot of fun carving pumpkins, going to the ward trunk or treat (and running out of tons of candy in 15 minutes because there were SO many kids there), and then letting the kids go through the neighborhood on Halloween night. They got a haul of candy and I think that I have eaten half-of it, but that is the beauty of the season, right?!

Really?

Second grade!!! Really? Where has the time gone...Jenna was so excited for the first day of school. When I did the ritual morning routine of yelling downstairs to tell her to start to get ready, she jumps around the corner, all showered and dressed!!! What! It was only 7:10!!! That girl was the first one to the bus stop! Here she is...getting on the bus!

Bus...check.

Friends...check.

New outfit and more importantly...twinkle toes...check.

Cousin Garrett...check.

Traditional porch photo...check.

Crazy camera toting mom in sweats, boots, huge sweater and crazy hair at the bus stop...check.
READY FOR SECOND GRADE!!! I CAN NOT GET OVER HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS GIRL IS!!!

This year can go as slowly as it would like...please.

More Perfect Day Pics

Here are my dirty-faced, frog-finders...Drew accidently dropped the bucket on the boat and we had 10 little frogs hopping all over...it was pure excitement.

Counting the frogs to make sure we caught them all...7,8,9,10. WE GOT THEM ALL!
Here is our captain...Rocky Balboa. What a water dog. I need to buy him a little life jacket though, he fell in on accident once and went tubing with Joel and Jenna.

My handsome hubs enjoying the water. It was so refreshing.

Phew! What a great day... Until next time Lake Roosevelt! THE END!

Perfect Day

Some days are good. Some days are not so good. And some are just perfect. This last week we were able to go to our most favorite lake, Lake Roosevelt. It just might have been our last day of summer...it was a gorgeous 91 degrees and the lake was G-L-A-S-S. Not to mention that the kids shown below were happy and so much fun. Ethan is a happy camper on the boat and is the best cuddle-bug on the boat too. I love this little guy!

Jenna is hilarious. She LOVES to tube. I took her and Joel and they went flying like CRAZY!!! She is fearless...Joel got off the tube and she wanted to go some more. So I took her really fast and the tube literally left the water and was flying through the air!!! She hung on and Joel and I couldn't believe our eyes. We died laughing at this little dare devil! She also took a try at wakeboarding and got up! It was awesome and I love that she tried her very best and never gave up!

The sequel to the movie "Snakes on a Plane" (I am sure you all saw that one...just kidding)..........

"Frogs on a Boat." The whole day I told Drew that we would go look for lizzards or something gross on one of the sandy and amazing beaches that Roosevelt has...and to my complete astonishment...we found frogs!!! Drew couldn't have been happier! He always tells me, "Mom, lizzards and frogs are in my heart." So of course I had to let him bring them home...but will soon be released back into the wild.

The lizzard boy himself...doesn't he look like he's in heaven. Who can say no to that little face.

As I was wakeboarding on the above mentioned glass...I just was so happy to see the ones I love most on Earth on that boat. My sweet kids and husband. I was just filled with so much gratitude for the life that I have been blessed with! I kept saying that the lake was like a little bit of heaven and so Jenna would say, "Mom, this day is just like heaven!" And I can't help but feel like it was...IT WAS A PERFECT DAY!!!

Sneak Peak for Natalie

We did a quick photo shoot while my sister and her cute kids were in town from Las Vegas. I love these kids so much and they have the cutest little personalities...

Softball!!!

Jenna played her first season of fastpitch softball!!! I was so excited for her to play and an so happy to report that she LOVES it!!! She did such a great job and tried her very best. She was so cute too!!! I just wish I would have taken a picture of her in the field...what was I thinking.

Jeanna loved to cheer and sing for her team mates.

Grandma and Grandpa watching the newest generation of softball players...while Drew takes a nap.

This cute boy enjoyed running around and playing in the dirt. She was so cute and when she would hit the ball she would tell her coach, "My Mom was a softball player." She would crack me up and make me blush...what a girl.

Watch out Taylor Swift...

I feel the need to catch up my blog a little...an how could I forget about Jenna's big moment in her school's talent show. She came home one day and told me that they would be having auditions for the talent show and that she wanted to sing a song. I tried to talk her into singing "Over the Rainbow" or something familiar...but she was adament that she sing her own song entitled, "Over the Hills." The funny thing is, she made this song up, but sings it the exact same every time. Well, I called her teacher and asked her if it was an audition in front of just a couple of teachers or the whole first grade. She said the whole first grade. I told her that Jenna could perform but we should probably just let her go that far...I know...I am a great mom. Trying to squish a little girls dreams. Well, long story short...her teacher was not there the day of auditions and my little star made it to the school talent show. Miss Jenna sang her rendition of "Over the Hills" in front of hundreds of kids and parents....a capella. I am so proud of how confident and poised this little girl was. I was always way to scared to do anything like that!!! She is so brave!!!She looked so cute, and did a really good job. We have a singer-song writer on our hands...watch out Taylor Swift!!!

Lyrics to "Over the Hills" by Jenna

I was waiting for you, on top of the highest hill

I was getting unpatient, so I went to find you

So I went over the hills, over the hills, over the hills

I went into the darkest forest, good thing I had a flashlight

Then I went to crocodile lake, there were crocodiles in crocodile lake

They reminded me of the tallest hills, so I went over the hills, over the hills, over the hills

Then I finally found you...so I took your hand and we went over the hills, over the hills, over the TALLEST HILL!!!

Okay...not word for word, but you get the point.

For Holly Sue

I did my first family photo shoot for my sister-in-law and brother-in-law's family. It was a total blast...for me anyway...here is a little sneak peak of my beautiful sis-in-law and her four adorable boys!!! I just love these guys!
What a great looking couple...no wonder their boys are so dang cute!!!