Hogle Zoo

These are just a few of the many pictures taken at the Hogle Zoo. Unfortunately my SLR ate some of my film when it was rewinding, such is life but the ones that turned out were totally cute. These pics all came from the digital. The best thing about the Hogle Zoo is that by the time the kids are ready to leave the Zoo is finished. Thanks everyone for the eventful week.

Playing with the Bear

Tis the season that all of the teenage cubs come down the mountain for food and to find their own territory. Dave decided that he would play with one and was only 5 feet away. This bear did not seem to afraid of Dave and the Wildlife guy. I think that he looks so cute.

By the way Karly, Auntie Gina lied to you when we were camping....They caught a Bear at the next park up while we were camping. Uncle Dave just told me that last night.

Clean up clean up

Today was an exciting day to say the least...that is if you consider cleaning an exciting event. Lately I have been feeling the need to take a bulldozer to all of the clutter that I have in my life right now. So with that being said today I approached Addison and asked her if we could clean her room and in doing so we would throw away all of the broken toys as wells as give toys that she no longer played with to other children who needed toys. It was amazing she immediately hopped up off of the floor and stated that we needed to go and clean her room because she knew that there were a lot of kids who need her old toys. I am so proud of my little girl, in fact we only had tears shed once when Daddy came home and told her that he was going to throw all of her toys away or give them away unless I quickly came back in the room. I quickly came into the room and told him that he could not and then I explained that she had been doing so well at cleaning and making good decisions. The damage had already been done so to try and recover he told Addison that if he did give away all of her toys that he would buy her new ones. Addie was so excited that she went to empty out all of her "keep toys" so that she could have all new ones. Bad idea Daddy!!! Seriously though I am so proud of my little girl she got rid of one large black garbage bag and a huge box full of toys.

Kids 2001 Mommy 1

"Does what I say even matter?" NO!
Yes that has to be one of the stupidest questions I have yet to ask my dear sweet children. I of course asked it after I was at my wits end and ready to begin a short and downward spiral. The older two had not been listening to what I asked since their naps. My requests went something like...JT please drink your milk in the kitchen. Addison please do not pull the newspaper apart. Children please do not climb on the couch. they then turned into demands...Get out of the curtains. Do not hit your sister with the bat. Get out of the baby swing. Do not sass me! Dave please help me!!! Yes in my moment of despair sound came to the question that I was drumming over and over again in my mind, "Does what I say even matter?" Oddly enough I wasn't expecting an answer but my smart little two year old quickly responded, "NO!" At that moment I just had to take a deep breath and laugh to myself thinking he is to smart for his own good. So tonight I am ready to throw in the towel, I give up! At this point I can only think that tomorrow is another day and hopefully then I can get ahead or at least think I've won one adventure.

PADI Certified

So first off I have to shout it from the roof tops Dave and I are Scuba certified. Grammy Mac was kind enough to play with Addison and JT over the weekend while Grams and Gramps took care of Payslei. I am happy to report that all of my babies behaved in fact Payslei no longer sticks out her bottom lip when Grams talks to her but now smiles and coos. We arrived in Wendover at the hotel around 1:00 checked in and then we all loaded up into the vehicles and headed out to the lake for our first open water dive. When it was over we all headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner, wash out the equipment, and I desperately needed to pump for Payslei. We went to one of the buffets and I got sick along with a couple of other people in the dive group. Dave got a phone call just before 5:00 trying to call him out to work, they didn't have the updated schedule. I decided that I would get up at that point and pump again because I knew that I wouldn't have time before we were to be up and ready for the next dive. The last dive went slowly but great, 3 1/2 hours later we were certified and were able to play in the water and then go home. Dave being the amazing person that he is went to work after we got home while I totally bummed it. Thanks once again to our amazing Grams, Gramps, and Grammy Mac.

JT and the Terrible Two's they have just begun

Now I know that my children are God sent but sometimes I think that the man upstairs has a twisted sense of humor when it comes to my kids and their behavior. Take today for an example...JT only wants candy for breakfast and wont eat anything else. Later while I am multitasking JT takes off his diaper and comes into the Front room (no big deal he has been potty training himself) WRONG!!! He looks at me and smiles squats down in front of his little skateboard and craps on the floor. As he does this he proceeds to look up at me lovingly I yell get your but in on the toilet and off his little toosh runs and sits up. To late though the damage is done the is crap on my floor. (Mind you when this happens I am on the phone and checking the news on the computer, my best friend hears me yelling and is just laughing!) Now being the mom that I am I run a bath and have him get into it to clean off, Addison decides that she needs to bathe as well so soon they are playing and having a great time. Payslei wakes up again and so I am in the bedroom changing her and feeding her when my bf shows up and immediately JT thinks that he needs to get out of the tub so that he can leave with her. Thank goodness that Daddy shows up and so now he is distracted. Melissa leaves and then Daddy leaves to run just a few more errands and the kids have a good time playing all the while they keep asking to go outside to play. I quickly strike a deal with them and tell them that they can play in the backyard after lunch while Dave and I finish our reading for the Dive class later that night. Dave gets home and we start studying while the Macaroni and Cheese cook. The kids eat lunch and are watching cartoons when I get the notion to check on them. This is another big mistake, JT in all his "acrobatic/engineering know how" has pushed the piano bench from the front room into the kitchen up against the dishwasher which he has pushed in front of the fridge and climbed from one object to the next to retrieve the koolaide mixture that was located on top. After retrieving the koolaide he pushed the piano bench and dishwasher back up against the wall where the dishwasher goes. Needless to say he tried to get himself a drink of koolaide by mixing it himself and poor Addison was trying to be good and clean it up so that he mommy didn't have a nervous break down. Unfortunately for both of them koolaide doesn't clean up well with water, its best to first sweep up all you can and then get a wet rag. The mess was everywhere, in the children's hair, on their clothing, as well as their skin, not to mention the kitchen floor, interior and exterior of the fridge, Dining room floor, chair, Front room, my Sheets and Comforter. It was everywhere red koolaide. At the time it happened I was furious but looking back now I see that it wasn't something that is worth having a nervous breakdown over just something that I should post for all to laugh at and show JT when he is older. So for all of you moms laughing now I hope that you never have to clean up red koolaide and that you all put the powdered drink substances up behind closed cupboard doors.

Payslei's sleeping

Payslei slept through the night! YES!!! I topped her off last night around 10:00 and she did not wake up until 6:00 when Dave started getting ready for work. We were both so excited and yet exhausted at the same time. Addison came into our room last night and crawled into bed with us and kicked off the covers multiple times as well as tried to kick me off the bed. So, even though my baby slept through the night I didn't and have woken up with a pounding headache. So, keep your fingers crossed that Payslei continues to sleep through the night and that the older two kids stay in their own beds.

A Mother's Day Gift

Now any of you who know me well know that I have always said that the reason my older two were so angelic as babies is because God knew if I had a "upset" one that there would be no more. This being said Payslei is a screamer/crier and church is rarely enjoyed due to the over abundance of energy that exhumes from my children. Well today I got a break, or as I like to call it a Gift from God for Mothers Day, Payslei took a pacifier and was quiet for all 5 1/2 hours of church. Yes we took it to the extreme today but let me explain first was church in our area and then onto church in my parents ward to listen to Gramps talk. My children were angelic to say the least, well as far as church is concerned. After church it was another story for the most part angelic but hey it wouldn't be one of our kids if there wasn't a little mischief. Sorry Mom and Auntie Alyssa! I guess this is what happens when I slack in covering my kids in Sunscreen.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful influential Women in our lives

We Love You!

Addison and the Bumble Bee

The kids were anxiously looking out the picture window and giggling and then all of a sudden came the blood curdling screams. I immediately jumped up and saw my little girl running holding her arm and jumping. A gigantic bumble bee had attacked. The Bumble was holding onto her arm for dear life and was not about to let go. I quickly put Payslei into the car seat nearby and proceeded to knock the Bumble off. Needless to say I truly felt bad for my little girl. It was so traumatic that we had to call our Grams and Grammy Mac to tell the tale. It was so cute to hear Addison tell them that a Bumble Bee poked her with a needle on her arm. It was even cuter when she told her daddy what happened..."Daddy um I was looking out the window with JT and laughing looking at the Bumble Bee sleeping and it jumped up and poked me with a needle on my arm." (This time there was no crying) My favorite by far was when she asked me for a candy bar and then proceeded to tell me that it will help to make her arm feel better. Oh yeah and that she needed a band aide as well. Here are some of the pictures that we had to take of the battle wound and evil bee. It looks massive in person but not in the picture. Thank goodness that she isn't allergic to bees.

We love the water

So today the kids ran to the front door stark naked and wanted to go out to play. It was all I could do to keep them inside until they were properly dressed in "twimtut." Now any of you who have children know that if you have on your twimming tut you need the twimming pool. Needless to say by the end of the afternoon my poor children were nicely pinkified and sad to see the pool get emptied. Being a mom I had to laugh when JT was devastated at the idea that he could no longer fill the pool with water and get his sister wet, even more traumatized when his mommy wouldn't let him play out in the pool naked.

Lip Chap

Today has been one of those "typical" mom days....Addison and JT found some of my old "lip chap." I use found very lightly they actually opened up the closet door on the vanity and then pulled out the Rubbermaid drawer that it was located in and proceeded to "paint" their faces. For the most part Addison got it all around her lips (she looked like a clown had done her makeup), JT on the other hand had it everywhere, lips, eyelids, cheeks, ears, and don't forget the hair. It looked like he had tried to streak his hair with lipstick. At times like this all I can think is Where is my camera, oh wait I remember I dropped it and it broke. So all of you who have kids I'm sure that you have felt my pain at least once or will be soon and for those who don't just use your imagination.

I LOVE Peanut Butter Cookies....

Let me set this up by saying that last night while Dave and I went out my family watched our kids. Kadon was busy making cookies for everyone that would attend his Eagle Project the next morning. He had already made Chocolate Chip and was beginning to make Peanut Butter Cookies. Addison really wanted to help and was "supervising" she proceeded to ask Kadon what kind he was making and what was in it. The conversation went something like this,
"What is in Peanut Butter cookies?"
"Butter, sugar, brown sugar...."
"I love Peanut Butter Cookies"
"Addison have you ever had Peanut Butter cookies before?"
"No"
"Well then how do you know that you love them?"
"Because they have ...SUGAR."
I always knew that my daughter had a sweet tooth but not to this extent. (I know that she got that trait from her daddy) Sometimes she just says the cutiest things. And yes for any of you who are wondering she has had Peanut Butter Cookies before she has even helped me make them and then drizzle chocolate on them.

Six years and counting

Happy Anniversary Baby! There are some moments that it seems like just yesterday that we got hitched and then the kids start screaming and we wake up into reality; boy has time flied by. In the past six years we have moved from Idaho, where we met, to California, and then on to Utah. Our jobs have also changed mine from student to accounting to office manager, and finally to mommy and yours from a baker to auto body, prison guard and now to UHP. Well through it all I wouldn't want to journey through this adventure with anyone else but you. ~I love you!~

Sun Bathing

2 of 3 finished

I just have to brag about my husband and tell the world that he has completed 2 out of the 3 projects that he has been working on. Yep, last night he got the washing machine hooked up and now I can finally do Laundry!!! He also got the fence completed on J.T.'s birthday, now all that he has left to do is finish wiring the lights in the Front room. I just have to say that I love it when his family comes to town, it's like he gets a swift kick in the pants to get everything done before they get here. Hopefully I can squeeze in 2 more projects and get Addie's and J.T.'s rooms finished before everyone gets here the end of May. No seriously, what else can I say other than that Dave is amazing!!

I want to go diving too...

First off I should start out by saying that my kids are just like their daddy and love, I mean LOVE the water and anything that has to do with it, while I on the other hand do not float I sink. Now that I have shared that info. let me explain the adorable pictures. Dave and I are taking a dive class. I have been reassured that it is much easier than swimming alone and that I will not die. So, after spending a small fortune on equipment I am happy to report that the class is this Saturday. Yep, scaredie pants me is getting into the pool at 10:00 am. Addison and JT are quiet sad that they don't have any equipment small enough for them. I don't think that they understand that the tank itself weighs more than both of them combined. So, until that day when they are old enough to go diving with us they will have to settle for snorkeling and playing with Daddy's old gear. On second thought maybe we will just get them some of their own so when they ruin it their daddy won't cry. I almost forgot, notice how the mouth piece is barely fitting into Addie's mouth and just a small piece of it is in J.T.'s, they both tried so hard to get it to fit it in.

Why Auntie Gina is my favorite

Today McKinley came to play with her favorite Auntie Gina. We had so much fun just the two of us playing outside and eating a Dum Dum sucker. Warning to all be careful, because she loves to share her treats and then proceed to eat the wrong end of the sucker. By the time she was finished she was covered in blue and all sticky. Even with the mess it sure was worth it.

Addison wants to be a hair dresser

Yes I have decided to post my daughters latest stunt. Addison has once AGAIN cut her hair. Now for any of you who are counting this is the third time yes count with me, 1st time was days before our trip to California for Kim and Ethan's sealing, 2nd time was right after it was long enough for baby pig tails, cut one from the front and the other from the back, and the 3rd time over at my mom's neighbors house. I am hoping to say that this is the last time this will happen but as you can see I wasted my breath the last two times that I said it. I guess I should look on the bright side of things at least she now has a bob and not a punk rock doo <-(I happened to really like this look she had the attitude to pull it off, only the older generations hated it) or even worse a shaved head. Just a note for all of you moms who are now feeling just a little bit of my pain or laughing at my misfortune she told her Grams that it was because she thought her hair was getting a bit to long. She seems to think this every time one of my brothers get their hair cut.

JT is 2

All day on Friday JT had been walking around singing, "Appy Bird Day to me" and when asked who's birthday it was he'd respond, "ME" and how old are you "2", as he held up five little fingers. My how my little boy has grown. He is definitely all boy between his five concussions, love for dirt and chaos, and love for balls, yes his first word was ball. Needless to say for his birthday he received all things that involved balls, and one skateboard that I am sure will result in another concussion and him wearing a helmet. Almost all of the family came to celebrate his birthday eating Sour cream Enchiladas, Rice, Beans, Cake and Ice Cream. Addison and JT especially enjoyed the balloons on the cake made out of icing. We love our little boy and can't wait to see what this new year will bring.

A day with Leslie and Bailey

As you can all tell my kids loved playing and had an amazing time with their Auntie Lele and Bailey. Addison, JT, and Payslei all had a blast hanging out while Dave and I went to work. I thought that it was very brave of them to take all 3 but I guess Leslie wanted the practice and Bailey just wanted to play with the kids. She is going to be an amazing Auntie. We love you guys!!!