129/365

Happy Mothers Day to Me!

The highlight of my mothers day was by far spending time with all the beautiful mothers in my life, but today was pretty great as well. Yesterday I had a lunch for my mom, Shauna, Grandma K, Jeannie and Grandma Horton. I feel so bad I forgot to take the picture before Shauna had to leave and Grandma Horton wasn't feeling well so she couldn't come.  It was such a wonderful day for me to celebrate my love for these amazing women in my life.

I'm so blessed.
Beautiful kids,
Awesome Husband,
Other moms in my life that inspire and make me a better person.

128/365 part 2

What a night!

Just spent the last hour an half at InstaCare with Kaden. After a chest x-ray, we found out the little guy has phnemonia.

Poor guy.Publish Post

127/365

Tonight was late over.   I can't believe I forgot to take pictures!!!

The kids wrote special cards for their moms for mothers day, dipped strawberries in chocolate and helped make mint truffles. They were all super excited to give their moms the yummy treats!

It's getting to be pretty funny.  All the kids have favorite things about each house when we do late over.  Jana always makes chocolate chip cookies, Jenni lets them choose what they want to eat, and I guess I've become the craft house. Whenever it's at my house, the kids always come up and ask me what type of craft we'll be doing that night.

 I'm wishing I had one of Jana's chocolate chip cookies right now! mmmmmm.

Day 22 HCG:  loss as of today:   23.2 out of a 100 lbs to lose by April 2012

126/365

First Lemonade Stand of the season.

They made a whole $3.00 and most of that was from Angie and I.

Life is good.

123,124,125/365

Moab is my kids favorite getaway.  Here's a glimpse of our fun little trip.

We LOVE this tradition!


We Rented a fun little cabin. This place is a keeper.  Mini Golf, Swimming, BBQ's, Playgrounds, Scavenger Hunts, Human Chess and Checkers... this place had it all.

Moab trip just wouldn't be the same if we didn't try to push Balanced Rock off the mountain.

  We do a little hiking.... not much, but we do enough that the kids still like it.

There's always jumping off cliffs.  Kaden's now a pro.

Traditional  Sand Burying

and Beach Toys for Sand Dune Arch

The park is always a must.  The kids brought their scooters this year to try out the skate park.  

Check out Kaden riding the rail.  

 

The #1 Reason we go to Moab????

Swimming. Swimming. Swimming.... then some more Swimming.

Did I mention my kids LOVE Swimming???

122/365 moab

We headed to Moab today. The kids waited in the car for an hour while we were finishing packing up.

Ya think they are excited???

121/365

I made a groom super happy with this little surprise today.

I dedicated this cake to the biggest BYU/Jazz fans I know.....Thayne and Jordan.

120/365 ap29

Unless you have had a kid that loves trains, you have no appreciation for this post.
I got all the tracks to fit!!!! (It only took me an hour, and just a couple curse words under my breath, but I got them all to fit!!!!)
This is HUGE news. I'm so proud of myself.



It's all worth it for this cute little guy.  Just look at him?  Ahhhh! I can't get enough. He melts my heart.

119/365

Avery was playing outside with the boys and all of a sudden I hear her come into the house saying, "You guys were not listening to me.  You need to go into time out for a while"

What could they have possibly done to deserve this?? Poor, Poor animals.  

You better mind Avery better next time.

118/365

My two guys sound asleep.  So cute.

144/365

Happy Easter!

114/365

Brian and I were guests to the hottest, most trendy candy store in the city.  The food was delicious!!!!
It was a little pricey, but luckily we had a whole wallet full of imaginary money.
The owner was super nice and was happy to serve us whatever we wanted.  My favorite were the chocolate brownies.  mmmmmmmm

113/365

Happy Birthday Brian!!

36 years old this year! Wow!! We have been together for nearly 19 years!!!


Love you!

Day 8 HCG:  loss as of today:   13.7 out of a 100 lbs to lose by April 2012

109/365

Little Brother wants to be just like Big Brother

This one just lost tooth #5,

This one just wants to show off his teeth for the camera.

107/365

Today was yet another Bridal Show.  There were 5 other cake decorators there this time. This is by far the most I've ever had to compete with.  My favorite part of the show this time was that we had a cake eating contest.  There were 5 couples who were competing for a free wedding cake.  They had to eat a cake (feeding eachother with only their hands). Who ever got done first was the winner.

It was hilarious.

106/365

Brian and I started HCG diet today.  500 calories a day.  No sugar. No carbs.

Oh my gosh, it's going to be a LONG 6 weeks!!

But in saying that, it needs to be a good 6 weeks.  I need to take control of my body. I need to not eat everything I see.  I don't even recognize myself in the mirror anymore.  I don't like what I see.  It's time to make some changes.

Here's the goal:   100 pounds lost by April 2012.

Starting weight is much more than I ever dreamed it would be... now it's time to prove who is in charge! Is it going to be food or myself????   The road will be rough, but in the end, it WILL be worth it.

105/365

Today I helped out my friend with watching her little girl.  

The truth is, she didn't want anything to do with me, but she couldn't get enough of Avery.  

She is an amazing little mom.  She's going to be and incredible real mom someday. 

Thanks Aves for your help.  You saved the day.

104/365

Oh my Gosh, I love this kid!!!
Look how cute his chubby feet are???

He's gotten into a bad habit of crying if he can't see me around.  So, he spends alot of time in this little blue chair on the kitchen counter.  We flirt back and forth while I'm cooking or doing dishes.

103/365

We finally had a day warm enough to play outside.

The kids didn't waste anytime getting out and enjoying the sun! Nor did they decide they were going to make cute faces in this picture.  What in the world are they doing? Crazy kids.

102/365

Today was the annual Springview Farms Easter Egg Hunt. 

The kids had a blast, and even got to meet the Easter Bunny! 

Connor was just chillin in his car seat, fast asleep.. He didn't get to participate this year.

Run Kade, Run!!

Avery loved the bunny!

Brighton had it all figured out. He would grab an egg, shake it, open it up, throw the candy in the basket and drop the egg back on the grass.  (That kid cracks me up!)

101/365

We were really lucky today to have Evelyn Thacker come over for dinner.  She's a lady across the street I get to visit teach. The kids drew her pictures, sang her songs, showed off karate and dance moves, and she even got a crash course of different thomas the train characters.
We had a great night.

                            (I love that none of my kids are even looking at the camera..... nice)

The coolest thing about this lady is that she's 96 years old!
I hope I look this great when I'm that age.

100/365

Tonight was much like every other Saturday night.

We've made a new tradition.

Saturday nights =  Breakfast for dinner in our jammies (mom and dad too), movies and popcorn.
                                              Tonights show:  Nanny McPhee Returns
                                                             I LOVE this tradition.

99/365

Avery had her kindergarten orientation today.

She was one VERY EXCITED little girl.

(We had to have a very detailed discussion that she wasn't actually STARTING kindergarten today)

Here she is with her best friend Sam.  If I have my way, Sam will be my son in law someday. 

He is literally the sweetest kid I have EVER met! 

98/365

Today I spent most of the day working on wedding cakes.  Days like this I feel bad that my kids are being babysat by the television.  When the two oldest were at school, I took some time to just sit and play ball with Brighton.  Then later, he helped me make dinner.
Those little moments were the highlight of my day.  We had so much fun.
I need to remember the small things on my busy days.  It's what life's all about.

97/365

Another spectacular Daddy Daughter Day
Avery played "hookie" from preschool and went skiing with Brian today.
She skiied all day, then went to Zupas for a late lunch.  What could make the day better?
She also made her own "kicker" aka a jump, she was very proud that she could ski on the big hill (she doesn't think Kaden could do), her hockey stops are awesome, and she swore she wasn't tired on the way home only to be snoring a couple minutes later.

What would we do without daddy??? Life is pretty great around here.

96/365

A silly thing to blog about, but I'm doing the happy dance today because the school bus now picks up kids right in front of our house!!!
I can't tell you how AWESOME this is!

On a more "blog worthy" note.....  I've got the cutest boys ever!

95/365

Every time I leave town for any given amount of time,  our house turns into "Clingy World"
Bright wouldn't leave my side today.  He cried when I opened the garage to take out the garbage, and when I put him down for a nap, he said, "Mom, don't leeeeeeve me"!

I'm going to miss these days when they don't need me as much.

94/365

The worst part about coming home....
 87 degrees yesterday in St. George..... 35 driving home today.  Spring in Utah... I just don't get it.

The best part of coming home......
Huge hugs and kisses,  An adorable welcome home sign and kids begging for their presents.  Life away for a few days makes being a mom even better.

92-93/365

For the past two days, this was my life.

A good book.
An awesome Husband.
Sleeping In.
Palm Trees
Warm Weather
and best of all......
NO KIDS!!!!!

91/365

Had to make a cake tonight.
Connor decided he was going to be spoiled.
Can I tell you how difficult it is to cut out fondant pieces and shape them while holding an infant?

Ahhhh the joys of motherhood.

On another note...
Kade came home with this adorable little number today.  One might say, "What does a 1st grader learn in computer class??"   Well, they learn to use the camera and put speech bubbles on their heads.

Hilarious!  (on the picture where it says, "I am mad" he told me that he was trying to hold his breath so his face would be bright red in the picture. What a funny kid)

90/365

It's another first.

Ok.. so it's not a REAL sit up.  He's kinda balancing on his tummy, but it's still adorable.

On a side note, today Avery had Show and Tell.  She decided to take Connor.  She was so excited to show off her baby brother.  I wish I would have had my camera.

The real miracle would have been if Avery would have wanted to show off Brighton.  

Ya!! Never gonna happen.  

89/365

Today my heart broke as a mom.
It was one of those moments that I know I needed to help teach a lesson, but all I wanted to do was cry.

Here's the story.
Kaden has been doing Karate the past 6 months. He LOVES it! Tonight was his "graduation" from his yellow belt to his orange belt. He has been soooo excited for this night.  It's about the only thing he's talked about for the last couple weeks. He told all his friends that he'd be getting his orange belt tonight, Brian got a little time off work to come and see him, grandma Becky came by his class, Avery even prayed for him this morning and said, "bless Kaden that he will get his orange belt". We were all so excited.

Well.....
He didn't earn his orange belt.

When they called his name, they gave him his 100% attendance star and a certificate saying he is now a 2nd Degree yellow belt. My heart sunk.
Kaden (the tender and proud little guy he is) ran over to Brian and I with a smile on his face and gave us a hug (no other kid did that) and said, "I'll be getting my orange belt at the end". Ahhh! I barely could hold back the tears. He was going to be so disappointed. I felt so hurt for him. It was a feeling I don't think I've had as a mom yet.
The class went on, and pretty soon he started realizing other kids were getting their belts and he wasn't.  When all the kids were asked to stand up and change their belts, he and his buddy Ryder were asked to come over to the teacher.  She put a black piece of tape on their belts and told them they were now 2nd Degree black belts. All Kaden could say was, "uhhh... after yellow belt, it's orange belt".  The teacher then had to tell him he didn't pass his test so he didn't get to have his orange belt yet.
Now... his heart sunk.
(crap... I'm crying just writing this post!)
The rest of class, he looked sober and kept his head down.  He kept blinking like he was trying to hold back tears. He came over to me and said, he didn't earn his orange belt.  I knew I just needed to put a smile on my face and tell him what a good job he had done.  I was so proud of him, but  all I wanted to do was hold him and take away all his disappointment.  We put smiles on our faces and told him how proud we were that he was a 2nd degree.  It was hard.
 As I was watching him in class, I couldn't help but feel the hurt my parents had for me the first time I didn't make the school play or when I was benched on the softball team.  I knew they felt bad for me, but I had never realized how bad it hurts to see your kids when they are heartbroken. Wow!!! It really sucks.
The crazy thing is.... despite how much I wanted to take that pain away from Kaden, I also realized what a good lesson this would be for him.  Having him not pass this test will help him realize that he has to work hard. The best things in life don't come easy.  He loves karate. And now I think he will appreciate it even more because of this experience.
 Brian told him some great advise that I hope that he will always remember.  It's this advise that made me want to write this (super long) post on our 365 blog.  So Kaden... in years to come, read this post and remember what your dad taught you tonight.
He told you that now that you have to re-do this class, you will learn it better and you will have the potential to be the very best yellow belt student.  He told you that you will appreciate your orange belt so much more because you had to work so hard for it.
He then told you that he could go and buy you an orange belt, or even a black belt. He asked if you thought those belts would mean anything to you. Dad told you that the reason those belts are so special is because all the hard work it took to get them. The real honor is the work... not the color of the belt.
So... as hard as it was to see you hurt and disappointed tonight, I think it was a lesson well learned.  Not just for you, but for me and dad too.  As a parent, we have to be able to support, love, hug, cry and think positive.  Teach our kids to be strong while giving them a shoulder to cry on.  We can't just be negative and put the blame on others.. we need to help lift up our kids head and get them out there to try harder.  This is what will make them strong, confident and successful in all their endeavors.
Kaden.... I love you so much. I am very,very, very proud of you! I'm hurt when you hurt, but I gain strength by watching you pick yourself back up.  You are only 7 years old and you haven't had too many disappointments in life yet, but I know when you do have to face them, know that your dad and I will always be there for you.   You are one awesome son!

88/365

Dear Future Me.

I have one question for you.
Do Avery and Brighton STILL pester and bug each other over and over and over and over and over again?

Have I gone crazy yet?
Because Present Me is about ready to lose it.

87/365

Today I actually learned something in church. Most days its just a lot of running around chasing kids or trying to keep them reverent.  Today, we had a cute senior missionary speak to us in Sacrament Meeting.  He told the primary kids that they were right where their Heavenly Father wanted to be at that moment.  As I thought about that, I changed my attitude about church.  Yes I'm chasing kids for 3 hours. Yes, I spend more time looking at coloring books and passing out treats than I do listening, but I am here.  My kids are here.  We are where we need to be on Sunday's. It gave me a clearer perspective on the importance of being there each week.
Thank you for the little kick in the behind.


We also had a great lesson tonight from dad.
The kids learned about honesty.
Brian told them that when we aren't honest, it's like we are getting tied up tighter and tighter and it's very hard to get out of the ropes of Satan.  We need Jesus to "cut through" the ropes that bind us.

The kids loved the object lesson.
(I love Avery's face. She's listening to every word Brian is saying. So cute)

86/365

We tried rice cereal today.

He doesn't look too impressed.

85/365

Late Over Fun!  A little organized Chaos makes the best parties.
We had a couple extra this week.  Sadee and Kenzlee joined in on the fun.

These two are best little buddies.  We sure with Sadee was a "Sohm" cousin so Abby could have a cousin her age.  They thought it was super cool that they both had on purple peace jammies.