Savannah's friend party

Savannah picked a friend party this year instead of an extra gift...so I tried to pull something together after school was out. I'm not good at the party thing AND staying in budget but this actually turned out ok.

dollar flip flops and my old ribbons all cut up.









it was a water party but it was chilly out so the kids sat by the fire...

"hot potato" with a leaky water balloon

tossing water balloons







pinata

Timpanogos Cave, Memorial Day

We wanted to do something fun on Memorial day and Timp cave was it! We called in the morning and the tickets they sell online were all sold out so I had to go to get them in person, wait in line for an hour, and got tickets for 4:30. It was perfect weather, not too hot and a little windy. Of course I took a ton of pictures...
















beautiful rocks and views

starting to get tired



the kids kept asking me to take pictures, I have NO problem with that!

peeking

taking a break, it's up 1400 feet in 1.5 miles...

Inside the cave, Syd was scared at first





it was cold in the cave but my face stayed purple for 3 hours...can we say out of shape...







Tom had to carry Summer for a bit but otherwise the kids were GREAT



here's what over weight and out of shape looks like...I was actually worried, so was Tom. I need to start exercising regularly!

Zack energy to spare! This was on the way down and he was literally bouncing off the walls!



Syd loved all the cool rocks

I would recommend this hike to everyone, just bring plenty of water! Good Times!

AF Canyon with the Jardines

Back in May, we went up the canyon again,
I know, shocker.
Becky and James came with us.


Mo and Sam

Buddy

Syd and Savannah

Tom and James discussing some heavy duty stuff...like soccer

Savannah and Becky

Sal and Zack

Summer and Sam

Savannah

a little hiking

Mountains

I try hard not to disappoint with all my mountain posts...I have a lot of catch up to do!

We went up to Granite Flats campground to BBQ, with Ryan and Melissa and their girls. I saw Zack and asked him what he was doing. He said, "Well, I don't have anyone to play with so I made one, my stick friend." Oh, Zack, you are too cute, I'm sorry you don't have any boys to play with...

Abby, Savannah, and Sydney







who gave that boy an ax?????


Can there ever be enough mountain excursions? I think not.

End of school year activities

What a busy time May is for everyone! The last month of school makes me feel like I am running around like a crazy person. I like to be busy though.

Zack's 2nd grade dance festival, they did a Scottish dance. He was SO cute!

Sydney's class did presentations and she wrote a story. She is the most creative little girl!

She also performed at the silver lake amphitheater, she was chosen to sing part of a solo.

at the amphitheater



she looks bored, and maybe she is, they had to wait a while to start

Alayna and Sydney, best friends

Sydney's class sang in Eagle Mountain for a tribute to military. Senator Bennett was there and Savannah shook his hand. I can't believe how tall he is!








Videos of Zack and Sydney

Summertime

I heard some singing from the bathroom and found this little sunshine sitting in the sink..





Summer graduated from preschool. She was so cute! I can't believe she will be starting kindergarten this fall!!

Crazy daddy





farmer in the dell

Savannah is ELEVEN!

My first baby is now eleven! The years do pass quickly. Savannah is such a sweetheart! Always giving hugs and showing kindness. I am so glad she still likes to snuggle with me and wants to be with her family. She loves to laugh and be silly (wonder where she gets that from...) She loves animals but especially horses. We drive by one every morning on the way to school and she has named her "mystery".

Interview with Savannah- What is your favorite...

movie - "Flicka"
TV show - "Teen Titans"
color - "blue"
food - "ramen noodles"
candy - "caramello"
activity - "hang out with my Buddy boo" (that's our puppy)
book - "Forgotten Philly" (about a horse)
place - "New Mexico and the beach."

What do you want to be when you grow up? "Own a few horses and maybe be a teacher."

Are you going to get married and have kids? "Of course! In the Temple Square. Kids will be Angela, Branden, Matt, and Brittany."

What else do you like? "My friends and parties, and animals, and my DS, and club penguin."

NOW FOR THE PICTURES...

morning donuts



she wanted a goat poster...because Tom took her on a date to the farm and they met a very funny goat!

YAY! A new shawl from grandma, since Tom shrunk the last one...

going on her date with mom and dad

we got KFC and went up the mountains

they forgot to give us forks...


we climbed a little



Tepanyaki for our family date (Sydney doesn't want to show her forehead)




Celebrating at the Millers, and Hannah's b-day too!

Sydney, Landon, and Zack



Sydney likes to make "worlds" when we are at Nana's...like "worm world".
This is "snail world."

More GNO's

Two fabulous girls nights with my Eagle Valley "peeps". First one- 80's Night, it lives on! This was back in April, but I wanted to document it...

remember the candy!

the attire...side ponytails, leggings, poofy bangs, neon, pinned pant legs, leg warmers....

games- pin the glove on Michael. I remember when I loved him, and had a zipper jacket!

game- name the movie quote quiz



the beautiful host Kristi, and her daughter

game-name that 80's TV show

the group (all I had to dress up in was a pink velvet shirt and a side ponytail)

Amy & Katie


NOW for the May 9th, TWILIGHT party...

the front door

the lovely host Loretta, (I mean Jacob)

Katie (Rosalie)

Kristi (Alice)

Amy (James) and Katie (Rosalie)

the group

We played family feud- Cullens vs. Quileutes, good times!!

Thanks all you wonderful "valley girls" for some fun GNO's

Mother's Day

I love Mother's Day! I get emotional thinking about my kids and the chance to be a mother, and thinking about my own mother and mother-in-law, just fabulous women, and all my friends who inspire me to be a better mom! Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women in my life! I love you!

I had a great day! We all went to church, Tom made a yummy Sunday dinner and took care of the kids, I got to take a nap :), then the family gave me gifts that they had made. I love homemade gifts! It's fun to see the excitement in the kids eyes when I open it.

Here are my FOUR miracles that made me a mom...Savannah, Sydney, Zack, Summer

goof balls



Savannah and me, my first baby

Sydney and me, my angel baby

Zack and me, my sweet boy

Summer and me, my baby (always)

all my wonderful gifts! I am a lucky mommy!

and another homemade gift from my cute hubby! Look at his creative work! The picture! The frame! I love it! It says, "We love moo" in the heart. How cute!

and here it is hanging in my cow kitchen! yay!

Hope of America

This Awesome program has been going on for the past 14 or so years and this is the first time I have heard of it. 5th graders from the Utah Valley school districts get together at the Marriott Center at BYU to perform songs of freedom and patriotism! It is amazing! I went with
Savannah and it was so fun! We wore the blue t-shirts. Go to the link below to see clips of the songs...

doesn't it look totally cool?





http://videos.heraldextra.com/p/video?id=4023074

Cheyenne and Savannah

Me and my girl

Here is my favorite song!

Spring Break and stuff

It was nice to have a week off of school. I had all these plans to do fun stuff with the kids...

and then I got sick.

TWIST! (another fun 30 Rock reference)

My body knew I had a week off and forced me to rest! I was in bed, literally, for 3 days. The kids had friends over and went to friends houses and I even took them swimming when I was still sick which was NOT my best idea ever. Good for the kids, not so much for me. By day 4 I HAD to get out of the house so my good friend Laura met me at Chuck-E-Cheese. We used to go there a lot to meet and let the kids run around...let's just say I haven't been there for years and my kids were not satisfied with JUST the play ground area or free rides...they wanted the tokens! The tokens that cost a butt-load of money, not to mention the cost of the pizzas!!! People, get a clue, this place is for real moms with children, NOT Orange County Housewives (whom do not actually count as housewives in my definition!!!)

I made a deal with the kids that we could get pizza and tokens if they each paid some from their allowances. Am I mean? It was $40!!! The kids had fun playing the games and earning tickets to get their 10 cent toys. I don't mean to bag on "The Cheese" but I think it's a tad pricey.

However, worth every penny to get out of the house and hang with my good friend Laura though! I love you girlfriend!


Zack and Summer

getting tickets

Syd-Syd

Savannah

Summer

Zack


I also took the kids to see Hotel For Dogs at the dollar theater, so glad I only paid a dollar. It was a cute movie and the kids loved it. Savannah was in heaven, that girl could not love dogs enough!

Happy to report that we still own a dog. I should rephrase that...Everyone but Tom is happy. He's still hanging in there...

We also spent some time in the mountains which is always fun (until someone gets a marshmallow thrown point blank at her face and it leaves a mark...and then said someone, who may have a fiesty streak, retaliates...) Ah, good times.

We went with our friends, Ryan and Melissa. Here's Ryan chopping up all our wood.

Summer and Miranda (Summer picked out her socks...)

Savannah and her Buddy

these girls had more fun playing in our van

Abby (or as Tom likes to call her "Oobie") and Sydney

Ryan and Melissa

Abby and Sydney were marking rocks to show where they had been, so cute

the marked rock

hi Z



FOOD!

Savannah watching over Buddy

Poor puppy was cold and kept shaking

s'more time!

silly faces





Now jump forward a week and I was trying to plant some things my mom gave me from her garden. The kids ALL helped. We spent most of the time digging up the weeds...I hate weeds!

aren't they so precious?

a long root from a weed...nice!

Believe it or not this is the finished project. The kids planted everything. I just wanted to get all the plants and flowers in the ground so we'll see what happens and if they survive, in my clay-like, non-draining soil...I have a black thumb and no experience with gardens. It was a fun activity to do with my kids though.

This makes me smile...

Our family watches this and just laughs and then we all want to dance!

Catch up...lots of catch up

"Fooled youuuuuu" ah, the fun of April Fool's day. Getting ready for a school day is hectic to say the least and so I'm trying to get everyone out the door and forgot to fill up my water bottle, run to the sink, put the water on full blast...and got soaked!!! Thanks to Tom taping down the sprayer. They all had a good laugh. What's even more funny is the fact that it was forgotten about and everyone got wet when they turned the water on when we got home later.

Now THAT"S funny!




Conference weekend was amazing. I always get a little sad when it's over. Such a spiritual feast, I love our church leaders! In between sessions we like to go in the mountains and can I ask again "Where in the world is spring?!"

We brought our puppy Buddy, shocker that he has survived this long with us...Tom goes back and forth wanting to get rid of him. I think it comes down to how much Savannah loves Buddy so Tom caves. He's a good puppy, his downfall is the fact that he IS a puppy. Tom is SO not a dog person! He is trying though.

The kids all adore Buddy and fight over who will hold him or take him for a walk.





He is so cute




Next activity is a Family Home Evening (FHE) that Savannah did. The lesson was based on a mormonad poster, it was darling. She gave the lesson then asked what each person was going to do based on what they learned in the lesson. SO CUTE!


for our activity we opened an easter package from Grandma and Bapa

they sent some candy and a cute craft!






Next is the Easter weekend. We do the "easter bunny" on Saturday so we can focus on Jesus on Sunday. Before we did the hunt Tom gave a lesson on the Savior and talked to the kids about the reason for Easter and what it means. It was uplifting. Summer doesn't quite get it yet because when Tom asked her what Easter means she said, "Jesus wants me to find some candy." We'll keep trying!!!! She is focusd on candy for sure!

Tradition is the easter bunny leaves his "droppings" all over our house, the kids gather it all up, we put it all together and then divide it up equally. It's fun, the kids love it and I think Tom loves it as much as the kids. We hid 6 plastic eggs for each kid and we hid them hard, like Savannah wanted. So hard that Tom and I couldn't even find where WE hid them! What's up with that?!







explaining the rules

gathering









Savannah needed help to find this one!

love the victory!



can I eat candy now?

dividing up



Last, crab walk to your bedroom and check your bed...









We gave the kids flower seeds in their baskets, great idea from Tom









the egg that I hid and forgot about....


As luck would have it I got sick on Sunday...we all went to Stake Conference and I had to leave. I think I had a type of flu, it was awful, I was in bed all day while Tom dyed eggs with the kids. I didn't get any cute easter pictures or even feel up to doing the girls' hair all cute, and I'm sad about that so I want a REDO.

the kids had fun with their dad



they told me later that Tom dyed the cat's tail!!!! Or at least tried to! "Thomas!" (That's what his name is when I get mad! )

and there he is, my silly man

Summer taking her job seriously

pretty eggs, they sparkle but you can't tell in this picture

Now for some funny faces....










We went to my parents' house for Sunday dinner and my sister Hannah did an Easter egg hunt for the kids, she's so cute with her neices and nephews!

Atlie

Macie

Evie and Brooke

Landon (Hannah's friend) and Zack

Sydney

Summer and Hannah

Zack

My cute parents and I love Tom in the background who looks like he just threw something at them. Nobody would be surprised if he actually did!

Joe and his friend Jessica

Hannah and my mom

Savannah


Besides me being sick it was a great Easter weekend!

Summer's Birthday in pictures

I have to document everything to the extreme since I haven't scrapbooked in oh say 4 years....and this is my scrapbook/family journal for now. I'm trying to catch up while I can.


Summer's traditional birthday poster made by Tom, he is so talented! She wanted littlest pet shop and that's what she got!

traditional morning donuts, trying to wake up


traditional birthday date with mom and dad, we just love this little sprite

Tom draws a picture for her, she loves when he draws

this picture makes me smile



Summer wanted to take one of us, I thought it would come out of the ceiling the way she had the camera pointing, not bad Summer!

love that face!

she wanted red pancakes


my parents and siblings came over for a dinner, Sydney is trying to annoy Tom...

Angie made strawberry shortcake for Summer, her favorite. Thanks Angie! It's my favorite too.



Me, Sydney, and Emma

Me and my sweet niece Macie

Summer, Atlie, Sydney

Tom, Syd and Savannah


As always a fun birthday week! I love all the traditions we have started and it's fun to see the kids asking for them too. I just want time to slow down a little...

Now to get caught up on Easter pics!

Happy Easter!

Inspiring message from one of Christ's apostles.

Happy Easter!

Growing up is FUN?...

Today I got to school and found out it is the 5th grade MATURATION program!!!!!! I have a 5th grader...WHAT the what?!!! Talk about milestone! Savannah found out exactly what it means to be a girl! I have spoken vaguely about it in the past but no specifics. She was freaking out! I was dying inside and re-living my 5th grade year when I found out the "big secrets" of womanhood.

Savannah kept saying,

"I don't want to be a girl!"

"I want to be a boy!"

"Can I switch?"

"It's NOT fair!"

Yeah, I know my sweet little girl, but it's all OK and it's all worth it!

We get to have the babies and there is nothing more divine.

Is it hard? Yes!! But it's definitely worth it!

Growing up is fun, right?! ...Right!

Oh, the joys of being a woman! Would NOT trade it for anything.

Poor Savannah got the worry gene from me.