Larsen Family

The Golden Rule

2011-12-27T21:05:00.000-08:00

...slapping sound...

Evan: "Ouch!" Crying

...slapping sound...

Makayla: "Evan!" Crying

Me: "What is going on...Evan, why did you hit your sister!?"

Evan: "She hit me first!"

Me: "I don't care...you shouldn't have hit her back...you should have come and got me."

Evan: "But mom, it is the golden rule...do to others as they do to you!"

Me: No comment...

Logic

2011-11-14T19:18:00.000-08:00

Evan did something naughty....
Evan got in trouble....
So me, being the responsible parent I am, was trying to explain to Evan that he was in charge of his actions. I told him that he had to think before he did things...Evan sounding annoyed, answered by saying, "Well, sometimes my brain just doesn't work!"

...and I have no comment

Life Lessons

2011-11-02T19:43:00.000-07:00

On Our way home from the bus today, Trace started crying. I knew he was hungry, but there is not much I can do until we get home. We pull into the driveway and he is still crying...more like complaining...this baby rarely "cries". On her way out of the car, Makayla says to Trace, "You know Trace, crying won't get you anywhere...and that is just a life lesson."

Just a side note from mom to Trace...Crying actually DOES get you everywhere...at least for the next few months.

The Problem With Insomnia....

2011-08-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

Being 39 weeks pregnant is no fun...one of the worst parts...no sleep. What do I do with all this extra time on my hands? Mainly I browse Baby Center and read recent post from other people due in August. Somehow I stumbled across a post debating cloth vs. disposable diapers. This lead to me getting online and researching cloth diapering. This lead to me thinking that there are some really cute cloth diaper out there. This lead me to thinking that maybe I should use cloth diapers. I am sure that those of you that really know me are probably wetting yourself reading this...and yes I know that when I potty trained Makayla and Evan I have been known to throw the poopy underwear away because it grossed me out so much. The real problem is that I am nine months pregnant and have completely lost my mind...I can't help it. So after spending way too much time looking into cloth diapers and watching way too many Utube videos, I decided to try to get some sleep and figure it out in the morning. My conclusion...I am losing my mind...there are some things that I am not cut out for and cloth diapering is definitely on the list. I have got to have this baby out before I get any other brilliant ideas...like deciding I want to have this baby drug free or try a home water birth. My favorite quote was from my mom, "You know I only used cloth diapers because I had no other options...they were really gross!"

Life In The Country

2011-08-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

Who said you have to live on a farm to enjoy the lifestyle? We are lucky enough to have my parents and cousins just up the road which allows us to enjoy the country life .

This summer my parents got goats to add to their farm livestock....the kids had so much fun going and picking them up.

This is Liliy. Makayla bought her with her own money. She is such a sweet cat, but with a baby expected to arrive at anytime, Lily had to be an outside cat. Growing up, we always had outside cats so I wasn't worried about her being outside. The only problem is that Lily is too social for her own good. Our little next door neighbor has returned her several times...Lily keeps going through their dog door and getting in their house. Fliers had been put up by our neighbors on several occasions because Lily would just show up at their houses. Then before Halloween, I hadn't seen her is couple days....and then while we were trick or treating she just jumped out from a neighbors yard. Finally, I talked Makayla into letting her go live at grandma's and Bumpa's...she is much happier...free to wonder.

This summer, the kids helped my parents put a garden in...by that I mean they both just made two big mounds of dirt with shovels...whatever keeps them happy...I didn't have the heart to tell Makaya that the dirt she was playing in was actually top soil...or in other words compost...aka garbage.

Makayla Turns 8

2011-06-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that I have an eight year old...when did that happen? Time goes too fast, but it is also fun to watch her grow and become such an amazing little girl.

This year Makayla had her birthday party at Color Me Mine. Me being very clueless, thought that this would be a nice quite party...painting pretty unicorns....not even close. The party was full of giggles, loud jokes, and ended with most the girls smashing cupcakes in their faces.

Now that she is getting baptized, Wes and I got her scriptures for her birthday. She looked so grown up carrying them into church on Sunday.

Makayla is such an amazing little girl. We are so blessed to have her as part of our family. She has always had a willingness to do what is right and is a good example to Evan. She can be quite and sweet, but also loves to make people laugh. We are so thankful to be her parents and love watching her grow.

Easter 2011

2011-04-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Easter egg hunt at the Hulbert's, visit with Grandma and Grandpa Larsen, dying Easter eggs, Easter Bunny, and Easter egg hunt with cousins....it was a very busy Easter.

Cowboy

2011-02-22T16:12:00.001-08:00

I really am planning on catching up on my blog...but this couldn't wait for me to get my act together. While I was drying my hair, Evan decided to dress up like a cowboy....seems harmless enough. He told me that he was looking for bad guys to take to jail...great. When I am done with my hair, I tell him it is time to get changed for karate. As I am helping him put his cowboy clothes away, I can hear Cooper barking from somewhere in the house. I ask him if he knows where Cooper is. He replies very proudly that Cooper was the bad guy and he took him to jail. Apparently Evan put Cooper in his crate and carried his crate to his bedroom and locked the door....one problem...We don't have a key for that lock. It is one of the several things on our "list" that we were planning on replacing. There are no screws to take the handle off...no way of picking it (it is not as easy as it looks on TV)...I have been trying for an hour. So here I sit waiting for a locksmith to come and break Cooper out of jail. Ah...little boys:)

Christmas 2011

2010-12-25T18:51:00.000-08:00

We spent this Christmas in our new house....with boxes and moving mess all around us...it was perfect!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T16:24:00.000-07:00

I remember carving pumpkins as a kid....my parents would get each of us a pumpkin to carve however we wanted. I am not very artistic, but I would carefully outline what I wanted my pumpkin to look like before I cut it...and every year without fail, my pumpkin's face would end up caving inside...never quite thought the cuts through enough. My kids on the other hand have always had very professional looking pumpkins...not that they have anything to do with it. Thanks to carving patterns and a dad who gets more into carving pumpkins than they do. I help...my job...cleaning out the gooey insides. It's the least I can do:)

Happy Birthday Evan

2010-09-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

Evan is 4!!! He has been waiting for his birthday for months. Ever since we got a Wii for Christmas, Evan has been obsessed with Super Mario Brothers.

Megan made him an incredible cake.... I am so glad that she was home for his birthday! I came up with the great idea to wrap Evan new bike in balloons. When it was time to open it, we gave him a needle and he went to town. He also got a new skateboard from Grandma and Bumpa Phipps... and his favorite present was the stuffed dog that Makayla gave him.

I don't know what else to say about this little boy, except that we just love him. He makes us laugh everyday. Even though there are too many wonderful things about Evan to count, here are four of my favorite....

*His curly hair... the other day he looked at me me at said, "Mom, the s love my curly hair."

*How social he is...he manages to embarrass me in public at least a few times a day.

*How sensitive he is

*When he tells me he loves me in his deep little boy voice.

Soccer Mom

2010-09-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

I love soccer. I never played, but my brothers did. I loved traveling to different tournaments and watching the games. When Evan was finally old enough to play, I was so excited. (Makayla is still recovering from her one season of softball, so soccer wasn't going to happen) Now here is the thing with Evan, he is very coordinated and strong, but he just lacks that competitive spirit. To him soccer was more like a meet and greet....

"Hi, my name is Evan...I'm four. I like Mario...do you? My sister's name is Makayla, she is seven. I like your cool red jersey."

"Yeah, that's the soccer ball over there, but you can have it if you want...it's your turn. If you want, I can go and get it for you. I can even block my players so you can make a goal. Maybe we can play together sometime?"

Now in his defense, he was one of the youngest players on his team. After a couple of games, he started to get the hang of it.

He even manage to make a couple goals....one of them may have been in his own goal, but who's keeping score anyway:)

One of the funniest things he did all season was that he would just walk off the field when he wanted a drink. The ball would be right by him and he would just walk out of the game. "Its okay coach, I just need some water...I'm losing all my energy."

It's already time to register him again....a seasoned pro. It will be fun to see if he he gets more into it this year. He may not be the competitive, intense soccer players my brothers were, but he is sure entertaining.

Here We Go Again

2010-08-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

After watching way too many episodes of House Hunter, Weston and I got some real life experience in buying our first home. After months of searching and then a few more months of waiting for our offer to be accepted, we finally bought our first place. When I looked online at houses, the only picture with this listing was of the view outside. Growing up in this area, I couldn't picture where in Cameron Park that view was from. I got in my car and went for a drive to find the house. When I pulled up, I fell in love not only with the house, but also the setting. The house is in a great neighborhood, but the houses are not too close together. Directly in front of the house is stunning views of the marble valley. Growing up on property, I never liked the feeling of have neighbors directly ontop of us. Looking out my living room window, it is hard to belive that we even have neighbors. It is the best of both worlds! We feel truly blessed to have found this wonderful home to raise our family in. Wes and I have moved so many times since being married that it is great to finally have a house that we will be in for many years to come.

I will add so pictures of the actual house and the rooms that we have got put together soon.

School Pics 2010

2010-08-05T15:52:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky to have Amy as a friend. She took these amazing pics of my kids for their 2010 school pictures. They sure beat the Life Touch pictures the school offers! Here are just a few of my favorite ones.

Disneyland

2010-07-31T18:03:00.000-07:00

Disneyland really is one of the happiest places on earth....I think my kids had a permante smile on their faces the whole time. We were lucky enough to have my parents and Jarom with us.

We went for five days this time. Two of the days, the boys went scuba diving in San Diego, but my mom and I went all five days with the kids. It was nice not to be rushed or feel like we were missing things.

This is one of my favorite pictures....Makayla and Evan full of energy, and my parents in the back round looking for the nearest bench.

My kids loved the tea cups...it made me sick just to watch the ride. It was great to have Jarom with us. Not only is he super fun Uncle, but it also gave Wes a ride buddy for all the rides I didn't want to go on. Somehow I got Makayls to go on Califorian Screamin' with me...she still hasn't forgivin me. One of my favorite comments from Evan came months later when he was talking with his friend Sam about all the rides they went on. Sam was telling Evan that his favorite ride was Thunder Mountain (the one ride I could not get Evan to go on). Evan, however, told Sam that it was his favoirte ride as well. I turned around and reminded Evan that he didn't go on that ride because he said it looked too scary. Evan got this seriuos look on his face and said, "No mom, I did want to go on it....I was speaking spanish and you just didn't understand me!"

This pretty much sums up the end of everyday....

I think my favorite part of the whole trip was seeing my kids interact with each other. Makayla went on all the Toy Story rides with Evan, and Evan spent a whole day is princess land with her. They are not just siblings, but great friends.

Makayla Turns Seven

2010-07-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

I can not believe Makyla is seven...I know Isay that ever year she gets a little older, but this year it really hit me how much she is growing up. As each year passes, it is fun to see all the changes that come with that growth, but there is also a part of me wants to turn back time to when she would toddle around, bouncy blond curls....so cute.

This year for her birthday we had a family party. Her girl scout troop had already planned a trip to Sun Splash, which is a pretty fun way to spend a birthday. I had Wes take Makayla and Evan to the water park so I could get all set up for the party....that is why the kids cheeks are bright red (I wasn't there to oversee the sunscreen application). However, Wes's real lack of judgement was when he let Makayla spray his back with sunscreen. His whole back was fried (I am talking need to go to the doctor's fried) except for a little circle right in the middle of his back...bulls eye. I spent alot of time to make Makayla's presents cute this year, with pretty bows and cute paper. However, her favorite wrap job was the "garbage" unicorn Jarom made...pretty sad when when you can't compete with a present wrapped in trash. I particularly like how he designed it to open....

This year we got her a bike for her birthday. She was pretty excited. She also got an Easy Bake oven from my parents....you know you are getting old when toys start to recycle themselves. One of her favorite things is to watch cake show with Bumpa, so it was a perfect present.

Seven of my favorite things about Makayla

*Her sense of humor...I like to think that she gets her quick from me

*Her desire to do the right thing

*How sweet she is with Evan

*How practical she is...it makes me laugh

*How creative she is

*Her laugh...it is contagious

*That she is everything I could have dreamed my little girl would be

Survival Mode

2010-06-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

Where have I been? In survival mode....I found out that if I took two classes this summer I would be able to start dental hygiene school in January...it sounded like a pretty good idea at the time. Anatomy/physiology and nutrition...no big deal...eight weeks...how bad can it be...BAD! I have made it through the first two weeks, I guess there is no turning back now. My house is just clean enough to function, there is just enough laundary done to get by, and enough food to make a PB&J sandwhich. Luckily the kids have been content playing in forts and swimming at grandma's house while I study. What was I thinking?!

Mother's Day

2010-05-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

I remember making coupon books at school for the mom for Mother's Day. This year Makayla brought me a cute bag all decorated with a present inside. Once I started opening it, I realized it was a coupon book....it was like I was coming full circle...I couldn't believe I had a kid old enough to make me one. However, the effect quickly wore off once I opened to the first page.....seriously! In Makayla's defense, she did include a coupon that was good for taking the garbage out ten times, and I plan on cashing them all in.

Science Fair

2010-05-22T12:03:00.000-07:00

Evan's school put on a science fair for all the parents. He was so excited to show me all the things he had made. It seriously seems like yesterday that I was in that exact same room with Makayla. she would timidly hold my hand and take take me to each station....Evan on the other hand couldn't contain his excitement. I could barely keep up with him as he bounced around the room.

I am so glad that he loves going to school. I can't believe how much he is changing everyday...I wish I could keep him this little chubby cheeked three year old forever....

Easter

2010-04-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, my Easter egg hunt experience was completely different then my kids. My Phipps family would get together every year and have a huge egg hunt. "Huge" because I had about thirty cousins on that side of my family. We would be divided up in to age groups and lined up...ready to go. Part of the Phipps egg hunt tradition was that there was a grandma egg. The lucky person that found one got to trade it in for a prize....a good prize. In all my egg hunting years, I never found a grandma egg, the competition was stiff in my age group...

This year my mom and dad decided to start the tradition back up again. Lucky for Makayla and Evan, they had no competition.

We also went to the Hulbert's annual Easter egg hunt...it was so much fun. This year Makayla and Pearl graduated to the big kid hill....time just seems to fly by.

Grandma and Grandpa Larsen also came out for Easter this year. Party. party, party...the kids had so much fun with them.

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears...

2010-04-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

....and raccoons, and skunks, and deer, and don't forget the ferrel cats. Those are just a few of the exotic creatures we found at the world famous Folsom Zoo.

We went a a field trip to the zoo with Evan's preschool class. It was a lot of fun. I remember when I went with Makayla's class three years earlier...Evan was just a little baby, bundled up in the stroller...where has all the time gone? He is growing and changing so much everyday... We had a great time, Evan told me all about mammals and birds and reptiles and we took a ride on the old steam train. But My favorite part about the day was him holding my hand as we walked through the zoo...because even though he isn't that tiny baby in a stroller, his chubby, little hand still feels small in mine.

Sunny Days

2010-03-19T22:41:00.000-07:00

This week the weather has been so beautiful! I have got nothing accomplished...no laundry, no homework, and only a few loads of dishes. This week has been all about flip flops, short sleeves, and playing outside. I should just cut and paste Amy's blog entry on our wonderful weather!

***The purpose of this post is to convince Ashley that there is no reason why she should not come to California with Megan....unless she enjoys being cooped up in her house while it snows outside and finds joy in denying her firstborn the warmth and sunshine of his birthplace...

One a side note...I am on week five of P90X....which means I start some new exercises. The other day I was doing to chest and arm workout (AKA a million push-ups workout). Now I can only do a couple regular push-ups...definitely not my thing. Well about half way through the workout they start doing one-armed push-ups...I start laughing and say...Yeah right! Well Makayla was watching me and in a very concerned voice says, "Mom, maybe you should go back to week four." I think she has a career as a motivational speaker.

Six Pack

2010-03-01T22:46:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to get in really good shape by my 30th birthday, I have been doing P90X Lean for about two weeks...I was so sore the first week, I could barely move. The other day I was exercising (Ab Ripper...yeah, it is about as fun as it sounds) and Makayla asks, "Mom why do you always exercise?" I told her it is healthy to exercise, and that this exercise was going to help me get a flat stomach...she thought about that for a minute and replied, "I guess your stomach is a little chubby." Offended, I informed her that I had had two kids...she looks at me, not at all impressed, and quickly adds "Mom, that was like four years ago!" Sadly...I had no comeback.

Days Go By

2010-02-14T11:04:00.000-08:00

Not a lot has been going on since my last post....we have just been busy with everyday life. As my kids grow...especially Makayla, life seems to speed up...it is a different kind of busy. One minute you are busy feeding and changing diapers....and then you are busy running...running to school, preschool, ballet, piano....one thing that doesn't change...laundry...there is always way too much laundry!

Ringing In The New Year

2010-01-18T11:06:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it is the start of another new year... sometimes I wish I could just slow everything down... stop my kids from growing up so fast and get caught up on all the things I never seem to have time to do. Here are just a few things I can't believe will happen this year...

-I will actually be applying to Dental Hygiene school

-Makayla will start 2nd grade

-Evan will turn 4... which seems SO much older than 3

-Maybe... fingers crossed... we might actually finish painting our house

Christmas Mess

2010-01-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year was so much fun. We stayed the nigh at my parents house...they didn't want to miss the look on Evan's face when he saw the "big red dinosaur" he had been asking for since September. After pushing the bottom at Target for months to listen to it growl, he was amazed to learn that it also walks, stands up, moves it neck, and goes to sleep. After learning how truly "ferocious" his dinosaur is, Evan decided that it was not a toy for baby Caden because he was still scared of his Wolverine action figure (always so thoughtful). Makayla was in stuffed animal heaven, but I think her favorite part about Christmas is that she had her Aunt Megan with her. My parents got us a Wii (I was so excited) and apparently I have a hidden gift for not only Dr. Mario, but Wii tennis as well...I am still undefeated. The day after Christmas we loaded up our van and headed to Utah for visit. It was great to see family and friends and my new little nephew Parker. It was nice to come home and have this week to chill with the kids. My house is a disaster...Christmas mess, suitcases, laundry, and empty boxes are waiting for me to clean them up....However, that can all wait...this week has been all about sleeping in, playing with Christmas treasures, and just enjoying time together.

Toothless

2009-12-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

Makayla's tooth finally fell out. She was so excited...it was like a right of passage, joining the other toothless smiles of her first grade classmates. The Tooth Fairy left her a charm and $1.oo...she was very excited because her Grandpa Glade had convinced her that because her tooth was so small it wouldn't be worth more then a nickle. She happily proved him wrong the next morning.

Flower Sweetie

2009-12-17T15:37:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you add about 200 hours of volunteering, running, and rehearsals with tutus and twirling...you get the Nutcracker and a very happy little girl. After last year I told myself that I wasn't going to do that again...but somewhere in the course of the year I had forgotten how much work it was and instead remembered what a cute little baby mouse she made (even if I had no idea which baby mouse was actually her as they scurried around the stage). However, this year Makayla got to be a Sweetie, and there was so mistaking her on stage with her blond little buns. She also was chosen to give the principle dancers flowers at the end of the show, which Makayla later informed me made her a "flower sweetie".

Her friends from her Brownie troop came to she her and insisted that she was the star of the show (although I think the Sugarplum Fairy would disagree). Grandma and Grandpa Larsen flew in from Utah which was a huge help because long dress rehearsals and Evan do not go well together. While helping in the green room, I discovered I have a talent for ballet buns (basically I am really good at slicking hair back with gel so that there are "unsightly" fly aways)...so next year I am being put in charge of hair for all the little girls. And yes, there will be a next year...not only because being a flower sweetie was just "the best time of her life", but because she has her sights set on being an angel next year.

Deck The Halls

2009-12-05T19:39:00.000-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! Mainly because I got by yet another year without having to stick my hand inside of the backside of a turkey...

Over the break we also got our Christmas tree. It was really fun this year to see how much Evan was into decorating....much better then last year where everything had to be out f his reach. Ever since we got the tree decorated he wakes of every morning and asks me if it is Christmas.

Wes thought Cooper would make a nice ornament....he is about the right size. I love this time of the year....wrapping presents...letters to Santa...Christmas lights...and my parents hot chocolate machine.

Apple Turkey

2009-11-22T15:44:00.001-08:00

Yes I made the cookies (don't be so shocked)... I didn't want my kid to be the one to bring carrot sticks to the Thanksgiving feast...
Evan had his Thanksgiving play at preschool this week. It is still hard for me to believe that he is up on that stage... not Makayla. Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday that it was Makyala shyly walking up there. I was so excited to see what they had been working on. And without fail, every show they did, she would just sit there quietly, barely making a sound....
Fast forward three years... and you get Evan. He comes in so excited and smiling so big. He hopes on the stage and loudly welcomes everyone. Such a contrast. He sings all the songs and knows all the little signs he had learned. I was laughing the whole time.
I was waiting the the entire show to hear him sing what I thought was a song entitled "Apple Turkey". All week, He had been singing it at home while making cute signs. When the show ended, I wondered why they didn't sing it. When I asked his teacher, she stared laughing... I guess one of the songs they sang was called Albuquerque Turkey.... Evan's take on the word.... appleturkey. I can't wait to see what he comes up with for the Christmas show!

A few funny phrases from Evan this week....

**"Look mom, I taught Cooper a new trick....See! I showed him how to walk on four feet"... this kid is going to be the next Dog Whisperer

**Evan was insulted by a comment I made when I told him was not big enough to play Yahtzee..."Oh yeah mom, I have big muscles (flexing), and a big brain right here (pointing to his belly)." To his credit he came back about five minutes later, laughing and told me his brain was actually inside his head.

Lapse In Judgement

2009-11-13T16:02:00.000-08:00

No... you haven't clicked on the wrong blog... we got a puppy... I know, big shocker. Makayla has been wanting a puppy for a while, so Wes and I where thinking of getting the kids one for Christmas. After a lot of research, I found a great breeder, but she didn't have any litters available right at Christmas time, but she had just had a litter of chocolate brown puppies. The kids where so excited when we told them, but they still had to wait awhile, and then finally we were able to go and get him. We decided to name him Cooper. Wes said that since I was making him get a sissy dog, that he couldn't have a sissy name.
I was really nervous to get a puppy because I have never been 'in charge" of one before. So far he is the sweetest puppy I could have hoped for. He loves to cuddle, adores the kids, and so far hasn't even had any accidents (fingers crossed).

Spooky

2009-11-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that Halloween has already come and gone. Now everywhere I go all I see is Christmas decorations... it is making me feel really behind the game. I have to keep reminding myself that there is still Thanksgiving, then I can stress out about Christmas.
The kids had lots of fun carving pumpkins, although they still wouldn't reach their hands inside and pull out the seeds. I asked Makayla what she was going to do when she had her own little ... who would clean the pumpkin out for her. She quickly informed me that she still had along time before she had to worry bout that and I would be the grandma and she would still let me do it... always so thoughtful.

This year we went to our ward's trunk or treat. It was a lot of fun... and just the right amount of candy. This year Makayla went around to the cars and then decided she wanted to pass out candy with me (she is getting so big).

This picture pretty much sums up Evan's Halloween. He wasn't feeling very well and fell asleep in the car.... poor Buz. Once he woke up he did have fun trick or treating... I think.

Singing

2009-10-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

Today Evan woke up singing a little song that went something like this....

I don't like to close my eyes

I don't like to fold my arms

I don't like to bow my head

I don't like to say prayers

I don't like church clothes, except for my tie

I don't like to go to church

Pretty sure he didn't get that one from the Children's Song Book. The things this kid comes up with! And of course when I started laughing, he informed me that this was not suppose to be a funny song.

Happy Birthday Wes

2009-10-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

Today Wes is 32....I know he is getting old! I had big plans to make him a lemon cake for his birthday this year (Wes's favorite), but when we got to the store, Evan found the Funfetti cake and there was no changing his mind. And of course he had to have the Funfetti icing to go with it. According to him, "Dad likes cakes with lots of dots on it...all boys do." Of course they do, I should have never questioned his selection. Another amazing thing about Wes's birthday this year is that I finally got him a present he did want to return....an iPhone. I mainly got it so he would leave mine alone. He is in phone heaven downloading all kinds of apps that make make his life complete...like where to find the closest Redbox. I am just glad that I finally got it right. Happy Birthday Weston!

Makayla's favorite things about her Dad- He is nice, and fun, he plays with her, and always helps her with things that are hard.

Evan's favorite things about his Dad- He fixes houses (a skill I would like to see more often), he gives lots of hugs, he is a boy, and he is his best friend.

Tami's favorite things about Wes- He is kind and easy going, he lets me pick what I want to watch on TV, he is a great dad, and even after all this time he is still my favorite person to hang out with.

Mud Buddies

2009-10-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

The other weekend we decided to tackle our first landscape project...which means we only have about a million to go. The kids decided they wanted to help so I dressed them in old clothes so they could play outside while we 'worked'. Before we got started my Dad sent my mom and I into town for a few things they were missing. The kids were having so much fun I didn't want to drag them into town with me. Besides Wes and my dad should be able o supervise two (fairly well behaved) kids...right? Well this is what I came home to..........
Now what the picture does not show is the muddy water that their boots were filled with or the trail of dirt and mud they had made all over the driveway...or how Evan tried to spray me with the hose if I got close to him. I gave Wes a "I thought you were going to keep an eye on them" look and his response, "they are alive aren't they." I know, I married him. Now next is a picture a Evan's back...is it just me or does it look like he was ran over by something?
After I got home, Makayla decided she didn't like being soaking wet and covered in mud so it was bath time. It only took three tubs of water to get them both clean and there was little hope for their clothes (red dirt)....but why should I complain...they are both alive.

***I actually don't care they got all muddy. What's childhood without covering yourself head to toes in mud?

Junk

2009-09-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

I am not exactly sure what prompted me to have a garage sale...I guess since I have never done one before I thought it would be fun. Having now done one, I can tell you that they are not fun...at all. Now our garage sale drew a "interesting crowd". The first customer drove up and asked if we have any knives, guns, or ammo. No sir, but I do have a nice Baby Bjorn and a boppy pillow. Our house lent itself very well to a garage sale, mainly because of its sweet circular drive. This allowed people to drive by slowly...check out our stuff...and then continue on their way. But the best part of the day happened when Wes decided to clean out the pump house. It was just full of junk and garbage form our remodel. He couldn't throw the stuff away because our cans were down at the road with the signs. Turns out we didn't need the cans because that is the kind of stuff people like to buy....junk...the more beat up the better...doesn't work...perfect....you have no idea what it is...well then you can double the price. Another highlight of the day was when a lady came up asked me how much I wanted for Makayla's old baby stroller. I told her it was $10 and she asked me if I would take $8. Before I could answer Makayla says, "The sign says $10 not $8. See" (holding up the tag). That's my girl...tough as nails. (Although I think she really thought the poor lady couldn't read)

Bumpa's New Toy

2009-09-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

I remember when I was younger my dad had a couple of motorcycles...the story goes that my mom made him sell them because he couldn't die and leave her with three kids (this is pre Megan and Jarom). Well it only took about twenty five years, but he finally convinced her that having him around is over-rated. I am actually pretty excited for him. It is nice to see him do something for himself for a change. Makayla thought it was pretty cool...and Evan, while keeping a safe distance, also thought it was much better then his toy version.

So Dramatic

2009-09-13T23:54:00.000-07:00

The other day while I was driving the girls home from school, they started complaining about what hard lives they had. Pearl: "Evan and Sam are so lucky...they get to have play dates all the time, they don't have any homework, they get to just play with toys all day...it's no fair! All we have to do is work...work...work." Makayla: "Yeah, we are just like Cinderella, but without the happy ending!"

I know, they have such hard lives

And Evan Makes Three (in school, that is)

2009-09-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it....Evan is in preschool. He has been asking me everyday if it was time to start school yet. When the big day arrived he was so excited. When I dropped him off I could barely get a goodbye out of him (so much for separation anxiety). I had big plans for when he started preschool...I was going to take a yoga class, get caught up on all the things I could never find time for, and most importantly run errands all by myself. However, instead of all those wonderful things, you can find me at the library trying to stay on top of my microbiology class. My favorite thing from this week was the macaroni necklace Evan made me at school, he was so proud of it. He asked me if I was going to keep it forever. Well apparently forever in three year language is about an hour. Because that is how long Evan was able to resist eating all the macaroni off the string. I know...big shocker.

Old School

2009-08-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

I did it...somehow I survived my first week back to school (my house, sadly did not fair so well). And of course to top it all off, I had a crazy flower week. There were several times I questioned my sanity...why was I doing this to myself? But then I went to my dental hygiene introductory course, and I was so excited. I know it is going to be crazy at times (ok..probably all the time), but I have been waiting to do for a long time. I learned seveal things week....my yellow Jansport backpack from 1998, while a classic, is not as high tech as Makayla's backpack (no headphone pass through, ipod case, fancy laptop pocket, or cell phone pouch), that unlike BYU, people smoke and swear all around you, textbooks are still outrageously priced, and it is easy to find my car in the parking lot because I am the only one that drives a minivan.

Twirling

2009-08-16T18:09:00.000-07:00

Fluffy white tutus, hair wrapped tight in buns,
tip toe, tip toe around the room, leap and spin for fun,
pink satin shoes, lipstick and rouge...
twirling and whirling, that's what little ballerinas do.

The pictures pretty much speak for themselves. The dressing room was a sea of white fluff. The best part was that the girls didn't have to put their tutus on until right before they went on stage....of course that wouldn't do, they all had them on as soon as they got there (about two hours before going on stage). It is alot of fun to watch Makayala be part of something she enjoy she really loves. (when I was little, I cried every time my mom took me to ballet... I didn't have the patience for it. I know, big shocker)

First Grade

2009-08-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

It happened, we knew it would....summer vacation officially came to and end at about 6:30am:( Somehow we made it out the door and to school on time. Makayla was really excited when she got there and all her classmates started to arrive.

It took me back how different things were dropping her off this time. She is a first grader now...she knows the drill, where to go, what to so. Evan was two when she stated kindergarten, I remember holding him and trying to take pictures of her. This year...he wanted to wear his own backpack...all grown up.

Makayla had fun saying hi to all the kids she hadn't seen over the summer, but she kept searching the crowd for her best friend Pearl. They are so lucky to have each other.

They looked so much bigger then the kindergartners in line next to them. I am still amazed at how much things change in a year. All I know is that right now I can't wait to hear all about her first day as a first grader...

4th of July

2009-08-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

This summer we have been busy doing a whole lot of nothing...just enjoying simple things and time together. For the 4th of July, we had a family BBQ at my parents with swimming and games. Fireworks are illegal in El Dorado County, so that night we headed down to the Folsom Rodeo... good times!

Megan (always the fun aunt) face painted stars on Makayla's cheek. The kids were very excited to find out what the Rodeo was all about. Makayla's Favorite part was the "pretty ladies with the painted horses"(trick riders).

The best part of the night was when they had all the kids come down to play a game. The kids were supposed to line up around the edge and when the announcer yelled go, they were suppose to run out and collect silver dollars and cow bells. Well, Evan didn't quit get the whole wait until he says go part, and went running out filling his arms with bells. He was so proud of himself. If you look closely you will see him in the middle with the red shirt (and the mean cowboy that made him put the bells back and line up). When they made him return his prized bells, the crowd booed...I don't think I have ever laughed so much...that boy!

One of the really neat parts was that they had a man jump from a plane with a huge American Flag...it was amazing! I love so many things about the 4th of July...so many people coming together (even if it involves cowboy boots and tight jeans)....teaching our kids respect and love for their country...the awe on my kids faces as fireworks light up the night sky...and truly appreciating all the sacrifices that made it possible for us to enjoy that wonderful moment.

Evan Turns Three

2009-07-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

Evan's birthday was so much fun this year. He was so excited! He picked to all his party stuff...he wanted a Word Word party. (I don't have any idea why) We got him a train table for his birthday and set it up the night before. Wes built a track on it and we put balloons all over his room. I could hear him in the morning playing and laughing. When I went in, he had a big grin on his face, "It's my birthday...I'm ten!"(another thing I have no idea where it came from) His party wasn't going to be until evening (when the dad, grandpa, and uncle came home) so Ashley and I took the kids to ride the train in Folsom. After, we let Evan pick where he wanted to eat. He picked Chipolte...no complaints from me.

When my mom asked Evan what he wanted for his birthday, he told her he wanted a big scary guy with buttons. (again I don't know what goes on inside of his head) Well my dad and her got him a big transformer that talks and lights up....this is a picture of his face when he opened it....I think they got it exactly right.

Uncle Bryan, who felt bad that Evan's only dress up options were fairies and princesses got him some boy dress up clothes. (a fireman and a cowboy) I would like to personally thank him for the fire extinguisher (which sprays real water). ...that's a fun way to be woken up in the morning!

It was just a great day...Evan was so much fun to party with. He was so appreciative of everything and kept hugging my knees and repeating, "Thanks mom." We just love this little boy. He brings so much joy into our lives. Everyday when I look at those big brown eyes and kiss that curly sweaty boy hair, I am so thankful to be his mom. Happy Birthday Evan!

Mermaid Trampoline

2009-07-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

Just add water...and you get a mermaid trampoline. The girls were nice enough to let Evan be a shark. They just ran around and around in circles giggling and jumping...it was so much fun to watch them.

Jump

2009-06-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

We have been wanting to get the kids a trampoline for a while. This weekend he went down to Sam's and picked one out. The kids were so excited. I have so many great memories of our trampoline growing up....the sleepovers (were everyone ends up in the middle in a big pile)...the creative (and dangerous) made up games (my favorite involved an inner tube and back in my day there was no safety enclosures...good times)....spraying the trampoline down with water in the summer... my mom's trampoline aerobics(how else do you exercise with five kids)...my brothers jumping off the shed onto it...every year trying to figure out how we could move it up to the pool area...the injures (which were surprisingly few)....and just wonderful times with my family. We haven't decided whether to bury it in the ground 0r not (Wes votes for not...mainly because it requires less work). No matter how it ends up, I know there are many good memories to be made:)

The Thing About Boys....

2009-06-13T17:36:00.000-07:00

The other night I was giving Evan a bath and a thought came to me. I was washing his dirty little toes and I thought to myself...Boys are like really soiled laundry...they need to be stain treated first. It doesn't matter how cute I dress him...if there is mud he is in it...if there is a bug he will try to capture it...and hot or cold outside he back in sweating. Sometimes I feel like I to just need to let Evan soak in the tub for awhile...you know loosen up the dirt and grim he has collected throughout the day...Sometimes I feel like I need to drain the water and start fresh so I am not just cleaning him with his own filth....Soak-Wash-Rinse-Repeat....little boys. But my favorite part...how he smells when he is all clean. (even if it only lasts a minute)

The Party

2009-06-09T15:01:00.000-07:00

This year Makayla decided to go on a birthday date instead of a big party. Of course we still had a family party with her cousin Leah and best friend Pearl. It was alot of fun!

Wes designed the "pin the bow" game. I thought he did a great job.

The pinata was a little different. You pulled strings instead of hitting it. (I know where is the fun in that) Evan pulled the lucky string and all the candy fell out. Sad for the girls....no on was a match for Uncle Bryan's lighting quick reflexes. My favorite part was when I saw Pearl sitting quietly with her candy bag and I noticed it barely had any candy in it. I asked her if she wanted me to help her get to more. Her response, "No thanks, this is all the sweets I need." I wish I could adapt that attitude.

Makayla was so excited to turn six. I don't know where all the time has gone. She is such a blessing to our family...here are a few of my favorite things about her...

*She is such a girl...she loves all things pink, princess, and sparkly
*Her sense of humor (even if her jokes don't make any sense)
*Her blue eyes and blonde hair (so unexpected)
*How sweet she is to Evan
*That she doesn't like french fries (I know she will look back at this and also wonder...why??)
*Her love of learning
*That she stand up for herself and what she believes in
*Her sense of style and love of shoes (she may not look like me, but we are kindred spirits)
*She is very helpful (most of the time)
*She loves art and drawing
....she is my girl and I have so many wonderful things to look forward to with her...Happy Birthday!

The Cake

2009-06-09T14:34:00.000-07:00

The cake....what was I thinking! I blame it on Megan and all her big ideas. Heaven forbid we have a simple cake (you know...the store bought kind). I was in charge of the baking and Megan was in charge of the decorating. When I asked Makayla what kind of cake she wanted she told me she wanted strawberry. (I have no idea where she came up with that) I had alot of fun making the cake...I have never had a strawberry cake before. It was really good and Megan did a great job decorating it. We didn't give Makayla any idea what we were doing. She was really surprised and when she blew her candle out I remembered why I put all the time into that cake. Megan is already planning next years cake!

Candles and Stitches

2009-05-27T21:55:00.000-07:00

So it finally happened...I got a sewing machine. I think my mom was tired of me asking her to mend things. I am not going to lie...I was pretty excited. It's about time...you should have seen my mom when I made my first stitch...her eyes filled with tears. I am pretty sure that she has never been more proud of me in her life. Special note: The above dress was not sewn by me, I just fixed the strap...baby steps

Kindergarten Graduation

2009-05-27T21:07:00.000-07:00

It's official, Makayla is a grade schooler! And apparently graduating from kindergarten is a bigger deal than graduating from college. I don't know what Makayla was more excited for...the actual graduation or because she was allowed to wear flip flops to school. It was fun to look back at all she has learned this year. When I look at her journals from the beginning of the year to the end, I am amazed at her growth. She has gone from learning to read to reading simple chapter books. Right know she loves the Magic Treehouse series. She has such a love for learning, I can't wait to see what she does next year. As for right know...we are just enjoying sleeping in and not doing much of anything at all...

Big Trees

2009-05-17T18:23:00.000-07:00

(Tami) "Wes what is the weather going to be like in Angel's Camp?"
(Wes) "It is going to be really nice...upper 70's"
(Tami) "Are you sure, I remember there was snow on the ground last time we went."
(Wes) "No, its going to nice...I am wearing short sleeves."
(Tami) "You are crazy, I am packing the kids winter coats...you should bring a sweatshirt."
(Wes) "You are bringing way too much stuff."
(Tami) "We'll see."

"Hey Mom...what's all this stuff on the ground?" Snow...and it is in the upper 40's...bet you are glad you have that sweatshirt Wes! Oh...and I would like to that you for taking my coat (the one you said I wouldn't need) out of the van...you sucker!

The kids had alot of fun. Although the fun of the snow quickly faded and the cold set in. The trail was way longer than I remember, but the kids were troopers. Makayla just focused on the tree markers...counting down from 21. Once she saw tree maker 1, I thought she was going to cry...she was beginning to worry we were going to have to sleep in the forest.

Bedtime

2009-05-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when I am watching American Idol instead of my kids....Evan decided Makayla was more comfortable then his bed.

Easter Kick Off

2009-04-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

I know, Easter seems like forever ago, but I am doing a little "blog catch up". We had so much fun this Easter, starting with the Hulbert's eater egg hunt. Makayla was really worried it was going to be cancelled because of the rain, but luckily it was only a little wet (but very cold). This hunt was so much fun. Everyone brings twelve eggs each, and as you can see the adults do a wonderful job of hiding them! The fun doesn't stop after the eggs are "found". There was also cookies the decorate or if you are Evan, frosting to lick!

Bugs

2009-04-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

Spring...or summer is here. Today it was in the high 80's and so beautiful outside. After Evan's nap, I sent the kids outside for some fresh air. Makayla discovered that the grass was full of ladybugs. She slowly creep around and then would quickly clapped her hands together. After several attempts, she excitedly she ran into the house to show me her prize. Ever so carefully she opened her hands so I could peek inside. Then it was back outside to set "her" ladybug free. It was so cute watching Evan follow behind, trying to be so quite and still. It was a perfect moment, watching them discover these bugs together, seeing Evan's face light up when he discovered they could fly, and feeling the excitement that only childhood can brings to such a simple thing.

What?

2009-04-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

What to do with Evan? We were playing outside when all the sudden Evan runs to the van. I ask him what he is doing, but I can't quite make out his response. After trying to open the van door several times, he comes back for assistance. My mom went to the car with him to see what was so important. He all the sudden comes running back to us, his prize in hand....a straw. Why? Well so he can drink some of Grandpa's Coke of course. The things this kid comes up...pure genius!

Getting Closer

2009-04-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

After such a huge remodel, once all the big stuff is done, you take a step back and think, "Wow,
look at what we did." Weeks pass and you start to see all the little things you still have let to do...touch up paint, some caulking, a few baseboards still need to be painted...the list goes on (special note-this list only includes inside work...the outside projects are too overwhelming for me to even think about) ...and there is still one pretty big project left...the nook. So finally after getting tired of having nowhere to eat we painted the nook. My Dad brought his spray gun over which was great to have. We finally found a table that fit just right (hard to find a square pedestal)...I love it. My mom is going to help me upholster it and then I call officially check it of the list!

Burn

2009-03-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

Send Wes outside with the kids and he will give a reason to go to the emergency room. Poor Evan, he touch the muffler on the lawnmower after Wes parked it. I am pretty sure he won't be doing that again. The one good thing about a third degree burn is after it stops burning, you apparently lose feeling until it heals. I love the card Makayla made for him. As a mom it is so rewarding to see those acts of kindness.

It's Raining...It's Pouring

2009-03-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

The last couple of weeks have been pouring rain. When it finally cleared up, Evan and I headed down to our seasonal stream. I thought of wrapping his boots in plastic wrap again, but as the pictures will show, it wouldn't have done any good. Evan got soaked, it was so muh fun. The whole time he was down there jumping and splashing I just kept thinking how awesome it was we could do this. Of course I thought we would go down to the stream and Evan would throw things in and watch the water move down stream...what do I know...he didn't throw "things" in, he throw himself in. When we walked back up to house I must have dumped about five cups of water out of Evan's boots...he didn't seem to mind.

We were also lucky enought to be invited over to the Hulbert's property to go on a "creek walk". Their stream kicks our stream's trash. It has a waterfall...how can we compete with that. The kids had a blast. The main problem we ran into is that I did not know that to complete the "creek walk" I would have to actually cross it. I am sure that some of you are thinking no big deal...just jump across. I wish it were that easy, but no such luck. I tried and landed in the middle...not sure what I was thinking...somtimes I think I am taller and more athletically inclined then I actually am. As I was standing in the middle of the creek with water running all around me I was also wishing I wasn't wearing running shoes...the holes are good when your feet are hot, but terribly inconnvient when standing in a rushing stream.

This picture is commpliments of Amy. She was a much better trooper then I was. While I am still trying to "rock jump" across the creek in pursit of Evan, she just rolled her pants up and jumped right in.

It was quite the adventure for the kids. They had so much fun splashing and exploring. We stopped and had a snack and dumped the water out of the kids boots. Amy, not only being more adventerous than I, is also much smater and brought a change of clothes, socks, and shoes for her kids....I should also admit that Amy reminded me to bring a change of clothes, which I sadly did not remember until I started the mile walk back to her house in my soggy socks. Even with water squishing out of my shoes it was a great time. And really what is a "creek walk" without your feet getting a little wet.

Fair

2009-03-08T19:53:00.000-07:00

Evan has a new saying..."Not fair!" Everything is "not fair". Here are just a few examples... Evan it's time to get dressed..."not fair", Evan do you want eggs for breakfast?..."not fair", Evan time for church..."not fair", Evan you need to pick up your toys..."not fair"...and the list continues. It is basically is answer to most things things these days. The bad part is that when he says it he gets this serious look on his face and uses his "mean voice", I can't help but laugh. I am not exactly sure where he picked it up. Makayla occasionally says it, but he has definitely taken it to another level. His other new saying is, "I'm sick". He loves to use it when he gets in trouble. He gets big alligator tears and cries that he is sick. I just look at him an say, "No you are not sick you are sad." His usual response, "Okay Mommy." Now that one I can never grow tried of.
The other day when Evan was asleep in the car, Makayla says, "You know Mom, Evan is really cute when he is asleep, he looks so sweet... you can't even tell how ornery he really is."

Simple Things

2009-02-27T15:28:00.000-08:00

We have a road and a driveway! I know most of you are probably thinking that a house should come with a road...they should be a package deal....not always the case in the country. I never really thought much about roads until I didn't have one. Where we live the road was paved until about 1/4 th mile before our house. The other day I saw our neighbor outside talking to a bunch of guys and pointing at the road....could it be? Do they want to pave the road? I started picture smooth pavement...no more pot holes...my car wouldn't always be covered in dirt....the kids could ride their bikes and scooters. Before I knew it I was walking across the street to see what was going on. YES! The neighbors did want to pave a portion of the road. We ended up splitting the cost of the road and also paved our driveway. Evan was in heaven watching "the guys" build the road. Start to finish he was captivated by all their equipment and trucks. I can't even describe how wonderful it is. It's like in the movie Cars when they are all driving on the new road...it's so nice. Every time I drive down it I am so thankful. When we first moved here, I was so happy...I didn't think life could get and better..and then came our road...simple but wonderful.

Once There Was A Snowman...

2009-02-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

What a surprise...we woke up to snow. Not just a light dusting, but actual snow. The kids were so excited, it was like Christmas. Of course the first thing they wanted to do was go outside...but what to dress them in? Then it hit me, a memory from my childhood. I was wearing bright blue rain boots and my mom was worried that the snow would fall in the top. Her solution...duct tape. She tucked my jeans in the top of my rain boots and taped around the top to seal them. Genius. I didn't have duct tape, but I found that plastic wrap was just as effective. Wes walked in while I was "wrapping" the kids and looked at me like I was crazy, but really I think he just wished he had come up with the idea first.

The kids had a blast. It was really Evan's first real experience with snow. The kids both built snowmen (of course Makayla's was a snowgirl complete with grass for her hair). I think my favorite thing about the snowmen was that they were made of equal parts of snow and leaves. It just amazes me how kids automatically know how to build a snowman, even snow challenged kids from California. It was so much fun watching Makayla and Evan play in the snow.

Just like the primary song, the snowmen slowly melted as the sun came out. But such is the fate of a Californian snowman. I would also like to note that once the kid's boots were removed their socks were nice and dry.

I Have A Confession

2009-02-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

Hi my name is Tami and I am addicted to Diet Coke. It has been five days since my last drink. I love Diet Coke. What can I say...it's one of my favorite things. I know it's horrible for me. I am a pretty healthy person... I exercise and try to eat right, but despite several attempts to stop drinking soda, I always fail. I think they should make some kind of patch. I have my excuses... it helps when I have headaches, it's calorie free...blah, blah, blah. Well after the Ensign article I decided that I was done...no more Diet Coke. So I bought myself some caffeine free diet coke just to take the edge off. However, the last couple of days I have had bad headaches in the afternoon and I have been so tired... I know, I am in withdrawal. So this afternoon, Evan was taking a nap so I decided to turn a show on for Makayla so I could lay down (I am a great mother). About an hour later, Makayla wakes me up, "Mom come see what I did!" I look on the counter and she had made several puppets from her puppet kit. I am amazed she did it all by herself...of course her mom was passed out on the couch so what choice did she have. It's nice to see that things run so smoothly when I am checked out.

***Note to Bryan, Megan, and Mom: When you decided to give up your Diet Coke we can start a support group- We can call it DCJA (Diet Coke Junkies Anonymous). The first step is admitting you have a problem.

One Of Those Days

2009-02-05T15:17:00.000-08:00

Today as turned into one of those days where you are not sure whether to scream, laugh, or cry at your situation. The day started out fine. I got Makayla up and off to school and Evan was in a surprisingly calm mood. Then everything went down hill. Wes had scheduled the direct TV guy to come between 9-11 am...he however decided to show up at 8 am when I was getting out of the shower. ( I thought that only happened on commercials) Later Evan and I had our Little Gym class which was alot of fun. After gym decided to go to In-N-Out for lunch. They just opened a brand new one right by us! I had just enough time to go through the drive thru before picking Makayla up at school. They gave me my food and as I was leaving I noticed they actually gave us the wrong food. Great! So I pulled into the parking lot, got Evan out of the car (defeating the purpose of going through a drive thru) and went and got our real order. After I got Makayla at school I headed home counting down the minutes to Evan's nap. When I got home, however I realized I didn't have my house key. I got out to look for the spare key my Mom had hidden. Meanwhile Makayla is jumpmg around because she has to go bathroom. I go back to the car to call my mom because I can't find where she hid the key. While I am on the phone, Makayla decides to unbuckle Evan. (big mistake) Of course I can't get hold of mom... I know big shocker (she is probably on the other line with Megan) So I get out of the car to look for the key again. Now here is the real kicker. When I shut the door and go to get Evan out, he hops up front and locks the door. So now I am locked out of the house and the car, one kid has to pee, and the other is jumping all around the car. Oh, but it's not over, Evan suddenly stops jumping and looks at me frozen. No, No, No!... He didn't...yes, yes he did...he peed all over the seat. Disgusted by his wet pants, he finally unlocks the door. By this time I finally get hold of my mom, find the key, and get inside he house. Evan is now napping, but I am just counting down until Wes gets home...tag you it! I am done!

Finally!

2009-02-01T19:37:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons we bought this house is that there would be a a space for my flower room. However, after moving in my would be flower room became the dumping ground for random house supplies and construction materials. After having a couple of crazy busy flower months I was tired of tripping over paint cans and having to walk to garage for my flower supplies. The solution to my problem...Wes and and a couple of days off work...let the fun begin!

Before...

Messy...disorganized...and crowded

After...

We (yes, I am talking about you Wes) still have a little work to do, but it feels so good to have everything organized and in one place. I decided to to paint my table and self and eight cans of spray paint later.... perfect and bright!

Picky, Picky

2009-01-23T18:50:00.000-08:00

What is worse then a picky eater.... a stubborn picky eater. (A.K.A. Makayla) Makayla has always been so hard to feed. It is impossible to get her to try new foods. I don't expect her to eat things she genuinely doesn't like. I am thankful my mom never forced me drink milk (yuck!) What I have a problem with is that she won't even try things...things I know she would like. Tonight I made Sloppy Joe's. Not the Manwich kind...I mean from scratch (big deal for me). Makayla just sat there looking at it telling me, "Mom I know it has to taste disgusting because that is how it looks." Real confidence boost for the cook. By this time Evan had already cleaned his plate so Wes was getting him so ice cream for dessert. "But Mom I am not hungry for dinner, I am just hungry for ice cream," pleads Makayla. I am sure you are sweetie, but no dinner, no ice cream. By this time Makayla really starts to melt down...she doesn't do it often, but when she does it is quite a show. She pulls out all the stops...big alligator tears, random babbling, and my personal favorite....fake choking. All she had to do was try it....give it a taste. But no, because if Makayla is nothing else she is determined...and she had already decided that her "taste buds wouldn't like it." The best part...after she sat there for 45 minutes I finally cleared her plate and gave her some bread with butter (I know...but the has to eat). Suddenly she starts bawling even more than before,"But Mom I was just about to eat that! Can you make me another one?" Are you kidding me...I surrender.

This post is dedicated to Aunt Ashley...thank you for your wonderful example and for making Makayla's eating habits seem almost normal.

High Flying

2009-01-19T16:55:00.000-08:00

When we moved to our house, one of my favorite things was the huge oak tree on the side of the house. The previous owners had a rope swing tied to a branch about thirty feet up. Over the years, however, the rope had begun to dig into the limb and trunk of the tree. We knew we would have to take it down and replace it with something that would not be as harmful to the tree. The biggest problem....getting thirty feet up to do that. Sadly, Weston's tree climbing skills are about as good as his sheep shearing skills (and there is the whole safety issue thing) Thankfully, for Christmas my parent hired a tree company to come out and remove the old swing and replace it. Getting the new swing in was quite the ordeal, but so worth it. It is so much fun! It seems to represent what being young and carefree is all about. I hope when my kids look back at their childhood this red tire swing brings many happy memories.

Opinions

2009-01-15T18:21:00.000-08:00

I decided to sign Makayla up for softball. She always loved going to her Aunt Megan's games. Plus lets face it, she is such a girl...I want to make sure she knows there is more out there than ballet, fairy princesses, and the color pink. When I told her I signed her up, she gave me a serious look and said, "You know Mom, you really should have asked me first." I am thinking that a couple of balls to the head might be good for her....batter up!

Very Merry

2008-12-26T16:32:00.000-08:00

This was our first Christmas in our new house. It was perfect. The tree, the presents, family...it was so much fun. This year we got the kids scooters. Evan had his figured out in about two seconds, while Makayla wanted to make sure she knew how to properly use the brake before going anywhere. Weston's parents got us a new camera, which I am slowly trying to figure out how to use. My parents got us tickets to Wicked in San Francisco:) It was a great day. I am always sad as Christmas comes to an end and the excitement slowly fades. I love it all. Right now I am just enjoying those carefree days that follow Christmas, when the kids are completely captivated with their new toys and it is perfectly acceptable that my house is a mess.

Pretty In Pink

2008-12-15T20:10:00.000-08:00

Makayla was dancing around my parent's house in her ballet clothes. Everyone kept telling her how cute she looked. No one pays more attention to Makayla than Evan. He wants to do everything she does. He adores her. So when Makayla took her legwarmers off because her legs were "toasty", Evan just couldn't resist. What gets more attention than a cute five year girl in legwarmers....a mischievous two year old boy. What can I say... I didn't stop him, my first instinct was to grab the camera. Priceless!

We Have A Sidewalk!

2008-12-13T19:24:00.000-08:00

I never thought I would be so excited to see cement. However, when your house is surrounded by dirt and gravel, you learn to reevaluate your priorities. I feel a change within myself... suddenly I am not so concerned with the seasons latest new shoes and styles. Instead I am dreaming of a paved driveway. I want to find out what all the trees are in the orchard are and learn how to take care of them. I want to plant a garden. I want to build a chicken coop and watch Makayla and Evan go collect eggs in their red boots. I am so excited to see what Wes and I can do with our property and see it change with each new project. Now don't get me wrong...the perfect pair of ballet flats still makes my head turn...however... now so does a good pair of sturdy rubber boots.

Dad and Mom, no I am not sick.... I am perfectly fine.

Tis The Season

2008-12-08T21:12:00.000-08:00

Today Evan ate a Christmas tree light. Need I say more?

Picture Perfect

2008-12-05T13:12:00.000-08:00

For Christmas gifts in my family we draw names. We got lucky (or cheated) and had Bryan and Ashley draw our names. I was so excited because I wanted them to take family pictures for our gift. We had so much fun and they turned out amazing! I would like to give thanks to Ashley for her impersonation of a monkey and her commitment not to let any other photographers push us out of our spot. I would also like to thank Bryan for turning Caden into super baby (Evan loved it) and for his awesome photo shop skills (even though you didn't replace Wes for Edward:) Here are a few of my favorite pics...

Pretty Boy

2008-11-22T11:09:00.001-08:00

I think the picture speaks for itself. This is what happens when I ask Wes to keep an eye on Evan. Who would have guessed that Evan would be the first to play with my make-up and not Makayla? At least he got the mascara close to his eyes. Not bad for a two year old.

Big Boy Trouble

2008-11-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

I remember being at the Little Gym and the moms were talking about how hard it is to keep their kids in their cribs. A couple moms even had what they called a crib tent. I guess you put your kid in the crib and then you trap them by zipping them in. I thought it was funny because I had never had any major problems keeping Makayla or Evan in their beds. I mean who is in charge here? You just need to teach your kids to mind (right?). Little did I know...When we moved into our house, we replaced Evan's crib with a "big boy bed". Big mistake! Evan thinks it is the best time ever to get out of bed, open his door, and very cutely say,"hi mommy, hi daddy." Then the minute that he sees us comming, he very calmly, walks back to his bed. It is hard to get mad or be all strict when he is just so cute (the downfall). We are making progress, however, he is now geting out of bed about four times as opposed to the thirty when this started. The crib tent is not looking so bad anymore.

House Update

2008-11-06T10:55:00.001-08:00

Here is a house update that also goes along with Ashley's picture tag. It has been so nice to get settled into our house this week. One of my favorite things has been to watch Makayla and Evan play together in their rooms, rediscovering all the toys that have been packed up for so long.

For the picture tag I was suppose to post a picture of the 4th picture from my 4th folder. For me that just happened to be a before picture of our kitchen. It is so crazy how much it has changed.
Not quit the retro I was going for. Although the curtains and the bar stools were just an added bonus.
This was actually quite the fancy kitchen back in it's day. You could tell that the previous owner really loved to cook. Hopefully a little of that will rub off on me!

I loved how ever thing has turned out. My favorite is the back splash. It reminds me of an opal or the inside of an abalone shell. Every time I walk in I love it even more.
Many were skeptical about my green island, but I love it! We or I should say Wes still needs to put the hardware on the cabinets, but I am still amazed at the fact that I have running water that I hardly notice.

Here is the nook. This a work in progress. I am going to paint it green to match the island and put cushions on it. As for my siblings, I can not wait for all the game nights that will take place here. And don't worry because when you lose, my pretty kitchen will cheer you up. Game on!

Little Farm Hands

2008-11-06T10:54:00.001-08:00

The kids love to go outside and play. With the recent rain, everytime they went outside thier shoes would be covered in mud. Anyone who knows me well knows that this is a serious problem. It was time to get some boots. Now not just any boots would do. They couldn't just be cute, they had to be tuff...I'm talking farm boots. So I drove to Lee's Feed (that's the local farm store). The great thing about this is that I have lived in this area on acreage most of my life and this is the first time I had actually gone inside. Evan was like a kid in a candy store. He ran over to the yellow and green John Deere gloves and exclaimed, "Daddy!" He helped me pick out the perfect boots for him and Makayla. I can actually see myself becoming a frequent costmer of Lee's Feed...maybe there is hope for me yet. As for the kids, they couldn't be more at home while they jump in the mud and chase turkeys all over the property.

Happy Halloween

2008-11-06T10:33:00.001-08:00

We had a blast during Halloween this year. It was so much fun to see how excited Evan got when he figured out what this holiday is all about...costume= free candy and staying up way too late. For Halloween we headed to our ward trunk or treat. The cars are always decorated so creatively. I wasn't sure what to do seeing how my van was full of moving boxes. Luckily Amy let grab a spot by her very cutely decorated car.
This is the only pictures I was able to snap before Evan took his hood off. Makayla was excited to wear her Ariel wedding dress that grandma and grandpa Larsen got her at Disneyland. She was concerned about how her hair was going to turn out without her Aunt Megan there to do it for her. I told her that I used to do Aunt Megan's hair when she was little so there was nothing to worry about. (not to mention that I do Makayla's hair everyday) Apparently I am not as good at the fancy styles as Megan. Although I could have used Megan's help in the make up department...definitely not my area of expertise.

Home Sweet Home

2008-11-04T20:23:00.000-08:00

We have offically moved into our house this weekend. It has been such a long time coming that I can't believe it has finally happened. It is so fun unpacking and putting things away. Our stuff have been in storage so long that I had forgotten about most of it. This is the first time I have unpacked with the feeling of being settled. I don't have to think about when or where we will move to next. This is our home...we love it and feel truely blessed to be here. I will update with some pictures soon.

Pumpkin Time

2008-10-26T22:17:00.000-07:00

When October rolled around I convinced myself that I would make it up to Apple Hill for the kids to pick pumpkins. Every time I thought it would be a good day to go, something came up. The other day I was at Trader Joe's where they had a huge pumpkin stand which Evan thought was really cool. So on a 90 degree day with an island band playing in the background, we picked our pumpkins. Definitely not Apple Hill, but the kids didn't seem to care. I am surprised the pumpkins survived long enough to be carved. I had them out the front door and Evan was convinced they were balls. Every chance he got, he tried to roll them down my parents front steps. We had a great time. After all, being together as a family is all that really matters.

Good Self Esteem

2008-10-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

After I got Makayla ready for church this morning, she went and knocked on my parents bedroom door. She told them that she wanted to see how cute she looked in the mirror. She took a good look at herself and very confidently said, "Wow, I am cuter than I thought!"

Cheers!

2008-10-24T20:44:00.001-07:00

What to do with Evan? The things this boy can do in 30 seconds amazes me. I was in the kitchen putting groceries away when Evan comes inside spitting and saying, "yuck, Mommy." I noticed he had something around his mouth. I smelt it and was immediately convinced that he had eaten animal feces. When I had him show me what he ate all I could think was, "Are you kidding me?" He had actually put a straw in a pole hole and drank the sludge. I couldn't decide whether to cry, panic, laugh, or throw-up. Poor Evan was so grossed out. I had to brush his teeth three times to get him to stop trying to spit the taste out. I quickly called the doctor thinking he was surely going to become ly ill. The doctor, however, didn't share my concerns and said he should be fine. Now, whenever we pass the hole, Evan gives me a disgusted look and says, "No, no, no mom." Bottoms up!

House Update

2008-10-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our kitchen is finally going in. We are getting the counter and blacksplash intalled this week. It is so much fun seeing everything come together. Now all I have to do is learn how to cook:)

Evan

2008-10-13T22:33:00.000-07:00

I often refer to Evan as our remodel baby. We have been remodeling our house for half of his life. Our house has consumed so much of our lives that I am beginning to forget what normal life feels like. As I was dragging Evan around running house errands I began thinking how different his life is compared to when Makayla was little. I began to think of all the things I had time to do with her...playing games, going to the park, doing crafts...and then it hit me, Evan has never finger painted. I was suddenly so sad for him, as if it was amazing he was even able to function. And so finger painting became the top priority of my day. Makayla had a blast, while Evan wasn't so sure. He dipped his fingers a couple of times and than looked at me and said, "I all done Mom." Apparently finger painting didn't have the affect on him I thought it would. So I let him down and he ran outside to play. While I watched him I thought of all the things he did have...a beautiful house on five acres where he can run, play, explore, and do all the things little boys live for.

I've been tagged!

2008-10-05T23:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you Melany!!!

10 years ago:
1. I was eighteen (where did the time go?)
2. A freshman at Ricks College
3. Had a super short hair
4. Worked at Hollywood Video
5. Was in love with the band Boyzone ( a classic)

5 things on today's to-do list:
1. Exercise (I am pretty sure just thinking about it burns calories)
2. Laundry...it is never ending
3. Pick up flowers for a flower order
4. Clean Darcy's cage (he is our bird)
5. Make sure Evan makes it safely through another day

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Raspberries
2. Cheese and ers
3. Strawberries
4. Brown rice cakes (I can eat a whole bag..which I am pretty sure defeats the purpose)
5. Corn Nuts (what can I say)

5 Things I'd do if I were a millionaire:
1. Travel with my family
2. Buy Wes a fancy car
3. Design an amazing playground for my kids
4. Shop at Anthropology (full price...not just the sale racks)
5. Give back to our families

5 Places I've lived:
1. California born and raised
2. Colonial Apartments in Rexburg, Idaho (where I met Teresa who introduced me to Wes)
3. Provo, Utah (yeah, I did my time)
4. Sandy, Utah while Wes finished school (That's love)
5. Our Home...Shingle Springs, California where I finally have a place I can paint the walls (which is not as much fun as it sounds)

5 jobs I've had:
1. Papa Murphy's Pizza
2. Hollywood Video
3. Dental office secretary
4. Discover Card (I get chills just typing it)
5. Mom

I tag:
Anyone who reads this...with a special invite to Bryan (who knows how it feels to be left out of the tagging world)

Beauty Is In The Eyes Of The Beholder

2008-09-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

Makayla and Evan love to bring me flowers from my mom's garden. Today Makayla comes in with beatiful red and orange flowers and I can hear Evan stomping in behind her. He comes up so proud and waves a bunch a dried flowers in my face saying, "look mommy!" Nothing says I love you like dead flowers. The best part is he kept smelling them and saying, "Ummm...pretty."

Red Carpet Event

2008-09-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

Our life has been so crazy lately. I can hardly remember what a just normal day feels like. Makayla's has been wanting to have her best friend Pearl over for a play date for months. One problem...our house is full of paint and tools not toys. Well the new Barbie princess movie was coming out (oh yeah it's a big deal) so I told Makayla we would have a movie party. They had so much fun. The only problem with these movies is that they suck you in...not so much for their great plots, but more the lack of one. My favorite quote from the day was from Pearl who told me, "Sister Larsen, Makayla and I are such good friends because we know how to be proper princesses." Pure entertainment.

Dirty...Dirty

2008-09-13T22:07:00.001-07:00

Ever since Evan was a baby he has been a master at giving dirty looks. He always lets us know exactly how he feels. This look was in response to my question, "Evan, can you smile for Mommy?" Apparently he wasn't in the mood.

Please Tell Me I Am Adopted

2008-09-11T22:42:00.000-07:00

So this most is mainly for the enjoyment of my siblings...if only you guys could have been here to see this. Dad just got his new cold water wet suit for his lobster dive. He was like a kid bringing home a new toy. I wouldn't have even know about it, but has I was walking past their room I caught a glimpse of Dad in something that resembled a batman costume (Yes, there are so many things wrong with that picture). It took me and grandma to help him get the hat on, , but it was definitely worth the effort!

I Have No Comment

2008-09-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

I don't quit kow what to say. Apparently this is what happens when all your kids toys are packed up and the only thing they have to play with is construction materials. Sad, but true. Luckily, Evan was napping, otherwise I am afraid Makayla would have made him a matching hat.

Trip to Utah

2008-09-05T20:27:00.000-07:00

Our family is divided into to groups...Californians and Utahans. As Makayla puts it, "Dad and I were born in Utah so we like the cold and you and Evan were born in California so you like the hot." Funny, but true. This last week we went on a trip to Utah to visit family and friends. When we pulled into Grandma and Grandpa's house, the first thing Evan said was, "Mom, I want to go home." Aside from the long, but necessary drive through Nevada, we had a great time. It was very surreal to be back. When we lived there, I always missed California. To me California is home, it was hard to imagine myself living anywhere else. After Wes graduated I was so ready to say goodbye to the snow, the gird system (sadly I have no sense of direction and North, South, East, and West mean nothing to me), and did I mention the snow. It wasn't until I had been away for a while that I also saw the things I miss. Great family and friends, and of course the best carmel apples I have ever had.

Makayla was so excited to see her grandma and grandpa Larsen. She is truely lucky to have them as grandparents. First we went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. Our friends Aaron and Teresa and their little boy Kobe met us there. We have so much fun together, almost as much fun as Makayla and Kobe. We miss just being able to hang out with them, they are such great friends.

It was fun to watch Makayla and Kobe have such a good time together. When we lived in Utah, their year age difference was so much more noticeable. I think Kobe has a little crush on Makayla (I can't blame him, I think she is pretty neat). His parents told us that when they passed the Draper temple, Kobe asked them if he could marry Makayla there.

I must admit, we couldn't ask for better in-laws. I guess if Makayla and Kobe don't work out, there's still Evan and Kylie.

I think Wes enjoyed the museum more than the kids. The museum had a neat hands on water area. It was filled with sand, water, small trees and dinosaurs. Kobe jumped right in, while Makayla just stood there with a disgusted look on her face.

Bryan and Ashley also blessed Caden while we were out there. He looked so cute. He is the such a happy sweet baby, mainly because he has such an awesome mom (his dad isn't all that bad either). After the blessing we went up to Provo Canyon and had a picnic. It was fun to spend a little more time with my brothers and sister, and sadly our summer fun has come to an end. And yes (Bryan and Jarom) painting an entire house is an excellent way to spend your summer.

After the blessing we headed to Layton to Weston's aunt and uncles house. I always have a great time visiting with them. They had just remodeled their house, which got me excited to to finish my own. We also got to see Paul and Mel. They are expecting their little girl Penny any day.

Aside from the fact that I never got a snow cone (apparently the snow snacks close down when it is pouring rain), I had a great time. On the way home Makayla asked me whether I liked Utah or California better. I told her they both had good points, but that I was partial to California. She told me that she liked Utah the best because that is were she is from. Then she got very serious and said, "Well I like lots of tings about California too. I definitely like the the water better because Utah's water is disgusting!" That's my girl.

House Update

2008-08-16T20:55:00.000-07:00

House Before

We have been remodeling our house on five acres for almost a year. While it has been a bigger project than we could have ever imagined, we are finally in the home stretch. When we first started looking for a house, I instantly feel in love with this property and it's beautiful heritage oak trees. With the crazy house prices in California, property was just something we dreamed about. With my parents help, however, we were able to make that dream a reality. When I pull up to our house, I still can't believe it's ours. I feel to blessed and thankful. I can't think of any other place I would rather be. In the beginning the house was definitely not picture perfect, but it has so much potential. It has been amazing to see it change and become more than we could have ever dreamed of.....

House- Getting Closer

It is so fun to see the outside change even if we still have a long way to go. We are still building a deck on the side and will install a railing along the front. I haven't even thought about the landscaping. I am just taking it one step at a time, but I can't wait to just relax on the front porch and watch my kids play. I love our property and have so many ideas for it. I just can't wait to watch it take shape.

Kid's Bath Before

This bathroom wasn't pretty. It was really outdated and in need of a face lift. It is also very long and narrow. We gutted it, but kept the layout the same. It had just come together this last week. We still need to find a mirror, but I defiantly don't miss the tri fold medicine cabinet.

Kid's Bath After

It is a litter hard to see these pictures. We have a solar tube in this bathroom and the sun is really bright because the cover isn't on it yet. The tile is a large greenish/yellow subway tile. This is the tile that kind of set the tone for our house. I just fell in love with it so I picked all the other tile to blend with it. I really wanted a pedestal sink, but also wanted a vanity for storage. This was the design I came up with. I had a hard time explaining it to the cabinet company, but I love how it turned out. Cute, but functional. I put a deep tub in here because I love to take baths, but couldn't fit one in the master. We still have to install the glass door, but I love how this bathroom is turning out.

Master Bath Before

This was by far my least favorite room in the house. I wasn't quite sure what to do with it. The bathroom felt pretty small and was really outdated. The shower was really tiny (not to mention really gross). The vanity was really short, and overall there just wasn't a good use of space. There wasn't much we could do with the layout, but there was a pretty large linen closet which we made a little smaller to allow for a larger shower. We changed out the toilet and vanity. We had to fill in the window to add on the flower room, but we put in a solar tube which lets in a lot of natural light. It was really fun to see the room change, especially because I was put in charge of designing it. Overall I think this has been one of the biggest transformations.

Master Bath After

It feels so good to have this bathroom almost done. It is so fun to see everything come together. I had an idea of what I wanted in here, but it was so overwhelming picking out tile. There is way to much to choose from, and so many details to keep in mind. One of my favorite things in here is the vessel sink. We still have to install the shower doors and windows, but at least the toilet is up and running.

Makayla's Room Before

One of the things I liked most about this house was that it had large rooms and closets. This room had two wall length closets. The first thing we did is knock one out, making the room much larger (almost as big as our master), and creating a solid wall for her bed (the other walls had windows). We also have replaced the the carpet and painted. We installed new windows, doors, and molding.

Makayla's Room After

Makayla's room is pretty much done. We have always rented so I have had so much fun being able to paint her room. At first she was a little worried because I told her she could pick green or yellow for her room because that was what would match her bedding. After a little thought, she looked at me and said, "Mom, I don't really want a John Deere room." I guess all that country air is getting to her. She finally decided on yellow (well I actually told her I wanted green, knowing she would pick the opposite). All that is left is to hang her chandelier and she is ready to move in. Yeah!

We are still working on Evan's room, the kitchen, and family room. I will post some pictures hopefully soon. Remodeling has defiantly been more work than we thought, but as things are finally starting to come together, I am getting really excited. We have been to thankful to be able to live in such a beautiful setting.

First Day of School

2008-08-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

Makayla started kindergarten on Monday. It was a hard day...mainly because I had to get up at 6:30am. It's going to take awhile to get used to that. Her school day is from 7:55-12:55pm. It is not that much longer than preschool, but it is everyday. It is so weird not having her home with me, but she loves school and learning. The best part about her class is that her best friend Pearl is there with her. The fun thing about just having Evan during the morning is that it allows me to give him my full attention (by that I mean watch him like a hawk). I am kind of amazed that he had made it to this point in his life without any major injures (fingers crossed). Another cool thing about her school is that it is the same school I went to...crazy. It is a small country school. There is only one kindergarten class with only eighteen kids. When I graduated eighth grade my class size was only twenty five. Not much as changed. I love that.

Where's My Mommy?

2008-07-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

Makayla decided that she wanted Dad to do her hair. So of course Evan thought it was a great idea too. I didn't care only because I knew we weren't going anywhere. Makayla's hair was created by Wes awkwardly twisting her hair into a braid, while Evan curls were just brushed into a fro. What can I say...Wes has a hard enough time combing his own hair. Makayla's only comment on her hair was, "Well mom, it doesn't really matter how my hair looks because I am still cuter than Evan. That's because I am a girl, and girls are always a little bit cuter than boys!"

California...The new Hawiaii

2008-07-27T13:35:00.000-07:00

This past week my parents, Megan, and Jarom have been in Hawaii. I like to call it their partial family vacation. Instead of enjoying the beauty of Hawaii, they left us, Bryan, Ashley, and Caden here to "house sit". Too bad for them because we have just been partying it up California style. Who needs the white sandy beaches of Hawaii when we have a private beach right here. So what if most people refer to it as a sandbox. Our private beach features a removable lid that keeps the sand at the perfect temperature, and we don't have to share it with half tourists in Speedos. Now our waterfront view may not be of the Pacific Ocean, but who really likes all that salty water anyway. We may not have tropical fish and the relaxing sounds of the waves, but we do have a pretty sweet diving board...need I say more. While there were no actual whales...Uncle Bryan did a pretty good impersonation of one. Evan got the best dressed at our beach party. He picked out his complete outfit paring it with his Uggs...the perfect beach shoe. And of course what would a Hawaiian vacation be without a Luau at sunset. It was pretty much the perfect vacation. Don't be too sad Mom and Dad...maybe we will invite you next year.

...And Then Comes Marriage...

2008-07-23T00:10:00.000-07:00

I have been doing flowers for the funeral home for just about a year. I love it. So I thought, if I love creating casket sprays, think how much fun a wedding would be. Too bad for me I didn't really know anyone who was getting married. So finally when my cousin got engaged, I jumped at the chance to do her wedding. It was so stressful, but it was so much fun. Everything has to be timed right, the flowers have to stay fresh and beautiful all day (even if the reception is outside and it is 106 degrees), and the colors have to be the perfect shade of whatever. It was a crazy day. Thankfully I had Wes to help with Evan (Makayla is usually my assistant). Even with all the stress I learned so much and would do it again in a heartbeat. Here are a few pictures....

Here is the bouquet (modeled by Josie). This is the first one I ever made. Now most brides who be freaked out by that fact, but luckily Olivia didn't seem to care. I put it off until the end because I was so nervous, but after much prayer, I loved how it turned out. Not to shabby!

This arrangement was for the food table. It was my favorite to make. I love the colors and the limes mixed in with the flowers.

This topiary went on the sign in table. Simple, but cute. The last picture is another arrangement that was on the food table. It's hard to go wrong with roses.

Decisions...Decisions

2008-07-14T23:57:00.000-07:00

Makayla starts kindergarten in less than a month. I can't believe it. She is so excited (me, not so much). We just got her a new backpack. She was so funny picking it out. It took her forever. She studied the colors, the size, the pockets, and the designs. There were butterfly, heart, flower, Barbie (which I tried to hide) and of course, princess backpacks. I thought for sure we would be coming home with a princess backpack. However, after weighing all her options, she finally picked the one with blue polka dots. I was a little surprised. When I asked her why that was her favorite, she simply replied, "Well, I love teal, and the dark blue will hide all the dirt. That way it looks pretty longer." Where did this kid come from? That's our Makayla.... always practical.

I've Been Tagged!!!

2008-07-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged, which means I have been accepted by the blogging world....Thank you Ashley!!!

Favorite Person (outside of family..sorry Ashley, I thought you had it in the bag)? My little Canadian, Teresa Mendenhall. I can call her little because I am a half inch taller than her. She is one of those friends that even if I haven't seen her in awhile, when I do it feels like we were never apart. Oh, and she did introduce me to my husband.

Favorite Food? Snow cones, raspberries, and Coke Freeze...yes those all count as food.

Quirks about you? In a can I prefer diet Pepsi, but from the soda fountain I like diet Coke more. I also love banana snow cones and popsicles, but I hate the actual fruit.

Regrets in life? Not learning to play a musical instrument.

Favorite Blog recently? I love every one's blog, but would have to say Bryan's Counterpiont is always good for a laugh.

Something you can't get enough of? Watching my kids sleep.

Worst Job you've ever had? Is there a good kind? jk...I would have to say Discover Card (collections)..there is nothing like having people cuss, yell, and hang up on you.

Guilty Pleasure? High School Musical (I'm not ashamed), and the Twilight series.

Got any confessions? Come on, I just said I love High School Musical.

If you had $1000 dollars to spend on yourself how would you spend it? I would love to get some really nice family portraits.

Favorite thing about your house? That we not only have walls, but that they are almost all painted!

Least favorite thing about your house? That we have no toilet or shower...it's a serious deal breaker.

One thing you are bad at? Whistling...I can't do it

One thing you are good at? Finding bargains. My best find...my brand new (undamaged) Pottery Barn changing table for $50...having Evan pee all over it and me...priceless.

If you could change one thing about your circumstances, what would it be? Again, back to not having a toilet. No, really there isn't any big thing would change. I may not have a working toilet or shower, but once we are done remodeling I will have a beautiful home in a great place. I have a wonderful family that is so supportive. (and they let us live in there house where there is running water)

What makes you feel sexy. I don't know if sexy is the right word, but cute shoes always make me feel good.

Who is your real life hero? My parents. Having kids makes me appreciate and see all that they do for me.

What is the hardest part of your job? Having to defend it. I love being a mom, not because I couldn't do anything else with my life, but because there is nothing else I would rather do. I feel very blessed to be able to stay home with my kids.

When are you most relaxed? When Evan is napping and I don't have to worry if he is hanging from a light, climbing up my Mom's China cabinet, or eating dog food.

What can you not live without? My minivan...don't laugh...once you try one, you can never go back...automatic doors, need I say more.

Why do you blog? Because everyone is doing it...jk. I think it is a great why to journal and keep in touch with family and friends.

Who are you tagging? Mel, Megan, Teresa, and Janelle

Hello Terrible Two

2008-07-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

Today is Evan's birthday, and while he reminds me daily that he knows what being a two year old is all about, I still can't believe it. When Makayla was two she seemed all grown up to me, I couldn't wait for her to move on to the the next stage, but with Evan, I just want to slow time down...keep him little as long as I can. I always tell my family that little boys are so sweet because you know what they grow up to be...Men. It makes all the cute baby things they do so much more sweet. So here are my ten of my favorite things about my little boy....

1.) His chubby cheeks. I love that they still jiggle when he runs.
2.) His hair...when he wakes up in the morning, it is silky and smooth, but the curls multiply with each hour that passes and by the end of the day it turns into what Wes refers to as sheep hair.
3.) His kisses. When I ask him for a kiss, he turns his cheek "allowing" me to kiss him.
4.) His style. He is only two, but he loves to pick out his clothes, especially his shoes. He definitely got the Phipps pretty boy gene.
5.) His dirty looks. They put teenagers to shame.
6.) His big brown eyes. They always give away exactly how he feels.
7.) His love of all things pink. He loves pink because he loves Makayla. Most of the pink things we have belong to her, and her stuff if his favorite kind of stuff.
8.) How he smells after his bath...once we wash the little boy smell off of him. It may only last a few minutes, but I love that clean smell.
9.) His tender heart. He still breaks down when I tell him (or Makayla) no.
10.) When he reaches for me. There is nothing better then picking him up and having him wrap his little arms around me.

It was so fun to have Jarom home for Evan's birthday. They are kindred spirits. When Jarom came home from his mission last week, Evan ran up to him and wrapped his arms around his legs. My mom says that Evan is a mini Jarom. If that is true, I'll count my blessing, Jarom is an awesome person. Even though he is my younger brother, he is still a good example to me. It is great to have him home!

Blog Envy

2008-07-06T17:58:00.000-07:00

So whenever Wes is on the computer, all he does is look other people's blog and then complain to me about how lame our's is. So I am taking over. I am not saying that it is going to be cool, but at least it will be updated!