beach baby!!!!!

A little sick of the snow today. I keep thinking about sticking my piggies in warm sand with the waves crashing in the background. I am hoping Chad checks this today and gets an idea to take his wonderful wife to somewhere WARM soon. Anniversary is next month you know.............................................................

can't stop talking about.........

Rock climbing!!!

the daily wait.....

Poor little guy....he just can't wait until his sister gets home from school! I bet I did the same thing before I was in school and my sister would leave me all day.

too funny.....

Check it out!

http://www.pearlsofdomesticwisdom.blogspot.com/

Everyone needs to check out my sister"s new blog. I love her. She has always been an amazing writer and no one can put into words the daily life of a mother better. I really like the idea of her blog and hope that all the mothers out there will participate. It could turn into something great...........

slowing down..............

The above pictures were taken through my bedroom window so the quality is pretty cruddy. I just had to capture how much snow our little town was hit with last week! That is my backyard filled practically to the brim with snow. in the bottom pic you can barely see the top of the swing set. I enjoyed how everything in our busy life has just slowed down recently. Neighbors are talking to each other more. Board games are being played and naps are being taken. Even this week Livia's school has had 2 hour delays because the city of Flagstaff can't find a place to put all of this white stuff. We have been sleeping in and cooking yummy breakfasts. I am telling you- we are living the life over here.

snowed in and loving it!

Today Chad is home with us because soooo much snow fell in the night. It is being pretty consistent today. Some are even saying we will get 4 feet more when all is said and done. We have been having a wonderful time playing in our tents. (the kids set up their tents in our room and have been playing starving, lost kids all morning) I am getting ready to make some baked apples. My mom used to always core apples and fill them with red hots and bake them in the oven on snow days. It is a tradition I want to start with our kiddos. I wanted to post some pics and let all of the family know we are safe and sound. I LOVE snow!!!!!

sledding......................................

The first of four storms to come, hit us last night and school was canceled today! Yippee! We stayed in jammies and then crammed our snow clothes over them to go sledding. It just doesn't get any better than this. Tate is way to brave on sleds and I find myself saying a little prayer every time he flies down the biggest , bumpiest and longest hill he can find. Livia is more cautious and I just never have to worry. I tried using the kid snowboard and busted my butt! I think I might even bruise a bit. Serves me right for trying to live in the past for a spell.

oh no! SNOW!

So this week is going to be a big one as far as snow is concerned. There are reports that anywhere from 6 to 8 feet of snow! I did some major grocery shopping today as well as made sure all of the cars are filled with gas (look at me being all prepared!) now we just have to wait and play! I love it when it is snowing outside and I can bake and catch up on projects. I am looking forward to this week.

Salt Lake

A while back Nicole and I met up with Shannon in Salt Lake for a little R&R. We had a delightful time. In fact I was so busy relaxing I actually didn't take many pictures. I love the picture of Tanner with the Kleenex. I was babysitting him while Shannon went to her convention and I found that Kleenex amuses kiddos for hours- At least until it runs out. I know what a waste but anything for Tanner. Notice my smokey eyes? I had my own personal make up artist on the trip. Nicole you rock!

build-a-debt. oops! I mean bear!

Nicole was just dying to go to build a bear with our kids- I finally gave into her wishes while visiting her last weekend. I really can understand why she has been wanting to go. The kids had so much fun "Building" their little bears. It is so hard for me to let the kids pick things that 100% don't go together! I had to let my controlling self go for a while so the kids could have their fun. (ever since watching Jon and Kate plus 8 I am so aware of how I sound when talking to my kids in public!) It was so nice to be in warm weather! We are preparing for 6 feet of snow this week!

Oh the JOY!

Di and I took the kids on a tour today of the Joy cone factory by the airport. Hilarious I tell you. Loved our tour guide even though he was one of the most mono-toned humans in existence. Lucky for the kids there was so much to do and watch that they didn't get to bored. I think I would do so good at a job like that. Everything was so clean and organized and simple. Tour guide- "We make your basic sugar, waffle and cake.........." I could so focus on achieving three goals every day! Anywhoo- here are some cute pics. Thanks Di for always finding FREE things to do.

hello again..............

Life keeps moving by and I keep making lists of things to post without the least bit of energy to do so........ I need to remotivate myself with this blog so the goal for now is to try and post once a week. Livia is growing up way too fast and Tate is getting to be too much of a stinky boy. I can't believe I will have two kids in school next year. We recently went to the valley and celebrated Chad's 33rd birthday (By the way honey, happy birthday and I love you so very much) it was so nice to get out of the cold weather! I think it made all of our family breath a little easier this week having had a mini vaca like that. I will download some pictures soon and post some of the kiddos. Love you all.

just doin what we do...............

These are the cakes I made (with help from Morgan) for my two little nephews

I could blog all day and then some to try and catch up with all we have been up to! I never had a chance to post about our family vacation/reunion in Colorado. We had such a wonderful time seeing all of my mom's family and catching up with cousins and their beautiful families. We were also able to celebrate the life of my grandpa Randy who passed away this past June. We went to a wonderful dinosaur museum and swam and barbecued at one of the prettiest locations I have ever been in Colorado. Thank you so much Aunt Jenny and family for having us! Things have been busy around our little neck of the woods with school starting. Tate loves going to preschool and although Livia doesn't share much about her Kindergarten life (I ask every day- evidently it is just her own personal business) but we are sure she must love it since she is all smiles when it is time to go to school for the most part. We recently attended a "Demolition Derby" which was quite the experience to say the least. I don't know which was more interesting to watch- the people who attended or the actual demolition. We had so much fun roasting marshmallows for family night a couple of weeks ago. The kids had these big logs to stand on and they put on a show for Chad and I to watch around our campfire. We also played a great game of hide and go seek in the woods. I love playing with little kids because I feel like I am such a good hider and finder and runner for the first time ever in my life. One of the biggest accomplishments in our family is that our very own Mr. Tate has recently learned how to ride his bike!! We can't believe how hard he worked at getting rid of his training wheels. I have been trying to stop and smell the roses so to speak- my kids are so much fun right now. I fear about how easy things are getting. I will have my world rocked if we ever have another baby and I have to get back into diaper and sleepless nights mode! I have also been working part time which has been so much fun. I recently watched Kung Fun Panda with Tate and the turtle in that show said something so profound: "The past is history and the future is a mystery but today is a gift and that is why it is called the present........" I just loved that.

livia's first day

Livia started kindergarten and our lives have been crazier than ever........I feel like I live in my car these days! Tate starts preschool next week on Mondays and Tuesdays and I will be working while he is occupied with that. I am trying to set some goals which includes continuing to blog our little life! When I look back over the past few years on this blog I am so grateful I took the time to document things. I don't want to stop doing it just because life is hectic. Chad and I have both recently lost our grandfather's and when we hear stories about their lives it warms our hearts. I want to be sure that our children will be able to hear about our life together.

Blue Thunder!

hear the Thunder? that's right- it's BLUE thunder baby! Oh how fun it is to watch our little boy so dedicated to a sport (note picture of shirt over head while playing) he likes it some days and other days just wants to have a permanent water break on the side lines for the ENTIRE game. I am a little worried about this kids work ethic at times. My favorite picture is the one of me in full Soccer Mom glory. Livia took that one and we couldn't stop laughing when we found it on the camera.

July celebrations

We were able to celebrate Tate's birthday in Eagar as well as spend time with family over the fourth. It was so much fun to all be together. It is true- Tate is now a four year old and has left all baby things behind. I have the baby bug soooooo bad right now. he had a wonderful "surf's up" party with a "Pengalin" pinata. thank you Andrea for letting us use your house for the party! I made cute flip flops for all of the girls and we ate some of the yummiest food ever made.

my parent's place........................

It was so green this weekend. The kids felt as if we were at Disneyland with all that there was to do!

The girls...........

I can't forget to post about all of the girls and their fun this weekend at my parents house- Abbie loved getting crochet lessons. They played and fought just like most girls do! I loved having all of us together. Thank you mom for letting us all play for the day at your house!