all gone.......

mother's day........

I am so very happy to be Tate and Livia's mother. I also am grateful for my third child, Chad- it is true honey I think of you as one of my very own at times. My Mother's day was spectacular and I really wish that everyday was mother's day or at least one day a week. I had just sewn a beautiful skirt with some friends the day before and so I wanted to just be a little extra gorgeous for church on Sunday only my sweetie pie husband thought that letting me sleep in before church would be more desirable than looking good so he woke me up at 20 minutes till sacrament meeting. As I was rubbing lotion over my prickly unshaven legs and looking at my smudged toenails from a half hazard paint job I just wanted to cry- Then I realized how perfect it was to be this way- it is really a celebration of mother hood to go to church half of the way you intended to look. I just had to laugh and reassure myself that I rarely check out women's legs and toenails at church so maybe mine would go unnoticed. Plus, I felt great in my new lovely skirt anyways so nothing was going to bring me down. Church was wonderful and both of my kiddos sang a song with the primary for the mother's. When we got home my kids and Chad showered me with lovely gifts. Livia made me a flower pot of pens and Tate painted me a pengalin (penguin) as well as a tile for me to put hot pots on. Chad wrote me a lovely card with chocolates and made me a gourmet dinner after giving me the best present of all- a very long nap!!!!! My salmon dinner was delicious! wrapped in twine and parchment paper ( ask chad- must be something to help with the gourmet flavor). All I know is when I went to bed last night my cup runneth over with the wonderful blessing of my little family. I love you my children and I love you chad for giving them to me.

random fishing trip pictures

The kids have had several chances to go fishing lately. Lucky little Tate even got to go with Papa Steve and Papa Darwin! These kids could fish all day. I can't decide if it is the fishing they love or the junk food they are allowed to eat when they go.

Easter with the Olson's.................

We were able to spend Easter with our good friend's Rach and Zach. It was so wonderful to be in nice weather and catch up with them. Zach and Chad turn into ten year old boys when they are together- between citrus baseball, video games and trying to scare wives with a dead rattle snake- Rach and I were ready to put them both in time out! I guess we should just be thrilled that are husbands are best friends just like Rach and I. That doesn't happen very often! Thanks for having us- we love your sweet little family.

T-ball time!

Tate plays on "The Incredibles" and I have enjoyed watching him take it so seriously. I especially love how all of the parents are out in the field with the kiddos. He loves it!

The water dogs have invaded my life.........

Chad took the kids and his net and caught about 200 of these wonderful little water dogs for his fishing trip a couple weeks ago. The problem is now the ones that were not used for fishing have taken up residence in an ice chest in my back yard. Every time I bathe the kids and get them all ready for the day they run out to check on Ali and Howard and then they stink like yucky mucky water dogs! I will say that we have become quite popular in the neighborhood because all of the kids come over with buckets to get their own personal pet. Sorry to all the mothers that are now forced to house a stinky water dog. don't worry if it dies just send your kids over to get some more PLEASE!!!!!!! can you believe Tate kisses these things? I feel like I need to scrub out his mouth every time.

an "amberdent"

When I used to teach school my fellow teachers would call all of my mishaps amberdents instead of accidents (yes it happened THAT much!) When I was buying some fabric the other day a sweet little lady was cutting it for me. She said "You are so cute" I replied thank you and she then asked "how old are you sweetie?" I replied with a smile I am thirty.......one......" it was during my last answer that I realized she was talking to my sweet little Livia who was standing next to me. I forget that first of all it is just not about me anymore and second of all I really am just not that cute anymore either. I was so embarrassed. She just laughed and said "well, you are cute too honey!"

gymnastics and Ms. Avery

Livia is in heaven these days with her new hobby. She has taken to Gymnastics unlike anything before! We can't wait for Monday afternoons. The best part is she gets to take it with Avery her best buddy. These girls do everything together. They are in the same preschool and if Tess and I allowed it they would have a play date daily! Here are some more pics of the girls having some makeover fun. I love doing makeup and hair and the girls loved going through my jewelry!

oh- the game of random catch-up!

Tess has moved back to Flagstaff! I love having her close by- she is a good mommy motivator.

Di bought me this beautiful apron.......................I just love her...............

Still "crapping" (crafting) away Tate is usually forced to do it whereas Livia is always thrilled and is never fully satisfied with the amount of creating I supply.

We got to play with Tanner and Aunt Shanny When they flew over from Alaska for Shane's hunt.

These three had a ball- Livia was the baby hog the whole time we were all together- O.k. maybe she was tied for that position with me.....

All clean and ready for bed at Grammies'

Livia sledding on the ice in our yard

the kids all got to cut down a Christmas tree with their grandpa this year- I wanted to include this one with the Christmas pics but waited since it was Andrea's Christmas card.

I know that this post does not make a whole lot of sense but either has our life recently with Chad interviewing all over the place and us taking tiny road trips. We have just been happy and having fun and that is always something to remember.

new chapters................

Chad began his new job with Gore today and I am just thrilled. I found that there was not much time for blogging or crafting or anything since we have been living in complete vacation mode. I am happy to have routine back in our lives again. I have so many funny stories to share that today I will just start with one of them:

A while back I was in bed reading when Tate came in with a very serious face and asked me: "Mom, some ladies have big booboos ( I think since I don't he was a little perplexed by his newest observation) "yes, Tate some ladies do....." and then with the most serious expression and with all of his heart he states "mom, They are wonderful to me." Oh no- watch out. The lady killer loves the ladies- that is for sure!

I promise to do better. I just have a hard time being on my computer lately. it seems like there is so much to do that I hardly have time to document what I am doing. My new goal is once a week or so. We have started Gymnastics with livy which seems to be the perfect match for all of her energy. She loves it and her cousin avery is even in her same class. preschool is going great and now that I know we are not moving anywhere I have been decorating and redoing window treatments. We recently decorated for valentines day and the kids had a blast. I just hate that the conversation hearts say things like "Txt me" now. I hate change. Well a random ending to a random post! Love you guys.

Chad's christmas present......

Chad and I have always had a race to see who can dive into bed first so they won't be stuck turning off the lights. Jokingly Chad, in the past, has said that he would like the clapper for Christmas. Since we were on a tight budget this year we made his dreams come true. It really is a great little invention.......

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Christmas random videos

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Christmas was a beauty........

We had a great family holiday, full of snow, Strep throat, and toys! It was really cozy being practically snowed in for the holidays.