Magic School Bus & 1st Day of School

Today was an exciting day. The first day of 1st grade for Bella!! This is huge, because it's ALL DAY!!!

Last night Bella and I packed her lunch, then she had a wonderful Father's Blessing and then it was off to bed.

But this morning when I got home from working out I noticed that her lunch bag was on the front porch. After questioning her about getting out of bed last night she assured me that she didn't. So we're pretty sure The Magic School came in the middle of the night and left her lunch in the fridge and filled the bag with surprises and left it outside. Just like last year.

She was so excited!!

Claire is hoping they remember her for her first day of pre school.

I have a feeling they will. :)
Opening all the goods
Traditional Front Porch 1st Day of School Picture

Cousins

Grandma Okland

Jeanne passed away a few days ago and it was very sudden. She was so healthy that it's been such a shock to everyone who knew her.

As I've been thinking about her the last few days 2 words come to mind.

Forgiving

Generous

She forgave my mom over and over again. Always turning the other cheek and loving her unconditionally. Even when I would call and be frustrated about things she would say things like "I don't think she can help it" or "just let her be for a few months and she'll be better".

She was the most generous person. She continued to give us so much. Without her generosity I don't know how we would have made it these last few years.

I feel so blessed to have known her and be in her life for these last 16 years.

If I can take anything away from this it's that I want to be as forgiving and loving as she was to others when they've wronged me.

What a great example.

Are You Kidding Me #29

A few days ago I took some wheat over to my parents house to grind into flour.

Things got busy and I forgot about my flour and left it in the kitchen. Within a matter of minutes of the twins finding it they went to town making a huge mess! Poor Seth had just moped the floor too.

It took 2 baths, 1 shower and lot of combing to get all the flour out.

They turn 2 next month.....should I be scared?

Preston Rocks!!!!

We just got back from what can only be described as the best vacation ever!

That's saying a lot, I know. Especially since we were in Preston Idaho!

But seriously it was everything I had hoped for and more!

My good friend Chelise and a few of my other friends are from there have talked about how amazing Preston is for the last 2 or 3 years that I've known them. I've tried to make a girls trip happen and that never panned out so luckily for me my cute husband was a good sport and went with us. Poor guy. It turned out to be Seth and the women, since no husbands came.

But I think he would admit that it was a great time.

We pulled into town and literally from the moment we got there until the moment we left were busy doing fun things.

We picked the right time to go, since it was the annual Preston rodeo and parade.

This parade is great because it's the same parade for 3 nights in a row. What other city does that?

Also Chelsie's dad owns the big restaurant in town so he had a float in the parade that all the kids got to ride in. Oh and did I mention the food? I think I gained about 30lbs trying everything his place had to offer. So if you're ever in town check out Big J's.

So on top of watching and being in the parade, and eating at Big J's there was also a carnival (where Claire rode by herself in the very front of a roller coaster(not even her big sister would do it), playing in granny's back yard (best backyard ever. pictures wouldn't do it justice), another free carnival the next day and riding ponies at Chelsie's sisters house.

I'm out of breath just thinking about all we did in 24 hours.

We didn't even have time for the Napoleon Dynamite tour. Maybe next time.

Claire playing in granny's backyard

Bella and Sawyer in granny's backyard


the girls at the 1st carnival
All the kids in the Big J's float for the parade. My favorite was everyone yelling at them to stop throwing candy because they were going to run out. And sure enough Claire and Wyatt ran out.

Chels and Bre watching the parade

I heard something in the middle of the night and went to check on the twins and this is how I found them sleeping


Bella and Claire riding poniesHank-I could eat this little guy up! Maybe he'll be available for one of the twins.

Happy Anniversary

We spent our anniversary with our kids at the Bountiful parade and then watched fireworks from our front yard with family and friends. It was great!

We weren't to bumbed about not doing anything together because tomorrow we get a night to ourselves. Dinner and then the kids are having a sleepover at grandma and grandpa's.

I still can't believe it's only been 5 years. What a crazy, busy 5 years.....but I've loved every minute of it!

Summer 2011 Part 1

I can't believe it's mid July already!! Where has this summer gone? I hate that it's almost over. I guess the reason it's gone so fast is because we've stayed so busy. Here's a few examples:

Saw Camden in the play The Secret Garden
Played on Larry's water slide, enjoyed the new kitchen,

We went to the Murray parade with Seth's family.


The older girls and I went to Idaho with my family.

Our ward threw the BEST summer party ever! It was so big they had it at the tabernacle on Main street in Bountiful. That's Claire and liese riding the train. We've taken a million pictures but that was just a few.

Finished

Warning!!! I am not the best photographer and I don't have the best camera so don't be surprised if you come by and my kitchen looks completely different in person than it does in the pictures. And you'll be able to see from the pictures that we still have things to do ie: paint touche ups, paint the new door (did I even take a picture of that?), add the baseboards and hang a few things up on the walls.

But these shots will kind of give you an idea of how it looks now.

If you saw it before you know it really needed a makeover. The cabinets were from when the house was built in 1958. Also there is a lot more counter space than before, which I LOVE!!!

Also if you've been along for the ride from the beginning, you know how crazy I was about the appliances. I researched like crazy about everything and bought them all before we even started the remodel. I justified to Seth that this way I could get exactly what I wanted and it would be paid off before we started.

Love the new double oven. Since I couldn't have a wall double oven I settled for this and have been so extremely happy with it! The counter and new cabinets next to oven are also new. More space!!!
The counter used to end where the dishwasher ended
New table and bench

A few of the extras we love.....pull out garbage
Spice rack behind the cupboard doorand the cookie sheet dividers above the fridge, and yes of course I need a stool
So there it is. Not the best pictures.

Farewell Oprah

I can't believe I never gave Oprah a proper farewell post. What is wrong with me?

For as much as I love to hate her she has accomplished a lot. Watching these last shows where they've gone back to see where people are, I've been very impressed with all the good she's done.

So farewell Oprah!! Good luck on your new network. Too bad I don't have the channel so I could continue our love/hate relationship.

Out With The Old, In With The New

Goodbye ugly white tile and dark brown grout that always looks dirty no matter how many times it gets cleaned.Goodbye old lady looking tile/back splash

Goodbye blue counter tops
And goodbye white cabinets that always look dirty and were possibly built at the same time as the house.
I won't miss any of you.

We Made It

I say we because today was Bella's last day of Kindergarten and I think I had a harder time than she did. In fact I know I did, because she hardly looked back on the first day. I on the other hand missed her like crazy in the afternoons.

But she had such a great year. Made lots of new friends (I even got the courage to let her go to new friends houses. Thanks to all the experienced moms who got me through it), learned a lot and is fully ready for 1st grade.

I'm so excited we get to spend the summer together!

Sometimes I feel like I have triplets. These 3 are always together.

It was hard to get a good shot of everyone. This was the best I could do.

Sydney

cute little feet

Awesome

SNL was awesome last night!

And I'm reminded why I have such a crush on Justin Timberlake.

Happy Birthday Seth

Seth turned 33 today! We started the day with breakfast in bed (of course all the kids joined in), then that night it was dinner(just the two of us) at Royal India. He has been thinking of nothing else for months.

I feel so lucky to be married to such a wonderful person! Great husband, father and friend!

Love you Sethy!!

Are You Kidding me #28

I can't believe it, but this is Claire at 20 months when the twins were born.And here are the twins this morning...also 20 months!
I can't even imagine having a baby right now let alone 2.

For a 3 month period I had 4 kids under 4!!!

Which is why that time of my life now seems like a blur.

I remember it, yet I don't. It's weird.

I just pray my kids are forgiving of all my faults. Because having 4 so close together caused a lot or craziness at times.

But I wouldn't change a thing!

St George 2011

We were able to get away last weekend for a little family vacation and it was so fun!

One day we went hiking in Snow Canyon where Bella said "mom! This is the best vacation ever!!".

The trip consisted of hiking, playing at the park, eating, swimming, swimming and more swimming. Bella was in the pool for almost 2 days straight and went a full shade darker!

We also got to spend some time with the cousins since they were on their way to California.

And since my dad was also there he offered to watch the kids one night so we could slip away and have some alone time. It was great!

The only picture we got as a family and you can't see Syd on Seth's back.

Bella wearing her train hat

The twins swimming with dad

Slice of Heaven

Driving to St George a few nights ago I was stuck by this amazing love I have for my kids.

We were trying to get them to fall asleep (it was night) so we had a primary cd playing and it was totally quite.

All I could think was I wish I could save this time in my life forever. I love that my kids need me and this love I felt for them at that moment was so overpowering.

Kindergarten Program

Last week Bella had her end of the year Kindergarten program. The day before she came home and said (I had just come home from the hospital) "Mom I know you can't come cause you're sick. It's ok if no one comes from my family." So sad.

I was feeling so blessed that I was out of the hospital and well enough to see her preform.

She did a great job!

Singing her heart out

Hospital Stay

Last week I had really bad abdominal pain so after 4 days, and one where I couldn't even stand to get out of bed, I finally went to the doctor.

At first they thought it was my appendix but after a CT scan they determined it was Crohnes Disease and wanted me to have colonoscopy to make certain.

I ended up staying the night at the hospital.

Luckily I have great family, friends & my ward who watched my kids, brought meals and came to visit.

Yesterday I found out the results of the biopsy and it turns out there is very little trace of crohnes and it was just a bad infection.

I am feeling so thankful!!!

A Day In The Life Of Claire Bear

For the record, it took her less than 5 minutes to do all that damage.
Her sad little face is so cute. That's probably why I didn't get that mad.
Cute Bella cleaned the twins off before I even had time to take them out of their crib and later helped me clean everything, without being asked.

Ahhh!!! Much Better!

Two weekends ago Seth and I were lucky enough to get a weekend away in Park City. It was short but did the trick. I slept in until 10:00am! I felt like I was back in high school!
Sadly I forgot to document our great weekend.
Then this past weekend I was spoiled with a girls weekend in St. George.
My friend Lisa invited us, and it was just what I needed.
Swimming, Hiking, Endless Talking, Napping, Working on projects, Movies, and More Talking. That about sums up what we did.
Oh and did I mention 3 out of 5 were pregnant and then Lisa and I have twins. So I think we're off the hook for getting pregnant.
Seth was great staying home all weekend. On Saturday he and the other dads took all the kids (that's 5 men & 16 kids) to the park and had pizza.
Then this morning Bella told me that she learned a new dance from dad. She then pushed play on the CD player and proceeded to show me the moves to "Bye, Bye, Bye", by NSYNC.
Seriously!!! Why don't I have video of this?!! I would pay anything to see Seth and he girls dancing to NSync. Because apparently that's what they did...dance in the girls room. Bella loved it! Me & Amber at the pool

Chels, Marianne, & Lisa at the pool

All of us enjoying a hike in Snow Canyon.