MORE...

Ava's first time in a swimming pool.  She absolutley loved it!

She was splashing and giggling.  I think she was just digging all 

the attention!  

Here are the 2 little fish of our trip.  They had so much fun 

swimming, feeding the fish in the ponds, playing at the beach 

in the sand, and flying kites! 

JUMPING PICTURES...

BACK TO THE REAL WORLD...

Mexico was fabulous, relaxing, and SUNNY!  And now I am back to the real world of writing bills and cold weather.  I sure did miss my bed though. It's always good to come home!  I will probably be posting a billion pictures of it the next few posts, cause I took so freakin' many. We'll just do this in stages and as for the sweet jumping pictures, yes there are more to come and not just of me!

 

Hello MEXICO...

Here I come to bask in those beautiful rays.  Be back in a week.  Hope you all have a good one!!  

ROCKIN' OUT...

Okay- new fave I must say....

ROCK BAND!  It's Guitar Hero PLUS--you've got drums, singing, and 2 guitar players.  We played until almost 1 am last night.  Before my little niece Taya headed up to bed, she sang a few songs.  Can I say rock star?  She is so animated and funny.  You can probably guess what we will be doing tonight?? :)  

 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

For Drake...

"I am God's child, and He has given me a wonderful world to explore." 

I just love little boys.  They remind me of adventures, simplicity, trains, airplanes, big imaginations, running in the rain without a care in the world, dirty little hands, bright eyes, fearlessness, being mischievous...oh my list could go on.

The picture next to Drake's is one of Greg Olsen's.  It is one of my favorites and one day when I can buy it, I want to hang it on his bedroom wall with that quote underneath.  Drake, you are all mine for now, until some little lady snatches that little heart away.  Hopefully she is deserving of you, because you are one special, sweet, angel boy.  I know I sound like this is just around the corner, but don't you have those days where you feel like time is just racing and someday your children are going to be grown and gone.  I wish I could freeze time!  You are growing up too quickly for me and I never realized how fast time passes until I had children.  Cherishing the moment has a whole new meaning!! 

My Hubby...

Brandon let me take some pics of him last night.  We were messing around with most of them, but this one turned out to be my favorite:  

 

Dang, the other 2 pictures won't upload.  I will try again later. 

What a night...

Sage

I think I got the equivalent of about 2 hours of sleep last night. Drake has been super sick, but I just had to get on and post this conversation between my 3 year old niece Sage and my mom. My mom had just gotten out of the shower and was getting dressed.  

Sage: "WOAH, Grammy, you have really big boobs. Do you have milk in them like my mommy's?  

My mom: "No Sage, they're just fat."  

I was laughing so hard when my mom told me, kids really do say the funniest things. SO honest!!

Beautiful morning, Beautiful days...

    

     Some of my favorite times with Ava are in the mornings, when we are usually the only two awake in the house.  She's never woken up unhappy and I usually wake up to her giggling, cooing, or sucking away on that little thumb of hers.  These aren't the greatest pictures, but it was fun trying to capture her beautiful face the other morning, even though she was squirming all over the place. 

     Last night as I was giving Ava her last feeding, Drake came up to sit with us and I am just so grateful for the joy they bring to my life.  Drake would giggle as I'd push him over on the bed, and that would make Ava giggle as she's still trying to enjoy her last meal of the day.  We sat their for the next half hour just laughing with one another. These simple times in my life are some of the most joyous, and they always remind me what's truly important and I am grateful for that always!!    

Warmer Days

I took these pictures of Ava after church yesterday.  It was such a beautiful day, I was actually able to go outside without being frozen by the time we came back inside.  

We were also able to go on a walk the other afternoon, but Drake was sick of me shoving the camera in his face, he wouldn't even look at me.  I even bribed him with candy and that didn't work, so I got what I could.  I don't think these warmer days are here to stay, but I sure am ready for them!  Bring it on.  

FAREWELL TO OUR BELOVED PROPHET

As most all of you have probably heard by now, Pres. Hinckley passed away tonight.  What a wonderful prophet he was! How joyful it must be for him to be with his wife again, and it makes me grateful to have an eternal family.  He has strengthened my testimony through out these past years and I will be forever grateful to him for that.  We Love you President Hinckley!   

Thanks Rachel

So a girl in my ward Rachel Bjorkman posted about a womans blog http://www.sheyerosemeyer.blogspot.com  

This woman lost a child and if you have time to read her words, I highly recommend it.  They seemed to capture every emotion in my soul and she writes so beautifully.  So, thanks Rachel for introducing me to her blog.  There have been many times in my life, since I have been a mother, where I have thought about if I ever had to go thru the horrible tragedy of losing one of my children, how I would ever be able to go on living.  My heart breaks into a million pieces just thinking about it.  I can't even imagine it ever really happening to me, but no one is invincible to death, and even though I pray each day and night for the safety of my children, who knows what tomorrow will bring.  All we can do is give our love to those we care for most and try not to take for granted these beautiful beings our Heavenly Father has blessed our lives with.  I am so grateful to be a mother.  It truly is the greatest joy I have ever known.  In every prayer at night I always say to God, I never knew what life was before I had children, so thank you for letting me be their mother.  Now, I understand what my role is in this life, and I couldn't ask for anything more.  

My Beautiful Babies

TAGGED

1. 10 years ago... I was 14 and probably had a crush on Darrin Hill or Dave Bee.  Who knows, I think I had a crush on a different boy every week.  

2. 5 things i have to do... vacuum main walk ways daily (well, i try to) i love the straight lines, wake up at 7:00 am, make dinner, watch "The Office" every thrusday (when it was still on, damn writers strike), & eat something sweet everyday.  

3. Snacks that i enjoy...brownies, popcorn, pumpkin bread, ice cream, beer, 

hahaha root beer! 

4. What I would do if I suddenly became a billionaire...Take care of my mom, pay off homes for myself and family, buy new cars, get out of debt, have a reunion with all my girls and go back to Mystique ...someday I PROMISE!  And I'll pay for it cause I'll be a billionare!  

5. 3 bad habits ... clearing my throat (i've really worked on it) hopefully I've improved, not excercising, picking at anything that produces puss ( i love blood and puss).  Gross, I know.  

6. Places I have lived ... Page, AZ - Provo, UT- St. George, UT - Ridgefield, CT - Mesa, AZ - Denver, CO 

7. Things people don't know about me... I have a problem opening up to people, I'm clumsy, whether I'm tripping, running into something, or spilling , it doesn't even phase me anymore, I love the Lord of the Rings movies, I'm kind of lerpy, and I love to sing in the shower when no one is around, for some reason the acoustics in the shower make your voice sound good, or better I should say!  Why is this??  Oh and on that note, sometimes I like to bear my testimony so I can talk into the microphone, not that I necessarily have anything profound to say, but microphones are fun, that's why i love to Kareoke too.  

I tag any one who feels like they need a new post!  

FINALLY

So, I have finally decided to update my blog tonight.  Brandon left for Utah and will be there until Monday night.  So needless to say, that should give some extra time to do whatever I want when the kids are sleeping.  This past month has been adventurous, eh hem, for me to say the least.  Drake is officially potty trained as of the day after Christmas, and we also bought him a twin bed, so he is out of his crib!!  It's been a little bit of an adjustment, but he is actually doing great in it. He loves his big boy bed and I can't believe he is old enough to be in one.  Ava is 6 months and still a little peanut.  She was only 12.5 lbs at her check up today.  I swear Drake was like 18.  She is still the sweetest little thing ever.  I have tons of pictures to put up, but I am trying to figure out how to uplaod them on a mac.  So, if anyone knows how, let me know.