End in sight!

So, are yard is almost ready for sod! Do you have any idea how exciting this is!!!!!!! I"m so so so excited! It has been a long process. We've been doing it by ourselves.....majority of it! We had a huge huge hedge that we took out along our back wall......raised the wall(got help with that). Took down the cute play area down(it was pretty much falling anyway), had to dig down and make a cement outline along the house(we put our handprints in it!), tons of moving cement rocks, building a deck(don't worry, we did get help to finish it). Now, we were able to get a lot of dirt(a lot!) moved into the back yard to level the yard out more evenly since it was a major slope. Don't worry, the pile out in the front of our house was only half of what was there, now all is in back plus another huge pile that we already had moved back there from before. Kelli(mcarthur) and I spent many good times out there shoveling and barreling it back......thanks girl and all the neighbors that helped! We'd still be there working on it! Tons and tons of rodotilling since our yard was pretty much rock before and you have to have like 4 in. of good soil for the grass to grow! No wonder nothing grew! Now, were putting tar stuff(seriously looks very similar to the famous tar poop of newborns) on our wall so it doesn't leak through the wall into our neighbors. We will plant some trees and a make a little plant box, get our sprinklers in next week............and just keep treating the soil for sod! Yes! In a few weeks will be done with the back yard! My girls will be so excited to have a place to play! Yay!

Thank you Thank you!

Savanna, I've decided, is the most polite girl I know! I've been teaching her to say thank you....and boy does she know it.......I'll give her stuff and she'll say, "Thank you, Thank you".......and when she gives me stuff she'll say, "Thank you, Thank you".......and when she gives stuff to or take away from Gracie she'll say, "Thank you, Thank you".......and even her toys she'll say, "Thank you thank you".......so, she's getting the jist of it. I think it is so cute!

Update on my parents!

As you know, my parents were called to be mission presidents last dec. They'll leave the end of June! They are busy trying to get everything in order. My mom is busy trying to sell the salon! I think this would be a huge stress reliever for her, but if it doesn't happen, then me, my sis., my sis.-n-law and one of the girls in the salon will run it for her while she's gone. She has been getting their house organized and cleaning out stuff, getting rid of stuff, and putting stuff away! My sister and her hubby and kids are going to live here when they are gone(yay! the house won't be empty and it will be nice to have them close). My dad is gettting all his loose ends put together. While he's gone, his bro. that works with him will be over everything so my dad won't have to stresss about that! He's been doing the "honey do" list and little projects around the house. They actually feel gone in some ways.....they go to the MTC(mission training center) every wed. through sat. in Provo! They are learning Ukranian, but yet still have to learn what mission they will be presiding over! They are cute to watch! They study like crazy, and have these pink post-its all over with crazy looking symbols with what it means underneath. They try to use ukranian everyday! It is actually really cool and they have learned so so so much! They will do a great job!

Check it out!

Hey bloggers! I just thought I'd give a shout out to two really helpful, cool, awesome, great, amazing, neato, super(k-I'll stop) blogs that will take away your worries of what to make for meals, and some new ideas of what to do with your kiddos...and, if you feel ambitious, you can even check the blogs out to find out how to give your ideas and recipes! I don't know 'bout you, but there are days where I don't know what to make, or feel that my kids and I do the same thing everyday.............I've enjoyed checking them out and want to start contributing! Check them out: www.24hourmenu.blogspot.com and www.busyhappychildren.blogspot.com

Past, Present and Future

20 years ago I . . .

1. I was in preschool, trying to blow kisses across the room at a boy, who was looking at me when I closed my eyes and puckered up, but wasn't as soon as I opened them!

2. Was a new sister of my brother jeffy, four years younger than me.......I'm not the baby anymore?

3. Was busy living in south jordan, playing at the nearby park, friends houses, and loved playing in the waterthe water(swimming, sprinklers, puddles, etc.)

10 years ago I . . .

1. Fourteen!!!!!!!!! Every girl knows that that meant Stake Dances(church organized dances)! I swear I'd spend like the whole month planning on what I'd wear(I'm geeky I know). I remember my friends and I would count how many times we'd get asked to dance!

2. 9th grade, the stage when I thought boys my age were lame, 'til actually kinda had guys notice me(I must've grown out of my awkward stage: Blue eyeshadow caked on?! Seriously, how did my mom let me leave the house) and thought, hmmmm...maybe they aren't so bad!

3. 1st experience of high school swim team. I'd been on the age group team since like 8 years old,but hadn't experienced the famous swim team trips! It was quite an eye opener since it was coed! Let's just say I learned a lot!

5 years ago I . . .

1. I was 19, graduated from hair school(good times abs) and decided to spread my wings to good ol Long Beach Cali. I lived with my cousin and his wife(some of the coolest, most funny people I've ever met). I had so many cool, so many scary, so many weird experiences there. I think that might be california........a little taste of everything!

2. After Cali. went back to good 'ol St.George, Ut. and started school at Dixie College and worked at my mom's salon doing hair(and cleaned for my parents).

3. Did a summer semester in Hawaii with my good friend Maren, and met some of the coolest girls ever! I'll never forget how much fun we had! I don't think I'll ever be that tan again ever!

3 years ago I . . .

1. 21, I was filling out my papers for a mish, didn't feel right about it, went back up to Provo to UVSC to pursue finishing my associates in Science and finish all my pre-reqs for Nursing.

2. Met mo, the love of my life who claims that when we first talked, i was with my roomies, he came up 'cuz we were talking to his roomies. He felt to bust a joke in, and we all just stared at him......then I said, "um.......okay". Whatev!
3. Married Mo on June 18th, 2005!

1 year ago I . . .
1. I had a 9 month old Savanna and was getting ready for Gracie to arrive in August!
2. Living in St. George in a house!
3. Still cleaning for my parents house, and starting fun projects: girls room, back yard!

So far this year I . . .
1. am still working on the back yard and little odd things for the girls room(curtains, magnets for pics, stuff for Gracies name to be hung)
2. Busy running around the house with two girls! I love it, but man, I'm pooped at the end of the day
3. Still cleaning my parents house! Going to miss them like crazy when they leave for their mission!

Yesterday I . . .
1. Cleaned, played with my girls, delivered some valentines that I didn't on valentines day
2. went to some friends, put the girls down and played Settlers of Catan! I won! Beat that Mo (I'm a little competitive when it comes to games with my hubby.....he's so good at everything!)
3. ATe sugar cookies :)

Today I . . .
1. Went to the temple
.2. Working on the back yard(there is an end in sight)
3. Hangin with my honey after the gals go down!

Tomorrow. . .
1. sleep in(mo's turn to get up with the gals!!!!!!)
2. go to church and be spiritually uplifted!
3. Spend time with the family!

In the next year I shall . . .
1. Plan for our next baby.........hahahahaha, j/k! Nothing anytime soon!
2. re-plan our budget and actually stick to it!
3. Have a blast with my two gals and my cute hubby!

anybody who wants to do this has just been tagged. It's actually fun to remember where you were awhile ago 'til now!

Happy Valentine's Day(a little late!)

What a wonderful holiday! Love is so special and I treasure all that I love! It was fun day for me. I decided to make a tradition with my kids to make valentines and send them out to family, then decided we'd wear all the pink and red that we can(if we have boys, don't worry, I won't make them wear pink)....then I decided we'll make sugar cookies and decorate them. We decided to decorate cookies with friends, so we went over to some friends and let the kids go to town...........savanna did! As you can see, she decided why waste the frosting on a cookie and just stick it to the mouth. I love her! That night, we double dated with another couple that we love: Wes and Amy.........had our kids and their kids babysat by a girl in our ward. She a great job(especially with so many). The guys made dinner and dessert,but we only made it to dinner! We were so full and were laughing the whole time at funny stories and how we react to things, etc. I could've peed my pants we were laughing so hard at times. I had a blast! I love my husband.........he did a series of gifts leading up to valentines 'cuz he know I love to have things to look forward to.........so he did little things that are so simple,but really get me excited. He's the sweetest man I could ever ask for! I lucked out! How can I get so lucky with an amazing hubby and two amazing little girls! hmmmmmmmmmmm...Happy Valentine's day to all! I hope you all felt loved.......if not, know that I love you!

Savanna

Savanna is so full of personality and attitude she cracks me up! I saw her trying to open a door with these sunglasses on and of course they were upside down! I love them so much more like that though........think I might try wearing mine upside down! Course, I don't think I can pull off the look like she can. She is 21 mo. old on the 11th..............can't believe it! She is a little girl, already into barbies stuffed animals and dolls.......she carries them around at my mom's house! Yet, you'll find her pushing around a monster truck...I think she's well rounded. She was playing with the phone and I came in the room and she was like pretending to talk to someone and laughing at what they obviously said while dancing! She loves "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam" (Sunbeam: what they call the 3-4 yr. olds in primary at our church) and "Popcorn popping on the apricot tree" (a fun little song with a bunch of actions that she does all out). She knows all the alphabet(thanks to the toys that go over it from Grandpa Dennis) and tries to sing the alphabet song. She knows so many shapes, animals, some colors and some numbers(especially one two three 'cuz that is what I count if we are heading to timeout). I'm just blown away by her! Slow down so I can keep up! She's a little mommy to her dolls and tries to change their diapers and feed them. She just has a thirst for knowledge.......she blows me away! Whoever thought such young toddler would inspire me to be better. I thank my heavenly father everyday for her and Gracie! I feel so blessed and lucky..........that I don't deserve it, but I'll take it!

A breakthrough!

You can introduce solids at 4 mo. if you wanna, but at 6mo. you need to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has taken me like 2 long months to get Gracie to eat solids! She has not wanted to at all. She would get so mad at me for trying and purse those lips as tight as possible so it was impossible to get into her mouth...........'til monday! This past monday I made chicken noodle soup, and we're all eating while Gracie chilled in the exersaucer by us. She was getting really frustrated and mad at us! I couldn't understand why, 'til I finally gave her a tasted of the broth..........that quieted her up in a hurry! Turns out, she wanted what i had given everyone........she'd open her mouth for it and all. I tried everything! I would make rice cereal with something sweet, with formula in it, alone, warm, cold, with my fingers(as you can see this attempt in the pic.) .....I've even put it all on the tray so she could put her hands in it and put her fists in her mouth since she loves to such on her fists and hands....also rice cereal in a bottle with the opening bigger........nothing worked! Just when I had come to terms with it and decided that it was okay.........she was healthy, so who cares if she doesn't eat food 'til she's like a year old........she decided she wanted it! It took her 'til she was basically 6 mo. old............she nowwill take rice cereal and I added some fruit to it last night. She only eats a couple bites, but I'll take that. It had to be on her own terms(just like her sis.) and thank goodness for prayer and the good man upstairs!

Easy Alfredo Lasagne

A lot of people are writing down food recipes, so I thought I'd share some that I make. Every once in a great while I'll make stuff that takes time, but I'm pretty easy peezy..........I like this recipe. We get cheese and spinach ravioli(costco......lasts a long time), mozarella cheese, spinach(we love spinach leaves for salad, omelettes,and adding into stuff........costco), alfredo sauce(any that you like........I look for what's on sale), and paremesan cheese. You can have chicken as well, but we don't.
I cook the frozen ravioli, drain and start the layering process. Iput a layer of ravioli on the bottom, some cleaned,ripped up spinach next, some alfredo sauce and some parmesan cheese.......then I start over 'til I use up what I made or th desired amount...on the top I pour the rest of the sauce and put mozarella cheese and parmesan cheese on top. Then I cook it 'til the cheese melt at like 375 degrees. It's done real fast. We'll do a veggie with it........sometimes rolls. Real simple but really good. You can even make it with a tomato sauce, but we like alfredo! Really, if savanna likes it, we pretty much like it! HOpe you like it!

Our Maren is married!

This past weekend was so fun and eventful! My friend Maren Hacker(now Linsey) got married in the St. George Temple! I was so excited to go to the sealing, as this has been the first one I've gotten to go to since ours. It was so peaceful, beautiful and full of love! She had so many people there. A lot of family, a lot of mission companions(very very pretty girls........it looks like they all had a blast serving together) and friends from high school. It was fun to see people that I don't often get to see! Maren looked gorgeous! She radiated with love! Her dress, her makeup and her hair was perfect! I loved her colors.........red and black! Even abby and Tammy got into the wedding theme, supporting marens red and black colors(heeheehee). We were taking a lot of pics of the gals, so we decided that the guys had to get pics as well. The luncheon was at the Marriot and it was beautifully decorated...whoever did her pics did a fantastic job........very creative. Of course, Maren is photogenic(I'm not sure if that is spelled correctly). Her sis. did the center pieces and they were so pretty that I was ready to offer to buy the centerpieces. The food was great! The reception was beautiful and it was good to congratulate them on their way! I finished the night out with my gals.....What a day! So, way to go Maren and Kris!!!!!!!! Congrats!