he's a tramp...

fyi

this is how you jump on a tramp if you can't refuse to walk!!

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you are my sunshine...

Chase had a photo shoot with Aunt Carin

(worlds greatest photographer - my world at least!).

We went to Gardner Village for the pics. She posted a few more on her photography blog -

click here to see more adorable pictures!

I know he is my kid - but can he be any cuter?? Where is the gap casting call when you need it?

Thanks Carin - love them!

oh yah - no need to adjust your screen - that is him WALKING!

Go Chase!!

silly kids

Wesley has been able to have some extra fun time with his cousins this week! Kate and Sophie came over on Monday to hang out with us - they had fun playing "house". Wesley was the dog, Kate the sister, Sophie the mom and Chase the baby! Today we went out to dinner with them and Ellie (and Carin - I am not crazy enough to try that by myself!!). He thinks he is quite the comedian now - all he has to say (at the restaurant - during dinner) is diaper or poop or anything else in that family of vocab and he can get these girls a giggling!! (sorry Carin)

Chase also enjoyed playing with Sophie and watching her "walk" all over him - I am sure he was taking notes! What a show off that Sophie is!!

i {heart} edward...

Here is a little hold you over for all of those who can't wait for 8/2 when Bella and Edward (and I guess Jacob too) will reappear in our lives and we will do nothing but lay on our couch for a day or two with our new best friend

"Breaking Dawn".

This is the Cullen family! The movie comes out on 12/12

(put "GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!" on your calendars now!)

What I am wondering is...if they are already filming the movie - do they (the actors) know what happens in the last book??? Maybe our next vacation should be to Oregon to look for some vampires - baseball anyone?!

So, what do you think of Edward and his fam???

if you get a new computer...

If you get a new computer,
you will get a big box with it.
If you get a big box,
your kids will see it.
If your kids see it,
they will start thinking.
If they start thinking,
things turn bad.

If things turn bad,

someone will get hurt.
If someone gets hurt,

they will have to go the doctor.

If they go to the doctor,

they will get an x-ray.

If they get an x-ray,

they will find out they are ok.

If they find out they are ok,

they will have to go to school.

If they have to go to school,

their will be peace and quiet.

If their is peace and quiet,

I will get to blog.

If I get to blog,

I am going to need a new computer!

my everest...

Some of you might have noticed that I wrote that I was a "book addict" you might have also noticed that Anna Karenina has been in my "currently reading" section since I started this blog back in January! I am happy to say that I have FINALLY FINISHED!!!

It was my everest - I have finished a classic by Leo Tolstoy! Having climbed this mountain, I don't think I can say it was worth it - it should have been a hill (if it was about 400 pages shorter it would have held my interests a little better). I did enjoy how Tolstoy brought all of his characters together like this...

ANNA (a selfish, codependent, drama queen)

is the sister of STIVA (a cheat himself),

who is the husband of DARYA

(stuck at home taking care of many kids),

who is the older sister of KITTY (sweet and innocent),

who is married to LEVIN

(who goes on...and on...and on...about rural politics - poor kitty),

but was once in love with VRONSKY

(the hunk with beautiful teeth),

who has swept Anna away from her husband ALEKSEY

(who was older and only cared about himself in the first place).

Well now - I just saved you a month or two of reading!!

So if you are ready for a classic, I say dig in, because the language, characters, and way of life are extremely interesting. If you are looking for a romance novel, I think this one missed the boat!

the day of the drifts...

Well surprise - it snowed again!

This was one of those windy snow days - where you can't go outside without getting an exfoliation treatment. We had some pretty cool looking drifts form from this storm. The first picture is on the front porch right above the stairs. This particular drift is sticking out about 2 feet and will be very comical when it comes down - because you know it will be on one of the kids or the UPS man (hee - hee) - I will not be walking out the front door until after this happens. I would like to also note in the first picture the sun trying hard to poke out (go sun!!!) and the cute little airplane!The picture of Bills truck was another little drift that went out about a foot and was only about 2 inches tall.

Well some good from this storm (for the kids) is we had a "late start" school day! They didn't have to go to school until 10:30 - which means they will basically have lunch and then their valentine parties! Cameron said, "Wow, I have never experienced a snow day before!". Of course it was still a rush to get them out the door even with 2 extra hours!

Wesley's preschool was cancelled. When he found out why he said, "It can't be valentines when it is snowing!" I told him that is correct - valentines is next Thursday for him!

So all is well - I hope you are all safe and warm!!

special delivery

Carin and I decorated these little mailboxes to give the the kids teachers for Valentines Day. We wanted to do this last year but not one Target in Utah had any mailboxes left (including Saint George!). Luckily this year my sweet friend Sara found them way back in December and thought of me while battling the after Christmas crowds!

thank you thank you thank you!!

I thought they turned out pretty cute!

Happy Valentines Day to all!!

a fish back in water

Wesley has been begging to go back to swim lessons - so today he started back up. We were received by a warm hello from past teachers - who all some how remembered Wesley?! Then they couldn't figure out what class he was in. I was a little hesitant with the one that they put him in because the 2 other boys in the class were at least 8 (probably 10) and twice his size. But after seeing one of the kids try to hold the teachers hand when jumping in, I figured he was in the right spot! (Wesley was nicely reminded to wait for the teacher to be watching before jumping in - and then told to get back out and "safety slide" in.) He had a blast - and kept asking me to take pictures! When he was done he wanted to go get an ice cream cone (I think being in a pool confused him into thinking it is summer). When we were in the drive-thru at Sonic (ice cream and the best diet coke w/crushed ice all in one stop) he said, "hurry up with my ice cream mom, I am freezing!"

oreos anyone???

If you decided to go on the "no treat pack"

with me ignore this post -

but since MOST of you chose not to participate - enjoy!!

I made these bad boys for a group of friends the other night and

they quickly became known as "death by chocolate" balls.

They are really easy and I hear really yummy!

Oreo Truffles

• 1 pkg. (1lb. 2 oz.) Oreo sandwhich cookies, finely crushed
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream cheese, softened
• 2 pkg. (8 sq. each) Baker's semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted

MIX 3 cups of the cookie crumbs and the cream cheese (if you don't eat any of the oreos ahead of time you can mix all the crumbs and 1 1/2 pkg. cream cheese) until well blended. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes or until it thickens a little. Shape into (aprox. 42) 1 inch balls.

DIP balls in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs (OR I sprinkled them with little valentine hearts - cute!)

REFRIGERATE until firm.

I wonder if they might be better dipped in

milk chocolate instead??

Why don't one of you try that out and let me know!!

(that gives you all an excuse to make them!)

I found this recipe at http://www.kraftfoods.com/

now is the time...

In every kids life their comes a time when cute smiles, sweet kisses, big hugs and precious words only go so far. It is a time to learn some responsibility! Well that time has come for Wesley. No longer is everyone going to clean up after him and be at his beck & call - he is going to be a big boy!! To make this transition into "real life" a little easier for him (because as many of you know, it will be a shocker!) -

I have made a chart

(charts always make things easier - right?)!

to download the template click here http://www.4shared.com/file/35242343/602f4f96/Job_Chart_Template.html

how to survive being the youngest of 4..

stop, hop and crawl

note: this is a sick day (wesley throwing up - cameron fever) can you imagine a day where they all feel good??

how sweet...

My sister and I have made a pact - NO SWEETS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY! We each in our different locations managed to have one last brownie before starting this month long journey. But now, for the next 23 days this picture will have to do! I know that it is the month of love, which produces some especially lovely candy (cinnamon lips, juju heart, etc.) but I am committed, and would like to bring you all with me. All those that say "I"....come on it will be fun (at least that is what Carin said)!!

by the way diet coke is NOT considered a treat!!

done with the snow...

The first snow fall of the year is a little fun - the one day where you have nowhere to go, and you get a big storm, and you can sit on the couch and read a book while looking out your window is a little fun as well -

but those are done - as am I!

Yesterday we woke up to another white morning. Their is something about my driveway - it likes to collect all the extra snow that is blowing around. So on this cold morning, before taking the kids to school, I look out the window and can see a couple inches on Bills truck and in the driveways of my neighbors. No problem. I warm up the van, pile the kids in, hop in myself (in pj's and socks) and get stuck in the driveway! Cameron was nice enough to go and get his dad to switch me places and I learned a valuable lesson about carpool attire.

When Bill got back from dropping them off he promptly hopped on the 4 wheeler to clear the driveway - but where did he put all that snow? Out in the street - where I got stuck trying to pick the kids up!!! I am done with snow!

Bill and Wesley (who was very quick to put on his winter gear when he heard the 4 wheeler start - weird no one comes running when they hear the vacuum start) working hard! You might want to take note in the difference of inches in the driveway compared to the stairs - it is not that I am just a bad snow driver!

cold - but couldn't be happier!!

Bill doing 360's in the road - leaving lots of opprotunity for me to get stuck - thanks dear!

update - still more snow - whiteout conditions - and by the way - this is no photo shoot - they picked out all the miss matched clothing and accesories all by themselves - so proud!

girls night out

Last night the girls from the neighborhood took me out to the Cheesecake Factory for my birthday! It was a terrific night filled with delicious nachos, lively conversation, good friends and yummy cheesecake! A special thank you to Robin and Jodi for planning everything and a special special thanks to Robin for getting there at 4 to put our name on the list! Love you all!