EGG-CITEMENT!!!

Our kids absolutely LOVE to color Easter eggs! Callie begged everyday, for nearly a week to decorate eggs. She didn't care that they wouldn't last until Easter, she wanted to to do them now! On the Monday of spring break, we finally decorated our eggs for FHE. The tattoos didn't quite work out, but the kids rolled with it, and had fun anyway. We had egg salad sandwiches lots that week (Yummy).

I wonder if Ava will have any trouble finding someone to show her the egg decorating ropes next year? Yea, probably not!

CINDY LOU WHO DO!

Ava finally has enough hair for a little pony tail right on top of her little head. We now lovingly refer to it as her 'Cindy Lou Who do'!

Oh we could just eat her up she is soooo dang cute!

RECORDER CONCERT

During fourth grade music, I think since the beginning of time, kids have learned to play the recorder, and this year was no exception for our Dallin! Callie, Ava, and myself got to go listen to the concert a week and a half ago, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was! The girls were angels the whole time, and Ava attracted lots of attention when she danced to the music, and clapped at the end of each song in her stroller. Callie loves any excuse to go to "the boy's school", and she really loved seeing her big brother perform!

I could tell after the concert, when we went to see Dallin, that it meant a lot for us to be there, and I love sharing in these sweet little grade school memories with my kids. I'm enjoying and savoring the fact that my kids want to be scene with their mom at school, because come Jr. High.......well, that a whole other story! I love you buddy, way to rock the recorder!!!

CHANGE IS FUN!

For the last few months, I've been toying with the idea of cutting my hair off. Chuck says he "prefers" it long, but that it looks good short too, so he's no help in my decision making process! I haven't had it short since Grant was a baby, and decided it needed to go away, I was ready for change!

Before

After

I do like it a lot! It's not quite as big of a change as I was hoping for, and I think I will go even shorter next time I go in, maybe a little more "A line" too. I also wear it smooth, and bobbed under (Chuck "prefers" it that way:) but didn't have a picture of it. So for all you friends who have asked to see pictures, here you are!

FOUR, YES ALL FOUR ON ANTIBIOTICS!

Really, I probably don't need to go into too much more detail than that! For the first time in our family's little history, we had all 4 of our kids on Antibiotics!

Dallin had been really sick for over a week, fever, headache, soar throat, the whole 9 yards. I kept him home from school, and he did improve slightly over the week. I was leary to take him in, because I feel like it's usually a waste of money! It always seems to be a virus, and we all know they don't do a thing for viruses, except charge the heck out of you for the pointless appointment! (I've had a few of those appointments, can you tell??)

By the next Sunday, I drug him to church, and he complained the whole time that his head hurt, and he wanted to just go home. He definitely was not himself, and had been sick for over a week, and it was starting to get ridiculous how long this kid had been sick! I called and got him into Urgent care 20 min later. Thankfully our regular family doctor was on staff that day, and we were both happy to see Dr. Westling! (My kids love him, and I love that he's family practice, and can see us all!) After a few tests, for strep and mono, he showed up positive for Strep throat! First time in his 9 1/2 years!

Monday, Callie wakes up with a fever, and a throat that looked just like Dallins did. I waited until the next morning to see if she still had symptoms, and she did, so I made her an appointment for right after lunch. Grant was slightly feverish that morning as well, but being the bad mother I am, and not wanting another kid home sick from school, I dosed him up with Advil, and sent him to school! Callie tested positive for strep too, and while we were there, Dr. Westling looked in Ava's ears after I said she had been pulling on them, and she had a nasty infection (second one in a month)! I mentioned to Dr. Westling that Grant had a slight fever, and was complaining his ears hurt too. The doctor said chances were he had an ear infection, and to call and get him in if he was still complaining after school. Well, poor Grant didn't make it through the day. The Nurse at school called, and said he was in her office with a 103.5 temp, and crying saying his ears hurt. So, off to Dr. Westling.......again! Grant was so sick, he fell asleep in the car, and again in the doctor's office! No ear infection, just referred pain from his strep throat!!!!!

That was my week and a half, and it wasn't fun, but we are all better now. Until next time that is. Now it's time to pay the bill I got today (ouch! is all I can say, and if we keep this up, we'll surely meet our deductable this year!). I really am so grateful, and count my blessings that I live not only in a time, but also a place where I can get the medical care my children need, when they need it.

THE BIG 33!

Chuck turned the big 33 last month! He had told me earlier that week that he didn't want a "big deal" made out of it, so we kept it small. His only request was that I make his favorite birthday cake, his favorite cake since childhood. Can I get a drum roll please.....white cake with chocolate frosting! I'm a chocolate girl myself, but it was the least I could do for my honey on his birthday. Callie was excited all day, and kept wanting to decorate the house for his party. I was fresh out of balloons to her dismay, but I finally was able to satisfy her need to create/decorate by having her make a giant birthday picture for daddy. She was so proud of her creation, and rightfully so....

It's a cupcake, complete with candles and the #33! Apparently he turned ten this year!

This is what happens when I try to get everyone to pose for a nice birthday picture....(I give up).



Chuck making a wish, although whats the point. All of his wishes came true the day he married me, right?! Heeheehee!



Ava now has developed a fine taste for cake, especially the chocolate frosting part of the cake, and smacks her lips again and again until she gets another bite! Hey, she's no dummy!



So let me explain the picture below. Chuck and I went up stairs to get Ava ready for bed. The boys were down stairs getting ready for bed as well, and Callie was at the kitchen table finishing her cake and ice cream.....or so we thought!



This is what she was doing. She thought we should have the rest of the cake cut up, cause that's what you do with cake, you cut it right?! NOTE TO SELF: Cake, a knife, and a 4 year old, ummmm not a good combination!

Although our celebration was on the humble homemade side, it was nice to take a few minutes out of our busy life and celebrate Chuck. I love him so much, and couldn't ask for a more loving, funny, hardworking, and devoted husband, father and best friend. Love you dear, and I hope you enjoyed your birthday!

MY BABY IS ONE!

Yesterday was the big day! Our baby girl Ava Elizabeth turned one! Where has the time gone? This by far has been the fastest first year of any of my babies. I guess it might have a little something to do with the fact I've been responsible for four little kiddos!

Yesterday morning before church, she looked so cute, so big with a clippie in her hair. She is starting to loose that little baby look, but is turning into such a cute big girl! She could have been wearing clippies a lot sooner, but she had an unscheduled hair cut from out resident beautician (AKA Callie Ruth).


We tried so hard to help her take her first step on her first birthday, but with no luck! We sure had a great time encouraging her, and she is so dang proud of herself when she stands! She claps and squeels with delight. Needless to say, we took lots of video of her adorable attempts!


My little princess needed a crown for her birthday, but she didn't like it too well. Thankfully I got some cute pictures of her in it before she had had it!



Dallin and Grant helped Ava make her wish!


And then there was cake! Lots of messy yummy cake for our birthday girl!

After she devoured her cake, and rubbed half of it in her hair, she had a tubby so she could open her gifts! (If you look at the second picture down, you can see the "bangs" she got from her sisters beauty shop moment!)




After an evening full of excitement and merriment, all our birthday girl wanted was her daddy to snuggle her and give her a bottle!


We love you Ava! It is bittersweet to watch you grow and change. Today when you were trying (again) to take your first step, and looking at me with those big blue eyes of yours, I had to fight back the tears. I selfishly don't want you to grow. I want you to be my baby forever. I could go on and on about all the priceless moments of joy you have brought to our family over this last year. I don't want those to end. You have been the best baby, my easiest by far. If this next year of your life is anything like your first, I can't wait!