California Girls

Last week we packed our bags, ditched the snowboots and hit the road as we headed for fun in the sun in CALIFORNIA!!! Check out these California Chicks! Loving life on the pier. Who wouldn't after 11 hours in the car!
Don't worry...we did have some testosterone in the group. Poor guys...had to put up with NINE females! Why is it that every time I pull out my camera my girls strike a pose??

Jovie and Caymbree got a little tired one afternoon and made themselves a makeshift bed. Pretty creative if I can say so myself.

The ocean was alive and well with creatures. We saw a couple of whales, crabs, a clam, seals, and quite a few dolphins. One group got so close to shore we could have swam to them.

The boys kept themselves entertained with the skim board, body surfing and boogie boarding. The girls attempted it but didn't last long.

On the menu for our Easter dinner was hot dogs on the beach. Who could ask for more? Caymbree was intrigued by the seagulls and spent the night trying to catch one. Too cute.

Caymbree and Jovie

Have I told you how much I LOVE the beach/ocean? Because I do. Like really, really love it. I could sit and watch, smell, listen to it for hours and be completely content. So sad to have to say goodbye. It was an AMAZING trip with AMAZING friends!

I won! I mean SHE won!

When Hallee came home an announced that they had to do a project for the science fair I'll admit I was less than thrilled. I mean really science projects in 3rd grade usually mean a science project for mom or dad. For example, I'm the one that had to call around to find all the supplies, I'm the one that had to go buy them with MY money, I'm the one that has to sit down with her every day working on the project SO I guess I'm the one that deserves the grade hey? With that off my chest I will admit it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I tried REALLY hard to have Hallee do most of the work while I just oversaw the project. As it turns out she was chosen as one of the class winners and had her project judged to go on to the district level. (Is it horrible that I was secretly praying that she would not make it that far?)

In the end she did not make it to the district level and while she was a little disappointed I was greatly relieved. (BAD MOM!) Anyway, we had fun in the process and learned a lot along the way. And just so you know....flowers drink ICE water the best. Bet you wouldn't have guessed that!

Oops she did it again!!!

How is it possible that I can go my ENTIRE life without a broken bone. Troy can go through his ENTIRE life with only one broken hand (and if you knew Troy as a child that is seriously saying something) and yet our SIX year old has had TWO broken bones in the past year????

Hope jumped down a few steps while running away from Troy and landed on her foot funny breaking the little bone in between her big toe and her foot. (Technical definition hey?) Fortunately for mom and dad they don't cast that kind of break but she does have to wear a boot for the next six weeks. Unfortunately, Hope didn't feel so lucky. She wanted the cast and was devastated about it for the first two days. Finally I bought her few pairs of "cutsie" socks to wear under it and it seemed to appease her a little.

Guess we better have good insurance for this kid. Heaven knows we are going to need it!

Like Mother like daughter...

Hallee and I had a great time dressing up like "twinners" for her Activity Days Mother/ Daughter Night. We enjoyed an evening of fondue and a matching game where you had to match baby pictures to the mom and daughter. Apparently Hallee and I were a no brainer and everybody easily identified our baby pictures. Wish our scanner was working so you could see for yourself :)

I love nights like these where I get my girls one-on-one. Unfortunately, they don't happen as often as I would like.

Hug your little ones

Recently a friend from the dance world's 9 year old son Dylan was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. I have never met him in person but yet I find myself thinking about him daily. My world has been shaken and I don't even know him. Perhaps it is because I just saw his mom a few months ago; happy, full of life and very pregnant with her sixth child. Everything was so normal, so fun, so perfect. Perhaps it is because am not only friends with his mom but with his two aunts as well. And I know it is killing them. ALL of them. Or perhaps it is because my very own nine year old sleeps in the room right next to me. So normal, so happy, so full of life and so healthy. And I can't help but think that it could all change in an instant. For the first few days after I found out the news the tears came readily. I couldn't even look at my own children without wondering what I would do if the news was about one of them. It was heart wrenching! I felt like such a failure as a mother. Have I taught them everything they need to know? Do they feel loved and appreciated? Do I take advantage of the "little moments" with my children. Let's just say I wasn't settled with my answers. This is the part of the story where you would expect me to tell you about my huge transformation as a mother. It's what I expected. And that's what's so frustrating about it all. One moment I just want to hold them and hug them and the next minute I am ready to strangle them. Each morning I make a commitment to speak kinder, softer, more patiently and by late afternoon I am back to yelling and barking orders. Then the guilt and the tears all come rushing back. It is a vicious cycle I tell ya! Ironically the place where I find my strength once again is from Dylan's family blog http://dylandshaw.blogspot.com/ . They are amazing. Their faith in God renews my own. Their grace and dignity in coping with this horrific trial is inspiring. So I pick myself up and try again. And I am so grateful I have another day to try. And I'll try again the next day, and the next and the next as long as the Lord allows me. But for now, I'm gonna hold my little ones a little longer each night and tell them how much I love them every moment I can.

Tell me a story...

Hope has a new "thing". I see it as a bedtime stalling tactic. Troy sees it as some great one-on-one time and fully embraces it. Every night she asks him to tell her a story about when he was a kid. And every night he tells her a different story. So while tucking her in the other night she asked me to tell her a story about when I was a kid. My mind went blank. I started panicking. Did I have a pathetic childhood? Why can't I think of anything? Finally I told her the first thing that came to my head. It was a cute little story about my sister and I having sleepovers in her daybed and because the bed was so small we would sleep with our heads on opposite ends. I also told her how I used to make her tickle my back when she wanted to borrow anything of mine. And that's pretty much it. I finish the story. She looks at me and says "huh". Me: "Didn't you like my story?" her: "No, it was good." Me: "So why are looking at me like that?" her: "Well, it's just that dad's stories usually involve him driving something and usually crashing something. Yours just....well it just didn't have anything like that." GO FIGURE! I laughed as I kissed her goodnight but quickly realized I needed to step up my game in the story telling department and I have been racking my brain ever since. Hopefully I have come up with some good ones although most of them still DO NOT involve crashing. I have to admit it's been kind of fun reminiscing with myself about the good old days. And if your lucky I just might share some of them on the blog for preservation purposes. Lucky you!

Dancing Queen

Good Golly Miss Molly. Look at those pointed toes! Does her momma proud!

And if your interested you can even watch the video.

{Pause my playlist first before watching video}

So it's official. My daughter has entered the wild world of competitive dance. I have been really reluctant to do it up until this point for a number of reasons. 1) Once you do it there's no turning back (ok a little dramatic) 2) it's a huge time commitment 3) Money: it's an all access pass to your bank account and 4) it puts a major damper in my judging career which means not only am I PAYING out money for competitions but I'm also not MAKING any money at these competitions. But I knew it was time. So I set aside my judging hat for five weekends out of the season and put on my #1 FAN hat instead. I have to admit it's harder than it sounds. After years of watching dance critiquing each and every movement I find myself wanting to do the same with Hallee. Can you say "STAGE MOM?" I have to keep myself in check and celebrate each and every success instead.

We are now two competitions and no regrets from anyone. They have taken a 1st and 2nd place and her studio has taken OVERALL at both. We have seen HUGE growth in Hallee this year not only as a dancer but as an individual and leader as well. We LOVE LOVE LOVE her studio and their ability to motivate through positive reinforcement. It is truly amazing what a great teacher and studio can do for a child.

Shhh...Can you keep a secret?

So Hope would be mortified if she knew i was posting this but it is too funny to not document it somewhere. So can you keep it a secret? Pretty please??

Hope coughing....

Mom: "Wow Hope. That cough isn't sounding too good."
Hope: "Ya I know. You don't want to know where i got it from."
Me: (Interested). "Yes. I do."
Hope: "Well, it's kind of embarrassing. I don't want to tell you."
Me: (REALLY interested now.) Oh, just tell me.
Hope: "Well, when I was little and I mean really little, I used to pick my buggers and eat them. Now, every time I cough those dang buggers just keep on coming up."

Me: Hysterical laughing.

Hope: Really embarrassed now. "Mom, please don't tell your husband!"

Me: Still hysterically laughing....

Cheese tortilla anyone???

Our first two children have very distinct personalities. Polar opposite personalities. Up until this point we have often wondered where Caymbree would fit into the mix. I think we are finally getting a glimpse...

The other day we got home from the gym and I headed for the shower. Caymbree said she was hungry and wanted a cheese tortilla (one of THREE things she will eat right now...literally.) I told her I would make it as soon as I got ready. About fifteen minutes later Caymbree comes up stairs to tell me she needs help with her tortilla. Again, I put her off and tell her I will do it in a minute. "But mom, its too hot to get out of the microwave," she says matter of factly. SAY WHAT?

Intrigued and confused I immediately followed her downstairs. There on the table sat the bag of tortillas, the cheese and ranch dressing and inside the microwave sat a perfectly prepared AND cooked cheese tortilla. Yep. My three year old daughter got the five pound bag of shredded cheese out of the refrigerator, the tortillas and ranch and proceeded to make her own lunch. ALL with less mess than my nine year old would have done it!!

I'm not gonna lie. I wasn't sure if I should be proud or completely freaked out. After all, the Riverton Hospital was recently evacuated due to a fire from an overcooked potato in the microwave! I asked her what button she pressed on the microwave to which she confidently pointed to the 1 MIN. button and looked at me like "what a dumb question!"

Holy Toledo batman! So folks, it looks like we have an independent one here. She doesn't need anyone because she can do it herself. This is our child that can outplay both of her sisters some days on the Wii and the Nintendo DS. Yes my friends, she is THREE. She is stubborn as a mule (as evident by her food and clothing issues) but is as sweet as sugar when she wants to be. She can play for HOURS by herself in a wonderland of make believe. Justin Beiber has frequented that world lately. Unfortunately, this comes with its downfall when she sometimes struggles in social settings. She would actually rather play by herself most days.

And so it goes as the personality continues to develop and manifest itself on a daily basis. So so cute and a little terrifying all in one.

Bieber Fever!!

I still can't believe that my friend Tara not only convinced me to take our girls to the Justin Beiber movie but also to buy them shirts to wear as well. I have to say though I actually really enjoyed the movie. Fun music and a great story! And if your wondering if the girls enjoyed it....well, see for yourself...

Can I have this dance...

Who knew that a ward party could be so much fun??? Last weekend our ward had a couples dance complete with a disco ball, decorations, photographer, music and all. A few decided to go big or go home and came decked out in style. Styles included Audrey Hepburn, classic gangster, 80's, dumb and dumber tuxedo, and we even had our very own pimp.I can't BELIEVE how much time and effort they put into this dance. The gym was decked out!! They said it took all day to set up. It was amazing!
{Tara and Steve Sansom}

{Me in all my 80's glory. Found this beauty at the DI for $6 bucks BABY!}


{Troy rocking his 70's style! Have to say my bangs didn't hold up long. They started out twice as high. Just how much hair spray did we use back then???}

{Larry and Jolynn Palmer - gotta luv the tux!}

{Toby and Josie Christensen}

I'll be the first to admit that I was a little bit skeptical when I first heard about it. But it really was a blast! It was so much fun to see people come out of their shells and boogie! My favorite part of the night was seeing our old Bishop do a break dance spin in the middle of the floor, or our old 1st counselor do a full on jump split and not even pull a muscle in the process. Gotta love it!

HAPPY V-DAY!!!!

So Troy and I woke up this morning to find this sign in our bedroom...
A short while later Miss Hallee appeared carrying this tray of pancakes and milk, decorated and all. Seriously melted my heart. The other two were still in bed and she had gotten up and made the pancakes and decorations all by herself. Seriously, who is this child and how is she mine??? The funny part is that I had planned on making heart shaped pancakes for dinner that night. NOW WHAT??? Was I seriously going to be upstaged by my nine year old daughter? How could I possibly not return the generosity and thought?

So, Plan B was quickly created. Grilled cheese sandwiches cut out in heart shapes with tomato soup and a heart made with sour cream. I mean it's not quite as good as Hallee's but whadda-ya-do??

So Happy Valentines Day to the four people I love most in this world. I {heart} you!!! And Happy Valentines to the rest of you as well! You know who you are! I {heart} you too!

Discover Park City

Thanks to Grandma Susu we were able to have a mini vacation last week to Park City. Since skiing wasn't on our list (wish it was but so far we have not been brave enough to attempt it with 3 kiddos) anyhoo... since skiing wasn't on our list I was a little nervous what we were going to do to occupy our time.

NO WORRIES though! We had a blast and filled our days with fun!

On our agenda....
* Two shopping trips to the outlet mall

* Swimming in the outdoor pool.... YEP. I said outdoor. No cover, no heat lamps just a pool at a temperature of around 95 degrees. The kids LOVED it!! There was snow all around us but it didn't slow them down a bit. Yes, I did swim as well but the hot tub kept beckoning me back.

I loved that the hot tub was usually full of men from around the country who had taken the week off to come ski with their buddies. And then there was US :). The first question was always where we had been skiing that day and the next was where we were from. I'm sure they thought we were crazy that we only lived 35 minutes away and we were NOT skiing.

Saturday we stopped by some of the local ski resorts to watch the snowboarders do their thing off the jumps. At the Canyons they had a free ski lift that took you from the parking lot up to the resort. The kids thought it was awesome and we loved that it was Frrreeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Hanging out at the Canyons

We also spent some time on historic main street. The kids were easy to please and we spent most of the time riding the trolley up and down the street.

So the following pictures are so not in order but my computer is giving me some serious issues so we'll just be grateful to get them posted.

Friday night we took the kids to Midway to the Midway Ice Castles. It was breathtaking!! On the way there we passed this cute little coffee shop that we had to check out on the way back. It was SO cute. (Hot chocolate wasn't the best but the atmosphere absolutely made up for it!)

So now the pictures you've been waiting for. Don't mind that Troy looks possessed in the first one :)

We would definitely recommend going at night when it is all lit up. It is gorgeous!

And finally the girls and I had some down time together when Troy came back to work one day. We painted fingernails, watched chick-flicks and and baked valentines cupcakes.