Matthew & Alyssa

I rented a lens to try out and I took my 2 youngest to the greenbelt by my house when Tyler was at school. I was also practicing shooting in full sun, which is a difficult feat for me. I don't like to post picts of my kids on my photog blog, so I figured I'd post 'em here. I planned to just take 'em of alyssa b/c I had the whole outfit, but matthew wanted to wear a hat, too.

I LOVE holidays!

I'm so excited for Valentines day, I found a few fun ideas if anybody wants to do something but not sure what....

Click here This includes ideas for a scavenger hunt, something for your kids, and for your husband

here for dinner at home ideas

here for a cute craft

and one more for ideas to do fun things for your kids

this is a dessert I made 2 years ago and I'm going to make it again in a few days

and this looks fantastic for kids, but not sure I'm going to invest the time this year, have other ideas:) (I now have a baking section with baking blogs on the bottom list here)

I also found this cool blog that has nothing to do with valentines day, but great for a Q&A for anyone on random things.

Let me know if any of you use any of this:) Thought I'd share the love....

Hannah & a Haircut

Alyssa got her first haircut today and the boys went to their first concert. Well, ok, a.j.'s was just a very slight trim and the boys and I saw the movie of Hannah's concert.



Backtracking on both....

First, the haircut (before shots)

(the binkie usually stays in the car on outings, but I knew we'd need it for this)
I have loved alyssa's hair long, and have not wanted to cut it in the slightest. It's got a natural wave and layer that has just fallen down her back perfectly. Lately, however, she refuses to wear any type of clip, rubber band, or "pretty" to hold it back. So every time she eats anything: yogurt, peanut butter & jelly, and cool whip (naming the worst) it gets in her hair. Oh, it pains me, because then we have crunchy hair on our hands. It doesn't NEED to be washed every day, but with cruncy hair, it should be, but I don't. Then because of crunchy hair, we get very tangled hair and that coupled with a girl who doesn't like me to TOUCH her hair, not a good scene. So I thought a little trim would help just a bit. I thought about heading to the local "fun kids haircutting place" but after consulting with a friend who also cherishes the beauty of her daughters hair, I decided to take her to the only person I trust with my own hair. Brooke, my hair stylist. I was concerned about the price, but went ahead with it. After screaming and sadness ensued...she did a few snips and asked for $10. I'm not sure if that is her going rate for kids, or if she felt bad for me, or if she didn't do what she would normally do because said child was going ballistic. So I was happy. Alyssa then sat and ate the 10 lollipops that she refused to eat while getting her haircut (I planned ahead with snacks to contain her and she wanted nothing to do with them during her cut) while I got a cut and style. She even walked out of the room to head to the bathroom 3 times during my cut, which I had to chase after her with my apron and dead ends falling off of me. We tried 3 times to go potty, but it never actually happened. Haircut, done.

After doesn't look much different, but does look healthier.

Now the concert/movie:

Last summer when we had cable for the month of July (for the tour de france) the boys discovered Hannah Montana. They probably only saw it 3 or 4 times and I think they are just fascinated by the fast talking and older kids. But they did get hooked on the theme song, and so did I. We've just sung it around the house since then--just the chorus. Whenever they hear or see anything about Hannah they get excited and then bust into song and guitar strumming in the air....."You get the BEST of both worlds...chillin out take it slow, then you ROCK out the show!" I've also decided to try to take the kids on individual excursions, one on one dates, and just fun, memorable things. Remembering their mom as not just the chauffer, cook, disciplinarian, but also as someone who took them to do fun things...just me. The concert was fun, but I wish I would've downloaded more songs. They actually came home loving the Jonah brothers and we downloaded and printed the words the "Year 3000" and they are loving it.

My brother had a birthday...

Russell, Russ, Uncle Russy, a.k.a. Lester Bon Jovi had a birthday today. He is 4 years younger than me, and we had many good times growing up...too bad I don't have a picture of the time we snuck in the top story window laughing hysterically when the alarm beeped and we dove into his room (me 17, he 13). I have some great pictures in my scrapbook, but my scanner isn't working. He was my little sidekick at the end of my high school years and a confidant with wisdom way beyond his years, even back then.

He is one of the most compassionate people I know, and when he was 14, I had no doubt in my mind that a 14 year old in another time and place could be so spiritually strong...because of his example to me. For the few years after his mission before and he got married, we were lucky to have a bit of a monopoly on "uncle russy." He drove up to Austin with my mom the day Alyssa was born and my boys have grown up climbing all over him. He is devoted, fiercely loyal, and the peacemaker in our rambunxious family. Fun, crazy, and keeps tabs on all of his friends. I am blessed to have him in my life. Love you, little bro.

Kimmie got a good one, and she complements him well. We've been lucky to have them live in our great state and will be here for a good 3.5 more years for sure! Only 1.5 hours away, on a good traffic day:)

You don't know Mardi Gras like I know Mardi Gras...

Today is Mardi Gras Day, stands for "fat Tuesday" in French. Most of the people I know have never lived in New Orleans...so their concept of Mardi Gras is brought to them by the media...booze and breasts...well thats not the Mardi Gras I know. And just like most of us can attest from other forums in life, the media just doesn't accurately depict things as they are. Yes there is booze and yes some women flash themselves to get stuff from the floats, but in the 10 years of going to Mardi Gras parades growing up, I never saw it once! There are spots designated for families and most of the partygoers don't go there...here is a quote I found:

Kids don't belong in the French Quarter or on Canal Street during Mardi Gras. So take the family to St. Charles Avenue between First Street and Napoleon Avenue. Here the parade goers are all families. Many bring their ladders with kiddie seats attached to the top. The atmosphere is good, clean family fun.

My mom says kids usually dress up, I don't remember this, but here are my brother Ryan and I all dressed up for Mardi Gras...we look a little unhappy here...
Parades went on for weeks leading up to Mardi Gras Day, (the day before Ash Wednesday). The point was to have a party and eat and have fun the day before Catholics started their fast for lent. Of course I didn't know about this growing up becaues we weren't Catholic and didn't participate in lent. I just knew we got 3 days off of school the week of Mardi Gras. My family had friends who even started their own "krewe" calle the Krewe of Little Rascals. (click on the link and enter the website and you will see our family friends, the Spittlers as the Captains). That parade happened in the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras. When I was 5, my brother Ryan and I got to ride on the float and throw beads and cups and toys off to people in the crowds. (below I am climbing up the ladder onto my float...in the tiger costume)It was called "little rascals" because it was all about the kids. Kids were the main participants on the floats. Each krewe also has a King and Queen and in this case, it was also children. A funny story about us riding on the float is I dumped all my stuff out to people in the first 5 minutes and my brother was very meticulous and only threw out a little at a time. The story goes that he generously shared with me the rest of the parade...thank you, Rybe!

The picture below, my dad looking at the camera, and my little brother, Russell with the handsome collar on the bottom.

Anyway...I have fond memories as a child sitting on top of a homemade ladder box seat. In the above picture my dad is holding me (heart drawn on my forehead) in front of our family ladder filled with blankets. We were up high enough that the people on the floats could see us and we could sit above the crowd. There are sections in New Orleans that catered more to the family crowd and thats where we would go. My grandparents would often fly in from Utah each February/March to join us in the Mardi Gras festivites...it was a family affair! Below picture myself and Russell seated in the ladder next to....Bert and Ernie????King Cakes are yummy memory, and each year in school we would have a king cake every friday and whoever got the "baby" would bring the king cake the next week to school. That lasted 6-8 weeks or so. The New Era church magazine for youth even came out to document our Mutual group that went together to show it was also a family place. Can't seem to locate those pictures, but ah well. Here is a list of "krewes" or parades that occur throughout the season.

This is not a good picture, but shows us going through out "loot" after the parades are over.

We stopped in New Orleans on our trip to Florida last year...click here to see picts of us eating beignets and such. Last year for Mardi Gras we got a king cake to share in the tradition with my children, and I ordered one again this year. I am so happy that I live close enough that some bakeries actually make them! Here we are eating the yumminess.

I made up this new tradition to stick a flag in the spot where we guess the baby is hidden. That ends up being our slice. The boys thought that was fun:)

Look who got the baby!

I'm joining the challenge

I think I got about 5 or 6 "forwards" from friends all over the country about the challenge to honor President Hinckley by reading the Book of Mormon in 97 days...beginning today. At first I thought it was a bit cheesy. I mean, it was some random person who started this and made the website, etc. As more people forwarded it to me, I thought to myself...it won't hurt anything. I need to be better at reading my scriptures every dayanyway, so this will only benefit me.

Then I thought back to 2.5 years ago when President Hinckley extended this challenge:
"I offer a challenge to members of the Church throughout the world and to our friends everywhere to read or reread the Book of Mormon. If you will read a bit more than one and one-half chapters a day, you will be able to finish the book before the end of this year."

It came out in an August Ensign address...it wasn't official, from conference or anything, so it didn't seem that I had to do it. I had a brand new 2 month old baby...it was hard enough to read a page a week. I first saw it as a "suggestion" as with many things that should be seen as council. I didn't think I could do it. Michael began the challenge, and I started feeling guilty. I wanted to, but I hated to start something I couldn't finish and I wasn't sure I was up to it. I then decided to do it and began about a month late and charted out what I needed to have read every day. I was determined. I read every chance I could to catch up. I remember hearing about friends and family members all joining in the challenge. People reading in their cars, at work, out and about. It was so great to be unified in this way with others and have an inward smile that they were doing the same thing I was. I wondered if President Hinckley would offer some accolades to those to completed the task. We were at my parents home for Christmas and I had decided I didn't want to leave it up to the last day of the year, so I finished right around Christmas. Feeling good at my accomplishment. Feeling good about having "immersed" myself in the scriptures, having "feasted" upon the word instead of my casually "snacking" on the scriptures. My days go easier, I get less frustrated, I feel better when I daily study my scriptures. To my rememberance, I don't remember President Hinckley saying much to those of us who took on his challenge, but we didn't need to hear it from him, we felt it in our whole beings, that was enough. So why not participate in this challenge this time around?

Mardi Gras 5K

Michael is gearing up for a bunch of races this year...the Mardi Gras 5K is the 2nd one (his first on new years day). It also had a kids fun run 1K and the boys were VERY excited for the race. Matthew's first, Tyler ran his Turkey Trot at school (not an official race, but he thinks so). Our friends joined us, Dan running the 5K and their son Nathan running the 1K with the boys. Stacy and I stayed out of it with the little girls. I did initially plan to run the 1K with the boys, but after the false start "practice run" I decided to just watch. The boys had utter determination and smiles all around. It is so fun to watch them, as they enjoy running. They actually came out quite ahead of the rest of the pack.

They lined pre-K up first (matthew and Nathan) and then kinder and 1st (hence Tyler being further back).

Tyler coming in....
up close
Matthew and Nathan
Look at that smile:)

Finished and happy!

Michael and Dan run at similar paces, and even thought they started apart from each other, it was fun to see them coming in together (which was a fun surprise for our two families waiting). All the kids cheered as they came in and I took lots of pictures (shocking, right?) Michael came in 12th overall from his time chip. His time was 19:17 which he says he hasn't run one that fast since college. He even got 1st place in his age group (sorry, I have to brag) which really meant a lot to him, and was awarded a Mardi Gras mask as a prize. The kids very happily wore their "participant medal" the rest of the day. After, the kids got free candy corn, popcorn, and balloons.

Michael graciously acknowledges his fans with a wave...

We all went out to dinner for Texas yumminess at the County Line, I'd never been and really enjoyed it:)

We're going to the 5 babies house....

Last Sunday, the Wilkinson's invited us over for Sunday lunch/dinner. We both have 9 o'clock church (different Stakes, although only 15 min. from each other). So we headed over at 1:30 ish and I made brownies and salad while Rachelle had prepared yummy chicken with ham and bacon on and around it....rolls, and fruit. Quite the feast...she said the first meal she's had someone over for besides pizza since the babies were born. She is very impressive and on the ball! It was the first time Michael had met them, and I was so happy for him to finally meet them, since I've been going overthere since September quite regularly. Michael and Jayson got along well, which I figured they would, having several things in common. Our 1 major thing in common that all 4 of us adults share is our desire to never have a dog or cat. Sorry you animal lovers, but thats just not for us...now we just hope our kids are ok with that:) We have a fish and that is enough for me! Our older kids played happily for several hours, so we just chatted and held babies.

all 10 of our kids:)

I went Yesterday (jan 31st) on their half birthday to take a few picts...click here to see some.