I'm A Closet Voter!

So, I totally have to admit something... I am coming out of the closet and admitting that I vote every week for American Idol... and I am throwing James under the bus and telling you that he does too!!! We voted over 100 times this week for Mr. Kris Allen - I like him... he's my favorite! I know that a lot of people are into Adam Lambert... But, he is just a little too much - Something about the eyeliner just doesn't do it for me! James and I have it down to a science with dialing opposite of each other - And if you wait to call when there is only about 30 minutes left you get through a lot easier too! So, there it is... It's not a deep dark secret any longer and now Megan and Greg can't hold it over our heads!


So, my sweet husband came home on Tuesday and asked if there was anything that he could do for me... I was pondering how I was going to take all three kids to Cannon's check up... So, I said to him that he could stay home with McKay and Carter or he could take Cannon.... I seriously thought that he would stay home! But, he told me that he could handle taking Cannon to his appointment! I did tell him that he would have to have shots - and he once again told me he could handle it! I just kind of laughed to myself as he walked out the door acting so tough... about an hour later James came back with Cannon and the first thing he said was "Thanks a lot and just so you know I will NEVER take any of our children for shots AGAIN, from now on I will do what a man is supposed to do and you do what a woman is supposed to do...that's a Mothers job!" I didn't know that he was going to have to have 5 shots! James said that Cannon screamed like he had never heard him scream before and totally held a grudge against James and the nurse and was still mad at James when they got home! Unfortunately I don't think he will come home early anytime soon and ask if there is anything he can do for me... or next time there will just be a lot more clarification!

Monday LOVE!

Have I ever told you that I absolutely LOVE Mondays... It's something about starting a fresh new week that always puts me in a good mood! Mondays are just so refreshing for me - I think it's because I take it pretty easy on the weekends and don't get much done around the house... and when Monday finally comes around I'm pretty motivated to get a lot done! I love to start the laundry and put a little clean sparkle on the house...

So, a few months ago James put the hunt on for my Birthday present... He did really good this year and was able to keep it a secret up until about a month ago! When I was growing up I had a major fear of the dark... So, at night my parents would always leave my bedroom door cracked as I was going to bed at night - My Dad would always go out into the living room and turn on music and listen to it - One of his favorites being Kenny Rogers. So, I would lay in bed and listen to Kenny Rogers as I fell asleep... I, as many people do have a "Life List" - a list of things I want to do in this life and on that list I had that I wanted to go to a Kenny Rogers concert! So, without me knowing James found and got tickets for us to go to Kenny Rogers in concert in Las Vegas last Friday night! I did find out about the surprise about a month ago.... But, it was still the greatest thing ever! It meant so much to me that James really put so much thought into it! So, my Mom came and stayed with the boys and we headed off to Las Vegas! Airfare is totally cheap to Vegas right now, but we decided that we wanted to take a road trip! It's only 6 hours from here and we had a total blast! 6 hours of just US - it was amazing! James and I haven't left the kids together like that since McKay was 8 months old! When it comes down to it I just can never leave them... But, I sooo needed and loved this weekend with James just being his wife! So, thanks James I LOVE you so much! It was fun to come home and see all the fun things they did with my Mom and they had surprised me and planted my flower pots for me!

Sunday was my Birthday and the funny thing is that I thought I was turning 32... But, I was really only 31! It took James and my Mom together to convince me that I was really only 31! So, I didn't turn a year older I turned a year younger! We went to church and I have a new calling teaching McKays primary class - it was so cute to watch him when we walked into opening exercises together... He was so proud of me and kept telling everyone that I was his Mom and that I was his teacher too! When we got home he said "Mom, I was looking today and you were the prettiest teacher there"! That right there was the highlight of the whole day! It means a lot to a Mother to have a son who is so proud of her! James made his famous ribs in the Dutch oven for dinner and Megan and Greg and the girls came over for dinner. So, it was a really nice day with family!

My Mom left today and poor Carter had a complete breakdown when she left... He was just beside himself with tears! I kept trying to tell him that we would see her again on Friday... but, nothing worked until McKay worked his magic on him and cuddled with him for awhile. Thank you Mom for coming and staying with the boys and living my life for a couple days! I Love you!

So, We're off to another week full of school pictures, doctors appointments for shots, check up for Cannon and up to Idaho this weekend for baby blessings and a Baptism! Life just keeps us busy!

No Blogging...

The weather has been way too good to blog... Lots of playing outside, jumping on the trampoline (Carter has me out there every morning at 7:00 a.m. doing ring around the rosies over and over again!), playing in the empty lot next to us, going to the park, James and McKay went golfing and a fabulous picnic last night with Jason and Kristin and their family! Fabulous until Jason drowned me with water... Did I mention that it was also parent teacher conference and I had to leave from the picnic and go straight there soaking wet!!! Not joking at all I looked like a drowned rat! People looked at me a little funny when I walked in... What's a Mom to do? My Mom comes today to spend the weekend with us and I turn the big 32 on Sunday!!! Lots of fun things going on! I'm totally loving Carters TAN little bald head right now - if he can't have hair he may as well have a good tan! I hope you are enjoying the FABULOUS weather as much as we are!

What A Good Day

So, today was Sunday... and James and I both woke up sick... I have been battling a cold all week and it finally caught up to James too... So, we called in sick for teaching primary and stayed home. But, we still had two little boys who had enough energy to take on the world! So, I kept them busy with play dough, a little painting project, I read them a Magic Tree House book, we ALL took a nap and they spent hours outside playing. I have to tell you that today was one of the best days our little family has had together in a long time... No where to be - couldn't really do anything because it was still Sunday... Just time for us to be together! I had so many moments today... and as I was rocking Cannon tonight and could hear the boys laughing together in the bathtub I really started to think about the day. Why was today different than any other day? What made it so good and so special? Because it wasn't just me, James commented that today had been a really good day too and as McKay was getting into bed tonight he thanked me for the "Best day ever"... It's not an option for us to skip church every Sunday and stay home together... So, what was it? I decided that it was a couple things - It was that James and I stopped and truly took time for our boys - We played play dough, we helped them and encouraged them while they painted, I cuddled in bed with them and took the time to read them a long book, we went on a walk together as a family... I try hard everyday to spend time with each one of my children. But, I realized today that as I spend time with them in my mind I am always thinking of what else needs to be done and may rush things along a little bit. I think that they can sense this - and today they did not feel the threat of that. Today they felt our desire to be with them. I know that I cannot do this everyday - Tomorrow morning we will get up and McKay will need to be to school, it's laundry day and I need to go grocery shopping... BUT, the time that we are together I truly need to focus on being with them and living in that moment. I need to stop worrying about getting everything else done and focus on spending more quality time with them - I need to stop more often and sit down with them instead of trying to find things to keep them busy so that I can get done what I want to. My cousin once told me she couldn't wait until I had more than one child because then maybe my house would be a little messy... In my mind I have always thought that I couldn't let that happen... But I am learning when it comes down to it - it really doesn't matter how clean my house is... It matters that I was their Mother.

Easter Pictures... And A Few Other Things!

Easter egg hunt at Jason and Amy's! It was the first year that he just took off with the older kids and didn't sit back and wait for us to help him... it was a little sad for me - But, fun to watch him have such a good time!

Carter saw the gum and the Dominoes in his Easter basket and that was all he cared about! It seriously doesn't take much to make this little guy happy! It wasn't until later in the day that I got him to sit down and look at everything else that was in his basket!

LOVE the smile - it's the real smile! Not the forced, awkward, please hurry up and take the picture smile!

So, this year I decided it was time to re-evaluate the holidays... I have decided that Santa Clause the Easter Bunny and James and I are no longer going to give my children things that aren't useful. For Valentines day I made my boys cute little packages of treats and a couple little toys... only to have it devoured within a couple hours and the toys to be a thing of the past within a day or two... I was frustrated that I had spent money on something that was so useless... I decided that from here on out I am only going to give my children things that they can truly use and enjoy for more than 1 day. Books, games, activities and projects... The Easter Bunny brought them each one treat and that was it and the great thing was that they were more excited about everything else more than the treat! All week long they have been totaly emerged in all their new projects, books and games.

Carter coloring Easter eggs! He got his eggs the darkest because he was so patient to let them sit... Or really just because he was cold and wouldn't put his shirt on and he didn't want to get out of his blanket to get the eggs out!

Weekend In Idaho

McKay decided that it was warm enough to run through the sprinkler on Sunday morning... it wasn't! So, he took his clothes off and laid them out on the patio to dry... But, the next thing I know he is riding around on his bike in his underware! The funny thing is that church was getting out across the street at the same time and he was riding his bike on the church sidewalks - swerving around people! Everyone was getting a good little laugh at him! It was one of those moments that James came in the house and said "Come and look at what YOUR son is doing"!

When my Dad is explaining something to you he always has to draw it out - he is a total doodler! So, he was explaining the electrical system on our trailer to James and Carter saw that there was a pen and paper and had to be apart of whatever it was! I love how he is holding the pen and my dad is guiding his hand!

Carter "helping" Grandpa and Dad with the trailer...

Aunt Amy captured Carter's heart! All it took was her getting the four wheeler out and he wouldn't let her out of his sight! He LOVED the little hills and as soon as they would get over them he would just start saying "Again, Again, Again..."! I LOVE how Tyson calls Carter "Carter Baby"! - Even though there is only a 4 month age difference between the two!

Coloring Eggs!

A Couple Family Favorites...

So, We had a fabulous weekend in Idaho Falls visiting family and friends! My kids played outside like it was the middle of the summer!!! We had a family dinner on Sunday and I took a couple appetizers that have become family favorites... the greatest thing about them is that they are super easy!!!


Stuffed Mushrooms

1 package cream cheese
1 pound breakfast sausage
mushrooms

Take the stems out of the mushrooms and discard all but about 1/3. Finely chop up stems and add to sausage in a skillet and cook. When sausage is cooked all the way add cream cheese and heat until well mixed with sausage. Spoon mixture into mushroom caps and bake covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. If the mushrooms haven't cooked enough you may need to cook a little longer - it depends on how well you like your mushrooms cooked. With this recipe you can do 3-4 packages of mushrooms.


Little Smokie Wraps

1 package Little Smokies
1 Package Turkey Bacon
Brown Sugar

Cut package of turkey bacon in half. Wrap bacon around little smokie and use a tooth pick to hold in place. Place in baking dish and cover with brown sugar (be generous with brown sugar). Bake covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. I will take it out at about 20 minutes and coat the little smokies with the melted brown sugar syrup a couple times and cook uncovered for the remaining of the time to let the bacon crisp up a little bit. Sometimes I cook it a little longer to get the bacon crispier - you do have to use Turkey bacon... regular bacon does not do well. With my family I always do a large package of the little smokies and it takes two packages of bacon. The children eat these like they are candy! And for the record I absolutely hate little smokies!!! BUT, I do really like these!

Just trying to get unpacked and caught up!!! Hoping to get a few Easter pictures posted in the next day or two! Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful weekend and thank you Jason and Amy for always putting on such wonderful family dinners!

Easter Package

My kids come unglued when we get the mail and there is a key... A key means there is a package and a package usually means a surprise from Moe (they call my Mom Moe)! Today we had been out running errands and stopped to get the mail on our way home... James got out to get the mail and when he walked up to the window to show the boys the key they just started screaming! Crazy enough that they woke Cannon up... The package included Candy M&M's (Carter's favorite) and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (McKay's favorite), Ring Pops, sidewalk chalk with cool little holders so your hands don't get all dirty, cupcake making supplies to make Easter cupcakes and a magazine for Mom! McKay just kept saying "Moe is the bomb"! Thanks Mom for all the special packages you send they truly are loved and appreciated!

As you can tell in the pictures McKay has quite the sunburn right now... He looks like a little raccoon. Tuesday was a beautiful day and James and McKay went skiing for the day with Jason and Gavin... I'm usually really good about getting sunblock on him before he leaves... But, he made it out the door without it and I didn't realize it until the day was pretty much over... The only thing that made me feel better was that James looked worse than McKay did when they got home!

We've had a crazy couple weeks... I had a migraine that I couldn't get rid of... I ended up at the emergency clinic and had to get two shots - one in my arm and one in my bottom... I finally found something that hurts worse then labor!!! I'm not joking... I rather have a baby than have those shots again! Cannon is still sleeping through the night - Now I just wish I could get my two other kids to do the same! Conference was amazing... until I went downstairs to check on the boys and see why they were being so quiet... they had let themselves into my scrapbook room and proceeded to play with my stamp supply... all over a pile of layouts I had been working on of Cannon... RUINED... It was one of those moments that you turn around and leave quickly and send your spouse in to deal with it because you are afraid of what will happen if you go back! We have played in warm weather and snow in the last week! - Crazy Utah weather! We successfully got Megan and Greg to the airport on there way to Germany... You may wonder why that is such a big deal... But, all of you who know what a stress case Greg is knows that this is a BIG deal!!! We had every alarm clock in our house set in our room including both of our cell phones!!! Plus, I had Greg call us too... just to make sure there hadn't been any malfunctions with the alarms!!! I wasn't going to be the one to start their amazing trip off to a stressful start with them getting to the airport late... So, it really was a BIG deal! I truly breathed a big sigh of relief when James called me and said he had just dropped them off and they were way early!

Well, we're off tomorrow to Idaho... It's My Dad's Birthday and we want to go and see Stacey's new baby, spend Easter with my family, James and my Dad are going to work on the trailer and get it ready for summer - something is wrong with the furnace... and we both need to renew our drivers licences... until the sell of the house goes through I am still claiming to be an Idaho resident!!! I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!

(It won't let me put this post into paragraghs.... So, sorry it's such a ramble of a post! And Megan Randall I LOVE your comments!!! We miss you! But, we're planning on coming to see you this weekend too!)

Lego Towers

Whenever McKay has something that he doesn't want Carter to mess with he either puts it on the dresser or on the top shelf of his bookcase... Carter has caught on to his tactics and today took them over! He is always very proud of his Lego towers and they usually last around the house for a couple days... today he built it on the dresser as a symbol of how important it really was - he built it block by block climbing up the dresser each time! When the tower was finally done it was taller than he was! Notice the top shelf of the bookcase in the third picture... Carter stuffed it full of all of his prized possessions today - pacifiers, pictures, his bubble gum, his Indian head nickles from Grandpa, and yes his Halloween trick or treat pumpkin that had all of his trains in it! McKay wasn't quite sure what to think about the invasion of his privacy... But Carter was pretty proud! When I explained to McKay that Carter was just doing it to be like him he was pretty proud too!