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!

The Devil Wears Brown....

The Devil wears brown and disguises himself as an innocent little girl sitting by herself outside Walmart in the freezing cold... Yes, it's that lovely time of year again when Girls Scouts are out in an abundance trying to tempt you! But, it's also that lovely time when I am trying to lose the baby weight.... So, As I went to Walmart I walked right by that sweet looking girl and just kept telling myself I would have to run an extra hour on the treadmill and to have some self control!!! I made it in and out of the store without succumbing and was so proud of myself as I drove home!!! The next day (Saturday) James was out running errands and ran into Walmart to pick up a couple things I needed... I didn't even think to warn the poor guy... and he is the biggest sucker for any child selling anything! When he got home he was so excited to show me the treat he had got for "US" and I just screamed when he pulled them out of the sack! He bought three boxes... The devil works in mysterious ways and blindsides you when you are expecting it the least!!! I was grateful that my Mother-in-law was staying with us for a couple days to help get rid of the temptation - I have also been force feeding them to my children telling them that they can have a treat after they eat 4 girl scout cookies!!! Today James had to go to Logan and I was able to send the last sleeve of cookies out the door with him... The temptation has finally passed and life can get back to normal!

A Little Girl Stuff...

So, I got a comment and a couple emails asking me about Cannon's shirt in the last post! Yes, I did make some last year for baby gifts... But no, I didn't make this one... I bought it! I saw it on Etsy and fell in love with it! My family is laughing right now because they know of my Etsy addiction!!! So, if you go to http://www.beanpicklesprout.etsy.com/ they have quite the fun collection.

Here are a couple of my other favorite stores on Etsy:

http://www.missrubysue.etsy.com/ - they have a fabulous necklace that I am eyeing right now....

http://www.aureliaandannalise.etsy.com/ - fun girl things, I bought a friend a cute baby gift here.

http://www.withatwist.etsy.com/ - I have ordered a lot of her flowers for projects and love them!

http://www.maythird.etsy.com/ - Scrapbooking stuff

http://www.oneripepeach.etsy.com/ - has fun vintagey (if that's a word!) things!

http://www.everyjotandtitle.etsy.com/ - Scrapbooking stuff

http://www.ellesstudio.etsy.com/ - scrapbooking stuff

I have ordered from all of these stores and they are all fabulous!

The second picture is my new purse! I LOVE it and James HATES it! He told me that it looks like something some little girl made in girl scouts!!! I have to admit that is the general consensus though - Women seriously stop me in the stores and ask me where I got my purse and men don't like it and can't believe I spent money on it! The picture makes it look a little red... it's more a pink color! I bought it at a cute little shop here in Utah - They have a bigger bag that I am thinking about too for a new church bag!

The third is a necklace that I bought this week... I was trying to explain it to my Mom and couldn't so i just added a picture to show her! It's really chunky and fun - I have a bunch of charms that I can add to it too to make it a little chunkier if I want to. I do have one "E" charm that I know I am going to add for sure! Something fun for spring!

(I did link the etsy addresses but they won't stay highlighted... so, if you just click on them they will still take you to the sights!)

The Happenings... and a little Baby Love

So, I was getting ready the other day when McKay walked into the bathroom and was watching me when this conversation took place: "Mom, you're not supposed to use that kind of muscara (Mascara)".. I looked at him kind of funny and asked why not? "because it makes your eyelashes clumpy, I saw a commercial on T.V. and it said that that kind of muscara makes your eyelashes clumpy... They had this special kind that you twirl that doesn't make your eyelashes clumpy and makes them long and fat! So, I think that you should use that kind"! Everyone always tells me that I need a girl!!! But why when I have a son who gives me makeup tips!

Today is a good day!!! It's always a good day when your baby sleeps through the night! Cannon went down last night at 10:00 p.m. and slept until 7:00 a.m.!!! The only bad thing is that when he finally does sleep through the night you are up all night checking on him making sure he is o.k.! He's just the sweetest little baby - So quick to smile and really starting to talk. We have a daily competition at our house to see who can get the biggest smile out of him & McKay usually wins. Carter is always talking to him and quite often tells him if he is fussing "It's o.k. Cannon I'll shoot the big bad wolf so he won't get you - I'll keep you safe." Another thing is that Cannon's head always smells like food... you can tell what Carter has just eaten because he comes up and gives Cannon kisses and leaves traces of what he just ate all over him! So, After I wipe Carter's face I usually have to wipe up Cannon too! I am so grateful that there haven't been any issues of jealousy with Carter and Cannon ( I was seriously a little nervous that there would be) - If there are any he is just jealous that someone has got to hold him more than he has got to that day! Carter does however enjoy having someone to blame everything on! McKay blames everything on Carter and now Carter blames everything on Cannon! So, I do have to admit that the transition to three has been very easy! James keeps telling me if you have three you may as well have four!!!

Boy Time

I finally made it with the boys last week to watch McKay ski... He is so good that he intimidates me! The last time I went skiing I ended up in the emergency room and spent the next 6 weeks on crutches!!! So, every time he tells me how excited he is for me to go with him next year I shutter a little! I get sick to my stomach when I look at the kiddy hill!!! And yes, James is talking on his cell phone! I guess that is one of the perks of being self employed - you can do business on the ski hill! I'm so grateful that James is such a good Dad and has such a desire to spend time with his boys making memories. I think that he and McKay have been skiing about 20 times this winter together - In fact, James re-arranged his schedule today and took McKay out of school and they are up skiing right now! They took the little hibatchi grill and are going to grill up burgers for lunch and just have a good day together!

Those Darn Chickens...

Throwing rocks at the chickens....

Yelling at the chickens....

Carter LOVES to go with James to feed the horses! He has no fear of them whatsoever and will walk right up to them and feed them apples and pet them... However, he is TERRIFIED of the chickens!!! When they get ready to leave to go he tells me he is going to take his gun "And shoot those stupid chickens"! (No, I don't like my kids saying the word "stupid" but there is a time and a place for it!) When he gets there he starts right off by throwing rocks at them to keep them at bay and then will resort to climbing up on the fence to get away from them! McKay is always his protector if he is with them and proceeds to kick the chickens to stay away from his brother! I think it is crazy that he will walk right up to a horse... but runs from the chickens!!!

Boise

When I was growing up I used to dream about my trips to Boise to stay with my Grandparents. I used to go every summer and no matter how long I stayed I never wanted to leave! We went to Boise this last weekend to help my parents work in my Grandparents yard and to let them spend some time with the boys. When we went to leave on Sunday McKay started to cry... he didn't want to leave either! As I sat and held him and explained to him that we had to go I totaly felt his pain! Even as an adult with a family of my own I still didn't want to leave either! Infact, I started to cry as we pulled away and my Grandpa stood on the driveway and waved as we made our way down Golse Drive.

I love my Grandparents for all of my summer memories, that you still hold hands, for my Grandpa taking me for doughnuts, I love the smell of your house, I love Grandma's phone calls (I still have a message on my machine from her that I refuse to delete!) I love that root beer floats cure a sore tummy, I love my quilts that Grandma has made for me - I still have everyone, I love Grandpa's hugs, I love your back patio, I love your surprise letters in the mail, I love the chime of your clock, I love the sound of your front door opening, I love the way my Grandpa teases my Grandma... even though she might not always!, I love that they have taught their family traditions, I love that my Grandpa always answers the phone when you call, I love that they have always made me feel so very special and now they do the same for my boys!

We had a fabulous weekend filled with work, playing at the park, playing baseball with McKay in the street, Chuck E Cheese (McKay has been begging to go for 2 years and we finally went with Grandma!) Carter playing in the puddles after the rain, Bike rides, yummy food, Carter crawling in bed in the morning with Great Grandma and Grandpa, McKay learning the importance of helping family and good company. We used to go every spring and help my Great Grandma get her yard ready and plant her Garden - I have fabulous memories of her because of it - I think we might have a new family tradition!

Monday....

Where does the time go... In the last week my friend Jennifer came to visit from Montana, James and McKay went skiing 3 times (they have been taking a little grill that my Sister-in-law Amy bought James for Christmas and having BBQ's in the parking lot before they ski!!! McKay loves it!), the fire department had to come to my house in the middle of the night because the carbon monoxide alarm went off...., James turned 33 and we got to celebrate with going out to dinner with his best friend from growing up Tyson and his wife Kristin, Megan and Greg came for dinner, McKay was sick with a fever, Carter and James had a "special day" to see the horses and go see the animals at Cabella's, picked Becky up from the airport, Megan and I spent the day Friday at Park City shopping for our kids summer clothes, Cannon caught his first cold, Brett came to stay with us for a couple nights and surprised me with taking the boys so that James and I could go out on a date to the Tree Room at Sundance, Cannon finally decided that he likes the swing!, I won the wife of the month award and attended the Sportsman's Expo with my husband and three kids on Saturday for 5 hours... I attended my New Testament class on Wednesday and got a call that one of the horses was out and had to leave to help!, Brett saved me and set up my ipod that I have almost had for a year and still hadn't taken it out of its packaging!, the boys spent hours playing outside in the good weather!

So, that is just a quick run down of where the time does go! Here are just a couple pictures of the week... My Mom called last night begging for a couple pictures of Cannon! At this age they just grow so fast! I love the picture of the boys climbing on the changing table to see him! McKay practicing his ABC's and Carter just being Carter!!!

Here goes another week!

Alternative Non Contact Discipline!

When we were in Idaho Last week my Mom reminded me that when my Brothers and I were little and would get in trouble we would have to stand in the corner!!! At first I couldn't believe that I had forgotten about it and then I thought it sounded like something that I needed to try in my home! A little alternative discipline never hurt! Well, the first time McKay had to stand in the corner he laughed the whole time! The second time he wasn't quite sure about it and the third time he decided he hated it! Now, the mention of the word "corner" and I have his attention! He has sooo much energy that having to stand still and put his nose in the corner is more than he can bare!

I wasn't sure about Carter... Was he too young? Would he get it? Would he do it? But, as you can see he is pretty good at it! When he talks to you while he's standing in the corner his words are muffled and I have to admit that it is pretty cute!

I had a hard time deciding if I was going to post these pictures or not... I didn't want anyone to think less of me... But, I hope you all know that my family is normal! My children are fabulous, but they like everyone else have their moments! And we as their parents have the responsibility to teach them the best we can! And I know that those who really know James and I know that we love our children more than anything and can appreciate these photos for what they are!

That Smile...

McKay is at the age that when I tell him to smile for a picture I get the forced awkward smile... I love it when I get a picture of him with his REAL smile - the one that melts my heart... the one that makes you smile back...


We left last Friday for a quick trip to Idaho Falls. I had my 6 week appointment with my OB... everything was good - So, now James has to release my treadmill from being held hostage! He took it apart so I couldn't exercise before I was supposed to! We went to Idaho Falls thinking we were only staying until Sunday, but ended up staying until Tuesday! It was nice to see family and everyone enjoyed getting to mug on Cannon. The highlight of the trip for me was that my parents watched the boys for us Friday night so that James and I could go on a date! We went out to dinner and then he took me to the mall and told me to splurge a little and spend some money on myself!!! You have to understand that my husband HATES the mall - So, it was a real sweet surprise! I looked in almost every store and couldn't find much that I liked... that always happens when you have money to spend! Plus, I need to lose the baby weight before I splurge on clothes! So, I went to the store that never fails me - Victoria's Secret... No, not for THAT kind of stuff!!! I LOVE their "Pink" clothes and all of their lotions and body care products! So, thanks James for the shopping spree it was a lot of fun! - And Thanks Mom and Dad for watching the boys!


My Sister-in-law Kristen called yesterday and invited me to take a class with her and her friends on Wednesday afternoons about Jesus and His Life in the New Testament. At first I wasn't sure how it was going to work... But, my Husband was fabulous once again and told me that he would be home on Wednesday afternoons so that I could go and do it! So, I went yesterday to the first class and LOVED it! I get so caught up in the day to day stuff that it is really nice to take the time to truly study our Savior and His life. It's something that I really needed to do and am grateful for a Husband who thinks it's as important for me to do it as I do.


Well, I got up and put my work out clothes on first thing... it's almost noon and I am finally going to go get on that treadmill!