BBQ

The family that cooks together, stays together ;) you can't see her, but Libbie is right behind Emma. These people are my favorite!

Our big back yard!!!

We were a little sad about the size of our back yard when we moved here, but were happy to have it open up to "the desert" as our kids call it. Now that Matt got us our ATV our back yard got A LOT bigger :o)

We go out ever day on it. A few days ago while I was making dinner Matt was out exploring and found this little creek. This morning I loaded up all 5 kids and snacks and off we went.

We had so much fun out there! I feel so blessed to live in a place like this!

How cute are these girls!!!

Noah kept telling me how he would be fine to drive across the creek. After lots of please mom, and dad would let me do it, I gave in. He did fine (no surprise) but I have a hard time realizing he is growing up and can do things like this!

Ya, we all fit on there! I didn't like taking all the kids at once, but with Levi in the sling it's really not as bad as I thought! Levi just loves to ride. If you say 4 wheeler he runs to the door yelling to get on! It is SO cute. Next time we will be taking both 4 wheelers and Dad! We missed him :o(

Let's read!

Matt and I really wanted the kids to read more this summer, and so far so good! This morning on Facebook I saw the cutest idea for a book mark.

Instead of drawing and cutting out lots of little monsters for my little monsters I used my silhouette and "designed"our own. Now I just sit back and it cuts it out for me!!

The kids had lots of fun helping put the book marks together. They take only a few minutes to put together once they're cut out, but picking your paper takes about an hour!!

The kids are a lot more excited about these than I thought they would be! I think we'll be making lots more!

Here's a close up of Libbie's book mark :o)

Hair cut!

Libbie loves her hair short. It is hard to take care of curly hair and she cries almost every time we have to brush it. This is going to make life easier!!!

So sweet :)

Emma was really upset with Libbie the other day for wearing a pair of her earrings. This is not like Emma at all. We had a talk and Libbie gave them back. Then a few hours later Emma wrote this note to Libbie and gave her the earrings! So sweet. ( I also think it's awesome that she used the word fuss :)

End of school!

The kids had a field day for their last day of school. They had so much fun and I am so thankful for all the work that was put into it. They had been collecting money for Relay For Life, so they were able to release balloons in memory of those who have and have had cancer.

It was really sweet :o)

Then the PTA was nice enough to make all the kids and parents lunch. I had fun taking pictures of the kids as they ate, they did not have as much fun as I did ;o)

Levi pretty much walked from kid to kid looking for hand outs. He got lots and fell asleep on the way home

I am thankful for the teachers that my kids had this year. They were wonderful. I am also thankful for the staff at the school who make my kids feel at home. We are very lucky :o)

Treats for our teachers

We made some little treats for our teachers. Today is the last day of school. I can't believe it. We are really excited for summer!!! I cut out the tags on my "toy" as my awesome friend Lyndsey calls it :o)

Yummy!!

The kids wrote little notes on the back of the tags. I should have taken pictures of what they wrote. So cute.

On to 1st grade!!!

How cute is this!!! Libbie you are just so grown up!!! And how awesome is it that her school has these little cap and gowns??? It's awesome. I will be so sad if they close it down! Here's to hoping they don't and to another year as a tiger :)

We have lift off :)

It's hard to see but our trampoline ended up in our neighbors back yard. 55 mile an hour winds will do that! It use to be on our lawn by the blue chair. It even made it over their swing set. Wish I could have seen it happen!!

For My Matthew :o)

(Warning, if your not Matt you probably have no interest in this post)

Happy 11th anniversary Matthew!! I'm posting from an airport right now, but even though we wont be together this year I wanted to let you know how much I love you!!! Remember this picture :o) Our very first date! Ya it wasn't my birthday (thanks a lot) but I am so glad that we have this funny picture to remember that day.

I found all the notes from you and things I saved. Embarrassing things you stuck on my car or notes you wrote pretending you were me. I have read them all over and over. I have the very first note that you wrote me! Even from the beginning we talked about getting married! I have the mini golf score card :o) you weren't on my team but lucky elbow baby!!! Edgefest in Canada. That was an awesome day! I even saved a test out of a magazine that said we were perfect for each other (we already knew that) As I was reading these notes I thought about how cool it would be if you had kept mine!

And to my surprise in a box down stairs there they were. As I was searching for the first date pic I found all the notes I had given to you. I love that you kept them. It sure is funny to look back and read. (if you don't remember writing the poem, it's because you didn't ;) seems like a theme with us!!

I even saved this from church. We hadn't started dating yet, but I loved the fact that we spoke on the same day, and that our names were next to each other (I know, I know) but hey I never knew that we would speak together many more times in our lives ;o)

I have our prom picture and a bunch of silly pictures we took of each other at our favorite park. (don't worry i won't post the crazy ones)

Our family has grown and changed over the years...

But one thing that has never changed is our love for each other! We have been there for each other through so much. From problems when we were teenagers ;o) and big changes in life. Through many losses of loved ones :o( years of schooling and long periods of time of only seeing each other for a few minutes at the end of very long days!! You are my best friend, and have given me a life I never dreamed I could have. I will spend the rest of my life trying to be the wife you deserve!!

Power Wheels!!!

This is going to make my summer SO MUCH better!! Owen and Levi are going to put lots if miles on this little jeep. And the best part, I wont have to keep running after Levi and keeping him out of the road!!

Funny things kids do.

I didn't know where the kids were. I started for the hallway to find them and I found this little sign. I love that my kids will spend hours making up games and rules and playing with each other. Sometimes the rules are SO confusing it's pretty funny. I should go, I dont want to be late for the sign up ;)

Happy Birthday Owen!!!

Owen's 5 today!!! He wanted to start the day eating breakfast with dad. We stopped by the hospital to share a treat (or what Owen thinks is breakfast) with the awesome pharmacist who works there :) !!!

Hey, could you help me move a house?

As a home teacher Matt has helped LOTS of people move, but most of them leave the house :) it was pretty awesome to see!!!

My little salsa baby!!

I have never had a baby who likes salsa! It's pretty darn cute.

Where's the dog??

I couldn't find Hannah the other day. I gave up looking for her and went to go get ready for the day. When I went in my room I could hear the thumping if her little tail. That dog loves to sleep in!!

Thanks Mom!!!!

I love this!!! My mom put together this book for my family with the help of my Aunt Sid and heritage makers ( www.bookmyheritage.com )I cried when I read it the first time. I love the proclamation, and reading while looking at pictures of my family is amazing. I can't thank you enough for this mom!!!!!

I wish I could take a picture of every page to share with you.

I am going to read this book often. It helps me to remember why I am here, and why I am a mom. I am so thankful for all my many blessings!

OK I'm going to share one more. This is a picture of my mom and dad and brother and sisters when we went to the temple. I asked Owen who the two little girls in the picture were and he said I was Libbie and Regan was Emma. So cute :o)

Out for a ride.

Levi LOVES to ride with Noah!! Now when ever he gets near an ATV he starts laughing and tries to climb on. Funny kid.

The best Mothers Day card!

I love this card. It totally fits our humor. On the inside Emma signed it from Levi. She put great mom, best milk. I love these kids!!!

Cave lake

Matt has wanted to find some rock climbing for a year now. We set off on a mini adventure to find some. The boys hiked the "mountain" and found some! Sweet :o) There is more out there but the 40 mile an hour winds were a bit much for us!

I love watching Matt with our kids. I am so blessed to have such an amazing husband! Even more blessed that he is also an amazing Dad!!!

While the men were out doing their "dangerous" hike, the girls, Levi, and I played on the trails. I was amazed with our little Levi, he is quite the trail blazer.

We were all a little sad that it was so cold (in the middle of May!!!) Maybe come August we can get out more ;o)