Birthday Swim

How awesome that they even came to clean the pool just for Jay's birthday. (The pool guys showed up right after we did and I couldn't resist taking a picture.)
Noah is showing Daddy what a big boy he is swimming all by himself with his floaties on.
Showing me his football.
What's that big scary monster in the pool???!!!
The water gun gets turned on Mommy. "You best stop taking my picture Mom!"
We started out Jay's birthday on Monday by taking the kids and going to the pool. It was the first time this summer all 4 of us have gone at the same time. The kids were so excited that Daddy was going with us and I was too. We stayed for quite a long time and we really enjoyed our time there. We were lucky enough to get to have Kylie come spend the day with us too so that was a little added bonus. Swimming was certainly a great start to a fun birthday day.

Birthday Post/100th Post

There are 2 big occasions with this post. For one, it is my 100th post since I started the blog. Two, it is my big sister's birthday today. How awesome that her birthday and my 100th post happen to fall at the same time. I think it's cool anyway. I was up at 745 this morning and thought for once that maybe I could get a birthday post done before 1130pm the night of the birthday. I guess that is awesomeness #3 to add, a birthday blog goes out before 9am. Anyway, I just want to wish Stephanie a very happy birthday. (Sorry there are no pictures but you really are not one to have many pictures of you around.) She is my oldest sister, and just may be the wisest. I have had many fabulous times with my big sis over the years. I think the the best times have definitely been later in life. I love that as all of us siblings grow older we get along better and find more joy in being around each other. I have 2 all time favorite times when I was with Steph. One was when I was so lucky to get to spend a couple months with her in Germany. I had so much fun hanging out with her and travelling around the area, experiencing new things. My other all time favorite time with her was the year I lived with her after I graduated high school. I moved in with her the summer after I graduated and I totally loved it. I was so lucky to watch her girlies for her while she worked and it was so much fun. I just enjoyed the time I lived there with her. I don't recall us ever butting heads or having any issues. We just enjoyed our time together and it was great. I am so thankful too that I could be there for her that year. Many not so good things happened in that time and I am just so grateful that I could be there for her in those moments that were so difficult. I love my big sister.

Steph, I hope you have a great day. You are such an amazing woman and though I am so far away I love to see who you have become since you married Rick and have been in NY. I can see how strong your testimony is and how much more amazing you have become in the gospel. Not that you haven't always been, but I have seen a change in you. I admire the mother you are. I know you teach your daughters well and are raising them the way Heavenly Father wants all of us too. You embrace your calling and your activity in your ward there and I think it is so great. I am so glad that you are happy. I am glad you found such an amazing man to marry. You deserve the love he has for you and the way he treats you. I know you have dealt with a lot of difficulty in your life and I just am so thrilled with where I see you now. You truly are amazing and I really am inspired seeing the way you have overcome things and they way you rise above the challenges. I know it must not have been easy and there are probably still many not easy times. You do it with grace though. You have a good heart. Sorry this is all mushy but when I write these things I just say what comes to me. I just wanted you to know what I think of you. We don't talk as much as we should now that you are so far away, but I hope you know that I love you the same as always, maybe even more. You truly are a great example to me in all walks of life. You are amazing. I am so blessed to have you as a sister. I love you!

Happy Birthday Steppie!

Its Yer Burfday!

I could not let this day end without doing my birthday post for my wonderful hubby. We had such a fun day together as a family. I am so grateful that I have been able to share Jay's birthdays with him for the past several years. He is the love of my life and I couldn't imagine life without him. I love his birthday and Father's day and all those holidays that I get the chance to spoil him a little. I love doing things for him and buying him gifts and showing him just that little extra bit of love for a day. He is my best friend and the one which I know is there always, forever. I hope you had a great day my love. The kids and I sure had such a fun day with you. I have never seen the kids so excited about a birthday and we didn't really even do anything too special. I will for years to come be able to hear Noah yelling "Happy Birthday" to you too many times to count on this day. I had a great day and I hope you enjoyed it as well. I love you. Your kids love you. You are the bestest! Happy 29th Birthday Jay Daddy!

Breath of Heaven

I just bought a Jim Brickman CD and this song is on it. I have always loved this song and I found a great video to go along with it. I know Christmas is still months away but the amazingness of Christ's birth can be celebrated in our hearts all year. This music and video just touched me and I thought I would share. Enjoy!

Bed Head

It looks like our bed has grown a head. A very cute one!

A Yummy Summer Dessert

My sister and I made a fruit pizza for dessert last night. It's a sugar cookie crust, the "sauce" is cream cheese filling, then topped with strawberries, plums, mandarin oranges, and blackberries. I like that you put it in the fridge and let it chill. It is just refreshing. It was so tasty, and I think it looked kind of pretty too.

Airplane

I love the imagination of a kid. Zoey and Noah were taking an airplane ride. Don't know how they picked it but their idea of the best place for an airplane was under the piano. They had a lot of fun and I truly just love the things kids come up with.

Julee's Birthday Shout Out

I can't believe the time has come for me to wish my beautiful niece a happy 12th birthday. Can you believe it?! My little Julee, the firstborn grandchild/niece turned 12 today. It is just another reminder how quickly time passes. I still like to picture the adorable, bouncy haired toddler I babysat all the time. I am so happy to see her growing up though and turning into such a beautiful young woman. Julee, I hope you know how much I absolutely love you. You are such a great girl and I really feel blessed to be your aunt. I have been lucky enough to get to spend several of your years close to you. I am so happy I was able to and I hope there are many more to come. I guess being the first niece in the family I just hold a special place in my heart for you. I spent so much time with you in your first few years I felt like you were just my niece. I am so happy that I was able to spend that time with you watching you grow and hitting milestones in your babyhood. I certainly learned a lot spending time with you and taking care of you. While I will always miss those baby and toddler days, I am so excited to see you getting older. I don't know how long it will take to sink in that you are a Beehive now and quickly entering the teenage years. I so look forward to it though. You are such an amazing girl. I am always so impressed with the things you are involved in with school and all that. You seem to have such a desire to learn and try new things and I hope it is always something you embrace. It will certainly lead you to many fun experiences in life. You really are something special!

I hope you had a fabulous birthday! I wish I could have been closer to you to celebrate this milestone with you. You have so many amazing things to look forward to. Know that I love you and I am here for you always.

Happy Birthday Julee Lulee!

Baby Boy

I can't remember the last time Noah fell asleep like this. It must have been before he was 1 and was still having bottles. He was just so tired he couldn't keep his eyes open. I love my sweet boy.

Cute Little Lyssie

I took this picture of my niece a couple weeks ago. I love that she totally poses for the camera. I particularly like this picture because I love that she flipped her little foot up. She is such a little sass, in a good way. You are so cute Elyssa!

Just Some More Pictures

I told Noah to lean against the tree like Zoey did. He didn't get it so he just hugged the tree instead. I told her to keep a straight face and she just couldn't do it. She kept saying "Mommy, why are you making me do stuff that makes me feel like a dork?" It was so funny.
If you can't tell I have recently become a fan on changing the color on my pictures. Some things just look good not in full color. Zoey was checking out the blooms on the top of the cactus.
Zoey is a fan of any pictures that show her CTR ring. She has recently started wearing it every day. She told me she wears it to help remind her to make good choices. She can be such a good kid.
This is one of my favorite pictures. You can see her pretty eyes and her messy hair. I don't know what it is about it I just love it!

She looks mad or like a little punk. I promise she was having a good time though. I love that she will indulge me when I want to take a bunch of pictures. Noah is not quite as cooperative, if you couldn't tell by the lack of pictures of him.

Cactus in Bloom

The cactus in our front yard has never had so many blooms at one time. They are so pretty when they are opened up.

Snuggly Puppy

I just love our little dog. He is such a spaz of a dog but he sure can be snuggly and cute. He loves to be right up next to someone if he can and he loves to be all bundled up in blankets. It's funny how a furry, four-leggged creature can bring so much joy to a home. We love Cosmo!

My Beautiful Babies