May 3 through May 9

Sunday, May 3



Ben decided to read the paper this morning..."like an old man!" He got the idea from one school. His class is working on little plays for a Mother's Day program and in one of the skits, one of the boys is an old man reading the newspaper. So this morning, while he ate breakfast, he poured of the front page and asked me a thousand questions!

Monday, May 4



As I've posted a few weeks ago, Ben has been intersted in exercising with me in the mornings. I bought me a pair of exercise shorts and he wore them this morning. It actually motivates me a little to have a "partner" to work out with! Look at those muscles!

Tuesday, May 5



Rookie Baseball keeps us busy twice a week...here's Ben taking a swing! He loves playing ball and looks forward to the games each week.

Wednesday, May 6



It has been Teacher Apprecation Week this week and I've been busy sewing every night to finish this little quilt for Mrs. Craven. I embroidered the handprint and signature of each student on it. It turned out to be a bit more of a project than I planned. I finally finished it tonight at 10:30pm. I'm so glad it's finally finished...we're giving it to her in the morning!

Thursday, May 7



Ben's class performed their Mother's Day program at school this morning. It turned out so cute. They share a few poems and songs, performed their plays, gave us Mother's Day cards, and served us fruit pizza for dessert. I loved it! The boys recited a cute poem called "A Mother Knows." They listed lots of great things mothers know but then at the end, the last line read: "What I want to know is how a Mother so wise can be so dumb by kissing my in front of all the guys!" It was so cute! In his Mother's Day card, he wrote, "I love my mom because she makes me lunch and volunteers in my class." What a lucky mom I am!

Friday, May 8


Saturday, May 9



It was a warm afternoon and the kids helped me plant some flowers in our yard. It's taking shape slowly and we hope to get the vegetables in next week. We just ran out of time today! Saturday's seem to race by with all the projects we have to get done!

April 26 through May 2

Sunday, April 26



Here's an oldie but a goodie...this is Ben playing with a dollhouse that was mine when I was a child. Each of my siblings had one that was given to us by our Grandma Anne. She spent lots of time collecting toy treasures. This was just one of many. She loved finding a good sale on antique things. My parents recently gave us one to take home. They had been sitting in their storage room for years. My kids have loved getting it out and setting up house. It's fun to remember all the times I used to play with it with my siblings. We'd set up a little neighborhood and make up names and such for our little families. Good times!

Monday, April 27



After all the rain we've had the past week or so the grass had become a bit of a jungle. Bryan spent a couple or hours mowing and edging, trying to tame it. Natalie was a bit of a helper. I love this picture because I know somewhere I have a couple of Ben at this age doing the same thing!

Tuesday, April 28



Some friends invited us for a picnic at the park after school today. It was a little cool in the shade but we all had fun playing and visiting. Park play as been a favorite of the kids this year. There are several around and we have tried them all out at least once already this year.

Wednesday, April 29



My sister Jennie's neighbor is helping her friend try to raise some monarch caterpillars into butterflies for a wedding in a few weeks. We are lucky enough to have a few as guests in our house. We started out with 2 babies and larger caterpillar, but the larger one has already bit the dust. It'll be a fun science experiment for us. Hopefully we'll have a picture of a butterfly in a few weeks!

Thursday, April 30



It was a rainy day today...Natalie spent some time watching it out the back door. I love Spring rain. It makes everything seem fresh and green and clean!

Friday, May 1



Teacher Appreciation Week for the teachers at Ben's school starts next week. As the room mom I'm in charge of a few projects. We kicked off the week by decorating her door. Our theme was "Mrs. Craven, You Take the Cake!" and I made a 2 dimensional cake with the students name surrounding it on stars. It turned out pretty cute, I think!

Saturday, May 2



Here's an update on the caterpillars...some are growing pretty fast. This project has inspired many questions from Ben. He's constantly quizzing me about the process of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. I need to get a book or something...he's relentless! I hope we get a butterfly soon!

April 19 through April 25

Sunday, April 19



Finally a nice warm Spring day! Everyone even pulled out shorts and sandals. We BBQ'd for dinner and the kids loved being outside. Bryan pulled out his flip-flops and Ben decided he would follow suit. I bought him a pair last summer that never got worn because he wasn't so sure about the thing between his toes or the lack of socks. But he has turned over a new leaf and enjoyed bare feet and flip flops with the best of them!

Monday, April 20



Another day with temps in the 70's and we had a picnic lunch at the park after school. We played for an hour or so and then headed home. A bit later I noticed we all ended up getting sunburned. I didn't think about sunscreen...being out in the sun is still new...I didn't even think about such things. Anyway, we all turned a nice shade of red by late afternoon and took a picture after baths of Ben and Natalie's red noses and arms.

Tuesday, April 21



Today Ben had his first rookie baseball game. He's on the Mud Cats team with some friends in the ward. It's machine/coach pitch and the machine is a bit intimidating. His first time up to bat, he ended using the T but his second time up to bat he was able to get a good hit from the coach pitch. He was excited and had a good time. His shirt number is 11...Bryan informed him that he had #11 on his football jersey when he played in high school. A fun concidence! 13 more games to go!

Wednesday, April 22



All this warm weather inspired a request for snowcones...Natalie's been asking for them all winter but today I actually was excited to get it out. After playing in the sun and wearing sunburns that last few days, a snow cone was just the thing!

Thursday, April 23



Bryan surprised me with some flowers when he came home from work today...so sweet! I love tulips! It was a little bit of beautiful in my hum drum everyday life as a stay at home mom. It seems like lately I've been somewhat emotionally blah...didn't think anyone noticed but when he brought home the flowers I started thinking about how if "momma ain't happy...ain't nobody happy!" I think my mood was wearing on everyone and I didn't realize it. I vow to get my ducks in a row and be more cheerful and grateful! Thanks Sweetheart!

Friday, April 24



Here's another "evidence of someone" photo. Ben loves Oreo's and pick out a bag at the grocery store today for a snack. It was a new flavor...strawberry milkshake. The frosting in the middle is pink and strawberry flavored. Natalie is hot and cold and Oreos but decided she wanted some because of the pink frosting of course. However the photo reveals how she usually eats Oreos...just the frosting and leaves the cookie. I returned to the kitchen after she asked for them to find these little piles of Oreo cookies, minus the cute pink frosting.

Saturday, April 25



Can food be cute? Bryan and I have had this discussion a time or two and today at lunch it was Natalie and Ben's turn. I pulled out some Teddy Graham snack mix that has some miniature teddy grahams, mini graham bees, yogurt raisins, and tiny pretzel twists. Natalie picked up a pretzel and said - "Oh, that pretzel's kind of cute!" Ben replied with a sarcastic - "Food cannot be cute!" Like father like son! It was funny to hear them banter just like Bryan and I. Litte pigs really do have big ears I guess!

April 12 through April 18

Sunday, April 12



Easter Sunday! The Easter bunny visited this morning and brought some fun treats and toys. The kids posed for some pictures in their new church outfits outside...it turned out to be a pretty nice day. After church, we visited Great Grandma White and then headed to the Lee's for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Grandma Lee hides over 500 eggs through the yard and house. Everyone...adults and kids...loves racing to find as many eggs as possible. It was a fun day for all!

Monday, April 13



It was a beautiful Spring day today and we took advantage of the sun by working in the yard, cleaning out the garage, playing at the park, and BBQing pork chops for dinner. It was so great...hard to imagine the snow forcasted for Wednesday!

Tuesday, April 14



It's Ben's last week off track and we're trying to make the most of the week. Due to the rain today, we headed off to an indoor activity. We hit the Walter Wick exhibit at the BYU museum of art and then the Monte L. Bean Museum. I snagged a couple of pictures of the kids at the art museum, only to be politely told by a sweet security guard that photography was not allowed...oops!

Wednesday, April 15




Another indoor activity today due to SNOW...bowling. We went to All Star Lanes in West Jordan and had a fun time bowling just the three of us. Ben won with a whopping score of 110! We even got to play amongst the neon lights and fog machines. They danced, bowled and had a fun day out. The snow had melted by the time we got home and we can't wait for the warm weather promised for next week.

Thursday, April 16



Ben decided to make his own lunch today. He informed me that he had a "new recipe" he was going to try: "a hot dog on bread...like a sandwich. With ketchup and mustard...and something else...hmm....I know, butter!" So here he is eating his "new recipe"! Yum! This whole thing makes me smile though because I can remember making a sandwich as a child once with a piece of licorice and a chocolate chip cookie sandwiched between 2 slices of white bread! Can't imagine what I was thinking there. I also remember being told stories of my aunts making mustard sandwiches and sugar sandwiches. Guess it runs in the family!

Friday, April 17



Little Miss Priss decided she needed her fingernails painted to match her toenails...it started out cute but quickly became a bit much as she repeatedly brought me the nail polish to touch up the mess she was making by scraping it off with her teeth! "Fix it, Mom!"


Saturday, April 18


This afternoon we went to Nana and Grandpa's to celebrate William's first birthday. I made him a cute sock dog to go with a couple of shirts for a gift. The dog turned out pretty good and I'm determined to keep making more...I love them!

April 5 through April 11

Sunday, April 5




After General Conference today, we headed off to Grandpa and Nana's house for an Easter dinner and egg hunt. Nana treated them to an Easter treasure hunt and hid clues around the house that eventually lead to treats and prizes. The kids loved it all, of course. After the hunt, they played a few games and decorated Easter sugar cookies. Lots of fun...thanks Nana and Grandpa!

Monday, April 6



Around Christmas time, I set out to make these fun sock animals but with everything else going on that month I never got around to it. Ben's been asking about them for months and we finally found time the get them finished. Max (dog) and Bing-Bong (monkey) have been dragged around the house since their last stitch was in place. I enjoyed making them and have several pairs of socks waiting for their turn...we'll see what comes out of them soon!

Tuesday, April 7



Ben and Natalie both love looking at their scrapbooks that I have made for them. I think it's good for their self-esteem and I love watching them recount the memories from the pages of each others books. I was up to date last spring but have since gotten behind and need to make time to catch them up. So many projects...so little time.

Wednesday, April 8



You know it's Spring when the Kynaston's (our neighbors across the street) put up their Easter chick/bunny. Natalie spotted it this morning and we had to venture across the street later to check it out. We have many Easter pictures in front of this big guy. We've enjoyed all the inflatable holiday decorations that pop up across the street.

Thursday, April 9



We got a mysterious package from the UPS man today...it was addressed just with Bryan's first name and had a return address from some "Sweet Edibles" shop. Bryan and I eyed each other suspiciously and opened it to reveal a giant sugar cookie with a picture of a new Saturn painted on with frosting. It was from the car dealership we bought our new car from last week...just a thank you for buying a new car. It was actually pretty good tasting and the kids enjoyed a eating a big hunk of it.

Friday, April 10



Natalie has recently fallen in love with this cute nightgown. It's a borrowed hand-me-down from her cousin Isabel. We've been lucky enough to exchange hand-me-downs with Jennie...Haydn get's Ben's clothes and Natalie gets Isabel's. We actually got this nightgown last fall but Natalie wasn't interested in wearing it. But recently she decided she wanted to wear this "bedtime dress" and loves it! It was made by Isabel's Grandma Emery. She looks like such a big girl wearing it... I love it too!

Saturday, April 11



We spent some time doing one of my favorite Spring/Easter traditions this afternoon...dyeing Easter eggs. We had a good time dyeing a dozen eggs some pretty spring colors and enjoyed egg salad sandwiches for dinner.

March 29 through April 4

Sunday, March 29th



We celebrated Bryan's 33rd birthday today...his birthday is actually tomorrow but he's leaving for Las Vegas for a business trip. We had the grandparents over for dinner and birthday cake and he opened a few gifts. We're really racking up the years..."33 sure is old" says Ben!

Monday, March 30th



Today was officially Bryan's birthday but since he had to leave to Las Vegas for a business trip, the kids and I celebrated without him by going to a movie. We saw "Monster's vs. Aliens" in 3D. Ben loved it...Natalie wasn't so sure about it and kept getting startled. She asked several times to go home but about 2/3rds through it she started to enjoy it. I loved them wearing the nifty 3D glasses!

Tuesday, March 31st



We headed out to the mall today and ran into the Easter bunny. Natalie wanted nothing to do with him, but Ben enjoyed giving him high fives and "bones". They got these fun bunny ears and posed at home for me. After we walked away from the Easter Bunny, Ben, in his six year old insight, says to me..."that was just some guy in a costume, huh." What can a mother say. It obviously was not a real rabbit...so "yep, it was just a costume...something fun for Easter!" It didn't seem to phase in belief in the Easter bunny or other such characters though.

Wednesday, April 1st



Since Ben has been off track, I've been working out a little later in the morning sinch we don't have to rush off to school. Usually the kids just play around me but this week Ben has taken an interest in exercising with me. He loves trying to keep up and build some strong muscles. We even got him some new "exercise shoes!"

Thursday, April 2nd



Natalie is all girl! She loves being a little mother to her babies. Lately I've often found her playing in her room, emptying the closet of all things baby, and setting up a little nursery. So cute...too bad she's not so excited about cleaning up!

Friday, April 3rd



We bought a new family truckster today...a 2009 Saturn Outlook. It's a bit bigger than our last car and it's fun to have something brand spankin' new. The kids are excited about it too...Natalie mourned the loss of our "gray one" but quickly got over it when we picked up the new one. The kids were troopers and behaved well through the tedious process of buying a car.

Saturday, April 4th




My little girly-girl has a new pasttime...she enjoys putting makeup on with me in the morning. She used to just go for the lipgloss but now she's into everything and even tried out the mascara today! She missed the mark though and ended spearing into her eyebrows. What am I in for when she gets older?

March 22 through 28

Sunday, March 22nd



Bryson and Braydon (our nephews) came to play this afternoon while their parents and sisters went to the Draper Temple dedication. Ben and Natalie enjoyed their company this afternoon after anticipating them coming all morning. After church they both asked multiple times when they were coming.

Monday, March 23rd



We had some new insulation put in our attic and basement ceiling today...as a result the front door was open quite a bit on this cool day and we all need to keep our feet warm...here is Natalie and her slipper choice.

Tuesday, March 24th



Ben had a fun play date today with a friend from school. He's had his up's and down's with Kindergarten but making new friends has definitely been an up! Harrison is a fun friend to play with. They both love to do the video game thing and had fun trading off with Harrison's DS and Ben's Leapster. Ben has been introduced to the DS by several friends and can't wait to get his own..."when will it be Christmas, Mom?"

Wednesday, March 25th



This is the photo of the day...quite a contrast to last week's pictures of us playing outside and enjoying warm, sunny days. This week, winter has decided to give a final blast or two, unfortunately. We want the sun back!

Thursday, March 26th




Another wintery picture for you...the second photo is of the storm outside and the first is of Natalie watching Frosty the Snowman...it seemed appropriate on such a day.

Friday, March 27th



Little artists at work...Can I say once again how wonderful it is to see them playing nicely together? They don't always play well together put it is so sweet when they do so I have to catch it camera when they do!

Saturday, March 38th

We took the kids to Nana and Grandpa's as usual on Saturday so we could clean the building. However, the kids got to interact with an some new friends. My parents often have a pair of ducks that hang out on their street in the Spring and they have recently returned. Ben and Natalie fed them some bread and then chased them away...I'm sure they be back for more later, though! My mom said she read somewhere that ducks mate for life and she's sure it's the same ducks year after year.