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.

March 15 through 21

Sunday, March 15th



We were ready a little early for church today so I had time to take a quick picture of the kids in their cute church outfits. These are Christmas clothes and hopefully the weather will permit more Springish outfits soon!

Monday, March 16th



What a great big brother...Ben decided to help feed Natalie dinner. He can be really sweet with her when he chooses. Hopefully such pictures will encourage more of such behavior!

Tuesday, March 17th




Happy St. Patrick's Day! We had a fun green dinner to celebrate the day: lime marinaded chicken, a green salad, green grapes and pears, grilled green veggies (peppers, zucchini, and potatoes), green Kool-aid, Thin Mint cookies, and Hersey's gold nuggets in little pots.

Wednesday, March 18th




What a wonderful week of warm weather we're enjoying. We had lunch at the park today and it was a popular place to be as everyone else had the same idea! We also enjoyed playing in our yard with bubbles and scooters.

Thursday, March 19th

We spent the warm afternoon planting some of our garden seeds. The kids were a big help and seemed just as excited about the project as I am! They kept asking how long it would take for them to grow and when we can put them in the garden.

Friday, March 20th



The first day of Spring! Our tulips are making great progress and the trees are looking closer to bursting into blooms! I spent some time yesterday cleaning up the yard and can't wait for more signs of Spring!

Saturday, March 21st



Another one bites the dust...Yellow died yesterday and was flushed to little fishy heaven to be with Goldie. We replaced him with Spot...and are hoping for better luck. Yellow's death may have been my fault. Last week when I was cleaning the fishbowl, Yellow jumped out of the net when I was transferring him out of the dirty bowl. I scooped him up as quick as a could and into the cup but I'm not sure if he's been the same since. Pets are just not my thing I guess.

March 8 through 14

Sunday, March 8th

No picture... but I played the piano in sacrament meeting at church today. I played an arrangement of "Love at Home". I'm not the greatest of performers but it went pretty well considering my hands were shaking so. Some of my piano students from the ward commented on my performance...I think they were a bit amazed that I actually can play the piano. One parent said I was like the ward celebrity and there kids were commenting to others around them "She's my piano teacher!" Anyway it helped me get some practicing in.

Monday, March 9th




It was "Dad's and Donuts" at school day and Bryan was able to spend a fun hour with Ben at school. I forget to send the camera so this is them after they got home...both were all smiles and had a good time playing games and eating donuts!

Tuesday, March 10th



It snowed last night and I made an attempt at getting a picture of our house while it was snowing...it didn't turn out the best but it was a pretty night. I enjoy snow more in December but Spring snow has a few pluses...it melts quickly and it does pretty the world up a bit, covering the brown and blaugh that winter has left behind. Only 10 more days till Spring!

Wednesday, March 11th




Another "Evidence of Someone" photo. Can you tell who left this behind? She stuck her little finger in the picture as I was taking it...proud of her work, I guess. She was going potty and I left her for a second. When I returned I found Ben informing me that she had unrolled most of the toilet paper roll and he was trying to be helpful so he rolled it back up...ever so neatly don't you think? Needless to say it ended up in the garbage. What good times!

Thursday, March 12th




Natalie has recently started giving up naps. She'll still take them if I make her but then she's up until 9 or 10pm at night. So were at a crossroads as to what to do because while I hate giving up naps I don't want her staying up after her BIG brother goes to bed! But today she had a nap and here she is having a late night snack with Mom. Truth be told, however, it is kind of fun having quiet one-on-one time with my little girl!

Friday, March 13th



One of our favorites ways to spend an afternoon playing is to build a fort with the couch cushions downstairs. The neighbors love it...I wonder if this is allowed at their houses? If not a fort, then they try to stack the cushions and climb the mountain without it tipping over. Lots of fun!

Saturday, March 14th



Ben and Natalie can be good playmates...when they want to that is. Here they are playing with Natalie's doll tub. Ben graciously agreed to sit in while she pretended to give him a bath!