LDS Spring Formal

I am a little late posting this, but I really wanted to share! This was Jessica's first "prom"....the LDS Spring Formal. She was sooooo excited!! And I was excited for her! We went out and got her a new dress, new shoes, & got her hair cut. About a week before the formal, people in our family started getting sick, with that nasty stomach virus! It started with Noah, and then I got it (I actually asked Casey to just let me die....it was THAT BAD!!), then Mikey got it. We thought maybe it would pass Jess by....but unfortunately she got it! The night right before the formal too. {Side Note: unfortunately Casey ended up getting it too} But, she was bound and determined to still go, which I really can't blame her. The night was ok, but could have been better, per Jessica. She wasn't throwing up anymore, but just wasn't herself. And although she did eventually end up having a pretty descent time, she is definitely hoping next year is better. haha!
My beautiful girl!
Jessica and her beautiful cousin Briana

Jessica, Bri, and my sister Michelle

Field Day 2010

This year both of my boys got to participate in field day! It was quite the ordeal though. I felt like I had to be in two place at one time, even though Casey was there with me. I felt like I HAD to be there for Noah, since it was his first field day...but then I felt bad because I felt like I was leaving Mikey out. Good thing for me Casey helped out ALOT! I would have gone crazy had he not been there to switch off with me when I wanted to switch. :-) All in all, even though I was extremely tired, and stunk like a pig when it was all said and done, it all worked out, and I pretty much got to see every event that each one of them was doing.
Daddy and Mikey
Mikey jump ropin....
Noah jump ropin...
HULA!

Noah's class
Mikey's class
Noah's ribbons
Mikey's ribbons

God Bless America

Michael's first grade class made the cutest t-shirts and did sign language to the song "God Bless America". With all the talk about trying to get God out of the schools, I am so glad that my boys elementary school has chosen to keep Him IN!! Michael's teacher does this every year, so I felt very privileged to have Michael in her class this year so he could participate not only in keeping God in school, but he learned some sign language...that is something that he will probably never forget! I'll get the privilege to do it again next year too, because Noah will be in her class next year...and I can't wait.





And the thing that got me was, as I was watching Michael do the sign language to this beautiful song, I couldn't help but tear up. I don't know if it was because I was so proud, or because I was feeling the spirit of Heavenly Fathers beautiful children! Either way, it was an awesome feeling! :-)

Well, I took a video of the song, but for some reason I am having trouble down loading it, so still pictures will have to do, even though it just doesn't do the performance justice!

Spring is here...hopefully to stay!

Since we've had some really nice spring like days, the boys have been able to go outside and play, ride bikes, and climb trees! I have discovered that this is another newly found passion of Michael's.....he LOVES to climb trees! Both of my boys just really love being outside. They have hand held game systems, the computer, and tv.......but they will always choose playing outside over all the other options. And I am so glad they do!
So, since the weather was so incredibly nice this one day we went out, I thought I should capture some pictures of the two of them in the tree!

I LOVE THE SPRING!!!!! :-)

Mikey's B-day Party

Ok, so it has been forever since I've posted anything because my computer was on the fritz! There's been a lot going on since my last post, but I'm just gonna jump straight to Mikey's 7th B-day.
We went skating, and it was a blast. I have now created a monster though! haha! Michael had soooo much fun skating that he is bugging me and Casey to buy him some roller blades....almost on a daily basis. lol!

Here's Mikey & Noah when we first got there....and "before" Noah took his first fall!
Daddy helping Mikey get the feel of the skates.
Me & Casey (after he stole Michael's mouth light up thingy)....haha!
My sister Michelle and one of her daughters (my neice) Kayla! :-)

Yes, they now have these "skate mates" that help the kiddos stay up off the floor. We never had this when I was growing up....we just kept falling down till we figured out how not to fall down. haha! It was a good thing though, because Noah really needed it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have done much skating. :-)
Jessica and her friend, aka my step daughter Miranda having fun! :-)

YAY Snow!!!! :-D

I cannot believe it snowed here.....and on Christmas Eve! Me and Casey and the boys were out running around (Jess wasn't feeling well so she stayed home). My poor grandmother had to go into the hospital this last Monday, so we went up to the hospital to visit her.....and while there we looked out the window and I'll be darned if it wasn't snowing! And it was snowing hard too! We were so excited. We still had some last minute Christmas shopping to do, so we left the hospital and when we got to the store and got out of the car, it felt like we were in a mini-blizzard! But it was so cool, we loved it!
After we got home, the boys went out for a little while, but after about 5 minutes they came back in saying "it's too cold outside"! Shoot, when I was little you couldn't pay me to come inside if there was snow!!!!
Anyway, they finally decided to go back out later that evening and that's when I was able to get some pictures. And they actually stayed out for quite awhile too!
I love how you can see the snowflakes in the picture!!!! :-)
Here's Michael trying to make a snow angel in the snow on the porch.
And here's Noah making his snow angel! They are so silly!!!

All in all, a great Christmas Eve, and even better Christmas! I am so grateful for the birth of Jesus Christ, and all he sacrificed for us!

Sweet 16 :-)

I'm a few days late, but on November 17th, my beautiful daughter Jessica turned 16. I still can't believe it's been that long! I (as all other mothers) can still remember everything about her birth, being a baby, even some of the outfits I used to put her in! All the cute little hair bows, the recitals, the volleyball, soccer, and even her attempt to try karate(that was an adventure!)

In December she will get her drivers license. I have been teaching her how to drive thus far, and she is doing great. I am just a little worried about when she goes out on her own. There are alot of crazies out there! Plus, she is a little directionally challenged....haha! The only two places she really knows how to get to are school and church.....which those are two of the best places to know how to get to I guess!
Then there's dating! Jessica has been really good about being patient waiting till she turns 16 to date. But she also knows that although she will be able to date, at first she will only be able to group date. I'm really trying to do this right. Protect her for as long as I can. She's really being good about it, and she understands our reasons (and the church's reasons) for doing it. She doesn't have any dates set up yet, but I can assure you, she's working on it! haha!

I'm excited and sad all at the same time. I am super proud of who she is turning out to be. The beautiful, confident, sweet, and energetic young woman! I love you Jessica!!!! :-)