School pictures

 So, our school does fancy pics and then regular pics and today was the fancy day. I thought I'd get some of my own pictures after school of the girls all dressed up. I was going for nice, but I got a whole lot of silly, which looking back, I really love. It shows how my girls really are...GOOFY!

 Wow! These girls look a lot alike. Madelyn is in the pictures above and Hannah is below.

 Hannah's teeth will have to be fixed, but I think when that happens, I will miss this goofy smile of hers. 

March 19, 2014 Madelyn 4th grade/ Hannah 2nd grade

Fun at home!

 While the kids are at school, Cooper and are having fun with the time we have together. Cooper was so excited to get out of the house for a walk. He loves to walk Pepper and she is the perfect size for him. These two are developing a funny relationship. I'm just glad that Cooper hasn't killer my poor puppy yet. He is getting much better with Pepper.

 The kids LOVE when Cody gives them motorcycle rides. He really is such a cool dad. 

 I don't think Hannah could smile any bigger. She is such a daddy's girl.

 Cooper even got to ride this time and he thought it was just awesome!

 Pepper not so sure about the loud pipes cruising through our neighborhood.

 I guess it was a day of pulling out all of Dad's fun toys. His airplane was next. The kids love to chase it. I love this picture. Cody likes to dive bomb the kids and they drop to the ground in fear. It's really funny.

 This guy is such a kid through and through.

We then played some family soccer in the front yard. It really was a great day. March 16, 2014

Festival 2014

The girls worked so hard for Festival this year and both scored a gold ticket for the performance concert. Madelyn performed one the hardest songs I've ever heard her play. It took a lot of tears and frustration getting it prepared, but what an accomplishment and Hannah is coming along so well. Cody and I are so proud of them. I have to admit, I hate, hate, hate being the nag to get them to practice, but when I see their smiles after a good performance or I hear their beautiful music, it makes it all worth it. Love these girls!

March 8, 2014

After the concert, we hurried over to the church where my older sister, Angela, was getting married. They had a nice reception. Cooper fell off the stage onto his face. He was so tired and instantly fell asleep, which worried me, but he was okay. Not even a bruise the next day. He's a pretty tough kid.

Preschool Field Trip

Jack's preschool took a field trip to the Bowladrome and Cooper and I got to go and hang out for a bit. The kids had a lot of fun. I love the CSI Preschool lab. They do such a great job.

Cole, Austin and Jack March 6, 2014

Odds and Ends

Cody got Madelyn to sing her ABC's on her head to earn a Clondike Bar. This girls will do anything for a treat. It was pretty funny because she kept falling over. Cody does make everyday life pretty fun. March 2nd

Cooper sporting his military getup today. He loves to pretend. March 3rd

Cooper doesn't like staying in his bed so much. We lock his door a lot at night, but when we forget, he tries to sneak into our room unnoticed. I found him under the edge of my bed fast asleep one morning. Poor kid. That does not look like a comfy place.

Taxes...ugh. This time I decided to drag all my work to Hop 2 it! and let Cooper play while I worked. It was well worth the effort.

Happy Cooper and a happy mom

March 5, 2014

My Sweet Hannah's Baptism!

 In January, it was FREEZING! It was so cold that all the little ice crystals froze to every little branch on every tree. It was beautiful! I had to get a picture in Hannah's baptism dress at the temple. It was probably 15 degrees outside when Hannah and I ventured out. I bundled her up between pictures; we even had to sit in the car to warm up between shots so that her face wasn't bright red with blue lips. She was such a trooper and the pictures turned out perfectly. 

 I am so proud of Hannah. She is so good through and through. She has been counting down the days to her baptism and I am just as excited for her. She is such a beautiful girl.

 Notice the frozen red fingers and the cherry nose. It was cold! This is my favorite picture though.

 Hannah all ready for the big day. She felt like a princess in her dress. She has been looking at the dress in her closet for over a year just waiting to wear it. She was adorable today.

 Hannah had a lot of special friends that came to support her and we are so grateful to them. Guests included: Butch, Karen and Mecka, the Gertsch's, the Leavitts, April's family, Curt's family, Angela's family, Heather Dopp, McQueen Grandparents, Egbert Grandparents, and primary teacher Heather Barnes. Hannah is very well loved!

Best shot of the day. We love our friends, the Leavitts! Congratulation Hannah! You are beautiful inside and out and I know your Heavenly Father is so very proud of you.

After the baptism, we had more "Honk" plays. Between plays, we got together with some family for dinner to celebrate Hannah. It was a fun filled day. March 1, 2014

Jump Company's "HONK!"

 Both the girls tried out for Jump Company's Winter play, "Honk!". It was the story of the ugly duckling. They both earned the role of a fish along with their two cousins, Kenadee and Halle. None of them were real excited about the part, but they loved the costumes and being up on stage. Madelyn is always disappointed when she doesn't get a main part, but she is still so young. I had to encourage her to take the part and have fun with it. I have to say because of the director, this play wasn't nearly as fun for the girls as the last play Madelyn did. It became quite stressful for all of us toward the end and I think we were all relived when it was over. Besides that, the girls were super cute fish and I loved hearing them sing. I was happy to see Hannah having fun on stage and making new friends. 

 The hair and makeup we had to do for every performance made the girls faces really dry and sore by the end. We kept getting more creative with the makeup on each performance and by the last, they had great big fish lips and lots of glitter. That part was fun, but the scrubbing at night was not so fun. 

Fish faces!

Of course we rewarded our girls with blizzards! Now we can all go home and crash...this whole experience was exhausting! February 27, 2014

My Parents Are Retiring!

On February 25th for my dad's birthday, we all met on the canyon trail for a family walk. My dad loves the outdoors and we had a surprise for him. The kids brought their bikes and scooters and enjoyed the nice evening. When we arrived at Elevation, we surprised my parents with a gift certificate and a reservation for dinner that night. We not only were celebrating my dad's birthday, but also that both my parent's would be retiring soon.

Two weeks after my dad's birthday, we threw them a big retirement party. It first started at Tomato's for dinner and then we surprised them with a get together at the church full of family and friends. My mom was all smiles. I don't think I've ever seen my mom smile so much as she did that night. She has worked so much of her life and we are all so excited for her to be able to take time for herself...and time to spend with her grandkids! These two have been hard workers their whole lives and I really hope they can relax and enjoy not working...except for in their yard...but they enjoy that type of work. Feb/March 2014

Snuggle time!

I found my boys all snuggle in together in Jack's bed watching a cartoon one morning and thought it was the cutest thing. They were so comfy and happy...and quiet. I love quiet. 

Hannah likes to surround herself with animals, pillows and blankets at night to the point that she has very little room for herself on her bed. I walked by her room one night and she was all snuggled in reading a book with all her animals listening. It was so Hannah. Soon after this picture, we decided to move Hannah back into Madelyn's room downstairs. The girls now share a queen size bed. One night, Hannah came up crying that since she didn't help Madelyn with the Laundry, Madelyn wasn't going to give her "snuggle time". I tried not to laugh and asked what snuggle time was. Hannah explained that every Tuesday and Wednesday, Madelyn lets Hannah basically spoon with her until she falls asleep in agreement that the other nights Hannah will stay on her side of the bed. I was dying laughing. Hannah is such a clingy thing and I thought it was the perfect compromise and those "snuggle nights" meant a lot to Hannah. I had to go down and talk to Madelyn and she agreed to still snuggle with her sister that night. Too, too funny.  February 24, 2014 

Hannah's New Scriptures!

The last gift that Hannah got to open on her birthday was her very own set of scriptures. This little girl has been counting down the days to her baptism. She is so anxious and excited and when she received her new scriptures, she was all smiles. Hannah is so sweet and tries really hard to follow her Heavenly Father and I am so proud of her. 

Hugs from both Grandpas. My kids are so very blessed to have both sets of Grandparents living here in town. 

Hannah with Grandma McQueen. Madelyn photo bombed every photo I took with Grandma, that stinker! I didn't mind because she is so cute.

Our third Grandma, Karen, who lives next door. She's not of our faith, but is so supportive of my kids. We all love her.

Hannah with Grandma Egbert. My kids would live at Grandma's house if I let them. She is one special person to them. We are all so excited for Hannah turning eight and being prepared for her upcoming baptism. Love you Hannah! February 23, 2014