Crazy Month

So I updated this a month ago saying I was going to attempt my picture of the day, and then crazy things happened! Dave started a new job, got extremely sick and was down literally for almost 3 weeks. Then just when we think he is getting better we find out that he has a blood clot in his leg, after several different doctors and a trip to the vein center we have since learned it is clot and is from a vericose vein in his leg. He is doing much better now that we know how to treat it and what to watch for. So my lack of posting was due to taking care of my sick husband, trips to the doctors, emergency room, ultrasound lab and back to a specialized doctor. I'm just glad to see that he is finally recovering and feeling much better. Having a sick husband home is no fun! So I didn't take hardly any pictures last month during the whole ordeal. If you can imagine there would of been lots of him laying on the couch, moving from there to our room and back again! All the while juggling the kids around trying to keep them away from him in fear they might get sick, after a week we determined no one else was getting it. I will say lucky on that part, I can't imagine a house full of sick kids too! We are excited for some fresh spring air, and a chance to get out of the house! Hopefully this month I will have more exciting pictures to post, Easter, spring break and school performances all coming up!

Bathtime!

Shelbie loves bathtime, especially when she gets our big deluxe bathtub to herself. I captured some fun pictures this day of her playing, her current fascination turn the water on and off and drink from it while in the tub! Anyhow, I love how this photo turned out, its probably one of my favorites of her right now, captures her personality perfectly!

Afternoon Activity Coloring!

So I am horrible at updating this blog, I will admit life is just to busy for me to find time to sit down and update this blog with long posts. So instead I have been thinking of something that would make things easier but still highlight the little things that matter most! To me right now that is everyday life, its doesn't matter how big or small the days activities are its remembering those moments is what our life is really about.

So I saw an idea several years ago that involved 365 days, I started it last year and well with moving it just got to complicated. So I decided to try again this year. I didn't worry about when I started it, just that it is 365 days. So you will notice I didn't start this when most people did Jan 1st. And I am promising right now that I don't anticipate a picture every single day. There are just days when I don't pull out my camera or nothing significant happens saying "Cheese, take a picture". And then other days that make up for it with more than one picture.

With that being said, here is todays picture of the day! My mid-morning activity with Brayden and Shelbie after getting Maggie off to school and before naptime! Coloring! They are both enjoying little art projects and my hope was to keep them occupied for a minute so I could look at some info. on the computer. Hmmm, lets just say this was approx. 5 minutes and then it was onto the next thing. Shelbie is so funny though, in almost every shot I took she is sticking out her tongue, so into her coloring! Brayden eventually gave up on the scissors and found that tearing was much more fun!

Lagoon

We haven't been to Lagoon in years, I think the last time we went was while we were living in Payson, before we had Brody. So I know its been over 7 years. The only real thing that changed for me was this time taking 4 kids, and enjoying some new rides! We didn't do Lagoon-A-Beach though. We decided to let the kids enjoy the rides and experience Lagoon that way although it was extremely hot and a nice cool dip would of been nice! The kids loved the rides, except Brayden who screamed through the first couple of rides. We finally found one that he loved the horse merry go round. He loved the little bear he could sit in by himself. I am so bummed though the only picture I got was with his eyes closed. Oh well the kids loved the food and the adventure! We spent the entire day there got home really late and started school the next day! Hooray!

August Summer Fun!

So August was an extremely busy month, and we crammed in as much as we could that last week right before school started! We went to Lagoon, celebrated Brodys seventh birthday, started school and Dave went on a Mancation with his friend and hiked 26 miles in two days. Needless to say we enjoyed the month of August, but I am definately glad that school is back in and we have a little bit of a routine around here! So here are pictures from some of those events!

Moab Trip

We won a silent auction at Brodys school last year, it was for a river rafting trip in Moab. We invited along some good friends and had an adult only mini vacation! We spent all day Saturday on the river and went out to dinner with everyone! We came back and played cards till really late and then got up and drove home the next day. I will admit it was a very fast trip, but so worth the company! Thanks to some awesome friends we had a great time!

Cascade Springs

I know its been forever since I have updated my blog. Everyone keeps saying when are you going to post more pictures. So here is my attempt to put on some recent photos of us from this summer! Before school started one of the things I really wanted to do with the kids was go to Cascade Springs. Its been several years since we last went there, the kids loved it. Brayden was fascinated with the fish. Although he did make me nervous at times when he would bend over to look at them. Maggie and Brody couldn't resist running up and down the trails while we were there. I kept warning them to be careful not to fall. Well Maggie tripped and fell and skinned both her knees. Here is a picture right after. Brayden pointing and saying "Owie" "Hurt". I think that prevented anymore running for the night. We packed a picnic dinner and ate it on the grass while we were there. I can't wait now for another drive up the canyon. The leaves are starting to change and I love this time of year up there.

Albertsons Grocery Savings

So some of you know that I have been doing grocery couponing for some time. But at the request of some friends here is my lastest trip to the store, and the wonderful savings. I haven't done a shopping trip like this in months! It was so refreshing to finally see a sale worth stocking up on, and one that I could benefit from and get my fingers on at the same time. So here is my breakdown:

Total Value of Purchase: $258.13
Total Savings: $192.25
Total Percentage of Savings: 74%

The best part I only paid this amount for all of that stuff: $65.88

Huge savings, gotta love that!

July Pictures

I love the month of July, the red, white, and blue. I have always tried to attempt to get pictures of the kids dressed up in their festive outfits. This year on the fourth I took the camera with us to the balloon festival in Provo that we go to every year. Only to get there and realize that the memory chip is at home plugged into the computer. NO Pictures! And to top it off last year, the camera battery died after taking I think two photos! So this year I thought I was all prepared and charged the battery the night before. As luck would have it we didn't get pictures other than the ones on my cellphone! For my birthday we took the camera in to get fixed! So we have gone an extra two weeks without it. But after 4 long years it works again and I'm so excited! I don't profess to be a fabulous photographer by any means. I leave that work to Dave's sister Jen who is the professional and master and taking pictures! But for me, these didn't turn out that bad considering we were in a hurry and rushing out the door to go to his parents for a party. I really wanted to take these before they took off there clothes and jumped in the pool at grandmas house. I wanted to capture them before the end of the month slipped away. So here are just a few randoms shots of the kids, my favs!

Pictures??

I would make a post with some fun pictures, but my camera is finally in the shop getting fixed. Hurray! After only having it for almost 5 years we are getting it fixed and to think it has been broke since the first month. Brody was little and pulled if off the table! You can only use the camera in AUTO! So I will finally get to put all the good learning lessons from Dave's sister to use when I get it back from the shop. I am hoping it doesn't take too long. I hate going without a camera for very long. I can't wait to have it back!

When dad is in Charge

So I go to my piano lessons on Mondays and when I leave Dave watches the kids for me! So this past monday when I left I came home to this! This is what you get when dad is in charge. Lucky for me it was after they made the mess and Dave cleaned up the cereal that they dumped all over the floor. YOu know when it gets to quite and you aren't sure what they are doing that it can't be good.

The Ducks

We have this awesome place to feed the ducks that is close by to our home. I have been wanting to take the kids there for family home evening. So we packed a picnic lunch and went and feed the ducks. The kids loved being able to get right up to them. While we feed the ducks Shelbie insisted on getting as dirty as possible. She is still crawling right now, which makes outside activities an adventure with her. Needless to say, she discovered the dirt and the drink and everything in between! We sure do love this stage and watching her discover new things!

The Princess Festival

Dave's sister invited me and Maggie to the Princess festival this year with her little girl Sidney. We don't get to do things with her very often so we took advantage of some cousin time and went with them. It was really fun, other than the horrible weather that we endured during the first part. I wasn't prepared for rain and freezing cold when we got there. But the girls didn't seem to mind once they started the festival. Maggie wasn't to sure about the whole thing in the beginning, but by the end she was loving it. Her favorite princess right now would have to be Ariel and when we getting ready to leave she asked for a picture with her. I thought that the festival was well put together and age appropriate for them! Thanks Jackie for the invitation!

Canyon BBQ

We love living so close to the caynon and taking advantage of being able to go there for BBQ's. Mapleton canyon is just up the street and is actually closer to go to for picnics than the canyon that we live by. So we headed up there and had a fun BBQ with the kids and did smores afterwards. We brought the wrong type of coals though and forgot the lighter fluid, so Dave spent the majority of the time with his face planted in the fire blowing in an attempt to start a good fire to roast hotdogs which would could later use for the marshmellows! This campground picnic area was really fun, the kids brought there scooters along and road around the area while we went for a short nature hike! I love the outdoors. This was our first outdoor BBQ up the canyon this summer. I'm sure we will have more of these outings!

Brody's Kindergarten Graduation

Graduation! Dave still doesn't understand why we have to have a graduation for Kindergarten, he gets the graduation from preschool to kindergarten. But why Kindergarten? Well for me they are advancing to real school and are going to be gone all day long. They don't seem so little any more and have learned lots of new things throughout the year. Brody did so well this last year, I am so proud of him and all that he has learned. I love watching his curiosity in new words and being able to pick up a book and start to read certain words he has learned throughout the year. He really is growing up. The school kindergarten classes put on a great performance that showcased the years in time through music. His part, included the song from MC Hammer "Can't touch this" in which he got to do a solo breakdance! It really was a cute program, and they video taped it for the parents so we can show him years down the road. So Graduation graduation, a great way to end the kindergarten year in my opinion!