Boredom Buster

Jagen and her friend Jessi came up with another boredom buster today. Pretty darn fun, and itchy says Asey.

You know it's summer when...

...your kids are so bored they have to come up with something creative and fun to do. So they make sock puppets and do a play with them all by themselves. Check it out. Pay close attention...the plot is very deep.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Time for a new look and a tag

Everyone has been changing their blog look so I thought I would try it too. After all tomorrow is the first day of summer for us! Yeah!!! I always can't wait for summer, and by the end of summer I can't wait for school to start. That is the nature of the beast.

So my cousin Kari tagged me awhile ago, (I bet you are thinking I wasn't going to do it huh?) Well, it has been busy, last week of school and all, but I am finally getting around to it.

Three Joys
1. My family
2. Summer fun (like trips, swimming, outings, etc.)
3. David Cook winning American Idol

Three Fears
1. Losing someone I love
2. Having health problems
3. Paying the bills (Sigh...this economy and gas, it stinks!!)

Three Obsessions
1. The dust in my house, on everything and everywhere
2. Blog surfing
3. Getting through my "to do" list

Three Random Facts
1. I have a hot cocoa addiction
2. I can't stand our dog. (Most of you know this, but it is therapy for me to write it.)
3. I am trying to grow out my nails.

How many people does it take to wash a car?

On Friday J.D. and I decided we had had enough of our disgusting van. It has been months, maybe even since we lived in Cali, since it had gotten a GOOD wash and vacuum. There have been far too many road trips with 4 kids and a dog in it. So we decided to get'er done. The kids wanted to "help". So here are some pictures of them "helping".


We found out that a roll of toilet paper is good for hours of fun for Reese.

Nothing like sitting in a bucket of suds.


So to answer the question...it took 2 people, J.D. and me, to wash the van with lots of interruptions and little help from the kids! Now when we get in the van, the first thing I say is, "Remember don't touch the windows!" (I don't want any little fingerprints, at least for a few days.)

Sink...or Swim

So Asey has been taking swimming lessons.

It started with her all freaked out. She would cry, I would force her in the pool, she would beg me to get out, she would beg the teacher to get out, I would threaten, etcetera, etcetera.

About 3 or 4 lessons in the teacher offered her "magic goggles". They are magic, because she can see the bottom of the pool. Not really so magic, but cool enough for my little Asey. So now she is queen of the swimming lessons class. She can't wait to go, she jumps, she dives, she does big arms, she floats on her back, she gets rings, it is great. Thanks Miss Kylie!









Goggle eyes

A popsicle reward!

It's GREAT to be a mom!!

I am grateful for my fab four that call me mom!



I am grateful for two amazing women that we call mom and grandma!!

American Idol

Okay so notice on my sidebar my little American Idol survey. Please participate (if your a fan), I am interested to see what others think of these performers. Here is my two cents. I really like David Cook. I think he is very creative and I enjoy listening to him. My kind of music. I like Brooke's style...you know Carly Simonesque, but she talks too much and won't go the distance because she irritates too many people. David Archuleta is too young. He needs a few years under his belt to develop a little bit of a personality. Jason Castro, please put me out of my misery. J.D. is sick of listening to me complain about him. I find him very boring, no personality, very predictable, and don't even get me started on the dreads. What kind of person doesn't wash their hair for that long. YUCK!! Shyesha is beautiful. She has a great set of pipes, but she won't make it to the end. So I predict that it will come down to the two Davids and I hope that David Cook wins!! Love that AMERICAN IDOL!!

SAD BUT TRUE

LET THE HEAT BEGIN!! So here it is the middle of April and the temperature is supposed to reach 97 today! Just check out my little temerature widget on the side. I think I get why everyone says there is only two seasons here... summer (HOT) and winter (cool...not cold...just cool). The kids have been wearing shorts for over a month and for sure the air is going on today. There is no looking back to comfortable temperatures. I am not complaining...just trying to get used to the Arizona living. So if anyone is looking for some sun and heat...let us know. WE LOVE VISITORS!!

The many looks of Reese

My Reesey has got some crazy hair. These pictures tell the story.

Take me out to the ball game

Tyce has started baseball and we are in the thick of things. We had opening day a couple of weeks ago. The teams marched out onto the field and Shea Hildebrand (formerly of the Diamondbacks, Red Sox,and more) was the speaker, he played a game and it was all pretty fun to watch. They are the cubs. Tyce is so excited and loves the action. Everyday he gages how the day will be based on if he has baseball that day.

The happenings of Jagen's birthday

I wanted to share some pictures of Jagen's birthday. She had a good day, and then got celebrate some more yesterday with her friends. Life is good at 10!!

She started the day with an early morning song of "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" from all of us.



"Double digits baby" as Jagen would say.


A look at the gifts...new bike and helmet, snow globe #18 for the collection and some clothes.



Happy Birthday Jagen!


This montage is of her "party" with her cousens and friends!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Our Biggest Little Girl is in Double Digits!

So Wednesday was Jagen's birthday. Our girl is 10!! We can't believe it! So here are our 10 favorite things about Jagen and a little montage.

1. She loves to love and be loved!
2. She is always willing to help
3. She looks out for her siblings
4. She works hard at school (She made Principal's honor roll - 2nd time in a row.)
5. She has a great moral compass
6. She is very thoughtful
7. She always reminds us of family prayer and scripture reading
8. She is active,fun, playful, and goofy
9. She is responsible
10. She is trustworthy

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Tagged...what?

Okay, for a long time I have enjoyed reading these on my friend Heather's blog, but I have never taken the tag (as I will say). But J.D.'s sister Julie has called me out, so I will give it a whirl.

Where was I 10 years ago:

I love this question, because it gave me a moment to reflect. 10 years ago we were living in Provo, UT as struggling students in a basement apartment. I was very pregnant waiting for my first little bundle of joy. Jagen was due on March 3 and I didn't have her until March 12. This was such an exciting time of life. Life was simple then.

Things on my "To Do List" for today:

Well I am quite the list maker as many of you know. I tend to make this infamous list and then not complete it and it rolls over to the next day, or week. So here is a sample of what is on it. Get Jagen's birthday presents,switch bank accounts,make new phone # list, do taxes,organize recipes, organize pictures on computer...the list goes on.


What would I do if I was a Billionaire:

#1 GET OUT OF DEBT!!
Then I would just love to share the wealth, with my family, with the church, with my friends. I would put my money to good use for others. Fun to imagine!

3 of my bad habits:
1. biting my nails
2. throwing away things that others need (ask J.D. and Jagen)
3. Always being late (right friends and family :o)

5 places I have lived:

1. Los Alamos, NM (born and raised, baby)
2. Provo, UT
3. West Jordan, UT
4. Fresno, CA
5. Gilbert, AZ

5 jobs I have had:

1. Cleaned dentist office (high school)
2. File clerk for Los Alamos County Personnel Department (Senior in HS)
3. File clerk for Los Alamos Medical Center
4. Physical Therapy Aide (college)
5. Receptionist for an awesome Physical Therapy office

Something most people don't know about me

I'm a closet MTV Real World, Road Rules Challenge watcher. I have a secret season pass set on the upstairs TV that I watch on Thursday mornings after everyone has left for the day.


Thanks Julie, this was fun and it made me laugh. So this is where I get to tag someone else...HMMMMM how about Misty (maybe this will make her post since it has been awhile).

He shoots...he scores...he loves basketball!

Tyce just finished basketball season. He was on a team with his buddy JT. He has had so much fun. Quite the player, for being one of the smaller kids on the team. Good things come in small packages. Here are a few pictures to share with you. Now on to baseball!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I LOVE THIS!!!

Okay so I LOOOOOOVE this commerical. My kids love to make fun of me because I can laugh out loud about it for a real long time! So I must share. I'm sure you have seen it, but maybe it will bring a smile to your face.

Tyler is going to Brazil

So one of the great things about living here, is that we are close to my sister. (If you can't tell we are REALLY tight!) So her oldest, Tyler, has been waiting for his mission call. He got it yesterday, so we went up to their house so we could be part of he fun and I-Chat with him. He had tons of friend in his dorm room with him and we had friends and family on this end. Everyone had their guess as to where he was going. It was very excitig. I thought I would document it for Terry and for the rest of the family to see.

Tyler George Duke - Ribeirao Preto, Brazil Mission
He will report directly to Brazil on June 18, 2008!




Here is Terry checking out the maps!



Here we are all hovering around the computer, waiting for the big news.




There it is. Ribeirao Preto, Brazil



We love you Ty!!!

The Reesey Update

I can't believe it! Reese is 6 months old. Time passes so fast. She is starting to sit up, roll aroud, eat lots of food. It is a lot of fun to watch her develop and to watch the kids with her. She went to the doctor for her 6 month check up. She has a little cold, but all is well. She tipped in at 14 lbs 7 oz, and she is 27 inches long.

We love visits!!

Over Presidents day weekend our nephew Kristopher had a soccer tournament here in Pheonix. Lucky us!!!! So Kristi and the kids came down and mom and dad hitched a ride too. It was so much fun to have them here. The kids had a great time playing together and with Maggie, the new puppy. We loved to watch Kristopher's games and just to spend time together. Our only complaints are that it was not long enough, and we missed Roger. Here are a few pictures.

The kids put on a show for us! It was so cute!












We all loved that puppy. (Even me.)





Hangin at the soccer game.