Blooming...

If you've been following my blog very long you know this is my favorite tree in our yard. It's actually the only tree I picked out. It has started blooming and I love checking it's progress every day. Yesterday I was mowing the lawn and it started snowing before I was done. Utah weather is so crazy! I kept noticing how pretty and vibrant the colors were so I thought I'd take a couple pictures...

If you look closely you can see the snow flakes in this picture.

I can't wait until it is fully bloomed. I just wish it would last longer!

FYI... the tree is a "Flowering Red Bud."

Evening at the Park...

Monday was a really nice day and I knew there were storms coming the rest of the week so I wanted to get out and enjoy the weather while we could. I grabbed a pizza and took the kids to this park close to our house. We were the only ones there the entire time and we had a fun time. I think they had more fun "building mountains with the wood chips", watching the horses and looking at the pretty purple flowers than actually playing on the playground equipment.

Taking a pizza break... this picture cracks me up!

Maddy thought it was pretty funny watching the horse go pee.

Whatever Wednesday: As Seen on TV...

Bought this awhile ago at Bed Bath & Beyond and finally tried it out last night... love it! Definitely worth the 10 bucks.

Tardy...

I haven't used an alarm clock very many times since I stopped working full time when I had Maddy 4+ years ago. While I was working part time before quitting all together I was working nights so I never had to wake up to an alarm clock. I pretty much refuse (unless absolutely necessary) because for years I had to wake up to that awful noise at 3:45 am so I could get to work by 5:00 am. Since then the kids have become my alarm clock I guess you could say. Anyway, I slept in a bit too late for us to make it church on time on Sunday so we were late. We were sitting in the foyer and Maddy started digging through my bag to find some snacks. He came up empty handed in his search for snacks but found my camera and decided to take a couple pictures of us.

Of course when he was done I had to snap a quick one of him.

Attack...

The other day I was busy doing something in the kitchen. Maddy called for me and when I turned around to see what he needed this is what I saw.

Music Monday: When the Stars Go Blue...

This is one of my favorites by Tim McGraw. I also love "The Notebook" so I really like this combination.

Tim McGraw: When the Stars Go Blue (Ryan Adams cover)...

Four Eyes...

I finally got some new glasses. My old ones are like four years old and are the wrong prescription. I'm still getting used to these but like them so far. I would love to eventually get Lasik eye surgery, but until then I guess I will have to keep dealing with contacts and glasses.

Before the Rain...

I drive by this orchard pretty much every time I go anywhere. Right now there are lots of blossoms and is so pretty! This past week every time I drive by it I think to myself that I want to stop and take some pictures. I'm usually in a hurry or don't have my camera. Today I drove by it again and decided after running my errands I was going to hurry home, change the kids clothes, grab the camera and go take some pictures. The weather has been beautiful this past week but I knew it was going to be rainy today. It was sunny while I was driving so I knew I had to hurry before the rain hit. Shortly after we got home it started raining and it's all gloomy outside now so I'm glad I did it. I tried not to take too many pictures (cause I always go overboard) but almost all of them turned out (shocking) so there are still more then I planned on...

*tight squeezes*

As many of you know it's hard to keep a 3 & 4 year old focused for very long so they did lots of playing...

*throwing rocks*

*peek-a-boo*

*picking dandelions*

*finding sticks*

Maddy found this pretty yellow flower...

... and shared it with Avery.

Avery is wearing one of the dresses my Mom gave her for her birthday.

FYI... all these photos were edited in Picassa.

Fort...

The kids made this fort yesterday and had fun playing in it throughout the day. When Steve got home from work he climbed in with them and when I peeked under the blanket this is what I saw...

Whatever Wednesday: AI Favorites...

Definitely my favorites!

Buddies...

This is Maddy and one of his favorite "girl" friends Ava. She lives across the street from us and they are also in the same preschool class. They seriously play together almost every day. He is heartbroken when they have to stop playing. I took the above picture of them a couple days ago while they were outside making grass piles. Yesterday they were in the house playing and Maddy wanted to take a picture of her. He is always wanting to take pictures of me and Avery and other random things. He kept asking so I finally said he could take one. Right when he was going to take it her sister came to tell her it was time to come home for dinner. Maddy took the picture really fast before she left...

I thought the picture turned out so good (the fact that she's so dang cute doesn't hurt), but seriously this is the only one he took and I didn't crop it or anything. I just played around with the lighting/color a bit in Photoshop. I'm thinking I should let him start taking pictures for me. Maybe I have a budding photographer on my hands.

I loved it in black and white as well.

Avery's Birthday Celebration...

On Sunday we got together with my family at my sister Stacy's house for our monthly gathering as well as to celebrate Avery's birthday. We had pulled pork sandwiches and lots of stuff to munch on.

Avery was so excited to open her presents I could barely get her to look at the camera...

... let alone smile!

She got a homemade blanket for her dolls, two dresses and a princess table and chairs from my parents. She got a really pretty dress from Jamie (and family) and a book with a CD from Stacy (and family.) Her cousins from California and her Great Grandma sent her money and a gift card so I picked out some summer clothes for her. Thanks everyone!

Most everyone hanging out... I think beside myself just Lola and Claire were missing.

We were waiting for everyone to come into the kitchen to sing Happy Birthday to Avery and I lit the candle and she tried grabbing it. I think she figured out real quick that it was hot. Then every time I would light it she would blow it out. I had to keep lighting it and that's why we were all kind of laughing at the beginning. It was pretty cute and she loved all the attention while everyone was singing to her...

Music Monday: Nothin' On You...

Really like this song!

B.O.B.: Nothin' On You...

MBP Giveaway...

Real?

Fake?

Love them?

Hate them?

Who cares, what girl couldn't use a beautiful (modest) black dress? I know I could. The guys over at MBP (Mormon Bachelor Pad) are giving away a beautiful black Shabby Apple dress. The giveaway ends tonight at midnight so check out their blog if you are interested.

Nana's & Bills...

In the car while driving to my sister Stacy's house...

Maddy: "Mom, I love my Grandma so so much."

Me: "I know you do and she loves you so much."

Maddy: "Mom, there are two kinds of Nana's, one is my Grandma and the other is food."

Me: *laughing* "You mean a banana?"

Maddy: "Yes, there is my Nana and bananas you can eat."

4/14/10

Maddy was holding some of his coins he earned while helping Steve detail cars...

Maddy: "Mom you can have this money so you can buy bills."

Me: "You mean pay bills?"

Maddy: "Yes, I will give it to you."

Me: "That's so nice and thoughtful but you can keep it, it's your money you earned it."

4/13/10

Sunday...

The kids on Sunday morning. Avery is wearing her Easter dress and sandals. It has a really cute bow on the front that you can't see because she is folding her arms across it.

Maddy was assigned to give a talk in Primary on Sunday. The theme was "Jesus Christ restored the fullness of the Gospel through Joseph Smith." Steve wrote his talk and I helped him give it. He did such a good job and I was so proud of him. Here is his talk...

"Jesus Christ restored the fullness of the Gospel through Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon for us so we may have the fullness of the Gospel and learn how to return to our Father in Heaven and live with Him again. I'm thankful for the church and I'm thankful for Joseph Smith for restoring the Gospel so that we may learn to be better people, and live with Heavenly Father again. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Avery's Special Day...

Avery's birthday was Saturday but we are celebrating it with my family probably later this week. Maddy was so excited that it was her birthday on Saturday. Usually when he wakes up he hollers from his room (before getting out of bed), "Is it daytime Mom?" Saturday however he hollered, "Mom, is it Avery's birthday today?" It was pretty cute. He kept telling me all day long that he wanted to go to Wal Mart and get Avery a present. I finally gave in and he picked out this pink princess phone (with a little help from me) for her. As you can see he was as excited for her to open it as she was...

Avery loves her new phone and has been carrying it around every since. She is not a happy camper when I take it from her to put her to bed. Maddy also loves it and wishes he had one. They have spent a fair amount of time fighting over it.

Since we are doing cake and ice cream next week we decided to go to Dippidee in American Fork and get some gourmet cupcakes. Avery chose the orange cream one and as you can see she loved it. We all thought they were pretty yummy!