December

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*A definite highlight was playing with our Playmobil nativity set. I was surprised at how much the littles chose to play with this toy.
*We are blessed to have little friends two doors down on either side of us. It has truly been an answer to prayer.

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*One of Evy's last naps. She gave them up this month. It has been hard to see those naps go!
*I snapped this picture on our way out the door to church. Every year I feel the need to document them in their Christmas clothes. I told myself I wouldn't stress over how they acted when trying to get a decent pic! They actually were pretty cooperative.
*We hosted a combined Bishopric FHE with a Christmas Minute-to-Win-It theme. So fun!

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*Through Nana Beth's generosity, we purchased a family pass to the new and improved Natural History Museum. We've already been three times!
*It wouldn't be December without making graham cracker houses. This photo also shows the close relationship Ezra and Will have developed over the past few months.
*We like to use a cookie press to make cookies for Santa. I have a fond memory of us all crowded around our little kitchen table making these cookies and memories.

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*A full 360 here: I used to do this project with my third graders. It's a faux stained glass. This year I decided on the spur of the moment to do it with all four kiddos, and it was SO MUCH FUN! Can you tell which one is Evy's?
*Along with many other families it seemed, we decided to visit Temple Square on Christmas Eve. We all oohed and aahed at the impact this statue made on the reflection pond.

November

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*I made a fall-themed texture box for the littles. They loved it, so I think I may make another one soon.
*My dad worked his talent of diagnosing and fixing car problems while we were visiting, saving us a good $200 in labor repairs.

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*Ez getting reacquainted with the snow.
*Evidence of two littles getting along and enjoying the out-of-doors.
*Sweet Blake organizing the garage for Eric. We loved having him stay with us.

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*Finally—wide open spaces. Our family was in heaven on my parents’ five acres in Nor Cal.
*Big and little kids enjoying the push car thingy from the train museum.

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*This cute little ball of energy turned three.
*Traditionally, we visit the salmon ladder whenever we’re in Nor Cal for Thanksgiving. Lots of memories of this place dating back to when I was little.
*We broke up the long drive back from Cali by stopping at our favorite park along the way. We ate lunch on the merry-go-round and then Eric gave the kids rides.

October

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• When checking on the boys before going to bed one night, I found this cuteness. Will has been such a great big brother to Ezra.
• After our annual tradition of going to see witches at a nearby village/shopping center, we came home and did light drawings with the camera.

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• Each year for Halloween we add dry ice to our drinks for a little extra ambiance!
• Our block party was a blast this year. Abby dressed as Hermione, and I think she fit the part well.
• Abby and I dipped leaves into wax to preserve them earlier in the month.

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• We’ve been lucky to have our cousin, Blake, stay with us. The kids have loved getting scooter rides.
• The beloved Halloween package from my parents arrived. I especially liked my Martha Stewart doily punch.
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• Ezra turned five. We celebrated by going to the aquarium and taking a “spooky” boat ride down a river.
• A new tradition this year was having Eric draw on the kids’ portraits each Sunday night. They loved it!
• We had the most beautiful fall here. Gorgeous weather. Gorgeous colors.

Picking Pumpkins

This afternoon I hit my limit of Ez asking when we would go get our pumpkins. I promptly took the kids down the street to our local pumpkin patch/yard. I like knowing I'm helping a local business, and the kids loves dragging the wagon down the street to find their orange treasures. I think the process of choosing only took about 45 minutes this year, and I actually enjoyed it because the weather and light were so beautiful. The kiddos were also in good spirits, too. Can I get a THANK GOODNESS?


I love our little local pumpkin dealer!


She's headed for stardom.


LOVE Will's face in this pic.


So the exposure turned out terribly, but I don't care. I love this one!


Hello, my pretty.


Evy was happy as a clam.


This pic sums up my life with Will right now.


I love how a spider lurks in the background while Ezra's shirt reads, "Danger is my business."


Umm, I have to admit--she's pretty cute!


I love how Ezra's big smile makes his eyes all squinty.

September

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*On a hike with the littles, Ashleigh and I came across a male and female moose close to the trail. At one point, we were only about 10 feet away.
*I saw this round stingray at Bolsa Chica Wetlands and thought it was so cool to see one in the wild.

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*While gardening we found this gargantuan caterpillar. It turns out it is the larva of a sphinx moth.
*Olga the Steller Sea Eagle stole the show at the zoo. To see this large eagle up close and personal was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. All the kiddos talked about her for days.
*I saw this colorful and fuzzy caterpillar on a trail near the middle Provo River. So cool!

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*Date night with Eric fly fishing is always fun. I love the look on his face.
*For me this would be the ride from you-know-where, but Eric is always great about taking Abby on it each year when we go to the state fair.

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*Evy started tap and ballet. Her teacher is darling, and who wouldn't love the hot pink dance floor?
*The day finally came when Ezra started his second year of preschool. Eric helped Ezra fill out a questionnaire.
*I went to my first pack meeting and fell in love with scouts. It was rewarding to see Will receive his Bobcat as well.

Annual Fall Drive

The annual fall drive did not disappoint this year in the way of colors and vibrancy. The magnitude of the beauty in the canyons was just breathtaking. Listening to the afternoon session of Conference did not disappoint either. What did disappoint was my children's totally bad behavior the entire day! I could go on and on, but I won't. To make myself feel better, I'm going to dwell on the good shots of the day and remember how it felt to play with my new lens. (Oh yeah, these pics were taken on a drive through BCC, down into Heber, and then into Provo Canyon.)

Warning: Lots of photos ahead.















This look should have given me all the clues I needed about what was ahead.



Okay, this last photo wasn't on the fall drive, but her hair looked so cute I had to add the pic in!

August

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*A definite highlight was watching Abby compete in the swimming summer championship meet. It does a mother's heart good to see all the hard work "pay off."
*Ugh! I finally finished these "ugly dolls" for the three oldest. They were not as easy as I thought they would be, but I think the kids had fun designing them and seeing their designs turn into fun playthings.
*The kids and I had a blast seeing our friends' new house, playing on the rented inflatable slide, and catching up with other friends.

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*The brine shrimp off Antelope Island were an instant hit with our family. Oh, and floating in the Great Salt Lake, too.
*We were able to hike up to Cecret Lake with Eric's parents and the Greens. It was a beautiful night, and to top it all off, we were able to see a moose (thanks to Sophie's good eyes).

All in Good Fun!

16 Years!

16 years ago I was blessed to marry my best friend. I couldn't have chosen a better person for me. Here is a review from our last 16 years:



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*Wedding day at the Oakland Temple, August 5, 1995
*Homecoming at BYU, 1996
*We dressed up as Fred and Daphne down in So Cal. 1997
*Youth Conference Luau, 1998

2nd row:
*Our last day in Hawaii, 1999
*In front of our new home with our new dog, Meg, 2000
*On our anniversary getting ready to eat at the Napa Rose. I'm expecting Abby. 2001
*Our new little addition who finally was growing out of her colic! 2003

3rd row:
*Little Will joined our family 17 months after Abby's arrival. 2003
*This picture was taken on Robbie's wedding (on our anniversary) right before we moved to Utah. 2004
*We took a cruise to the eastern Caribbean for our 10th anniversary. 2005
*Ezra came next. This picture was taken when he was less than a month old. 2006

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*For our 12th anniversary, we rode the Alpine slides in Park City. 2007
*Our last and final addition came right before Thanksgiving. Welcome, Evy! 2008
*Anniversary lunch at Finn's, 2009
*Zip-line tour in Costa Rica, 2010

Large picture: Taken today: August, 5, 2011

July

It's been a long time since I've blogged! I left at the end of June and was gone for 2 1/2 weeks to So Cal. Because we did so many fun things down there, I decided to use two layouts as a review of the past month.




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*Abby's group built this fort for Adventure Playground (the main reason we went down to So Cal for so long). The fort was two stories high with five rooms. It also had a sun deck.
*We swam and swam. I think everyday except for two. We loved having time with Bri and Celia (and Mike when he could make the drive out).

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*Will was baptized in the pool. I was a little afraid we wouldn't have a special experience with the baptism held in the pool instead of the font, but I was wrong. I'm grateful to have felt the spirit.
*The lakebed has a new addition--the rope swing. Totally a highlight from the trip.
*I loved being able to see my brother and nephew. They came over to swim. It makes me happy to see what a great dad he is!

BOTTOM LAYOUT

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*Feeding the lorikeets at the Long Beach Aquarium was memorable. So fun to see Ezra step out of his comfort zone and do the feeding. It was also hilarious because at one point, I had three lorikeets on me. Bri's face was also hilarious.
*The 4th of July at the park in Yorba Linda is always a blast. The kids played games with Nana and Bapa that night as well as many other times during the trip.

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*I took the littles to Disneyland. It was Evy's first trip. The three of us had a great time but, as Ezra put it, looked forward to going home and having some of Nana's food.
*A definite highlight was the beach. We only went twice but had an absolute blast both times. I love this shot because all the kiddos are in it. It's also fun to look closer and see how Ezra was trying to get sand out of his trunks!
*Will caught this two inch long sand crab at Newport. From our research it was probably a female and they don't get any bigger than the one he found!

Worried

While cleaning out the car last week, I found a list in the back seat made by Miss Abby. At first I found the list entertaining. This feeling soon turned into worry because, seriously, is this a normal list for a nine year-old girl to be making? Doesn't this list usually emerge in junior high? Is she already trying to rebel from her very non-glamourous mother? Have I done or said anything to prompt this list? (Luckily, I can't think of anything.) Lastly, what am I going to do? I'm so sad that she already feels pressure to put more emphasis on her outward appearance. Is this normal? I'm not ready for this stage of childhood if it is!



Transcript:

Things I need to do to Look better:

*take a shower every day
*brush my hair alot
*have clean teeth
*put my hair in crazy buns
*use lipgloss
*were (wear) cute clothes
*start to shave
*were neklas and bracelets
*use cute backpacks
*were new earings everyday
*to were things that match

Month in Review: May

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Abby and Eric all ready for our annual family Cinco de Mayo party (I love how Eric is working the truckin' sombrero. Very nice.)
Evelyn the Destroyer strikes again! And, yes, that's birdseed mingled in with the books. This destruction took place approximately 5 minutes after the family had totally cleaned up the playroom.

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Our family discovered letterboxing for the first time and LOVED it!
Cheers to the fact that it was actually sunny and warm in Utah!
I don't know how many times I have fished a flying disc out of a tree since I bought them a couple of weeks ago! Note: Buy only discs in bright colors other than green.

My Statue of David

Yesterday was a beautiful, near perfect day.



I went on a run. There were very few timeouts. I had several opportunities to hang out with my cool neighbors. The weather was PERFECT. Eric had no meetings. We had time together as a family. While Eric ran to pick up dinner, all of the kids rediscovered the sandbox. Every spring when this rediscovery happens, they are so content to dig and be friends with each other.









We ate yummy Costa Vida, and Eric and I decided the evening was pretty close to heaven as there was no fighting and we were eating great food in great company under the clear blue sky.

After dinner the kids went back to digging and building volcanoes. This building led to needing water for the volcanoes (of course). So we decided to fill up the wading pool with water for them to retrieve more easily for the sandbox (cue major cleaning ahead).

Water + sand = really wet sand and mud in some places which equals kids getting really dirty and wet which equals lots of Spray 'n Wash.






Ezra and Evy thought the ice cold water was just fine. They both stripped down to nothing and decided to play, splash, and lie down in the freezing cold hose water. We insisted Evy come out for a warm bath when her feet were literally turning reddish-purplish.

As she was being watched in the bath, I went out to coax Ezra into the house. As I rounded the corner, I heard, "Mom, I need a wipe!" and then beheld this sight:




Yeah, like a wipe would help clean that work of art!

Even though A LOT of cleaning was necessary, last night was a ton of fun--one which I hope the kids will remember for a long time--and one that is prepping me for one fun summer (hopefully--ask me mid-August).

Congrats

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I spoke with my mom. I ate candy. I played outside with the littles. I went to the park (and didn't lose a single child). I attended a college graduation with people I love in honor of a really cool guy. Also, the day was literally beautiful. Not a cloud in the sky. Gentle breeze. Warm sun. I got a little color. (Go away winter whiteness.)

I think Eric's parents and brother brought with them the sunny weather from So Cal. (Thanks so much. I needed it.) They were in town for the really cool guy's graudation with his Bachelor's of Social Work. I really look up to said cool guy. He has juggled so many responsibilities and has worked incredibly hard for his degree. I also look up to this cool guy's wife. She has been an amazing support to him for a very long time. I'm so thankful to have shared part of this happy day with them. They're just awesome people who deserve a big CONGRATS!