TAG!

How fun. I have never been tagged before, so this is new and exciting. Thanks Rachel. Here we go-

1. Q-The best thing you cooked last week?
I just asked Travis what his answer to this question would be and his response was, "that Cafe Rio night was pretty good". Need I say more!! I actually like to cook, but I LOVE to crock pot. We had some great beef burritos that I made in my crock pot, served with fresh tomatoes, cheese and sour cream. Who says we need Cafe Rio anyway :).

2. Q - If money, time and babysitting were no object, where would you go and with who.
I have a lot of places I would like to go. My crazy husband is not one to go on a vacation unless it is warm and fun-no sight seeing. But I would rope him into skipping through Europe.

3. Q - When was the last time you cried.
Just the other day. I walked downstairs to see what the kids were up to. It sounded like the walls were coming down. I peeked my head quietly around the corner. Rylee had on her CD player with the volume cranked up, and she and Boston were dancing and laughing their heads off. I felt so grateful to be their mom.

4. Q- 5 things you were doing this month 10 years ago.
I was preparing to serve a mission in CT. I shopped, shopped and shopped some more for "cute" missionary attire. Attended the Jordan River Temple for the first time. Wrote letters to Travis in MN about every day. Quit my job at the dermatologist office to spend time with family and friends before I left.

5. Q- 5 things on your to do list today.
I am usually a list girl, although today is Sunday. I do have a short list for tomorrow...laundry day, stain the inside of front door, sign up for parent/teacher conference, pay bills, and mail a package to my darling nephew in OH.

6. Q- 5 favorite snacks.
Red licorice, diet coke, peanut M&M's, trail mix, and popcorn with hot tamales (I know that sounds weird, but it is great).

7. Q - 5 Bad Habits.
Not having my cell phone with me. Staying up too late. Drinking too much diet coke (is that all that bad??). Returning phone calls promptly. And trying on many different things before I am ready for the day. I make a mess of our closet.

8. Q- 5 favorite foods
I love Mexican f00d; chips and salsa, taco's and taco salads. Olive Garden soup and salad. A turkey sandwich on tasty wheat bread. Great Harvest "monkey bread". Watermelon, and corn on the cob.

9. Q- 5 Places I've been.
Hawaii, Mexico (Cancun, Puerto Valarta, Cabo), NY, Ft. Lauderdale, and San Fransisco.

10. Q- 5 Favorite Memories
The day my cute husband asked me to marry him. We dated for years, finally it was going to be "for real". I remember his excitement and mine as well. The sweet joy that each of our children have brought into our lives. They are my passion. The day that my Mom, my sister Natalie and I hopped on a plane to LA for a day. We wanted to shop and just get away. We rented a convertible and spent a lot of time on the highway in traffic. We laughed, sang, danced and shopped when we finally got to the mall. Days and countless hours working on our home with wonderful family that was here to help all the time. And finding a cute note Rylee left me under my pillow the other night.

Now, the 4 people I tag are: Laura, Marilyn, Heidi, and Jessica Welch.

"The Usual"

I spend a fair amount of time each day talking to my sisters or my mom on the phone. Each time we talk the conversation starts out the same. "What are you up to today?" My response to that question most often is "the usual". To my sisters that don't have kids or may not be married, they have no idea what I am talking about. So this is for you, some highlights of the "the usual" this past week (which I happen to love).


Attended the "Watermelon's" soccer game-which they won.


Got this cute boy to finally take a nap. It just took PJ's and his new shoes. Who knew!!




Went on many scooter rides with the neighborhood scooter gang.


Spent time with cousins (Baby Nash and Noah-8 days apart).


Went on a fancy date with the hubby.


Helped our youngest get a job at "Big Bee's". For those who don't remember Big Bee's, it was a hamburger/ice cream shop in Sandy. They wore shirts that looked similar to what Nash is wearing. Travis gets a kick out of this outfit.


Got these crazy kids ready in time for church so we could sit on the "soft seats".

Spent time at Grandma and Grandpa "lillums", where the kids love to pick plums with Grandpa, and then take out the stone (pit).

Got a pet bird. Just kidding. This pigeon was sitting on our doorstep when we got home one night. Travis put out his finger and it walked right on. He soon flew away. That is the kind of pet I like.

I made a wish & it came true...

It is a miracle-a family picture with all smiles and no screaming (I love how professionals now can cut and paste different heads in different pictures). I usually dread picture day, really what mom doesn't. It does not matter how much prep work I put into getting ready, or what bribes I give, it usually doesn't play out the same way I had imagined. I got our family picture back just the other day and was pleasantly surprised, but not only that, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for our little family. Some time ago I made this wonderful wish & it came true!!

Fun in St.Gorgeous

We had the ultimate relaxing weekend. We headed to St. George (or St. Gorgeous as the girls would say) with our good friends the Medina's. We stayed in her parents home that lies right up by the red cliffs of Tuachon. It was beautiful. We relaxed by the pool all day long eating chips and salsa and drinking diet coke. It was my kind of weekend. We all played hard and laughed a lot. With our crazy husbands and cute kids-there is a lot to laugh at. Boston even practiced his golf swing on the little putting green next to the pool. Never a dull moment!

Rylee loved jumping off the jumping rock.

Bo worked on his short game. He's getting good!

No one stays dry when Travis is around.

Staci and the girls.

Happy Birthday Rylee!

Rylee just turned five this week. She has been counting down the months, then weeks, then days. The day finally arrived. She was wired. She got to take treats to her kindergarten class and celebrate with her classmates. I slipped in a little surprise for Rylee to see after school. She has been riding her scooter to and from school and she thought it was time for an updated scooter (a faster one-as if she didn't go fast enough). So Rylee's brothers and I tied a bow, some balloons and a "happy birthday" sign on a new pink scooter and left it by the kindergarten door. She beamed with delight as she rode it home that afternoon. That evening we went to the "High School Musical" play that is in town right now. The show is Rylee's favorite. She knows all the words and dances. While watching the play, she and her little friend were singing the songs and bouncing in their seats. Who knew Troy Bolton was going to be a 5-year olds' icon. Her "real" birthday was on Thursday when she had her party. She invited ten friends to bring their scooters and celebrate with her at Classic Skating. What a hoot. We had a good time eating pizza and cupcakes and cruzin around the skating rink. You can see her pics on the below slide show.

Check out my Slide Show!

Summertime!

We have had a great summer. We started out the summer with the new addition to our family, little Nash. He has been such a good sport as he has been toted every where this summer. We have enjoyed our days at the pool. Rylee has taken swim lessons all summer and has become our little dare devil in the water. Her latest is a front flip into the pool (she is trying to dive). Boston is a little fish. He thinks he no longer needs a life jacket and tries to "cannon ball" into the pool even when no one is there to catch him. We've enjoyed many of our summer days at the lake, taking bike rides, setting up the water slide, and getting "snow shacks" to stay cool.