CaLiFoRniA

This year for Spring Break, we got to go visit our dear friend Kathy (Scoob's mom) in Palm Desert, California. We packed 4 kids and 3 adults in the car and headed out early in the morning and drove there with only having to stop 3 times. For breakfast, a Potty Break, and Lunch. YAY~could have been a lot worse.

Kathy so graciously let us stay at her gorgeous house for 2 nights. She is one great hostess and an awesome cook. We ate homemade pizza one night and had a BBQ the next night. She also had the house full of my kids favorite snacks and drinks. My kids loved swimming in her pool and lounging in her hot tub. Blakley just loved being able to be outside:)

Miss Sunshine Girl chillin in her mommy's sunglasses!

Carter really could have been mistaken for a fish this trip.

Swimming was all he wanted to do.

Troy would just giggle when his daddy would throw him into the water.

Tanner decided to lounge in the sun one afternoon, too bad we didn't reapply his sunscreen. His poor arms got burned.

After our BBQ, we made smores around the fire pit.

After the 2 nights with Kathy, we went to a resort for the weekend. This resort just may be the nicest place I have ever stayed out. And boy was there money there. I have never seen so many nice cars in one place before: BMWs, Rolls Royces, Mercedes, Cadillacs, Bentleys, Ferraris, and Aston Martins. We fit right in with our Durango~ HAHA! It was so fun to pretend like we were rich for a weekend:) I just had to laugh when someone asked me "Are all these kids yours?" Most families only had one or two kids.

Shortly after getting into our room, room service showed up with cookies and milk for the kids and chips and salsa for us. Don't worry we remembered to tip him:)

The resort had a huge pool with several little connecting pools and hot tubs. It also had a sandy beach for the kids to play on. When I first put Blakley down in the sand, she held her feet and hands up and wouldn't touch it. Funny Girl!

It was Nickelodeon Weekend while we were there. They had a Nick crew that would put on these poolside shows where the kids got to participate. Tanner had to hold a huge water balloon over his head and pop it. Too bad it was filled with Slime!

These two are so cute together.

He adores her and she idolizes him:)

As part of the Nickelodeon Weekend, the kids got surprises left on their bed the 1st night. They each received a backpack, a pillowcase, a stuff animal and a book. SpongeBob for the boys and Dora for Blaklee

On Saturday morning, we had reservations for a Character Breakfast with Dora and SpongeBob. They kids absolutely loved this! There was fun music with kids dancing everywhere. We also got to meet them and get our picture taken with them:)

Scoob even got in on the action!

Match made in Heaven:)

Oh California, we will be back soon. I promise!

Thanks for the sunshine:)

Scoob and Kathy thanks for the AWESOME TRIP!

You guys are the greatest!

On April 13th, 2010

the world lost an amazing girl,

the greatest mom,

a sweet wife,

a loving daughter,

a caring sister,

a fun aunt,

a best friend

My sweet sister-in-law, Kim

We are going to miss you dearly

We love you

xoxo

Till we meet again.....

Tanner turns the big Niner!!!

April 6th, 2010

Tanner's birthday started out like any other birthday around here with a surprise visit from the Balloon Fairy.

He got to open a couple of his presents~ some tee shirts and a new pair of kicks!

Woot Woo

I had to take a picture of Clint with the kiddos before he left for work.

Then we got ready and headed off to the movie "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." What a fun movie! The kids loved it:)

Tanner loves Surprises, so we decided to throw him a little Surprise Party of his own. My mom took him out to run some errands while we decorated the house and got all the food ready. Then it was PARTY TIME!!!

SURPRISE!!

A Daddy and his Son

His Favorite Kimmi

Cute Aunt Wendy and Tanner

Cute Aunt Emily with Carter and Brooks

Is it Halloween??? Only in Carter's World.

Troy was so excited to help me with this banner....too bad we spelled Birthday wrong! Duh

After eating pizza and opening presents, Tanner finally got to blow out his candles and make a wish. Wonder if it will come true:) I sure hope so!

Happy Birthday Big Guy!

We love you Tan the Man!

WOLFMAN

Tanner got his Wolf in Scouts last week. (3/30)

He also got a gold arrow and a silver arrow.

Tanner pinning his wolf pin on my shirt!

We love our TAN TAN!!!

Congrats Buddy!

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Tanner's school class have been working hard earning "class money". They can use the money to purchase things throughout the year. This year, one of the things the kids could use the money on was a Spring Breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Each kid had to purchase tickets for themselves and any family members they wanted to come. Tanner worked hard and purchased 4 tickets. He invited Troy, Carter and myself to come eat with him. The boys were really excited to go, especially Carter.

Tanner loved the hot chocolate, Troy loved the homemade bread and Carter loved the mini donuts. SO YUMMY!

Tanner with some of his buddies!

Thanks Tan Tan for working so hard at school!

We had a lot of fun with you.

What a way to start off the Easter Holiday!

Tonight's conversation at our house

Mom: "Carter, come eat dinner."

Carter: "Mom, I'm not eating food tonight. I'm a Vampire"

Mom: "You are?" (trying not to laugh)

Carter: "Yep, a vampire like Edward. Did you know vampires don't eat food. They drink red juice."

Oh boy, I should have never let my kids watch Twilight.

GrAnDmA sUe's BiRtHdAy!!!

Dear Mom,

I hope that you had a great birthday yesterday. I hope that you felt loved as your birthday wishes came your way. I haven't seen so many flower bouquets sent to one person before:) LUCKY!!! You seem to hold a special place in everyone's heart. We all love you.

Thanks for being such a wonderful mom, mother-in-law and grandma. You truly are one of a kind. You are always so willing lend a helping hand and always putting others first. We are very LUCKY to have you in our lives. All of the little things you do for us are not over looked, we appreciate everything. You are scoring some major brownie points in heaven:) We LOVE you very much.

Thanks for spending your day with us: 1st going to lunch with the girls, next going to a movie "The Bounty Hunter" and dinner with us kids (missed you Cody and Wendy) and topping the night off with Banana Cake and Ice Cream with all the grandkids plus some special cousins! We all love you!

I can't say it enough WE LOVE YOU! Hope your day was good!

Love,

Your daughter

MARCH 8th

Around here, March 8th is officially

"Troy's Day"

My little boy turned 6 years old this year.

The night before his big day, he begged for just one present. Since I bought him a new pair of pajamas, we thought it would be fun to let him open them and sleep in them that night.

All 3 boys slept in Troy's room trying to catch

the Balloon Fairy.

They were all set up with flashlights and a notebook to draw a picture of her.

I walked in to say goodnight and overheard this conversation:

Carter: "Wonder if she is small like Tinkerbell?"

Troy: "No, how would she carry all the balloons if she was small?"

Carter: "Because she is magic."

Troy: "Good thinkin' Carter! You're smart Carter!"

Since Troy was sick, I decided to take him to the doctors that morning. Good thing I did. He had double ear infections and his lung weren't sounding all that good. I also had the doctor look at Blakley, she also had an ear infection. So they are both on antibiotics.

We decided to postpone Troy's party that night until they felt better. My parents did invite us over for dessert. She had made Troy's favorite.....English Toffee. Thanks Mom! And of course we had his favorite ice cream, Rainbow Sherbet.

We told Troy to lift up his shirts for a picture.

Of course Carter lifted up his own:) That's my Carter!

Blakley loved what Troy got:)

Looks like the next Basketball Star in our family!

Troy was so excited to go back to school and handout his Birthday Treats (ring pops) to his class. He got to wear this birthday crown and STAND on a chair while the class sing Happy Birthday. He was pretty excited about getting to stand on a chair in class.

My little Troy Troy.

We love you so much and are so glad that you are in our family. You bring so much happiness to our home. You are such a sweet little boy always thinking of your brothers and sister's feelings. You have such a huge heart. You are always telling everyone that you love them. Thank you for being such a great kid.

XOXOXOXOXO

Mommy

MARCH 7th

I am now officially a member of the "30ish club."

Not too excited about that either.

I'm still young right?

Who am I kidding?

I'm OLD!

My sweet parents came over early and offered to stay with Troy and Blakley, who were both sick, so Clint and I could go to church and listen to Carter give his talk on President Monson. BTW, he did a really good job:)

Troy woke up and was really irritated that the balloon fairy didn't come and leave balloons for my birthday. So what does he do???? While we are at church he pulls out the balloons and has grandma and grandpa help him blow them up. My bed was filled with them.

The minute we walked in the door, he was grabbing me and pulling me upstairs to my room. He couldn't wait for me to see my surprise. What a sweet boy!

In this picture, Troy is getting upset at Carter for knocking all of the balloons off of my bed. "CARTER, THOSE ARE MOM'S BALLOONS!"

Blakley loved playing with the balloons!

This is a typical family picture. Everyone smiling....oh wait not Carter! He is always pulling the funniest faces:)

I had a great day with my family.

And I was spoiled with gifts.

Thanks everyone!!!

Family is the best!