An early Snow-Play day :)

My kids LOVE the snow (and since I grew up in sunny So Cal, you KNOW they don't get that from me!). They have been BEGGING me to go play in the snow with them, so I finally gave in. They had a blast!
They made snow angels (you can tell there wasn't much snow to work with, but don't worry, it's coming!)They crack me up! They loved sliding down the slide and seeing their bum-prints in the snow :)As I said, not much snow, but they insisted on building a snowman. It was more of just a snow-head, but they were SO proud of it! They even went in the house and found a carrot for the nose! Then we ran around and had a snowball fight, after which they decided they were cold and we went in for some nice Stephen's Hot Chocolate ;), our favorite! Even I have to admit that it was a pretty fun afternoon, I love these kids!

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

If you know me, you know I always have a project of some sort. Here are some of our latest 'projects' :).

This is (sadly) the 'before' picture of McKinley's room. I LOVED this room, and spent WAY too much time obsessing over the little details.
EVERY little detail... I made all of the curtains, painted all of the furniture, you name it, I spent HOURS on this room when she was little! This photo is dark, but this was her little 'tea party' corner. Ahh, girls. Ignore the castle on the wall, that wasn't part of the room, I think it was a poster left over from her birthday party that year that I temporarily allowed to be hung on the wall. :)

Well, one day it all went on Craigslist and I started over. Yes, all of it. Furniture, curtains, and all. The toys had gone to the finished playroom, which left the room feeling bare, and we knew we would eventually put McKinley and Mason together in that room, which meant bunk beds were a must. Pink just wouldn't do for a boy/girl room. SO, it all went. And I started over. That was a year and a half ago. I did a beach room, which did NOT work out the way I wanted, so I finished it (hung everything on the walls, etc.), then tore it all down a week later :). Matt loves me. Finally I ran across a design magazine with a playroom that I LOVED and had intended to use for our playroom design. I had gone another direction with the playroom, and forgotten about the idea. When I ran across it again it was perfect, I just had to adapt it a little to make it a bedroom and presto - a weather-themed bedroom, perfectly unisex!

Complete with bright primary colors, hand-painted clouds, magnet-board map (with magnetic airplanes, etc. to fly on it), felt weather chart (with changeable weather pieces), and more.The checkerboard table is my favorite, it was the same white table from McKinley's girly room, but with a new coat of paint leftover from our Shrek-green bathroom :). It wouldn't be a weather room without bright colored raincoats - which my kids INSIST on wearing ANY time it starts to rain! It was a fun project, and I FINALLY made the kids' beds so I could take a picture of it!NEXT - my car. It was really not a very sad day when I let this beauty go - she really needed to retire, I had been stranded on the side of the road (and in the left-turn lane on the highway) WAY too many times! And we replaced her with this! I had a few mini-panic attacks about buying a 2010, I am WAY too conservative to spend money on a car, ESPECIALLY a brand-new car, but I LOVE my Pilot, and I am so glad we went for it. Sometimes reliability is worth the extra $. Just ask Matt - he had to answer all of my distress calls from the side of the road when he was too far away to come help me. :) And yes, I gave up on my minivan dreams. I still sometimes daydream about automatically opening doors, but for purposes pictured below (camping, off-roading, etc.), as well as the snow issue (I have ALWAYS had 4-wheel drive, I don't know if I could survive a winter without it!), I gave in and went with the mid-size SUV. It was a compromise, and I still SLIGHTLY envy the minivan soccer moms, but until it stops snowing in Utah I am SUV-bound. And finally, the pantry project. If you know me you know I have a serious issue with wire shelving - which was everywhere in our house. This was the last area to be re-done, and now I am happy with my fully-organized accessible, wire-free pantry! yea! I don't have a before photo of it, but you get the idea. Also, I locked up our medicines in a locking toolbox on the top shelf of the pantry - my kids can climb shelves WAY too well and I had heard too many horror stories about kids getting into pills, so now we are safe, Matt can barely remember the code to get into it :).

That's all for now, but watch for a nursery update SOMETIME in the future, for now it is just an empty room with no inspiration, I am working on getting creative with it!

We are in the Double Digits!

Just noticed that I am down to 99 days to go, woo hoo! Down to the double digits, we can't wait for this little one to get here!

Boys night out, girls night in...

This past Wednesday Matt (and Mason) were invited to go to a Jazz game with my brother-in-law. Matt came home and told Mason all about it, and they were totally excited to go. UNfortunately, McKinley gets left out of these types of outings since she is a girl. She was sad that she wasn't invited, but I assured her we would have more fun without them - which sadly usually isn't the case because Mommy tends to get busy and isn't always very fun :). Well, after they left we threw our coats on, drove to the Arctic Circle to get ice cream sundaes, borrowed the movie High School Musical (thanks Farrah!), and headed home for a girls night in together. We got our pj's on, climbing into Mommy's bed, and ate ice cream IN BED (see, I can be fun!), while snuggling and watching High School Musical together. McKinley has been DYING to see HSM, but it's not really a Mason -type of movie :), so it was perfect for our girls night. After the movie we brushed our teeth together and snuggled in Mom's bed until the boys got home (after which Matt carried a sleeping McKinley to her bed). As we were snuggling McKinley told me it was the best night ever - and I have to admit it was one of the most fun nights I have had with her too! She also admitted that she missed her brother - they are inseperable! She was glad to have him back in the morning, and they proceeded to get into their usual mischief together, but I think I need to have some more 'girls night in' nights alone with my sweet girl - it might have to be a new tradition, anyone else want in? :)

Letters to Santa & Visiting the Big Man himself :)

For Family Night last week we wrote letters to Santa (you see, Santa needs plenty of time to get the toys ready, and once you write your letter you can't change your mind :). The kids were SO excited about them, they took them out to the mailbox FIRST THING when they woke up the next morning! :)

They just can't wait to hear back from him!

My friend Janette and I happened to be at the mall the other morning with our kids when we noticed that Santa was there - and there was NO line to see him! Now, I am totally opposed to pulling out the tree and lights and anything Christmas-related until after Thanksgiving, but the opportunity was too good to pass up, especially since we had already sent out our letters, and I knew I wouldn't wait in line for the kids to see him later, so I caved.

The kids loved seeing Santa, and Mason even willingly sat on his lap this year (this has been a major issue in the past, he HATES any type of dressed-up characters, even princesses!)

McKinley and Mason both told Santa exactly what they want this year (McKinley wants a Hannah Montana wig, and Mason wants a train that goes on the ground and runs by itself :). I think it's so funny when they come up with what they want on their own, too cute! We'll have to see what Santa comes up with!

My Baby Girl is 5!

I heart digiscrapping :). McKinley's party invite: She could barely contain herself - and for once I remembered to take pictures on her birthday (really, for the last 5 years I have one or two of her right before bed because I always forget!).

The Birthday Girl on her big day :) Mason was a little excited for the party! McKinley wanted a Strawberry Shortcake party, but I could not find ANY Strawberry Shortcake party decor, so I made a sign (and I am pretty proud of it, since I don't really scrapbook anymore :). BY the way - the white stuff outside is not just the bad lighting...

McKinley got a blizzard for her birthday! It was gorgeous all week, but on her birthday it snowed like crazy! This photo was taken the next afternoon after a good amount of the snow had melted (and have I mentioned how much I love where we live? It won't last forever, but I love that we have nothing but farm-land in our backyard!)

McKinley loved Mason's present - it was a REALLY big deal that Mason got to go to her party :). We (some friends and I) were going to just do a girl's night out party and take the girls to get mani-pedi's and see Disney on Ice, but when we told Mason about it he was unbelievably upset that he couldn't go. We ended up doing a little party at home instead, and he insisted that he needed his own invitation just to make sure he was really invited :).

The girls frosting their Strawberry Shortcake cupcakes (the cupcake was a 'skirt' and the Strawberry Shortcake doll was in the middle - a mini version of the 'barbie cake). They loved it! They also painted little figures and made beaded bracelets. Girls are too fun! :)

McKinley's friend Marley was having a Princess Party at a castle in Lindon on McKinley's birthday, so she dressed up and headed over to Marley's party for some more fun!

They had a cute princess who told them stories and danced with them, the girls totally loved it!

Almost as cool as Disneyland! :)

My little princess all ready for her royal ball :)

This castle was amazing, if it hadn't been so cold that day McKinley could have played in it forever! They even had Snow White's house (complete with 7 little dwarf beds).

McKinley reading stories with Grandma Brown

No birthday would be complete without a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Brown, we love them!

McKinley has decided she is into High School Musical (although she has never actually seen it, just previews :). I found this costume and knew she would totally love it!

The Birthday Girl making her birthday wish! Happy 5th Birthday my little princess! I love you!

Family Time

My cute sister-in-law Aimee is getting married on December 18th! We are SOOOO excited for her and David, and of course can't WAIT for the big day! We all got together for a family bridal shower for her (but for some reason I didn't get any pictures of the bride-to-be). Here are some photos of the grand-daughters with grandma :).

McKinley and her red-headed 'twin' cousin Maddie. They both have to-die-for gorgeous thick red hair :) Mason was sad to miss out on the party, but he did come by to see Grandma Brown, he loves Grandma and Grandpa!

Preschool fun!

For the last 5 weeks it has been my turn to teach preschool. It was really fun, and the kids are a riot (I learned a lot from them in the last few weeks ;).

My last day teaching we had a Thanksgiving party, so fun!
One of my preschool lessons a couple of weeks ago was on exercise and fitness. We talked about different ways to exercise, drinking enough water, etc., then we went into our theater and did a Yoga kids video that I have (my kids LOVE it!). It was hilarious, and the kids were totally into it! Check them out, they are little Yoga masters!

Modified Sun Salutation:
I think that one was called the "Rocking Horse" pose :)- "Namaste" - the light in me sees the light in you They were too cute!

{better late than never, I always say}

So I have been a bit of a blog slacker lately, but I am FINALLY - after MONTHS of saying I would do it - caught up. Get comfy, and keep scrolling, because there are about 4 months worth of new posts! Don't worry, not too much writing, mostly photos, so it goes fast :) Enjoy!

Fall Fun and Halloween Stuff

I LOVE Fall in Utah! We took the kids to Pumpkinland in Orem with McKinley's preschool class Allyson, Me, and our kiddos :)

Mommy and the kids in the corn field

McKinley and Mason at a Halloween party thrown by the Rose family - thanks for the invite guys!

The Rose family had a super-fun Halloween party, complete with a pirate treasure hunt, it was awesome!

Ready for the ward Halloween party :)

Pumpkin carving for family night. We painted them the week before, but the kids were a little bugged that we weren't going to be able to light them, so we carved them. Matt and I hadn't carved pumpkins since we were kids, it always seemed like a huge hastle, but it was actually a lot of fun!

Mason was NOT a huge fan of pumpkin guts :)

McKinley, of course, dug right in!

This pretty much describes how Mason felt about the oooey goooey pumpkin guts Watching Dad carve was VERY entertaining!

Yes, Mommy even got in on the fun :)

Our glowing masterpieces

Can you tell they are so proud of their pumpkins? They even stuck jewels on them for some sparkle :)

Trick-or-treating

Luckily it was a warm year, no snow on Halloween! The kids had a total blast - especially McKinley, she LOVES trick-or-treating, she could seriously go all night!

Afterwards we went to the Bowen's for a fun Halloween party - for some reason this picture (that I took right when we got there) was the only one I took at the party :)

Happy Halloween!

10/13/2009 - 10/31/2009