Amazing Fountains

We showed up a little early to the High School Musical Play so we decided to go across the street to look at some really amazing fountains.

There were waterfalls you could walk behind.

They had different levels of stones out in the middle of the water you could

 jump to and climb on.

The kids had a great time exploring.

It was very beautiful and relaxing.

It would be a great place to bring the family for a picnic and to get a little wet. 

Or a romantic spot to walk by in the evening with your spouse.

Lots of fun! 

HOLY CRAP DAN!

I've been working out at Realife Photography since I was 15; Helping them with Dance and sports pictures on a Saturday here and there.  I also help them out during their busy times, usually 1 month in the spring and 1 in the Fall. I go into work after Dan gets home from work and stay out there late into the evening. I love working with the people out there, I love getting out of my house a few nights a week, I love seeing all the cool things they can do with digital photos, but most of all I absolutely love getting great deals on my kids and family pictures.

Last week I finished up my work with them for this spring season. When I got home from my last night Dan asked,"What are you going to do with all your money you earned?" I told him "pay you for all the baby sitting you've done for me this last month." I said,"Seriously, I want you to have it. Go spend it on something fun, something for yourself."  I loved being able to bring home a little extra money and tell him to spend it however he wanted to. He rarely does things for himself so I was excited to see how he would spend it.

The money sat on his home desk for over a week and then this morning when he left to work I noticed it was gone. He was finally going to buy something for himself! Wonder what it could be... Clothes? Vacation? Books? Down payment on a Motorcycle? 

Well, today Dan came home for lunch carrying a big box. I said Hey, what did you buy? He told me to open it. When I saw the purchase he had made, the only thing I could think to say was HOLY CRAP DAN!  I couldn't believe it! This purchase definitely wasn't for him. 

It was for me. He bought me this!

Cannon EOS 40D

(about a $1500 camera)

A camera that I've been wanting for a long time but would never have bought it for myself.

After smacking him a few times for not spending the money on himself I thanked him and told him how awesome it was. (He's always showing me up!  : ) I try to surprise him with a wade of cash and he does one better by being selfless and buying me something I've wanted for a really long time: ) He justified that it was his gift to himself by saying how important and precious pictures are to him and he loves that I do that for our family. 

Now he's gone back to work and I've pulled everything out of the box. So far I've learned how to attached the safety neck strap, attach the lens, power the camera on. And other really important stuff like that.

Actually I went out in the back yard and tried taking a few pictures with the automatic settings. It was so fun! You can really see the difference a nice camera makes. Now I just need to learn what all the other 150 switches, buttons, and settings can do. Then I'll really be set. 

I'm excited to learn. I can always visualize these great ideas of picture I want to take but have never had the tools to do it. Now, no more excuses. 

I need all my photo friends, who have this camera or one similar to comment and tell me one cool thing you love, or that I need to know about my new camera. Any advice is welcome; and needed.

Thanks for the awesome gift Dan!

Biggest Loser Contest

 

I've been Competing in a Weight loss Competition for the last 5 weeks. So far I've been doing great, with consistent weight loss each week. As a group, we meet at Badger Mountain every Monday morning to climb the mountain and then weigh in to see if all our hard work from the previous week has paid off. This was my first Monday morning to get bad news. I gained 2 pounds! Can anyone say- Crappy! (OK, so it might have been the 3 nights of eating out, or the bowl of popcorn I ate the night before the weigh in, or that I'm starting my period in 2 days, but it still really sucks.) I feel like I worked really hard this week and that it was for nothing. I have a hard time seeing the bigger picture, which is that I'm 11 pounds down from where I started, I'm working out daily, and getting healthier everyday.

Instead, I'm thinking what a loser, I gained 2 pounds this week. Ahhhhhh!

A girlfriend sent this email to me and I thought it was a great analogy for weightloss and not giving up and throwing in the towel.
If you forgot to brush your teeth last night...
If you forgot to brush your teeth last night, did you decide this morning to throw in the towel and never brush your teeth again? Since you're obviously a slob who doesn't have enough self- discipline to remember to brush your teeth, why bother brushing them at all if you forgot to last night?
Of course not.
So if you had ice cream for dinner last night, or didn't exercise yesterday, or gained a pound this week, don't throw in the towel! Make a healthier choice for dinner tonight by eating something lean. Go for a short walk. Weigh in again next week.
Just do NOT give up.

Moral of the story, I'm not giving up. I'm going to keep brushing my teeth.
I am going to continue to make good choices to become a healthier and happier person!

The Playhouse

The Playhouse is finally finished!!

Dan and the kids started building this playhouse last fall. 

They worked on it on Saturdays and late into the evenings by spotlight. 

The kids were so excited to help and loved doing anything 

that would involve them in the building process. 

(Even if it meant hauling wood for Dad) 

When winter came the exterior was pretty much complete 

but the rest was put on hold until warmer weather.

Now that spring is here, we're right back to it. Last week we built a sand box to go underneath. Our backyard was very popular with the neighborhood kids that day and the kids were amazed that the Beaver Bark Truck would bring us sand all the way from the beach.

They love it!.

Yesterday the kids spent the day painting the inside of the playhouse. 

Each kid chose 1 wall to decorate. 

Alaina decided on a rainbow and painted the whole wall by herself.

Ky went crazy with the painters tape, filling in each box with a 

different color. His favorite part was when the tape was peeled off 

to reveal what he had created.

Nothing but PINK for Hailey. Kase did a great job on his wall. He used a big roller brush to paint the grass and a road for Lighting McQueen.

The kids had a blast and are very proud of themselves. I have loved all the memories we created, especially knowing that the kids have made some big ones by helping their Dad build this playhouse. I am excited to see the many more memories that will be made in the years to come as they use it and abuse it : ) 

Mother's Day

For as long as I can remember I've dreamt of being a mother. As a little girl I would follow my mom around the house mimicking her every move; whether it be cooking, cleaning, or changing a younger sibling's diaper. 

After high school it was hard for me to make a decision on a college and career. I knew that an education was important, but I wanted so badly to get married, have a family, and be a full time mom.

Well my dreams have come true!

I am now a mom 5 x's over. Admittedly, my day to day life doesn't run exactly how I'd always envisioned it would, and I defiantly don't have the same energy as I did during my babysitting years. But despite this...

I still LOVE being a MOM!

I love that I get to have these precious gifts from heaven in my home. I love teaching and showing them new things daily. I love learning how to be more childlike. I love the funny things they say and do. I love seeing life through their eyes. I love how happy and excited they get about the smallest things. I love seeing them love each other. I love hearing them say how much they love me. (I'm thinking about getting that one in writing to whip out when they turn 15)

Regardless if they give me a hard time in their teens, I hope my children know how much I love them. ALWAYS!! I appreciate how helpful and loving they have always been to me. They make everything about life better. I love them and I love being their mom.

I am grateful for an amazing husband who has always made it easy for me to be a good mom. Dan is perfect in my eyes! He has always loved and uplifted me. His help and encouragement over the years have helped me to be the kind of mom I want to be, even though in my mind I have often questioned whether or not I could actually do it.

My husband isn't the only inspiration and source of encouragement though. There have been many women throughout my life that I admire and look up to as mothers. I try to follow their example and hope that my family will turn out half as good as theirs.

Still, I have to admit, when I am going through my "day to day" mommy duties... (you know, the diapers, the dishes, the taxi driving, music, scouts, sports, and the list goes on and on), ... I sometimes wonder if what I am doing is actually making much of a difference in my kids lives. I am sure it is, but to say the least, this mom stuff isn't always the most glamorous job in the world. 

However, I can honestly say that I have always felt that "motherhood" is a celestial calling.  I know that it is something that Heavenly Father has blessed women with to help our children and our families not only prepare for the future, but to return back to Him again someday.  So, for me, now that I am smack dab in the middle of it, I feel the weight, and hope that I do a good job of it. God has strengthened me so far, and with the help of a loving husband, a perfect Savior, and my Father in Heaven, this will continue to be the "dream come true" I had waited for all those growing up years. 

To my children, I love you. FOREVER and ALWAYS!

To my Father in Heaven, Thank you... ...From the deepest parts of my heart. My Joy Is Full.