New Tradition...

DJ had a long weekend over Mother's Day, so we decided to head down to St George for 4 days. We had so much fun that I'm declaring it a new family tradition. I'm not a big fan of the holiday, it's really kind of silly. If getting flowers and a present 1 day a year keeps you going for the other 364 days a year, then enjoy your day. If you don't know that your kids love you, then maybe it's because you're a crappy Mom and you need to work on that (haha).

My sister put it best when she said that we should rename the day "Pretend you're not a Mom " day. I think that the only way to truly accomplish that is to send dad AWAY with the kids so that you don't come home to a trashed house. Or I guess that going out of town works too since you don't have all of the housework to worry about.

That said, anyone who knows my mom knows that I have the BEST MOM EVER!! Some of you may argue that, but again, if you know her, you know that it's the truth. I often find myself feeling sorry for my kids because I will never be as great as my mom, but I just have to remember that they get to have the best GRANDMA ever. (Although my Grandma Ginger may be tied with her). Sorry that I missed you on Sunday Mom, but we had such a good time. Maybe you can come with us next year.

Anyway, we basically spent 4 days applying sunscreen to the kids, splashing in the pool, playing at different parks (Reese's favorite), barbequeing steak and shrimp, reading, eating at In N Out (mmmm, double-double's), and enjoying being together.

Here's Tay taking a break from playing tag.

Reese playing "Shamu" with Dad

Reese is definatley my girl!

Ginny playing at the playground in her swim cover up. She kept wanting to go back and forth between the playground and the pool.

I am one lucky Mom to have such fun kids, and a hilarious husband. I loved just hanging out with them, and can't wait until next year! (Okay, maybe we'll have to go again sooner).

I have to admit that I had a good chuckle thinking of all of the other Mom's who spent the weekend cooking and cleaning for their "Mother's Day Celebrations".

Yes, I'm mean.... Happy Mother's Day!!

Sacrament Coke and 10 Minute Prayers

Here is Ginny's dinner prayer the other night...

(keep in mind it's DINNER prayer)

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank thee for this food.

Please help us grow healthy and strong.

Bless Brayden and BrieAnn that they will be safe (aunt and uncle missionaries).

Bless Daddy that he will be safe at work.

Bless Tay that she will be safe at school tomorrow, and me too.

Please bless all of the animals in the whole world.

Bless us that we won't get the swine flu.

Bless all of the people in the world who don't have swine flu, that they won't get it.

Please bless everyone that has the swine flu, that they will get better.

And we say these things.....

Taylor and I were trying our hardest not to laugh! Reese just got sick of folding her arms, so she started in on her food. Boy, that Ginny cracks me up!

So then at church yesterday, Reese sees that the deacons are passing around the sacrament water, so she yells out, "Coke Please!"

Reese knows 3 drinks; milk, wa-wa (water), and coke.

Hey, at least she drinks milk. She's the only one in the family that drinks "white milk".

Don't forget that she also said please.

Funny kids!

Ginny Turns 5 !

Here are just a few of my favorite pictures of Ginny... Her first photo taken with Mom
Here's Ginny with her sweet "granny walker". Her little license plate says "Pimp My Ride". I don't think that her therapist got it, he didn't laugh.

Here she is on her first birthday. I'm just glad that her big noggin didn't show up until after she was born!

Here's Ginny after she tried to draw a mustache on her face. She had seen her 10 year old cousin Bryant draw one on his face, so she thought that she would give it a try!

What can I say about our Ginny? First of all, I can't believe that she's 5 already. I always say that, but it's always true. Here are a few of the reasons why I adore Ginny so much:

1. She is SO easy to get along with
2. Just like me, she is always up for an adventure. She doesn't have to question every little detail about what we're doing, she just goes along with anything, and has fun doing it. We make a great team.
3. This kid is so easy to please and she loves everything. If you take her to the store and ask her what she wants, she can't decide because she loves everything.
4. You can tease her about anything and she will laugh right along with you.
5. Every day when I go to brush her teeth, she has to give me a big hug first.
6. She loves her sisters to death.
7. She has mastered the art of "kissing up". She will go far in life with this skill. (I love hearing how beautiful and kind she thinks I am... who doesn't?)
8. Ginny is always so quick to help me with things.
9. She will share anything with anybody. (if your kid leaves my house with a treasure, they didn't steal it, Ginny gave it to them)
10. What's not to love about this kid?

5 is old enough to drink, right? It looks like she went a little overboard though!

Birthday morning, waiting to open up her presents

Posing for her "5" picture

Here she is enjoying her oreo shake after dinner.

Ginny was so excited that she got to go to school on her birthday. She got a pink birthday crown and got to bring some bubbles and slinky's to share with her friends.

After her Dad got home from work we took her to see "Monster's VS Aliens" and went to RedRobin for dinner. She of course shared her birthday shake with us, and was happy to finally turn 5. We love you Ginny! Even though I will miss you a ton when you go to kindergarten, I still can't wait for August 4th!

Falling Apart...

I live for the crazy, unexpected crap that comes out of nowhere.

(Hopefully you know that I'm being sarcastic)!

Here's just a few of the lovely things we've enjoyed...

DJ has been playing basketball 3 times a week for a couple of months now. He had been wearing running shoes, and finally decided to break down and buy some basketball shoes (a big step for el' cheapo) .As soon as he did, he sprained his ankle prett badly. He could barely walk. Basketball was out of the question for a couple of weeks, and since I was jealous that he had dropped 20 pounds without even trying, I of course stocked up on Coke and made cookies about every other day.

Well, just as soon as he was feeling well enough to play, he woke up with a fever and MAJOR chills. Reese followed shortly behind, and they both spent the weekend sick. Doctor visits on Monday confirmed strep for both of them. Apparently it is going around pretty strongly.

DJ's doctor gave him a shot of antibiotics, and he didn't even pass out (what a big boy). He told the nurse that he would have to lay down and suck on a piece of candy in order to survive. Unbeknownst to him, they gave him a "Charlie Brown" bandaid. Of course we all got a kick out of that. The next morning he was making his breakfast and when he reached down to scratch his butt ,Taylor asked him if his charlie brown was itching. So of course that's now the phrase of the week at our house.

Well, it didn't end there. As soon as DJ started to feel better, he got this really sharp pain in his lower chest. The left side of his chest was swollen, it hurt to move, and he couldn't take a deep breath. After a day and half of the pain, he called the doctor, who put him on Aleve twice a day. I have no idea what was wrong with him, but he's feeling better.

During all of the crazy sickness, Ginny had a mild cold, and she kept saying that she was just as sick as Reese and Dad. Well, during family prayer Tay asked that Dad and Reese would get better. Just as she said this, we hear this little voice say, "and me." So of course Taylor threw Ginny's name in there too.

Luckily, no one else has gotten sick in our house.

Also, Ginny had to make sure that I mentioned the fact that she is now big enough to ride in a booster seat. Okay, technically she is 1 1/2 pounds shy. She only weighs 38 1/2, but she'll be 5 in a couple of days and she really wanted to be a big girl. Since Tay's extra booster is 5 years old, we get to go buy a new one... lucky us.

I must be off to hide glow in the dark eggs for the 100th time this week. The kids never get sick of it.

Happy Easter!

Freedom!!

At church anyway!

Reese is now old enough for nursery, yahoo!

No more chasing her around primary, or trying to stop her from playing the piano, standing on chairs etc.

She did pretty well too. Our church was shortened by an hour so she wasn't in there for too long, but as soon as other parents started getting their kids she just started bawling, "Mommy!"

I'm a "let them cry it out" Mom, so unless she's crying so hard that she barfs, she's in there to stay. (I don't think that she'll have a problem though, she's pretty independent)

Also, we switched her carseat around, and she now owns the world! (In her mind anyway).

Here are some pictures that we took of her on Sunday... as soon as we get the camera out, she starts running away.

Oh, and we took her to the zoo last week and she LOVES that place. Why is it that I have 3 kids who love animals so much. Anyone that knows me, knows that I don't care for them AT ALL! (animals, not my kids)

Funny kid!

Seriously?

I'm going to strangle my husband!!

So todayI'm sitting at the table eating lunch with Reese. The sliding glass door is open, and Taylor was out on the back patio putting on sunscreen. I look up and notice the neighbor behind us, is outside in his sweat pants and NO SHIRT. He is gross fat, and I really don't think that I have ever seen him with a shirt on. I tell DJ that I just spotted my BF out back, so he looks out the window above the sink. Knowing that the door is open and that I am sitting right in front of it, he yells out, "Whoo, whoo!" Of course he used kind of a girly voice. The guy looks up and there's poor Tay standing there.

So this nasty guy thinks that my little 9 year old is cat calling him.

DJ just said, "Whoops, I forgot that Taylor was out there."

I feel sorry for my girls having to grow up the embarrassment we call Dad!

Questions.....

1. When you see your 9 year old daughter swinging on a swing "spider style" with the neighbor boy, is it okay to not say anything and just laugh to yourself?
2. Do you take a picture for black mail at a later date? (I didn't, but I was tempted to)
3. When your 4 yr old keeps calling Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Reese's Penus', do you correct her or let her keep doing it?
4. Is it sad that I am going to be teaching my 9 and 4 yr old kids to ride a 2 wheeler at the same time? (Tay is a scaredy cat like her dad... she can kind of ride one already)
5. When your 4 yr old has been planning her birthday party since December, how do you tell her she's not having one?
6. When your 1 yr old tells you when she needs to be changed, does that mean it's time to potty train?
7. Is anyone interested in potty training a cute 1 yr old?
8. When your 4 yr old lies to you, is it okay to tell her that Satan will be coming to her birthday party? (I think I scared her into never telling another lie)
9. Does that sound like something my Mom would tell her kid? (YES)!!!
10. How is it that 3 kids can be such a pain, but so dang entertaining?