Our Girl-ism's

I've pretty much fallen off the blogging bandwagon but not for lack of desire...just motivation!! :) But I wrote down a few things lately that my girls have said that have been so funny & something I wanted to remember for many years to come.
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Scenario with Kambri: She's running around being naughty and I plead with her to please be good.
Her response: "It's fun being bad. It makes your life easier."

?? REALLY??
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Scenario with Hollie: We're talking about the fact that Grandma Leslie's dog Gus is going to be a daddy.

Hollie: "Who got Meisha (Gus' pregnant girlfriend) pregnant?"
Me: "Gus did."
Hollie: "How did he get her pregnant?"
Me: Quickly thinking how I'm going to respond. Then she interrupts my thoughts...(phew)
Hollie: "And what does her owner think of this?"

If you know Hollie very well you've seen the way she says things out of the blue, so innocently, and kind of goofy. This was TOTALLY one of those moments. I just cracked up laughing!
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Scenario: I'm trying to get ideas for Christmas from Kambri.

Me: "Kambri, what do you want for Christmas?"
Kambri: "Just YOU!"
Me: "I'm already yours. What else?"
Kambri: "Just YOU! I'll wrap you up and put you under the tree and then I'll unwrap you on Christmas."
Me: "You'd be disappointed on Christmas Day if all you had was me."
Kambri: "No I wouldn't."

And everytime I ask her, I get the same response- as does anyone else who asks what she wants. I think it's super cute, but one of the sweetest things also!

I sure love these kiddos!!

St George Getaway

Mom had a 3 day class down in St. George for work. Lindsay and I put the idea out there that we'd like to get away with her. So, off to St. George we went. It was nice to just do whatever we wanted (i.e. sleeping, computer time, reading, shopping, etc.) Lots of fun times were had and it was just what we needed.

Poor Mama having to go to school though was kind of sad. We dropped her off for her first day at 'school' and gave her the proper 1st day of school ritual. As she's walking up to the doors we were yelling out "Good luck on your first day. You're getting SO big! Play nice with the kids. Eat all of your lunch. Etc, etc." It was hilarious and some of the people turned around laughing.

Then when we picked her up, we had to extend a warm greeting that went something like, "Did you play nice with the kids? Did you eat all of your lunch? Did you have fun at break time? We're so proud of you!" Of course, yelling it out the window again.

I confess that when I get away from kids, I basically act like one. It's my downfall because I really do become very immature. (Maybe that's why I have such a small select group that I do anything with. Perhaps the rest couldn't handle me?!)

Just have to say that I love their 'pineapple' trees down there! I don't know what they're called, so that was what I decided to call them because they look like a giant pineapple. Seriously, they're neat...although rather prickly.

We have been playing a game called 'Pounce' ever since I was little, like 10 years old little- young enough that I even remember playing it with my Great-Grandma Johnston. I have many memories of playing it with my Grandma Parrish and her telling me frequently that she 'hated me' when we were either losing or I made a move from the opposite team that she didn't approve of. :) So anyways, it's just our family game that we love to play. (Shaun and my brother-in-law Mark just tolerate it, but they're pretty good sports.)

Lots of rambling, but had to give some history on the game. So of course we remembered to bring Pounce cards (played with Rook cards) but our room didn't have a decent table to be able to play. Mom was bummed, but Linz and I got this bright idea to take our game next door to the Denny's. So that we did. Around 11:00 pm we head over to Denny's and ask them to put us as far away as they can from other tables and voiced our intentions. The other thing about Pounce is that we get really rowdy and sometimes don't say the nicest of things.

Our waiter was very accommodating and we had a little late night snack and then it was time to break the cards out.

At some point before we got real focused on the game we started into our sillyness. Linz decided to take it a step forward and started lurching around the area we were seated at and was doing some ridiculous dance that just had us hysterical. I'm quite sure they all thought we were crazy, but we had a blast.

Somewhere around 2-3 am we decided it was time to call it a night and headed back to our hotel.

When I got home they had arranged a Welcome Back party for me complete with yummy pizza awaiting my arrival! I am so grateful to Shaun that he is so willing to let me have 'my time'. And many thanks to my mother-in-law Brenda who helped in getting the kids to and from school and watching them until Shaun got off work.

Lots of fun times were had with our getaway and hopefully we can start making it a tradition to get away more frequently. It's just nice to regroup!

Disclaimer

Just thought I would add that I stay more motivated when people actually comment on the posts!! :) Makes me see that people actually take time to read my complete randomness. Truly, this blog is ultimately an online scrapbook for our family, but I do love to hear from all of you!!!

Party Time for Hollie

Hollie had a water party with her friends. We played in the sprinklers, put the sprinkler under the tramp, tried doing a water pinata (note to Family Fun Magazine- it didn't work work as stated) and cake & ice cream! It was a lot of fun.

Friends who joined us:
Lacie, Shaylee, Kassi, Karli, Kyra, Kambri, Haddie & Zoey

Then on to the family party that night!

Thanks to Aunt Sissy who custom-made the cake according to Hollie's request.
It turned out great!

We were lucky that all of our family was able to attend except for Uncle Mark & Uncle Chris!
She got lots of fun presents and the main theme of the day was 'Justin Beiber'! :)
And her long-waiting gift...her bunny she got from Uncle Adam. She's been asking for a couple years now for a bunny and I kept vetoing the idea. Unbeknownst to me Shaun & Uncle Adam had a conspiracy against me!! She named him/her Lily Rose and she is cute!

9 things about Hollie:

1. We love to hear her sing. I mention this a lot, but her voice is THAT good!
2. Her creativity. We never know what we will find her into or doing.
3. She loves to shop, most especially with Mom.
4. She has a way of cheering up people, simply with her cute personality.
5. She loves anything to do with horses & Justin Beiber.
6. She loves to play house, barbies, or store.
7. She is very impulsive. She wants to please, but sometimes goes about it backwards. ;)
8. She loves doing anything crafty or art/drawing.
9. She is very caring. If someone is upset or in need, she is very attentive to their needs.

Happy Birthday Hollie! Another great year watching you grow into a young lady!

Our Little Singers

The kids and I were all downstairs doing our various things and Taylor was listening to music on youtube. We all kinda started singing and then Hollie & Taylor started singing this boy/girl combination song together. They sounded SO good. They have both got such talent with music. I had to take pictures, if for no other reason to capture the moment of them being within 2 feet of one another and getting along! :) Then the 3 of us sang together a bit. I've decided we need to start doing that at the piano together. I used to love sitting at the piano and singing with my friend Brittany, and Lindsay & Chris when we were younger.

Little Miss Kambri was busy doing something of her own- playing dress-up. What a fun time it was for all of us.

New Family Additions

We are the proud new owners of 3 furry little bunnies!
Hollie got one for her birthday from Uncle Adam (a surprise that Shaun was in on, unbeknownst to me, as I had been saying no bunny for months!) Well, it wasn't good enough for just one...they had it covered and Kambri got one as well.

Then Taylor wanted one. I told him that we would wait a few weeks and see if the newness of them had worn off by then before we added ANOTHER bunny to our family.

I come home from Lindsay's house a few nights later and the girls go out to check on their bunnies and they come running in. "Mom, there are THREE bunnies." I knew right then and there that my dear husband had went and bought Taylor one.

Totally vetoed on the whole bunny thing. However, I must confess, they are cute and they are really enjoying them.

Kambri named hers Snowball. Hers is the smallest and the most friendly.

Hollie named hers Lily Rose. (I should note that we have no idea if they're boys or girls.)

And Taylor named his Alexander.

Shaun is quite the handyman and built the bunnies a nice little cottage that you can see in the back corner. :)

Welcome to our family little bunnies!

Puppet Show Time

Hollie's class put on the cutest little puppet shows. Each group wrote their own story and then made their puppets to go with them.

So cute! She did a great job!

Holl got asked to jump in and take the place of one of the students who was absent, and did a great job without having practiced the part.

Kambri and I, Grandma Leslie, Grandma Brenda & Grandpa Mike were all able to arrange our schedules so we could be there. Great job Holl!

Tay's Choir Concert

Taylor was in the choir this year and we got to go to 2 of his concerts. They did a great job and I LOVE to see him interested in music, as it's something that I very much enjoy. He has a great voice and I look forward to seeing him in more time to come as he matures even more with the singing.

I got a new camera not long ago and I need to learn more about the settings. Unfortunately, this was the best picture I could get of Tay on the stage. Hopefully we'll have better luck next time.
Hollie & I were glad we were able to attend his concert.

Grandma Brenda & Grandpa Mike both came and Grandpa was being a little goofy at first when it came time for pictures!

(We didn't get a picture of Uncle Chris who also came for the concert.)

While we were at the school I made Taylor open up his locker so I could see the inside. All I could do was laugh. Boys are much different than girls. I remember my mom driving me and my friends up to the school before school started in the summer so we could decorate them.
Last concert of the year...
Oh, he's becoming so grown up!!

Teenager in 'da house

We have officially had a teenager in our house since November- I can hardly believe it. Better late than never for some long overdue posts, eh? It feels unreal to have a kid that old.

A sad attempt at an iPod cake.

And I've forgotten how a teenagers needs are fairly simple. Music, books, video games, friends, distance from the family.

We had a fun little family party and then he had a friend sleepover/party with the 'boys' on Friday! And due to the whole 'distance from the family' thing, I regret the fact that I was unable to get pictures of them doing the teenager thing.

This is such a Taylor-type expression. He is such a joy to have in our family. In celebration of his 13th birthday, a list of 13 of the MANY things we love about Taylor.

1. His goofy antics that make him who he is!
2. He is such a wonderful helper to those around him.
3. His tender heart.
4. His hugs! I hope he is always as free with hugs as he has been.
5. He is a great singer! Love to hear him belting out a song when he thinks no one is listening.
6. His trust worthiness.
   
7. He is incredibly smart! You forget how much you don't know until you have a smart teenager.
8. His love for reading.
   
9. He is focused & determined...relentless at times, too!
10. He tries hard to be a great kid in a nasty world. (We'll exclude his sisters in this one.)
11. His persuasiveness.
12. His uniqueness.
13. That we are lucky enough to have him in our family!!!

Get on your feet

The girls decided it would be a lot of fun to walk in Dad's work snow boots! We laughed and laughed as they kept trying to stand up all the way in them.

Almost there...

Tada!!!

30 before 30

My dear, sweet cousin Anne just gave me the idea of a 30 things before I turn 30 list. (Sidenote: she's always given me grief over being older than me...by like 10 or 11 days. Joke is on her this year! She's gonna be the big old 3-0 before me!!! Haha!)

30 things before 30- Updated

1. Weekend getaway with Shaun
2. Go to the temple 3 times, all different temples
3. Lose 30 pounds
4. Learn and perfect a new song on the piano
5. Prevent a divorce of the van- marriage counselor advises new tranny
6. Learn how to hem pants
7. Get 2 rooms in my house JUST how I want them.
8. Learn to use and cut something out of wood with the saw
9. Complete stairway project
10. Learn a new household/home improvement skill
11. Read a self-improvement book
12. Watch the news each night for one week
13. Plan a vacation
14. Complete 10 scrapbook pages
15. Shoot a gun
16. Play 3 new games with the kiddos
17. Plan and carry out a cousin night
18. Complete kitchen project with walls
19. One month straight without missing church
20. Tear down metal shed
21. 10 songs in one day on Just Dance 2
22. Two lunch/dinner dates with different people- One done
23. Pack lunches and go hiking
24. Post blog entries 3X monthly February- June
25. Take an aptitude test
26. Make something crafty for my house
27. Buy an outfit that is not of my 'normal type' of choosing
28. Try Zumba
29. Help in selling Mom & Dad's house
30. Cook 12 out of 14 days (can count if we eat somewhere else, as long as we don't eat out)

I realize some of these may not seem like a big deal, but some are things to mark off my never-ending to do list and some are just things I've been wanting to do for fun but haven't made the time for. Wish me luck!!!