Nursery!!!

Avery has hit a big milestone! She turned 18 months at the end of March and got to start going to nursery! Hurray!!! She went for the first time on March 27. The week before, she was being I was trying to hold her in the Primary room and she was being naughty and kept running away and Darren was teaching, so they told me to let her try going into Nursery for singing and she did great.
She did great on her first week, too. She stayed the whole time and only had to go for a little walk once (at least that is what they told me...) She loves the singing and snack. I have been told that she will do great, then look around and realize that mom and dad aren't there and cry. Hopefully, she will do better soon... Here are some pics of her on the first day.




She colored a picture about families...or at least there were a couple scribbles if you looked REALLY close.... She was so happy to show us when we picked her up.

After her first week, we had a two week break for General and then Stake Conferences. I don't know if that confused her or what, but she hasn't done too well the last 2 weeks. Maybe it is because there are 18 other crying kids in there... I'm not sure. She cried most of the time she was there this last week. Hopefully she will get better soon!!!

And, just for fun, here are my other kiddies on their first Nursery days....
Rylee in October of 2008 on her first Nursery day. She didn't stay there though. I think it took her a good six months to be ok with nursery and then we moved and she had to adjust all over again and I don't think she really went consistently until she was about 2 1/2. Hopefully, Avery will like it a little faster than that!
Logan in January 2007 - He LOVED nursery from the very first day. He was pretty lucky to have a nursery with only a couple other kids. As a matter of fact, a few times he was the ONLY one in Nursery and those leaders spoiled him rotten! They were like his adopted Grandmas and they adored him. He was so sad to leave them when we moved from Vegas. He always did great going and never had a problem. Look how little he looks....

4/25/11

Just a few funny little moments that happened over the weekend:

Rylee was super excited about her pillow pet the Easter Bunny brought her. She described it to Uncle Cory and Aunt Katie so cute. She told them that it had ears with polka dots in them and the top is "pink fluffiness". How cute is that? She also told me that my earrings were "so stinkin' adorable" and that something else was "freaking cute". She also told Grandpa Bill that he had a fat tummy...oops! Got to work on that - The girl notices too much and is too honest. She also asked her Primary teacher when her hair would turn white again (she just colored it) and when she said in a few weeks, Rylee said, "Oh, good. I like it better that way." Little stinker! I think we need to work on some manners!

Today, we moved Rylee's new big girl bed into her room. She promised she would sleep in it tonight. A few minutes later, I heard the kids moving around, so I went to check and she was back in Logan's room on the floor! I asked her why she wasn't sleeping in her new bed and she said it was "too comfy" I tried to get her in her new bed, but finally gave up and she promised to sleep in it tomorrow. A little bit later I heard more noise and I went up to check and saw Logan running from the toy room back to his bed. I asked him what he was doing and he said nothing, but then Rylee told me he was getting them each a gun so they could "shoot their enemies". I guess there can't be anymore Star Wars stories at night... They love to make up stories about Logan Skywalker and Princess Rylee, but I guess that is making them a little crazy at night. Bedtime tonight was INSANE! They are usually angels, but it was bad. Rylee did finally end up in her own bed! THat is the first time in a couple of weeks!

Even though my other 2 children were stinkers for bedtime tonight, Avery has been the biggest angel for bed! It is my favorite to put her down at night. She is talking so much and is just funny. She is very particular about what book you read, but once we get through the book battle, she pretends she is asleep while I sing, and then when I lay her down, I say "I love you to the moon and back" and she says "back". Then I say "night, night" and she says "night" and rolls over and goes to sleep. It is so sweet!!!

Logan gave a sweet talk about the Resurrection on Sunday in Primary. It was kind of a recycled talk we had used before in our last ward about my Grandpa. He said at first that he didn't want to do that one, because "when I think about Great-Grandpa, it makes me cry", but he changed his mind and decided to do it. (Last week in Family Home Evening when we talked about the resurrection, he got really sad and cried a lot about Great-Grandpa and how much he missed him.) He did a great job all by himself! I had written in parenthesis when to change the pictures, and he knew he wasn't supposed to read that part out loud, but he accidentally did when he was giving the talk and he was so funny about it and embarrassed. He got all flustered and said, "I wasn't supposed to say that part." He has such a strong little testimony and is such a sweet boy!

fAmOus...

On Saturday, I took Rylee to this cute Princess Party fundraiser. She loved it and I will do a full post with lots of pictures at some point.... Anyway, while she was sitting and listening to stories by the fairy Godmother, a photographer from the local paper came up and took her picture and then got her name and stuff. I was so excited for her to be in the paper. So, on Sunday morning I ran out to get it. Nothing.... Then, on Monday...nothing... so I decided they must have decided not to print it. Tuesday, I saw this on the local front page...
How fun is that??? It is Rylee and her friend Savanna. Rylee was SO excited to see herself in the paper. Logan, however, had some severe jealousy and wanted to know how come he had never been in the paper and how he could get into the paper. He kept asking who I called and could I please call them again and get a picture of him in? He was pretty upset most of the morning... Rylee loved it though! She looked at it over and over! Avery loved it too. She LOVES Rylee's little friend, Savanna, so everytime we walked past it sitting on the counter she would say, "Vana, Vana. Ry, Ry."

4/20/11

Today, we were running errands and some music came on in the van. Logan and Avery both LOVE music and start moving whenever it comes on. Avery started to "shake it" and it was the cutest thing ever. I wish I could describe it, but just the middle of her body was shaking and she was pumping her little fists. It was stinkin' adorable! She is getting to be little Miss Personality these days.

Logan had a little soccer clinic today and all the Aggie Women's team was there. Afterwards, they could get autographs from all the players. As Logan went though the line, you would have thought he was the celebrity! All the girls were saying, "Logan!!! My favorite!!!" and talking to him. A couple called him "the Dominator". Apparently, he told them he dominates all 5 1/2 year olds.... A couple of wins this season has really gone to his head, I guess.

While we were driving in the car today, Rylee saw a pink motorcycle or scooter go by and announced to us, "I'm going to have a pink motorcycle one day. When I turn 16, I'm going to get married and have a pink motorcycle." We'll have to talk about that one...

Handsome

Since I was getting the girls' update pictures done and needed pictures of all the kids done, I went ahead and got Logan's six year pictures done a little early. I was going to wait and post them closer to his birthday, but I can't...Maybe I'll just post them again when he is really six... He is one handsome little man!

4/17/11

This morning, Rylee climbed into our bed and was snuggling with her daddy. Then she said, "Daddy, you have furry skin!" A few minutes later she said, "You even have a furry face!"

We watched home movies tonight and Avery LOVED it - She was IN LOVE with herself on TV. She was about 9 months old in the one we watched and she started crawling all over the floor, just like the Avery on tv. It made us laugh! She also said the world cereal this morning. It sounded a little like yellow and her "l" sound was so funny with her little tongue sticking out. It was cute!

Logan came home today and told us that his lesson at church was for grown-ups. "It was about Extra-cise and stuff..."

4/16/11

Today, I spent the day with Rylee at a special Princess Party. She loved it and I loved spending time with her in her element! She had so much fun seeing all the Princesses and dressing up in her Belle dress and having her nails and make-up done. It was just SO her! She told me her favorite part of the whole day was the "Princess Walk", which was the fashion show they did at the end where each little girl walked down the runway and they said her name. She walked down with the Mad Hatter. She also sat and listened to the Fairy Godmother tell stories for almost an hour. It was so fun! Pictures still to come... Someday...

Today, Darren took Logan to run some errands and on the way home Logan noticed that the WalMart sign said that they were open 24 hours. He got very concerned about this and said, "You mean people are there working at like 1 in the morning?" Darren said yes and explained to him that there are different people that work overnight and they sleep during the day and Logan said, "Oh so they are nocturnal?" and then he said, "Geez, WalMart needs to give their people a break!"

Poor little Avery had to endure Logan's soccer game in the pouring rain today without me and while Darren was coaching. Darren bundled her up and sat her in a little lawn chair under someone's umbrella and a blanket and she sat there for almost half the game by herself in her little chair. Darren said she looked really cute. I wish I had a picture!

Sweet and Sassy!

Here are my Rylee's four year old pictures. This first one I think I already posted but it is SO my Rylee! I can't wait to get it up on my wall...BIG!!!

4/14/11

For the last few days, Logan has been having special classes at school called Good Touch/Bad Touch that teach the kids about sexual abuse and some safety rules. Darren or I have attended each one, just so we could know what Logan was learning in case he has questions. He hasn't really mentioned much about any of it. Today he and Rylee got into a little fight and Rylee punched him. I told Rylee to say sorry and give him a hug. She started trying to give him a kiss, too, which he hates! She was pulling on his shirt to keep him from getting away and the highest place she could reach was his chest. I told her just to kiss him on the cheek and Logan said, "Yeah Rylee. Stop! That is Sexual Abuse!"

I had so much fun watching Avery eat yesterday. She tries SO hard to use her fork, but just can't quite do it. If she can't put her food on the fork, then she picks it up with her hand and touches it to her fork before she puts it in her mouth. So funny!

Today, Rylee had Joy School at our house and the theme was imagination. We all had to dress up. I will have to post a picture of Rylee's interesting creation. She decided to be a Cinderella Princess Bunny. She had on her Cinderella dress, some jewlery and heels, her red Ariel wig and some bunny ears over her crown, except her crown wouldn't stay on, so it ended up just being bunny ears pretty quickly. She cracks me up!

More Sweetness...

Avery's 18 month pictures - I LOVE them!!! Some of them are breath taking. I might be a little biased, but I think she is pretty darn adorable!!!
These first 2 are my favorite. I'm a sucker for a good close-up!!! I'm going to put a BIG one up on my wall, but I can't decide... Any votes?
Love those lashes!!!
I love this one just because of her hands! She is looking for the purse, I think...or a kitty. The photographer kept asking her where the kitty was outside. She walks around with her hands like this all the time when Darren is at work asking, "Dada? Dada? Dada?" It is cute!
She was so funny with this purse! She kept trying to get it open and put it over her shoulder. All girl!

4/13/11

I don't know if this can really keep happening, but I like jotting down some little things from our day. We'll see how long it lasts....

Avery is becoming the most independent girl! She will go to the fridge, get herself a little babybel cheese and then stand by the garbage and completely unwrap it herself. Those are the little ones that are in wax and take quite a bit for me to unwrap! I was a bit in shock and she was incredibly proud of herself. The best part is she throws away the wrapping as she goes! She even cleans up after herself - A bit of a miracle around here! She is talking a ton right now, too and I love hearing all the little words she tries to repeat and say.

Tonight, we went to the Fun Park since my brother is visiting and wanted to do something fun. Little Avery wanted to be one of the big kids and was running and climbing all over the soft play. She loved it! She is such a dare devil. One of the other moms that was there kept saying to me (in a VERY thick Spanish accent) "If that was my kid, I'd be freaking out!"

Last night, when I went to check on Rylee before I went to bed, she wasn't in her bed. This isn't really shocking since she sleeps on the floor in our room quite a bit. However, she wasn't there either. We found her laying on the floor at the foot of Logan's bed. We thought it was so cute, we didn't even move her. They also told us that they did this when Grandma slept over last week. Tonight, when I tucked her in, she started crying that she wanted a friend in her room. I tried to tell her her Carebear was her friend, but she didn't like that. Then, she started crying for Logan. LOUD! Avery was already asleep, so I finally gave in and let her move back in there. She was SO happy! When we went in there, Logan was kind of starting to fall asleep and said, "Hey! What is going on?" I told him that Rylee wanted to sleep in there and he said, "She's been doing it for like 3 nights in a row. Its OK. I like company at night." How cute is that?

Today at school, Logan's class had a wedding for Mr Q and Miss U. He was very excited! His teacher is so cute. He had to dress up, so he wore a button down shirt but was sure to tell me his teacher said he didn't have to wear church pants. He also had to take a present that started with the letter q - He took Quaker granola bars. They even got to have wedding cake! When he got home I asked him about it and he was all excited and named off lots of things they did. Then he said, "It wasn't that good of a wedding." When I asked him why he said, "BECAUSE we still had to do WORK!"

Moments...

I really want to be better about writing down the funny things my kids do and say. I have tried a lot of different methods for journaling them, but I'm not too consistent. Maybe the blog is a good place... Maybe not since I am already posting so much and still not catching up. Either way, today my kids made me laugh a lot! Here are a few funny moments.

Tonight, Rylee's prayer made me laugh. It went something like this:
Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day. Thank you for our family. Thank you that my brother could play his soccer game and it didn't get cancelled. And my sister...Just so you know, Heavenly Father...she was trying to eat my feet in the bath, but I just kept stealing them away. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Rylee also has this face she pulls...maybe I can capture it with my NEW camera!!!...where she scrunches up her nose so funny. She usually does it when she is thinking or if you ask her something and she says "nah" or something like that. It makes me laugh.

At Logan's soccer game tonight, he scored a goal!!! He was so excited and to celebrate, he ran to the corner and did a knee slide, just like the pros do. It was hilarious! Maybe not the most sportsman like approach, but funny...at least to me. Then, on the way home he said, "After I scored my goal, I checked ESPN and it was the goal of the week." Funny kid!

My little brother Kyle has been staying with us and he and Logan have been playing LOTS of Kinect and Lego Star Wars. Logan LOVES that his Uncle can pass the levels for him. They have also been playing Harry Potter and I think it is so cute to hear them yell out all the spells while they play, like "Protego" and "Expelliarmus". My favorite is "wingardium leviosa", or as Logan says, "I'm the Guardian of Leviosa!"

Little Avery has been so funny lately. She is so expressive! She has these funny screams and facial expressions that just make me laugh. Lately, if I don't listen to her right away or if I am busy with something, she will grab my face and pull it towards what she wants or right next to hers. Today, she was obsessed with our new pet frogs - their names are Tiana and Batman, which also make me laugh. She would stand by the counter and say "raw", which I guess is Frog all day and make funny "Ribbit" sounds that sound a little more like a growl. She would stand on a chair and just watch them and laugh and point for quite awhile. Cheap entertainment, I guess... for her watching the frogs and for me watching her!

Sweet...

I am in love! I love new pictures. They make me happy!!!

I'm pretty sure that my kids have never been SO happy and held SO still for pictures in their lives! They were loving this!!! I have some more, but it might take me a few days to get them all posted. I had a bunch of other posts I have been working on, but I just couldn't wait anymore to get these posted!!!
When the photographer suggested a fun candy theme, I was excited for something new and didn't think much about it. While we were getting out all the candy and setting up the shot, my kids were going a little crazy for the candy. My photographer made a comment about how excited they were and I said that it was because their dad doesn't let them have too much candy. She then remembered that Darren is a dentist and we had a pretty good laugh over the irony of the situation. Especially since one of the pictures will be hanging in his new private office (they are remodeling his office right now). Afterwards, she made this picture into a cute little ad for his office and she is having the print sent to us! She is the BEST!!!

Since she plugged Darren on her blog, and because I adore her and think she is the best, I will plug her, too. If you ever need pictures, be sure and check Katie out! She makes pictures fun and painless and she is fabulous at what she does! She is very reasonably priced and great to work with! We love her!!!

Here is her info -
Potatobug Photography

The BIG one!

Well...it has happened! I have hit the BIG 3-0! I have been dreading this day for months, maybe even years!!! When I turned 20, I cried. When I turned 25, I cried again. I thought for sure when I turned 30, I would be a mess! But, it has passed and it wasn't even that bad and there were NO tears. At least not sad ones. Actually, it was quite possible the BEST birthday ever! I might just have to turn 30 every year... It was more of a birthday weekend than just a birthday, and that is exactly how I think birthdays should be!
I have to give most of the credit for my great birthday to this handsome man...
I think I am the luckiest girl in the world! My fabulous husband surprised me with a fabulous get away and just about every great thing that I could have wanted! It was great!

Here is how it went down...On Thursday (the day before my birthday), Darren had the day off for Spring Break, so we took the kids bowling. We planned to go to Baby Animal Days, but it didn't sound too fun in the rain. His mom was coming up to make deliveries for his dad's work and take us to lunch, or so I thought... She was really coming up to stay and watch the kids so Darren could whisk me away on a birthday retreat! I would have been a little more surprised if the massage place wouldn't have called and confirmed my appointment that I knew nothing about the day before, but I was still pretty surprised that we were actually going away overnight and EVERYTHING was taken care of! I only had a few minutes to quickly pack a few things and give a few instructions and we were off! It was so great. It took away all the stress of leaving the kids by not knowing!

We stopped in Layton and got a couples massage. It was great! The only problem was that Darren's massage therapist talked... a LOT... which I don't think they should do. She was asking him a lot about how he could have better posture while working on people and stuff. At one point she said, "Oh! Nice Knots!" but I thought I heard something different, which made things a little interesting... We laughed about that one for the rest of the night.

After our massage, we checked into our hotel in downtown Salt Lake and then I got to choose a place for dinner. I had a hard time because there are so many good places to try and I hate making decisions, but I chose the Melting Pot! Yummy!!!
Mostly because of this big pot of chocolate!!! It was delicious! Then, we went to a late movie (Red Riding Hood) which we never get to do, so it was really fun!
The next morning, we slept in until 10:30!!! That might have been the BEST birthday present of all! It was divine!
THIS is what we had for breakfast! It was SOOO good!!! I had the peanut butter chocolate swirl and the chocolate cake one and Darren had the maple bacon (sounds gross, but it was so good) and the red velvet cake one. I want to go back there again... Soon!!!
Then, Darren went shopping with me! For several hours! Isn't he the best??? I know he hates it, but he was a good sport. I love when he goes with me. He helps me decide on things much more quickly! Sadly, I shopped more for the kids than me, but it was great! Then we met my parents for lunch at Applebee's because I was craving an oriental chicken salad and we don't have an Applebee's in Logan.
I love these guys!!!
I wanted to hit a few more stores, but the SNOW stopped us from doing anymore shopping. Who ordered snow in April??? and on my birthday??? Boo!!! Plus, I wanted to get home and see my cute kiddos and celebrate with them, too. They couldn't wait to give me my presents! They picked them out themselves....with a little help from Dad. Otherwise, I would have ended up with a Pillow Pet and bookshelf. Rylee got me a cute necklace, Logan got me a bracelet and Avery got me some sunglasses. They are the BEST!!!
Then, we went out for a birthday dinner at Fredrico's since the kids wanted to do some birthday celebrating, too. Darren and I were pretty stuffed, but we didn't want to disappoint them...
Avery always tilts her head for picture taking now. Such a funny girl!
We got home and started putting kids in jammies and all of that when there was a knock at the door...
My friend Jill was there and took me away to another surprise!
All these crazy girls that I love in crazy hats at Chili's to celebrate with me! (Tarasha, Jenn, Julie, Stephanie, Me, Emily, Barbi, Amelia hiding behind Jill...) It was a perfect end of my perfect day! Maybe 30 won't be so bad after all...

Oh yeah.... and I also got this....
Am I spoiled or what??? I was shocked! I wasn't expecting any presents after all of that, but I am SOOO excited! I have wanted one forever but could never justify the purchase! Now I just have to learn how to use it...

So, good-bye to the 20s. I am feeling pretty good about that right now, but I might change my mind in a week or 2 when someone asks how old I am and I actually have to say THIRTY!!! Why does that sound so old to me??? I've been thinking and it will be hard to leave the 20s behind. So many great things happened in my 20s! Here are a few highlights for anyone who happened to make it to the end of my rambling post...

*Met and married the MOST amazing husband...ever!!!

*Had three beautiful amazing children that I adore!!!

*Went to the temple for the first time

*Bought our very first house! In my 20s, I lived in an apartment, a house with EIGHT girls, back to an apartment, then an apartment with Darren, a condo and then a townhome and finally our OWN house...with a yard! yeah!!! We also lived in 2 different states.

*Received my Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and helped Darren graduate with his Biology Degree and then Dental School and pass boards and all of that stuff and bought a practice and became REAL grownups...

*Traveled to Europe, New York, Boston, Hawaii, Disneyland (a few times...) California, Disneyworld, Texas, Yellowstone and I'm sure a few others...

*Worked at several jobs including Phonathon Caller for Utah State University, EFY Counselor, Recreation Baseball Supervisor and scorekeeper, Bookkeeper and Staff accountant for a big hotel in Las Vegas. And now am a stay at home mom and work for Darren...some of the time. He should probably fire me!

*Lived with 23 different roommates (before Darren of course) and met many amazing friends!!!

*Been in seven different wards and have been FHE group leader and Linger Longer coordinator (student ward...), pianist, Relief Society secretary (twice!), RS teacher and Primary teacher.

*Still have not spoken in church successfully without a stool... maybe in my 30s...

*Added a mother-in-law, father-in-law, 7 sister-in-laws, 8 brother-in-laws, 8 neices, and 9 nephews to my amazing family! I love them all and am so lucky to have so many people in my support group!!!

*Made some of my VERY best and closest friends!!!

*Lost my grandpa

I feel so blessed! My 20s have been so amazing I have no idea how the 30s could ever top them! Really, there are some of those things that are the most special moments you will ever have... a wedding, the birth of my kids... Those are days that I don't think you can top. And so much of my 20s has been about discovering myself. Moving out and doing all those scary BIG steps in your life and decisions that change your entire life, like college and marriage!

But, I think the 30s are off to a great start! The past 2 days have been amazing! I do have lots of things that I would love to do in my 30s... Maybe have another baby...or 2..., save up for our dream house, pay off our student loans (that might go until we are 60!!!), travel, and start crossing off the things on my bucket list.... I think the 30s will be pretty good, too!