Collection of Pictures.. time to catch up!

Over a month of pictures have

collected in my two cameras,

and today I finally downloaded them.

Lately I have been feeling like

I am sitting on a merry-go-round,

watching my life fly by,

trying really hard to enjoy each moment.

I feel blessed how many great

moments I have had.

I got home from Utah on Sunday evening

and went crazy taking pictures

of all the beautiful trees on our street.

My neighbor thought I was a little crazy

and asked if I had gotten a new camera.

Maybe I am a little crazy,

but the blossoming trees this year

make me giddy with joy!!!!

My girls can't help but sing

Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree,

every time we get in the car.

March 25th-28th our family went to

St. Louis!

It was Spring Break for my girls

and it perfect timing to visit cousins

and check out a job opportunity we are

very excited about... we will see what happens!

Then came...

Kayla's 8th birthday!!!!

And two days later...

Evan turned Two!!!

It was a week of....

party decorations & cupcakes!

THEN

Sunday was Easter!

After waking up to a house full of Easter candy,

we headed to the airport and said goodbye to Spencer.

We had one week to..

See both sets of Grandparents

& Grandma Mitton,

play with cousins as much as possible,

go to Classic Skating twice: in Layton & Sandy,

have a sleep-over with the

Morrill family!!!! (minus Brent),

have Cafe Rio for dinner at least four times,

hang-out with Karla & let the kids play,

& prepare for Kayla's baptism.

It was one great week!

Nothing like a day with my sis, Missy & Karla

& our 10 crazy kids having fun.

Spencer flew in late Friday night. Saturday morning

Kayla was baptized a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-day Saints.

It was such a special day

for her and our family.

I was overwhelmed

with the love

I had for each and every person

that was at her baptism.

I was grateful we were able to go to

Utah for this special day.

As I helped my little girl into her white dress,

after she was baptized, I felt my eyes start to water.

I couldn't help but think,

the next time I help her into a white dress,

it will be her wedding day.

I want to cherish each and everyday

I have with this sweet spirit in my home.

I love you Kayla!

THE SUN IS SHINING!

My boy....

As I sluggishly got out of bed today I was greeted by the kids board games scattered around the girls room.

Spencer had kindly gotten Evan out of bed while he was leaving to school. Evan then snuck into the girls room and pulled out the box, hiding under Avery's bed, containing all the games.

During breakfast Evan decided to pull the paper-shredder drawer out and scatter paper EVERYWHERE!!!! While I was cleaning up the paper, he found the new canister of oats and dumped it out all over the kitchen floor. Did I mention it wasn't even 8:30 in the morning yet!

But today is going to be a GREAT DAY, you know why?

Because the SUN IS SHINING!!!!!

I haven't seen blue skies like this in months!!!!

It is MARCH and spring is coming!!!!

I have been really lazy about posting pictures this last month

but it only takes a few to sum it up....

Our attempt to look festive for Valentine Sunday.

Kayla loved this month because she got to go to 5 Valentines parties!

One of these parties was a sugar cookie decorating party,

sooooo yummy!

After weeks and weeks of snow

the sun is shining!!!

Jim Gaffigan

Saturday night we went and saw Jim Gaffigan live!

My face hurt from smiling so hard.

He is hilarious!!!

So if you haven't smiled today

just watch the below clip on cake.

I had a clip on bacon but decided I

like this one even more.

My Little Shadow

In the almost eight years

of being a Mother,

I have had the best

moments of my life.

With that said,

I have had some of my

most frustrating moments as well.

Moments I have felt like

I am going to explode,

due to my frustration.

Many of those moments have come from

dealing with my spicy little Avery.

It seems every child comes

with their own personality

and some just need to push

a little harder than others.

Here is the thing....

during many of these HARD moments

in dealing with Avery,

I look at her,

and feel like I am looking

back at myself at her age.

I think to myself,

how would I want to be treated?

I found this picture of me

when I was going through all my old pictures

a few weeks ago.

I definitely see

some similarities in us.

I think Heavenly Father

sent me Avery

to teach me patience,

and to make sure I treat her

the way she should be treated.

The way I would want to be treated

even when I was being a stinker!

LAS VEGAS

I wanted to start this post by

THANKING some fabulous ladies

that not only gave me

a great birthday lunch,

but helped make it possible for me to leave for a few days.

The day after my birthday I flew to Las Vegas

and met up with Laurie at the airport,

who flew in from Colorado Springs.

We stayed at my sister,

Missy's house for the first night.

It was so great to see where she lives and how big her kids have gotten.

It was my first time meeting

my sweet little niece, Aynsley.

We went to Avatar

with Laurie's friend Britton and then

met up with Karla,

who had driven down from Salt Lake.

LET THE SHOPPING BEGIN...

THESE OUTFITS HAD TO STAY IN VEGAS.

Here we are at CAFE RIO!!!

My favorite fast food!!!

We spent the next two nights at

Planet Hollywood.

Planet Hollywood has a entire

mile of shopping attached,

making it hard to even leave our hotel.

LAURIE, ME, & KARLA

To spend a few days with no stress of day to day life was HEAVEN.

Between us four girls their were 14 kids

that had to be taken care.

So thank you to our husbands

for letting us go

and for all the others who made it possible.

My 1st Guest Post

Well today I got to contribute to one of my FAVORITE BLOGS,

"Or So She Says..."

Not really sure why you picked me,

Mariel, but thanks for the opportunity,

It was fun.

Click HERE to check it out.

30 TODAY! TAKE A LOOK BACK...

Today I turned 30!

And decided to take a look back through the years,

to a life before marriage & kids.

I am the "BABY" of five, two brothers & two sisters.

And as you can tell by this picture, I had plenty of love growing-up.

In almost all my baby pictures my mouth is wide open.

The classic 80's family picture, 1983 I think.

Me and my big sisters, Missy & Christy.

Go BYU! This was in front of my Grandparents house in Provo, Utah.

My Dad taught accounting at BYU

until I was in 3rd grade.

Notice the fine cut job to my bangs,

and pleasant smile.

Preschool picture 1984

Oh, those wonderful day of having a FRIZZY perm,

too bad I had MANY of those days.

The annual Christmas party

The Great Salt lake Stars

Can I tell you how much I appreciate those years and the money my parents spent

on dance & gymnastics

now that I have started to pay for my girls.

Thanks Mom & Dad.

Karla & me in 7th grade

Eighth grade picture; first time wearing eyeliner.

Here again, a beautiful perm with braces, lovely days.

Senior year 1998

BHS CHEERLEADING

(I am the fourth from the right, on bottom)

Snowboarding trip to Targhee

Senior Prom friends picture

Graduation 1998

Me, Sindey, Karla, Libby, & Jennie

making our way into the world after high school.