Easter 2009

Here are some pictures from Easter at my dad's house and also the kids playing in their new play room.

The kids are doing real well Ashlyn is growing up on me so fast. Ever since she started Kindergarten she comes home with some funny new words. The other day she said "that is so freaking funny" I had never heard her use the word Freaking. It was funny. When school gets out for the year she is going to get her tonsils out. She has sleep apnea and when she gets home from school you can tell she did not get her R.E.M sleep. A nap is definitely necessary for her. Anyhow she gets more beautiful by the day and she is a great kid.

Josh on the other hand is quite the opposite of Ash. He loves to tease Ashlyn and it drives her crazy. In the car Josh sings to any song on the radio. He actually knows the words to any popular song. I get a kick out of listening to him. The other day he started singing the All American Rejects new song which I promise I do not intentionally listen to and loves to sing "hope he gives you hell" But it sounds like he is saying El instead of Hell. Josh loves trains still and is in to Thomas the train right now. He is one happy kid.

Overall we are all doing good. Mark is extremely busy with school and work. I keep busy with the kids and working from home. I am not sure where all the time goes in life right now but one day I look forward to it slowing down. That is all I have to say.

Front Runner

Yesterday we decided to take a trip up to SL to ride the Front Runner trains. Josh loves trains so much and can be coerced into doing anything if it involves a train. For instance he is on antibiotics right now and we will say if you drink your medicine we will drive over train tracks today. He will happily take the medicine with such a simple bribe. Fortunately we have to drive over train tracks to go anywhere from where we live, so it is not that big of a hassle. Also Josh is very shy around people he does not see a lot and usually will not leave my side. The other day we went to visit my Grandpa for his 90th birthday. As we walked in my aunt Karen said hi to him and he walked by with his head down not giving her the time of day. My aunt Karen asked about 1 minute later if he wanted to go see her trains and he said yes, grabbed her hand and went down stairs with her and did not even say bye to Mark or I.

With all that said Mark and I have been very busy. Mark with school and work and both of us with house projects and the kids. So took a day off and drove to SL. We ate lunch at the one and only McDonald's and then hopped on the Front Runner to Ogden. Ashlyn and Josh were both smiling ear to ear. Who knew such a cheap activity could make two young children so happy? They both sat at the window with their heads glued to it watching everything they passed and the trains that passed them. We saw a man roasting a pig on a stick, trashy yards, freight trains, and other Front Runner Trains pass us by. Ashlyn said that when the Front Runner passed it made her busy which means dizzy.

Josh was in his form as he laughed, giggled, and talked the entire train ride about everything he could. On the way home it was a different story. His eyes got hazy and just as we pulled back in to SL Josh was out like a light. Anyhow here are some pictures that speak for most of the day. On the way home we stopped for Banbury Cross Donuts not because we needed them but because they are yummy.

Valentine's Day

Mark had to go to school all day for Valentine's day so I decided to make a nice dinner at home with the family. I didn't want to fight the crowds and kids when I knew I could make a great dinner from home. Not only did I make a great dinner including Steak and Lobster Tails, but I made a fancy dessert. A girl in my ward taught me how to make this and I just made a few changes to the recipe to make it how I would want it. We had White chocolate bowls that I personally made. Inside the bowls were Chocolate Cake Squares, White Chocolate Mousse, a yummy almond whip cream, sprinkled with a little cocoa powder. I invited Marks parents over to try it and it was delicious. Anyhow Here are some pictures of the yummy food we had.

The Kids

We got a new camera. Our other new one sucked so we forked out the money for a Nikon D 60. Here are some of the pictures with much better quality.

My Cute little Josh

I just thought I would do a post about Josh today. He was sitting on that chair watching Cars for the third time today. I kept looking over at him and he would make that cute face in the above picture. He is to me, one of the cutest little boys and has such a great personality.

Over Christmas break Mark decided to put Josh in a big boy bed and get the crib put away. I was unsure about it because I knew that would mess up nap schedules and sleeping schedules. The first night I had to lay in bed with him until he fell asleep. He got up about three times that night and was so loud opening doors and crying I about had a heart attack. After about a week of me laying with him for over an hour to get him to sleep I had had enough. Mark took over and in one night he did not get out of bed or get up looking for me in the middle of the night.

Now when he wakes up in the moring he goes downstairs gets his milk from the fridge in the bottom shelf, brings it up and lays in bed with me while I slowly wake up. It is so nice. I get to stay in my warm bed while he does all of the work.

Josh has turned into quite the cutie lately. He says some funny things that just crack us up. I will quote and explain a few. The other day Josh was petting the puppy and Mark told him don't touch the dogs weiner. Well now every time we pet the dog Josh will say "don't touch dog's weiner" One morning Ashlyn came down in bright pink pj's and josh started calling her pinky dinky doo. She gets really angry when he calls her that so he constantly calls her it to make her mad. I haven't had a pepsi in a few weeks and the other day Josh said "Mommy need Pepsi please" apparently he was having withdrawls like me. When he plays with his toys and there is a action figure or man that goes with the toy he calls it man. He will say "hello man, get in car man, man you are my buddy".

Anyhow Josh has grown into such a cute little boy and I am enjoying most every second I get with him. He has a great imagination and and loves to play with toys. He and Ashlyn fight constantly but they also love to play and be together. He suprised me with how smart he is. Now I just need to work on getting him unattached at the hip. Anyhow I just wanted to share a little about Josh.

Happy Birthday Mark!

I figured I better to a blog about your Birthday because I did one for my dad and sister! I Just want you to know how much I love you. You are a great husband and dad. Through our ten years of marriage you have taught me so much and become a great person to.

I thought I would list ten things that I love about you and embarrass you at the same time.

1. You are giving. If anyone you know is in need of anything you are the first to want to help them out.
2.You are a great dad! I watch the kids when you get home from work and they get so excited to see you. You take the time to play with them and it is nice that you put Josh to bed now.
3. You watch good shows. I love sitting down at night together and watching our favorite shows and getting excited for the next episode after seeing the previews.
4. You are a good husband. Mostly because you spoil me rotten. I think anything I want within reason you have gotten it for me. You even get me what I want when you know I am being manipulative. You also take good care of me and are always looking out and worrying about me.
5. You are a hard worker. You amaze me because you work full time, go to school, and on the side you do book editing and write white papers for my company and still have time to spend with me and the kids.
6. You are smart. Whenever I need to know how to do something or just need to know something, I know I can call you and you will know the answer. If you don't know the answer you act like it so I will think you know everything.
7. You are clean. I don't think I know anyone that showers as much as you do.
8. You are a great example. Every week you go to church and get us there on time. Before I married you, I went to church but if I missed it was not a big deal. You have been strong in the church and it has been an example to me.
9. You are a good son and brother. Whenever your parents or family needs you to do something for them or be there for them you are always there. You are always supportive of all of your siblings.
10. You love me. I have never had to worry if you love me. You treat me good and I know we will be together for eternity. I know it is not easy to put up with me, but you do and I know you always will.

I hope you have a good Birthday. You are a great person and I probably don't tell you that enough. I am glad I married you and have a family with you. Also try and not get to big of a head from this blog. Happy Birthday Mark. I love you!

Happy Birthday Big Sister!

Today is my sister Michelle's birthday and I wanted to wish her a Happy Birthday publicly. I have to make up for what I did earlier today. I had called her to see why she was not working and she said she was taking the day off and I said well fine you slacker. I continued on talking and then got off the phone with her. It is not that I forgot what day her Birthday was, but I forgot what day it was all together. It did not even click with me as to why she had today off even though on Saturday she told me she might take it off for her Birthday. I am an idiot.

So I was on the phone setting up a DNS for one of our employees phone line and he said okay it will be ready to go on January 7th, which is today. My stomach sunk and I wanted off the phone with him immediately. Once off, I called my sister and wished her a Happy Birthday and apologized for being such and idiot.

Well Michelle I just want you to know how much I love you and appreciate you. We never got a long growing up, but you are my best friend now. I love that we talk everyday on IM and phone pretty much all day. Even if it is about nothing. I love that we like to watch the same lame shows. I love that you look after me and I look after you. I love that it is just you and me as sisters so we don't have to fight with other siblings. I honestly don't know what I would do without you. Your are the best sister ever! I know mom would be proud of the life you have made for yourself. You are a great cook, mom, wife, sister, daughter, and friend. Happy Birthday!