Comings and Goings....

Blake being a leopard. He was hiliarious!

Ashley and her sassy poses.

We have been going to the park ALOT to feed the ducks. This certain duck sure thought Ashley was great.

Blake's new trick. He walks in his sleep. I was still up talking to a friend on the phone and he walks in and does this. Um, okay.

While at the park we were turning a corner and heard this hissing sound. Of course, my first thought was SNAKE!! It was this very protective mother. We stayed clear of her.

Blake LOVES to feed the mice around the pond. I thought it was gross at first, but they are so small and cute.

We hiked the Y a few weeks ago. It was the kids and I first time. They did great.

Us sitting on the Y. It was a much easier hike than I anticipated. The kids did great. Near the top Blake said, " Boy, my body sure doesn't move as fast as it use to." He is so funny.

The view from the top.

Random Picture. Ashley woke up one night and wanted chocolate milk. I woke up the next morning to find evidence of how tired I was in the middle of the night. :) Oh boy!

New hair color! Blake's school had a carnival and the kids got their hair dyed.

Blake's new do.

Ashley loving her, what she called, "Hannah Montana Hair."

The high school girls at the booth got such a kick out of Ashley's white hair turned pink that they took a picture. They said Ashley was their favorite of the night. Luckily, Blake's hair washed right out. Ashley almost a week and 4 washes later still has little remnants of pink in her hair!

Lo and behold, Blake did catch a mouse from the park in his water bottle. I was so shocked. We brought it home to show G&G and then let it go back at the park. Sorry the pics are so fuzzy.

"It goes by fast...."

Last Sunday during Sacrament Meeting I was at my whits end. I had just finished taking the kids out of the chapel, put them in chairs in a classroom, and told them that they can't fight and talk so loud in church. They both sat there and agreed to be quiet. We then entered the chapel again and sat down. Not 30 seconds later Blake was egging on Ashley and she erupted in her ear piercing cry, and said really loud, "I hate you Blake, you, you, dummy head!" Ashley knows she is not suppose to use the word "hate." I was ready to put the smack down. I grabbed both kids by the hands and we bolted for the door. I was so mad, and I think the whole congregation could see it and for sure they all heard my kids. Ashley on the way out of the chapel dropped her kitty Trixie and I just left it on the ground, therefore her crying got even louder. I was so done!!! I had to remember I was still in the church so my yelling was a little quieter in the classroom, but not by much. A cute old lady in the ward came in and gave Ashley her kitty and I thought, lady you are ruining the effect here, but Ashley was sure grateful. After 15 minutes of sitting on chairs with arms folded and having almost every privilege taken away, the kids and I headed back to the chapel, this time they didn't move a muscle until it was time to go to class.

After I dropped the kids off at Nursery and Primary, Brother Wright, a sweet man in the ward came and sat by me. He said, "How are you doing?" I responded, "I'm grouchy, my kids are driving me crazy." I couldn't lie and say, "I'm great!" He then proceeded to tell me time goes by so fast, that this too shall pass, and before I know it they will be all grown up. As he was telling me this tears were welling in his eyes. His kids are now 22 and 19. He said with only two kids it goes double fast. I am grateful that he took the time to talk to me, I'm also grateful I didn't burst into tears. It was close.

Today was Regional Stake Conference, that meant the kids had to sit and be quiet for TWO hours verus just one on other Sundays. I was hoping that the stuff I got the kids at Target, in the dollar section, and the many prayers I said would keep them quiet. They did so well. I was SO glad. Brother Wright was sitting behind us and anytime my kids looked back he would give them two thumbs up. It was so sweet. I am grateful for kind people who offer help and encouragement.


Time does go by fast. How did my cute baby boy go from this little guy to going to kindergarten?

How did my cute baby girl get to be 3.5 so fast?

I am grateful for the little reminders that time is precious and goes by way too fast. Even if I almost lost my mind last Sunday. :)

Blake Starts Kindergarten!

Grandpa Allen came over and gave Blake a great pep talk. So sweet.

Blake ready to go. He wanted to do a funny face. :)

Blake outside his kindergarten room. He knows his door is the one with the frogs on it.

Blake putting his backpack on his hook. After this point he just walked right in and turned the corner and never looked back. Right when he was out of sight Ashley says really loud, "Wahoo! Let's go get some smoothies! I love spending time with you Mom!" I was too busy laughing to cry so it worked out well. Yeah for Arby's $1 strawberry banana milkshakes.

This is what Ashley did for the majority of the time Blake was at school.

Blake's class coming out. You can't see his face, the little boy in the orange shirt stepped right in front of him. Dang!

Blake after his very first day. His crown says, "Hero." Blake said he had lots of fun. He was a little nervous this morning. While we were in the car going to the school Blake says, "What if I get sent to the principals office, and I have to get detention." What??!! I reassured him that he would not get sent to the principals office. I think he has been watching too much iCarly.

Back to School Night

A quick picture heading to our very first back to school night. How did I get old enough to have a child in kindergarten? Time has gone by way too fast. Blake's first day is tomorrow. I hope I can fight back the tears.

Blake and Ashley with his teacher Miss Hansen. I think she will be wonderful, and she told me she is a germaphobe too. Perfect! :)

Blake's cubby

Blake's coat hook. Very first one next to the door. It pays to have a last name that starts with an A.

My pretty girl and I.

My handsome man. Blake took this one himself. Made me laugh when I saw it.

Just having fun.

Blake gave a talk in primary. He wanted to wear a tie. He looks pretty snazzy, and Ashley looks darling in her dress.

Ashley, my little fashionista. She comes up to me wearing this and said, "Don't worry Mom, it's me, Ashley."

This is Sister Brough. She was my life saver at church. She sat with us at church and was Ashley's Nursery leader. Her husband was the bishop. They just moved out of our ward. So sad. She is like a 3rd grandma to my kids. I will be forever grateful for Sister Brough.

Summer Fun

This picture makes me smile every time I see it. Ashley's first time wearing goggles. Yes, she didn't brush that day. :) We have had a really fun summer, it has gone by way too fast. It was fun to see Marcie and Brackon and their family and to meet baby Kade. He is darling.

Ashley in her floatie in my parents little above ground pool.

Ashley in her sweet life jacket my mom got for her. It doubles as bumper pads on the slip and slide! Blake and Ashley spent 3 weeks in July with Eric and they came back fish. Eric is a really good swimmer and he did a great job teaching them.

Two nights before they left for Vegas I came in before I went to bed and found that Ashley has crawled into bed with Blake. So cute. They had such a fun time in Vegas and I had a great time too! Is that awful to say?

Spanish Fork Rodeo. The bucking broncos.

The #1 roper in Canada.

I don't know why I added this pic. Just cute cowboys, I guess. :)

Not the best picture of me, but I took the kids to their first Rodeo. It was the Salt Lake County Fair and Rodeo. It was perfect rodeo for kids. It was just the bucking broncos, barrel racing and of course, the bulls.

Love watching the barrel racing.

I would LOVE to do what this girl does. She did the greatest tricks while riding her horse.

Doesn't that look fun??!! I think in my next life I want to do that. :)

This is a bad picture, I was trying to watch the bulls and snapped this pic without really looking at the camera. Blake asked me if when he is older he could be a bull rider. I don't know how those mothers can even watch.

Blake and Ashley on a ride at the fair.

I'm so sad this turned out fuzzy. I missed Ashley waving to the crowd of people immediately after getting on the horse. She loved the show girl on her horse too!

Blake riding, he was more nervous than Ash.

It cost a dollar to feed a bunch of goats and it was hysterical. I wish I got more pics, but my card was full. These goats are so aggressive. Blake and Ashley both had a cup full of carrots and Ashley was the perfect height and they knocked her cup out of her hands. JACKPOT! Luckily Blake saved some for her.

Once we got in there, I heard Blake say really loud, "Oh dear, oh dear, nice little goat."

Blake prayed that he would find a snake in the backyard and he did! He was so happy.

All last week Blake was complaining that he wanted a pet that he could pet and one that would walk around the house. He would say, "All I have is a darn fish who is really boring. "On Saturday this dog just showed up at our house. Blake played with her ALL DAY. Hence, he is still in his jams. I called 3 shelters and left my number with the police department if anyone was looking for her. No one has called. Blake named her Shirley and she is such a sweet dog. I am not a dog person, but she is so fun and well behaved. She is already house broken and barely barks. My Dad really likes her. Maybe more then all of us combined like her. :) A tender mercy for sure.

She is so pretty.

I can't believe Blake starts Kindergarten in just over a week. Time has gone by way too fast. I wish I could just push pause so my kids wouldn't grow up so fast. They are so much fun.