One of those days...

It's been one of those days...the kind of days that it takes forever to even get out of the house. And when you do you are still in your t-shirt that you slept in and your hair is pulled in a pony and of course who has time for make-up?!? We desperately needed an outing of some sort. So I took the kids to the pet store. As we walked in and I watched Carter scream with delight at all the animals I asked myself why I did not bring them here more often? An hour later as we left and I listened to Taylor cry for two hours because I would not let her and Anika buy a cat I was reminded why!! Once we got home things went from bad to worse...Crying...fighting...purposely pushing each others buttons...the list could go on and on. As we sat down to dinner I asked Anika if she had the lesson for family night prepared. Please keep in mind that I reminded her yesterday and TWO other times during the course of the day. As I watched her slump in her chair I knew the answer. I let out a sigh and thought to myself "Why do we even try? Just bag it for the night!" And that's when the miracle took place. Taylor said I have an idea you could use. Quickly they were whispering and exchanging ideas. Where there once was fighting and yelling there was team work and getting along. Lexi and the boys started playing together and instead of hitting and pushing there was giggles and laughter. As we started Family Home Evening I watched in awe as Anika pulled her younger siblings towards her and taught them the importance of Choosing the Right. I am so grateful for these little lessons that the Lord blesses me with. I was humbly reminded that amid the chaos of our day to day life...during the havoc that is sometimes, OK almost always, present in our home...that "Love is spoken here". We may not always see eye to eye but at the end of the day we are a family. A family that loves each other. A family that has each others back no matter what. A forever family!

Paradise

Jason and I had the chance to get away just the two of us recently. We were suppose to head over to Italy the end of April. We had been planning this trip for about six months...Jason had been mapping out exactly what we were going to do and see. Three days before leaving we found out that we could no longer make it to Italy due to the Iceland volcano. We needed to quickly change plans and instead head over to MeXiCo. Now I know what your thinking...you poor baby! You could not go to Italy like you were planning and instead had to go sit by the pool all day and hang out on the beach. Boo-Hoo! But listen for just a minute...we spent months looking forward to this trip. Not only looking forward to it but preparing for it. Lets face it I would of taken my diet a little more serious if I knew I'd be in my swimsuit all day long. Ok not really...but I'd like to think I would. When we finally arrived to our room I stepped out on our balcony and saw this:

Ok Italy forgotten and sooooo happy to be here!! The next morning we had breakfast on our balcony. I could not get over how pretty it was! While Jason was getting me a glass of ice I went to get the camera. When I turned around I saw this bird posing for the picture. I could not get over my luck...or should I say my stupidity! Hello never leave your food alone when birds are flying around. This little sucker swiped our toast. We enjoyed the rest of breakfast watching all the birds chase him around trying to get a piece. To funny!
That night we walked up the beach and snapped a few pictures.

Our days were spent swimming in the pool without having to worry about kids getting to close to the edge!! Everyday I got a dose of guacamole and a strawberry smoothie. Pure heaven!! I find myself still waking up in the morning wishing I could have my bowl of guac. I have never ever ever had guacamole this good before! Our nights were spent eating dinner and enjoying a conversation that was not interrupted every thirty seconds.

We went and swam with the dolphins one day for the kids...they really really wanted us to do this.

We also went and rode some ATV'S.

And got pretty dirty doing so.

My favorite FaVoRiTe FAVORITE day was spent down on the pier. WE enjoyed a yummy lunch with this view:

And this yummy food:

We hired this guy to take us on his little boat to show us some of the sites and take us to the beach. He was hilarious!! He thought he was really funny telling Jason jokes in Spanish that i could not understand...and to be honest not sure I wanted to understand!!

The boat had a glass bottom so we could see all the fish swimming under us.

This is the arch. So pretty!

We went to Lover's beach and divorce beach. You walk form one beach over a hill and end up on the other beach. Lover's Beach was calm water and you could swim and snorkel all you wanted. Divorce beach was the opposite....brutal water. HUGE waves as you can see in this picture behind me:

Jason found this spot were you could stand and not get wet at all.

Except your feet.

He finally convinced me to go and get my picture taken there and this is what happened:

The waves kept coming and coming and I was soaked!!

We found this cave that I thought would be fun to go in.....Let's just say I did not get far before I realized what everyone used the cave for...YUCK!

We could not leave Lover's Beach with a picture of us together:

We had the best time....I would rate this vacation at the very top. I loved every minute I was able to spend with hubby.... just the two of us.

Goodbye guacamole....goodbye falling asleep to the sound of the waves...goodbye eating breakfast every morning while watching the ocean...goodbye to naps by the pool....goodbye paradise!

Hello to MY paradise....

A special thanks to Kelly for watching my kiddos and taking such good care of them while I was gone!!!

ScHoOl'S oUt fOr ThE SuMmEr

ScHoOl'S oUt FoR tHe SuMmEr

Shout HOORAY!!

Let the summertime activities begin....

My kiddos got out one week ago...May 21st. I have loved no more homework...no reading logs...no waking up early....just fun filled days!!

A day worth remembering....

Today is a day worth remembering. A day worth the tears. A day worth pulling out the scrap book. A day worth celebrating!! It has been 16 years. Sixteen very long and very short years. I use to think that today would be a day I would eventually stop remembering. A day I would only think of sometimes. After 16 years though I have come to realize and come to appreciate that it is a day I will never forget. A day I should never forget! It was sixteen years ago today that my dad passed away. Sixteen years ago today that my life turned upside down. sixteen years ago today that I realized just how important life is. Sixteen years ago today that I learned not to take for granted the time we are given with those we love and cherish!!

My dad was loved form the moment he was born. He was lucky to have four brothers that loved him and showed him their love.

A loving mom who raised him and taught him well!

He was raised in the gospel and showed his love to his Heavenly Father from the early years...here giving a primary talk:

From left to right: my uncle Nyle, Uncle Barry, DAD, Uncle Kent and Uncle Lane

Always the goof off
On my blessing day

My first birthday: Dad, ME and Grandma Smith

My Baptism day

DAD and his brothers: Barry, Kent, Lane, Nyle and my daddy

Family picture at our favorite vacation spot....Colter Bay in Grand teton National Park

Hiking In G.T.N.P

There are many times my heart still breaks that he is no longer here. Not here to share in my big milestones. Like the day I got married or held my newborn child in my arms for the first time. Not here to wrap his arms around me and tell me that he loves me. Last year I started a new tradition in my house. Instead of mourning the loss of my dad I celebrate his life and the time I had with him. How lucky I am I was able to spend 17 wonderful years with him. I want my kids to know their Grandpa and the funny man he was. Today is most definitely a day worth celebrating! Celebrating life and those we love and cherish!

I made dad's favorite dinner...TaCo'S

Jason had to work late so he was not able to join in our celebration until later...but here are the kids enjoying our dinner

after dinner and cake (every good celebration needs cake) we watched some family videos. (Thanks Kel for doing this for us!! The kids have loved being able to see their Grandpa!!)

While tears are still shed I feel good in knowing that his legacy lives on! I am so very grateful for my family. Grateful for the love that we all share. Grateful for their example to me. Grateful for all the times we share together. Grateful that we are a Forever Family!

I love you daddy!!

A quick catch up...

All right, I am behind...really behind...so I am just going to do one quick catch me up as opposed to finishing all the posts I've started. I went out to Utah the end of March to be with this little girl:

Not so little anymore! My baby sis is getting married (in a few short weeks) So I went out to help with a few wedding plans. It also happened to be her b-day while I was there! Lucky me! My wonderful hubby took a few days off work so I was able to go with just me. Yep not one little person was attached to my hip. I had fun staying up late, sleeping in (Which really was the same amount of sleep I get at home since I was staying up late) and hanging out with family!

While I was there we had a shower for Jaclyn and her soon to be hubby Jon. We also had one for my cousin Jesse and his soon to be wife Steph. Crazy story about all of them. Jesse lined up Jac with Jon and Jac lined up Jesse with Steph. Oh it gets even crazier. They got engaged on the same day. They had no idea the other was proposing so it was really funny when they called each other with a big guess what?!? Here are the love birds:

While I was in Utah I was able to go See my friend Cami and her new cute little girl Camryn. I'm so happy I was able to time my trip with her arrival!

While I did not have little ones of my own and I had fun hanging out with my nieces.

Whenever I head into town I need to hit my sister up and get my hair done! It kinda made me feel special when my family all showed up so we could be together and chat.

Soon after I got home it was Lauren's last Prom. She went with Tyler...her ex-boy friend that she still sees and talks to every day...hmmmm

Two days later was Easter AND Lauren's 18Th birthday. Taylor made this cute picture for the Easter bunny. All over she wrote "I believe!" I love her question:

Here are the kids Easter morning:

Later that day we surprised Lauren with her present...a car. I'm not sure who was more excited..her or me!! No more driving her around!!

Spring break was fun as well. We went to the zoo with Kelly and Breckyn.

And hit up Chuck-E-Cheese

And then we got to watch this cute little girl while her mom and dad went on a trip. Oh how I love my Breckyn!!

We also got to watch Kingston...her dog...while they were gone. Carter had fun hiding under the bed with him.
Soccer has come and gone. With five girls in soccer my weeks were a little crazy...hence why I am soo far behind!!
Lauren played her last high school game. It was bittersweet! She had the same number her dad had growing up...#13.
WHEW!! So I still have to post my trip. I'll get to that hopefully soon......