Ella and our 'almost' pet frog

Ella found this frog and held it for at least 30 minutes. When I saw the grasp she had on it, I told her she was squeezing it too hard, she stopped squeezing and it kicked. So then, she dropped on the concrete. After 3 times of this poor frog being squeezed and dropped, I told her to let the frog be free. The next day we saw it again and had decided to keep it for the day in Grant's frog habitat (which used to hold tadpoles until they died). Grant tried to catch it, but got freaked out when it squirmed. It hopped away and hasn't been seen since. I did learn, however, that a frog contains enough pee to drench the sleeves of a small girl - yuck!



This child has no fear. I'm not actually sure how he managed to get inside the toy box. When I came in the room - there he was. He loved it.



Cute happy baby!


Ella was so angry at me because I made her go potty (after watching her dance in circles, even though she claimed she was just 'bored'). She makes this really funny mean face and to get her to stop, I tell her, "That is just the ugliest face I've ever seen, let me take a picture". So, of course when I bring out the camera, she magically changes to the sweetest look ever. I told her that the camera must be like a magic wand.

Dallin playing peek a boo

Ella and Easter

Ella finding Easter Eggs

Ella would be pleased if all clothes were shiny or sparkly

Pictures to Muse

Dallin has done this trick a few times - the first time it was a little traumatic, but now he has figured out how to squirm around and pull his head out of the toys

The first time tasting snow

Grant and Ella were in tattoo heaven (thanks to my mom!) It kept them busy for a couple of hours and they loved it (except the part when Grant put his favorite tattoo on his belly-button and it didn't work)

Easter presents - Grant had been asking for a watch since Christmas and so I just knew it was the perfect gift. But, it seems that he was dreaming of a bug toy all night and when it wasn't waiting for him in his basket, he was heart-broken (into tears). Which, of course, broke my heart. Once I showed him how cool his watch was, it was an entirely different matter (spider-man flip watch with a stamp-pad). Ella doesn't even tell time yet, but it does have princesses on it - plus, she is all about having whatever Grant has.

Grant searching for eggs - it was very cold and even snowed the next day (Easter Sunday)

More Pictures

Cute cuddles

This was a new trick and he was so proud

Grant pulling Ella on a sled - what a sweet brother

The first time Dallin was in a swing and loving it

I thought this picture really captured Dallin's personality - very content

Another tag

I guess it looks like I fell off the face of the Earth as it has been 2 months since my last post. Thanks to my sweet sister (who is coming to stay with me for a month at the end of the year - yippee!!!) I am back at it ... with a tag.

Here goes:

A: The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B: Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C: At the end of the post, the player then tags 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog. (Which I have decided to not do because those I tagged did not even do my last one MOM, AUNT DIANE, and UNCLE JOHN/AUNT CHRIS)

-10 years ago today...

I was serving outside the cement jungle of Ireland. The only 'projects' in Ireland that I am aware of. Twelve story high buildings, maybe 15 of them surrounded with acres and acres of grassy hills. Quite the site. We lived in a makeshift shed/flat in the backyard of someones house. I destinctly remember pouring out at least a gallon of water from our de-humidifier each day. Part of our area covered a much nicer neighborhood and I remember walking to the Stake Center - the trees were covered in blossoms, it was beautiful green everywhere. Breathtaking. Also, the only time it ever snowed on my mission.


5 things on my to-do list today:

What list???
1. Get Grant ready for school (which included encouraging him to finish his valentines, fill out his reading list, and put the addresses of 7 family members on postcards that the school will send out solicitating magazine subscriptions from you. Don't worry, I added a note of my own on each card letting you know that you can just throw it away. Grant gets a prize for bringing it back, he asked please and melted the initial resentment in my heart) and take him to the bus stop.
2. Vaccuum the main level (before Dallin did - he's been scooting off his blanket).
3. Find out about tadpoles (they were coming in the mail today). Once I found out about them I added more to my list - buying food and declorinater - so they wouldn't die.
4. Make Valentine cookies with/for kids and neighbors. I was out of brown sugar and decided that was a sign to do it another day. Also, I don't even have a heart cookie cutter. It wasn't meant to be.
5. Re-map my 6 mile run for Saturday. It's my turn to find a place for our long run, and at mapmyrun.com I was able to mark the distance of a trail in a park I want to run. Originally, I had us running up the steep hill two times. I decided to change it slightly so we would never have to run up that hill again. :)


I enjoy:

- Really nice weather
- Lobster tails dripping in garlic butter (I almost made one for myself to celebrate Valentines day, but opted for a lean cuisine instead - less hastle)
- Dancing for hours, except when I'm pregnant because it's painful
- Chick flicks (can you tell it's Valentines Day)
- Listening to the introspection of my children - seeing there little minds at work
- Getting cute notes on my pillow from Grant (some have actually been reprimands about talking too loud - but, still so cute)
- Watching Ella dance and listening to all off her party plans
- Tickling Dallin and listening to his sweet laugh, also, seeing his face light up when I come into the room


What would I do if I were suddenly made a billionaire?

- Decorate my house and buy a bigger vehicle
- Of course, pay debt, invest (blah, blah, blah)
- Fly my mom out to watch our kids while Paul and I took a very needed couple retreat
- I don't really know - I'm pretty sure it will never happen so this is as far as my monetary dreams go.


3 of my bad habits:

1. Leave my stuff everywhere - I am too focused on the next event that I forget to take time to pick up after myself.
2. Eating high energy, quick food when I feel drained. In other words using candy as a pick me up.
3. Nit-picky critical of just about everything - it all needs to be perfect, including myself and those around me. I'm really working on this one. I think it might have something to do with patience.


5 places I have lived:

1. St. Louis, Mo
2. Provo, UT
3. Ireland (10 different areas)
4. St. George, UT
5. Brigham City, UT


5 jobs that I have had:

1. Best Mommy in the World - according to Ella and Grant
2. Bank Teller at Zions Bank
3. Customer Service Representative at Ultimate Electronics
4. Sales person at ZCMI (Candy, China and Old Lady Clothes)
5. Frostop


5 things people don't know about me:

1. I have some gray hair, but I am too stubborn to start coloring. Once you start you can't stop.
2. I despise makeup and hair styles. It seems like such a waste of my precious alone time. I just wish everyone else did, too.
3. I love wearing socks around the house and if I were a billionaire, I would wear my exercise socks that are snug fitting and so fuzzy and expensive. I find many a hole in my heel - but it doesn't stop me.
4. My kids eat nuggets, corn dogs, pancakes, ravioli and eggs for dinner when Paul's out of town. I eat cold cereal and sandwiches.
5. Bee's, wasp's, and mosquito's are not my friends. I shutter and get so angry at their presence.

1 1/2 hours of missed sleep and it is finished!

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