Kindergarten Graduation 2009

Good job Buddy, you worked really hard this year. We are so proud of you! Kaylee Rushton, Conner Story, Garrett Overman, Jonah Neilson and Justin.
Justin's really good friends at church and school.

Justin's teacher was suppose to be Mrs. Thompson, but 3 weeks into school she was diagnosed with cancer and was unable to finish the school year. They didn't know how long she was going to be out so the called in a temp sub which just so happened to be Mrs. Becky, the Young Women's President I've been serving with for the last 2 1/2 years. Mrs. Thompson was planning on coming back after spring break, but after a week of being back she was to warn out and decided it was better for her to take the rest of the year off. Mrs. Becky gladly filled in again. She did a fantastic job and Justin really loved her. He was very comfortable with her, considering he saw her not only at school everyday, but when she was at our house once a week for a presidency meeting, at church on Sundays and then every now and then on mutual nights. I really liked being able to hear all about the way he would act at school and the things he would say and do when I'm not around. Especially when she would tell me about the girls that would chase him at recess until they finally gave up because he wouldn't give them the time of day. He was to busy doing boy stuff...

Thanks Mrs. Becky, You did a GREAT job!

Memorial Weekend Campout

What's funner then camping on a cold and rainy holiday weekend full of...

four-wheeling,

roasting marshmellows,

eating marshmellows,
fishing (without the water)

pretending you have a horse/seesaw with grandma and not pictured, beebee gun shootoff or marshmellow gun wars.

NOTHING!

After packing up to head home on Monday we stuck with tradition and headed to Spanish Fork Cemetary to put flowers on a few headstones. However that was after stopping at the park to enjoy lunch and alittle more fun. We just weren't ready for the weekend to be over.

Photo Shoot

Justin - 6 years old

Logan - 3 years old

Allie - 1 year old

All Together

Thanks Summer for taking pictures of the kids for me.

Allie's 1 Yr old Pic

Along with the fundraiser dinner the Young Women were offering last Saturday, they were also offering family pictures for an additional price. Since it was Allie's b-day and we were already there, dressed, and looking some what decent I had them take her 1 yr pic. We haven't seen the family pic yet because they are suppose to be printing them off to give to us, but she just emailed me Allie's today. I think it turned out pretty darn cute! Considering we couldn't get the little stink to hold still for more then 2 seconds. The best part is, it was free. YEAH! All I have to do is go have it printed and we're set..

Can you tell what this is?

Probably not! This is tonights T-Ball game in the Rain

How about this one?

No! That's me, one other mom and 4 kids, hunkered down under the green and white umbrella, which wasn't even our umbrella mind you, watching T-Ball in the rain.

Besides the couple of times Allie was tired of being confined to the little spot under the umbrella, it went rather well!

Really, she's 1 already?

I can't believe how fast this last year has went. I swear it was just yesterday that our little Allie joined our crazy family! But we have trained her well, she is now just as crazy as we are. Her birthday was actually on Saturday the 16th, but it was a crazy day for me. I spent most of the morning and afternoon getting our garden in and then all evening helping the Young Women with the fundraiser dinner for girls camp.
We invited all my family over to celebrate Allie's 1st and Kylee's 4th birthday with us Sunday afternoon, with a BBQ. I spent most of the time after church decorating the cake, which shouldn't have been as difficult as it ended up being. Actually decorating the cake was easy-peasy, however I put Derrick in charge of constructing the slide. Let's just say there was definitely an easier way! We used Laffy Taffy ropes and melted them together, then we had to form it while it was still warm, but then we had to freeze it into place, but then once it was thawed it would start to sag again. We just ended up keeping the whole cake in the freezer until it was time so the slide wouldn't collapse. It did turn out really cute though. Allie had fun following all the other kids around, but I did notice once again that she was Kortney's little shadow for most of it. There was even a time or two when Kortney and I were in the same room and Allie would go crying to Kortney instead of me. She sure loves you Kort!

She had her 1 year check up today. The doctor just couldn't get over how busy she is. She kept opening the drawers and cupboards, just to slam them closed. She kept taking the books out of the rack just to throw them on the floor. She is such a little monkey business. He did inform me of the double ear infections she had, which explains a lot about where my happy baby has went. She weighed 18 lbs 8 oz and I can't remember the height, but I do remember she is in the 15% on both and 50% on head circumference. This is a little bit of a change from my boys, who are always in the 75% on weight and height and 95-97% on head circumference. I guess that's the difference between boys and girl.

He asked me if she was talking yet, so when I told him that she says "Momma, Dada, bobba", he said that was great, but when I continued to list, "thank you, who's that, what's that", he was very surprised. I guess I hadn't really thought much of it since she has been saying them for at awhile now. She is such a little smarty pants, the problem is that she knows it!

So all-in-all her appointment went well. She didn't love the 4 shots she had to get, nor did I, but she has been surprisingly happy tonight considering. It might have something to do with the Tylenol.

Father's & Son's

Allie loves her daddy so much and was pretty determind that she was going to go with him to the father's & son's campout last night. She kept reaching for him to give him kisses until she finally was able to pull herself into the car to stow away.... She sure has learned to manipult pretty early. She knows we can't resist he big kisses. The boys were SO excited to go on this campout. On Wednesday Justin asked if he could make a count down chain, for how many days were left and on Friday while I was getting Justin ready for school Logan just cried because "it will take for a long time to do that. We will miss the camping".
Derrick too this picture of him and Logan with his phone and sent it to me. So I'm glad I have alest one picture since he refused to take the actually camera with him. Derrick said as they were getting all tucked into bed, having noticed I packed there favorite blankets and pillows, Justin made the comment "this is just like home".
Allie and I decided to go spend the evening out at Kristen's house. I was suppose to get some scrapbooking done, but as usual, I talk to much so nothing was accomplished. Oh, well. I don't know who was more excited, Kortney, to have Allie there or me to have Kortney there to take charge of Allie for me! Kortney is always a big help. It's always nice to have a little break from being a jungle gym.














Justin 'chillin' with Conner, one of his best friends.

GeAr uP!

Who doesn't like to watch a good game of T-Ball, especially when you've got 2 of your own boys out on the field, Coach Derrick and Catcher Justin ! There first game was on May 5th and they have one every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of June. Justin is showing a LOT more interest in the sport this year then last year. I really enjoy watching him put all of his efforts into the game! GoOd GaMe TeAm!

"One year older and wiser too..."

"'Happy Birthday (clap) to ME!" I didn't have a whole lot planned for the day besides the basic day to day things with a few add-ins.
7:00 - 8:00 - Feed Allie and get her back to sleep for another couple of hours
8:00-10:45 am - Get ready for the day (shower, breakfast, Justin's homework and reading time, make sure the house is a somewhat clean, )
11:00 - 12:00 - Picnic Lunch at Kristal's House (add-in)
12:05 - 12:15 - Take kids to school
12:30 - 3:00 - Scrapbook with Kristen at my house (originally planned for 11:00, but changes so I could do the picnic) (add-in - rarely gets done)
3:10 - 3:25 - Pick up kids from school
3:30 - 5:00 - Decide whats for dinner, make and eat it
5:45 - 7:15 - T-Ball Game
7:00 - 8:45 - Young Women's
8:30 - 9:00 - Bed time routine - Scriptures and Prayers - hugs and kisses
9:00 - 11:00 - Derrick plays B-ball at the church, while I straighten up the house again and sit down to read.
This is what my day ended up being like instead:
7:00 - Feed Allie back to sleep in my bed
7:30 - Justin comes into my room and said "mom, I know today is a special day,because it's your birthday".
7:30 - Derrick leaves for work and says "Happy Birthday, have a good day"! (kiss, kiss) (gross)
7:45 - Get 2 txt messages from friends saying "Happy Birthday", one of which was sent 11:45 the night before...
7:45 - 10:30 Get ready for the day also received a few more txt messages from family saying "Happy Birthday"
11:00 - 1:00 - Went to Kristal's for picnic. It wasn't a picnic! It was a surprise lunch with ALOT of my really good friends and My sister, whom I was suppose to be meeting back at my house at 12:30. Thanks Kristal, Lora, Anna, Chambrea, Cheryl, Kristy, Erin and Kristen. I couldn't ask for better friends. It really means alot to me that you would take time out of your busy schedules to make my birthday a special one.
12:00 - 12:15 - Kristal took kids to school for me - Thanks again!
12:30 - 12:35 - Phone call from dad wishing me a happy birthday.
1:00-3:00 - Scrapbook with Kristen, except I didn't do anything because I tend to just talk especially since Mom, Lindsay and Vanessa stopped by with there kids. I don't stop talking long enough to accomplish anything else.
1:30 - 2:00 - Mom went to get me a strawberry slushy from Sonic, but discovered they went out of business on Sunday. How sad is that? It's a good thing I had just had one on Saturday!
3:05 - 3:25 - Me and Lindsay went to pick up kids from school and received a few more txt's.
4:00 - Derrick called to say "don't worry about making dinner, I have it taken care of". (YEAH)
5:35 -Derrick gets home from work with "Chili's To Go" - Chicken tenders and Chips and salsa (my favorite salsa in the world).
5:40 - Call from Derricks mom wishing me a happy birthday. While on the phone with her I also received the LONGEST voicemail message of my life. It was touching, hilarious, random, long winded and many more things all at the same time. I was laughing so hard I cried (true story), about 5 minutes into it I put it on speaker phone so Derrick could enjoy it along with me. Thanks Brett!
5:45 - 7:15 - Justin's T-Ball Game (Eat while I'm watching) and received even more txt msgs
7:30 - Decided not to go to Young Women's tonight, since the other leaders had everything taken care of.
8:00 - 9:00 - Took the kids to Cold Stone, where I enjoyed the Signature Strawberry Blonde (YUMMY).
9:00-9:30 - Bedtime Routine with an add-in of Derrick and the boys singing Happy Birthday to me. (Have I mentioned I have the best family in the world)
10:00 - 11:00 Watched "the Unit" with Derrick
11:00 - Off to bed after quickly reading 2 Ne. 10, since I have to finish the BOM by the end of July for Girls Camp...
WOW WHAT A DAY!
Oh, Derrick also gave me a smoothie maker, which I haven't actually received yet, but it's on it's way! I am so excited! Things haven't been the same around her since my last smoothie maker broke. I don't think it liked the abuse of making me strawberry or orange smoothies everyday. Oops!

ThAnKs FrIeNdS aNd FaMiLy, YoU'rE tHe BeSt!

BaCkYaRd PlAyGrOuNd

The kids, including Allie, LOVE the slide their daddy attached to the deck for an easier and faster way down to the yard. I just wish I wasn't to big for it. Especially when they get the hose on it and have a water slide. How fun is that!

"I often go walking"

Derrick surprised me with this hanging basket of big beautiful flowers I had been eyeing for the past few weeks, for Mothers Day (even though I got them on Saturday). I was super excited, because it's bright colors just really add to the appearance of the yard. Not only was it the flowers that added to the yard, but also the 2 big trees he bought me to go in our park strip. It feels nice to finally get some extra structure to our yard. Derrick works so hard on it each year, making it look nice for the summer. There are still alot of things we want to do to it, but little by little, with ALOT of hard work, we're getting there. Thanks Derrick, I LOVE YOU!

As if buying me flowers, planting my trees and preparing my garden and flower beds for me wasn't enough, he made me breakfast, mopped my floor, and gave the kids a lecture that it was a special day so they needed to be extra good for mom. Justin was pretty excited to give me all the beautiful things he made for me at school. I wore the safety pin with the beads and pendant that says 'mom' on it proudly to church, where I was privileged to listen to my two little guys sing "I often go walking" with the rest of the primary kids. While at church the Young Men had arrange for all the ladies to attend Relief Society, which was really nice considering I haven't been able to attend for almost 3 years now. Once in RS, the RS Pres. had bagels, grapes and Orange Juice for us along with a candy bar and a poem about mothers. It was really a thoughtful gesture. After church we headed to Heber to visit Derricks family. We had a great time being able to sit outside where we were able to enjoy the weather, BBQ-ing and being with family all at the same time. It was truly the BEST Mothers Day's! I feel it a honor and a privilege to have been in trusted with 3 of our Heavenly Fathers children. I know that there is no greater calling on earth, then to rear these children in righteousness and I pray that through the strength of my savior I can succeed in doing so. I love being a mother and am so grateful that I have been blessed with a wonderful husband to help me fulfill this calling! I wouldn't trade it for anything!