School pictures, exploding eggs, pictures drawn, and homemade scooters!

We got our kids class pictures the Thursday before school got out. As you might be able to tell, I totally spaced off the fact that they had pictures, and none of them got their hair done. I usually let them do their own hair, but I still try to do it on picture days. Oh well, you get the real them.

The whole family has gotten this last respiratory flu that is going around and I was having a bad day, so Taylar made this not for me. She is so sweet and thoughtful and always trying to make sure everyone is happy. She is quite the little peace maker! I love the rollers in my hair. I guess she got that from magazines or something, cause I don't think I've had rollers in my hair since I was little.

This is a picture that Taylar drew in Sacrament Meeting a couple of weeks ago. She is getting better all the time.

Ki wanted everyone to see his exploding egg. We have a microwave egg cooker and up until now we haven't had one explode in that thing. It might as well been a piece of art the way Ki was all excited about it.

My boys are always destroying things, they get it into their minds they want to see how it comes apart, or better yet how long does it take to break something by throwing it against the wall, or by throwing big rocks at it. I really do get tired of buying presents for the kids just to have it destroyed shortly afterwards. So yesterday instead of destroying more things, they decided to be a little bit more creative, and they took 2 toys that they already had destroyed and made a homemade scooter out of it. They were so proud of themselves. It looked pretty cool and as they said, "Mom, it actually works!" Taylar even got to be part of this one.

Ki showing off his scooter!

The wheels are from a broken ride on little 4-wheeler and the foot rest and little bucket thing in front are from a broken Tonka tractor.

Kindergarten Graduation!

Today was the last day of school, so we got to go to Kelten's Kindergarten Graduation! A friend of mine was so kind as to say me seats up on the very front row, how lucky am I. Then it turns out both of our kids are on the other side of the stage from where we are sitting, go figure! I guess we just can't have it all.

The program was cute, they first gave their ABC presentation. They each had a part to say that went with the letter's of the Alphabet. Kelten had M and said, "M is for Martin Luther King who gave a good speech." Then they sang a song, passed out their diplomas, which after that they got to come sit with us, and then we watched a slideshow of the kids throughout the year. My kids other school didn't do Kindergarten Graduation, so this was my first. Congratulations Kelten on getting through your first year and having lots of fun and making lots of new friends. He is so excited to be getting to go to the first grade.

Hormone Guide

So, a Friend sent this to me in an E-mail, and I decided that I just had to share it. I thought it was pretty funny!

Please click on it to view it big, it should put a smile on your face.

Random Stuff!

Knightin, now that he knows what the camera means, he ask me to get it and take pictures of him. Then he will pose, and then want to see the picture on the little display screen. He is such a cheeseball.

These are some art projects we are working on, and Todd was having Kelten help him. Then Knightin decided he wanted to get in on the action.

Here he is proudly displaying his art work. Can you all find were he helped out?


Kelten so cute and serious working on the project.

Knightin has been sick for a few days, which has been wiping him out. We will just find him passed out somewhere. We thought these ones were cute, especially with TJ's pink shoes on.

Question?

So, what happens when you take a running treadmill and combine it with a child's hand? Anyone?

Well, in our household it seems you get a very sad boy with really messed up little fingers.

So, I was doing my treadmill workout and Knightin was in with me as usual. He loves to put his cars on it and watch them speed off the end. This has been a normal routine for awhile now. At first I was pretty paranoid and wouldn't let him touch it, then it gradually got to where I'd let him. I guess I need to go back to being paranoid, cause it only takes once, all though now I'm not sure if he would go by it anyway. He loves his white fingers as you can tell from the pictures, but can't stand for us to change the bandages out. They are so raw, tender and a little swollen, my pour little guy. I know it was an accident, but I still feel like an awful mom. I'm sure glad wounds heal and children forgive.

Bandley's

I don't think I have what it takes yet to be a photographer, but Audrey gave me a chance to take her families pictures anyway. She tells me I'm to hard on myself. All the same I had a lot of fun and they have a cute family. The boys gave me lots of cute single shots, as they hamed it up for the camera. Thanks Audrey for letting me have some fun.

More Pictures

We just were out playing, and I took a ton more pictures. Knightin has learned to stop and pose for the pictures when I ask him to, and he makes me laugh continually. He is so way stinkin' cute !

More fun Photos!

Mother's Day

My Mother's day gifts, I also got some flowers from Church and Taylar is going to take them on as her project to care and nurture. So, holiday's aren't my favorite, because Todd without a doubt has to work. He has worked in 24/7 establishments since we have been married. Holidays just aren't special when it comes to schedules, someone has to work them. I shouldn't complain he does get some holidays off like Columbus Day, Sometimes Veteran's Day, you know the ones that don't have huge celebrations and the kids aren't off from school. Not having him home has just been part of life, and I'd rather have a good stable job then the Holidays always off anyway. We are so blessed! I do however, even though I try to tell myself that it is just another day, get a little extra sensitive, crazy I know, yesterday was no different. The babies were extra squirmy during sacrament meeting. Knightin who loves nursery, decided he wasn't going, kicking screaming the whole thing. Todd's car decided not to start. The boys seemed to be fighting more then usual, you know things just seemed a little worse. The day turned out OK though. I did get really cute little gifts from my kids, my husband brought me flowers and a card. My sister visited for awhile, Roger my-brother-in-law rocked Knightin to sleep. Which caused him to stay up way to late that night, but I got some peace the rest of the day, and I had a friend stop by bring some cookies and we had a really nice talk. Then this morning, I found out that my husband snuck on the blog and wrote me the best note in the world, man I love him so much.

So, the day turned out good and I went to bed Happy. I still think that I am going to take my sister's advice, and starting now any Holiday that is fun to recognize and celebrate, if Todd is working, then for our household that holiday is going to fall on a different day. I don't want to hate holiday's anymore. We celebrated Christmas on a different day a couple of years ago and the kids love it and didn't feel cheated, so if we can move Christmas why not the other holidays? Things are going to look up.

Happy Mother's Day!

Today this blog is by Todd, sneaking on to wish Kristy the happiest of Mother's Days! If anyone out there reads this blog it's because you already know Kristy and the amazing person she is. You probably wonder, just like me, how in the world I ended up as lucky as I did; getting to spend eternity with the most amazing, strong, beautiful, giving, loving, exciting, and inspiring people in the universe, and going from having one of the best moms ever to being married to one of the best mom's ever! I have no idea how I got to be as lucky as I am, and there's no way in the world I could ever take it for granted or ever stop wanting to somehow try to be worthy of the blessing and miracle she is to me. I actually first met Kristy at my work, when my boss was showing her around just after she was hired. She had such an exciting glow and presence about her that I knew that just to stand next to her I would be in the most exciting place in the world. And this turned out to be so (way) much more true than I could ever have realized. Kristy, I am so (way) honored to be your husband, and floored that I get to share life with you. You absolutely make every aspect of my life full and complete. And of the most sacred and thrilling to me is that one of the things I get to share with you is being parents to our little bunch. I love you for being the Mom you are. I love you for being the wife you are. I love you for being the friend you are. I love sharing life with you. Happy Mother's Day!

Playing with the Camera

So today after doing some work for my parents at Camperworld, I got some time to do a little playing with my camera. I still think I have a ton of work to do to get good. I still really struggle with all the manual settings, but at least I'm learning and today I did nothing on auto. My kids were very dirty from playing outside and not so thrilled with having to pose for the camera, but they were all good sports. I think, I still got some fun shots. The other thing I was doing, was trying to find some different scenery for back drops. I feel I'm pretty creative in some areas, but I am really pulling blanks when it comes to photography creativity. Well Audrey, you're going to have to tell me if you like any of the backgrounds?

Happy Birthday Knightin

So Knightin's Birthday was not today, it was actually 1 1/2 weeks ago, the 22nd of April. That day happened to be the day we were packing for going camping to Goblin Valley, so it was a little bit crazy. Then after we got back Todd had to work the whole week, and that brings us to Sunday being the first good day to celebrate his day. I like to say it's a good thing he is young and doesn't care which day it is celebrated on, but none of my kids care what day their birthday is celebrated on as long as we celebrate it.

We picked up his cake on Saturday and we put McQueen and Mater on the cake. He loves cars! Not just the movie, any thing that drives, cars, trucks, tractors, trains, etc... The last 2.5 years we have been able to buy cars for all holidays and he gets excited they same as the first time he got a car. It's great he is so easy to buy for. Well, back to the cake, the kids were telling him, that the cake was his and he wanted it so bad and we kept him from it. Saving it just barely some of the times. So, it is now about 15 minutes or so before my parents get here to celebrate his party and we go in to watch some more of our movie we started, then just a few minutes before my parents get there, Knightin comes into the livingroom, with a huge grin rubbing his hands together with something yellow. DANG, he got to the cake, that we had protected for over a day!! Classic!! So we took some pictures of the messed up cake. Fun memory right?!

Knightin being proud of himself!

The cake and the yellow smeared frosting!

The window also had to get in the action I guess!

You couldn't tell from the picture above, but this one you can see a little better. At the bottom of the mess and smear, were these cute perfect little hand prints! How could you ever get upset at those?

Blowing out his candles. I love when they know what is going on, and can blow out there candles and get excited about their presents!

This was a lot funnier in person, but I tell you anyway. So I have tissue paper on the top of the little wrapped cars. He took the first piece out and started using it for a road for his McQueen car from the cake. We couldn't get him to look in the bag at all, he had his toy and that is all he needed. I wish I would have known that before I bought all the other cars. Tissue paper, and one McQueen car, got it! That will be the next Birthday, Hahahaha!! Anyway we finally just dumped the cars on the tissue paper and he realized he had more presents to open, Yeah!! Every car got a new and excited response. I think this has been one of the most enjoyable birthdays for me as a mom, he was so animated and hilarious! Good Times!!!

Happy Birthday Knightin, WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Goblin Valley

Last week we went camping with several families to Goblin Valley. This was the 3rd annual camping trip for everyone else, but Todd's and my first year. Our family had a lot of fun. The kids were in heaven having an outdoor playground, with a ton of things to explore. There was plenty of dirt for the babies to play in, so it was over all pretty peaceful for Todd and I and we got to enjoy some time without the kids hanging on to us telling us that they are bored. (though we aren't seeing as much of the bored thing, with spring being here and the kids getting to go outside.) Todd and I borrowed my parents huge 5th-wheel camping trailer so that we had a place to keep the babies warm at night. We quickly learned as we were hauling that monster down to Goblin, that we just don't want to deal with something that big ever again. This was quickly confirmed when we got there and the camping area wasn't set up for the big trailer/inexperienced driver of a big trailer scenario. Needless to say My parents now have a truck without a tailgate, a dent in the bed of their truck and we have to replace the safety bar on the hitch, can I again say we are never borrowing that thing again!!!!!! The trip was great though and we look forward to camping with these wonderful families again, if of course they invite us back!


Here are some highlights from our trip!

Beautiful Landscape!

Here is all of our trailers and tents among the beauty!

GoblinValley

A Whole bunch of cute crazy kids.

Exploring old abandoned mines.

And Ruins and The Narrows in Little Wild Horse!

I realized that there are way to many fun pictures to show, so I'm adding a slideshow as well. Enjoy the pictures, I know we enjoyed the trip.