I'm IT

Yeah, so my sister-in-law, Sarah, tagged me. These are fun to do and this one isn't one I've done before, so here goes (this is for you Sarah).

10 years ago I was:
Married to a hunk of a guy and teaching/Interpreting at Sequoia High School and Central Arizona College. We were living in my Grandparent's house while they were on a mission to the Dominican Republic. While living in that house we met some of our best friends in the world the Woolfs and the Fowlers. We're sure glad they found us!

5 years ago I was:
Pregnant with Garrett, being sick some of the time, and craving apples. We were living in our house on Crismon/Broadway and enjoying our yard and the neighborhood biking trails. I was still teaching for Central Arizona College and Mesa Community College, and doing some interpreting, but I had finally extricated myself from the quick sand that is Sequoia.

5 things on my To-Do list today:
What??? I only get 5?!?
Fold the mountain of laundry that hides my bed
Vacuum my loverly green carpets for the millionth time-ugh
Find hiding places for all the baby accoutrements
Go to baseball practice with my boys
Feed the little girl (and hug on her a lot), finish up carnival details, take a nap, wash the car, call my insurance company, pay the bills, change the sheets...I could go on and on and on

Snacks I enjoy:
Popcorn
Wheat thins
Craisins
Oranges, apples, peaches, pears-any fruit
Veggies and dip
Popsicles


Places I've lived:
Mesa, Az
Central, AZ
Dolores, Co
Bedford, Wy
Logan, Ut
SLC, Ut
Portland, Or
Palmdale, Ca


Jobs I've had:
Librarian (of the Children's library)
Waitress
Life Guard
Hogi Yogi Sandwich gal
Hastings (books, music, video) Customer service
Interpreter
Teacher
Mom!


5 things I want to learn or do:
This is a hard one for me. My thinking goes like this: If I make a list, that means I'm committed and I should get started right away and there's no way I can do it this week! So, I will tell myself that I don't have to do all of these this week and if I go absolutely insane for not being able to cross everything off this list at the end of the week I'm sending my bill for a shrink to you Sarah! Okay, so here goes!

Learn Spanish
Loose 10 lbs. and fit into my swimsuit by summer!
Be able to play on my piano any hymn I open the book to.
Play songs on my guitar around a campfire with my boys.
Travel outside North America, preferably Europe and Italy



Whew! That was tough! Okay, so I did it and now I'm tagging my awesome sisters (and brothers, if they're up for the challenge!)

Spring Break: THE END

The last day of spring break was almost a week ago...it has taken me that long to have time to sit and think about what has been going on-really busy week!

This is what Dallin and Garrett said they wanted to do for the last day-play computer games until they couldn't stand it any more. Okay, I thought, this will only last a couple of hours....5 hours later I pulled the plug and sent them outside! (Okay, it was more like 3, but sheesh already get off the computer!)



This is more like it!


Spring break ended and it really does feel like spring. Cool in the mornings, warm to hot in the afternoon and cool again in the evenings-LOVE IT!

Spring Break: Day 5

First thing this morning, we dyed Easter Eggs. We colored them with crayons, then dunked them in our own concoction of boiling water, vinegar and food coloring.

We had watermelon red, purple, teal, and sunset orange (to name a few).

Garrett did that one.


Maura was the supervisor.

After eggs we did a little house cleaning, then off to meet daddy for lunch-yum! Next, a quick stop at the school playground for some fun then to COSTCO to get supplies for the carnival next week. WHEW! Can't wait for school to start on Monday!!!!!

Spring Break: day 4

First thing in the morning, we headed to one of our favorite places, Makutu's Island!!!! We invited some friends along and we all had a BLAST (as usual).

Then lunch at IKEA (as usual), and home for a nap.



Next, we went to help stuff Easter Eggs for the annual neighborhood egg hunt and breakfast. Leslie got the eggs and candy together and we went to help stuff them full!

Maura was great help, although I think some of the eggs were a little slobbery after she was done.



It was a pretty big project, but with all of us working it was fun. I think we counted about 900 eggs we bought this year plus a HUGE garbage bag full of eggs from last year-I imagine we had about 1500 eggs!



It was a fun, fun day!

SPRING break

Yep, it's officially spring! The temp is in the 80's, the leaves are growing on the trees, the boys are officially bored silly from being home all week, and I got all the summer clothes out of the attic.

Maura looks especially springy today.



Uh-oh, falling over!


Just makes me want to giggle with her!

Spring Break: Day 3

Today was friend day at our house! We had some friends over to play for half of the day. They helped us deliver fliers for the Easter Egg Hunt this weekend, then we watched "Bee Movie" together, then off to Baseball practice, then dinner and bedtime. WHEW! This week has gone by so quickly!


Monkeys in the tree....Dallin, Zach, Jaylee and Garrett

We posed at the top for pictures.


The cutest little buddies helping each other! Eden and Boe


We snacked at the bottom-Boe chose a rock instead of the picnic table.

Spring Break: Day 2

We went hiking at Usery Mountain Park. It was a blast! The whole gang at the bottom of the trail. The gang includes: Angie and her kids, Leanne and her kids, Me and my kids, and the Woolf family.


Hiking up...


and up...


Great view...


At the top!

We had 5 adults and 15 kids (3 of which were babies in packs and 3 others were toddlers who were troopers but got tired by the end). It was a good thing the Woolf family came with us to help with the youngsters-we were grateful for older helping kids and tough parents!

We saw beautiful flowers and such interesting desert fauna. It was beautiful in it's own unique way.

Mmmmmmm, Cereal!

Well, maybe not yum for her. I start to think she is ready to chomp down on cereal and it comes right back out.


She likes putting things in her mouth, just not swallowing them.

It's such a messy process, I guess I shouldn't be too anxious!

Spring Break: Day 1

We started out the day by planting our garden...the boys were super good farmers!


Planting corn.


Planting peas.


We planted peas, corn, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, carrots, basil and parsley.


Later that day we had a fun dinner with the Woolf family: Cabbage and sausage, potatoes, green jello, a yummy green drink and cake with green frosting! Happy Green Day!

St. Patty's Day Fun

Nope, no big throw-down this year and the BNL's are not coming for a concert, so we have to create our own fun. These are the things we are going to try to do this week (if you are around, come join us!)

1. Plant a garden
2. Go on a hike
3. Visit a museum
4. Sleep over in the backyard
5. Invite friends over to play for a day
6. Ride bikes
7. Go to Makutu's island
8. Go swimming???? (The boys want to do this)
9. Make green St. Patrick's day cookies
10. Go to the zoo.

If you are doing something fun or have any good ideas for us-let us know! We would love to do something fun with you!

Spring in Mesa means: BASEBALL!

I swiped this picture from Leslie's blog-she is a super photographer! I love this picture because it shows how much Dallin loves playing baseball with his team-or anyone who wants to play!

We are lucky to have a neighborhood team through Mesa Southern Baseball League-practices are right down the street and some great neighbors are the coaches! They even let Garrett play along even though he's not old enough.

Maura and Brannen

She looks like a MONSTER compared to the cute little guy. I'm sure he will catch up soon!


Look at those cute little scrawny legs!!


We decided "Stoic" is a good word to describe little Maura. She usually has such a serious face!


Such concentration.


Finally! A smile after much teasing and tickling!

Cousins!

It was so fun to have cousins together for a little while. Sad my boys couldn't be there, but it was so fun to see Jen's kids and Gina's kids all together. They were all such great baby tenders!


Maura had more attention than she knew what to do with.


Brady, Reese, Rae and Maura in the giant baby entertainer bouncy thingy! (I gotta get me one of those!)

We trekked to the snow!

The day we arrived in Grover, Wy it was snowing!!! So much fun for the Arizonians-not so much fun for the Wy natives. They complained every time it snowed but Maura and I enjoyed it!



Her first snow bank experience.


Okay, so maybe she didn't like it that much on her little legs!


Later we got out the snow suit-a little more appropriate for sledding with the kiddos!

Snow, here I come!

Tomorrow I am off to visit my sister and her cute little man, Brannen in Star Valley Wyoming. She actually lives in a little town called Grover. I've been stewing all day about what I'm going to pack for my trip. I finally checked the weather report and decided to bring sweaters, lots and lots of sweaters!!! After having such a nice cool but sunny day here it's hard to imagine going to a place with snow tomorrow!

I can't wait to see them. Maura is coming with me (her very first plane ride) and Adam is going to be Mr. Mom! He's so nice to let me go spend some girlie time with my sisters! Love you honey!

The boys are going to have a blast while I'm gone, I hope they miss me just a little :-)

And away she goes!

Maura has begun to be mobile! I love this age. She has discovered her toes and while trying to get them she ends up in some funny positions! How great it is to have built in play-things...TOES!



I leave her in one place and come back to find her in some strange positions!


Trying to get those toes!

Moving along..

Well, thanks to our home teacher and his trucking company we have dirt! Then came the task of moving it from the driveway to the garden, a huge task made easy thanks to Adam, Christian and Preston.

Now my garden is almost ready to plant. First we need to break up all the dirt clods-a perfect job for boys!


Mitchell and Boe help out!


The two dirtiest boys I know!


Another fun project going on at the same time is our roof is getting a make-over. Hopefully it will be done by the time I get home from Wyo!