Updated pictures

I was taking some pictures of Macy the other day and decided to go all out and try to get some good pictures of all of the girls. I bribed Ashley and Lauren with a bowl of chocolate ice cream and they did great. I just couldn't get Macy to stop chewing on everything. I can't believe how fast they are growing up!

Princess madness

Ashley and Lauren hosted their first annual Princess Valentine Party and we had one hour of pure princess madness. Twelve little princesses, all 2, 3 and 4 years old. Add in some red and pink frosting along with chocolate sprinkles and you have all the makings for chaos. Luckily my sweet (and brave) sister, Erin, and sister-in-law, Amy, took time off from work to come help me - and a few of the moms stayed to help out too.

The girls had so much fun. Lauren was the perfect hostess. She was ecstatic every time the doorbell would ring and another princess would arrive. She would run for the door and give everyone a great big hug. We decorated pink princess crowns and valentine cookies. Ashley had fun drinking down a bottle of sprinkles before we caught her. My girls live for holidays and Valentine's Day just shot to the top of the list.

My wonderful mother-in-law took Macy for the day and then watched the girls in the evening so Jeremy and I could go out. Jer surprised me with a beautiful Willow Tree statue of a mother and daughter. I love it and think it looks just like Ashley and me. Hope everyone had a fun Valentine's Day!

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Super Bowl fun

On Sunday night we gathered at Jeremy's parents house to watch the Super Bowl with all of his family and had a great time. Ashley wouldn't let us call it a party since we didn't have a cake or balloons so this was just a Super Bowl dinner. But it was a party for me - I was on the last three days of phase one of South Beach Diet and I choose to cheat. It made it all the more fun. My sister-in-laws made the best salsa and the yummiest dessert. Lauren had a great time and tried eating the whole bowl of salsa on her own. I made her her own small bowl - wanting to avoid the whole quadruple dipping thing - but when I did that she pushed the small bowl to me and pulled the big bowl over to her and said "mine"!

Oh and the football game? The last ten minutes were great. Jer was cheering for the Patriots and was a little disappointed when they lost, but he had to be happy for his brother Craig who has been a faithful Giants fan. Jer's more disappointed that the football season is over. Seven months to go until kick off!

And congrats to Catherine & Zac who welcomed their new baby girl, Ava Jean, to the world last Friday. Annie has some beautiful pictures of their new little one on her blog. Ashley and Lauren are so excited for another cousin!

A great man

I had a few quiet moments (thanks to a Dora dvd) on Saturday and had a chance to watch President Hinckley's funeral. It was wonderful. President Hinckley was an inspired prophet and a great man. I have loved watching all the stories and news coverage that KSL has had on surrounding his death. I watched this morning as they talked about all the temples he made possible and the places he traveled. He worked hard to bring together our worldwide church and strengthen all members. I have been inspired by what seems to have been the motto of his life. Get on your knees, pray about it, and then go to work. Jeremy came home from priesthood a few years ago and wrote down a quote from President Hinckley's talk that we have had hanging in our home ever since. "I testify that if we will make an effort to improve our lives, the result will become evident (November, 2006)." I am grateful for the inspiring men and women that the Lord puts in place to lead the church and I am truly grateful to have been alive when President Hinckley was the prophet.

Finally recovering!

Well, it has almost been a month since I last posted an update and I really don't have too much to show for it. The kids got sick with the stomach flu a couple of weeks ago and since then we have all been sick with something or other. But I think we have finally kicked it - knock on wood. If anyone has any great ideas for keeping kids healthy please pass them on. We did try one remedy that a friend passed on and it worked really well. If you are coughing and having a hard time getting to sleep, rub Vick's Vapor Rub on the bottom of your feet. I don't know why but it really does work and even for little ones.

It's amazing how much energy little ones can have even when they aren't feeling well. We have had to get really creative around our house and keep everyone busy. It is way too cold to go outside and I haven't found a lot of kid friendly indoor places - other than McDonald's, Chuck E. Cheese's and grandma and grandpa's house - if anyone knows of any fun, kid friendly indoor activities pass it on. The other day we got out our jungle play gym for Macy and the girls have all had a lot of fun with it. I loved taking these pictures since I took a similar one of Ashley and Lauren at about the same ages - the first picture is Ashley (17 months) and Lauren(2 months).


Macy is doing so well and continues to be the happiest baby I have ever seen. Ashley and Lauren are so good with her and it is so much fun to see her smile at them. The picture of me is courtesy of Lauren.


We had one really fun get together with friends after the holidays. Adam & Amber were in town with their kids and we got together with Matt & Sharon and their family. Amber, Sharon & I all met in a singles ward - the same ward we all met our husbands in and got married just a couple of years apart. Without any planning we have each had three kids and all are within six months of each other. The picture in the top left is our first three and the other two pictures have the whole gang today - nine kids in three years!


It is so much fun to keep in touch with good friends and it really helps to see that we are all in the same boat - no wonder we never have time to talk or blog!

Happy Birthday Braden

Even though we love being back in Salt Lake, we really miss our family and friends in Arizona - especially cousin Braden. Happy birthday Braden! We hope you have a fun one.

December 26

I love the day after Christmas! Don't get me wrong - I love the Christmas season and I am always excited for Christmas eve and Christmas day. I love to be with all our family and it is so much fun to celebrate, eat and open presents...but there is something so wonderful about the day after it all. It is 1:00 and I am not embarrassed to say that we are all still in our pajamas. The girls have played every game that they got for Christmas and Macy is up enjoying the new mobile she got. It is so relaxing knowing that I have nothing to do and nowhere to be.

Macy was the hit of the parties this year. She is only about two and a half months and as you can see in the video she is all smiles. She is amazing. She started smiling and interacting with me at about a month and now she even giggles when you get her going.

I feel so blessed to be back in Utah and to be surrounded by all our family and friends this year. There was a huge snow storm on Christmas eve and it was so much fun to wake up to a winter wonderland on Christmas day. We had so much fun watching Ashley and Lauren open presents and enthusiastically help everyone else open their presents. What more could you ask for.

Below is a clip of Macy. Click on the play button and it will start. Enjoy!