Visiting the frontier

a few pictures from the wild frontier

HaPpY BiRtHdAy KaTe!!!!

Kate is awesome. She's funny, beautiful, smart and just fun. She has a loving heart and oodles of compassion. I admire Kate's quiet confidence and her heart of gold! Love you Kate!

TO CUT OR NOT TO CUT?

Here's my dilema. A few well meaning 'older' folks have recently commented on how adorable my daughter is. They weren't talking about Audrey however. It's the curls. I realize they are getting a bit long....but oh, they are so wonderful! I want Alex to stay little. I think that's the core of the problem. A haircut means he's moving on. Getting older. Leaving babyhood. Or as I like to call it, turning to the Dark Side. He's just so innocent. There's no sassy talk, no potty talk, there's not a defiant bone in his body! Yet. I have enjoyed him so much, he's always been so pleasant. There's no going back after the cut. The soft baby hair will soon be gone, the curly tendrils (maybe a boy should never have tendrils...) will not come back. Troy thinks it's time. I think I'll have to think it over for at least a few months.... what do you think?

Tendrils anyone?

Office Fix

Angela: I can't do this. I can't be with you. Every time I look in your eyes I see Sprinkles's stiff, lifeless body.
Dwight: Then don't look in my eyes. Look right here at my forehead. It's an old sales trick.

Happy Birthday Lizzie!!

Lizzie LOVED celebrating her birthday! She went to the park with some friends, loved the phone calls from Aunt Kate and Grandma. She loved the book you sent her Brooke, and the stickers from mom! She got your card today in the mail, Kate, and was really excited for the stickers (that are now ALL over our house!) and opening her very own mail! Some pictures of her birthday:

This is Lizzie licking the bowl (literally) after I finished making her cake. She came to me after awhile of going at it with her spoon and said, "I don't need my spoon anymore,"....and this is apparently why. She did this for a good 10 minutes. But what's a birthday without chocolate matted in your hair anyway?

Rod enjoyed the birthday dinner....Brooke tell your kiddos that this is what happens when you eat too much veggies and fruits- it starts growing out your ears and oozing out your mouth!

We succombed to princess stuff and Lizzie has been strutting around as the Island Princess all day today...

Isn't this birthday banner so cute? I made it after seeing it on a website, except I didn't finish it for Lizzie's birthday yesterday, so we hung it in Caitlin's room today to cheer her up while she gets better (we have a sick house currently- but at least it didn't start till after Lizzie's birthday)

I think Lizzie's favorite present were the helium balloons Rod brought home from work yesterday. She has been toting around with them ever since. They also felt very special when he brought home flowers (even though I know they're for ME, he said they were for all his girls...) I'm often amazed how little girls are so GIRLY!! They see flowers and feel special already!

AZ

here's some pics from my trip to phoenix this weekend. it was so good to see brittani and the weather was WONDERFUL!


me and britt!


i was excited to see a cactus!


of course i had to have in n out!! yummmmm

We've been enjoying some atypical January weather lately, which has been beautiful, but also has us worrying about how hot it might get this summer! Today after church the girls had a little harvest of carrots that I had to share pictures of. They each have their own pot, and a few months ago we planted carrot and lettuce seeds in them. Today they dug up their carrots and we had them at dinnertime. They were delicious! And the girls were so proud of their little bounty!

Here are the shelves Rod built in the closet of our "blue room". They give me a TON of more storage space and we were able to get rid of an entire table, thus freeing up some serious floor space! He did these in one night, trying to get as much down before his surgery. (my cardboard boxes are temporary!)

Notice my sweet sewing set-up! The table goes up or down and I can even lock it! I really like that feature. Mom's sewing stuff is WAY too exciting to these little girls...

At Lizzie's music class this week, I made it a little birthday party for her. She was very excited to have a birthday party and music class in one!! This is her opening some little presents.

This is all the kiddos decorating their angel food cake with whipped cream, grapes, and sprinkers.

Office Fix

"I keep various weaponry strategically placed around the office. I saved Jim's life with a can of pepper spray I had velcroed under my desk." -Dwight

Late Christmas photos

Sorry these pictures are a little late. But i finally got them posted! We had a really fun break, it was so fun to have kate and the whittles (we missed you Lambournes). We were sad everyone had to leave.

my cake i was so proud of! maybe a little to proud...

adorable A-bomb in his adorable yellow vest

the only picture i could manage to sneak of Devon

At the bridal shower some girlfriends threw, we missed you Carrie!

Just to give everyone a visual of what my new job is and what i do every day; i babysit these little 16. month old fraternal twins. They are so cute and are quite and handful...to say the least.

Sledding!

We have a great sledding hill just down the road from our house. This morning we took the kids (after an hour of finding winter gear and then getting it on) and they had a great time. Although by this picture of Cameron you wouldn't think so. This was the after photo, below is the before:
YIKES!

St. Bernards originated as mountain rescue dogs, I think Chewy feels very in his element. He had fun following the kids around.

That little chin and cheeks!

Office

"I think I'm being very clear what I'm asking. Would an average-size rowboat support her without capsizing? It bothers me that you are not answering the question." - Michael

Calling all music!

I want you guys to give me songs you like to put on the blog. If you think of one or a few, please tell me!

Office fix

"I just love sales. I love it to death, it's as simple as that. And I don't get to do enough of it as a manager, so I took this second job, kind of as a hobby. Some people have golf, or relaxing."

-Michael

hahaha

brooke, i love the song you put on the blog....at first i was like, 'oh this is a catchy song,' but then i realized what it was...and suddenly i felt a strange irritation and rage. ahhhhhhh! have you still been hearing it constantly?

Happy New Year!

Hey everyone...how's 2009 going? I'm trying to survive re-entry into my life. I was spoiled for a couple of weeks with being so close to stores and all the time away from the kids. Skiing was definently the highlight! Thanks again mom; and dad and Troy for watching the kids. So I plan on doing a blog make-over soon. I guess the holiday's really are over. I'm ready for spring though :) I'll post some pics soon, although I didn't take very many. In the meantime, here's an Office quote for your enjoyment. Troy got an Office calendar with daily quotes, I'll try to post one every few days.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some bad news. Meredith was hit by a car....It happened this morning in the parking lot. I took her to the hospital. The doctors tried to save her life, they did the best that they could....and she is going to be okay" -Michael

GO UTES

okay, so i know i'm posting a lot lately, but...i just wanted to take this opportunity to let you all know about the ute victory tonight in the sugar bowl!!
(this picture is at the byu-utah game) we beat alabama 31-17 tonight!! it was a great game and an end to a perfect season. now before you non-ute fans get all upset, it's been pointed out that this is actually good for the whole mountain west conference, including byu. so really, it's a victory all around. also, i have to say that i think kyle whittingham is a classy guy. i mean i would probably be classy too if i was signing 6 million dollar contracts, but i'm just sayin... anyway, go UTES!!!