Good-bye Grandma

Jeff's grandma Marilouse, well I guess she's a grandma to all of us, passed away peacefully in her sleep Friday night. She was a wonderful lady and we will miss her!! My girls are very pleased to know that she is in a happy place where she can now spend her days golfing like she used to when she was healthy.

Lunch

Parker is at that wonderful age where he wants to feed himself. Usually I don't mind the HUGE mess unless I am trying to get somewhere in a hurry and keep him clean. Parker loves mac 'n cheese and as you can see, he really enjoyed his lunch.

He starts out using just his hands inside his bowl

Then he picks it up to get a closer look

Then he puts it back down and uses his hands again

Finally, he picks up his bowl and put his whole face inside

Happy Birthday Jeff

Today Jeff turned 30 and I asked the kids why they love their daddy and this is what they said....

Top 10 reasons we love our daddy (in no particular order)

Because...

1- He is a boy

2- He is funny

3- He fixes teeth for us

4- He is a good horse

5- He is bigger

6- He is a good prince for me

7- He speaks Spanish

8- Everything he does is more much better

9- He reads us lots of stories

10-He is funner than mom

Thanks dad...You're the best dad ever! That about sums it up. I would just like to add

1- He is a good provider

2- He sometimes remembers to unload the dishwasher

3- The toilet seat is ALWAYS clean (I really appreciate this)

4- He is super spiritual

5- He always does the right thing

6- He never speaks badly about anyone

7- He is super positive

8- He is enjoyable to be around

9- He never complains about my "Honey-Do Lists"

10-He puts up with me....a tough thing to do at times

and finally...

11-He mows the lawn while I sit inside with my feet up and watch

Best Decision!!

Eight years ago today Jeff and I got engaged in the back seat of my car while I was wearing sweats. It's a crazy story and had I known I was going to get engaged, I would have worn something a bit more fancy than my sweats. We were supposed to go tubing on a super fun snow hill somewhere but the weather changed, the situation changed, and I didn't change so warm sweats it was. Thanks for asking Honey!! Saying yes was the best decision I've ever made...but who wouldn't want to marry Prince Charming???

10 Things I Love

In order to help me be more loveful on this Valentine's Day I decided to make a list of 10 things I love

1- Jeff - my hard working happy husband

2- Maddie - my very energetic, fun loving, barking daughter

3- Lauren - my girly girl BFF princess daughter

4- Parker - my toddling, jabbering, blue eyed, Little Buckaroo

5- Family - who love me because they have to

6- Warm fuzzy non-attractive pink pajamas (poor Jeff)

7 - Secrets/Surprises - for me or someone else no matter how big or little

8- Convenience - if it makes my life easier I love it, if it doesn't who needs it

9 - Good Friends - who love me because they want to

10 - Religion - where would I be without it?

Parker's Party

On Parker's birthday we had a small party with some family. It was a great day and we had a lot of fun. Parker has figured out that he can do lots of great things with his face. We captured some pretty silly poses of him. We think they are priceless pictures!

Parker started off his day by eating breakfast off the floor

One of his many silly faces

The cake

Parker loves this racetrack

Parker with some of his cousins...Zac & Rachel

Parker really enjoyed his cake

More silly faces

And finally, we can't have a birthday at our

house without a sign on the front door

Happy Birthday Parker

February 6, 2009 - Happy Birthday to our Little Buckaroo!! I can't believe he is already 1 year old. It seems like just yesterday he was born. However, I am very grateful that it isn't last year....I didn't enjoy the trauma we had with Parker. I am so very thankful that Parker got better quickly and is part of our family. He is such a joy to have around!! I love my girls but there is something special about baby boys. Everyone should have at least one to see what kind of magic they have. WE LOVE YOU PARKER!!! Below you will see some of our memorable moments with Parker over the past year.....as always, there are lots of pictures. I just can't help myself.

Parker 1 year old

Parker 2 hours old in the NICU

Our glowing yellow jaundice boy

I LOVE his crooked toes!!

Parker's newly shaved head

First time in the pool

Stinky Boy

San Diego

GO UTES!!

Baby Blue Eyes

Parker screaming like a skeleton

My new favorite picture of my little guy

My little helper and my little climber

Enjoying Christmas morning chocolate

Smooch-a-licious

Grandma is spoiling us!!!

Thanks to Grandma, Maddie and Lauren were treated to pedicures and manicures. They got to choose what color to have their toes and fingers painted and they both loved it. Of course, who wouldn't love to be pampered a bit!!! They keep asking when they can go back and I told them not until mom gets one....it's my turn next :-)

Maddie chose pink and blue

Lauren chose pink with white flowers

What all good moms do-

The other day I put Lauren down for a nap in her bed. She loves her dolls and usually tries to sleep with 5 or 6 at a time. I told her she could only sleep with one and she chose tigger. I tucked her in and left. When I went back 30 minutes later to see if she was asleep, this is what I found. Nope, not Lauren sleeping with tigger but.....

Who is in Lauren's bed? That hair is way too dark to be Lauren.

Samantha doll and Tigger.....where is Lauren?

Of course, on the small bench with her panties hanging out.

When she woke up I asked her why she was sleeping

on the bench and said....."Its what all good moms do.

Sleep on benches so their babies are comfortable during

their naps." I just smiled and said ohhhhh, is

that right? Lauren was very proud of herself.

Christmas in Utah

Christmas in Utah was lots of fun this year! The kids got what they wanted and so did I.....a white Christmas. It was fun to have the snow and all the fun that goes along with it. On Christmas Eve, we went to my mom and dad's home where we met will all the cousins for a yummy dinner and to open stocking stuffers.

Christmas Eve right before bed time

Parker had only one stocking stuffer to open and
it took him all night. He sure had fun!!

Lauren showing off her new glasses....from Build A Bear

Maddie also wanted glasses so here they are. They are

a bit big but it is all I could find. I found it

appropriate that they are called "Attitude Glasses"

On Christmas morning, we eat a yummy breakfast

before we open presents. You can see Parker

enjoyed his chocolate peppermint patty

Christmas Morning

Parker loves his new helicopter. It is a great toy

that I totally recommend!! It is made by VTech

Lauren with her new princess beauty kit....the perfect gift

Maddie and her walkie talkies.....these

have proved to be lots of fun!!

Jeff working hard the day after Christmas.

Nope....not our snow blower. Our wonderful

neighbor let Jeff use it. Thanks Dennis M!!

And finally, New Year's Eve....we were all so tired we were asleep

before midnight. Maddie and Lauren chose to sleep together

and this is what I found when I went to cover them up.

Yes, Lauren's head is munched between Maddie's

knees and they were sleeping soundly.