Mommy Vaca!

My husband rocks!! I mean rocks my socks around the clock!

My brother called me to tell me he was getting married and 2 weeks later my hubby bought me a plane ticket. Not our family. Not Ashley and I. Me, myself and I!  He took some days off so that he could stay home with the kids so that I could fly to Utah to be with my family and really enjoy my brother's wedding!

My mommy and I. Her parents and sister in the back.

My daddy and I

Tres Amigos

My Battle buddy and my dad!!

Mr and Mrs

"YAY"

I love this picture

My shoes had it out for me!

They were 4" heels (Which I don't wear) with no traction.
It was a rough shoe day!

My family!

My Dad and Brother

My mom and Brother

This was amazing! We love our brother!

Classic

My mom's "twins"

no. not actual twins. we are very close in age and have always been close like twins, so our mom calls us the twins she never had.

The cake

Of course my aunt/battle buddy had to help decorate the car

Heading out!

Saturday I had a day to just hang out with my parents! We had so much fun! We decided to give Five Guys a try and loved it!!!

First bite of Five Guys!

We also went to Temple Square and did some tours. We sat in the tabernacle for a while. and then toured the Joseph Smith building! What a gorgeous building with amazing views!

It was so nice to have a weekend to remember that I am more than just a mom and wife. I am a person! I love my husband for loving the person that is me and not just "his wife". I know that who I am is important. I know that who I am makes up who "mom and wife" are. It's hard to explain, but also know that most of you get what I'm talking about.  It's nice to be you as an adult without anyone to worry about besides how you're feeling.

I love my family more than anything! I would do anything for them. But I think that it's important to take time to rejuvenate so that you can be a better wife and mother. And remember that in being those 2 important people, you are an individual with likes and dislikes all your own. Sometimes we get lost in taking care of other people constantly that we forget to take care of ourselves so It was nice to have a weekend where I could do that!
I had so much fun hanging out with my family and creating so many fun, ridiculous memories!

for the 1 billionth time, Thanks hunny for my vacation! Love you lots!

Greg's fun time!

So this last weekend my brother got married in the Salt Lake City Temple but more on that later
*teaser*

Greg was a totally sweetie and sent me on my way to fly solo to the "great state of Utah" and he stayed home with all 3 kids so that I could have a mommy vaca and celebrate with my family!
While I was gone he had quite the weekend! He got started on our patio project!!

1st step was to unload the pallets of stuff! Luckily we have a neighbor with a teenage son who was willing to come and help!

Next was to start turning and digging up all the grass

Stake it out

Lay down rock, sand and pavers

Test it out

Stand back and admire

Friday they went to a baseball game. Luckily his mom was able to go with him so he didn't have to manage all 3 kids by him self. Having 3 kids at a baseball game can be quite overwhelming so this is the picture he got. After the game and they're all passed out!!

Saturday was an Easter party at his mom's and from the looks of it, and stories I've been told, everyone had a blast!

As soon as all the eggs were found they HAD To jump!

On the way home from Grandmas!

See the pattern?
They always fall asleep with their heads going the same direction!
Scroll back up to after the baseball game!

They had a great time and it was nice to have a break. 

Patio Project

Sooooo we decided to put a patio in this year!

August marks our 2 yr mark in the house and we have been improving since we moved in. It has been so much fun to be able to projects, like put garden in, put up a swing set, put a shed up, maintain our lovely green grass.

Our latest project is to get a patio in to enjoy this summer!

Side of the house that leads to the garage

General area of the patio

There will be a walk way from the gate past the garage and then around to the patio, and another walkway from the patio to the shed

As we were out working Isaac decided to get dressed. and although it matches (for a 5 yr old dressing himself) That is his church sweater.

Gary kept Ashley company while Greg and I moved all the pavers to the back of the house

This was my workout this morning. It was delivered on a pallet and then we had to move it all out to the backyard. Each one of those bags weighs about 50lbs. and the pavers are about 40lbs. Greg helped as much as he could but he had to go to work. We got all the bags out and he was able to get some pavers out before he left. and after he left I moved the rest (about 70 pavers at 40lbs a piece) to the backyard by myself! Luckily I got it done before it started pouring!

That is over a ton (literally) of stuff!

The pavers! I love them!

Area marked out for the patio (the square is going to be a fire pit!)

In other new, Ashley is 4 months old! and she rolled from front to back!

Fun pictures

Here is some fun things that have been happening at our house lately.

Greg gave Ashley a tiny taste of chocolate ice cream a couple weeks ago and later that week I was having myself some of the yummyness and I looked up to see this look.
Wow baby girl...WOW!

We bought the boys a sing along dinosaur book and they LOVE it!! I put it on while making dinner the other day and turned around to see that they were sitting on the floor reading and singing to their sister. So sweet!

I was cleaning the house and kept hearing the water turn on and off so I went in to the bathroom to see what was going on.  Gary was cleaning the bathroom!!  He cleaned off the counter (and put everything away in the right place), wiped it off, wiped the floor, and has started cleaning the toilet when I told him that he had done enough!

We got this clean up set for Isaac for his birthday and he uses it almost daily!

He decided to mop for me.
I love how helpful my kids are!

Ashely mesmerized by the animals

Isaac's school put on a Father's day lunch and they got to show off some of what they do at school.

This makes me excited for summer!
Our neighborhood ROCKS!

It was so warm on Saturday day (like 55, which when it's been -1billion degrees for the past 10 yrs, that's warm) so we busted out our shorts, tank tops and set up an obstacle course for the boys.

Annnnnnd THIS is what happened when Mommy forgets that a certain someone is allergic to the ONLY sunscreen that his brother is NOT allergic too!

Poor Gary looks like he was in a bar fight!

I HAD to order this baseball bow from a friend.
of course I ordered 2 more in appropriate Tacoma Rainier's and Seattle Mariner's colors from another friend (they should be here after Easter)

Ashley is such an amazing sleeper! She will be 4 months on the first of April and is already sleeping through the night 5/7 nights! I can even put her in bed wide awake and as long as she has a cozy blanket wrapped up tight around her, she'll go to sleep!

Gary trying on Ashley's bow

Isaac filled up his reading sticker chart at pre-school!
He gets a sticker when he's read a book twice. The last book he brought home is in the 1st Grade reading level series!!

And that's a taste of what's been happening in our neck of the woods!

Happy Spring!!

Game Day

Here's some therapy for you.
Items needed:
Kids
Balloons
Push pin

Take push pin

Have your kids throw balloons at you.

see the green ghost like swish in the middle of the pic?
That used to be a balloon!

Pop them with the push pin MID AIR!!!

Results? Your kids think you're AWESOME! You get to destroy stuff which always makes you feel better.

And if your lucky, a pretty cool picture of balloon mid pop and your 3 yr olds reaction to the pop!

Have a good day! I know we are!