Aquarium

My Co-workers are the best. Even though I don't have any kids of my own they let me crash their play dates. Today I stole Nicki from Dani and headed to the Aquarium. I didn't even know there was one in Sandy. So getting myself up at 1100--which is early trust me--I put my face on, picked up Nicki and headed to Sandy. Nicki is so funny. I am starting to understand her more and more. We talked about all the fishes we were going to see. Oh and the Turtles!

Lori, Kayden, and baby Tyler were waiting for us. Sara, Luke, Jill, Jackson, Jenna, Sam, Amanda, Gigi, and Chole met us up there. From there the kids took off. Everyone of the kids was under the age of five and content to explore and run wherever possible. The Sting rays felt gross and I will still have nightmares about the anaconda for while. Personally, I loved the jellyfish that changed colors the best. Nicki loved the water and tried every chance she got to put her arm in the water.

The highlight of the day for me was when the moms and me were all talking; the boys seemed to sense they were not being watched and took off all at once. Boys. They are the same at all ages. I loved spending time with these people outside of work. Especially outside of our scrubs.

Nicki passed out in the car on the way home. Woke up a little tussled and disoriented. Gotta Love kids.

Catherine + Weston

I have some pretty amazing kids in my life. What would I do without them?

PIZZA!!

Such A Sweetheart for Mom!

Innocent Looking Face Isn't it?
Oh the Terror Held Within


The Princess

Mom & Daughter

Yeah, we were both a little tired

Spring

Spring is Here!
Nothing says hello spring like all the blooming flowers

Sophie

Tax returns are a beautiful thing. My savings account restored. Money to buy my new addition. Pete--my car--might start to feel lonely. Meet Sophie!

I love him already. Mark wasa willing subject as I took my first pictures with Nate. More will shortly come. Especially, with the gorgeous weather we are having.

Blessing

Catherine was blessed today. I love events where family can get together. My whole family was there as well as important people in Amber's life. Mom made her gorgeous dress. Grandma tatted this gorgeous booties. I love how her toes kept sticking out of them. Dad, Grandpa, Scott, Brandon, and Mark were all there to bless this little girl. What a lucky girl.

Scott did a beautiful job with her blessing. Catherine is going to be an amazing girl--if she can survive Weston. The monkey made sure everyone knew he was there. Of course Brandon and Mark were the most important. At one point during Catherine's Beauty Photo shoot--she hated it but must get use to it--Weston had almost everyone else shut in his room. He lured them with, "Come to my room please! Let's go play in my room please." Crazy kid. I love how he continues to pretend Catherine doesn't exist.

Weston's Typical "save me" claim

Today was beautiful, sunny and the perfect day to bless Catherine.

Yes, we have matching dresses.
No, we never planned to wear them at the same time.
Yes, I know how short I look.
Yes, let the jokes begin.

Buddy

Over 10 years ago we had a member of our family join us. He wandered up onto our neighbors yard with his friend. Buddy has been our dog ever since. I guess I haven't realized how old he's gotten. He hasn't acted like it. Today, my Buddy passed away. The big, yellow, dog we loved to play with is gone. Though he was sick and miserable at then end, the dog broke my heart just o be around him, he's happier somewhere else. At work I deal with death everyday, but somehow the passing of my childhood dog has hit me harder than I realized. Buddy was a part of home. Buddy was the dog who would sit and listen. Buddy would literally smile at you when you came up to pet him. Here are some of my favorite things about Buddy:

1. His obsession with tennis balls--seriously you should see his house and pen. They are everywhere and slimy. He will try to fit at least 3 in his mouth. When he sits down he will gather them up and put them underneath his mouth and paws. I've never seen a dog so possessive of tennis balls.
2. He loved to jump the fence. He had a gift for knowing the exact moment and location to jump and take off. If he didn't jump he had the gift to flip the gate clip. Buddy was such a smart dog, he figured out a way to escape every chance he got.
   
3. He acted like a giant teddy bear. He would lay down and let us lay on top of him, give him hugs and pull on his tail. The best part, he would just let us.
   
4. Buddy was always happy to see me. His tail would wag and his bark would go off. No matter how bad my day was Buddy would be there happy to see me.
5. Buddy loved the snow. He ate most of it but would still love to run and chase our snowballs.
   
6. He was my dog and I loved him. I will miss him.
   

April

Okay. Lets face it. March was a waste of time in many regards. I did so well on eating healthy for 2 weeks then it died. Okay I didn't almost anything on my list. Time to start fresh and not take on so much and expect it to get down. This month I'm going to focus on my bedtime routine; in hopes my sleeping patterns will work themselves. Tackled one big thing every month.

Bedtime Routine

1. Pick up clutter around my house
   
2. Sit down and plan out the next day
3. Write down every thought, worry, concern, for to do list
4. Read 20 minutes of Scriptures: Conference Talks, Ensign, Scriptures, etc
5. Write in Journal
   
6. Read for 10 minutes of LIGHT reading
   
7. Lights out

Other Rules for Bedtime

• No TV, computer, or phone an hour before bed.
• No Food in Bedroom
• Always wear fuzzy socks--I can't sleep with cold feet
• When I wake up do not look at the clock or my computer or my phone. Simply roll over and go to bed.
• Set my alarm everyday and get up to it!
• Only use my bed for sleeping
• Don't eat anything big 2 hours before bed

Wish me Luck!

Conference

I love conference. Every 6 months I get a spiritual boost and a gentle push in the right direction. I love this time because I also get to play with my family. This time around is special too because it's the last one before Scott and Amber move away. Kevin was definitely missed though. Mark, Kelsy, and I headed out Saturday morning, after I had thrown up and been sleep deprive, to Highland. Saturday Sessions I think are my favorite. Sleeping through part of any session is tradition. Thank goodness of DVR and internet streaming.

During the breaks and Priesthood Session the girls did some shopping, made donuts, and played with Buddy. I also brought my new flash and sat in awe of it. Nothing too busy but still a lot of fun. I found shoes to go with my new dress! One day I will be as talented as my mom in sewing. The night ended with watching Sherlock Holmes. Loved that Movie!! I can't wait for the sequel.

Sunday I was in and out of it again. The real party started when the kids arrived. Mom made a fabulous dinner we ate quickly. Nothing terribly exciting happened. I just love spending time with my whole family. The talks of conference always tend to have a theme--this time around for was family. The influence and importance of our families in this life cannot be ignored and must be nurtured. Mine is amazing. We played, watched movies, took pictures, held the baby, and chased Weston around. I love my family. I could not have asked for a better weekend. Now I need to go watch all the talks I wasn't conscious for.

I think we wore him out. What do you think?!

Dragons

About a week ago Scott and Amber took Weston to watch How to Train A Dragon. He loved it. The next time I saw him that's all he talked about. "Big Dragon and baby dragon! Hiccup ride dragon!" I wanted to see the movie so who better to go with me than Weston.

One thing I love about Weston--he is not a morning person. It literally takes him 20 minutes to become the Weston we all know and love. Before the movie he hadn't been given his ample time to wake up, as a result he was GRUMPY! He kept screaming, "No movie! No movie! I want mommy please! See mommy please!" Oh it was cute and funny at the same time. Once we got to the theater though he was Weston. Popcorn, drink, 3D glasses, with Weston in tow we sat in the movie.

I sat there and laughed the whole time. The movie was hilarious, cute, and entertaining the whole time. Weston traded laps between Mark and I the whole movie. He simply sat there with his glasses on whispering things like, "the baby dragon is flying; Hiccup funny; that's a big dragon!" At one point he was gripping my arms almost screaming, "the big dragon eat the baby dragon!" He got so into the movie. I wish I had a pictures of Weston during the movie; reclined against me with one arm around the drink and the other in the big thing of popcorn. Loved "the dragon movie," I can't wait to see it again! Plus Mark and Weston made it even better.

After the movie we ate ice cream. Amber & Scott met us at Cold Stone and we ate good ice cream. Weston ate half of mine and started running around on his sugar high. Poor parents we sent him home too.