I am my kids mom

My Photo Book Jan 02 2012

2012-01-19T13:13:00.001-08:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly photo books offer a wide range of artful designs and embellishments to choose from.

It's a GIRL!!!!

2011-04-25T13:03:00.001-07:00

Well heavenly father must think we are good with girls. because we will now have four daughters and ONE LONE son. He is one of a kind. I am excited now the ever elusive hunt for the perfect girl name. any suggestions??

Let it SNOW let it SNOW

2010-12-01T13:51:00.000-08:00

I love the snow this year. The luge is open and uber awesome. I love to see my kids dive into the snow, roll a snowball bigger than they are. Canyon rode the luge at mock speed on a paper thin sled with perfect olympian bobsledding form. THis is an open invitation to anyone to come join us..

The real reason for my post is I love my kids to play in the snow but their stuff is EVERYWHERE!!! WET hats, gloves, boots, socks, coats. All times by six. I need all your ideas for organizing snow gear. If you just throw it in a bag it will smell like mildew. It needs to dry but not be laying out all over creation.

Brinley's baptism

2010-10-28T12:15:00.001-07:00

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Scripture Basket

2010-10-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

This was my biggest take home message from education week. It is actually working. We have been terrible in the past at having scripture study. The kids are loving this. I got the idea from connie sokol who you can check out here and here. It has even made bed time much quicker. This is how we do it. The first person in pajamas with teeth brushed sitting by the basket gets to choose. There are 10 or so things in the basket to choose from. The only rule is you can't do the same thing we did the night before. These are some of the things we have in the basket currently.

these are really fun story books with 3-4 heros in every book it tells the story then and asks how can you be like ... now and takes the story modern day. I love these
one scripture on a strip of paper. talk about what it means how it applies..
pictionary with scripture stories.
sing the song and look up the scriptures at the bottom, we also have a hymn book.
Listen to or watch a quick scripture story. I have a small dvd/cd player in there.

Pick a picture and tell the story..
Read one article

tell me some ideas you have. I would like to freshen up my basket every month or so. Add something new.

I'm sad to see summer leave but I couldn't live in a more beautiful neighborhood..

2010-09-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to take some fall pictures but I haven't so I stole these off my friends blog she lives two doors down and took this from her front porch. I never would have thought TOOELE would be so beautiful but I truly love it.

NAG NAG NAG

2010-09-15T10:49:00.001-07:00

I want to stop nagging my children. I am addicted to nagging them. I wake up and my mouth just starts spewing forth all these nagging comments. I can see that without nagging they aren't going to be on time for school. When they get home, its homework, then dinner and cleanup, then scriptures then bedtime. I nag ALL DAY. I don't need to nag it is my problem. They need to know a few simple consequences to their actions and let the day roll. I can't do it. I have to do it. I have to stop nagging. Tonight gunny bag comes out once again. We have tried him before. I am going to pick up there stuff, collect it all week, and dump it in the middle of the floor Saturday morning. Each item cost 1 job. If you need it sooner It cost one dollar. I spend all day picking up their crap. I can clean the whole house so quickly if it is just picked up. I want my children to see the savior in my countenance. I know the savior would not nag all day.

My new Laundry room

2010-09-11T12:13:00.001-07:00

Well I may end up regretting this.. but for NoW I am Loving it. I HATE LAUNDRY hate with a capital hate. My kids try to pull something out of their drawer and everything else somehow comes with it and lands on the floor. I am doing laundry and some items are still folded. I want to strangle someone.
I got this idea from the eyers. I moved all the kids dressers into the laundry room. My laundry room is fairly small. It is very tight. SO they have to go into the laundry room to get dressed. It does leave the laundry room a big fat mess. But lets be honest it was a mess before. I am in there ten times more than in the kids room so if someone ACCIDENTALLY removes all there clean clothes on the floor I see it before it gets stirred into the pot of dirty.
The BEST part about the whole thing is the entire laundry process happens in 60 square feet. So I put a tiny travel dvd player in the laundry room. I have watched two completes seasons of stuff I like. I am actually excited to do laundry. If I am still engaged in the show I try to iron or straighten up in there. I have never been so caught up on laundry. The other day I was sad because I didn't have any laundry to do. That has never happened to me. So my daughter puked in her bed and my son peed all over the bath mats. So don't worry I was right back in there.

Strict school Strict Teachers????

2010-09-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

update. they change classes for math , science, and reading, two recesses and a lunch. That is the time they are allowed to use the bathroom so they really should have plenty of time.

My kids go to this school and I am super excited about it. They have recently become managed by APA American preparatory academy. They wear uniforms, which I love. Even though it creates tons of laundry. So this year they have REALLY stepped up the structure. The have to sit in learning position, which is feet on the floor and hands clasped on the desk. When the teacher asks a question they all respond in unison. If she asks a yes or no question they answer back with no or yes MAM.. They have seven different infractions they can be punished for. If they have to go to the bathroom they have to "pull a card" and lose five minutes of recess. If they are unprepared for the day. Or if there parents didn't sign their daily learning log the also have to pull a card. My kids are very nervous about school. They are pestering me and almost in tears if I don't sign their sheet immediately when they get home.
They are also doing some fun stuff they have cheers and chants and the teacher is constantly praising the class. The teacher asks questions and the kids respond every thirty seconds to a minute (in unison).
So the reason I am telling you all this is because there has been an unbelievable amount of drama. Parents are freaking out, there is a we hate excelsior academy page on facebook . People are threatening to not send their kids the day the budget is allotted for the year. People who know anything about APA always seem a little nervous when I tell them they are managing the school.
So all the drama makes me nervous. I have been very pleased and excited. I think all the structure is good for the kids. I am a very fun and low key mom with little to no structure. So I feel it is a good balance to my personality. I wonder what all you other moms think. Should I be nervous? Should I be listening to all the drama and figuring out the root of it all or just ignorantly bliss full??

I want this too...

2010-09-02T14:00:00.001-07:00

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

Sister Marjorie Hinckley

I need audio Ideas

2010-09-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

My kids go to a charter school which is 15 minutes from our house. I choose for them to go there so I can't complain. However, I am in the car 30- 120 minutes a day taking them to school and back uugghh.. It is only week two and I need some ideas. I bought a lot of talks on cd from education week but I have already blazed through about 80 dollars worth. So I need a cheaper option. ANY IDEAS??? I want it to be uplifting, informational, or even just entertaining.

Education week

2010-08-31T13:10:00.000-07:00

I spent the week before school started at education week at byu. It is 900% worth it. you can stay in the dorms for 82 dollars for 6 nights. The entire week m-f is 62 dollars to attend a crazy amount of classes. You just have to steer clear of the bookstore or the week just quad rippled in price. Maybe some year I can manage that but not 2010. The classes begin at 830 in the morning and end at 930 at night. You sit all day and listen to the most amazing teachers and presenters ever. I missed last year and I felt a small void all year. So I am looking for a group of friends to go next year. You can attend classes from marriage, parenting, organizing, gardening, health, teachings of isiah, signs of the second coming. All presented from some of the best teachers the church has to offer. If I can tantalize your tastebuds. They televise a very small portion of the classes each year and you can find them here.

I love reality tv!!!

2010-05-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

I am embarrassed to admit it. I won't talk about it in a crowd.. BUT I DO.. I love it.. It is the only tv I watch. I DVR biggest loser, survivor, and occasionally amazing race. I watch them while I fold laundry or cut coupons or lay there and eat popcorn.. I would love to try out for survivor some day. I think you have to be much younger and willing to be mostly naked on tv. I do have one thing going for me. I am lds reality tv loves the mormons, almost every show has at least one every season.

Why does crazy stuff happen to me???

2010-04-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

I could post at least ten incredibly terrible embarrassing moments that you would wonder if they were true. If you actually believed you would then wonder why is she telling these things out loud. What is it about me that all these horrifying things happen. I am not sure. I am always running late and only half prepared maybe that is a recipe for disaster. The average embarrassing moment probably wouldn't even phase me.. I don't know what the deal is ANYONE,,, ANYONE???

Our newest LOVE

2010-04-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

In september, my dad gave us a little shihtzu named chewbaca. My kids had no idea who that was. My dad gave matt a really bad time. I cant' believe your kids haven't seen star wars. So for weeks made tried to rent, buy, and borrow the star wars trilogy. Well without investigating further I threw a fit and said they were too young. I thought they would be scared. Well one day a few weeks later matt bought the original series and brought it home. I was surprised to find out they were only pg.. well we watched the first two in two days and the third the following weekend. It has been so fun my kids LOVE it. There is a star wars reference about every fifteen minutes in our house. We have every toy. We want to be star wars as a family for halloween this year. I have rededicated myself to trusting my husband..

What I worry about....

2010-04-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

my kids being bullies at school
my belly fat
my laundry
my girls homework
If I am too mean
If I am too nice
dentist appt for my kids
my husband
If my kids are getting bullied or molested
how fast I run a mile
if my house stinks
If my kids are too involved or not enough
If my kids really have their own testimony
If I do enough service
where my phone is
If I have offended someone by my big mouthedness
my points
my sugar addiction
my shins
if I am late
my girls teachers.

Back to Blogging

2010-04-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

Well I took a large hiatus from blogging and was facebooking most every day.. It is kind of lame. So I want to blog again.. If your blog is private reinvite me or invite me please..
I love to read someones blog when they are obviously just thinking aloud. (well typing) just baring there soul and telling you all they think,worry,dream, stress about. I feel like they let me into their world for a little while.. So my blog is going to take a more personal turn and if it makes you uncomfortable then just mind your business.

I am HOME!!!

2010-04-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

As many of you know I left Lubbock with great hesitation. I was happy for matt to have a job he enjoyed but sad to leave. We had signed a lease to rent a house in north west tooele. While visiting our friends the bradshaws in may of 2008, we looked at a house just kiddie corner. We loved it. I was nervous about the neighborhood. It seemed a little more affluent then I was used to and it seemed an older area. Well it was ridiculously priced and we had just signed a lease. So we happily lived in our rental in a fun neighborhood with a bazillion kids. I was very pleasantly surprised by the school. Okay I am getting off track

So Christmas time comes around and the prices have dropped substantially I am getting antsy to buy. We find a house that is amazing.... Huge and fairly cheap but it was a home show house and had tons of amazing extras..

Alright a side note... Since Staley was in primary she has had all boys and one partially active girl in her class in three different wards always the same stats. So for two years I have been praying to find a ward with a really good friend for staley.

Okay so we are one and a half days away from closing on this house in a brand new development. only three other houses in the whole neighborhood. The night before we close the whole loan falls through.. I couldn't believe it I was CRUSHED.

So we were shell shocked and just finished out our lease.. two other times we look at the house by the Bradshaws. We talk the poor builder down three different times.

Well anyway the rest is history. I finally knew this house is our destiny. We had looked very seriously at ten or twenty houses and it was always this house.

I LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. We are encircled by the best neighbors. Today we had an impromptu bbq. After the BBQ there were 14 kids playing red rover in my backyard. I am hussling to finish so I can go beat a few other moms at a board game..

I have the best friends here. I didn't even need friends. I have 100s of amazing friends. But I know I have made lifelong support, help me when I am sick, help me raise my kids, friends. I hope to never leave. I want to grow old here and watch these kids graduate from high school.. Our ward is amazing I feel so close to everyone and we haven't even been here a year yet.

Here comes Santa Claus.

2009-12-05T07:27:00.000-08:00

Look at that hat.. this women is amazing.. My dad knew her in the philipines on his mission..

Is that the sweetest picture????

GNO happy birthday lori!!!!

2009-12-05T07:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2009-12-05T07:04:00.000-08:00

In Reverse Order... ended the night singing in the christmas season...

Aunt Jamie helped the kids make turkey squawkers... I was still thanking her 5 days later...

Hokie 6 andrea destroyed us. She has the power of a grown women and a tiny baby

now thats a knife

Just after the pie incident..

The GPS race... was so fun...

pretty good for 60 running at top speed balancing our very delicate station 2

Lanee and Grant after preschool

Surprise 60th birthday funeral for Vaughn

2009-12-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Daddy daughter prom

2009-12-05T06:46:00.000-08:00

The drill team here did a fund raiser a daddy daughter prom. What a great idea. The girls LOVED it. We are still hearing about matts crazy dance moves.

I couldn't find my camera, while they were getting ready. So I snuck to the restaurant and took their pictures. Staley was mortified. "I hope you don't do this at my real prom"Matt bought all the girls corsages

Who told my kids that this is a pose for pictures. I could post twenty pics of them all doing this????????

Staley mortified!!!

Brady and Sadie

Canyon and I went to MC D's to have some mommy son time!!

I used all my getting ready skills on the girls.

Our new table...I am so excited...

2009-12-05T06:28:00.000-08:00

Canyon was a big helper to dad.. The finished product

Brinley hiding in all the boxes. She has an amazing imagination..

The HUGE mess.

We raced to beat our record of 9 min per chair. we never did. Pretty much everything is reality tv for me. I like to pretend I am on the amazing race. I know weird right...

Brinley's 7th Birthday! red carpet premier

2009-10-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

The queen of the day. The girls made crowns with gems, while I curled and sprayed their hair pink, purple or silver.

cupcakes.. what a poser

presents( ugh I keep forgeting to turn the pics)

red carpet. 6 bucks comes complete with double sided tape

I had to break out some dance moves to break the ice.

Laura made a million beautiful tiny cupcakes

Grammy and I catered the event.. with toothpicks and walmart frozen food

staley

the celebrities.

good night to the fans

The hollywood walk of fame.. a star for each girl to write her name on.

Lanee and canyon are on dishes this month!!!

2009-10-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

It is so cute to watch them work together.

I don't know how that got in their,,but it is pretty cute.

Canyon loves to play in the water, so I put him to work. If our dishes aren't very clean this is why.

king benjamin and his disciples at FHE

2009-10-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

Five in the Bed and the Little One Said... Rollover..

2009-10-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

Everyone has to get their 20 minutes reading in.. Right now it seems stressful. Someday, I am sure I will wish I could throw them all in a bed and read to them.

Alayna's First Day of Preschool!!!

2009-10-29T08:32:00.001-07:00

She was SO SO EXCITED..This is her baseline...She is so funny
We got carried away and had a photoshoot.

Can you turn pictures once they are uploaded on your blog?? what about delete??

Her school started the next monday after the other girls.. It was torture for her to wait.

She woke up and got her stuff and was ready to go..

I love Lanee.

First Day of School

2009-10-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

I Love Uniforms!! They look so sweet, clean, innocent. It does create a laundry problem but it is worth it. Don't they look adorable.

Our pickup sign. They first day of school it took 45 minutes to pick them up now it takes about 3.

a few more lake powell pics!!!

2009-10-29T07:50:00.001-07:00

Matt worked so hard the whole time fixing everything and driving the whole time he is amazing. The kids were so independant finding fun things to do.

Wake up early and sleep all afternoon.

Canyon in his new shark life jacket.

My girls..

Humor me while I post some very old pictures.. I am trying to tempt all of you into coming next year. WE LOVE LAKE POWELL

Lake Powell

2009-09-18T05:41:00.000-07:00

We went to Lake Powell in mid August. We had a perfect week. The weather was amazing. Not to hot, never cold. My kids were very well behaved. We never had a huge, I am so tired I have been on vacation too long MELTDOWN. It was so fun. All the kids could play. We all went cliff jumping and no one had to stay back with the baby. We all played as a family. Everyone got themselves dressed. It was very relaxing. Matt on the other hand, worked his tail off. It was our first time taking the house boat out. The house boat was hand made in 1916. So it has a few quirks. Matt was smoothing out the quirks the WHOLE trip. He was so HANDY. Matt has really evolved into a mr. fix it. And this is me. Doing what I love. Man we went out every morning as the sun was coming up. The water was perfect glass. My mom stayed back with the kids while they woke up. AAAHHH best time ever. I really had a great time. Thanks matt for working so hard so we could play.

Our summer

2009-09-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

We are alive and well. We went to mexico the first week of summer and I think I left my camera there. It was on its last leg anyway. So anyone that has any pictures of my summer please email them to me. I have spent the morning ripping off everyones ranch pics.

Smith Family Ranch

2009-09-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

We go to the ranch every year over the twenty fourth of July. I love it. I look forward to it all year. My kids love it. We played paintball. Fear factor, night games, kayak down the river, movies, hookie six, delicious food, we biked to wyoming and back. I am already planning for next year. I really love my in laws. We left the kids in the suburban(with a movie) while we played. So at the end we gave them a little open shooting time. Canyon( with a little help from oj) shot through my mask and gave me a bloody nose.

Go Team Orange.

The ranch is fly fishing only. BUT matt took the kids down and used a worm and they caught some pretty big fish.

That is lanee's fish. This is our third year and I have yet to catch a fish. I am good at a lot of things but fishing is not one of them.

Matt and the batman panties...

2009-05-03T20:14:00.000-07:00

I thought we would wait until canyon was three to try to potty train him. Matt had a whim and bought canyon some super awesome batman underwear, (which we all have slipped and called panties..)and a frog potty. Canyon was pretty excited sat right down and did it. He peed right away like it was nothing. Matt spent about ten minutes with him and turned him over to me. Matt loves to buy things and get all the excitement and I do all the work. Hence the two puppies that lasted a very short time in our house. Well anyway after a small fight about the potty and a pair of very poopy batman underwear in the trash. Canyon is back in diapers. However, the pictures were priceless... Andy we corrected the panty mishap and hopefully no longterm therapy will be needed.

Uniforms Here We Come....

2009-05-03T20:13:00.000-07:00

Soccer season

2009-05-03T20:10:00.000-07:00

Staley and Brin are playing soccer this year. My camera has a fuzzy spot. They are in the same league which consists of tons of different uniforms and they happened to get the same one. they must be soul mates.

community co-op

2009-05-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

All this for 14 dollars. I figured at the best deals I have seen all year, I would have spent 33.00. It is done all over utah with tons of drop sites. google sl community food coop. The produce was amazing QUALITY...

Amazing Coupons

2009-05-03T20:04:00.001-07:00

On coupons.com there are dollar off coupons for a variety of kellogs cereals. If you find a good deal or can double your coupons. Your cereal should be close to free.. Never buy cereal unless it is under a dollar.

Our initiation into BOYHOOD

2009-04-20T07:10:00.000-07:00

Canyon was running and hit his chin on a bookshelf. He JUST missed slicing it all the way to the bone. Proud to show his Itches.

Closeup

Our tough little boy

Grizzly game

2009-04-20T06:56:00.001-07:00

easter morning

2009-04-20T06:47:00.001-07:00

Easter

2009-04-20T06:31:00.001-07:00

Brinley and Grandma longhurst

We had a flashlight easter egg hunt. Matt's mom hid all those eggs about 9:30 at night for all the adults. It was a lot of fun.

cinderella and the ball

2009-04-20T06:22:00.001-07:00

Alayna was invited to a dress up tea party. The girls big brothers came to pick her up in a carriage.

I know I have gone TOO far but I can't help myself....

2009-04-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

Hot Deals. HI MY name is melissa and I am a coupon a holic. I am going to stop. I can't help myself.. I need help...

My Best Deal So FAR!!! GRAND TOTAL .80 cents....for ten kraft dressings. All these items were... free!!!

My grand total for my weekly shopping trip.. 43.17...

I couldn't sleep after I was so excited.. I know it is silly but I REALLY LOVE a good deal.

This month I spent all my grocery budget. so I didn't SAVE anything. But I STOCKED up...

I think it is getting out of control. So in April I am going to try to spend only 50 dollars a week.

I love a good challenge.

Just me and My Buddy!!!

2009-04-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

Indian Winter

2009-04-01T10:54:00.001-07:00

It is April and snowing more than it did in December. I actually don't mind it. We have had some intermittent warm days. I don't know if we have just been away from the snow so long or if it is all the amazing days we have had on the slopes. They keep the roads very well cleared so it really hasn't been a bother. Anyway here are our winter pics..... The girls and grandnan making snowpeople..

Snow angels!!!

We let the girls cut school and we all went skiing at snowbird. The girls have improved so quickly they can almost ski as well as I can.

Just matt and I took a ski day.

We spent the night at the canyons and skiied all the next day. It was 66 degrees.

Matt is ruthess with the snowballs. He can hit any target and he has no mercy. Sunday he wacked staley in the face about three steps from the church door.

Today's deal

2009-03-30T18:42:00.001-07:00

I got seven boxes of cereal and 3 gallons of milk for 2.25 at albertsons with coupons. I also got ten bottles of salsa and ten bottles of barbeque sauce for a grand total of 20.23. My reciept said I saved 78.45 I know I have gone a little overboard with the coupon thing but I LOVE IT. I get ten copies of the newspaper, for about 17 dollars a month. I timed myself this week. It took me 22 minutes to cut out all my coupons. You just stack them up so it isn't any more laborious then one set. The real deal if you are interested in starting is find a website that lists all the weekly deals and price match at walmart. This is the one I LOVE http://www.dealstomeals.com/ I have spent 100 dollars less a month than I used to before this website and I have more food than you can shake a stick at. Everytime I get home from a really great shopping trip I want to get it all out and take a picture but I am to lazy so just take my word for it. So coupons are a bonus and great for cereal, snacks, health and beauty, cleaning supplies and some misc. But if you really want to save money use a site like the one above.

I have a Tijuana high!!!

2009-03-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

My new hobby is grocery shopping. I used to hate it with every fiber of my soul. Last summer, matt's aunt was talking about all the good deals she was getting at the grocery store. Well no one gets a good deal with out me. So I asked her all about it and started my own journey. Well by not spending any more than my usual $600 a month in groceries I have food coming out my eyeballs. I think we are about 2 months shy of our year supply with very little wheat and crazy food. It is all just the normal food we eat at walmart. In Just less than 1 YEAR.
I was sick last week and couldn't go to the grocery store and we still had plenty of food. I still buy lots of name brand treats, snacks, meat, produce. We are not skimping. At the smith household, we like to eat.
So I am starting a new plan. Today, I saved 87.63 in just one week. 37.55 in coupons and 50.13 in price matching at walmart. That was a very average week nothing crazy. I still spent 138.00. So my cart was overflowing with groceries.
Well I have a high every week like I just went to tijuana. I love to get a good deal. I could talk about it for the rest of the week.
So the other thing I love to do but always feel guilty about is spending money on myself. So starting today, I am putting my weekly saved money into an envelope and buying myself something AWESOME. If I save around that much each week. I will have close to 350 each month.

some new expensive running shoes
mineral makeup
a NICE road bike
some new shoes.
modbe swim suit.
A girl trip to hawaii to see my roomie.

A huge Thank you.

2009-02-18T17:02:00.000-08:00

These three amazing women will never know how much it means to me for them to watch my kids. There is nothing so valuable to be away from your kids and completely trust the people they are with. I knew my kids were loved, having fun, happy to be with people they love. I never worried about my kids and that is worth the price of the entire trip.

Four Generations of Smiths

2009-02-17T12:59:00.000-08:00

The plane ride to Oahu

2009-02-17T12:53:00.000-08:00

Matt took a little vitamin X to calm himself for the ride over. He was more than calm.

He also bought these smokin hot glasses to watch movies on his ipod.

The happy couple. Kids what kids.... I was so excited.. I wanted to stand up and scream in my seat.

Our AMAZING HOSTS!!!

2009-02-17T12:43:00.000-08:00

They took us all over the island. They politely looked on while we spent hundreds on crap at the aloha stadium swap meet.

the wildlife was tame. They ate right out of our hands. And we later learned they didn't go to school.

As we deplaned we were leied by these hot mamas and taken to very luxurious accomadations with beautiful decor.

The north shore Oahu

2009-02-17T12:39:00.000-08:00

Our ship and matt's happy place

2009-02-17T12:36:00.000-08:00

Hilo volcano park.

2009-02-17T12:25:00.001-08:00

We mountain biked around a volcano park in Hilo on the big island. If you look closely behind us there are steamy volcanoes. In the bottom pictures we are in a lava tube, an underground tube where lava has cooled and formed tunnels.

maui moolokini snorkel trip

2009-02-17T11:55:00.000-08:00

This trip was amazing we took a 40 minute boat ride out to an under water crater. On the way we saw at least 30 whales. It was crazy. They were everywhere. Again I didn't take these pictures but they are from a gallery from the website who took us out there. We saw these exact sites. over and over. We snorkeled the crater for about and hour and then went to turtle cove and snorkeled with 5 very large sea turtles.

The beach in Maui!!

2009-02-17T11:49:00.000-08:00

Captain Zodiac dolphin swin in Kona

2009-02-16T07:36:00.000-08:00

This was SO INCREDIBLE. I have always wanted to do some sort of dolphin encounter. This was the real deal. No silly pool with one dolphin. We rode out in this boat and watched this huge pod of dolphins until they got really close and then we jumped in. My camera isn't waterproof and the boat ride out was two hands hold on tight so I stole these pictures off their site. We saw over a hundred dolphins swim just under us. Well these pictures don't really do it justice. Next time I will buy a waterproof camera.

On the way out to see the dolphins we saw a huge seven foot mana ray. The guide starts telling us to hurry and get in if we want to see it. So I frantically got on my snorkle and fins and jumped in. I was cruising over to see the mana ray and I swam right beside it for 3-4 minutes which seems like eternity in 1000 ft waters. I couldn't see anyone else so I look out of the water and everyone is still in the boat. I am out in the water with a huge ray ALONE.

Kauai hawaii's most beautiful island

2009-02-16T07:12:00.000-08:00

The souveiners for the kids

2009-02-16T07:05:00.000-08:00

Kauai zipline and rope swing our last day!!

2009-02-16T06:55:00.000-08:00

Hawaii here we come!!!

2009-01-30T05:46:00.000-08:00

My husband is the captain of spontaneity. He told me YESTERDAY that we are going on a hawaiian cruise next friday. In one week. HOLY TREADMILL here I come. Most people wait there whole life to do something like this and I am going next week. He has people all lined up to watch my kids. Is he amazing or what?? I am SUPER excited yeah!!!

Lanee and her BFF having tea!!!

2009-01-23T20:39:00.000-08:00

Golds gym now open in Tooele

2009-01-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

The next time you see me I am going to be super skinny. You better watch out.

Melissa's christmas present

2009-01-05T06:26:00.000-08:00

It is the new house. Does anyone know how to rearrange or delete once you have pictures on here.

We went up to our new house and did a walk through. We taped and taped and taped and taped. Some spots we couldn't reach so matt had to be a step ladder.

Christmas morning pictures

2009-01-05T06:05:00.001-08:00

Our christmas pixie!! the stockings were hung by the chimney with care!!!

Waiting to go downstairs. (that is how you know you live in utah)

christmas kiss

Papa's new hat. Daddy showing canyon how to play his DS (leapster)

The newlyweds

Even Daddy got a new toy!!

Canyon got a sword.

Lanee FINALLY got a DS (leapster)

Santa's offering

santa ate his cookies and most of the reindeer ate their carrots. One had a big toothy bite out of it.

christmas eve pictures

2009-01-05T05:55:00.000-08:00

Papa Jack spent Christmas eve and Christmas morning with us.

Our pathetic tree. I just didn't care about yelling at the kids all day to stop touching it . So it was pretty manhandled.
Papa and Canyon playing horsey.

Staley laid out cookies and an apple for santa and one carrot for every reindeer.

WE ARE BUYING A HOUSE!!!

2008-12-24T14:31:00.000-08:00

follow this link to see the pics.
http://www.utahrealestate.com/819481
click on more photos to see all the pics.
I wish all the furnishings came along. They are from the parade of homes.

Let It Snow

2008-12-19T14:19:00.000-08:00

Matt went to buy a snow shovel. And returned with two kid sized shovels. I can almost see his face in the store when he thought "I can make them shovel."

Happy Birthday GrandNan

2008-12-19T14:17:00.000-08:00

Boy TIme

2008-12-19T14:03:00.000-08:00

It doesn't happen often at our house, but last night it was all about the boys. Matt bought a remote control helicopter. (that's my husband buying himself presents moments before christmas. It makes it a little hard to buy him a gift.)

Snow Badgers

2008-12-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

We went to the Snow College Bowl game. Snow lost in DOUBLE OT. It was a beautiful day we had on t shirts and jeans in december.

Polar Express

2008-12-10T06:31:00.001-08:00

We went to the Polar Express on the Heber Creeper. It was very fun. The kids LOVED it. The elves served cookies and chocolate milk. When we got to the north pole Santa got on and visited with all the kids. We sang christmas songs. On the way back they had a little open mic and Alayna really hammed it up. She sang a version of Jesus wants me for a sunbeam and told the same knock knock joke twice. Canyon went up to the mic but then stood there like a deer in the headlights. It was very magical. Matts mom bought us all matching jammies. It was super fun.

2008-12-09T14:17:00.000-08:00

Attention Attention

2008-12-02T09:45:00.001-08:00

Has anyone researched or is doing digital scrapbooking. I HATE with a capital H-A-T-E scrapbooking. I can't cut cute, write cute, glue cute. Anyway I am not a fan. However I would like to have a scrapbook. However, on the bright side I like to be on the computer, all my pictures are already on the computer, and I don't have to cut cute. So it is perfect online scrapbooking. So I need any words of wisdom. And quick because I want it for christmas

2008-11-29T08:39:00.000-08:00

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. CONTINUED

2008-11-24T16:51:00.001-08:00

WHERE DOES A TWO YEAR OLD LEARN TO DO THAT?????

texas tech football!!!

2008-11-21T13:10:00.000-08:00

I am in love with this combo!!!!

Fall in Utah!!!!

2008-11-19T12:15:00.000-08:00

I just want to publicly apologize for all the bad things I said about Utah. well not all the bad but.
Is this weather amazing or what. I just spent two hours at the park with my kids in a short sleeve shirt and pants. The kids all stripped off their jackets and played. I can't believe it. Mid november. (I am embarresed but I have no idea what the date is. teens I know) I thought we were lucky to not have to trick or treat in the snow. I love this. One of the great things about Texas was the great weather. Even if it snows tomorrow I will still be happy. It is holiday time. We can have some snow now. But I have LOVED the FALL. football, new school supplies and clothes, Halloween, cool air. LOVE IT.

YEAH for MOI

2008-11-14T14:06:00.000-08:00

I found my cord to download all my pictures.. I am so happy...
so now you can finally see what we have been up to for the last six months. It is 3:00 and I am still in my pjs but I posted 17 new posts.

Staley was Baptized.

2008-11-14T13:38:00.000-08:00

Staley was baptized November 8th 2008. It was miraculous. Warning personal and sappy.
She was beautiful in her white dress. She was so excited. I had been praying for her to have a spiritual experience to know for herself she had made the right choice. To remember something special about her baptism. I think the day turned out perfect. She was so sweet, she cried several times. She sang with her cousin Hadley. As she was singing she really broke out into tears. Later brinley said, "Why did you cry staley?" Hadley said, "she was feeling the spirit so strongly." Staley said "and sometimes I cry when I am scared."
She was very nervous she would have to get baptized twice. but of course matt made sure to get the job done right. Thank you so much to everyone that came. It meant a lot to us to have so much support. And everyone was very generous to little staley pants.

Happy birthday Batman

2008-11-14T13:35:00.000-08:00

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

2008-11-14T13:29:00.001-08:00

A little late night gaming helps everyone sleep.

Alayna's makeover

2008-11-14T13:15:00.000-08:00

Alayna was made over by her sister's

Notice just a touch of leaf in her hair.

To finish the ensemble a fly swatter.

Her hair was worse than cement. We have some very EXTREME gel paste stuff so I just assumed that is what they used. Well you know what they say about assuming. It was actually toothpaste and hand soap in copious amounts

brought to you by brinley

Happy birthday Brinley HSM3

2008-11-14T12:38:00.000-08:00

Brinley turned 6!!! We took her and a few friends to see the new high school musical 3 and to dinner at Fazoli's pictures compliments of staley.

Pumpkin Party

2008-11-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

We decided to simplify this year and it was SO MUCH MORE FUN!!! The kids could do there own pumpkin. We used pumpkin tattoos and plastic face pieces, similar to Mr Potato head.

Priesthood session GNO

2008-11-14T12:24:00.000-08:00

We had a girls night during priesthood. We did masks, painted nails and watched girl movies.

Canyon wanted in on the action. we will blackmail him later with this.

Inspiration!!!! no more nagging!!!

2008-11-14T12:17:00.000-08:00

I made this clock for the girls for school. I was so sick of nagging them. Well I wouldn't say it is perfect. But in three months they have never missed the school bus. I just stuck stickers of what they should be doing so they can visably see what to do next and track the time they have until the bus comes.

First day of school

2008-11-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

Thats my brinley gotta pose!!! absolutely no pre kindergarten jitters!!!!

dylan spent the first day of school with us.

Lanee is going to preschool at a lady in the wards house.

We had a dog for about 5 minutes!!!

2008-11-14T09:40:00.000-08:00

INTRODUCING: raider. a sheltie. The kids are SO scared of dogs. However, I guess they are crazy because they REALLY wanted one. They saved coins for months. $110 in coins. I researched dogs for weeks on the internet. They say this dog is the most sturdy obedient dog for a young family. He learns quickly and is easy to potty train. We also got a 100 dollar discount because he had no tail. A special interest dog. The dog was SUPER calm. we actually worried if it was sick it was so calm. The kids held it all day. "look mom we aren't scared" We put the puppy in the crate for the night, and the next morning was a different story. OF COURSE the puppy is a little hyper from being contained all night. He chased my screaming kids all around the yard. So after two days of mom taking care of the dog I wasn't as much of a fan. However, I was willing to keep it up for a week while they got use to the dog. Well staley was trying to hide the fact that she was allergic to the dog. After the second day it became increasingly obvious her and matt were pretty allergic. So we took the puppy back. At least a better fate than buddy.

Haircuts for Alayna and Canyon

2008-11-14T09:38:00.001-08:00

Going away party for the girls

2008-11-14T09:36:00.001-08:00

Staley's last day of School!!!

2008-11-14T09:29:00.000-08:00

Lanee's birthday party at Chuckee Cheese

2008-11-14T09:19:00.000-08:00

The pet store

2008-11-14T09:13:00.000-08:00

The kids (staley and brinley) are (well above average) scared of dogs. The funny thing is they wanted a puppy so bad they saved money for months. All the while we couldn't go in anyones house with a dog. So I had been taking them to the pet store once or twice a week to acclimate them..

Canyon the valiant servant

2008-11-14T09:12:00.001-08:00

brinley's new bike

2008-11-14T09:07:00.000-08:00

The bike lasted about two months until I backed over it with the boat. It couldn't quite take the pressure. Things just aren't made like they used to be.

Our last hurrah in texas!!!!

2008-11-14T08:43:00.001-08:00

We decided to take one last trip to sea world while we lived so close.

shamu rollercoaster Daddy bought about 8 trays of fish and the kids were too scared.

I am not sure who was the most scared matt or the girls.

Grammy and Alayna waiting to feed the dolphins.

We arrived in time for the national anthem. Brinley's patriotism

The divas on the way into the park.

Quick stop at mc D's for some fatty lunch and to let the kids play. Look at matt's exuberance for the family trip!!!!

The SAC triathalon

2008-10-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

We almost missed the triathalon. We spent the weekend in las vegas and St. George. It was UEA so the kids were out of school and matt had the week off. So we spent wed night at matt and holly's. We spent Thursday night at Dallon's (matts bff). We went to jumpin jacks and matt and Dallon really broke it down. look at the pics here
They took us to the yummiest, most aromatic, fun ambiancest restaurant. Well Matt and I woke up about six hours before the triathalon feeling TERRIBLE. Well I have been pregnant A LOT and I feel I have mastered the art of throwing up. Well not with food posioning I was out of control. I really thought we wouldn't be able to do the triathalon. We were suppose to leave at 7:30 and about 8:00 we decided to give it a go. So we threw everything including our kids in a crazy mess into the suburban and cruised over to the event. Matt gets the level headed award for getting the wheels on all the bikes. Figuring out andrea's bike and remembering to adjust the seats.

Matt entered the beginner divison. He was still pretty sick and worried about having an accident in the pool. (I know tmi but here at happy hay we like to keep it real. )

Matt did a cannon ball to officially begin the race. All day you could hear people whisper. "There is that guy who did a cannon ball."

Staley entered the kids division. She had a lot of fun. Look at the determination on her face on the bike. She came in second in the girls division and there was about 25 kids. They were standing at the finish line with medals and she is super proud of it. I actually shed a tear when she crossed the finish line.

Andrea is an amazing runner I couldn't even see her the entire run. She smoked me with a capital S. But it was fun.

The swim was great I was actually surprised it was over. I rented a bike that felt like it had a motor. It was super easy. AND THEN THE RUN. I did terrible. When the run started I was about eleven minutes ahead of my time from the last tri. I did a 12 minute mile. Hello I should be able to walk it that fast. Well a runner I am not but I had a LOT of fun and I am glad I did it. Thanks to Wes for some amazing photography skills and babysitting all the kids.