week in review

What a busy, busy week I have had. All of the kids started swimming lessons Monday. I was very lucky because I was able to get them all in at the same time although we are at 3 different levels. While my kids are in swimming lessons I watch my friends baby so that she can do the parent toddler class with one of her other little girls. I don't mind doing it I am at the pol anyway I might as well. Plus who can refusing getting to hold an adorable little baby. Wednesday my parents stopped by to see us. They were on their way home from Jackson hole Wyoming. Who knew that Mountain Home was on the way home (6 hours out of the way). But as always we were all thrilled to see them and sad to see them go. My dad put up a wall in my bedroom so Nate and I finally have privacy. Thank you Daddy!!! Thursday was Tyler's last Tee ball game. He did really good but I am very glad when it is over. Friday my parents left for home *tear* and when Nate got off work we all jumped in the car and headed up to the Mountain to go camping. Despite the name mountain home it is not actually near a mountain. To get to a good spot you have to drive a 1+ But it is all worth it. Saturday we came home cleaned up our camping mess. (although I swear I can still smell camp fire all over the house) Then Ella and I went to see WALL E. Which was a very cute movie but even better then the movie was getting to go and do something fun one on one with Ella. That was my week. Fun huh? How come my relaxing summer is always sooo busy?

Goin Campin

After 11 years we finally made it out camping as a family. Not that we haven't tried before it is just something has always stopped us from spending the night. I was happy to know that there was good camping about 40 minutes from the house. We all had a great time there was noooo fighting the whole time which is a miracle in itself. And I found out that Nate is an excellent dutch oven meal cooker. This is where we stayed well somewhere in that canyon.
Nate in his silly hat.
Tyler in Nates silly had
It got really hot so hot that Nattie was cooling herself down with the Meat we brought for dinner. I told her it was really gross but that didn't stop her.
All of the kids did alot of fishing without catching anything
Tyler and Ella escaping from the tent
Our tent is huge. It would probable fit 8 adults comfortably
We went on a nature walk and all of the kids had to take a picture. I am in all of them so this is the one I thought I would show you.
The kids on the log before the walkIt only took 7 shots to get all of the kids looking at me.

My honey and me

I bought these new photoshop actions and who better to try them out on then Nate and I especially since it has been a very long time since we got our pictures done. I also drove past this barn that had this graffiti on it and just loved it and thought just how cute it would be in a couple picture. So I had to do it there. I had in mind some poses to do and my friend helped by taking the pictures. I really like how they turned out. Here are some of my favorites.
Vintage
Urban

Color boost

Tee ball for Tyler

T-ball is Tyler's favorite sport to play. And he is sooooo good at it too. He can hit the ball clear over second base. And he has a good arm too. But I think that they play tball here really weird for example. They only have 2 innings and the kids only get to run 1 base at a time no matter how far they can hit the ball. And there are no outs in the game either. But Tyler loves it and I like to watch him play.

she lets you hold her?

My not so friendly never lets you hold her let alone pick her up. As a matter of fact I am afraid to even try to pick her up. She is not mean about it but she usually scratches you. I think she just doesn't feel secure held in your arms like that or something. But the other morning Ella walked right up to her and picked her up and Sarah just sat there and let her do it. I was sooo surprised. I was even more shocked when she didn't try to get away and just sat there calmly. Today Ella tried to pick her up and Sarah bolted as soon as she figured out what she was doing.

My new toy

Why you may ask do I need another camera. Well I have a very simple answer to that. My big camera is just that BIG and I am not a fan of lugging it around at the zoo or for just snapshots. I love my BIG camera. But it can get in the way and it can get heavy. So after much persuading I was able to get this one to (it is camera #3 but the other one doesn't work so well so I let the kids use it). I am having fun just taking snapshots with this camera. I just carry it around in my purse yeah it really is that nice to have.

Happy Fathers Day Babe!!!

For fathers day this year I had the kids answer some questions about their daddy and put it in a card for him (thanks lesley for this idea) I thought that I would share the answers with you. Plus the real answers.
How old is Daddy? S(natalie) 29-P(nichole) 29- T(yler) 28- E(lla) 60- R(eal answer) 29.
When is Daddy's bday? S- March 12, P- March 12, T- 2008, E- in a month R- march 12
What is Daddy's favorite color?S-IDK, P-I do not know, T- I don't know, E- green, R- he claims he doesn't have one
What is Daddy's job? S- Air traffic controller, P- Air Traffic controller, T-Air Forg, E- to work in the tower, R- He works in the tower for the Air Force as an Air traffic controller
What does Daddy like to do when he isn't at work? S- Garden, p- Play things on the Wii, T- go on the cumputer, E- to come home, R- E all of the above but spend time with me is his very favorite.
What is Daddy's favorite food? S- Everything, P- IDK, T- I don't know, E- Pizza, R- he likes all sorts of different foods.
What is Daddy's favorite drink? S- Pepci, P- Pepsi or Coke- T-Pepsie, E- Diet Coke, R- Coke Zero
What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? S- Cuddle, P-Garden,T- play the Wii with him, E- play sleeping monster
What do you wish you could do with Daddy? S- Play with him more, P- have fun, T-go to work with him, E- play baby
What do you love most about Daddy? S- he is my dad, P- He is my dad, T- he's nice, E-I like hugging him, I like kissing him, and coloring him a card
What does Daddy look like? S- He is a bit taller then mom, P- Black hair and tan skin hazel eyes tall, T- He has black hair, E- (this one is my favorite of all the answers) Brown hair, his legs have hair, he's got skin on his feet, his belly has some poking up hair, and his head has lots of hair, R-PERFECT

Babe I love you soooo much and I am so lucky to have you as my honey. I am proud of you for all the things you accomplish and for putting up with me. I am blessed to be called your wife.

Hanging out with Heather.

My friend Heather came over yesterday to learn how to make bread. I had sooo much fun with her. I am really starting to like this ward and have enjoyed getting to know the people in this ward. She brought her 2 boys with her and Ella had a great time hanging out with Carson. I also curled Heathers hair while she was here. I really like doing peoples hair. Thanks for coming over Heather and letting me get to know you better. I think your awesome!!!Ella and Carson kept pulling these funny faces while I was trying to take their picture.
After several tries this is the best I could get.
Heather and Tanner. He is such a good boy
Me and Heather. Don't I look so good without my make up on. But yet I still posted the picture.

Our roasted marshmellow feast

We had a nice time together for FHE tonight. Before it started all of the kids got together and roasted marshmallow's while the charcoal was getting ready for our dutch oven peach cobbler. The kids eat them in all different ways. Caleb, Natalie and Tyler all like theirs light brown (although the shades of light brown are different) Choley, and I like ours burnt to a crisp. Ella likes hers however they turn out when she is sick of holding up the stick. And Ryan likes his still white just "warmed up a little. Nate not a fan at all. We had a great time and the Peach Cobbler turned out really yummy.Caleb, Ella , and Nichole were the first ones to bring me their sticks all ready for me to widdle a little bark off of.
The view I got of everyone from the patio.

All of the kids roasting away. The 3 big kids had 4 marshmallows on their sticks at one point.

A day at the park

I thought that I would be a super nice mom/aunt and take the kids to the park today. Actually we went to 2 different parks so all of the kids would get a chance to play at a park that they would like. First we went to Legacy Park which has no playground equipment at all but it has ducks to feed and little areas to explore. It is my big kids favorite park to go to. We were there for about a hour before the little kids got so bored so we (My friend Nicole and I) decided that we would take the kids to a different park. The big kids all pouted about having to leave. But I made us all pack up and go. The other park was alot more kids friendly and all of the kids seemed to have fun except for Nichole who pouted in the car for about 30 minutes until I made her get out and then she pouted by a tree for about 10 minutes until she got over it and went to go and play. All in all it was fun for the kids. They were all ready to go home and eat lunch by the time we were done.

Ella and Maddi holding hands. Ella told Nicole that she would watch Maddi.

Tyler and his best friend Jackson.

Nicole just hangin out

Ella and Maddi getting ready to leave

Caleb and the girls
These three had so much fun exploring the trees behind them

Ella and Maddi at the other park
Me and Nicki D again

Tyler and Jackson climbing a tree with Jackson's friend Parker
Ryan and Tyler cooling off under a tree

Me and the kids at the park. Don't we all look happy

Nicole and her great family

here we go a bowling

Nate had to spend the night on base tonight so we decided so he wouldn't have to be alone all night long I would bring the kids to the base and we would have dinner and go bowling with him. Nate doesn't have to work he just has to be on the base. so the bowling alley counts. We all went to Taco Bell first then we over to the bowling alley. We played the boys against the girls and it was the first time that that has ever been an even number for us. Nate scored highest the first game but I scored highest the second game which even beat the high score for Nate. Go me!!! I felt pretty good about myself because I am not a very good bowler. We had a great time bowling the 2 games that we got to bowl. And Nate got some company with him for 3 hours. Now he is going to billeting to play the Wii.The kids all had so much fun together.
I couldnt believe that they had shoes in Ellas size. I love bowling shoes they are sooo unique.

Way to go Joy and Dad

My dad and sis ran in a 5k today in Utah. They both did a great job and are both striving to beat their goal at the next 5k they will be running in July. Love you Joy and Daddy!!!! My sis is the one next to the girl in the white shirt. I hope you can figure out who my dad is. Prerace picture!!
Post race. The 5k nearly killed all of them.

BTW this picture was taken before the race. I thought that was sooo funny!!!

Ellas new room

I decided that it was about time that I get around to painting Ellas room. I found this really cute wallpaper at the hardware store and had to snatch it up. I based the room around those colors. Unfortunately it still has the ugly orange carpet and may still have it for a while. I found some really cute decorations to hang up in the room on Etsy.com (it is a website where they only sell handmade things and I am totally addicted to it). Ella loves it and I love it too. The only problem is that it was vinyl not wood that I was painting over so some of the paint came off when I was pulling off the tape. I have some touch ups I am going to have to do.before it was painted with everything pushed into the middle of the room.
The colors and wall paper the top really is a very light pink color not white.
The after picture. If it looks like Ella has no toys it is because she doesn't she got them all taken away because she wont help clean her room and now she has to earn them back.
Ella on her bed

Ella showing off her new room color!!!