Happy April part 1

M2B =) days 56 - 66.  Thursday April 1st - Sunday April 11th.

Well, I kinda thought that when Joe went back to school after spring break I would have tons of free time, and I wouldn't get so behind on the blogging.  Not so much.  April has been super busy.  And I am now nearly a month behind.  Oh well.  

Since I am super far behind, there is no way I am going to try to catch up all at once.  I'll do a few and then post the rest later.  Some have pictures, some don't.  Oh well.

Thursday, April 1st:  I really hate April fools day, like A LOT.  I was happy today that no April fools day pranks came my way.  Also today - sugar cookies.  Yum.

Friday April 2nd:  Coloring eggs at the park with my family.  We were a big, noisy mess, and I loved it.

Joe decided to do tye dye eggs this year.
They turned out pretty cool.

Love the look of concentration on James' face.

I came with 3 dozen white eggs and left with about a dozen and  a half colored ones.  I always bring extra's so I can share.

Saturday, April 3rd:  Family picnic at my mom's house.  We hid eggs for the little kids and then we ate and ate and ate.  How could that not be fun?


I was so happy Grandmother came.  It made me think of all of the Easter picnics that we had at her house over the years.  I really miss those.  It seems like Easter is one of the few times that we all got together with extended family.  I missed seeing my aunts and uncles and cousins that we typically see at Easter time.  We have just gotten to be such a big group that no ones house can hold us all.  Maybe the park next year?
Someone needs to give this sad boy a push.

Sunday, April 4th:  Saturday we typically spend with my family, and Easter Sunday is for visiting Brian's family.  I love the set up they've got going on in the back yard.  Brian and I decided that we seriously need a patio in the back yard so we can hang out.  Of course there was more egg hiding for the kids and lots and lots of eating.  Good times.
Later, the kids took turns hiding the eggs for each other.  It became a contest to see who could hide them in the hardest to find places.

Monday April 5th:  Ok, so the front lawn has been out of control.  I've let it go on too long because my lawn mower is broken.  Typically I would borrow my mom's, but hers is broken too.  The only other alternative is to just edge the entire thing.  Now, I have a pretty tiny front lawn, but to edge the whole thing would take about an hour and a half.  I know because I have had to do it before.  With a lawn mower, it takes 5 -10 minutes.  Anyway, I'm about 20 minutes in and barely making a dent, when my neighbor across the street comes over and offers to let me use his mower.  Woo hoo!  Got the rest of it done in 5 minutes.  So, today what makes me happy is friendly neighbors who see a need, and are willing to share.

Tuesday, April 6th:  Today's happiness is hair cuts.  I haven't had one in about 6 months.  It was much needed.  Thank heaven's for Michelle.  She gave hair cuts to me, Joe and Brian tonight.  Thanks so much Michelle.  We love you!
Wednesday, April 7th:  I got to hang out with this kid for a while:
Also tonight for young women's we did a service project.  We made sock puppets.  Someone in the stake put out the word that they needed 200o of them to take to Nauvoo in June for some reason.  So, we decided to make a few.
Most of the girls finished 2 or 3 that night.  I only got one done:

Next time I am doing something easier.

Thursday, April 8th:  Tonight was the finale for America's Best Dance Crew.  I love dance and will watch almost any show that has dancing on it.  This happens to be one of my favorites.  My top 2 favorite crew's made it to the finale, so I was happy with whoever won.  The winners were Poreotix.  These guys are super fun and super talented.Friday, April 9th:  I got to spend time with these 3 little monkeys today.  I love kids. 
Also on Friday was the start of a new tradition for me, Brian and Joe:  Family Movie Night.  It was Joe's idea.  He wanted a night where it was just the 3 of us and we could hang out together and watch a movie and spend time together.  I love it.  We decided we would each take a turn picking the movie.  Joe was up this week.  He picked "Enchanted".  Great movie.

Saturday, April 10th:  I felt really sick today and spent most of the day in bed, so no photos.  I am grateful today for Brian, who picks up the slack when I am sick.  Not only did he help friends move this morning, but he ran errands for me this afternoon, and made sure everything got done that needed to be done.  So grateful today to have someone to rely on.

Sunday, April 11th happiness:  I know it's petty of me, but I am SOOOO happy that Carol and Brandi FINALLY got kicked off of the Amazing Race.  They are mean spirited people and total complainers.  I was so glad to finally see them go.  It was even sweeter justice that Brent and Catie were the reason that they came in last.  They have spent the entire season talking about how stupid Brent and Catie are.  It was awesome that they were the ones to get them kicked off.  Who is stupid now?   I love this show!  
That's enough for now.  I'll catch up more later.

Happy Day!

How to train your dragon

M2B =) days 53 - 55.  Monday, March 29th - Wednesday, March 31st.

Monday was Joe's last day of freedom before school started up again.  We went to see "How To Train Your Dragon."  Grandma, Grandpa, Alex, Michael and Joshua came with us.  I have to say, I really enjoyed this one.  I thought it was cute.  It was even more fun sitting by Joshua and hearing all of his thoughts on the movie.  Kids make everything better.

Tuesday and Wednesday's happiness consisted of going to a few scrapbook stores.  I haven't done any scrapbooking in a really, really, long time.  I hit a few stores and I remembered how much I love this stuff, and how behind I am on working on Joe's books.  I am determined and excited to pick this up again.  

Happy Day!

Another week of happiness

M2B =) days 47 - 52.  Tuesday, March 23rd - Sunday March 28th.

Tuesday, Sheri and I decided to take the kids to try out "Jump Street".  They had a blast.  With wall to wall trampolines, how could you not?  It was hard to take their pictures.  Most of them turned out blurry because they were moving so much, but I still got a few fun ones.

Even though its blurry, I still love this photo of Joe.

This one is Alex, in case you couldn't tell.

The only shot I got of all four of them together.

Even Evan and Sheri got to play.  There is a separate area for the younger kids.

It was fun stuff.  We will definitely have to go again.

Wednesday Brian took Tiger to the vet.  He just hasn't been himself lately.  He has dropped a lot of weight and we can't hardly get him to eat.  Taking him in to the vet was a VERY stressful thing.  The last 2 times we took our cats to the vet, we had to end up putting them to sleep.  It hasn't even been a year since we had to put Shadow to sleep.  I was VERY worried because Tigers symptoms, to me, seemed very similar to Shadow's.  When we took Shadow in and found out he had cancer, it was devastating.  I was so worried that Tiger might have it too.
Thankfully, it wasn't that serious.  Tiger was really dehydrated.  The doctor gave him some shots, and had us put him on new food.  He is improving fast.  I am SOOO happy today that Joe's "little brother" is ok and getting better.

Thursday's Happiness:  I am happy today that the half a pack of gum that Joe left in his pocket, didn't ruin any of the clothes in the wash.  Joe should be happy about that too!  

Also Thursday, Max and Ben spent the night - woo hoo!  I am always happy when Joe has friends to play with.  
I love the total look of concentration on Max's face.  The kids were playing rock band, and Max was taking it VERY seriously.
Friday I made homemade sugar cookies.  I love the smell of cookies baking.  It makes the whole house smell good.  Yum.  Friday night was free dinner at chick-fil-a.  All you had to do was show up in your jammies and you got a free meal.  Anything free makes me happy!  Friday night after free dinner at Chick-fil-a,  Brian took Alex and Joe to the ASU baseball game.  Woo hoo!  Alone time for me.  I did some much needed cleaning.  A clean house always makes me happy.

Saturday we switched from Dish Network to Direct TV.  All of the same channels, for a cheaper price.  Nothing like a good deal to make me happy.

Sunday I spent the afternoon taking photos at a birthday party.  I love taking pictures!

Happy Day!

playing, shopping and sharing

M2B =) days 43-46  Friday March, 19th - Monday, March 22nd.

Wow, I am so not good at daily posting.  Oh well.  

Friday, was fun.  Joe and I went to my moms and hung out with the kiddos for a while.  Cheap entertainment.  I love hanging with this group.  Kids can be so much fun.

Josh got a new spiderman chair.  Here he is kicking back:

Ruby likes to get in there and play.
We played zoo.  Addy was the cutest monkey ever.
Playing with the kids and taking pictures are two things that make me super happy.  I think this was my favorite photo of the day.
I love it that we can go to my mom's and Joe has instant friends.  There is never a lack of someone to play with.  Cousins, cousins, everywhere.
I love that Michael is so odd.  He cracks me up.
I love that big gaping hole in Max's teeth.  He is the cutest, toothless six year old on the planet.
Saturday Brian and I dropped the boys off at Hamilton Pool.  That left about 2 1/2 hours for us to go shopping all by ourselves.  Woo hoo!  We went to look at trees first.  Brian found the perfect tree.  It only costs $4,000.00.  Geez!  who knew trees were so expensive.  Anyway, it was fun to look.  We also hit Khols, Target, Sonic (MUST HAVE SONIC ICE), and finally, Bath and Body works.  I have decided that place is evil.  I can't control myself in there.  I went in with the intent to buy 2 wallflowers, on sale for $6.00 each.  Instead, I spent about 4 times that much.  The evil sales lady got me to try this:
It smelled so good.  I am such a sucker.  Oh well.

It's Brian's fault.  He was doing this while I was in the store:  
If only he had been in there to stop me.

Sunday we took a little drive out to Darrel and Trina's house.  Brian and I had bought these at Target on Saturday:
These are a favorite of mine.  I look forward to Easter every year because of them.  I know Darrel likes them as much as I do , so I grabbed an extra bag for him.  They only thing better than the cadbury mini eggs, is sharing them with someone who appreciates them as much as I do.  Sunday we drove out to their house to drop them off.  They were sweet to let us invade their house.  We stayed a while.

Addy and Ro had to show Joe everything.  When I went out back this is what I saw:

Joe is such a kid at heart, just like me, I love it.  The best was when Joe called me "mommy" and Addy started laughing at him.  "Joe, you are too old to say mommy."  Hey, I don't think so.

Monday, Sheri and I took the kids to see a movie:  Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  I have to say that I was dreading this one, but I was pleasantly surprised.  While it did have your typical kids stuff, it also had some VERY funny moments.

I'm out!

Happy Day!

A week's worth of happiness

M2B =) days 36 - 42 - Friday March 12th - Thursday March 18th.

So, I am a week behind again - partly because it is spring break and Joe has been hogging the computer, and partly because I love seeing that picture of Cary Grant every time I go on the computer.  It made me happy, so I left it up there a little long.

Friday March 12th happiness:  I ran a bunch of errands this morning.  While that doesn't really make me super happy, it felt satisfying to get some things accomplished.  Also, the best part of running errands is listening to music in the car.  The radio was good to me today.  I didn't even have to turn on the cd's or ipod.  Favorite songs I heard today:  Cheap Trick - I want you to want me.  I love to turn that one up loud and sing along.  Also, Pearl Jam - Just Breathe - such a good song.  Brian has it on his blog right now if you want to check it out.  

Also happy today, I got to see Addy, Ro and Ruby for a while today - woo hoo!

Saturday, March 13th we went and saw Alice in Wonderland in 3-D.  I wasn't super excited about this one, but Joseph was.  I ended up liking it way more than I thought I would.

Sunday, March 14th - sorry no pictures.  I love lazy Sundays.  Joe and I hung out a lot today.  It was fun.  I love that kid.

Monday, March 15th, Joe and I pulled weeds.  I enjoyed being outside.  I actually really like doing yard work.  Again, it feels good to get something accomplished.  I especially enjoyed it today because Joe helped me.  
We got this whole section done.  I need to hurry and spray with weed killer, or they will just grow right back!
Tuesday, March 16th was bowling with the Trezise family.  Woo hoo!  I LOVE bowling.  Good times.
Poor Sheri, she didn't get to bowl with us.  She got to do this:
Tuesday night Brian brought home a surprise from this place:
Little individual bundt cakes.  The pecan praline was my favorite.  He also got a cinnamon and a chocolate.  They were so cute, and so yummy.  So much for no sugar.  Oh well.

Wednesday, March 17th  happiness was this:
It is cheap entertainment for the kids while on spring break.  I'm so glad the pools are open this week.  I dropped of Joe, Michael and Dallin for a couple of hours.  It was the first time since Friday that I have had completely to myself.  It was nice and I knew that Joe was having fun.

Thursday March 18th,  Joe's Grandma and Grandpa took him and his two cousins to the Wildlife World Zoo.  They picked him up at 9:30 and didn't bring him home until 7:00.  He had such a fun time.  I am happy that he has Grandparents that do such nice things for him.  

I was happy because I got some time to do some cleaning today.  I got a few loads of laundry done, cleaned my kitchen floor good, did some vacuming and got the bathroom clean.  I'm sure it won't stay clean for long, but it feels good now.  

Towards the end of the day, I really started to miss this kid.  I was glad to see his happy, slightly sunburned face as he came through the door!