Ethan Reads His Favorite Book

Ethan loves to go to the library. Last time we went he found this great book about dump trucks and bulldozers building a playground. He had it memorized pretty quick as we read it over and over again. Being his Mother I think he's too cute for words so here is a video clip of him reading Dig Dig Dig. (his hair is a bit messy, he just woke up from his nap) :)

A Fun New Pasttime

Okay, this post is for two of my sisters, and you know who you are! I have had so much fun with Facebook the last couple of months, almost as much fun as blogging. I wish you two would join. The fun could be mind boggling! :) Here's an example of some of the stuff you do. You can also post pictures and video. More of my friends check my Facebook than my blog, maybe that's why I like it better. Anyway, Robsie and Kim, tag your it! (if I can't catch you on Facebook I'll have to get you this way, so you aren't safe either way) :)

25 Random facts about ME!

1. I have a sweet tooth and LOVE chocolate so I have a secret stash in the house at all times!
2. I LOVE to swim and feel very much at home in the water.
3. I'm really quiet until I get to know you, then I'd like to think that I'm a lot of fun.
4. I love the movie It's A Wonderful Life and have fun with Mark quoting George Bailey. "...You call this a happy family? Why do we have to have all these kids?... Well, you look about like the kind of angel I'd get!...
5. I'm very particular about the laundry. It has to be done a certain way, with certain soap, and fabric softener. And I'm good with stains. If I can't get it out, it's not coming out.
6. I'm pretty sure I have social anxiety disorder. Church is kind of hard for me.
7. Mark proposed to me in the celestial room of the Mesa, Arizona temple. And it was very romantic.
8. I served a mission to Peoria, Illinois. Nauvoo was in one of my districts and I absolutely fell in love with it. I can't imagine how heartbroken the Saints must have been to have to leave that beautiful place.
9. I think bookstores are magical. I could easily spend hours in one.
10. I don't think you ever get over losing a baby. I'm sad to say that I've lost 3 (in a row).
11. I think captain Jack Sparrow is highly entertaining!
12. I don't like sacrament meeting on Mother's Day. I think it absolutely twists the knife for all the dear women who haven't been able to have children and it kinda sends the rest of us on a guilt trip.
13. I'm a little OCD when it comes to a clean house. I have a hard time coping if my house is not clean.
14. One of my very favorite places in all the world is Disneyland.
15. I kind of miss Mark being the Bishop. There was such a special spirit in our home that I know came with that particular calling. But it's nice to get to sit by him in church again.
16. I can't even begin to tell you how much I LOVE to read! I have to have reading material at all times.
17. I think one of the sweetest, most tender experiences I've had in this life is nursing my little babies. I wouldn't have missed that one for ANYTHING!
18. My favorite sandwich in the whole world is a Honey Bacon Club from Quiznos. Chased by a butterfinger shake from Iceberg.
19. I hate my C-Section scar. It's not the big long purple line that bugs me, it's that it's like squished my fat into this heinous mushroom looking thing. It's not right. I wish I could have my fat back the way it was before. And I think if you have to have a C-Section then you should get a free tummy tuck thrown in cuz you are full of stitches and staples anyway!
20. I think my kidos are some of the most wonderful people in the world and I love being their Mom. Even on the hard days. They make me laugh, and they teach me things.
21. I know I have a Father in Heaven who loves me. This knowledge helps me get through the tough times.
22. My Mom is my Hero and she is so much fun to be with. So are my three younger sisters.
23. I do NOT like spicy food but I love Kung Pao chicken from Panda Express. Go figure.
24. I have reason to believe that my cute hubby, Mark, hung the moon.
25. I love having a really good belly laugh.

Shaken His Groove Thing

Recently Matthew has discovered the fun of music. Whenever music starts playing he starts shaking his little head back and forth and bending his knees, bouncing up and down. It's so cute. Last Sunday during Relief Society they started playing Praise To The Man and he was just a boppin away the whole time we were singing. I guess he liked the rythm. It was pretty funny and adorable. Everyone was laughing. Anyway, I caught him on tape jammin out to some Billy Idol and I thought I'd share it with you. He's pretty cute, huh?

My Little Helper

Matthew has a real fascination with the dishwasher lately. Whenever I'm in the kitchen doing dishes he loves to climb right up on the dishwasher door and get to work. He's such a great helper, or un-doer, depending on how you look at it. :) Regardless, I sure do enjoy his company.

Calamari and Pigtails

A couple of weeks ago Mark and I looked at each other and said, ya know, we have a lot of kids.(Big Smile) We decided that they each could probably use a little one on one attention, so this year, each month one kido will get to pick a restaurant and go out all alone with Mom and Dad. Meghan was the lucky one to go first. She is our little seafood lover and has been wanting to go to Market Street Grill and try some Calamari. She also decided that she wanted her Nana and Papa to tag along. We had a great time. As soon as we walked in, her face lit up and she said, "I smell shrimp!" She ordered the Salmon and LOVED it. She had 5 or 6 pieces of Calamari. She liked it, but not as much as the Salmon. I had 1 or 2 pieces. It tasted pretty good but I just can't get past the fact that I am eating OCTOPUS! (It's just such a yucky thought). It looked to me like Papa loved the stuff, Crazy Guy. Meghan had fun trying to crack open the Crab leg to get to the meat. That was just "okay" tasting, she said. After we were done eating, they brought her out a little dish of ice cream. Needless to say she loved The Market Street Grill and we loved spending alone time with our little Meg!

Trying the Calamari. "Not bad!" she said.


Now that's a BIG Crabs leg!

Meghan eating her very favorite thing- Salmon!

MMMMMMMM Ice Cream

Bringing in the New Year

This New Years Eve we had Kathy and her family, and Kenley come stay with us. It was good to get to visit with everyone and the kids LOVED having time with their cousins. Everyone was here for Sabrina's wedding. On her big day Sabrina looked absolutely beautiful and incredibly happy. What is it about being a bride? I'm telling you, it's nothing but magic. It's too bad life has to catch up with you. Not that life isn't still great and wonderful. And it isn't that you're not still head over heals in love... it's just that a mailbox full of bills and being up all night with sick babies just kinda squelches that magic. There is just nothing like that first year when you are still getting to know each other (if you know what I mean ;] ) and you still have that cute, skinny, young body. Have you heard the saying that youth is wasted on the young? That's really kinda true. Anyway, we wish Sabrina and Drew the very best!! Mark took our kids and Kathy's family sledding on New Years Day. When you live in Arizona, snow is a real novelty. The next day Mark enjoyed getting to be with all his brothers and sisters on the same day, in the same place. That just doesn't happen enough when you get older, for some reason. So here is a montage of all the fun. We love and miss you guys!

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