St. Patrick's Day

So I've been liking St. Patrick's Day or should I say 

what they call it at school, "Leprechaun Day" more

and more each year.  It is fun to do everything

in green for the day.  I even got this cute idea to trap a

 Leprechaun off Pinterest and had the kids

make it.  They had so much fun and for sure

we thought we were going to catch one this year! 

We made a sign that read, "DANGER Don't climb

the ladder" so of course the Leprechaun would

want to do the opposite.  We then glued glitter 

all over a cotton ball to make it look like a gold nugget.

What the Leprechaun didn't know is there was a hole

under the gold so he would fall in and be trapped.                         

In the morning to our dismay there was no Leprechaun.

He cut his way out and left clues for the girls to follow.

The girls were bummed they didn't catch a 

Leprechaun but at least he left them something yummy!

Each St. Patrick's Day I take my kids pictures.

I had to add this one of Sierra because she tried

so hard to smile and it's so cute! 

Wow!  So many different colors of green and they

clash bad! 

My cute Owen so very happy!

Spring Piano Recital

Riley had her Spring Piano Recital and did

a great job!  She was just as nervous as the first

one but at least knew what to expect. 

Both Grandparents were able to come

which was neat for Riley.

Riley got to pick her songs that she played for the recital.

She played the song, "Firefly"as a duet with her teacher.

And the song, "The bugle Boys" as a solo.

Diaper Babies

All the family had dinner at Grandma's house.

And after the kids played and had fun.  

The babies danced around in their diapers and loved it!

They are all so cute in their diapers!  Sorry Austin you

could not join the "Diaper Baby" club!  Maybe this

summer! 

"Bailee boo" , "O" boy and "Tater tot"

Bubble Gum Jewelry

So while the kids were off track I tried to be a fun

mom and do actives and go fun places.  

This is one of those things.

"Bubble Gum Jewelry"

I got the idea off Pinterest and it actually took so

much longer then I originally thought. 

It was to hard for the girls to make the holes

in the gum so I ended up doing all of them. 

They also had a hard time tying the knots in the

right place.  So after basically doing them all myself

the girls got to wear them and eat them and it made

them happy.  So I guess it was worth it, once!

And not again! 

Dr. Seuss Day

The girls school was celebrating

Dr. Seuss Day.  They did fun things

such as eat green eggs and ham 

and play Dr. Seuss games.

To add to the fun of the day I made these

chocolate green eggs and ham for 

Paige's class.  They were easy and

fun to make.  

Playing with a friend

Paige and Riley Tidwell were getting so into these pattern

blocks I had to take a picture.  They would come show

me after each one they accomplished.  

And for how much time they spend together I was

surprised what little pictures I had of them. 

I'm sure they will love to look back and reminisce some day!

Daddy Daughter Dance

Bluff Ridge Elementary school put on a 

Daddy Daughter dance for all the 

girl students and their dad's. 

This was Riley's second time and Paige's

first time.  The girls were so excited!

I helped the girls get all dolled up!  

I curled their hair and painted

their nails.  And I let them wear my 

fancy hair clips.  They felt so pretty.  

After taking Riley's and Paige's pictures with their

dad Owen and Sierra had to have their turn as well.

And for once I got a good smile out of Sierra!

Valentines Day 2012

My cute kids on Valentines in their pink and red!

Me and My Hot Valentine! 

Grandpa and Grandma Gardner rang the doorbell 

and hid just in time for the kids to see their

surprise treat bags and gifts left on the porch.

Grandma is so thoughtful and fun.  She made these

quiet church books for each kid.  They are all

different.  One book is "My Gospel book from A to  Z"

It has pictures and things to read that starts with each letter

of the alphabet.  The kids loved them and all their candy

with it.  

Later we had a fun kid friendly dinner.  We got a heart

shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's and all the kids

got a yummy treat by their plate for after.  

Earlier that day the kids loved helping me 

cut out and hang hearts all over the kitchen before 

Daddy got home for dinner.  

Valentines Party and Cookies

I helped out at Sierra's preschool Valentines party.

Which was not very eventful.  But I think Sierra

thought it was fun. 

I did her hair in hearts for the party. 

She got to decorate her own cookie and put

sprinkles on it and took a couple of bites and 

that was it. 

Later that evening as a family we decorated sugar

cookies for friends and family.  The kids love putting

a plate of cookies on the porch ringing the doorbell

and running to hide.  We got that tradition from

 Brandon's family which the kids and I love! 

Mrs. Flexible Paige

Paige loves doing her splits and is very good at them to.

She has always been that way.  I know she did not

get that from me!  I had to work hard to get my splits

when I was younger.  

Riley's Valentines party

 Riley had her valentines party a little early 

because she was going to be off track during

the Valentines holiday. 

This was the Valentine Riley gave her teacher.

It was 3 packs of Rolo candy put together to make

dynamite.

 So I was lucky enough to help out with their

class party.  I put together a hunt for the missing half 

of the Valentines heart.  The kids had clues and when they

 found each clue they got a treat.  At the last clue they 

discovered that cupid had the other half of the heart. 

The kids enjoyed finding clues in the lunch room, 

 the computer room, the library and other places. 

I did her hair in two hearts to be more festive and fun!

Owen in the sink

I guess only me and his Grandma's

would think this is cute.  And I know

I can't give Owen a bath in the kitchen

sink forever.  Usually I can just wipe his 

hands off after lunch but with spaghetti

I had to strip him down and plop him

in the kitchen sink.  He had spaghetti 

in places he shouldn't have!  Plus he loved

playing in the water and I did not have

to bend over a tub to wash him.  

It was quite convenient! 

Chocolate Factory Field Trip

Sierra had another Preschool field trip in North Salt Lake

at Mrs. Cavanaugh's chocolate Factory. 

She got to see how the factory got started and 

how they make the delicious chocolate candy

It was kind of hard for the preschoolers to really

appreciate it.  They let all of us have a chocolate.

But of course Sierra did not like it because it had

carmel in it.  So the kind worker went and got one

just for her that was all chocolate. 

They also had a mini town for a train to go around. 

Sierra and Owen watched that forever. 

Sierra's Preschool class

New Years 2012

After our quick visit to my mom in Idaho we left straight

to Bear Lake to be with Brandon's family for 

New Years.

Spencer brought some guns up for us adults to shoot.

I have only ever shot a 22 or a shot gun so it 

was fun and a little scary to shoot a glock 40 and

a 45 magnum revolver.  I had to ask Brandon what 

kind of guns I shot to put this on the blog.  And I'm sure 

I could not remember them if I had to point them out either!

 Brandon, Spencer and Jeff

Later that night we celebrated the new year with a 

count down around 8:30 in stead of Midnight for the kids.

Grandma is so awesome and brought a ton of confetti

poppers and noise makers.  The kids and adults had

so much fun making a mess and being loud. 

Tate, Rachael, Katie and Grandma

 The kids had fun shooting the poppers off the loft

and watching the confetti float down.

 The Grandkids...

Bailee, Riley, Owen, Paige, Sierra, Josh and Tate

My four...

Riley, Owen, Paige and Sierra

Later after we cleaned up and put the kids to bed

it was time for some adult time to hang out and 

watch a movie.  And of course we could not

forget the snacks and treats.  The funny thing is when 

we were all down stairs and heard a big pop 

sound and then Brandon laughing.  We ran up stairs to 

find him holding the top of a sparkling sider bottle 

and the ceiling dripping from the drink.  Kind, tall Spencer

wiped it off for him while Brandon cleaned 

the floor.  And the rest of us just laughed! 

The next day we hit the four wheelers and did some

sledding. 

Jeff and Riley 

Paige, Sierra, Brandon and Owen

 Owen loved going on rides on the four wheeler. 

He did not care who took him.  Even though it was 

way past his nap time and he was tired he would not

give up the rides. 

And he even got some of his own driving time!

Dinner and a show

For the first half of the New Year

Week End we visited my mom in Idaho.

Grandpa and Grandma Avery took us,

and my other siblings and their families

to a fun dinner and show.

The night started with a wagon ride.

The girls loved it but Owen hated every

minute. He does not like to be close to

horses. We bundled up warm and wore

our hats that Skyla made us.

The wagons took us to a huge barn for

a delicious prime rib dinner with all the works.

While we were eating we got entertained

by a show of comedy and music.

Afterwards we headed back and Paige

got to hold the horse reigns. She really

thought she was driving the horse team.

So cute!

We went back to Grandma's house to open

presents since we did not get to see them over

Christmas. It was late and the kids were tired

but they were too excited to Visit Grandma's

house and open presents to go to bed.

We did not get to stay long this time around.

We headed out the next morning after breakfast

to Bear Lake to spend the last part of the

new year weekend with Brandon's family.