Let's Wrap Up Our California Trip... Part One

Okay, so here is a very abridged version of our trip to California.

 Leaving town... everyone's still in good spirits.

 We made it to Great Grandma and Grandpa's... Cameron loved sitting on the four-wheeler, but was way too scared to go for a ride.

 After staying the night, we were on the road again the next morning.  We did manage to get in a few short (and I mean short) naps.

 Don't I look happy to be driving.  Andrew is the designated driver for road trips at our house.  Unfortunately, we're not independently wealthy and he had to work, so he flew down a week later.  Yes, I was in California with my three small children without him.  And yes, I did survive.  Fortunately, Aunt Caitlin flew up so that she could drive down with me.  Thanks again Caitlin!

 One of Cameron's brief happy moments.  He really liked screaming on the drive down.  *Note to self: Always bring a spray bottle on road trips.  Cameron will immediately stop screaming upon being sprayed. :)

 Just happy to be out of the car seat and have a full belly.

 Lunch time in Vegas.

 Amazing how happy one can be over a juice box.

 During our lunch break, Cameron spotted some old guys who were traveling on motorcycles.  They were nice enough to let Cameron check it out. 

 Another twenty minute nap.

 We finally arrived and were so excited to play with two of our three cousins on my side of the family.

 Aunt Brittany - Tessa is distraught that her mommy is holding someone else and Ashlynn is looking like she's about to start eating her.

 Happy Girl

Ella was pretty happy to wear Aunt Caitlin's lei from graduation.

Cameron, Me, Mom, Brittany, Caitlin, Dad, Dublin, Aubrey - only missing eight people

While we were there Ashlynn got to meet her grandpa (my dad) and her other great grandparents for the first time.  We also did a little bit of shopping.  The munchkins got in lots of play time with cousins and I was able to do a lot of visiting with my mom, sisters and grandparents.  I also helped mom do some cleaning out of her craft room. :)  I came home with some fun stuff.  We had a great time visiting and look forward to visiting again.  Thanks for another great trip everyone.  We love you guys.

How'd I Do... June Goals

I can't believe it's already July.  Where is this year going?  Well June was a crazy month for us.  We spent the first two weeks in So Cal visiting family.  Since then we've tackled a few projects here at home.  I still need to blog about it, but lets just say that we pulled a little switcheroo.  We've also been doing a lot of work outside getting the yard in tip top shape since summer has finally decided to grace us with its presence.  Anywho, with all the craziness of last month my goals sort of went out the window, but there's no use whining about it.  Time to move onto July, but first let's take a look at June.

June Goals:

Homemaking -

Swap out munchkins winter clothes for summer clothes... finally.

Finish spring cleaning - Maybe I'll get it done in time for fall cleaning. :)

Cooking -

Try three new recipes - I hardly cooked at all last month.  We ate out way too much the last two weeks of June.  So I definitely didn't try any new recipes.

Make a batch of baby food - I bought the produce, but just haven't had time to make up the batches of food yet.

Mothering -

Survive a week alone with the munchkins

Creating -

Sew something - Fail

Financing -

Stay in budget

Thrift shopping while in California - What a let down this was.  I think I bought three little things for the munchkins.

Enriching -

Catch up on my blogging - Obviously this didn't happen.  Wish me luck for July.

Start organizing my iPhoto - I started deleting pics which is a start.

So here's to July:

Homemaking - 

Clean, sort and organize storage room

Decorate guest room

Cooking - 

Try three new recipes

Make special treat for Andrew's birthday 

Find someway to use 5 dozen eggs

Mothering -

Patience, patience, patience

Creating -

Make some art work for the toy room

Sew curtains for nursery

Financing -

Eat out only once a week

Buy winter clothes for Cameron

Start buying school stuff for Ella... Agh, I can't believe she starts preschool next month.

Enriching -

Catch up on blogging

Continue working on organizing iPhoto

Read two books

Congratulations Aunt Caitlin!!!

Part of our trip to California was to see my younger sister graduate from high school.  We're so proud of you Caitlin.  We're also super excited for you to go to BYU Hawaii in the fall ~ lucky girl.  Congratulations!  We love you!

 Auntie Caitlin

 Mom and Dad

 Grandma and Grandpa

~ The sisters ~ 

Aubrey, Courtney, Caitlin, Brittany and Me

Happy Birthday Little Man!!!

This is really late, but Happy Birthday Cameron!  My little man turned two on June 3rd.  We were lucky enough to be in California visiting family for his birthday so he got to have two birthday parties.

 I just love this handsome little man!

 He already doesn't like it when I love on him... too bad.

 Don't get between him and chocolate frosting... he just may bite your hand.

  Yum!

 Look at the suspense as he opens his present.

 Poor little guy finally got a bike for his birthday.  Of course, he has decided he doesn't want to ride it.

 Me and Mr. Handsome

 Stuffed Cars Toys... at least if he throws these at his sister they won't hurt.

 Whoa... another photo of Cameron and I... not really sure how that happened.

 It's amazing how sweet he is when he sleeps and isn't terrorizing anyone or anything.

 Speaking of terrorizing things.  Poor bird.

Cameron you are such a special little boy.  We love you so much and are so lucky to have you in our family.  You certainly challenge us and keep us on our toes, but you are also one of the sweetest little boys I know.  You adore your baby sister and totally look up to your older sister.  If Ella does something you are always right there tagging along.  Someday this may become a problem, but I hope not cause you two are best buds.  Of course you fight just as much as you get along, but I love watching you play together.  You are so smart and have started talking so much more lately.  You love to share your blankie with your baby sister (which just shows how much you love her, since nobody is allowed to touch your blankie).  Your nursery leaders say you are the only one in nursery to always say please, thank you or sorry and they think you are the sweetest little boy.  At home you are always the first person to say excuse you when some sneezes.  Of course you think it's hilarious if you toot and you like to tell everyone.  You have the most awful scream/growl that you like to constantly torment us with, but you sure have the sweetest voice when you use it.  You love to be outdoors and in the dirt.  You love trucks, balls, trains, airplanes, The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss, The Shark In the Dark book, the movie Cars and Beauty and the Beast (really you just like the Beast... I think it's just to torment your sister).  You also really love to make messes and do things you're not supposed to while looking us in the eye and then rolling those little eyes while laughing your mischievous little laugh (how are we supposed to get mad when you do that?).  All in all your sweetness and handsomeness totally outweighs your rottenness and mischievous ways.  I love you so much little man!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful hubby, our amazing dad's and some awesome grandpa's!  We love you and miss you already.

 Take One

 Take Two

I give up

And we're done now...

How'd I Do... May Goals

Well just as I predicted May was an incredibly busy month and June isn't slowing down any.  So here is a quick run down of how my goals went for the month of May:

Homemaking-
Start re-arranging rooms - Fail
Hang frames for gallery wall in reading room - Done, Done, Done... I've even got them filled with pictures already, so I'm really feelin' on the ball with this one.

Cooking-
Try three new recipes - Done... Lemon Infused Red Potatoes - yummy, Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa Salad - oh my heavens!!!, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles, Cake Batter Truffles, Easy White Cake - these last three were for a baby shower... I don't just keep this sort of temptation around the house normally.
Start gathering recipes for family cookbook - I've thought of a few I want to add.

Mothering-
Work on ABC's, 123's and sound recognition with Ella and Cameron - Fail
Practice Patience (you can never have too much patience) - Let's just say we have our good days and bad days.

Creating-
Host a baby shower - Done and if I ever get a second I'll post pics.

Financing-
Stay in budget - I was $2 under budget this month :)

Enriching-
Finish catching up on my magazine pile - Still working on this... there are a lot of magazines.
Blog twice a week - Big Fat Fail... I was doing so good and then as usual life happened, but I have so much to blog about.

June Goals:

Homemaking -
Swap out munchkins winter clothes for summer clothes... finally.
Finish spring cleaning

Cooking -
Try three new recipes
Make a batch of baby food

Mothering -
Survive a week alone with the munchkins

Creating -
Sew something

Financing -
Stay in budget
Thrift shopping while in California

Enriching -
Catch up on my blogging
Start organizing my iPhoto

{My Pride and Joy}

Since it was pretty chilly here on Easter, I didn't get a chance to take any good pictures of the kids in their Easter outfits.  Well today we had gorgeous weather and I knew I had to take advantage.  I got a ton of great pics of Cameron, a few good pics of Ella and some cute ones of Ashlynn.  Unfortunately, Ashlynn was not cool with the sun in her eyes, so I had to take her pics in the house and Ella just wanted to give me her cheesy smile.  So I had to try and get her to talk to me for a little while why trying to take pics.  Of course by the time I got her to mellow out, Cameron was running loose in the neighbors yard and Ashlynn had decided she wasn't cool with sitting in the sun, so that didn't last too long.  I'm hoping that I can get a few more decent ones on Sunday when they're dressed up for church.  Overall though I'm quite happy with the pics I was able to get and at least I have new pics for the hallway now.

Who knew that our old (and in desperate need of new stain) fence would make the perfect photo backdrop.