WE'RE MOVING!

It's true.

We sold our house!  

We're moving to Arizona.

In the middle of July.

Story of my life.

...is this Wednesday.

So unless you know this group of people... 

or this moving company...

... we'll be up to our heads in these:

Wish us luck!

We're SO excited to be closer to some of you... 

yet so sad to be leaving all of our favorite "Utahns". 

Miss you all already!

Happy Daddy's Day!

I love Love LOVE this song.  If I didn't know better I'd swear I wrote this song for Greg.  Especially the second verse... (well... minus the coffee part :) but it's SOOOO how it is... especially between me and my sisters.  SOOOO classic.  Sky heard this and called to tell me that she found my song... and I have to admit it... she totally did.  (Thanks for the introduction Sky.)  It's also sooo fitting for today.  Long story short, this is the only way to get this song on my blog so you'll have to click it... hopefully it'll bring a smile to your face as it does mine...

My 25th

From the moment I woke up on my birthday it was simply amazing.

Greg put both babies in bed with me when he left at five something that morning so that I wouldn't have to get out of bed when they cried.  Cute huh?  I had ALL morning to veg. before I got myself the kids ready to go to the zoo.  Unbeknownst to me, Greg had flown my mom out from California.  Greg surprised me, a nearly impossible feat between my family and friends who all knew... despite slip ups that were camouflaged beautifully :) and I luckily got to spend even more time with my mom than originally planned.  So here are some of our captured memories from my big day.

(To view video scroll to bottom and click on the link.)

What are the odds?

Greg even made a great friend.  He made the funniest voices for the giraffe.  I guess you just had to be there.  Mom and Sky can attest that was some classic material.  Greg should be the newest voice-over for animal planet.  HA!

Note to self: Don't trim nails when baby is awake.

I was more traumatized than he was... but still.  The horror.

Of ALL the animals and sweet rides she could have chosen... she walked around the ENTIRE carousel to choose this bench.  A BENCH!  What 2-year-old wants to sit on a Peacock bench?!  Apparently Haven did.  She demanded it despite my well-intended efforts.  Too bad, the zebra almost won out.

My beautiful momma and Haven.

No joke.  The most amazing cake of all timmmmmme.

Cake Batter Ice Cream with Waffle Cone Mix-In and a Chocolate Cake Bottom.  Holy Amazing.  Top that off with the desserts Carrabbas hooked it up with and I was one happy 25 year old rollie pollie.  He got me all my favs... including a stop at See's on our way to Carrabbas from the Zoo.  (W/ the gift card he won from Logan Trivia:)  Now that's love.  Greg knows me ALLLLLL too well.

We walked in to Carrabbas to find some family and great friends ready to get their grub on with us: my Mom, sister Sky, brother Blake, Jack & Amanda, Maren & Seth, Logan, Kolter & Lindsey and their little Hannah.  What a FUN and unexpected surprise.  

Thanks so much for making it you guys. 

(To view video scroll to bottom and click on the link.)

I cannot even begin to describe how much planning had to have gone into organizing my birthday "festivities".  Greg thought of it all.  It's not easy having mother's day and your wife's birthday in a 3 day succession but he executed it beautifully.  Mother's Day brought me breakfast in bed, the sweetest cards from him and "the kids" written by him... (and as always they were hilarious),  as well as a new cell phone that I was in dire need of.  To top it off a birthday filled with Carrabbas, See's, Maggie Moo's Cake... and the most unexpected and meaningful gift ever, private Ballroom Dance Lessons with our new-found friends (and next-door neighbors) Kenny & Monica and life-long friends Maren & Seth.  I have always enjoyed dancing... and for those of you that know Greg know... he doesn't dance.  Not only has Greg never danced but (let's be honest) he's questioned the testicular fortitude of those men who do, generally.  So stay tuned for more updates on how it goes.  I don't care if he trips over his, or my, feet the entire time, all I know is that this is going to be one of the most fun experiences of my life because I know this is the most selfless gift he could give me.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for making my birthday the most memorable ever.  I love you!

To see videos you'll have to click on the links below.  

(As the images above are just copies of these scrapbooks.  Sorry!)

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

I Hope It Gives You HEL...P!

Children are better than ANY mirror at reflecting back your greatest qualities... or revealing your imperfections, LARGE or small. They truly are life's best coaches.  They don't lie (when they're young enough :) and they tell you what you need, not want, to hear.  Their innocence also gives their opinions clarity and keeps them unbiased, as they see everything in an optimistic light, unless taught otherwise generally.  

It's funny to look at a series of events that can lead you to conclusions such as these... but I had an epiphany recently.  I'd like to think that I am always conscientious of the environment my children are in and try to make their lives with me as conducive to their long-term happiness as possible.  In other words, I try hard to be as "in the world and not OF it" as possible, especially as where money is concerned lately. :)   I listen to the radio... (sorry I'm not a mom who plays "MoTab" 24-7...) but I do turn off songs that I find offensive or are contrary to what I chose to have playing in my head... I seriously find myself asking; "is this a song that I want to have stuck in my head for the rest of the day?" If the answer is no... then I usually turn it right away... man, does Satan know how to candy coat the most rancid of subjects though.  It seems the most catchy melodies are usually hiding the most raunchy of lyrics.   Here's where my ah ha moment came in... or should I say when Haven decided to be the mirror I needed.  I was just driving along and as a song ended I didn't think self contemplation was needed when she began yelling "MORE HELP!!!  Mommy! MORE HELP!"  I immediately began asking her what she needed help with... she then began saying "No... MORE GIVES YOU HELP SONG!"  I just stopped.  

I literally stopped.  The car.  I pulled over and stopped.  (Luckily. I wasn't on the freeway... or around lots of construction that it seems we're surrounded by on most short trips.)  My world stopped.  I realized then and there, that little bunnies really do have big ears.  The All-American Rejects song, "Gives You Hell" had come on... in my defense... the lyrics are HILARIOUS :)... but to no av ail, nonetheless.  Dang.  I guess I just assume that because I change the lyrics and sing my own substitute word REALLY LOUD over word like "Damn" with DANG or "Hell" with HECK (though truly, that's the extent of the substitutions) that my kids won't hear what they're really saying... what I hadn't realized though was that Haven had filled in her own word, thank goodness.  She thought in her own vocabulary... as I don't think she's ever heard the world Hell... that the lyrics were: "When you walk my way, hope it gives you HELP... hope it gives you HELP!" 

Leave it to Haven to make a happy ending to a seriously deranged song "full of angst and hate" (just another reminder of a bad choice... )  I don't know how much longer I'll have to be blessed with the innocence of my little 2 year old who sees the world through her own set of 

rose-colored glasses... 

but I'm sure enjoying it now.  Thanks for being my little angel Haven.  I love and appreciate you and your fresh outlook on life more and more everyday.  

DRAKE'S VERY OWN MUSIC VIDEO :)

For those of you who don't live close enough to see what's been "growin' on" with Drake and have a minute to spare... 

First of all these two songs from Madagascar 2 seriously had me in tears.  HILARIOUS.  Everytime I change Drake's diaper I sing this to him... "I like 'em big... I like 'em chunky..." I can't help it when I have so MUCH of him to LOVE.  Seriously... his thighs are the cutest plumpest things ever.  So he's not really ROLLIE POLIE... (even though he does look like he's got rubber bands around his wrists and ankles... and if you look closely you'll see he has 5 double chins...) he's just my lil' HUGE HEIFER of a HIPPO... and I LOVE IT!  So I just had to put this video together for my not so little, little man.  I love the amazing baby you are Drake! Our family wouldn't be complete without your already lively personality in it.   Someday you'll probably beg me to delete this, but until then... I love kissing your "heftiness."  MUAH!

Ward Easter Egg Hunt

We woke up bright and early this morning to help set up for our ward Easter Egg Hunt.  It was so much fun... a bit of a struggle getting us all there on time at 8:45 but WE DID IT!  I was quite proud... it's so much easier getting out the door when Greg's around.  I love him.  It's such a gorgeous day... but seriously freezing.  When we arrived it was 28 degrees.  BRRRRR!

She was so excited to get started.  She kept going for it before she was supposed to.

Here's Daddy showing Haven what to do.

Once she got the candy there was no getting it away from her.

I love our neighborhood's scenery... the lake... the parks.... and bike paths.  It's such a fun little community.

(If you look closely you can see some snow left from our little snow storm 4 days ago.  I'm definitely ready for SPRING WEATHER!)

Here's Greg trying to bribe her to smile :)

Haven taking matters into her own hands (or teeth.)  Whatever it takes to get to the "M & M'ers!"

My bundled little babas.