I did it!

I did it! I actually posted two weeks apart like I promised I would! I thought you might like a peek into my daily chaos.

In the A.M. we sit around in our skivvies for as long as possible.

Mommy puts Kimball to work on the chores.

We watch the boob tube till Aliah has to leave for school.

Then mom looks around and wonders if anyone else's Christmas decorations are still piled behind their couch. (No? Just me?)

The girls get out every toy possible and then never play with them.

Instead they play with things that I'll have to wash later.

We complete the nightly ritual of a song and dance show.

(Remember how the girls don't leave Kimball out?)

Do you sometimes use your kids clothes to leave subtle hits for Daddy? (No? Again, just me?)

And then it's off to bed. Getting the kids to sleep can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 3 hours. Can you relate? What a perfect (if only I were richer) life!

Coolest Kids on the Block

Today I posted on Facebook that I'm obsessed with my kids. How could I not be? Just look at them!

I'm constantly showing pictures of them to people from my camera that I carry in my purse. At. All. Times. Somehow hearing someone say, "Wow your kids are so beautiful," makes me more beautiful. If someone sees them at the store with messy hair and dirty clothes, I must be unkempt also, BUT if someone sees them fixed up nice with cute clothes, I must be a cool trendy mom. And if they happen to notice their miss-matched socks I'm a cool trendy mom that's down to earth and doesn't take life too seriously. Am I the only one who reads so far into things? Just admit it, you agree with me. You agree that you read into things, AND that my kids are beautiful. (And just maybe that I'm a cool trendy mom!)

Feb. 17th

Can you believe I've been married to this handsome guy for 5 years?!

Neither can I.

Treehouse Fun

We went to the Treehouse museum in Ogden this week. It was a long drive (Spence had to go to Odgen anyway, so we just tagged along) but TOTALLY worth it. I've never been anywhere so cool in my entire life! There is SO much to do and explore. We got there when it opened at 10 and stayed till it closed at 5, and still didn't see and do all the activities we wanted to! There are dozens of different little areas...

...and you can dress up at all of them! What more could a girl want?!

And in each place there is a craft or other hands on activity.

Even this little guy found plenty to do.



And there was so much more! The battery on my camera died when I was about 2/3 the way through the FIRST FLOOR! There was SO SO much more. The girls got to go in the art room and paint, and the music room and play the instruments, dress up in military costumes, visit a farm, ride a bull at the rodeo, build in the woodshop, plant in the garden, and be in a play! I could go on and on and on! Clearly they've made a fan out of me. GO! It's so fun!

A Pictureless Christmas

I can't believe it but I really don't have any pictures of Christmas!!! I have a little bit of video from the Christmas pageant but that's all. I might regret that for the rest of my life, but the truth is I was just too caught up in the moment to think about clicking away. (Best part is my camera broke the week of Christmas so I had just gotten a new one on the 23rd!) Anyway, you know me, I like to start the new year with a bang so here's a little bit of what we did this first week.

We rang in the new year with Chocolate. There really isn't any other way to do it.

If you stay up till 3 AM on New Years make sure you don't sleep in longer then the kids. If you do they might get out the makeup Santa brought them for Christmas and play beauty parlor.

Luckily the girls are really good big sisters and are sure to never leave Kimball out.

That's okay, He cleans up nice.

Next was our yearly sledding trip.

Kimball got the short end of the stick this year and ended up in some "hand-me-downs."

Next was a rollin' night of...

... yep, bowling with the whole gang. (That's Inara, not Aliah. Crazy, right?! She so big!) I love when Abby and Joey are in town. Not only because I get to see my sweet Avie,

but because we get the whole family together A LOT!

(Oh the joys of trying to get a nice family picture.)

That was apparently not enough fun for me because one afternoon I got bored and gave the girls some sour patch kids, just for my own entertainment.

Kimball didn't get to have any, but I think he was plenty happy with his peach puffs!

And we didn't stop there! We had a great family dinner at The Olive Garden, and a wonderful temple trip with some of the sisters. Plus lots and lots of just hanging out. It's been a great year! (So far!)

When?

When did this little girl with peanut butter all over her face grow up? On Sunday Aliah asked if she could bear her testimony. It was her first time, and she went up with no help at all, hopped on the stool and said, "I'm thankful for God. And thankful for Jesus. And thankful that Jesus helps me pray. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." It's the most beautiful testimony I've ever heard. Of course I was crying. She took maybe 10 seconds but I went from dry eyed to nearly bawling. I've never been so proud of her. Way to go my little Aliah! I love you so much. You are a perfect example of what I someday hope to be.

My Boys

Just had to post this ADORABLE picture my SIL Michelle just sent me. I love these two SO much. Aren't they just the handsomest guys you've ever seen?! I sure think so!