My Baby is growing up!

I can not believe my little Man is already 9, where on earth did 9 years go? I'm so proud of what an amazing kid he is after all that he has endured he still amazes me on a regular basis at his knowledge of life, the scriptures and the gospel. Mason you are an amazing, caring, intelligent little man who told me on the morning he woke up for his birthday that he was "No longer my little boy" then proceded to ask if Santa Claus was real? I will need to take a moment to be able to complete a full post about his busy Birthday weekend. But, just had to share how cute my birthday boy looked in his new sunday clothes. Sniff, he looks to grown up!!!!

Circus!!!!

The Circus was in town and I splurged and took the kids and Grandma. It was Laken's first time going and she was a riot to watch. There was one clown that we called the "Laken" clown because all of a sudden he started to dance and he did the two finger "Pulp Fiction" move. Laken throws this in her dance routines all the time. don't ask me where she learned it I have no clue especially since I have never even watched that movie? As soon as the clown did that she lost it and it was a case of the giggles after that! Mason, luckily is smiling he was in big trouble this trip he took off right when we got there and we lost him. As I'm giving a report to the security gaurds and they pick up the radio and say "LOCK ALL THE DOORS!" Mom just added about 100 new grey hairs and became even more sick to her stomach! As I finish up the report this smily little blonde boy walks up and is standing on the otherside of the ropes grinning from ear to ear and say's "Hi Mom!" AUGH I could have rung his neck! The security gaurd say's "Ring his neck softly Mom!"

On the way to the Circus Laken could hardly wait!

The beginning when the clowns came out! She was so excitied and so fun to watch!

The "Laken" Clown began to dance and it was all over! The entire family was giggling on how much it danced like Laken!


Mason and his new obnoxious toy! Note to self: after recovering from stupid siezures don't by a toy that flashes! DUH!!!! Lol.

The drive home the kids were slap happy and so was mom! I think this was the first day mom was not covered in hives so she was a new woman & was singing the dumb theme song the kids could not stop giggling! Guess I need to work on my singing voice? :)

The Gigglefest continued on the drive home.

Weekend Getaway "Murphy's Law" Style!

After a long week of the kids and I getting past sinus infections and stomach flu, Grandma had decided that for Conference Weekend we would make a trip down to Bryce Canyon and Escalante. Grandma reserved a room down in Escalante and the kids were so excitied to take a road trip and go stay at a hotel. You would think the kids had never been to a hotel before? Anyways our journey started bright and early Saturday morning. Laken and I were finally feeling better from having the stomach crude. We went upstairs to see Grandma and she grumpily said, "I caught your stomach crap." And so it begins...We left the house by about 7:30am only to make it to Draper before Grandma had to make a stop. We got back on the freeway and made it to Lehi and had a front tire completely shred into pieces while going 80 mph! Needless to say I will now forever sponser Lexus Safety Claims about being one of the safest cars on the road. We managed to make it to the side of the road and it only felt like we had a flat tire so we were shocked to see that the tire was in shreds and we were driving on a rim. Of course in typical fashion for our family, Grandma say's that is the tire that I just had Discount Tire repair for me on Thursday! So first we called AAA, which of course Grandma's membership had expired so the sound of a cash register begins as we pay for another years membership and wait for a tow truck driver to come. He too had a problem trying to figure out the lift hydralic system that the spare tire is hooked to in Grandma's Lexus, that system I will not sponsor for Lexus! After an hour and a half of sitting on the busy freeway with 2 kids and a dog the spare was on and we went to start the car and head to Discount Tire in Lindon only to find the car would now not start!!! Luckily the tow truck driver had not taken off yet so he gave us a jump and we were on our way to Lindon. The guys at the tire shop were ready and waiting for us after recieving a phone call from the previous store (whom we called, probably not so nicely and told the situation too.) Of course they tell Mom that she really needs to have 4 new tires, UGH! So Grandma took full advantage of their guilt and got a good deal that was too good to pass up! So Ka-Ching the sound of a cash register goes off again. We hung out waiting for 4 new tires, then when the guy went to back the car out of the garage the car once again would not start! They had to push it out and jump start it again, telling us that if we are headed to Escalante we should be fine because the battery will have time to recharge on that long of a drive. Finally we hit the freeway all very happy to be getting out of town for a night when suddenly pop another freaking noise on the car that does not sound very good. Again we pull over and find a flat tire!!!! It was now 2:30pm we left our house at 7:30am and made it as far as SPRINGVILLE!!! This time I made the phone call to the tire shop and I was not a very happy camper! They sent a guy out to the gas station we pulled up too, we could not turn the car off for fear of it never starting up again! Needless to say another spare tire put on and ANOTHER trip to Discount Tire this time the provo branch. By the time we were finished it was now 3:30pm. We had spent 8 hours in a car and the idea of another 6 did not sound good. We finally thought made the Lord is telling us we are not suppose to leave too far from town. So we changed the plans and ended up spending a night in park city. Probably spending 4 times the amount of money we had intended. But, we had a great time with our tours of the Discount Tires in the Valley. :)

Roadshow!

I'm behind again in posting to this thing, I know huge shocker there? Anyways here are pictures from our ward Roadshow. We all had so much fun. Just the kids were in it but, I helped wrangle my cute little Primary Group who I love to death. The theme was Return With Honor. Our skit was way cute we had it split into Modern Day and Pioneer times.
My little Modern Day Girl with her new Pioneer Friends Victoria & Sarah

Really cute songs and dances showing a Modern Day Couple, and Emma and Joseph and the cutest song about the wives being frustrated that "Joseph" and the modern day husband were away from home doing work and she was overwhelmed with all the chores and taking care of the kids. Laken, originally was suppose to just be one of the couples kids. The little "babies" who were so cute they just wore P.J.'s and got to run around and play on the stage while the Couples did thier part, then in the finale they only had to do the "Chicken Dance" and that was the end. The rest of the Primary kids did a dance and sang to the song "It's a Hard Knock Life" where half the stage was Modern Kids worn out by all the pressures and busy schedules they face. The other half were Pioneer kids singing about the pressures they also face with some of the same things, chores, homework, etc. Mason was a Pioneer kid and was so cute! His group was adorable in their costumes and bringing out their little handcart.

Mason practicing "It's a Hard Knock Life"

Mason and Laken missed the first practice due to a "Dad" visit, where everyone learned the Finale dance which was hilarious it went through a random mix of songs from Micheal Jackson's Beat it to the Patridge Family and Vanilla Ice, so much fun! So I taught Mason the Dance at home and of course little Miss "Im going to be a STAR" picked up on the dance right away. So at the next practice when she was just suppose to be sitting there watching the older kids she was doing it along with them and was evreyone's favorite to watch because she was tiny next to everyone and had some serious attitude in her little moves. So the Roadshow director changed Laken's part and put her in with the big kids. So Laken was part of the snotty Modern Kids group, very fitting! HA HA!

Laken Singing and practicing "It's a Hard Knock Life"

I was so proud of my kids they did such a good job and were so into the dance moves, they cracked so many people up. I can't wait to get our copy of the video it turned out so cute. The kids had a blast and we all made some great new friends in the ward in the process! :)

My cute little Primary Group!

The highlight of our Summer!

This Summer flew by, we were not able to get away to do as much as we had hoped but, we did manage to get away for a weekend and go spend time with my best friend Lindsay. We love this family, the kids get along so well together. Mason & Bailey are little buds and Gracie & Laken are so much alike, I know that is a scary thought! :) But, Gracie and Laken love to play with the same type of toys, they had a weekend full of Baby Dolls and Littlest Pet Shop, While Bailey and Mason loved being out riding bikes or on the tramp. We always love going to visit with the Cowan family because it feels like home. I love her entire family we always have so many great laughs together and they are always so good to my kids. My kids adopted them as new Aunts and Uncles. We spent one afternoon out on the 4 wheelers which was a blast. One big bonus about Rocksprings there are trails everywhere!


Mason, Bailey, & Laken getting ready to take off!


Watch out Laken is driving!!!! Look at her face she means business when it comes to riding in the dirt, A little bit too much like her mother? Poor Kid :)


Mason & Bailey they rode forever, Mason had his first time of Cramped Thumb from riding so much. We tried to tell him to get off and rest then but, he said NO WAY he comes alive and is so happy out on a machine in the dirt! Hmmm another one just like his Mother? Poor Kid!


"Uncle Mark" with Laken and Gracie


Hold on tight Laken, Mom is driving!

Playing Catch up!

I know it has been a while since I have posted anything I feel like I have lost almost a year of my life and am in a fog with some things going on. But, I have to just brag about my sweet little kids who keep me going. Sometimes they keep me going straight to the nut house? But, usually the keep me laughing and are amazing examples to me. Laken, started Kindergarten this year I still can not believe 5 years has already flown by and that she is in school. :( My baby is growing up way too fast. She loves Kindergarten and everyday is so excited to come home and tell me how many new friends she has made, even though she has no idea what her new friends names are they are still her new best friends :)

I'm a bad mom and with all the craziness of life I did not take a picture of Mason on his first day of school :( He started a week earlier than Laken so I totally dropped the ball on that! OOPS! I have to say how proud I am of that sweet little boy. Last week was a hard week I had some serious medical scares. One of them being that they thought I was having a stroke. The Paramedics were called and they raced me to the hospital. I don't remember the whole ordeal because I was in and out of it for a while but, I do remember in the very beginning Mason came to stand next to me while my mom was calling 911 and he started to cry and said "Are you going to die?" I told him no I was not going to die. And then told him that I loved him so much. Meanwhile I was scared to death not sure I have ever been so scared in all my life? Later I remember I was in a room in the ER and there were about 15 people(the stroke team) all racing around doing things to me. I remember all of a sudden hearing Mason's voice and I just kept saying "I am so sorry buddy, I love you so much!" And that little 8 year old boy came and stood at the head of my bed and said "Mom, it is ok everything is going to be alright, You are going to be fine. I said a prayer and I know you will be fine because Heavenly Father loves you very much and is going to take care of you." WOW what a little guardian angel. Mason, I am so extremely proud of you and you manage to blow my mind constantly with your amazing faith and example.
This was taken a few days before school started. We went and saw the play "Suessical" which was alot of fun and the kids loved! Mason, in your short little life of 8 years you have had to endure numerous things that nobody should really have to endure. Yet you do it with a smile and you always show such amazing power and faith. You truly are one of my biggest hero's!!!! I am so lucky to be a mom to such great kids!

The Case of the Cookie Thieves...

I came home from work and found this on my floor...

The only suspect in the area at the time was the dog. When confronted with the allegation I got this:

"WHO ME?...But, in the Judicial system it is Innocent until proven guilty.

GUILTY!!! - She can't hide her little Red Face!

Later that night the house had another Cookie Theif this time the suspect was caught sneaking Chocolate Chips from the Pantry.

When the suspect was confronted she too could not hide the evidence of a little ring of chocolate around her mouth.