Dress Ups

Well, Annie had her little favorite friend over last week, and they decided to play dress ups. Ben and Emily wanted to join in, and we just had a festive little time! Ben was in his exercise clothes and wanted to be a cowboy so he could dance with the princesses. On went the jeans, boots, and belt... This is Emily's FAVORITE dress up - a tutu that she will even sleep in. She has really turned into a 2 year old (pictures to post later this week!) and is into everything! She's learned that by dragging a kitchen chair over to the counter, she can get to anything she wants. She is also quite the little sneak. My favorite game to play with her is just a blast. I will give her a kiss on the cheek, elbow, fingers, back, head, etc. She will make a big show of wiping it off with a flirty face you wouldn't believe! Then I kiss her again and she wipes it off. We can do this for about 30 minutes - ending when we are both laughing hysterically!

And here are the beautiful dancers. If only I could have gotten to the camera a few minutes sooner when they were dancing princesses. They have so much fun together!!!

This makes me think about going to try on homecoming and prom dresses... I mean dread doing that!

Zoo During Spring Break

Well, I don't think I have ever been to the zoo when I had to park in the overflow lot until last week! It was crazy busy, but we still had a great day! We went with my friend Maria from our local Moms' Club, and my kids just adore her little boy!

Again, trying to get everyone to smile and look at the camera... We did get to see the two new giraffes! Ben and Annie were also happy to have a new friend!

Another Arboretum Day

I hope no one is sick of Arboretum pictures yet! We had a great time over Spring Break and got there right when it opened, so we didn't have to fight the crowds! We tried so hard to get a picture with all 6 kids, but it just wasn't working very well!!! This was at the end of a long 5 1/2 hour day. However, they got more energy on the way home with 1/2 price Sonic drinks! They have a storybook theme going on right now - I think as a tribute to Laura Bush. A friend went the day before and saw her there. I think she is a wonderful person! I recently listened to her biography and was awed by her sincerity and love of children. So - there were several houses throughout the Arboretum that kids could play in and on. Unfortunately, Captain Hook left his ship!!!

Ben and his friend Kylie were VERY interested in where we were on the maps and where we would go next. I love this picture (I have about 4 others that I took throughout the morning)!!!

I tried so hard to get a good picture of all 3 of my kids. This is about the best I could come up with...

Almost exactly two years ago, we came to the Arboretum when Emily was 1 week old. I tried to recreate the photo from them, but we were in a different area.

Another fun-filled Sprink Break day!!!

Wonderful Sunday!!!

I've had the best day!!! First, Ben and Annie woke up and went to play in the living room and let Andy and I sleep in until 7:15!!! Then Ben was in such a super mood and cleaned up the living room and his room! He was so cheerful all morning - very thankful and happy. Then we just played legos most of the morning! Whenever Emily is sad, Ben will ask her if she wants to sit on his lap, which is displayed in the picture below. I even got an almost uninterrupted shower while Emily napped and the two older kids continued to play.

Church was fabulous. Keeping all three kids quiet and happy is sometimes quite a feat, but we were early enough to give Dad hugs before doing to our bench. We've been working a lot this week on reverence - thanks to a tip from an old friend - and it seemed to help a little bit (that and a gum bribe...). And LOVED the testimonies today - especially from Anthony. What a great ward we have!!!

Sunday School was amazing also! I'm going to the Teacher Improvement class with more of my favorite people (I have a lot of favorites...) and we just could have stayed on this lesson topic for another hour. Teaching by the Spirit. It was fabulous!!!

Then I got to have a wonderful dinner with my sweet parents and sister. The kids never want to leave, but the day must come to a close for their growing little bodies. They love the individual attention!!!

To top off my fabulous day, I went visiting teaching and had a wonderful time. I have a new companion because my last one moved, and although I didn't know her at all, I think we will work very well together. I love each of the women I visit, but our last sister is one of my very favorite people! She was having a big family get together, and as we drove up and saw all the cars and the cousins running around the front yard, my heart just swelled up with love for families! My mom's family used to get together the first Sunday night of each month for FHE. As we lived in Texas, we didn't get to take part in this event very often, but tonight it felt like Grandma's house again! For some reason, my tongue was tied and I couldn't get any of my Spanish words out - totally forgot all my greetings, but smiles and hugs do wonders. Thanks, Juanita, for sharing your wonderful family with us too!!! So glad to have such a great beginning to this week! Now I need to be patient and get through this next 9 days. And yes, I believe in miracles!!!


*Sorry for the lack of posting; busy last few weeks and I have sooooooo many awesome pictures, I don't want to have to make decisions about which ones to put up! March has been crazy!!!*

Sweet Evenings

I love bedtime!!! Clean kids after baths... Falling asleep when your eyes just can't stay open any longer...with your hand holding the page.

This is the one time we all relax and just enjoy books! I really should do this more during the day, but it's like I have given myself permission to not worry about finishing the dishes, sweeping the floor, returning emails, etc during this time. I have even stopped answering the phone because it's hard to get the peace back once I've transferred so many little bodies!

We just love our blue reading chair!!!!

Flying Kites

A few weeks ago, we flew some kites from Aunt Jamie. We had a great time, but there are no pictures of Emily because I held her the entire time, as the day was very windy... After I put her down for a nap, we had hot chocolate with marshmallows!

Happy Birthday...

to Dr. Seuss! I saw a friend at the gym this afternoon who left me know today is Dr. Seuss's birthday! They were going to have green eggs and ham for dinner. Since I had nothing planned and knew Andy wasn't going to be around, that sounded great! So, Ben made the green eggs (which he was very nervous to try even though Annie, Emily, and I had already devoured ours!), I did the ham and heated up a few leftover pancakes from Daddy's weekend. It was so yummy!

Then for family home evening we read Doctrine and Covenants 88:118 - seek wisdom out of the best books.... And read "Oh, the places you'll go" that Andy got for a graduation gift many many moons ago. It was such a fun night!!!

Now I'm all geared up for PIE DAY - hopefully that will last...

Happy Day!!!

Reasons why it is a happy day:
1. My first tulip bloomed!!! It's a beautiful red. I was very worried that all the daffodils would die before the tulips bloomed!
2. In Ben's prayer last night, he prayed for George Washington to be safe in his battle and for Abraham Lincoln to enjoy his birthday. He's been learning about these things in Kindergarten.
3. I get to go scrapbooking this weekend!!!
4. Tomorrow is produce.
5. I'm actually getting a few things done.
6. The sink is full of dishes, and I don't completely dread doing them (because I've started listening to a book on cd while I do them).
7. It's just a HAPPY day!!! Hope you have one too!

~lindsey

Common Occurances

Emily is 'helping' Ben play pbskids. Ben is 'helping' Emily smile at the camera. I walked into Ben and Annie's room one night to find this sign taped onto his bed. NO ADULTS ALLOWED!

Emily is my new solo food thief, but she wanted Annie in the picture with her. Although recently she has just been stealing fruit, she will grab a pear (a very precious thing in my household because I LOVE pears!), eat about a third and then leave it laying out. She will do the same for apples. Lemons she will take on bite and then leave it because the skin is so bitter. Emily - just come ask and then I will slice it for you!!!

Uh Oh

Annie fell last week and bit clear through her lip. These were taken 3 days later; our bodies are so amazing at healing!!!

Fort Worth Stockyards

For Christmas, Aunt Jamie gave us money to go to the Fort Worth Stockyards, and we had so much fun!!! We watched the junior cattle.....something show for about 30 minutes. It was AWESOME! More shocking was the amount of hair care and prep that goes into a steer before his turn in the ring! After the children's zoo, we (I mean Aunt Jamie) paid $10 for the opportunity to have a photo shoot with the little tiny kids - Emily's got scared and ran away from her...

Each person got to pick something extra fun - Annie road the dragons, Dad and Ben did a fun house, and Emily and I shared a FABULOUS funnel cake - that everyone else partook of also. We had a great time!!!

Isn't it Romantic???

I'm sitting at home on Valentine's Evening 'watching' Lord of the Rings for the first time ever. I have control of the remote control, as I am home alone, so I can fast forward through the fighting. Why, you ask? Lindsey, didn't you have a super fun Valentine's party scheduled at your house tonight? Weren't you planning to use the fire pit and make hot dogs and s'mores - which is your very favorite dessert ever?

The answer - yes; to all of the above. But, I have a sore throat. And, it hurts enough that I paid for a doctor visit, a lab test, and full price for some amoxicillian - on a Saturday morning (we have a new high deductible insurance plan). $139.94 later, I have the drugs I need to fight off some minuscule bacteria that we have affectionately named 'strep throat.'

Where is my family, you ask? Well, they moved the party to a park where friends of all ages join to celebrate. They also took with them the mini-loaves of Better Than Sex cake and the IBC root beers for the adults' party favors.

So, is it romantic? My throat burns when I smell the roses that my husband and children got me, so they are now in the kitchen and not on my bedside table. BUT - I have made my husband incredibly happy by watching these movies that he loves. I guess if he will listen to Twilight in the car on the way to AND from Arizona, I can watch his favorite movies (while being able to fast forward through the battle scenes).

Therefore, romance is in the eyes of the beholder...Andy carried through my plans for me, and I am watching the movies for him. I guess that COULD be called 'romantic.'

Family...Isn't it about...time?

Well - I am just going to do a thankful post for a minute. My mom has 7 siblings, and each sibling has at least 4 children. Which means - I have a lot of cousins - enough I don't even count. I am the 4th youngest, I think. So, some of my cousins have children a year or two younger than me. Of course, I grew up in Texas and the majority of the cousins lived within 30 minutes of each other in Utah. A couple of them came to visit and we'd go visit my grandma every other summer for a week, long enough for me to remember names but not enough to keep in touch. Thanks to John's Christmas card with a blog address that was sent to my mom, I have found a few of my cousins and several second cousins. It's been so fun to read about similar events that are happening in their lives! This is why I love Christmas cards and blogs!!!

Kind of Yucky - BEWARE

Thanks Ashlie for helping me remember!!!



1. Go to the photo folder in your computer
2. Go to the 6th folder of photos.
3. Go to the sixth picture.
4. Put the picture on your blog and description of it.
5. Invite six friends to join the challenge.


When Ben was potty-training, he was so proud of his poop. Andy was working crazy hours and ALL THE TIME then and was rarely home when Ben went potty, so he said to take a picture to show him. Ben was all over this idea so he could proudly show dad what he did and talk about it on the phone. Annie thought it was pretty cool too...

Me - I'm totally opposed to any type of potty humor, but I was also pretty proud of Ben (and very happy to be wiping bottoms off the potty instead of after time in the diaper)!!!

Now I tag some people:

1. Kate

2. Hollie

3. Joey

4. Michelle

5. Farrah

6. Amy

It's Been Awhile Comin'

Well, we got some exciting mail today! Andy said, "This represents the last 8 years of my life." Last October he took the test to become a Professional Engineer so he can sign and stamp documents. The end of December we found out he passed!!!

So - if you need a PE - I've got one for you! (And, Dear, it's been almost 10 years - not 8, and yes, I have been by your side the ENTIRE time!) We're just glad all the studying for that test is DONE!!!

Another Time Consumer...

This weekend blueberries were 'priced to sell' at the wholesale produce place downtown. That is $2 for a 12 pk flat. By the time I bought extras and a friend ran back down to get more, I ended up with 172 6 oz packages of blueberries - I paid $28!!! Our family LOVES blueberries! So, the time Andy and I weren't running kids around or at the temple on Saturday, we washed, sorted, and froze blueberries. My freezer was already full because of freezer meals this weekend, but it is now packed with 10 gallon bags of beautiful blueberries!!! I think we might have our year supply...

And - I was nervous that I wasn't going to be able to preserve them all before they went bad, so I shared 42 packages with others. I still need to take some to the gal I visit teach, some back to my sister (I froze hers for her), and make two batches of blueberry jam to teach another friend. I'm hoping to end up with 6 bags leftover! I love preserving food in its prime!!! Here's to great deals!!!

**If there are any fabulous deals on Valentine's and you would like a piece of the action, let me know and I'll send you an email next Friday morning - assuming you live close to me :) **

Getting Ready for Church

I always put this in backwards! Andy typically leaves for church around 7:45 because of early morning meetings. He gets home around 5 or 6, depending on what is going on after church, which makes Sundays VERY long days for me and the kids. A few weeks ago, I decided to blow dry hair and we spent about 2 hours getting ready from baths to finished products! Everyone was in a great mood and we just had fun being relaxed! ***Note to self - RELAX more!!!*** Ben is normally irritated by some piece of clothing, so this is a picture I love!!!

Annie kept putting in and taking out a hair clip over and over. How I wish my hair would do this...if only I had someone to spend 30 minutes blow drying it for me each day... :)

Annie First Ballet Class

Okay, so I forgot to take my camera to Annie's first ballet class last week. As soon as I got there, I was totally kicking myself. Why? Apparently we weren't completely prepared. Annie has a few tutus, but rebels against tights (we've had to force the issue for church the last few weeks because it has been so cold lately - and I finally bought her the sparkly black shoes from target if she would wear tights. it was worth the $9.99 price tag!). So, Annie wore her leotard, with these clothes over it, her pink Hello Kitty socks pulled up to her knees, and her sparkly black shoes. I thought she looked adorable! Next week she will look even cuter with the standard leotard, tights, and ballet shoes. Sorry Annie that your mom doesn't know what she is doing!!!
While we were at ballet, Dad and Ben built a city of Lincoln logs while trying to protect it from Emily (no easy feat!). I thought it was awesome!

Lack of Post Reasons

Well, I feel I must explain my lack of posts. I have several completely ADORABLE pictures on my camera waiting to be uploaded, but I've been busy...on the New York Times.

I am SO TIRED OF DISHONEST people. Really - is it that hard to do your taxes properly? If you make enough money you are confused by the process, you should probably have enough money to hire an accountant. Alas - on my comment this morning I was accused to being new to Washington. It's not supposed to be like this PEOPLE!!! Where is your INTEGRITY?!?

Look at me throwing stones - I'm sure I have a mote in my eye for something else, but money is not something I can cheat on - there isn't a gray there - just black and white. 10% to the Lord - then about %20 to the govt and the rest to live on. Is it that hard? Apparently...


***Now that I am off my fence post, NOPE - not there yet!

Why was Obama 'absolutely' backing someone who admitted he was dishonest to his country? Even worse is the other Punk already in. Even if they are brilliant in their fields, they can't be honest about this - how do you know they are going to be honest to the millions of people counting on 'change?' I hope poor Abe isn't rolling in his grave....

Now I am off my fence post. Thanks for listening because I have no one else to complain to that would listen. I tend to beat the horse even after it is down...and dead...***

A Major Milestone

Apparently, we don't need this page any longer for our first child!

Waiting for the bus

Today I realized I finally need pictures of Annie going to school! It was such a beautiful day, that we put out the mail and then just waited for the school bus to take her to her speech preschool. I tried to get them to pose for me, but it just wasn't happening!

This is typical Emily - doing whatever Annie is doing with blanket in tow. I'm surprised that blanket is still in such good shape after it has been washed over and over again. Emily had 4 teeth break through last week and is working on two more. She is such a happier child this week than she has been. I am VERY grateful for that!

This is Ms. Barbara, the fabulous bus driver! Ben had her also, and we all just love her! She takes such fabulous care of these little preschoolers!

Bye Annie! Have a great day!

Now, I am trying to come up with fun things to keep me busy until Andy gets home from his meetings tonight. I got Debussy for Dummies from the library this afternoon (see; Twilight did enrich my life!) and am listening to that - it got me to do the dishes and clean most of the kitchen.

Also, I must just share my love of downtown produce shopping one more time. I went to pick up produce for our group and took a little extra money just in case I found a super deal; I did! 12 containers of blueberries for $6; I bought 48 for myself! We've been freezing berries like crazy and eating them with almost every meal. Although I am finding that isn't the best idea for children. :) Never fear, you may buy some yourself at Sprouts this week for $0.99 per container; still a great deal! Speaking of, I need to go and freeze one more batch...

Last thing, I need a book for my book club in March. Suggestions please?!?

Questions answered...

With the Mom's Club, we went to tour and visit a fire station. The firemen were SOOO kind! We had a great tour and asked all the questions that we wanted. I learned that they buy food with their own money - they each put in $8 for the 24 hour shift. We often see the trucks when we grocery shop, and I just assumed the city paid for their meals. WRONG!!!
This is our introduction - from the fireman that is lowest on the totem pole. :) The kids also got to walk through the ambulance. We also learned there is a definite hierarchy in each shift. Seniority is a big factor in where you sit on the truck/ambulance, your pay scale (obviously, but even in a shift if captain isn't there and you each shift up a seat), what 'house' cleaning jobs you are assigned to, who cooks, etc.

This is half of our group with the two firemen who gave us the tour.

This is everyone AFTER Emily fell out of the stroller she was climbing in (the back part). Notice three things - 1. fireman's hand on little girl next to him 2. Ben's non-interested look 3. Annie isn't even phased...
Tonight we made a flag cookie for our Family Home Evening treat and had a short lesson (about 90 seconds) about honoring and sustaining the laws of the land - in preparation for tomorrow.

Playing with Aunt Jamie

Raking the masses of leaves while Andy and I bagged on the side of the house. A fun bench at the Arboretum.

Completely together...

It was a beautiful cold day!

Thanks for playing with us!!!

Playing Dress Up

A friend passed on some fabulous dress ups for the girls. Annie LOVES the Sleeping Beauty outfit and Emily loves whatever Annie will let her wear. :) They are blowing kisses here.