Thursday, December 31, 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

We upted New Year's a half hour for the kids. Our celebration included ice cream sundaes with sprinkles (like confetti) and then Ammon cut up a bunch of paper and had a New Year's celebration with the kids.  Later Ammon and I celebrated New Years by watching the ball on TV and kissing at midnight!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Made this delicious YUMMY cake for Crisi and Jeff (our neighbors) with the dinner we took them.  They just had their sweet baby Ryan and I wanted to practice this awesome new recipe for the Pinewood Derby.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Tuesday-December 29, 2009

It was nice having Ammon home for his week off.  He and Ethan had fun building these erector cars that Ethan got for Christmas.  These two are such buddies.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Monday- December 28, 2009

It was freezing but felt so good to go outside for a bit.  The girls loved riding around on the Plasmid Cars Grandpa Phillips sent for Christmas.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Tuesday, March 31, 2009


Journaling: String cheese-always the choice snack in this household!

Monday, March 30, 2009

Monday, March 30, 2009


Journaling: We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at the library and enjoying the sunshine. Here's a bit more sunshine from our two cute redheads!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Sunday, March 22, 2009


Journaling: These sisters love each other!! Brynlee always loves kissing and hugging on Karli...sometimes it's a bit too much! Karli sometimes will go to Brynlee for things she needs and I just love how much these girls get along.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Saturday, March 21, 2009


Journaling: This girl is a diva in the making!!! She loves, loves, loves to play dress up and every single time we get home, the moment we walk through the doors, Hailey strips off her clothes, jumps into anything dress up she can, and hates to get in her regular clothes again! This afternoon I had to pick up Brynlee from preschool and Hailey insisted on wearing this get up. She looked so cute and divaish, I couldn't resist taking a picture!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Friday, March 20, 2009


Journaling: Every year on the first day of Spring, Rita's open their doors and serves everybody free icees all day long. We love going as a Family and trying all the different flavors.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Thursday, March 19, 2009


Journaling: I debated on whether or not to put this picture, but Hailey took it, and I thought it would be fun to include her photography in this project. She LOVES taking pictures every time she can get her hands on a camera. She begs me everyday to take more pictures. I love to think the kids are going to enjoy photography too. So here's me, in my element, cooking dinner one night.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Journaling: I am loving how I can do these cute little, tiny ponytails on Karli now. She is growing up too fast but I love that her hair is growing too! She is such a cutie!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Tuesday, March 17, 2009


Journaling: Made these delicious "green treats" for St. Patty's day. I bought the M&M's way back around Valentine's Day in excitement to make these cute treats. I love cooking fun things for our family!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Monday, March 16, 2009


Journaling: We had a fun Family Home Evening about David and Goliath. We had a visual presentation in which everyone got to throw marshmallow rocks at Goliath. The kids LOVED that part!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Sunday, March 15, 2009


Journaling: Karli is getting really fun at taking pictures. She really is loved by all her older siblings and loves them right back.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Journaling: Ethan, Bryn, Hailey and I spent the afternoon at the church for the Primary activity. It was "Eternal Family Olympics" and the kids had so much fun rotating stations, learning how to be a part of a team and a family. They read a story, had a snack, did fun relays, learned how to do chores and made a family flag. It was really cute!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Friday, March 13, 2009


Journaling: This was taken earlier in the week, when the weather was super nice. Ethan had been dressed for hours that day, but when he saw Ammon come out in a white tee-shirt and red shorts, he went and changed to be his dad's twin. Ethan loves his dad so much and loved playing ball and jumping on the tramp with him. He really is a mini Ammon!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Thursday, March 12, 2009


Journaling: We had all three Acker girls (our neighbors) over today. Between their family and ours, there are six little girls between the ages of seven and two! So fun, so much pink, and lots of frilly dresses. They were enjoying the nice afternoon on the trampoline!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Wednesday, March 11, 2009


Journaling: Ammon geared up and took Step 3 Boards on the Wednesday and Thursday. It was sixteen hours of testing and he enjoyed Thursday much better than Wednesday. We hear if he passed in six weeks....fingers crossed...that was grueling!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Tuesday, March 10, 2009


Journaling: Heather, a girl I visit teach, celebrated her birthday today. She lost her mom earlier this year, and was having a hard time celebrating, so we begged her to come over and we made her this delicious, mouth water, yummy towering carrot cake and poppyseed chicken for dinner. Jeannette and kids brought the main dish and Molly, our elderly neighbor next door came along too. It was a fun evening to celebrate Heather and help her forget for a moment that her mom wasn't here to celebrate this year.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Monday, March 9, 2009


Add ImageJournaling: Brynlee still wasn't feeling the best, but managed to get a reprieve from the sickness to go the the Dad's Night at her preschool. She looked forward to it for days and was so excited to go on a date alone with Dad. It was so cute! They took all the dad's through a typical day of preschool, compete with snack time, recess, songs, etc. Ammon came home saying he had read a questionairre Byrnlee had written about him saying he loved cowboys and loved watching movies about cowboys!! I had to laugh...Ammon is so not a cowboy so I wonder where Brynlee got that. Anyway, it was a fun night for her and her dad!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Sunday, March 8, 2009


Journaling: Brynlee picked up a nasty virus that has slowly passed through everyone. We stayed home sick from church, and she had five days of sleepyness, high fevers and droopy eyes. One week later, I am sitting here home from church again because Hailey now looks like this. It is a nasty sickness especially with the fevers and takes a while to feel better. Poor kids...

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Saturday, March 7, 2009


Journaling: We decided to take and adventure and when Ammon got home from the hospital, we packed up and headed with the Johnstons to the Malabar Maple Syrup Festival. We had a great afternoon in the beautiful Ohio country and learned all about how Maple Syrup is made, took a tracker ride, tasted pure sweet syrup and enjoyed a beautiful day outside.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Friday, March 6, 2009


Journaling: Once again Ammon was on Friday night call and Jon Bowen was moonlighting in Mansfield, so Jeanette and I took the nine kids to the dollar theater to see Tale of Despereaux-a cute movie about a mouse. Afterward we took all the kids over to the nearby McDonald's. It was exhausting to have so many kids between the two of us, but we did pretty good and the kids came home and fell asleep! We survived another call night!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Thursday, March 5, 2009


Journaling: Ethan had "Asia Night" at his school. It was a night for families to go in the first grade classrooms and view all their learning projects about Asia (the continent the school is studying about this year). It was so cool! Here is the volcano Ethan built with two of his classmates out of salt dough. We also got to watch Ethan perform in the CUTEST Asian musical program. He did such a good job and it was so fun to see him in his element at Windermere!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Wednesday, March 4, 2009


Journaling: See journaling from last picture.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Tuesday, March 3, 2009


Journaling: Hailey is such a girly girl!! She begged me for days if I could paint their finger nails. I finally caved in one day and we spent the next hour painting nails and having a girl party. Brynlee wanted her nails done too. These girls are girly to the tee! (Unfortunately though-they have inherited my bitting nails habit! Yikes!)

Monday, March 2, 2009

Monday, March 2, 2009


Journaling: Jeannette and I have embarrassingly enough been obsessed over ABC's-The Bachelor. Don't ask me why, but it is addicting. I waited all week for the season finally and was so excited to watch it. Jeannette and I texted all the way through! Jason (a single day) didn't initally pick Molly (above and the girl I was rooting for all along) but six weeks later, changed his mind and went back to her. First time in Bachelor history. It reafirmed how much I love this show!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Sunday, March 1, 2009


Journaling: I had to chuckle when I was making our bed this morning and saw these books on headboard (I moved them up for the picture.) These describe me to a tee! That's what made me laugh...so much of me and who I am and my interests lay in this pile of books.

1)The Shack-A bookclub book for March
2&3) My new favorite author-Shannon Hale. I love her books and she is LDS too!
4)Eat Cake- The bookclub book for May that I am discussing-Plus I really do dream of decorating cakes someday.
5)Project Organization-I love anything about organizing!
6)Anita Stansfield Books-The other favorite author-cheesey Mormon stories...I love them!
7)The Ensign (my scriptures were downstairs)
8)A Kraft Recipe Magazine
10)My Photography book to teach myself how to take pictures.
12)A Parenting Breakthrough-Teaching Your Children to Be Independent (I bought this from Deseret Books). I was curious on how to be a better parent! ;-) LOL!
11)If I could have added books to this pile Twilight, Pottery Barn Magazine and The Christmas Sweater would have been in this pile.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Saturday, February 28, 2009


Journaling: The Bowens got us Disney on Ice Tickets for Christmas. We anticipating the show all through the cold winter and enjoyed a fun show of Disneyland Adventures. It was about the Incredibles Family saving Disneyland from the eveil redheaded guy complete with appearances from "It's a Small World", "Pirates of the Carribean", etc. (See blog book for more information about this day). We enjoyed a yummy lunch at Johnny Rockets afterward!

Friday, February 27, 2009

Friday, February 27, 2009


Journaling: Ammon was on call again. Another Friday night doing over-night call. He has been on call every Friday for the last month! Bummer! We did go and visit him for dinner though and caught him "in action" answering a page for "Dr. Rasmussen" while we were there. Isn't he hot?

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Journaling: I was typing away on the computer one morning and these three enjoyed playing together. I couldn't help but capture a picture of my three girls-three cute sisters! I love them with all my heart! They are my very own life-sized dolls!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Wednesday, February 25, 2009


Journaling: Ethan had snack a this week at school, so we came up with some fun things. Here is an idea for one day we did-mud pies n worms! Chocolate pudding, gummy worms and oreos. The kids loved it!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Journaling: I took Hailey and Karli to Costco while Brynlee was at a friend's house and Ethan was at school. We spent way too much money, as always, but stocked up on groceries, toilet paper, diapers, aka: the essentials. I didn't have to go shopping again for two weeks! Nice!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Monday, February 23, 2009

Journaling: Ethan had his second piano recital tonight. He did WONDERFUL and played the Main Theme from Star Wars. He looked so handsome and we were so proud of him!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Journaling: We were just arriving home and after we pulled in the driveway from running arrands, I turned and saw these two cuties holding holds. They love being sisters. No one told them they had to, they just do. The kids do SO WELL at taking turns of which sibling they play with. Moments like this melt my heart.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Saturday, February 21, 2009


Journaling: Tonight was the annual Riverside Ward Pinewood Derby. We had so much fun! WE invited the Acker Family to join us and Ammon made two cars this year-a surfboard for Ethan and a surgery gurney for him. I made a chocolate cake, with chocolate covered strawberries and won the best presentation award. It was a fun ward activity!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Friday, February 20, 2009

Journaling: It was my day of the month to come volunteer in Ethan's first grade class. I was in charge of helping at the number blocks table and I loved seeing Ethan ineracting with all his friends and what he was learning. He sure loves school and I enjoy being a part of his learning too.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Thursday, February 19, 2009


Journaling: Brynlee let me do "princess hair" for preschool today. As I finished and stuck the bow in, her hair glowed in teh morning light and looked so pretty!! I love having little girls-my own little dolls to play with!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Wednesday, February 18 2009


Journaling: Ethan's last game of basketball was last weekend. Crazy how the season is already over. Ethan did an amazing job and can't wait to play again next year. He may be short but he is talented! Ethan and Coach Steve with Ethan's trophy for the season. Good job buddy!!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Tuesday February 17, 2009


Journaling: I became the Box Top "Publicist" at Ethan's school a couple months ago. Christy Harston and I ran the a collection contest at Windermere for two weeks and then collected all the box tops from all the classrooms. Christy cut out over a thousand and Ammon and I cut and count over two thousand!!! It was so time consuming but fun to see how just collecting what would have been trash made over $400 for Windermere!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Monday February 16, 2009


Journaling: Ammon came home this morning, tired from a long night of call. We were all glad to see him and he was glad to come home!! I noticed all his accessories...pagers to alert of trauma call or someone needing to get a hold of him, his Mt. Carmel badge, his Children's Hospital badge, with the sun, for the rotation he is on this month. This waistline is carrying around A LOT of responsibility!!! Ammon is patiently trying to figure out if pediatric surgery is the way to go for him and our family. Mostly though he has really enjoyed his month working with children and doing his peds rotation. I am so grateful to him for the hard worker and breadwinner he is. What would we do without him?

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Sunday, February 15, 2009


Journaling: Hailey has become quite my little buddy our kitchen. The moment I make dinner, cookies, rolls, playdoh, etc. she is right there beside me asking to help and pour. The funniest thing is she likes to do it "all by herself", without my help because she is "all grown up". ;-) Karli usually isn't to far behind and ready to munch on whatever we are making!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Saturday, February 14, 2009


Journaling: For the first time in 8 years we enjoyed a night our for Valentine's Day. We went to the Cheesecake Factory with the Burts, Kelly's and Dotsons. So fun!!!!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Friday, February 13, 2009


Journaling: The kids had so much fun this year creating their Valentine's and exchanging them with all their friends. Ethan chose Speedracer, Brynlee chose Barbie and Hailey Disney Princess ones. I love reliving all this Valentine fun through our kids! ;-)

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Thursday, February 12, 2009


Journaling: Melty beads abound on snow days. Ethan has been coming up with some great projects on his own! Luckily Karli doesn't eat these anymore either! I am grateful the kids don't beg for video games every hour to stay entertained. I love creativity!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Wednesday, February 11, 2009


Journaling: I was taking Ethan to piano lessons. Hailey begged to wear her dress up clothes and knowing we wouldn't be getting out of the car, I obliged. Then she fell asleep. When we got home, I caught this princess in her sweet slumber. She loves this coat too. She calls it her "Santa coat" because of the fur, and refuses to wear her other one!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Tuesday, February 10, 2009


Journaling: We are getting this little one ready for kindergarten. Afternoons are spent practicing letters, writing her name and delving into sight words. She is a smart girl!

Monday, February 9, 2009

Monday February 9, 2009


Journaling: I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!! Karli and I love to play the "Yud You" game. That's how she says "I Love YOU". I always hear, "I YUUUDD YOU" from the other room and then I go running in, point at her and say "I love you"! She giggles, points as me and says again "I YUD YOU". Today I caught her pointing back at me. I will always treasure this picture. To me, it does say a thousand words. Our baby is growing up. She'll be two soon. In fact, now she is 21 months old. We love her so much!!! (Her hair was flaming and crazy because she had just finished lunch and I had wiped all the spaghettios out of it! It makes her look even more fun!!)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Journaling: While in Indy, we also visited Paul and Cristy Michaelson and family. It had been five years since we had seen them and they fed us a wonderful dinner and it was fun to catch up about people from Fresno!