Art Project!

Bry and Dan choosing their stockings

Cole and his stocking

Filling stockings with seed

Filling the stockings with soil

Choosing our face decorations

In order from your left to right top row: Dan, Tara. Bottom row: Bry, Cole, Cody

Dan made fun of mine because it had earrings and a necklace!

The whole family

Lyne (art therapist) and boys

Mmmmmm! Pizza!

For Christmas this year Dan's sister Angy gave us a gift certificate for a private family art lesson in Ventura at the Art Barn. What a blast!!!!! We made these funny faces that grow grass out of their heads. They are made out of pantyhose, soil and grass seed. We all really enjoyed ourselves, Dan and I included! It is really fun how unique all of the faces are, we were not allowed to help the kids, they had to create them all by themselves, I think they did a great job. After we were done we treated the kids to pizza. What a fun memory to have. Thanks Aunt Angy, we love you!

Day at the Park

There goes Abby, dog friend, and Kids after the ball!

Even Abby got in the fun!

Watch out below

I'm so cute aren't I!

Cody is stuck!!!!

The kids had Monday off of school and we were rewarding Bryan for his good behavior at school, he wanted to go for a day hike and fishing but it was so windy and cold we decided it would be better if we saved that outing for another day! We ended up at a park for a picnic instead, the boys had a blast. This park is our favorite one to go to- it has a dog park in a fenced off area. The boys love to through the ball for all of the dogs in the park and most owners welcome the helpful energy! We all played tag, the kids' very favorite game to play at the park, the second we get out of the car they all run to the park yelling "who's it?, who's it?" We all left after a few hours happy and tired, and ready to go home!

100 Things About Me

I have seen this post on a few of my friend’s blogs and decided to take on the challenge. Especially to try and share things that I don't usually share. So here are 100 things about me:

1. I played the clarinet from the 3rd grade all of the way through high school.

2. I was in competitive swimming from the age of 8 and went to the Jr. Olympics.

3. The older I get the more confidence I have and don’t care what other people think.

4. I can’t sing, not a single note in tune.

5. I have three of the cutest boys!

6. I was afraid to have my second and third sons because I was worried I couldn't love another child as much as I loved my first- I was wrong, mother's some how have endless love for children.

7. I love to laugh and have always been able to laugh at myself and others.

8. I took ballet, tap, jazz, and gymnastics when I was young.

9. I wanted to be a cheerleader in high school but I was born with no rhythm, which you needed for the dances!

10. The older I get, the more nerve I have.

11. I HATE my butt- that is where I gain all of my weight.

12. I have laughed so hard, I peed my pants.

13. My parents live close and I don’t know what I would do without them.

14. I hate cooking, Dan does most of the cooking!

15. I can’t stand anyone else, including Dan, cleaning my house- they don’t do it right!

16. I love chocolate and wish I could eat it every day.

17. My dream is to be really successful in life- spiritually, financially, and physically.

18. I have REALLY thin naturally curly hair- I HATE it.

19. I love taking really long hot showers and do every night to relax and wind down.

20. I am married to my best friend and I can tell him every thing.

21. I lost over 20 pounds a few years ago and have gained 18 back:(

22. I have to change and wash my sheets at least once a week.

23. I never iron, I rewash instead.

24. I HATE exercising.

25. I have one sister and a brother, I’m the middle one.

26. I was sealed in the temple to Dan just over a year after we were married.

27. My expectations of myself are usually very high, I end up working my tail off to reach them.

28. My mom used to make my clothes in grade school, I thought it was cool, everyone else didn’t.

29. I had a very serious relationship, we talked about marriage, before I met and married Dan.

30. I never finished college.

31. I often wonder what people REALLY think of me.

32. When I find a true friend, I am completely loyal and hang onto them for dear life.

33. I had 6 college room mates/friends, I only keep in touch with one of them, I wish I still kept in contact with the rest. I know I knew them before this life.

34. I have a best friend that I have known for almost 9 years I love that I can still pick up the phone, call her and talk to her about anything.

35. I want to be a foster parent.

36. I hated being pregnant, I threw up all day, every day.

37. I hate when people say they have been "too busy " to call or keep in touch because that is an important priority to me.

38. I hate excuses.

39. I wish I could tell people how I truly felt sometimes.

40. I am addicted to Diet Pepsi.

41. I love hearing songs from when I was in high school and college because they bring back very vivid memories and experiences from that time in my life.

42. I never thought I would make more money then my husband, it’s kind of fun!

43. I have a tattoo.

44. I have never left the country.

45. I hate being late or when other people are late.

46. I love to people-watch.

47. I love sushi.

48.I wish I knew how to surf

49. I want to go on a service mission with my husband one day.

50. I feel like the flap of skin on my nose is the first thing people see when they look at me.

51. Things and words hurt more when they come from family or from people you love.

52. I don’t cry very easily, I wish I did.

53. I hate the spider veins on my legs.

54. I wish I was better at writing thank you notes.

55. I love to get the mail and look forward to it coming every day.

56. I like talking on the phone.

57. I HATE mornings

58. My dream vacation would be to go to Europe.

59. I am not good at sports.

60. I love going to live professional sports games but hate watching them on TV.

61. I am so blessed to be an American

62. One of my goals for 2007 is to attend the temple with Dan at least once every 6 weeks.

63. I am VERY stubborn

64. I definitely married up

65. Dan usually says sorry first.

72. My religion is the foundation for who I am and my greatest gift.

73. Dan and I cherish our few hours alone every night after the kids go to bed.

74. I really don't like it when people leave their kids all of the time with a baby sitter.

75. I always wished I wasn't the middle child.

76.My biggest fear is that Dan will die first.

77. I once toilet papered my parents house with my young women’s class, hey, Dad was the Bishop.

78. I love to cuddle with my boys.

79. I never feel alone.

80. I love the ocean- it is my favorite place to be.

81. I love my church calling and am thankful I haven’t been released yet- second counselor in Relief Society.

82. I force myself to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day.

83. I really HATE when people lie to me.

84. I get nervous when I have to speak in front of people, I still don’t know how I can do my job so well.

85. I love to laugh and love to see people smile.

86. I wish I could protect my children always- but I know they will have to make their own choices.

87. I love to watch a good movie- romantic comedy is my fav.

88. I love that my kids are old enough to sleep in on Saturday’s.

89. Listening to my children laugh is the best sound in the world.

90. My favorite color is purple.
91. My favorite treat is anything chocolate.

92. I had braces for 2 years in high school, I hated every moment of it.

93. I love Disneyland, we go about once a month.

94. I love vacations.

95. I struggle every day to be a good mother and a good wife.

96. I have a low pain tolerance, I am a total baby.

97. Labor and delivery of my children were the most precious moments of my life.
98. I wish my sister and sister-in-laws lived closer.

99. I love to eat at restaurants.

100. I have never kept a journal until I started blogging- and I love it.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls!

Those of you who know me, know I love to help friends and family by watching their children for them. I have a friend who had to go back to work and she asked me to watch her 2 1/2 yr old daughter on Thursday mornings, of course I jumped at the chance! Launa comes after Bryan and Cole go to school and is here with Cody for about 45 min. before he goes. Cody is so sweet to her! He helps her with puzzles and his toys (sometimes to much help!). I can not believe the difference between girls and boys! After I drop off Cody at school, Launa doesn't stop talking until her grandma comes and picks her up at noon! Dan was off this Thursday and after we dropped of Cody we had a few erans to run, 2 min. down the road he turns to me and says "you weren't kidding, were you!" He couldn't believe how much noise could come out of something so small! Bry and Cole are a little jealous they don't get to spend some time with Launa in the mornings, I just remind them she talks non-stop and the jealousy is gone!

Bry has received straight + marks on his weekly Behavior, Classwork, Homework folder 3 weeks in a row! This is a huge accomplishment for him! We are rewarding him on Monday with a day hike and some fishing, this is one his favorite family activities. We are very proud!

Family time

Abby in the waves!!!

Time spent with family is my favorite thing to do. This past Friday we took the kids out of school and went to Disneyland. (sorry Mr. Hess) We had the best time! Can you believe I forgot my camera? This was the last weekend for the holiday decorations, they were beautiful. We missed out on the firework show due to high winds, we did however get to experience the "snow". The "snow" looked so beautiful and then Bryan caught one in his mouth, we then found out that our "snow" was SOAP!! We all laughed so hard. We were exhausted, Cody was asleep, the only reason we had stayed so long was to see the fireworks and snow! Dan and I thought it was pretty funny. The next day we went to the beach and brought Abby with us, Buddy just is not socialized enough, what fun we had! We found a little area in the rocks that had 9 star fish! I've never seen so many at one time! We had fun building sandcastles, watching the boats come into the harbor, running from the waves (it was a little chilly, 65, and no body wanted to get wet!), and playing fetch with Abby in the waves. We had a great weekend I love my family.

My girls

We have these neighbors who are raising their granddaughters, they spend quite a bit of time here, we love them as if they were our own, the added bonus is that they are girls! The boys love to have them here. Both of them tell me all of the time "I want to stay here and be your kid" This feels so good to hear! I just wish their amazing, loving grandparents would let that happen, unfortunately for me I don't see it happening anytime soon! I feel so blest to have the tools to love and care for my kids, I am also thankful the Lord blest me with a love for other children, and my own children with understanding and that same love.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

January 1st in sunny Cali, Utah's hateing us right now!!!!!!!!

The boys love cousin Tony!

Come fly a kite! (The tide pools are behind the kids and Dan)


Cody warming up after a dip in the ocean!

We spent the afternoon today at the beach, what a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky and a warm sun! My parents and sister came to join us before we went to dinner at Baja Fresh, yummy. The boys had a ball building sand castles, flying kites, and looking for sea urchins, star fish, shells and hermit crabs in the tide pools. This was the perfect way to start the new year.

The sun is setting and the tide is coming in, time to go home.