Summertime(kind of) and the Livin's Easy

We had lots of fun last Saturday. The weather was nice so I went to Depot and bought a bunch of new plants and flowers for the front yard. This also includes what I thought was a tree and after planting it found out it will be a "large shrub".(A large shrub in the front lawn ~ yea, interesting I know). Oh well, it probably won't grow out here anyway so I'll give it some time!
I have found that I LOVE working in the yard. Digging in the dirt and planting new things has become something I really enjoy and look forward to. So Mike did all the other yard work while I planted and the kids played. I recently took the kids to Toys R Us and let them pick out their first car so they played on those mostly all day. Jake got a 3-wheeled scooter and Kenzie got a Barbie bigwheel. Oh yea, they have turned into a big deal. Jake wants to ride the bigwheel and Sis loves the scooter. After a while it warmed up more so the kids got in their swimsuits and we turned on the ever so large owl-head sprinkler. Jake always talks about "running through the sprinklers" so we thought we'd give it a try. This is the scenario:

Intently watching the small sprinkler. Testing out the water drops.

Lounging....Tanning.....kind of watching the sprinkler.....just being a girl

Testing it out with an empty plant box. Kenzie enjoys filling various containers with various things all day long around the house.......food, toys, food, shoes, food, etc.

Running in circles around the sprinkler. I had to jump through the first time with him but we won't show those pictures. Believe me, you would rather see the kids do it.

Finally, a test run. Sis never did run through but she enjoyed watching from the sidelines.
And finally, is it ok to be jealous of my little sweet baby girl? She was born with great skin that tans well, like her grandma. Why didn't I get that from my mom?

My Obsession

So like many of you, I have an obsession with Stephenie Meyer books. I am not a big reader, though I would like to be, but I loved the Twilight series. I can't wait for Breaking Dawn to come out in August. I am excited to see what will happen in the book and what it will be like reuniting with Edward and Bella. So I found this picture which I love, but I do not love the Edward they chose. Everyone else looks somewhat like I pictured them, but not him. I pictured him much bigger with lighter hair. Alice looks exactly like I pictured her! So that is a little disappointing but still excited for the movie. My hubby is going to be home in a few minutes and we are going to Costco to pick up her latest, The Host. Though it is not from the Twilight series, I have heard good reviews and am just excited to be reading another of her books again. I know Mike thinks I am crazy, but I would hope he is used to that by now!
Most people put pics of their family on their blog title, but for now I will have to keep the picture of my Obsession!

Picnic in the Park and a Day with the Ducks

Daddy and his girlfriend
Jake actually looking at the camera(wearing Great Grandma's sweater!)

Mommy and Sis

'The other day was actually nice, so I packed up some lunch and took the kids to the park. I don't like the park in our neighborhood because the ends of the slides are so far off the ground, but this park a few blocks aways is great because the slides go all the way down. So it is easy for Kenzie to play on and I don't have to worry about her. She is our little dare devil so I have to keep a close eye on her at playgrounds. She loves them and will try anything. A little while after we got there the wind picked up(like it always does in Eagle Mtn) and it got a little cold, but like the kids care. I think I was the only one who noticed! They were both running around and never stopped for a minute so I am sure they were warm.
I am really excited for Jake for 2 reasons this past weeks. One, he actually ASKED me to take his picture. We were at the park and he said, "Mom, will you take my picture please?" I was so in shock he had to ask me again because I just stood there staring at him. Jake HATES pictures, as many of you know. Now he will say "Cheese!" and look at the camera. I guess he is growing up, but we'll see how long it lasts.
AND.......Jake has been peeing on the toilet about 3 times a day for the last 4 days or so. This also might be a phase, but hopefully one that sticks. We have just been encouraging him since we started(forever ago) and not pushing too hard for fear it would cause a bad experience and then he would never want to do it. I know it will come, it will just take time and I am trying so hard to have patience ~ something I didn't have much of before I had kids but have much more of now!
Tonight we went to Great Grandma Stone's house and made her dinner and fed the ducks. She has this great apartment that has a creek right out back where there are lots of ducks to feed. There is also a lake down the road where there are more ducks and fish that the kids love. Tonight we saw a mommy with 12 baby chicks. It was really cute to see the kids watch them. They love going to see Great Grandma for this reason but also she gives them treats mom doesn't have and she has a great toy box. More pics below.......





Kenzie inspecting her feet after her shoe came off. She has quite a collection of shoes. I guess I am living vicariously through my daughter. =)
Our little dare devil. She LOVES slides!
Great Grandma Stone and Jake

Happy Spring!

We had a fun Easter this year! Yes, I know there are a lot of pictures, but I love so many of them so I had to share. Mike's parents came out this year, so we were able to spend it with them and his 2 sisters. Jake and his cousin had an Easter egg hunt, which was actually a 5 minute dash to see who could get the most eggs ~ yes, Ty was a bit quicker again this year, coming in at about 40 eggs to Jake's 8. Jake likes to take his time and carefully open each and every egg to inspect the contents and show it to mom and dad. It's the same on Halloween with Jake and Ty. They are such good friends but such different little boys! Makenzie and her cousin Lincoln enjoyed the couple eggs they found and just liked being outside ~ along with the rest of us! It is so fun to have a little girl to dress up on these fun occasions. I have been anticipating this year since she was born. When I could dress her up in an Easter dress and she could walk and carry her basket! We have loved every minute of it. Enjoy the pictures.

On the hunt

"I'll trade you a blue for 2 yellows!"

"Don't touch ~ they're my eggs!" Finders keepers! (Typical Jake face)

This one got stuck here in the middle somehow, but this is Kenzie's favorite thing to do....
brush her teeth! She wants to do it many times a day. This is also the first day I was able to put her hair in pig tails. She seems to only let me do it when she is brushing her teeth.

"The boys took all the eggs!"

This picture reminds me of myself at this age. I think my mom has a similar picture.

Enjoying the outdoors!

Kenzie LOVES chocolate, just like her brother!