Memorial Day

This weekend we got to go up to the Blads cabin in Island Park. I'm not much of an outdoor-sy girl, but we had fun. We went into Yellowstone Park on Monday and saw lots of buffalo and elk. The boys loved it! We saw Old Faithful (which wasn't as big as I remember it) and spent lots of time with cousins. Zach earned his 'Junior Ranger' badge by completing activities throughout the park. We hiked around the Paint Pots. Then we called it a day. We were tired and sunburned, but we had fun. It's nice to get away and spend time with family and just relax, but sometimes
relaxing just makes you more tired!

First steps

Well, it's official. Alivia is walking. Kinda crazy! I can't believe that she is old enough to walk! She looks so little toddling around. She is in to everything and is about driving me crazy. She's learned how to go down the stairs, which is great. No more tumbles. She's so much fun and we love having her here!

Life

Well, life is finally getting back to normal. We are still in a mess downstairs since we got our carpet. I haven't made my way through everything yet. I got my computer back so I can finally post pictures, and I am done teaching Kindergarten. I did have a blast doing that. I miss teaching, but I love staying home with my little ones. It's hard working and keeping up with housework, callings and everything else.

So, here is my Mother's Day present:


I was so impressed with Gus. He hasn't been the best Mother's Day giver before (he has totally not gotten anything for me from the kids before), but I forgave him for his mistakes. I woke up and saw these cute pots on the table. The poem reads:

For Our Mother

In these pots you can see

Is some dirt and a seed like me.

So feed it, nourish it, and care for the seed in here,

And soon you will see the potential that lives in there.

So protect it from insects, bugs and bees,

So it can bloom where it is planted, just like me.

Gus had each little one paint a pot and then put their handprint on it. Gus said he then planted a whole pack of seeds in each one. They are so cute. The first thing I asked him was what blog he got the idea from! He totally wrote the poem himself (with a little help from his mom). I am so proud. The kids still talk about painting their pots. So cute! I'm so proud to be their mom!

Happy Anniversary Gus! (and me I guess)

Today marks our 8th anniversary. People say that if you make it past 7 years, that you are lucky! So I feel lucky. We like to do presents to tie in the theme of whatever year it is. The 8th year is pottery/bronze. Gus took me to a ceramic shop here and we had the brilliant idea to do a bronze finish on our projects. I chose to do a frog, of coarse. Gus did a little nativity set because we collect them and this is one with a great memory behind it! I think they look like real metal!

I'm so lucky to be married to Gus. He is an awesome father and husband and I couldn't have asked for anyone better. I love him more today than I did 8 years ago. We've had good and bad times, but I wouldn't change them for anything in the world. I love you Gus!!

Thanks Uncle Sam!

Yay! We have new carpet!
Okay, so I haven't been blogging for a while for two reasons: 1)we really have been busy with school and projects and life and 2) my computer crashed and we have to use our old computer and it won't read my memory card. I'm using my mother-in-law's to blog real fast.

This year with our tax return we decided to get new carpet. Well, I guess it really was my choice. I said since we got extra money for having the baby this year, I got to get what I wanted. Anyway, we got it throughout the whole upstairs. It's so nice to have the same throughout. The carpet in the bedrooms have never been changed since the house was built. The pad was so thin and worn that it was disintegrating and it was so bad. Here's pictures of the kids' rooms before and after. I'm so happy not to have blue carpet in Alivia's room anymore! So, thank you Uncle Sam!