To be continued.

So we have been wanting to paint for a long time now. But something always comes up or its not a good time or or or..... so we've never painted. The upstairs we have done but have never gotten to the kitchen, front room and upstairs hall. Which is what needed it the most.

Well today was the day.

We were passing the Home Depot yesterday and Scott said, "Do you want to go in and get painting supplies?" HECK YES I DO!!! He didnt think that also meant that he would be painting today. Im sorry to burst his bubble.

So we started the daunting task today.

Scotts brother came over to help (used to paint for a job). My job was to entertain the kids. We went to Carls Jr and played in the play place for 1.5 hours and then up to Scotts parents house for a couple hours. Then I came home and put the boys to bed for a nap.

Meanwhile Scott and his brother got the ceilings done. We will be doing the walls this coming week and then the trim. Or the other way around...who knows. Im very excited. The kitchen needed this SOOO BAD!!!

When Ben went home we started patching wall holes. Left the room and sweet little Chase dug out a huge chunk of patch that we had just patched. Hes so sweet...I could just... ;-)

We will be doing one wall chocolate brown and then all the rest of the walls a tan. Here are some before pics...ok not before... I guess they are "In progress" photos.

Uncontrolable Giggeling...

To most moms this is music to their ears. And it is to mine too. Except when I hear it coming from another room.

Uncontrollable giggling usually means one thing.

Im going to have a mess to clean up.

Be it...
Cheerios all over the kitchen floor
Noodles all over the floor
having to wash baby soap out of hair because I didnt put it up high enough.
Lotion slathered children
Water all over the kitchen floor because I forgot to lock the water on the door of the refrigerator.

The list could go on...and it does.


Theres two culprits and its a good darn thing they are so cute.

Ok people I am ready for Spring.

Is it too much to ask for spring to come in January? I dont think so. So I've been asking. And I thought I might fish my wish. This last week it has been raining. And it doesnt rain in the winter, right? So I was getting just a tad bit excited that I might see a little green! Lucy our dog was thinking it was a great idea too. There was a little patch of green grass that showed up in the back yard since all the rain has been melting the snow. Lucy thought this was GRAND! She ran and ran around in circles yipping on that small patch of grass. I felt like running with her. Expcept, I would be yipping "Its Spring!!" Well winter plays tricks on ya here in Utah. You think you are going to get a little taste of sun...and what do you wake up to? Feet of snow. Thats just how it is here. And every year, come January...Im sick of it. Im sick of coughing, sneezing, fevers, snot noses, cold hands, dirty muddy floors from people walking in the kitchen with muddy feet, dirty cars; cause I never wanna stand out in the freezing snow to clean them out.

I want spring!

I want to send the kids out in the back yard and not see them again til dusk, I want to sit out on the front steps and watch all the kids play in the street, I want long days, short sleeves, no boots, flip flops, bikes, scooters.....SUN!!!

But I guess I'll have to wait until May but until then...Ill just complain.

Science Fair!!!

Jentry did he first science fair project this year. Last year was optional and since she has a lazy mom... we opted out. This year, it was required. So we stole an idea that some other family members had done and did a project. It actually wasnt that bad and Brinley might end up doing the optional 4th grade science fair project when she gets to be that age.

The experiment was to see if changing the color of a drink affected the way people thought it tasted. Like if you made a grape drink red would people think it was cherry just because it was red. We bought some clear flavored drinks and put food coloring in them that did not match the taste. We tested Scotts side of the family at a family party so we could get many different age groups. Some of the drinks were hard to figure out and if that was the case, people went with the color of the drink. Black Cherry and Peach were such strong tastes that people usually got them right away.

On Friday she set up her project and Mandy and I went to check it out. I thought she would be there by her project but she wasnt. So I only got a picture of her project. And of course, I did bring my camera....but left it in the car. So all I got was a picture from my phone. Great quality, I know.

I am very proud of her for working hard on this project. I never have to worry if she will get her homework done. She always does. Most of the time we dont even have to practice spelling words. She just gets them right. I appreciate such an easy kid!!

Family Pics

Its been a long time since we have had family pictures done. Like... years. Like... 8 years. Scott got me a gift certificate to Kiddie Kandids last moms day to get pictures of the kids. I decided to use them for family pictures instead. I think the kids did pretty darn good...and Ty is just too cute in them. His smiles crack me up!

We went outside without our coats!!!

Rebels, I know.

Its been snowing non stop it seems.

Today when we got back from the doctors office I thought Id let the boys play outside for a bit. It was so sunny and didnt feel cold at all. Even though Im sure it was in the 30's somewhere. Thats warm now. I let the boys play with the shovels and try to make it across the grass. Thats a hard thing to do when your legs are only inches high and the snow is higher then that!





The boys were having a great time and hands were getting a little red so I thought it was best we head in. Chase, he had other ideas!!! He threw a major fit when I suggested that it was time to go in! Ive never seen him freak like that. He wanted to stay in the snow and that was that. But mean old mom thought it would probably be better that he kept his fingers.

I add this picture because I know how much my mom loves snot nosed pictures. So I do this for you mom, enjoy.



Im hoping tomorrow will be just as warm and we can bundle up and take them outside to play for longer. I know they will love it!

Happy 2009

We had a great 2008. We were all healthy, happy and we made it through. I think that says it all. To celebrate 2009 we went up to my parents house. We are pretty big duds when it comes to partying. But we tried. We had some tini weenies, chicken wings and lots of treats. As you can see, Scott partied hard. I forgot to bring my camera..so the camera phone is what you get. I tried to take a pic of me with each kid...but well, you know how that goes. The girls are good posers, the boys wanted nothing to do with me.






Happy 2009 everyone!!

Brinleyism

"I dont know why..... but there is syrup in my toes"

I dont know why this struck me as so dang funny. But it did. And Im still laughing.

Happy Birthday "little" brother

Happy Birthday Todd! Thanks for being such a great brother (most of the time) and uncle (most of the time).

Thanks for taking the time to wait for us to go out to lunch with you on your birthday. Oh yeah, you didnt.

Thanks for spending time with us when we came up to wish you a happy birthday. Oh yeah, you didnt.

But I still love ya.

And he's still single for all of you ladies that want to love him too.

I left Ty at Walmart.

Ok so I didnt. But he thinks I did.

The other night he woke up crying so I went into his room. I was asking him what was wrong and through his sobs he said "Why did you leave me at walmart?" I told him he must have had a bad dream and that I didnt leave him at walmart. I wouldnt leave him at walmart...its ok, go to sleep.

Now the boy is convinced I left him at walmart. Tonight he said.. "Mom you left me at walmart but it was just an accident."

I DID NOT LEAVE YOU AT WALMART... He doesnt understand yet that it was a dream!! I know thats going to come up at the wrong time and he is going to tell someone I left him at walmart. Reminds me of when my nephew (Drea) asked his mom in church if she remembered when she broke his arm.

I-yi yi.

Christmas x2

Its been tradition for the last few years that my parents would sleep over at our house on Chrismtas Eve. But they had to work this year. Christmas and Christmas Eve. :-( (We sure did miss them!) So on Friday we went up to their house to have Christmas there. They made turkey, mashed potato's...the whole works. It was like having Christmas all over again!

After we opened all of the presents and played around with them we watched Kung Foo Panda. It was late by then so we packed up to leave, leaving Jentry behind. (she could live there and not miss us one bit)

Mom and Dad must have fooled Scott pretty good and made him think that it really was Christmas...on our way home, we passed walmart. Scott said, "Wow, thats weird...walmarts open."

Thanks mom and dad for a great Christmas x 2

Christmas 2008

Oh what a fun filled Christmas we had!!!

Every year our tradition is to go to my Grandma Haywards house and have Christmas Eve there. I love this tradition. Ty of course, hadn't taken a nap that day. So he was a terror. On our way home he fell asleep. We were hoping Chase would be able to wake his brother up and have him in a happy mood. We were wrong.



Every Christmas Eve we come home and open PJ's, read the Christmas Story out of the bible and read a fun Christmas Story (this year it was Christmas Day In The Morning.
Since Ty was just a jolly fellow we kind of had to rush through this. He was crying most the time. The girls were excited tho. They love getting new pajamas!



The girls went to bed without any fight. And the boys quickly fell asleep. Scotts mom had given us a cute Santa Key to help Santa come in since we dont have a chimney. The kids loved this.

And it worked! Santa was able to come in and leave WAY TOO MANY TOYS!!!



Which is not my fault. Scott likes to help Santa go a little overboard. But since Christmas was close to a weekend, Scott got more days off and got to see how much fun putting all of this away is! And he decided that maybe next year, Ill help Santa out more.

This is Jentrys loot



Brinleys

Tys

Chases


The Familys

Santa always leaves a letter and this year he left two. Brinley wanted a fish this year. I guess Santa couldnt put it in the bag so he left her a coupon to go pick one out. She was so excited about that.





We are still cleaning up!!!

My Ty is THREE!!!!

December 17th, Ty turned THREE!! I cant believe that as much as I cant believe Jentry is 11. Time is just flying by with these kids. Since his birthday is so close to Christmas its hard not just to jip him and say...no birthday party. There are so many parties for everyone to go to at this time of year so Im very grateful for everyone that made the effort to come share this special day with him! He loved all of the attention!!! My parents had to work so the night before we went out to Brick Oven with them. We tried to go to Chuck E Cheese, but wouldnt you know...they had a work meeting that night and closed at 6. Just our luck. So off to Brick Oven we went. They sang to Ty and brought him out some ice cream. He loved it.



Before we went we opened presents from my parents. They thought they would be funny and give him an old barbie doll to see his reaction. He opened it up and said "I dont like these!" They also got him a big Tonka truck. Which the Barbie fit in. So he was also excited about the Barbie. The next day (his real birthday) we were driving in the car and he said "Im so excited to go home and play with my Barbie and Truck!"

Thanks mom and dad.

The next morning I made him a yummy breakfast and put candles in his french toast. He blew them out once and then wanted to do it again. He got his way, of course, because it was his birthday.





That night we had a party for him. He got lots of fun toys and ate lots of ice cream




We got him a big boy race car (CARS) bed. He is IN LOVE!!! He slept the whole night in it and we havent had a problem getting him to bed one bit.

I love you My Ty! Thanks for making our life fun...and LOUD!

This is why we will only have lights on the tree this year.

We put the lights on about a week ago. And then about 2 days ago, the balls. By now the tree is only half balls...and here's why....


Yesterday I hear Ty saying to Chase... "Did you get one?" I go in there and Chase is up on the stool whacking the balls with a ruler.

Today I notice they are playing way too good with each other and its way too quiet...

Today Ty is the culprit. But hes using a present. It goes much higher then the stool!!




So...just lights this year.

December 1st 1997, 11 years ago.

I became a mom. Scott became a dad. And we became grown up's.

He was 19. I was 17.

And we had a baby.



I cant believe its been 11 years!!! But then again, this kid...shes been through it all with us. There wasnt much time in our married life that she hasnt been there. And Im so glad she has been. She is my other arm. The other mother. She helps me so much with the boys. Shes such a great sister to her sister and such a great help to our whole family. And she hardley ever complains. Sometimes I see a little glimpse of the teenage years with her and I cringe. I know shes going to give me a run for my money and one day Ill wake up and she'll be a teenager with the attitude and everything. But for now, Im enjoying her just how she is. She still tells me everything. Every morning I wake up she tells me the dreams she had that night. And Im not talking 2 minute stories. She tells me every dream in great detail. Sometimes it takes the whole time shes getting ready. One day I'll miss her telling me her dreams.

Hopefully by then, shes living them.

We had went out to dinner with my parents on Saturday night to celebrate her birthday. So I wasnt really planning on having her a party. On Sunday she asked me if she should call everyone and invite them to her party. Well.. I guess so, if we are having one.

So she called family and invited them to the party.

Then she came home from school and said she had invited Kayleah too. (her BFF)

Ok.

So we had a party.

I made cupcakes and we had icecream.

I had brought her cookies for her class that morning and balloons to her class. She went a little pink in the face...but she was excited that we had brought balloons.

When I was cleaning up from the party that night she came in and said "Thanks for the party...It was the best day of my life"




Well if thats all it takes...


I love you Jentry Anne!!