Karly's Present

I am so excited for Christmas this year! Or it might have to be for her birthday - depends on if I get it done in time. Mike and I are making her her very own dollhouse! I am kinda funny about Barbies (no offense Barbie Lovers!) but I am just not a fan of them. So I wanted to build my own doll house for her with my own size dimensions. I got the idea from my dear friend Stephanie Lund. She had all our Young Women build one at girls camp to donate to the Festival of Trees. It sold for $2400!!!!!!

So, with that, I came home from girls camp ready to make my own. I have been working on it since August - so it has been five months of serious fun for me. Now that it is almost done, I wanted to document my work!

So, today I am posting the pictures of ours from Girls Camp, to show what inspired me. It is so beautiful, I am only hoping mine can be half as good. I have made a few adjustments...we shall see!

Good Luck Mikey!

Mikey just loves football and in turn our whole family loves it now. His team is in the play-offs tomorrow for the League Championship...he is so excited.

I just love this kid because he is so humble and kind, even when he plays football. He will attack like no other and tackle kids bigger than him to the ground, but then immediately reach out his hand to help them up. I couldn't have asked for better first son...he is an example to his brothers and I am so grateful for him. Good tomorrow my little buddy...

Kidney Stones...

Yah, I got em. Woke up last week in absolute horrid pain I thought my appendix was bursting. After an emergency room visit, 3 hours on IV's and a CAT Scan - the doctor told me I "wasn't giving birth to a baby, but Kidney Stones!" How nice of him to put it like that...he wasn't kidding.

So needless to say, my blog has slacked lately. We survived Halloween, just barely, and I didn't even hardly get pictures to prove it...

First Day of School, again...

Joey got to start kindergarten this year! The only way I could get him excited was to buy him new shoes. Yah, he's addicted to shoes. Not toys, not treats, shoes. Regardless, those new Tony Hawks got him there so I am not complaining! Love that kid...

I didn't cry this year. Not because I wouldn't miss him dearly, but because I was so proud of him for being brave that I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. Thanks to a WONDERFUL teacher that everyone has nicknamed "Mary Poppins". I LOVE NICE TEACHERS! I still can't figure out why mean teachers even go into the job...

We are so crowded this year so Dallin gets to go to a portable classroom. I searched the internet and showed him classrooms of kids in African and pretty soon he realized how blessed he was...

I know I am biased, but I think these boys are soooooo handsome. Seriously, I just adore everything about them and think whomever gets to marry these kids someday is extra lucky. I can wear their shirts and shoes now, can't believe it. My babies are growing up. My only solice is I can still beat them in wrestling. Pretty sure by next year that won't happen anymore...

Its amazing how much we complain in the states about education circumstances. Given, I am an advocate for bettering education in every way, but sometimes when you step back and see how other countries struggle, it really makes you realize our blessing. We had a seriously grouchy parent this year over portable classrooms. Seriously? They are better than anything in Africa. Once I showed Dallin these pictures, the despair of having to go the "portable" was gone. It was turned into a lucky gratitude...

Crash Derby Time!!!!

Ok, so I do have to admit I was a little skeptical about going. Knew it would be fun but how trashy would it get, ya know? When all I can say is...

IT WAS AWESOME!!!! Besides a few beer drinkers and some random cleavage shots, it was a blast. My kids didn't notice those two things so I was glad and they just screamed and shouted the whole way through. Our local scout troop entered a car and we had fun cheering it on. The poor purple eater didnt get very far though...

We met up with quite a few local buddies and my kids were in heaven! Their mommy was way too into the crashing so my kids were glad for others to sit by I am sure. This is one of Karly's best little buddies...

We are a definate go for next year. Heck, Mike thinks he'll even enter the race...to be continued on that story.

I just love what they come up with...

Joey's comment the other day after being invited to a birthday party of a dear friend:

"Mom, why do you think Adyson thinks I am so cool?"

Before I have a second to answer he responds in complete uncertainty:

"Do you think it's because I get so much air on my dirtbike?"

Then the next day....

Joey: "Mom, I never want to be a dog." Mom: "Why Joey?" Joey: "Because they can't ride bikes."

Good point buddy...

Someone got ahold of my camera!

Dallin apparently was pretty bored...and when he is he LOVES to play with my camera -

Well, any camera for that matter!

If he only knew these were now in my blog, oh goodness I would be in trouble...

Thanks for making me laugh sweet Dallin!

Dont get mad, grab your camera!

Seriously, this happened and I quickly cleaned it all up, changed clothes and got breakfast going again. Not more than 2 minutes later, IT HAPPENED AGAIN!!!! My poor child. Fruity Pebbles was just not happening this morning.

P.S. This is why you don't do Walnut for your wood floors!

Birthday Wishes...

Mike this year surprised me with a night out with all my neighborhood buddies. I was completely surprised to walk into Olive Garden and have all their happy faces looking at me!!! I felt like I was in heaven to have all these people that I adore all around me at once. Wish all my other dear friends who live farther away could have been there! Thanks babe, I owe you...

Host a Party!

I love this website! Its called Houseparty.com and you apply to host parties at your house for upcoming items that are being produced by companies! You don't have to sell anything, just promise to host the party and give away the things they send to you. I LOVE IT! I finally got chosen last month to host a frebreze party and this is all the goodies I got in the mail. The square lanterns sell for $14 alone! Each of my guests left with $40 in free products and tons of coupons. It was so fun! Right now they are accepting applications for a Capri Sun party and Kraft parties!!!!! Yahoo for free stuff!!!!

Funny faces...

One morning the kids found my funky glasses that I wear at girls camp when I want to bug the girls...

Apparently they LOVED them!

I am not sure where Joey was (maybe still sleeping) but Karly thought she was the funniest thing ever...which she was! I love that she gets her fun personality from the boys.