Spring Break: Day 1

This year Lisa and her family decided that for their spring break they were going to come out here and spend it with us and our family! I was SOOOOO excited!! Their spring break was the week before ours so my kids weren't off school yet, but I pulled Brianne out for the week, let Carter stay home 2 days, and Will stayed home 3 days. When they get older it's just too hard to do make up work! Anyway, over the following weeks leading up to their arrival we made plans and decided on some fun activities that we could do with the kids. They arrived the night of Will's birthday (on a Sunday) and had dinner with us and shared some of his yummy pie. Then Lisa and I went in to another room and planned the meals etc we would be having so that the next morning we could hit the road and get groceries! With 11 people in the house we figured we'd better do some shopping! So off we went Monday morning and within about 2 hours we had completed our task! Then we got everyone in the cars and headed to Fashion Place Mall. We bummed around and did some shopping until around 3:30 when the place we were heading finally opened! It was the main event we had planned for the day and that was paintball! Alex had thought it would be a super fun activity for the "older kids" to do, and to make it an even number Steve jumped in too!

Here is a "before" picture taken right after they got all of their gear! After getting instructed on the guns etc Alex got a little timid, but after some encouragement they all went in to play! The indoor arena is pretty cool with barriers and things to hide behind. There is also a referee who calls it when every one's been hit and to start a new game. There's also large video monitors so the rest of us could watch! What we weren't ready for was some AVID players who had their own (and very advanced) gear who went in to play too! They were VERY skilled players! And our (very green) bunch was a bit nervous! Carter was the only one who had ever done this before!

But after about an hour they emerged and had a VERY fun time! I thought it was funny that Steve was the one who was the most messy! But all of them had fun and I believe all of them went home with some welts! But you can't play without expecting a few of those! It was a fun day! :) And way to go guys!!

Will's Birthday 2012

It's so hard for me to believe that Will turned 13! They are ALL growing up so fast! For his birthday this year we did our usual surprise on the counter of a balloon and a few of their favorite things. This year I bought the biggest balloon! The picture doesn't do it justice!
If Will could swim in a pool of Coke he totally would! So Coke was a must! And the candy was just for fun too!
I found a great card too! And this year instead of picking a place for dinner he wanted to go and do breakfast! So the morning of his birthday we all went to Black bear.... pics to come!
But the evening before we went to dinner with Chan's parents and Dakota before going out to see the Hunger Games movie! We were all so excited to see it and it was the perfect way to celebrate!
We went to this great burger joint called Salt City Burger and filled our tummies before heading to the theater.
Will and I read the books together and so we were so excited to see how the movie was done!
We were all pleasantly surprised because the movie was awesome and the best part was that we all got to see it together!
Then the next morning off we went to Black Bear restaurant! We discovered this place when Tammy took us there in St George to have breakfast with Kay (see earlier post- hee hee) and it was Will who noticed that there was a location in Sandy! So he picked it for his big day!
We had never been to this one and I think we were all excited to go! (Funny how Carter and Brianne were pulling the same face!)
I love the way this place is decorated! Like a log cabin in the woods!
I had to get a shot with one of the bears on the way out!
My kids are such goof balls!
His other request this year was to have cherry pie for his birthday instead of a cake- so off I went to Village Inn to pick some up! And we got plenty so we could have some big pieces! It was yummy!! Happy Birthday buddy! Love you!
(His gift from us is taking him and a friend paint balling. I am taking them soon so pics to come!)

Prom 2012

Prom for Carter started out in an interesting fashion! His date is a lacrosse player for his high school and she had tournaments to play that day! Thankfully she had made arrangements with her coach and was able to leave the last part of her game so she could go and do the planned activity which was paintball! I was impressed that she even wanted to go but even more impressed to hear that she was really good! Never got hit! Once that was over it was time to change and get ready for the dance!
Carter was so excited to wear his tux! And He looked SO GOOD! It was so fun to help him get ready and I was excited for him to go!
Unfortunately his date hadn't picked her dress yet when we got the tux so they didn't "match" like your supposed to, but I'll be honest I'm kinda glad because I LOVE the way this tux looked with the dark grey! :)
I went over to the house with them so I could snap a couple of photos before they went off to their dinner. I always find it funny to watch people pin on flowers! It's always a challenge! But she did a great job and had it done pretty quick!
They looked so great didn't they! And they had a fabulous time too! Carter is really looking forward to many more dances in his future!

Weekend getaway!

On the first weekend in March we jumped in the truck and hit the road! Dogs and all!
We were VERY excited to get out of town for a few days and have some family time :) We really enjoy spending time together- we laugh and laugh and it's the BEST!
And being it was the first trip for Vladimir and Duke- they did awesome! We went down to St George and dropped the kids and dogs off with Tammy and Chan and I kept on driving until we made it to Las Vegas!
We treated ourselves to a night in Vegas at the Wynn hotel and casino. We stayed in the Encore tower just to the left of this one and it was GORGEOUS! It was wonderful to have some time with Chan because he has been SO busy lately and even when he is home, he is working! So to have his whole attention was wonderful!
The room was fabulous! Very contemporary and HUGE! I had to get a shot of these pillows! They were HUGE too!
Chan had to bring his laptop along but didn't spend much time on it at all! YAY!
We had an amazing view of the strip! We went to their buffet to eat that evening and it was the BEST buffet I have EVER been to! I highly recommend it! In fact I highly recommend this hotel all together! We loved it! A wonderful night together- thanks babe!
The next day (after stopping at a couple stores to shop) we went back to St George and the next morning... VERY early..... Tammy , the boys and I went to the St George temple to do baptisms for the dead. It was such an awesome experience! The font there was amazing and I love going to the temple with my kids- it feeds my soul to see them doing work there and makes me so proud! And to share the experience with Tammy just made it even sweeter!
Even though it was super early we sure had fun and can't wait to do it again! :)
When we go visit Tammy we always go out to eat some yummy food and this trip was no exception! We went to a yummy Mexican place and followed it up with some scrumptious frozen yogurt! MMMMM!! (See what I mean- not fun at all right?!)
Me and Tammy at the restaurant! Being goofy!
Now that we have 2 dogs when we come to visit Tammy there's quite the group of dogs there! Chan said we had a "gaggle" of dogs! Pretty funny!
On Saturday morning we met Kay for breakfast! It was the yummiest breakfast we've had in a while! The best pancakes EVER! It was fun to visit with her and catch up on things.
Then that evening it was our job to get Tammy to her surprise 40th birthday party! I was worried that she was catching on, but thankfully she was VERY surprised!
I am very lucky to have such an amazing lady as my BFF! I have been friends with her for 16 years! Isn't that crazy! She is an amazing person and I am so glad I met her all those years ago in college! I can't imagine my life without her in it! Love you TAM!
The entire reason for this weekend trip was for her! I wouldn't have missed her 40th for the world! I wanted her to know more than anything that she is loved! She deserves it! And the time away for a mini vacation was a much needed bonus! Can't wait to go again! :)

Prom question and answer!

So I pick up Carter from school one afternoon and he tells me that he wants to ask a girl to Prom that very next afternoon! So my question to him was how did he want to do it? His answer... I don't know! So I came up with an idea and I was off to find gum balls!
I made this poster after finding the gum balls and the canister so that he and his friend Nate could go and deliver it! :)
An up close picture of the jar of gum balls :) Then the waiting began! He got a text from her that evening that said she had got it and was very excited but told him that she would formally answer him soon. My sweet boy waited for a couple of weeks before the door bell finally rang and the following sign was on the porch!

Once you lifted the tissue paper off the top of the box it gave the answer...
Obviously I took the photo after Carter had gotten a hold of it! He was so excited and thrilled to have gotten his answer! Prom is actually this coming weekend so we have already ordered his tuxedo, he's made plans with his group so let the fun begin! :) BTW- the first photo of Carter was one I took after he got his answer! Pretty cute! And Karlie is a cute girl too! A cheerleader and lacrosse player (hence the time it took to get an answer! She's a busy girl!)

7th Grade spring choir concert

February was also the time for the 7th grade spring choir concert. This is a big effort for the choir teacher. He has 4 separate classes that he brings together to sing for the concert. They only practice all together one time before the performance on the day before.
There is a TON of kids and it was a challenge just to get them all to fit on stage! But once they were all up there they sang a total of 4 songs and they were done!
They really did a great job and I was proud of Will. He really enjoyed that choir class! And we really enjoyed listening to them sing! Way to go Will!

Valentines Day

I am backtracking a bit to Valentines Day! This year Brianne really wanted to participate in her class valentine box contest so she came home and asked me what we should do. I can't remember if it was her or me that came up with a music theme, but I suggested doing a box with the top love songs of 2010! So she decorated the box and I went online and found the top 10 love songs from last year and printed them in little hearts that she could attach to the box!
It turned out really cute and there was a category for music and she won in that category! I was proud of her! She did a great job!
We also made her Valentines again this year! A little bag with heart shaped peeps and this note attached, "Happy Valentines Day to all my "Peeps"! It was cute and she had fun making them :) It's not going to be long and I won't have any more kids to give these out! Hard to believe they are growing so fast!