Birthday Diva

I can hardly believe that Lauren is 9. Where does the time go? Next year will be double digits. In lieu of a party this year Lauren invited her friend Shelby to join us for a fabulous day of fun on Saturday. It started at the bowling lanes where we were having a family party, after that we went across the street to the mall and got make overs at Libby Lu. If you have a daughter and haven't been there you're missing out. We first discovered it in Downtown Disney and now there's one here. Anyway the point is it's all girl- where was all this when I was growing up? They play Hannah Montana and do makeovers, have jewelry and all kinds of trinkets and cute clothing. They got their nails painted, make-up and hair done up plus you get to make spray or lotion and pick out some trinkets. That was fun but we were then on a mission to find matching shirts. They finally found some they liked at Hollister so we got them. We took some pictures and had some Pick Up Stix for dinner and called it a day. I think they both had fun and it was easier then putting together a party. Happy Birthday Lauren!!!!

FUN DAY

If your kids are like mine any day with a friend is a good one. They recently had a track break so I called my friend Janalyn and bribed her with free tickets to join us for a few hours at Springs Preserve. The kids had a great time and their favorite part was the Flash Flood. The museum part was really nice but the kids didn't seem all that interested in reading about things and how they worked but they did enjoy the animals (check out Laurens new friend in the picture) and the playground. It really is a neat place and designed well but a little pricey. I don't know that I'd go there without free tickets or at least a discount. It was however a nice way to end our little break and get back to school.

GUY STUFF

Before Jason tells his version I'd like to defend myself. Jace started baseball this season and one of the requirements was to get a "cup" for protection. So off I go to Big 5 bought a small and called it good. The day of Jace's 1st game I had to run Lauren to her singing class so Jason was getting him ready and I get a call from him asking where the "cup" was and I said right on the counter and he proceeds to "let me know" that it was not a cup but a jock strap. O.K. in my defense did not grow up with any brothers nor did I date the captain of the baseball team so how am I supposed to know the difference when they're all in the same section and packaged up? It gets better though. Back to Big 5 I go and they have one youth small left and it looks like it's been opened but whatever I bought it. Two weeks later poor Jace just really looks uncomfortable wearing it and we figured out the wearing it with boxer briefs so it doesn't chafe but it still doesn't look right. I looked at the cup for some reason and it said Medium but the strap was a small- well that explains it -the box was open and it got switched up. Back to Big 5 I go to get the right one. As I'm going to exchange it I notice the cup I had was a Teen medium- so poor Jace had been wearing this Teen size cup in a small strap!! Anyway the exchange went smooth and he has a game tonight and I'm sure he'll do a lot better. The lesson learned is that guys need to take care of guy things and when Lauren needs her first bra I won't be sending Jason so why did I even attempt this!!!!

I came upon this fabulous picture of my Dad the other day and I decided it would be pretty funny to post. Now you all know where I get it from!! This picture was taken in Cedar City the weekend of Thanksgiving. They always have a Christmas parade then we go over to the Heritage Center where there are a bunch of professionally decorated trees. Anyway my point is one display was done up all country with this moose so I dared my dad to give it a kiss so I could take a picture- the rest is history.

EASTER 2008

I'm finally getting Easter posted it takes me forever to download pictures because I wait until there's a lot so I can justify downloading them. We had our family Easter party on Saturday at my sister's house and even though it got a little chilly we had fun. The kids decorated cookies, bobbed for apples(someone didn't get the memo that's for Halloween) and dyed eggs. Then there was a giant Easter egg and goody hunt. As usual there was so much stuff the kids were picking and choosing what they wanted- spoiled I tell you!! It's O.K. by me though because then the Easter Bunny doesn't have a quota to fill. Did I mention my mom dressed up as the Easter Bunny?

Easter Sunday we all got ourselves spruced up and ready for church. We go at 9am and we are not morning people Easter Bunny or not, therefore the kids had their Easter hunt after church. We went to my parents house where once again my mom went all out with spiral ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, candied yams, salad etc.. You get the idea. We were all stuffed.

So we took a little trip to beautiful Laughlin, NV. in March-which in case you haven't been there isn't so beautiful. We saw a cowboy band Jason likes called Riders in the Sky. If you haven't heard of them ask your dad or grandpa I'm sure they have. We stayed at the Riverside where the band performed and I have to say the clientele isn't all that great. We had my parents and Lauren and Jace with us and not to brag because if you were there you'd understand, but I have to say we were the best looking people there. The next day we drove home through Oatman, NV. and the reason you've never heard of it is because there's not much to talk about.The kids fed the wild burros and I took this great picture in front of this awesome store.(note the name and where I'm pointing-couldn't pass it up) We had a good time because we were able to laugh a lot and just getting out of town for the weekend is always a nice break from the ordinary.

Jason and I went on a cruise in February to the Southern Carribbean with some friends.Above is all of us on Megan's beach in St. Thomas. This is a church on the island of St. Kitts.