Mother's Day Super Fantastic

Mother's day was just awesome. I told Kevin the only thing I wanted was not to think about dinner that night. Meaning I didn't want to plan it, shop for it or make it.  He and the kids were amazing for not 1 meal but all 3.  They got up early Sunday morning and made me a fancy omelet with fresh squeezed orange juice. At breakfast that is when the kids showered me cards and kisses. Really I am the luckiest.
Off to church I have all my kids in Primary so they all sang a mother's day song.  I love how they will wave to me and wink. Just so I know that they are singing for me. I so do appreciate it, every note. It is just now as I am writing this that I realize, it was the last time they would sing in primary all together. By the time Mother's day rolls around next year Lilly will have turned 12. Oh my goodness! What? How did that happen and how did I not realize that on Sunday?  I will still have Max and Luke for a few more years but WOW. It just passed me by.
The Bishopric passed out these amazing brownies which of course I devoured and regretted, but they were really good. After church I made the kids stay in their clothes for a few pictures.

I am so grateful to be their mother. I would choose to be a mother over and over again.

Max Number 9

This great kid turned 9!! I love his toothless grin, his dancing skills, his ability to be sweet and kind.  He is likable, fun, curious, imaginative, a math wiz, and a wonderful brother.  He is my right hand man in the kitchen, my cuddler and reading buddy. He is pretty great.

On his birthday we woke him up and he opened up his present.  He got new tablet that would work a little better and charge and stuff. He was pretty happy. His request for breakfast was french toast. And then off to school he went.

 

 Max is a simple guy he doesn't like too much fluff or to do so, all he wanted for his birthday was to play with his best buds at the cousins game room. After school we picked up his buddies and played air hockey, basket ball, pinball, video games, ate doughnuts and chips with soda.  Pretty great way so spend a birthday.

 For dinner he wanted pizza. We had to eat quick because he was soon off to scouts in his new bears den. Since we were rushing we decided to have his cake when he got back from scouts. When he returned he was pretty beat. It had been a long fun day for him. Maybe it was all the sweets that he had eaten but he wasn't in the mood to eat his strawberry vanilla frosted cup cake.  We put a candle in, lit it, and sung him happy birthday. He blew out the candle and was ready to take a shower and go to bed.

 Max oh Maxo he is always trying to be funny. Here he is in one of his latest fashion trends. We are so lucky to have you Max. You are truly an amazing kid I'm so so lucky to be your mom.

11 years

Goodness where dose the time go. My Lilly has turned 11.

11 years ago a become a mother! It has been the biggest blessing and honor of my life. I am forever grateful for this sweet girl who has been our guinea pig on the journey of parenthood. There are so many wonderful things about her that just make my heart happy. She is kind, lighthearted, and easy to laugh. She is thoughtful a great big sister, helpful and so so loving. She is our song bird and has developed such a lovely singing voice.

It was such a pleasure to treat this girl to her day and celebrate the way she wanted.
First things first birthday wake up, presents and breakfast pancakes.

Lunch was a special treat. We went to Firehouse Subs. (Did you know a free sub on your birthday?) So that was a no brainier for a girl who loves her Italian sandwich. Following our lunch we had to get dessert at the Sweet Tooth Fairy.

One of the greatest things about Lilly is how happy she is when she gets when we eat out or go somewhere special she just loves it and you can tell. And you can't help but have the time of our life too.
For dinner she requested ham and cheese sliders followed by birthday dessert with cousins. Her choice this year was peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream.

I thank my God for everyday for this girl so so lucky to be her mom.

Tripping to Vegas

Kevin and his Spartan crew (Hannah and Pablo) Set out this weekend for yet another Spartan race.  This time it was different we all went for a little out of town get-away to LAS VEGAS.  We pulled the kids out on Friday and off we went.  Welcome to Nevada.  Here we are at Hoover Dam.  You get to actually walk across this bridge that is over the dam. It is really spectacular to see this bridge. It is so high up and so long and just amazing to see over such a big gap.

During this little drive we drove through a few little towns that I have only heard of. Now I am no longer a stranger to Kingman, Wickenburg, the little town of Wikieup or the 4 houses of Nipton. 

Our plan was to go see a little of Las Vegas with the kids in the day light. Just to show them the massive buildings, the glitz and the glam. We did little reminiscing when Kevin and I would travel with our families in the summer to Utah or the River, back when the Excalibur was the newest casino on the block.   We saw the Bellagio fountains, gardens and Chihuly's blown glass.

I had to take a picture of my Lilly with all the gorgeous lilies.

We hit up Caesars Palace. Oh my goodness that place just keeps going and going. We saw the fall of Atlantis show and their huge aquarium. The kids and I could sit and look at an aquarium for hours. In the mall there they had a sports store and would you believe it Jerry Rice was signing autographs. Kevin was too chicken to meet him and get his picture but yep we saw him just 5 yards away.

Next on our tour we hit the Flamingo just because they have a bird habitat on their grounds.  They have flamingos, pelicans and other water birds. The most impressive thing to see was the Koi fish they were the biggest ones I have ever seen.  Then our family favorite thing to do is to ask google for more formation. We learned that koi fish can live for 100 years and can grow up to 3 feet long.

By this time every one was starving. I had already planed out where to eat. The SHAKE SHACK. I know they have great dinning in Vegas but I had heard the Shake Shack is all the rage in NY so I had to try it. Plus we where on a budget with 5 so this was a great choice.  The Shack burger was awesome, The Shake, not so great. Really the burger, Oh I'm now remembering how creamy the cheese was, YUM-O but really it could have been that we were all so hungry and that I can't remember the last time I had cheese on my burger.  Thanks Shake Shack you did me proud.

Hop back in the car and head out to state line to our luxurious hotel Buffalo Bill's.  Yes it was a run down as expected.  But hey we were on a trip so I grin and bare it. With all of its faults, like the tv from 1980, the closed pool, or the pool next door that we were to use had a broken heater.

But the good features, a roller coaster, an arcade and a log ride balanced out the bad.

The arcade Max's happy place. Something I will never understand.

The kids were happy to watch the tv set from the 1980s all morning. See you are getting a glimpse of our set from CSI Las Vegas.

And when we got really board while waiting for our Spartans to finish the race we played red light green light in the hall.

Here are our Spartans. They all had a great race. Hannah left them in the dust. Kevin was happy with his time even though he cramped up at the end and had to have a hand full of salt before he could move again.  Smart on his part. He didn't think it would be safe to jump over the fire with a cramped leg.

After the race it was time introduce our kids the buffet.  Because of the crowd they seated 9 of us in this booth. We like to be cozy when we eat a lot.

Quick family trip in the books. So glad that we were able to getaway and be with my team that I love so much.

April 12

To be honest I all but forgot it was the 12th until we got home from church.  And being that  it was Sunday we didn't venture far. This is 12 on the 12th home addition.

1. Tara took this picture in the middle of the lesson in Relief Society. I totally forgive her and am so glad that I have it. We all dressed in black and white skirts, one stripy, polka dots and me in floral, funny thing to do.

2.  Family movie getting comfy on the floor.

3. Movie this week The Book of Life. Seriously cutest movie, loved the music.  I have been listening to it all week. I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH

4.  Meal planing my favorite. not really.

5.  Getting ready for dinner.

6.  dinner BLT's and spinach salad.

7.  Love love love when Kevin helps with the dishes

8.  Admiring Luke's grass head guy he made in preschool

9.  Lilly getting through the newest book adventure of the Penderwick's. Penderwicks in Spring. Oh Love love love this series.

10.  Time to make cookies, I figure I can enjoy a treat since I fasted all day.

11.  Now time to play with dessert just a little.

12. I had the guts to pull out the sewing machine and finish a quilt top that I have had cut for almost a year. Top done now time to quilt it.