Happy Birthday Gracie

Today Gracie turns 5 years old!!! Gracie was born this the 28th day of April at 10:23 in the morning. She came out a "ball of fire" and has been ever since. She has challenged me a lot but I love her more than anything and I recognize her sweet spirit. I know she was given to me to teach me how to be a better person and mommy!!

5 Things I LOVE about my Gracie:

1. She always wakes up in the morning with a smile.

2. She is very loving and affectionate when she wants to be

3. She loves to ask questions about how daddy and I met and got married

4. She is very sure of what she does and doesn't like and she is not afraid to tell you

5.She says the sweetest prayers and I love it when she says "bless us to have peace in our home".

"mommy has a low voice"

During dinner tonight Bryanna brought up that I had said they could have pudding later today:

Me: "When did I say that"?

Bryanna: "This morning after breakfast".

Derek proceeds to mimick my voice in a high tone, "you can have pudding later, you just had breakfast"! (he thinks he is sooo funny)

Bryanna : "that's not how mommy sounds, she has a low voice"

Me: "how do i sound"?

Bryanna lowers her voice to talk like me.

Me:"You think mommy has a low voice?"

Bryanna: "only in the morning!"

I just love how honest my kids are

Happy Earth Day

I do like to celebrate Earth Day with the girls. I am not a dedicated recycler, organic eater or Prius driver but I do a little part in helping save the Earth.

Growing up in the NW recycling was made so easy. The garbage man picked up all your recycling including newspapers and yard debris, we could recycle our pop cans/bottles for 5 cents each and those are just a few examples.

Recycling in Nevada is not as big so what I have been doing is saving the things that can be recycled and Abby and I took them to the recycle center today in honor of Earth Day. I got a free reusable bag from Walgreens today and I already have a few from other stores. I am going to try to use those more often. I enjoy doing these little things and teaching the girls about ways to keep our earth clean. The last couple years we go and pick up garbage around the neighborhood. Gracie and Bryanna are doing things at school today too.

I say Love our Earth and treat it the way Heavenly Father would want us to.

There is my speech for the day!!

Belated Easter Dress Pictures

I always love matching dresses. I don't know how much longer that will happen though.

We were driving home from Vancouver, Wa on Easter (horrible mormons, I know) and so the girls didn't get to wear their dresses until last Sunday. (Abby looks bigger in this picture because she is wearing Bryanna's "high heel" shoes..)

It's been so nice here the last several days and we have been enjoying a lot of outside time. The girls can't believe we are going to the park every day!! Bryanna is very excited to go to "Hatoe Lake " (Lake Tahoe) when school is out in 5 weeks. It will be nice to take advantage of that, being only 25 min away!

This was a few weeks ago but I forgot to post it . Both of Bryanna's front teeth were loose, one more than the other. One night she was wrestling with Daddy and she bit his foot, when Derek pulled his foot back he brought Bryanna's tooth with it. It wasn't as loose as it probably should've been so it was a bit of a bloody mess. Then the next day Bryanna would not let us pull the other one which was obviously ready to come out. Even our friend Roxie, the "tooth fairy" at Mark Twain Elem. tried but Bryanna would NOT let her. Later that night the tooth, hanging by a string, fell out with the help of Bryanna's tongue. We were so glad the drama was over and Bryanna was very happy that she lost both front teeth. Now Derek calls her the "toothless wonder". Bye, Bye baby teeth. They grow up too fast!!

Happy Birthday Bryanna

Bryanna turned 7 on April 11th. Here are 7 things I love about her:

1. She is a happy, cheerful girl

2. She is very imaginative

3. Bryanna loves to sing and has such a sweet voice

4. She is very smart and I love that she loves learning so much

5. She is a big helper

6. Bryanna is very good at drawing and is always giving her art to others

7. Bryanna was my "angel" baby and she is a special blessing to us

Happy Birthday to our "toothless wonder". 7 is spectacular!!!

More Pictures

Easter Weekend

Since I made the trip to the NW, our Easter and Bryanna and Gracie's birthday celebrations were crammed in one day. The girls had fun with their cousins and old friends. We decorated pots and planted pansies at the birthday party and then later that day we had easter egg hunt and dinner. We also got to go to lunch with my sisters and stopped at the Portland Temple. Thanks to all our family and friends for making it a special visit.

Going "Home"

We are going "home" to the Pacific NW this week

for Easter and birthdays. I am so excited to see friends and family. I won't be able to see everyone but atleast I will get a little homesickness taken care of. We plan to have a wonderful Easter and some birthday fun with those that we don't see often but who are so special to us. I hope all of you enjoy your Easter day and the reason for this celebration..

Find Joy in the Journey

Wii Fit FOR SALE

We are selling our Wii fit. Derek was so nice to buy it for me but I just don't use it. I'm a gym-treadmill-elliptical kind of gal.

It comes in the original box with the standard Wii fit game and user manual. We are asking $60, we bought it for $80 brand new and it's been used probably 3 times. This is for the locals here in Carson (unless you are in the NW this weekend when I'm there). Call me if you are interested.

One Final Disneyland Post...I promise

Our first day at Disneyland . Seeing the castle for the first time gave me goosebumps and watching my girls get so excited made me emotional!!



















Our last night at the fireworks show. It was so awesome and a perfect way to end our magical time. During the show Tinkerbell "flys" across the top of the castle and she is all lit up in the dark.. So cool!














The girls can't wait to go back again someday. They always say how much they miss Disneyland. Lately everything at the park is a Disneyland ride and when we go up or down a hill it's a roller coaster!!