Dance Time

Yesterday, Syd had a clogging competition in Pocatello. She was so excited to go. The night before she was trying on her duet outfit (borrowed from her cousin Saydi), and practicing her dances.

However, at 3:30 am, Sydney woke up puking, and continued to puke for the next two hours. By morning, she seemed to be done puking, but she felt awful. We decided we needed to go anyway, so she didn't let down her team and her duet partner, Ashley.

Needless to say, it was a miserable day for poor little Sydney. But amazingly, she danced very well. She just pasted a smile on her face, went out and danced. Then the smile vanished and the misery returned.

(Ashley, Sydney, and Maycee)

I had Ben with me....and Ben's stroller. Unfortunately for me, we were up and down, up and down from level 1 to level 2. Obviously the stairs weren't a great option for me, so I was stuck using the elevator which was slow as molasses! Steph would run the girls where they needed to be, while I was stuck on the elevator. Thank heavens for Steph!

Syd and Ashley did a great job on their duet. They are such a darling pair! We don't know if they won anything or not, because we left the minute they were done! We were all STARVING, and Syd was so ready to get home.

Isn't it called SPRING break?????

In true Idaho fashion, spring break is starting off with a bang! The nice weather we have been enjoying the past couple of weeks came to an abrupt halt the day spring break began. Maybe we should call it Winter Break!

My Little Artists

This is a familiar scene at my house. On a daily basis, I find Maddy and Luke with this bucket of markers, and many many papers. This picture was taken as their creative juices were just beginning to flow.

As they color, the mess grows. There are more pages added to the mix, many of which end up being torn into little pieces and thrown on the ground. As I before mentioned, Luke tends to stray from the paper, coloring chairs, walls, floors.....and often himself!

(This picture doesn't do full justice, since you can't entirely see the blue face or the legs with beautiful designs on them!)

I Am a Lowsy Scrapbooker

I gave up scrapbooking a while ago, deciding it was one of those things that just creates stress for me. It was something I always felt like I was just getting farther and farther behind on--overwhelming! So I gave it up and have been much happier ever since. My pictures go in the little plastic sleeves for my children's enjoyment, and that is that.

Then I discovered blogging, and I decided this could be a sort of scrapbook for me (better than nothing, right?!) I read this great idea on somebody's blog (I have to admit, I don't actually know this person--I know, scary huh!) Anyway, they said they had decided to take a picture every day, and make their blog a sort of scrapbook/journal/family history. So I think I will give it a go!

Every day may be a bit of a stretch, so maybe I will shoot for every other day...or maybe 3 times a week?! We'll see how it goes!

Sunny Phoenix---Here We Come

Brek and Scott went on a fun trip together to Phoenix. The highlight of the trip (or should I say the reason for the trip) was the Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz basketball game. I found them some great tickets and off they went!

They had a great time together. They went mountain biking in the desert hills and saw some cool vegetation--different types of cactus.

They ate lunch at a Japanese Sushi restaurant. (Scott likes to pretend he is a sushi lover, but really he likes to go to Japanese restaurants so he can load up on potstickers. He humors Brek and tries a few bites of sushi, which makes him a braver soul than I, but he has not developed a love for it yet!)

They played football together and enjoyed the warm Phoenix weather.

Then they were off to the game! Scott's two favorite NBA teams are the Suns and the Jazz, so he was way excited to go watch them play. What a fun experience! It was fun for them to go--just the two of them. It's really good to have some one on one time together sometimes. But I have to admit, I was wishing I could be there with them!

Both of my boys are huge Steve Nash fans! Scott was hoping to get an autograph, but no such luck! Oh well...maybe he can find one on ebay!

A New Plate

Brek: Where did you get that plate?

Me: At Pier 1.

Brek: Didn't you have something different there before?
Me: Yes.

Brek: What was it?
Me: A different plate.

Brek: Why did you get a new plate?
Me: Because I was tired of the old plate.

Brek: (resisting the urge to say: What a waste of money! What's wrong with the old plate?!) What are you going to do with the old plate?
Me: (with a smile) I don't know...serve food on it!

Brek: (speechless, but smiling back--a smile that said: You're crazy! It's a good thing I love you!)


In earlier days of our marriage, this conversation would have gone differently. We would have both been frustrated with eachother when it was over. As it was, I knew Brek thought my purchase totally unnecessary, and he knew that I partly agreed with him. But he didn't get mad, and I didn't get annoyed. We have learned to laugh at things together instead of getting upset (most of the time). Isn't marriage great!

Blogging: Good or Bad?

Today I have been so tired and have not felt like doing anything. I accomplished the basics: cleaning breakfast dishes, exercising, practicing with kids, changing diapers. But beyond that, I have pretty much wasted my day enjoying other people's blogs, and playing around on mine!

I am now sitting in my kitchen looking at a dishwasher that needs to be unloaded, and more dishes to do. I am thinking that if I were a good mom/wife, I would get up and make dinner. I am looking at my family room that needs to be vaccuumed (spelling?), and envisioning my bedroom that is a huge mess. I could go on and on.

But my computer beckons to me and I have decided to be a total blog junkie and let the house fall apart around me! There's always tomorrow, right?!

Baby Ben

I love this kid SO much! I can be in the worst mood, and Ben will give me one of his big smiles, and I can't help but smile back! When I get him out of his crib in the morning, he is so happy and gives me huge smiles. When I pick him up, he nuzzles his head into my neck like he's giving me a big hug. I love it! In fact, whenever he starts to get tired, he likes to snuggle up to me, grab onto my shirt and suck his thumb. He loves to laugh and is very ticklish. We all adore him!



Scott figures it's more fun practicing with Ben than practicing on his own. Maybe Scott is trying to tell Ben something....like, you better get used to this now kid, because when you get bigger mom will MAKE you practice!

Madelyn Gets a Haircut

A couple of weeks ago I had my sister Chelsie chop Maddy's hair. It was getting quite long and I was sick of doing it. I love her cute little haircut! Chelsie...here are a couple of pictures of her, as you requested. Thanks again!

Crayons anyone?

Tonight for dinner we had waffles.

This is a family favorite. I personally like this dinner because it takes little prep work. In fact, we usually have waffles when it is 6:15 and I think, "What on earth am I going to make for dinner tonight?!"

So tonight, as usual, I plugged in the waffle maker to heat up as I made the batter. However, when I opened the waffle maker, to my surprise, there was a crayon....or should I say a crayon wrapper and a lot of pink, melted wax!

I'm not sure which child was to blame. I would have to guess either Maddy or Luke. Maddy, because she is constantly coloring with crayons, markers, you name it! However, she does usually stick to paper.

Luke on the other hand loves getting into the art supplies with his sis. But rather than paper, Luke choose other mediums to display his artwork....cupboard doors, walls, the wood floor, etc. So considering these factors, I would have to guess Luke! But I guess we'll never know.

So if anybody ever needs to know how to get wax off a waffle maker, I'm your gal!