SAND DUNES

Oh how we love the Sand Dunes. We went in June with some of our friends and their kids. It was a lot fun to see the kids ride and to see them learn how to drive in the sand! It was a little warm.... we were sweating to death. Everyone had a friend to play with which was great. The kids rode non stop. Kevin and Chad were busy starting 4wheelers, helping Gabe with the Motorcycle, adding gas, changing tires... it's not really a vacation for them. But they enjoy seeing the kids ride. Gabe did really well again. He is getting better and better on his motorcycle and especially in the sand . We need to get the girls a different 4Wheeler to ride in the sand for the bowles. Emma is ready for a better 4wheeler she told me this time. HA HA. Well start saving your pennies. It was a lot of fun to be there with good friends. Thanks Chad and Jackie for helping and being our live entertainment!

Emma with her good friend Madi

The crew getting ready for a ride

Gabe and his cousin Josh. We were so happy he could come with us! Poor Gabe is usually stuck with all the girls. But he had a great time catching lizards and riding with Josh.

Emma trying out the Motorcycle in the sand.

Lauren whooping it up in the sand

Kevin fixing the bikes so we can ride... Thanks honey

Lauren waiting to ride.

Taylor getting her hair fixed in the morning.... her face is the best!
Emma being silly

Memorial Weekend Camping out West

For Memorial Weekend we went Camping with Kevin's Brother Tyler and his wife April, out at Vernon Reservoir. It was packed so we found our out of the way camp ground. The kids loved it. Lots of 4wheeling and Gabe got to build a fort.

After he got it all built he moved a rock and this is what he found........

A RATTLESNAKE! Hello! So we had to stay out of the rock pile for the rest of the weekend.

Emma and Lauren found a new place to sit for the weekend.

We shot BB guns

and rode and rode and rode the 4wheelers and motorcycles.

The kids love to ride. April and Tyler were kind enough to help out with the daily rides and even let the kids drive their 4 wheelers. Clearly we need to get one more 4wheeler so they all have their own.... ahhh one day. It was cold for a little while but it finally warmed up the last day! But it still was a lot of fun.

We went on a drive the last day and the kids got to drive the 4runner in low gear... :) The kids love it when Kevin drives all crazy on the dirt roads and they always yell go faster over the bumps Kevie! It was a lot of fun and the kids loved having Tyler and April with us.... Kevin and I did too. Love being with family and watching the kids faces light up when they have so much fun.

SISTERS

Melisa and I both needed a break from it all and decided to head on down to visit Angie in Arizona for some good laughs. There is just something about being with your sisters that makes life so much better. We of course laughed non stop, gave each other much needed encouragement, shopped and shopped some more.
It was also fun to hang out with Riley. I can't believe how grown up she is. It was fun to go with just her and find out more about her. I now know she LOVES books and doesn't like Target clothes (she actually cares what she wears, my girls aren't to that age yet) She likes to have her fingernails painted and that she laughs non stop. She gave a talk in church while we were there and it was so sweet to hear her testimony. She is an amazing girl and I am just so proud of her.
I am grateful for my sisters for the love we have for each other and good times we have. Never a dull moment! Thanks Angie for letting us stay there and I can't wait to see you again this Summer!

Emma turns 10

I remember being pregnant with Emma like it was yesterday. I swelled up like some huge balloon. My feet swelled up to the point my shoes barley fit and she is the one to blame for my 2 stretch marks :( My doctor believes a woman should not suffer during child birth so since she measured 40 weeks even though I was only 38 they went ahead and induced me...Thank goodness! They were going to do it on my Bday but I said is there any way we can do it the next day so she can have her own day? They said that they could do that and it was set for 6:00 am Tuesday April 18Th. I showed up bright and early that sunny morning so happy to be having a little girl. I already knew her name was Emma. Figured that out about 5 months along. Heard the name somewhere and I loved it, it just stuck with me. I of course had purchased everything in the world that was pink and was so happy for this day. I had her that after noon at 2:39 pm she weighed 8 pds 9 oz 21 inch long. Good thing we didn't wait any longer. My goodness! Emma was the best baby. She loved to eat and sleep. I think she was sleeping through the night at about 4 weeks old. This little butterball was the happiest baby.
Fast forward 10 years and she had grown in to a sweet girl. I am so proud of her. She loves to be the center of attention. She loves to perform. She loves Miley Cyrus. She loves Justice for girls. She loves the color Pink. She loves being with her mother :) She loves having a lot of friends. She loves her school teacher (which is really is super great I love her too) She loves all kinds of food. She loves to collect Webkinz. She loves boating. She loves riding motorcycles or 4wheelers. She loves camping. She loves being the big sister to Gabe and Lauren, and she wishes she saw her older brother Jacob more. She has the biggest heart and loves taking care of little kids. She is going to be the best babysitter! I'm counting down the days. Happy Birthday Emma we love you!

We went to Boondocks for her party and it was a blast! Pizza, Go Karts, Miniature Golfing, Laser Tag and playing games. Her best of friends came and she had a blast. She got a lot of great gifts from Justice (imagine that) and got a new cell phone. She was so surprised and the phone has not left her side since. Here is a few pictures from the night.

MOAB

Yes it's that time of year again... It was so beautiful in Moab this weekend. Temperatures were in the high 70's and I got to wear my flip flops. Kevin and I just went this weekend and it was so nice to get away. We decided that since we were alone that we wouldn't do any difficult trails. So we did trails that we could see some really neat stuff on. We saw caves, cliffs, arches, bridges. It was really really busy this weekend but it was nice because there was people there to take our picture together!! It was so much fun to laugh until we were sick. I love being outdoors, it just seems to set me free. I love that Kevin and I get to do this together. We talk, laugh, listen to music and even just enjoy the silence together. I can't wait to head down there again soon! Love this place.

VIEW FROM TOP OF THE WORLDKEVIN WAS SCARED TO STAND ON THE OUTSIDE!!
KEVIN LOOKING OVER THE EDGE

GEMINI BRIDGES

CAVES

EASTER

Every Easter the kids go to my moms to make bunny cakes. The kids love making the cakes and eating them in the process. This year we forgot the ears... Oops.

We went to Melisa's for Easter Brunch and I have to say we really out did ourselves. Coming from two people who DO NOT cook. Melisa had a bake off that morning and whipped up some crepes and quiche. We filled our crepes with strawberries, bananas and Nutella chocolate topped off with some whip cream... mmmmmmmm gooood. We also had eggs, and dad brewed up some orange and cinnamon rolls. We stuffed ourselves silly to the point that we all needed a nap. But Grandpa had to do the fun Easter egg hunt which consists of 100 eggs. Since it snowed.. we had to hide them all inside. The kids loved it. They love playing with their cousins and love seeing Grandma and Grandpa. It was a really good time and thank you Melisa for hosting such a fabulous brunch.

The past 16 years of my life......

When I was 18 years old I starting working as a receptionist at a Title Company clueless to what a title company even did. Who would have thought that I would work my way up the little ladder and one day one my own title company? I have had such a wonderful adventure through it all. I have learned sooooo much! There were so many good times I look back on and just laugh until I cry. The long long hours, the tears, the mean people, the grateful ones, the life long friends I have made have been such a blessing in my life. I have always felt so blessed to have had this industry come so easy to me.

When I was growing up people would ask what I wanted to be when I grow up and I would say a mom. That's it, just a mom. Yet I had to work and I would drop my poor baby Jake off at day care at the crack of dawn and then there were many days I couldn't pick him up because I was working late so my mom, sister or best friend would run and get him. It would always pull at my heart to leave him each day. I was lucky enough to figure out how to do it "part time" when I had Emma, with much help from by darling sister, as she would fund all the loans, and watch my kids while I did a closing. It never really was "part time" and I was always having to run here or call this person even on the days I wasn't there. Gabriel came and it was even more of a juggling act and then Lauren, 3 kids in 31/2 years and working in the most stressful industry... surprised I'm still alive. But it was always a dream of mine to stay home with my kids, to be there when they get out of school, to see their cute faces as they come out of school with their little backpacks on and so proud to show you their work..... So after many tears, and much support I am closing down my title company. I really honestly could not feel more free and such a peace I have never had in my life. A big huge weight has been lifted off of me. I am so grateful for the support Kevin is giving me, I wouldn't have been able to do this with out him.

Amazingly things have just fallen into place and I am able to still do a little bit on the side, from home at anytime I can. I get to finally be there for me kids every single day! Not that I wasn't a mom before, but they get my full attention. My hats off to the single mothers out there, to the working mothers out there. It's so hard to juggle it all. It's a full time job just with the kids. I'm excited to volunteer for every field trip, every class party and who knows maybe I'll try and get on the committee at the school.

So here is a big THANK YOU to my Mom for watching my kids, my sisters who have helped in ways that I could never repay them, to my friends who have helped me out. And most of all to Kevin for just standing by me. I get to close that big huge long chapter in my life and I'm so excited to start something new.