so....it's been a while...

...like a few weeks...because we've been really busy.

Thank you, Stevie, for the AWESOME label template!!!

Not only is the school year winding down, we're preparing for Preschool Graduation, Kindergarten Graduation, taking on a new job, and we bought a house.  

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!!  After looking at 30-something homes in the last two months, we finally picked one...or, it picked us. 

We are so excited...

..to make this little home ours for a while.  It is perfect for our needs right now, and while we will likely outgrow it in a few years, we are SO excited to call it home.  

We have big plans for this little Ranch-style home, including some new paint and three little boys running helter-skelter.  Okay, so the plans include some fencing in the back yard, and a garden...which we are dying to get started on!!!!  And a new kitchen stove, which we bought today. 

As we're packing, we're assembling a small army to help us move on Saturday, May 5th at 8 am sharp...if you want to come by our "new" apartment downstairs (remember we moved last month?!) and help us out, EVERYTHING will be boxed up, labeled and ready to load into a trailer.  You'll be rewarded for your efforts.  :)  Rewarded HANDSOMELY.  If we can get a good crew there, we should be done in two hours or less (loading and unloading). You think I'm kidding....if so, come help, and find out!!!

We have arrived.

FINALLY.

We have two little boys who CANNOT STOP riding their bikes!!!  Up the alley.  Down the alley.  Around the block.  Through the neighbor's newly paved cement ramp in their back yard.  Flying super fast.  Slamming on breaks to see who has the longest skid mark.  Seriously, people.  It's awesome.

The whole "boys and their bikes" dream come true came about when Taylor was eager to learn, and was showing Tanner up.  Tanner wasn't about to let his little brother beat him, so after working on his balancing skills and taking a hint or two from his little brother, they were both cruising!

Even though Tanner lost a week of riding because he and a neighbor-girl friend decided to throw Taylor's bike in the dumpster, both boys hopped back on yesterday (yes, we went for a leisurely bike ride on Sunday to visit some dear friends, {Hi, Marci!!!!}) like they hadn't missed a beat.

Had it not been nap-time today when I snapped these shots, their baby brother, who is rounding the corner to TWO would have been not far behind!  He's loving being outside on his Trike.  Loving it!

I unhooked the bike trailer.  It's like a NEW WORLD for me!  I actually almost tipped over with Kortlen behind me because my bike was so lightweight.  :)  Good things, good things.

True That.

In my defense, I DID make cookies yesterday, but the boys were too busy watching stupid Netflix to come and help. Did you know that Taylor, my 4.5 year old can type "NETFLIX" into the address bar and pick a movie himself?!?!?!?  Good thing the settings are set to G. *eyeroll*

I offered to let Tanner dump in the sugar.

I hollered at Taylor to come dump in the chocolate chips.

I even tried to give Kortlen the rubber spatula with dough on it.

When all was said and done, I KNEW we had a problem.  I felt like the little red hen.  (Not to mention the listening and obedience issues we are having) Nobody would help till it was time to EAT the goods, and even now, I've eaten most of them.

*I think I'll be getting this printed as a 20x30 canvas and hang it in my kitchen.  Don't you think? 

bring.it.

2 mile swim.

did the dishes, a load of wash, (found my good swim cap in a pile of clean and dry clothes, which means it went through the dryer), fixed breakfast, family prayer & scripture study.

25.8 mile bike ride.

and the day has just started.

bring the food, cause I'm ready to eat a horse.

Huaaaaaah!

FINALLY started the day out right.

Family Night

Equates to hair cuts....sometimes. ;)  Obviously it's been a while since cutting the boys' hair has been our 'activity' portion of our FHE.  

That is a lot of hair.  And it all belongs to Tanner.  Poor kid was starting to pull the Beiber look.

Kortlen saying "Cheese"...and looking a bit concerned.

All of their manes were cut with the 1" blade guard on, and just looking and Tanner and Taylor's, you can tell I need new blades.  This is the only snippit I was able to get of Kortlen's hair, and had to do the rest with scissors, then clean up the missed pieces in the bathroom sink....when it had dried.

I can't bring myself to take an 'after' picture, because they just look so different.  And because my baby's curls are gone.  *sigh*

Happy Easter! {2012}

It's tradition that we have an Easter Picnic every year, to do an egg hunt, play in the dirt, and be with family.  This year was no exception!

We went to the ranch in Raft River and helped put in an igneous (that means lava rock, Thank you, Tanner) sidewalk. 

Here's a few pictures from our short and fun stay!  (Mom - WHY don't I have any pictures of you?)

We definitely have a lefty in the family...in addition to Dad and Reed.

Fun to dye blue, brown, and green eggs from dad's chiggens.

Of course, we had to do one for Stephanie!

Deseret's pink speckled egg!

Even though they started blue, we got some VERY pretty eggs!

Durrrrrrr! 

Desi and her golden locks. 

Couldn't resist making an egg in honor of the song
"There are 9-million bicycles in Beijing".  Seriously....cracks us up!

Since all the guys were out working on the walkway, we did a few for them, too!

Realized that even though dad washed the eggs really well,
the crayons and dye didn't adhere to their natural oils very well.
Made for some interesting colors though! 

Dad and Reed...those are the rocks the Men-folk scouted for, and heave-ho'd over.

Mom - next time I ask for a picture, let me get one.  This is the only one I have!

Besides hunting for rocks, this boy wanted nothing more than to ride with Grandpa.

Making sure the rocks were put in the RIGHT place.  You think I'm joking.  I'm not.

He was the BEST help when he was playing in the pile of gravel.  ;)

Katelyn and her WICKED egg...not intentional, but cool, still!

Gorgeous, no? 

That tan egg in the bottom row is what some of the colored eggs started out with.
Coloring white eggs is boring.  

Kortlen LOVED his rides with Deseret! 

The most fun part....dumping the 9 colors down the drain and watching them mix.  

Observing the selection and unloading of mildly large boulders into the truck.

Scouting

Lots, and lots of heave-ho-ing

pretty colors!  Love that mustard growth! 

"Taylor, just look at the camera so mom can get a picture, 'kay?"

Tanner organized each and every pretty rock he found.  And there were a lot.
It took a good amount of self control to not organize the entire gravel pile.  

The backs of their legs and their bottoms were red, sore,
splotchy and had welts from sliding down that small mountain
of dirt.   Boys.

Homemade bread for sandwiches before heading home...

A job well done.  Can't wait to see it finished with lawn and the dirt hosed off!