BoYlaNd

This is embarrassing that I haven't posted in 2 years!

2011-12-14T20:48:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been 2 years since I've posted. I honestly forget that I even have a blog until someone stops me somewhere to tell me thank you for a post I made about the "PFO" that it helped them or that they enjoyed reading my blog and have missed it. I miss my blog. The thing I really miss most about it (before I got sick) was sitting down at night and having some ME time, and being able to think about all the things that made me "happy" that I wanted to "journal" about, to document for MY family. Not the bad things, not the little annoying things that irritate us through out the day. But that one little thing among the hundred that made our heart swell or tear form and made everything that day worth it. That's why I miss blogging. Because now I go to bed and forget that moment, it goes down the black hole of never never land where memory lane will never retrieve it. So, Maybe my 2012 New Years Resolution will be, to blog again. Maybe not every single fun thing we do (or cute thing I do :) but at least some of those moments I just don't want to forget.

Here's one, I can hear my husband singing "A Childs Prayer" to my kids for their tuck Ins in the next room. That's just to irresistible :) Good night!

Turning Point

2009-10-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

As Marianne's favorite husband :) I wish to express my greatest appreciation to God, friends, and family. In the days, weeks, and months leading to this moment, this turning point, we have experienced a flood of warmth, concern, service, hope and faith from so many. At times the responses and communication that Marianne has received from so many has brought her to tears such strong emotions and knowledge that she is loved and that people care. As I have watched Marianne over the last eight years she has shown such charity and love towards others. She always thinks of others needs above her own and she loved to show that by cooking for people, writing notes, texting, sending cards, and being with them. She gains so much from her relationship with others we have such wonderful people that surround us and that we associate with. You all have been such a blessing in our lives. Thank you for stepping up and stepping in. When Marianne started to get really sick and her condition debilitated her it was difficult to take over and take care of the wife and mother that took care of all of us. She did sooo much and it was overwhelming to fill those shoes. We took for granted all that she accomplished and all that she is. It has been a real learning curve and I can say I am doing a lot better but I still only do a fraction of what Marianne does but it has been enough to get by. We have so much help and we have so many people to thank.
As Marianne is in the hands of the doctors right now. I need to thank our dear and kind Heavenly Father for what the last eight years has meant to me. Marianne is such a gift. My life with her has been exquisite and like any other relationship that is cultivated and nourished we have both had our moments and we have certainly seen some trials. We were joking around with the nurse and she commented "you guys are still so in-love" and yes we are in love and somedays we are out of love. Today we start identifying ourselves as "in" or "out". I think we are always "in" love even if Marianne gets after me and wants me to change or do more I will always be "in" love with her. Heavenly Father has been so good to us and blessed us with so much we have never wanted for the things that we need. I have always tried to be strong for Marianne and our boys and it has only been in privacy that I have been able to release the tears and emotion that I have felt as I struggled with the "what if's" the mental game that we play out in our minds in either preparation or fear of the things that could happen.
There were moments that I watched Marianne curled up in unfathamable pain and knowing there was nothing that I could do for her and as she described, it felt like being stabbed all over. And there were a few times when she knew it was coming on, her demeanor changed with that excruciating pain and we would spend our energy getting her the right medicine or putting her in the right position but nothing would help and it became so unbearable that her eyes would roll up in the back of head and she would pass out. Those moments were the worst because I couldn't get her to respond to me, in those moments I was losing everything and it scared me that I wouldn't be able to wake her or help her get or get her relief from what she could not control. It was in one of those moments just after Marianne passed out, I was standing next to her trying to get her to the car to take her home because she wasn't feeling good. I was able to catch her and lay her down but she was shaking and un-responsive. I kept calling her name and telling her to hold on but there was nothing, no response, my sister-in-law called 911 and it seemed like eternity was passing, it felt like I was losing the one person that meant everything to me. She is my rock and my all. The Spirit spoke to me saying "bless her" so I placed my hands on her head and in the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the priesthood blessed her with "peace and comfort" that was all that came to me. As I said those words her body went still, it became peaceful and Marianne turned her head looked me in the eyes and smiled. It was so serene she spoke to me with just a glance as if to say, "thank you, I love you, it's ok now." and then she closed her eyes again in a state of rest instead of a medical emergency.
Heavenly Father has guided our life and has guided our decisions and has taken us to places that is our times of trials and needs we would be surrounded with people who would be there for us and help us. We have been spritiually strengthened and fortified with others faith, prayers, service, and love. It is so healing.
I will leave you with this experience. As a young teenager and growing up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I had been taught a lot of truth but didn't really believe it. I struggled with my relationship with Heavenly Father because I felt like he didn't answer my prayers and didn't care. I had learned about Joseph Smith and his experience in the sacred grove when he saw and spoke with God the Father and Jesus Christ. I wondered why Heavenly Father wouldn't talk to me and I certainly did not see him or his Son literrally or figuratively in my life. As I searched to understand that relationship and as a farm boy I began to see Him in the earth and in the sunsets but it didn't seem to be enough but I began to see Him as he manifest himself in my life. As time has passed I have learned to see Him, Christ, in others and that is how he manifests himself to me most is through others. He taught of love and charity. He showed us by perfect example how to treat others and asked us to be perfect even as he is. Alma asked the question speaking of Christ, "Have you received his image in your countenances?" I can tell you those people who have committed themselves to Christ and have love and charity in their hearts and have shared it with us have shown us through their countenance the face of Christ for they have fed us when we were an hungered, they have clothed us when we were naked, and they have given us drink when we were athirst. So to God thank you for testifying to us that you know us and care about us and to all of you thank you for letting Christ manifest himself through you and your thoughts and actions. To Marianne thank you for having that image, it is what has drawn me to you and it is what I love most about you, you are so precious to me, I would be lost without you. I really, really, really love you.

Thank You!

2009-10-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

Thank You!

I made it!
I'm sure i'm sitting in IMC right now either recovering or waiting for surgery.
I wrote this post on Monday night because...
I felt a prompting...
to tell those I love most...
that I love them.
To say thanks
to everyone for all they've done.

I've spent a few hours sending out emails to the people who were there for me through this
so i'm all buttered up for my public thank you now.
I know i've spilled my deepest and darkest moments on here already
so I just wanted to say that over all I'm actually grateful that this all happened.
At first I didn't feel that way of course But as time went on and I started learning what it
was Heavenly Father was trying to teach me, everything started to get better.
It always seems when we know we've hit the bottom that we really can't take one more day or one more thing that's when it gets even WORSE :)
then our Angels start flying in to help us.
Now most of what I learned i'll keep for those closest to me
but for the world I will say that
One thing i've learned for certain is that
the people who matter most,
the people who really care are revealed.
That's something i'm grateful for.
I am the type of person who will exhaustively devote myself to
making sure those that I treasure
know it.
But I could be better. A lot better.

So to those that have taken the time
away from your own precious families to give to mine
Thank You!

I have felt your love not by just the dinners you brought
but by the loving way you brought them,
by the compassion I saw in your eyes,
by the care you put into your meals
Thank You.

For the time you took from your busy lives to pick
my babies up early in the morning,
some of you did it several days a week every week
for the last few months,
some came on the only day you had off or available,
Thank you.

For those that not only picked up my babies
but were willing to take them
to school, to preschool,
to dr. appointments,
to family parties,
to do fun things,
Thank You

For those that sent packages,
the sweetest cards i've ever read,
the most caring messages i've ever heard,
the yummy treats left at my door,
Thank You.

Some would stop by several days a week,
clean my messy house,
wash my gross laundry,
bring me delicious dinners
(even when I know they are too tired to cook for their own families) ,
even crawl in bed with me while I cried
to comfort me and hold me in my worst moments.
Thank You

For week after week,
day after day,
letting me know,
you care,
that i'm not
Alone.
Thank You.

Thank you from my sweet family to yours,
to my families time in need to when it's your time in need,
Thank You.

A few more things I learned:
1. I will play with my babies everyday until
we are all too exhausted to play anymore
2. DOING is the secret to LOVING
3. My husband really does deeply, truly, LOVE me
4. I will be better at being there for those who are in need
5. I will let things wait until tomorrow and snuggle
my babies childhood away.
6. I will do all I can to show my Heavenly Father
that my life was worth the time, the effort and the sacrifice
that those around me made. I will learn and hopefully grow.

When I get home on Friday
It will be the first day to the rest of my life.
October 15th is my new holiday!

Thank you to everyone again for all of your support.
Love,
Marianne and her grateful family

Stop making me CRY!

2009-10-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

This is a comment I received on my blog this morning from a very dear friend i've had for most of my life. I was so touched by it and she asked that I post it to my blog. I'm very hesitant to because it does seem a little personal but she already posted it as a comment so what the heck! I just wanted to say, (tearing up) that I am blown away. There actually needs to be a better word for blown away, I need some male input here.... like nuclear blasted away, by the emails and letters and cards and calls and even sweet packages i've received in the mail. I don' really even know what to say. It's not so much about the who's doing what or what their doing, but the LOVE I feel when their doing it, the look in their eyes or their sweet words. For me, Love does heal, I rely on Love to get me through everything, with out it I know i'd be dead. Love to me is my air.; I feel like Thank You is such a cheap attempt. It's crazy how you don't really believe there's anything you personally have to offer to the world, how your existence seems to not really matter other then to your own personal family. What purpose do I really have? Why am I really here? and What promises did I make of what i'd become and accomplish before I came to this earth? I'm beginning to really truelly understand mine. That is one wonderful thing trials do for you. They MAKE you understand, MAKE you appreciate and MAKE you rely on our Heavenly Father more then ever in your life. Now, I do know. I know and understand a lot of things. Today, I am grateful for my life. I'm grateful for the good, the bad and the ugly. I know my road and everyone elses is still going to have really SUCKY days, and really AMAZING days. My life either seems too good too be true, or too bad to be real. That's who I am and that's just the way it is. I'll take it! Today and everyday, i'm grateful and in His debt.
Thank you dear friend for your comment: and for all the other ones too.

I can't believe all of the things that you have been through in your life. 10 years ago I remembered thinking "I wouldn't have survived a tenth of what you had already been through". Your entire life has been a fight, a battle to overcome! And each time you get knocked down, you stand up, gather your strength, rely on your faith and somehow carry on. I am so overcome by you and your trials. I know this might be a little too personal but i've read your blog for years and am surprised a little that you keep the bad things out of it, you keep so many trials to your self, .... and yet you have this beautiful life. You choose happiness, you choose to fight. You inspire me so much. WIth each trial that i'm faced, I think, I know mariane would think this was not even a big deal and she would smile and serve her way through it. and you do, each time, after all these years, what has it been mariane, like 20 years of your precious life you had to FIGHT like hell to survive, I know our Lord sent you to us to inspire us, to encourage us and to instill faith in us. You are my inspiration, through every tough day of my life. If people really knew you they would love you the way I do. They would appreciate you as the true gift to us all that you really are. I will spend my day today crying. Crying for sadness of your illness and crying for joy for your survival. We need you to survive, this world would literally be a darker place without your glowing spirit and pure joy that you radiate from every part of you. Bless you my sweet sweet dear friend. I love you more then ever!
Survive, so we can too!
k.p.

October 01, 2009 12:38 PM

When it rains..... it poors.

2009-09-30T17:55:00.000-07:00

Cancer cancer go away, come again another day... ok no day!

I just found out Clint's cousin has cancer. She's is seriously the most amazing person.
My heart goes out to her and to her family.
Hold your families closer tonight, appreciate them.
It seems everyone and I mean everyone is having a major health scare right now.
Signs of the times. I guess the saying
"only the strong will survive"
keeps popping in my head. Maybe because it's true.
I feel guilty because a few weeks ago when I was feeling really down from everything,
I said to Clint...
"I think i'd rather have cancer, because then I could FIGHT,
i'm a fighter and I know I'd fight with everything I had,
but with this i'm told ... do nothing, lay down, don't hold your babies,
maybe you'll make it, maybe you won't."
I feel as though my right of choice has been taken away.
I can't chose to fight, I can't chose to do anything, just lay here and hurt.
Then I had an "ah ha" moment, Maybe what is required of me is
to not fight physically, but to fight spiritually.
And my spirit lifted so much. I knew I could do that.
I know I will fight with everything spiritually. So I am.
I'm trying to learn and to grow like a dried up sponge.
And now i'm feeling guilty for wishing that my grass was someone else's grass
and that there grass was mine. But I do not wish to have cancer and
i'm heart broken for anyone who does. My battle will end in 15 days. I will be fixed and have jumped that hurdle. I do have others coming and other test that are being run and other diagnosis that will be figured out after the surgery. But I know that this one was the scary and hard one and no matter what comes after that. With cancer, it's a lifetime battle. A battle for the entire family. One i'm not sure I could handle.
But with my battle and any after that
I will be ready,

I will fight and

I will survive.

my cousins blog to hear her cancer story is http://shaquelcannon.blogspot.com/

My health secret, I hope to save a life

2009-09-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

My secret revealed

please read this entire post, you could save someones life

I decided to finally update my blog with what has been going on for the last several months.

Mainlybecause I want to help someone. When I started going through this I was desperately googling and couldn't find anything with these symptoms that made sense.

A lot of you already have picked up on the fact that I've been sick, not blogging and not showing up to

things for the last year but mostly in the last few months.

We knew something was wrong, we just weren't sure what it was exactly.

I was absolutely shocked to find out what my diagnosis was.

I was diagnosed with a heart condition in August.

I will be having heart surgery on October 15th.

I've been asked so many questions about this and I know once people find out about it they start thinking

about people they know with the same symptoms and want the information to help them. This is why this post will be so detailed. I hope to answer any questions especially if it will encourage someone to get checked out.

That is the most important reason why i'm blogging about this.

If I wasn't told about it from a good friend (two actually)

then I would have ended up dead.

What is my heart condition?

I was diagnosed with a PFO

Patent Foramen Ovale

A PFO is a whole in the heart between the two atrium's.

Everyone is born with a heart murmur but 75% of them close up on there own, similar

to how the top of newborns skulls are open but close up on their own.

So 25% of the population walk around with a small whole in their heart but only

4% of those people show any symptoms mainly because that whole erodes away over time and

becomes bigger, big enough to cause severe problems.

Most of the time someone is diagnosed it's because it is too late, either they passed away or suffered a severe stroke and that's how this heart condition was first discovered. They started closing the whole the found in the heart to prevent future strokes and the patients reported no more strokes and no more migrains and that's how the PFO closure was discovered.

With each cough, push, strain you are causing the whole to erode, to become larger.

The more athletic you are, the more you push yourself, with each pregnancy you are

unknowingly risking your life.

During pregnancy you have a 30% more chance of having a stroke then when not

pregnant with a PFO because of the increased blood flow and demand on your heart.

The PFO then becomes large enough to cause severe debilitating migraines, Life threatening strokes, mini strokes called TIA's, blood clots, aneurysms and death.

WHY?

In a normal heart the blood flows to the heart, through the right atrium, down to the lungs where it is cleaned and picks up oxygen then flows to the left atrium then to the brain where it delivers all those cleaned nutrients to the brain and allows your organs through out your body to function properly.

In a PFO heart blood leaks through the whole into the opposite atrium skipping that important lung process.

So the blood that flows to my brain is dirty and clotted blood. That causes the blood vessels in your brain to swell like a hose with someone squeezing the end and the pressure builds up which triggers the migraines which also triggers the strokes. So my organs are functioning on dirty clotted blood which means they aren't functioning like they should. (i'm praying some of my other organs start working like they should after surgery:) I'm not sure what the stats are on deaths with PFO's but I've heard enough heart breaking stories from people who found out this is what I have and they knew someone who died from it or maybe they weren't even sure what it was at the time and later found out this is what it most likely was.

Along with the migraines you experience severe exhaustion, dizziness, light headed, foggy headed, fainting, blacking out, and migraines that make you imagine cutting your head into little pieces would feel better then the pain that your head was feeling.

How did this all start?

When I was pregnant with Lochlan it was the worst pregnancy that I'd had. I felt so sick and nauseous and dizzy and the migraines at times made me feel like i'd go insane. One night I woke up around 3am

screaming and crying because a migraine hit me like a car, normally migraines creep up on me so to have one just hit at full blast was a shock. Normally i'd get a migraine on one spot of my head, I could tell you exactly where the migraine was which was usually on the sides above my ears or in the back above the neck or etc,...

That night, It felt like 100 migraines all at once. The pain was so severe it became unbearable. I rolled into a ball at 7 months pregnant and screamed, cried, shaking violently and dripping in sweat. Clint was so panicked and freaked. He wanted to call 911 by I just kept screaming NO, it'll stop. It didn't. This went on to the point that I started banging my head as hard as I could against the floor and starting throwing up. At one moment, I felt a feeling come over me that left me with the thought, death was close by and I was secretly agreeing because the pain was so bad.

In that moment Clint put his hands on my head. (for those of you who are LDS you know the rest)

The moment his hands lifted the migraine stopped.

I fell over on the floor. Clint picked me up carried me to the bed and I slept until almost the evening of the next day. After that happened I noticed my right arm and hand felt numb and tingly and my migraines started occuring weekly. When I held a glass or remote It felt like when your hand was a sleep, just strange feeling. I had a hard time using it and sometimes I couldn't. This finally went away about 6 months later.

I thought it was because of pregnancy.

I thought the migraines were from pregnancy.

What happened to me was a stroke.

I didn't know it at the time but found out recently that 's what it was

and to be honest I was to embarrassed to mention it to the dr.

I told him that I had bad migraines and that my arm felt weird and he said "just pregnancy".

Now that I know all about this and after talking to the Cardiologist that Dr. should have sent me to a cardiologist.

Looser!

But in his defense I downplayed it.

During my pregnancies I feel so tired, exhausted, dizzy and at least 3 days a week I found it hard to get out of bed and would spend those days sleeping so that I could try to act somewhat normal for family events and outings and parties the rest of the week.

After the pregnancy that never went away. It just got worse. I thought it was because I had a 3rd baby, maybe because i'm over 30. Shhhh!

When we moved to the PG house I had a really hard time finding the energy to get everything done. THat same week we had to pack to go to California for a beach trip with friends. When we got back we had a lot of work and unpacking to do. During this time before and after the beach trip I decided to force myself to run.

I always thought I had asthma because when I tried to run my heart felt like it was going to burst through my chest and I Couldn't breath. I was told to breath through it by other runners to that's what I did. I hated feeling like there was something I couldn't do. So I forced myself. Each time I ran it was shorter and shorter distance because It became more difficult for me. I would hide behind a tree or a fence and throw up and try desperately to breath. It felt like a car was sitting on my chest and heart. Then I'd walk home feeling like a failure.

All of this combined forced my heart to be overworked and for me to feel beyond exhausted. The 2-3 days turned to 5-6 days in bed. I sleep 12-14 hours at night and 3-5 hour naps every day and I still wake up feeling like I took a bottle of sleeping pills. When I walk up the stairs I get to the top and have to lean against the wall sweating and feeling like you do right before you faint. Every time I woke up I woke with a migraine. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I got a migraine back at the end of July and it wasn't going away. The same migraine but getting worse and worse. I lost my appetite and every time I eat the migraine gets worse and I throw it up so i've pretty much stopped eating.

I went to lunch one day for one of my best friends birthday and is was the only thing I got dressed for in over a week. I spent most of my days in bed and crying in a pillow not knowing what was happening to me and feeling frustrated. I felt like I was going to go crazy. I wanted so much to feel normal, to just ignore everything and pretend that everything was ok. I"d been doing that for years. BUt now it was so bad that if you took one look at me you knew, I didn't feel well. When I showed up to this lunch I busted out crying at the table in front of my friends friends. (so sorry about that Amanda :) I told them about my secret. How i've been suffering. A girl at the table starting asking me questions about my symptoms, I told her everything I felt and she said that everything I'd said sounded exactly like what she went through before she was diagnosed with a PFO. She told me she just had heart surgery a few weeks before that and she felt better then she's ever felt in her life.

My eyes filled with tears but this time, tears of hope.

I got the name of the dr. from her and called him the next day. They got right in and did a BUBBLE test. You HAVE to have a BUBBLE test to be properly diagnosed and you need to go to a Cardiologist who specializes in PFO's or you could spend a few years being misdiagnosed. I'll include my Dr.'s info at the end of this post.

The crazy thing about this is a year ago when I had the stroke - killer migraine while pregnant with Lock, Clint talked to a family member who is newly married into the family and told her about what was going on with me. She told him that I could have a heart condition and for me to go to this very same dr. that specializes in this. She said her first husband died from this very same thing and he was very young, she spent years watching him suffer, he blacked out and hit trees and was found dead on the scene and revived taken to hospitals and they found nothing, she took him to specialist after specialist and nothing. She watched him suffer, be tortured and felt helpless. He suffered with severe migraines and they had no idea why. She woke up one day to find him lifeless. He passed away during the night in his sleep from a PFO. That was in 2005 and that's when this PFO specialist that I go to really started to make his work known and people started founding out about this condition and how serious it was. For years it was misdiagnosed at MS or other things.

If she didn't share her story with me, I wouldn't have believed. I did sit on the phone number she gave me for a year because I was scared. I didn't really believe it had something to do with my heart. Then when that special friend at lunch gave me her dr.s name and number and it was the very same, I knew it was a sign.

How was I diagnosed?

I went to Dr. Sorensons and had several tests done. One was a bubble test which is very important to a diagnosis. IF A DR. SAYS THEY CAN DIAGNOSE YOU WITH A REGULAR EKG THEN RUN, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR TALKING ABOUT.

A Bubble test is where they insert air bubbles through an IV and watch with an ultrasound type thing on your brain. If they see bubbles in your brain then you have a PFO. They can rate mild, moderate and severe by the amount of bubbles and how quickly they appear and mine is severe severe. They also do an EKG, MRI's and some kind of blow test where they can tell the pressure it puts on your heart by blowing, I tested severe severe on that as well a 5+.

Here's a link explaining a little better about a PFO if you're really nutty about information:)

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/patent_foramen_ovale_pfo/hic_patent_foramen_ovale_pfo.aspx

I have to say that when I got the diagnosis, I felt relieved. I didn't feel scared at all. There's an 80% success rate from this surgery and i've met 8 people in the last month who had the surgery (mostly older men :) said that they've never felt better. The surgery is pretty simple. They go through the artery in your leg and put a camera and a medal mesh umbrella and push it all the way up to your heart and then pop it open in place and your heart regrows over the umbrella - crazy huh! Recovery is pretty quick and with 6 months I can do everything Like a normal person.

I'm so grateful and feel lucky that this will in a happy ending with me feeling better then ever. I feel heartbroken for those that suffered and lost to the PFO and for those who suffer with other health problems that they are desperate to find a cure.

If you or someone you know (even your kids) suffer with migraines AND have any of these symptoms: born with a heart murmur, feels dizzy, light headed, extrememly fatigued, blacking out, seizures and have a hard time excersizing-aerobics then PLEASE contact a Cardiologist who specailizes in PFO's. With a PFO it means you are at the highest risk of having a stroke and thats usually how your diagnosed, after you've already had a stroke like I was.

If you live in Utah you can contact Dr. Sherman Sorenson

He's the number one Heart Surgeon in the country and #2 in the world and specializes in PFO's.

http://www.sorensenmd.com/

801-507-3656

He's located at the IHC Medical Complex off of 5100 South in Murray

What can you do?

I've been beyond touched by the people who have showed up to help.

I'm in all of your debt and no words I could ever express will ever tell you how deeply you've touched me. I've felt your love and to be honest it's lifted me from a deep,lonely and painful place. It's very depressing and isolating to be sick and to not be able to do anything but sleep. I think I felt more pain emotionally then I felt physically. Your spirit and soul wear down when your body falls apart. I feel as though my right of choice has been taken away, I can't chose to do fun things or go out and have fun or play outside with my babies. That choice has been taken away. I just lay there, in pain, imagining a more peaceful and painless place and pretend that I'm having fun when really I feel like i'm in Hell.

Then my sweet angels showed up every day reaching out when I needed them the most. Just walking right into my house, Like my mother in law Helen. OK now my eyes are watering up. SHe's my angel. She shows up sometimes daily to clean my filthy house, feed my hungry babies, wash our dirty clothes and put a smile on my sad face :) She always seems to know ever since i've known her the exact moment when to show up or call. I can't wait to repay her when she is in need. I can't wait to give it all back and serve her all I can :)

Friends and SIL's take care of my kids, cleaning my house, doing my laundry, bringing me fresh baked cookies, pink fluffy robes (thanks Jenny:), showing up to put up my halloween decorations up which really cheered me up (thank you Cindy:), coming over to bake my babies birthday cake and prepare the food and clean the house for a small intimate party that evening (christine, helen and especially my sweet Kira:) even taking my babies to school. THe list could go on and on and so could the thank you's. I even have a wonderful SIL (sister in law) who took over the schedule with my kids, she has it all typed up and assigned out and someone shows up everyday to get them ready and out the door and then they bring them back in the evening (thank you Michelle:). Unfortunately for my babies there rowdiness and energy level and needs are far beyond what I can do right now, to get a drink and go to the bathroom exhausts me for the entire day.

THis passed week has been especially lifting. I feel like a lot of my prayers and concerns have been met and taken care of. The loneliness I felt has melted away and has been replaced with immeasurable love and support. I even have a wonderful neighbor who just happens to be a Dr. who just happens to have the same heart condition who so happen to have gone to the same specialist as me who comes over to check on me. He's been a major comfort and an angel.

What can you do? I know a lot of you want so much to help, I really am doing ok and have a lot of help and support here so you'll be doing me a favor by not worrying and know i'm very well taken care of. I know we're all going through something right now. When it rains it poors. Focus on your family, reach out to help someone close to you, don't be afraid to show people what they mean to you and how much you love them. I have to admit that is ONE THING I DO NOT REGRET. If I were to lose this fight, which I won't but If-IF i were-I'd leave knowing anyone who mattered to me, who was special to me would know it. Relationships mean the world to me and i'm glad i'm not afraid to serve, to love and to appreciate. I will be doing ten million times more so everyone better get used to it and not complain. It's how i'm made, how i've been molded over the years. Even though my heart is really broken medically, it's full and bursting of love at the seems from the outpoor of love, letters, call and prayers that have been put in my name. I have to admit and share with all of you that I truelly felt it. The week I needed it the most there were family fast going on and my name was put in temples all across the world and I felt it, I felt my soul being lifted and embraced by my Savior. I feel healed spiritually and emotionally and I know that when you have that, then physically your body can handle more, can fight better and can overcome.

I can't wait to be back.

God bless!

Love,

Marianne

p.s. i'll be updating months and months of blogging soon. and keep you updated of course.

p.s.s. I hope I haven't offended anyone by not telling them what was going on or by saying I was fine or that I didn't need anything when I clearly just opened my guts on this dang blog. SOme how I can always be honest on here, like i'm writing in my personal journal and allowing those closest to sneak a read. I just didn't want to worry anyone and it was very very hard to finally give in and allow people to help, to admit I needed the help. Some of you I DON'T WANT helping because I know you need to focus on your self or your family and I know in the end i'll be ok.

We're alive

2009-07-22T00:10:00.001-07:00

Wow!
Where has the time gone?
I have so much updating to do and I'm starting to
edit my pictures so an update is coming soon.
I had to post this picture of my boys at Disneyland.
I'm going to beg Amanda to edit this picture but even with the
bad lighting it tugs at every single heart string.
We had an amazing vacation to California,
our move went well,
Clint's surprise 30th was a big bash
and many more fun updates coming.

Hope your all having a great summer :)

Moving again

2009-05-27T23:14:00.001-07:00

That's right!
We're moving again.
Only 4 miles away to PG but it still involves packing and moving.
The funny thing about that picture is that's what we really look like moving ;) times about 10 of those loads, ok maybe 20 :)

Do-Do

2009-05-25T01:26:00.000-07:00

Why do I do what I do?

I've received a lot of emails lately asking me all kinds of questions...
some I try not feel as though they were intended to make me feel bad....
others I know they might make someone else feel bad....
I would never want anyone to come to this blog and feel they aren't
a good mother, or wife, or friend....
because they aren't doing what i'm doing.
I promise all of you that even though I don't publicly share
all of my moments of doubt, sadness, inferiority, anger, disappointments and frustrations...
that they are there.
All of us are good at things...
i'm terrible at the majority of everything...
the only thing I can do really is cook, clean and make things...
no singing, no music talent, no reading literature, no sports, no writing, no languages,
no patience, no degrees, no lots of other things...

So don't think just because I blog about things that make me happy..
moments I want to remember forever....
that underneath this fun blog...
there's not a frazzled, disorganized, messy, screaming, crying, over exhausted mom
on the other end...
Cause trust me,
She is.

Questions i've been asked

How do I get it done?
in the middle of the night, I don't sleep
Is my house always clean?
No way, it used to be with only one kid, then with two it was mostly clean and now with three it's clean when people come over...
How do I find the time to work on projects or parties?
I don't sleep, I spend half the day doing really fun things with the kids to wear them out then they watch movies and nap the rest of the day while I work on my projects.
Do I spend all my spare time doing projects?
When i'm not doing fun things with the kids or trying to survive my kids, yes. I don't like to sit and read books, I don't like to sit and watch t.v. so I do projects or plan things or clean.
Trust me, this can be a bad thing. Sometimes it drives Clint cRaZy.
Do I make dinner every night?
NO way, I try to make something really yummy and nice 2 times a week, then something easy and light 3 nights a week, then something like pizza or frozen goods the other 2 nights.
Do I think I can do it all, or feel pressured to do it all?
No WAY.
I'm not one to act a certain way just for someone else,
I am who I am and I just can't help it. I don't do things to impress people or make them jealous or make them feel bad. I don't do things for any other reason other then because I like to.
Making things, planning things and creating things is my hobby.
My brain is constantly thinking of things to make and I feel like I can hardly keep up with it.
I have files and files of things i'd like to do but I just don't have the time or money.
The only thing I feel pressured to do is to be a better mom. I constantly feel, every single day that my kids and my husband are a gracious gift from my Heavenly Father.
I'll NEVER take them for granted.
Because once,
I really thought I would never have this.
I would never be married to someone like Clint.
Have a family
Have a purpose
Have a life.

Things you might not know:
*my clean laundry is in a HUGE pile in my room and has been for weeks
*i haven't done any ironing in months
*i have stretch marks all over some areas
*i hate filing and always have piles around my desk
*i'd rather eat cake then dinner
*i get my feelings hurt easily
*i need to feel loved by those close to me or I feel like my whole life falls apart
*i love to watch movies that make you cry, crying feels good
*i still can't fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes
*i can't run
*i sometimes pee my pants when I laugh
*i only wash my hair every 3-4 days
*i hate olives
*my van is a disgusting embarrassment
*i've moved 28 times in my life and i'm sick of moving
*i feel the deepest, hard to explain, love and appreciation for the wonderful people in my life
*i like to talk to strangers, i like learning about how they think, what in their life was a "ah ha" moment, do they "get" life and how-why
*i would love to adopt someday
*i want to serve a mission
*i want to learn learn learn
*i want to love
*i want to overcome
*i want to live

Win a FREE Chic Apron

2009-05-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard of
Fabulous Fun Finds
then I have to tell you that you are missing out.
This blog is the "what's the new trend this season" of the blogging world. This blog features companies from around the world showcasing their one of a kind item. Fabulous Fun Finds has "the" eye for the cutest stuff you've seen. We have been featured on Fabulous Fun Finds and would like to invite you to read about there post. We are also giving an apron away on her blog. Go to www.fabulousfunfinds.blogspot.com for more information and to enter to WIN A FREE CHIC APRON.
Thank you FFF for the feature and I am a huge fan of your blog.

Raising Gentlemen

2009-05-17T01:06:00.000-07:00

Raising Gentlemen

Nicholas' girlfriend had a pinkalicious party and invited only girls over. She loves Nicholas and asked her mom if he could come over every single day before the party. I thought that was so cute so we decided to surprise her with a special appearance from her favorite "boy"friend.
I dressed Nick in a pink shirt and we went to the store to get some pink flowers and pink balloon with a card that he colored and then sent him to the door to give them to her.
I was DYING over how cute he was.
I said:
"Nick, go to the door and ask for Gracie, say happy bday Gracie and give them to her ok"
Nick:
ok mom
then he walked up to the door all by himself, he was acting so grown up and sure of himself.
he asked for Gracie, gave her the flowers, and even a kiss.
can you even HANDLE, talk about melt a mamma's heart.

Is she not so cute, she's Polynesian, wouldn't they have the cutest kids :)

Boys Boys Boys

2009-05-17T00:33:00.000-07:00

WHAT ARE BOYS MADE OF

We all know that my boys are the perfect definition of what boys are made of.
Examples.
They will find a rock anywhere and everywhere we go
they could throw rocks all day
sorry to my neighbors
every one is either a good guy or a bad guy
no matter where you look in our house you will find a car..
..behind the toilet, in the couch, in their pockets,
in my desk drawer, under the baby, on the stairs,
under our sheets, under our pillows, in our bathtub, in my drawers.
where will you NOT find a car, not in the car bin.
Someone gets a band aid every single day.
Nothing ends up in their mouths that's supposed to be there and everything that should doesn't.
When they brush their teeth there never clean because all the toothpaste is all over the bathroom walls, the mirror and their hair.
You can never let them touch your mouth with their hands because...
...their hands are constantly covered in buggers, food, dirt and sometimes poop.
They truly believe that pink and purple are strictly for girls only and
that girls toot and boys f@#! no matter how I try to explain that we don't say f@#! they absolutely insist and think I'm insane to suggest otherwise that boys toot and don't f@#!
They act tough when they play with their friends and get embarrassed if you kiss them when dropping them off at school or a friends house.
But when they get hurt, sad, lonely or proud of something new they've done, all they want is their momma.

This is what Nicholas looks like after brushing his teeth.

After eating a chocolate cookie

I've told some of you how Nicholas is going through a crying faze,

the proof.

Just after a long nice nap
Time 4:30

Time 5:30

time 6:00

Time 7:00

Then I spent an hour kissing that sweet face.

Dance Fever

2009-05-16T01:19:00.000-07:00

Dancing Kings

We had the funnest night a few months ago when the cutest little girls came over for an evening while their momma had to work.
These girls are so much fun because they are the exact ages of my two boys and both of my boys have crushies on them... shhhh, don't tell their friends.

Come ON!
Look at the way Andrew looks at her.
He's got it BAD.

They were seriously dancing like little future "dancing with the stars"

See, he even dipped her.
Total natural.
No training :)

Lock is getting so big

2009-05-14T00:08:00.000-07:00

LOCK AT 6 MONTHS

I can't believe my little baby is 7 SEVEN months old. These pictures are an update of him being 5&6 months old, so I'm way behind but I'll post those soon.
What is he doing at 6 months:
does a great wobbly sitting up act
rolls all over the house (been doing that since 3 months - his claim to fame)
Eats baby food but doesn't really like it yet
sleeps all the way through the night, YEAH!
Trying really hard to crawl but his legs are sooo small, he just falls flat on his tummy.
smiles all the time :)
he's a big time mommas boy

and he adores his brothers.

Yes that's a silver bowl and spoon, blame his granny for that one :)

Can you tell his brothers worship him :)

and so does daddy :)

This is my favorite, when he giggles he always puts his hand in his mouth, so sweet!

He scooted over to this vase to lick it... I think he thought it was a boob at first :)

He looks like Andrew here.

and looks like Nicholas here.

A Major Update

2009-05-12T23:06:00.001-07:00

Easter

Andrew's preschool had a great Easter party for the kids.
Here he is with one of his favorite friends, Brayden. He was so
excited to bring his dinosaur eggs he picked out for the party.

These were too cute to not share, this is what his class made for their baskets for the party.
I loved them and might do them next year with the kids.
These were some cupcakes I made for Easter treats. They were coconut flavored with a custard filling, and a small layer of custard on the top with yummy cream cheese frosting on top.
You could seriously eat a dozen. Yummy. Thanks mom for the recipe, she makes the cake version at her restaurant, Cottillion Southern Cafe.

These were the baby bunnies the kids help me make. They were so much fun and the kids loved them. We took these to the Bunnells for Easter. I'm not too sure if anyone liked them but me and the kids sure did ;)

My sweet basket from my sweet husband, filled with sweet notes.

and 2 bags of my favorite candy ever.... :)
Lock scored with a few books.

My boys scored some of the usuals, candy, coloring books, small toys.

This was my bunny cake. It looks scary in this picture but in real life I remembered her being so much cuter. I named her Sallie because everything I make is always a girl. For obvious reasons.

Our ward had the funnest Easter party and a great couple in our ward made this amazing train for their grandchildren. They shared with our ward and the kids LOVED it.

Lock hunting eggs, it was cold and rainy. The kids still had fun though.

Me and the boys, Happy Easter.

How can you not just love these guys. They are soooo cute :)

ST. GEORGE

The Bunnell girls headed down to St. George at the end of March for a much needed girls only weekend, with the exception three cute little baby boys.
We had such a great time visiting with each other, laying out, watching a chick flick, catching up. Even Necia met us there from Vegas. We stayed up for hours talking and laughing. I sure miss you girl :)
We had some cousins and Helen's sister meet up with us for lunch.

ANDREW TURNED FIVE

Can you believe it.
My baby is FIVE.
sniff sniff.
We had a fun little super hero party with some of the little boys he knows.
We asked Andrew what he wanted to do and he said:
"Eat pizza, dress up as super hero's, go on an adventure walk and finds things then come home build stuff or make stuff and have cake"
Well, that's exactly what we did.
Kids have the greatest ideas.

We had all of the kids come in their favorite super hero costume. They were the cutest things running around the neighborhood looking for bad guys :)
SEE...
Boys are soooo much fun :)

Andrew was superman.
I mean "super Andrew boy man", according to him.
His favorite chocolate cupcakes.

St. Patty's Day

We had a fun St Patty's day with my brother and his family and also my little brother Joel was in town so that was fun. I made a green dinner (didn't take any pics) and we sent the kids on a leprechaun chase around the house and outside then they found treats on the table.

Chic Aprons Boutique the cutest thing to hit Etsy

2009-05-07T19:46:00.000-07:00

Chic Aprons is now open!

I have some exciting news.
I just started my own business.
It's called Chic Aprons.
A lot of you know that I have been on an apron quest for a long time.
I've been searching every boutique in several states and everywhere online
and I couldn't find anything that made me say "I just had to have it".
Before Christmas I posted about these aprons that I made for gifts.
We got such a great response from everyone that my sister in law, Cindy Vincent and I
got together and after many late nights and our houses being turned upside down from
our kids while we were busy working, Chic Aprons was born.
In my mind, and I think my opinion is a good one seeing how I can flat wear out an
apron, this is the best apron. It's so adorable, it's made exactly how I thought an apron
shoot fit, function and look. I love the ties that tie either in the back or wrap around to the front and the ties on the neck. There's even a pocket for a cell phone. My phone was always lost under the pile of baking mess on my counter.
After a few months of our house being torn apart from the sewing bomb that blew in our kitchen and my sewing machine needing to be buried in the local cemetery, we decided to hire a local
seamstress to sew-sew. She does some of the best work i've seen, besides you mom :) She only sews for high end stores like Nordstroms.
We have our aprons on etsy at www.chicaprons.etsy.com and also at www.chicapronsboutique.blogspot.com
We are selling these faster than we can make them so if you would like to purchase one then hurry :). Also all friends of my blog can enter in a discount of 15% off for mothers day week (until the 15th since we are getting a late start here) enter code grand opening at checkout
also I would be soooo grateful if you could put this
Avatar http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bYw2fz2PiBk/SgOc5RUN1uI/AAAAAAAADZQ/oUug6hz6a5c/S187/AvatarBlogPhotoshop200+copy.jpg
on your blog. Once we get this going and get more comfortable we will be doing giveaways and we do have some more exciting things coming soon.

This post will stay at the top of my blog for a while and all updates will be posted underneath.

Superhero's Need Sleep Too

2009-04-28T18:03:00.001-07:00

How sweet is this?
I love that little boys play hard and sleep hard.
They were so cute with their batman masks on.
They love to dress up as superhero's.
See, boys can play dress up to :)

Lochlan at 5 months

2009-04-18T00:09:00.000-07:00

Here's Lochlan at 5 months old.
He's mastered rolling all over the place.
He started rolling over at 3 months.
He's trying really hard to sit up without tipping over.
He's just a little guy, but he eats a lot.
He's so happy, easy going and super smiley.

Cotillion Southern Cafe best restaurant in Florida

2009-04-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

The best place to eat in Florida
Cotillion Southern Cafe
Home.
So after several attempts I finally flew home at the end of February.
I was so excited to see my parents new restaurant and I have to say,
I was shocked at how incredible it is. It is above and beyond anything
I even expected from my mother, even though my expectations were high.
If any of you out there are wondering where I get my talents from or I should say
desire to have talents, I get it from her. I had to start this post with her amazing desserts.
I ate cake, lots of cake every single day a couple times a day. Yumm! I'm going through cake withdraw as we speak. You've never had cake until you've had Kathi's cake. Oh my goodness,
it's good and I think I'm a critic because I'm pickkkky. Oh I could just go on and ON and ONNN about Kathi's cakes. She sells them you know, and she sells them like crazy, everyday people were coming in, waiting, just to order a cake, shelling out $60 a cake without even thinking about it and buying a few at a time. Everyone in town, in the the county and the state, they line up for that cake.

This is my mom, Kathi, right in the center, on the left is Lexie, she's the boss of the place, she's the waitress and she's good, she can run the whole place all by her cute little self. That's me, on the right, and that little baby is Lock. My Lock.

This is the restaurant.
It's not the best picture but it's all i've got.
Cotillion Southern Cafe.

The cake.
Sit down and take a peak.
Breath.
Doesn't that look like a dream.

The White Chocolate Raspberry Cake.
White chocolate cake
Raspberry Filling
White Chocolate Icing,
White Chocolate Curls
Raspberries on top.
This is the exact cake that was served at my wedding.
It's amazing how cake, just one slice can bring back perfect memories.
I think that's why people buy them as much as they do,
they remind them of grandma's cakes or their childhood or their momma.
You can't put a price on that.

The Chocolate Cake.
Chocolate Layers
Chocolate Filling
Chocolate Icing
Chocolate Ganache
Chocolate Curls
Chocolate Oreos
Did I mention
The Chocolate Cake.

The Hummingbird Cake.
Coconut.
Nuts.
Carrots.
Pineapple.
Cream cheese frosting.
A Southern Fave.
The one to the right is
The Red Velvet Cake.

Her most popular.

Bread Pudding.
Topped with Rum Sauce.
Good enough to drink.

Visit moms blog at:
http://cotillionsoutherncafe.blogspot.com/

Visit other reviews, press, articles here:
Yahoo
Topix
Villages Gourmet Club Magazine

Call to Reserve or stop by:
352-748-7223
101 N Main St, Wildwood, Florida

This is the best southern restaurant in Florida.
The best southern restaurant in the south.
The best southern food and perfect atmosphere.
Voted best new restaurant and best restaurant and best southern restaurant
in Florida.

Cotillion Southern Cafe best restaurant in Florida part 2

2009-04-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

Best restaurant in Villages.
Cotillion Southern Cafe.
Food mamma's way.
The Food.
Yummy.

I've never had a salad that I have loved as much as this.
The Cotillion Chicken Salad Salad.
Lettuce
Strawberries
Cranberries
Nuts
Cheese
Special Secret Dressing that you could drink it's that good
A Scoop of Chicken Salad right in the center
A chocolate mouse

Southern Caviar.
corn and stuff
crackers
so delicious.

Fried Seafood Platter.
Fried Catfish
Fried Shrimp
Fried Green Tomato
Fried Crab Cake
Lots of special home made sauces
Perfect.
I DO NOT eat fried foods, yuck, but I seriously ate the house down
on this stuff. The best you've ever had. Really.

Chicken Pot Pie.
Creamy Chicken Soup
Puff Pastry.
OMG!
Heaven.

Crab Cake Platter.
Two Crab Cakes
Two Fried Green Tomatoes
The best darn grits you've ever had.
Coleslaw
Special secret sauce for fried goods.

Shrimp and Grits.
Not the greatest picture.
This stuff is crazy good and I'd even go so far to say
Addictive.

Those Heavenly Fried Green Tomatoes.
Amen.

Macaroni and Cheese.
Sweet Potato Fries.
Coleslaw.
Yum.

Moms Restaurant-Part Three, Inside View

2009-04-16T09:55:00.001-07:00

This is the inside view of the place.
Everything is served on china.

Here's the view from the seating area to the back of the restaurant,
this is the hallway to the back door and the restrooms.
She sells her spices, seasonings, dressings
(which she sells out of daily)
and she also sells some old things she picks up around town.
This is the wall to the right of the above picture.
Antique pictures and hats.

These are her aprons the waitresses wear.
They will be wearing some new ones that i'm working on that
i'm really excited about.

This is a table with some of the old things she sells.

A collection of pictures all of the same piece,
donated by a local resident.

A wall of purses, furs and coats.

An antique carriage.

Basket of old white gloves in the ladies bathroom
(i mean powder room :)

View from back door looking into seating area.

The restaurant seating area.
This is the only picture I have because they were so busy
through out the day it was hard to take any pictures.
So this one isn't great but you get the idea.

Mom making her cakes.

My brother Joel,
He's the main chef over there.
He cooks like a pro and I'm so impressed but
how great he is at it.
This boy can throw down.

For all of those that think this is fictional,
it's very very real....
The Red Hat Ladies.

Mom selling more of her seasoning mixes.

Guest at the restaurant were so in love with baby Lock.
I had several people ask everyday if they could hold him.
I saw the look on their faces and new I couldn't deprive a grandma from
snuggling a grand baby, even if it wasn't there's. They would hold him the entire time
they were there while I waited tables. Now that's great guest.

This is Lindsey.
She's a waitress here and she's adorable, friendly and a great server.

Florida Trip Fun

2009-04-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

My sweet little niece Hannah.
She's so grown up and in Young Women's.
Ahhh, I can't believe it. I was so happy to see her but sad
because I miss her so much :(
One of my life long best friends, Amy Widmann. I miss her so
much. We lived together here in Utah for a few years before she ditched
me for married life in Florida :)
I owe a lot of who I am today to her and am so grateful for our friendship.
She's one of the most amazing and Christlike people i've ever met :)

My sister in law Lindsey.
It's funny how families come together.
We're all so different but have so many things in common all a the same time.
I love Lindsey and she is a sister to me in every sense of the word.
She's creative, fun, silly, easy to talk to, she's driven and talented and she's
nuts over my brother :) and she should be cause he's a major catch.
Isn't that THE cutest apron you've ever seen :)
more on that coming to a post soon.

Rt to Lt.
Me, Lock, a friend that I can not say what her name is, SIL Lindsey, SIL Shannon.
We dined in like real folks one evening when a high school girlfriend drove up to visit. She was blown away by how great the food was and we pigged out and had the best time catching up.

Here's Lock hanging out in the highchair at the restaurant. He was so cute.
He'd just hang out watching people throughout the day. What an easy and happy baby.
It really is amazing how easy and smiley he is.

Here he is again.

Lexie holding Lock and waiting tables.

Jonathon (my little brother) and my nieces playing.
He's so good with the girls. They love him.
I have to brag, Jonathon graduated recently from Embry Riddle.
He's a pilot. Go Jonathon :)

Lock in the airplane on our way home to see the rest of the boys. This was his first airplane ride.

We were so excited to the boys and daddy

This is what greeted me as I came off the plane. At first I didn't see them
and I was a little sad thinking they were late or maybe someone else was coming to get me.
Then I saw these two adorable little boys jumping with signs and realized they were mine.
It was the cutest thing ever.

They ran to me yelling MOMMY MOMMY! Then swarmed on the baby.
It's so nice to be home.

"Think Again"

2009-04-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine emailed this video on youtube to me and said,
"This made me think of you, thank you for always inspiring me and for being so willing to share your talents with me and everyone around you".
I watched the video and felt so much love I felt my heart would burst.
I love President Uchtdorf so much and his incredible way he has to touch others, to create with others, a willingness and eagerness to change, to become better than we are.
I love that our Heavenly Father loves to create, he created everything and created us, so why shouldn't we have a natural need within ourselves to want to create as well.
If you love to CREATE or know someone who may overwhelm you by there deep desire to create, watch this video and know, we were born that way, we all were.

Thank you S.P. for that sweet letter. It came at a time when I needed to hear it the most.

Baby Shower

2009-04-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

I did a baby shower for a gal in my neighborhood, Meagan. She's the sweetest thing and she's living here in Utah far away from her family. I can so relate with that, so we (me and a friend) rounded up some girls and did a get to know you and the new baby shower. It was easy and fun.
These are chocolate cupcakes with a cream filling, after slaving away for a super long time I think i've perfected the chocolate cupcake. Atleast for my taste, it's moist, dense, chocolatey and you could eat them all. Don't be sad though, i'm stashing this new recipe in my secret stash, you never know, I might start my own business some day :)
I topped these with fresh strawberries and shaved chocolate curls.

We served a spring salad with blueberries and strawberries with a scoop of chicken salad on top, thanks Momma for this yummy recipe, or the seasoning packets. She sells out of these like crazy and now I know why, everyone at the party was headed home to order some from her.

This is the guest of honor, isn't she a doll. All these little girls, AGHHH!
Look at those boots and tights..., I had to close my eyes everytime I walked by her...
The gifts, she got some cute stuff, crap, i should've taken a picture of the outfit I got her, the CUTEST thing you've ever seen. I wanted to badly to put Lock in it but
I knew Clint would KILL me.

I'm back

2009-04-09T00:16:00.001-07:00

I'm back.
I took a nice break from life.
Did a lot of snuggling.
Got nothing done.
I'm still tired.
Can't wait to update.
I have lots of updates.
So glad I'm back.

Look around the blog for some new changes.

Our Valentines

2009-04-08T21:30:00.000-07:00

We had a pretty laid back Valentine's this year. Clint was great enough to make these alien Valentine's for Andrew's school party. They said "you are out of this world". Andrew was so dang excited to bring these to his class. He thought he was Mr. Cool, which he is :)
We started our day off with heart pancakes and then we gave the kiddos their gifts. They each got a book, a treat and a skull robe that I picked up at Gap for $4 each, Yeah! My kids are always crying that it's cold when they eat breakfast and want to eat with blankets then they spill their food and it's just a huge mess so i've been thinking of robes for a long time now and at $4 I figured it was now or never, and who could pass up the skulls, my little pirates :)

I got some sweet flowers from my honey and a night out on the town, can't beat that :)

Life is good.

Grandma came over to play (babysit) so we could go out the night before Vday.
They made some hearts and cards and of course had a great time.
We're so lucky to have such a great grandma who loves our boys and
values them for who they are.

We met my bunko group at Olive Garden, there were 8 couples and then we headed over to a friends house for treats and games. It was so much fun. You were supposed to wear formals but I didn't have one so I wore a fluffy jacket instead :) Clint tried to dress old style but he still looked handsome :)

Devin (Clint's brother) pulled off the old style for sure (DI rocks)
Devin's wife Katie is in my Bunko group, well i'm actually in her group :)
It's been so much fun getting to know other girls that I wouldn't know otherwise.

Girls Valentine's Party

2009-04-08T18:39:00.001-07:00

I had a girlfriends Valentines Party the week of Valentines
(yeah, like almost two months ago :) and it was so much fun.
I wanted the night to be about old friendships and making new ones. I was so busy that week and I debated for a few weeks on whether or not I wanted to do the party. After having several different experiences with some friends I decided that a girls night was exactly what we all needed, regardless of the work and worry. So I tried to make it as simple as possible and focused on the fun and frienships. It was a blast and i'm so grateful for the new friendships that I made as well as others. Here is the Invite that I made. I love the digital scrapbooking world. You can make anything for nothing and quickly.

This is the food and table, we served cheese fondue, chocolate fondue, raspberry lemonade, and lots of goodies in heart shapesHere's the slide show from the party.
CLICK ON IT to enlarge and watch how crazy these girls got :)

Because I Believe in Dreams

2009-03-02T13:49:00.000-08:00

Most of you who know me know that I'm sooo mushy gushy and don't hold back when it comes to hugs and smooches and I love you's. Why is that, i'm not sure, maybe because of trials, maybe because family, maybe it's just the way God made me, but after coming back from my home town trip to Florida (post on that coming soon) my heart is so full. I loved seeing my family, my brothers who all of you know i'm coo-coo for. I'm so impressed with how much they've grown and there strength, loyalty and love. I know that anyone can overcome anything if they learn to Love themselves and see themselves the way the Lord sees us. Sometimes we think everyone looks at us and only see our scars but really they look and see our strength. That's how I feel about my brothers. I love them. I love my family. I've been blessed. Then flying home with this full heart, I walked off the plane to two little boys jumping up and down and holding "i love my mommy signs" they colored and a sweet husband who all ran up to me to hug and kiss me. I could've died right then and felt completely fulfilled in my life. It's the little things that keep me going day to day. THings like that. It makes the days that the house is torn apart, the kids won't stop screaming bloody murder, and everything seems to go wrong seem so worth it. I love this song I put on my blog, "Dream Big" by Ryan Shuppe. To all my sweet lovies, Dream Big, and God Bless.

Follow Me Baby

2009-02-17T18:00:00.000-08:00

Do you see the thing on the right that says "Follw this blog"??

Click it and see what happens.

Isn't that cool :)

Google Reader Loop

2009-02-17T17:45:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to make sure everyone knows about google reader. I'm sure you all know but maybe the newbies out there don't know yet. Google reader is the BEST way to check everyones blogs in less than 5 minutes. Imagine clicking a tab and bam, everyone on your blog list that has updated there blog is all in front of you on the same page. just scroll through and read the ones you have time for. It's great so heres the link to try it out. I've been using it almost as long as I've had this blog and just assumed everyone else knew about it but just in case, i'm sharing. :) have a great day.
https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?hl=en&nui=1&service=reader&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Freader

Here's another link on all kinds of info about blogging easy, I learned a few things myself. LIke not having to use your mouse, what! that's awesome.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9745368-2.html

Goodbye Freezing & Hello Sunshine

2009-02-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

I can't stand it, I have to post.

My computer is doing it's monthly cycle again and i'm sending it to a real tech this time so hopefully all will be well when I get back from florida.

That's right, after several failed attempts,

i'm finally going to see my family, see my parents restaurant,

see my new nephew, visit my new sister in law and see some old friends.

When I get back I have lots of fun to post about, like:
My girls Valentines Party (some crazy fun :)
Not too exciting Valentines Day (anyone else have one of those:)
My new business venture (can't wait)
Locks 5 month update (what! 5, OMG i'm going to cry)

ANdrews total crack ups (he's one funny kid) ok since you begged it out of me:

here's one:

me-Andrew, guess what? we're going to chuckee cheese tonight!

andrew-mom, WHERE a KID can BE A KID MOMMMMMM!

i'm shutting the tv offffffff, how does he know that.

just one more:

me-packing my suit case

Andrew-put a large Ziploc bag filled with toys in my suitcase

me-whats that?

Andrew-I put some of my super hero toys in a bag so you can take it with you to Florida state so you can play with them, maybe you can play with them with your mom and maybe your dad will play with you too.

(can you handle, so cute, that boy, i wish you could've seen his sweet face, the sweetest little genuine face you ever saw)

Is anyone else TIRED of the Flu's, Sniffles, Coughs, Pinkeye's, Runs, Fevers, Kids up at all hours, and should I mention the bitter freezing cold of the arctic, Utah...aghhh NO MORE. My poor kids can't take anymore and if my eyes get any more sunken in from sleep deprivation

I'll be on the next feature of Animal Planet.

While Clints away his family shall...

2009-02-05T22:31:00.000-08:00

So my sweet hubby left us for the entire week to go to Vegas.

I know, we just can't get enough of sin city :)

He was asked by his company to attend an expo down there

and he was really excited about the opportunity and I was excited for him to GO..:)

WHY??

Because, I wanted him to miss me :)

You know what i'm talking about, that sweet sound of their voice when they get

a little emotional and call you ten times a day and realize how much the

love you and appreciate you and all the fun stuff.

So when did I start gettting that???

On day 4. That's right. Today my hubby sent me this rose on my phone

with a message that said "thinking of you".

Yum!

I miss you to sweetie.

Home isn't home with out you.

Lock is 4 months

2009-02-05T21:59:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it!

My baby is 4 months old. I haven't taken very many pictures this month

so I only have a few, but you get the idea atleast that he's growing.

He's weighing in at 13 lbs., yes he's my smallest so far.

He's so smiley and sweet, i'm amazed at how easy going he is.

He's such a sweet blessing and I'm so in love with him :)This picture is of the baby Bunnell cousins taken the middle of Jan.

so almost a month ago.

Rt to Lt: Sawyer/9 mon, Lock/3.5 mon, Semisi/5 mon

Look at that smile!

He loves hangin with the bumbo.
I love this thing.

Rollin Bowlin Fun

2009-02-05T21:45:00.000-08:00

One of our fave things to do with the kids is to go bowling.

Especially since it's FREEZing cold here in the arctic.

We invited some friends that live across the street from us, the Gali's.

I love this family, they are so nice and Sheri's youngest son is 8 so Andrew stalks him.

Luckily he's nice enough to play with Andrew :) And Sheri loves Lock like he's her very own.

Don't you LOVE that, when people love your babies. I appreciate it so much and know that

when she's stealing him from me for all of church that he is well taken care of. And if I have Jenny (her 16 yr old daughter) babysit then Sheri always comes over to hold the baby. You gotta love friends like that, and we do LOVE the Gali's :)

Sheri, Jenny and Lock

AJ, Nick, Andrew, and Toa (andrews new friend)

CHECK THIS OUT!

Nick kicked everyones butt. Even ours, we played on another lane but he beat ALL of our scores. Can you believe that. He LOVES to bowl.

Late night thoughts

2009-01-22T23:23:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here, listening to the dryer for the 8th time today and still not finished, and decided to do one last post for the night. yes it is really in the a.m. I came across a picture of my dear sweet friend, Clint Hill, that passed away last year. I also came across a picture of our home in Vegas, and a picture of my Nick in that sad little bed breathing on the grace of a machine. I'm reminded of what's important in my life. I can't help but feel as though i'll burst for all of those I love, which when I start to think of all that includes i realize I love a lot. I'm so grateful that Clint lost that job, that we sold that house, that we cried those cries and prayed for those miracles, some that came and some that didn't, at least not the way we wanted. I'm grateful because maybe this life I have today, wouldn't be, maybe I wouldn't get emotional every night when I tuck those little guys in bed grateful Heavenly Father gave me the chance to be their mom, maybe I wouldn't be so crazy in love with that handsome man of mine sleeping in the other room snuggled up to our smiley sleepy newbie, maybe I wouldn't see and feel all the things I do, if God hadn't taken things from me. So tonight, when I go to bed, I'll kiss that handsome man of mine, dream of what I'll do tomorrow with my three perfectly mischievous boys, and thank my Heavenly Father for all that this crazy life of mine entails. I realized from the photo reminiscing that I haven't posted me on here in a while, just everyone else really, so here's a little bit of me, and hopefully i'll do it more often.

Ipod Love

2009-01-22T15:57:00.001-08:00

I'm so addicted to the ipod clint got me for Christmas.

I didn't think I even wanted one of these because we already have a video one

that we honestly hardly use. But CLint surprised me with this for Christmas and i've

downloaded tons of books on audio and i'm IN LOVE. I listen to them while cleaning, driving, working out. It's awesome because i'm not one to sit and read but read while cooking, GENIOUS. and it helps that he also got the arm band so "i could use it to cook and work out" so thoughtful. is he dropping work out hints here... hm ... :)

Boys will B boys

2009-01-22T15:47:00.000-08:00

Here are a few random shots from my boys over the last month.

This is the weekend my nephews Tyce and Rome stayed over. We had such a great time, i think i'm getting boys down to a science. We spent the day in the snow having snow ball fights, then built forts inside, played hide and seek, watched movies with lots of treats, made pizza and icees. We had such a great time and I was so glad to get to spend time with these four together without being pregnant and sick which is what has happened the last few times they came to stay.The boys got these jammies for christmas and they are sooo cute in them. They dug out their batman masks and gloves and capes all on their own and run around the house in them everyday. I love BOYS :) see they can dress up too :)

The other day I gave the boys a treat and they sat on the stairs next to each other being all sweet and Nicholas said, "mom, take picture", i laughed and thought maybe I will :)

A Sledding Blast

2009-01-22T15:30:00.000-08:00

We had a BLAST sledding Christmas weekend for the second time. This time we had Necia and her gang and some friends meet us down there, the Millers, and it was so much fun. My brother and his cutie, Lucas, came as well and i've never had so much fun sledding before.

Brandie and I got on the sleds and Clint whipped us around for what seemed ever. I don't know who had more fun, us being thrown into the air and biffing it in the snow or the guys watching us scream with excitement. I have to hand it to brandie, she was not really dressed for it and was sporting some super hot jeans and she still came with me, what a trooper :) Clint pulling the boys, so sweet.

Clint pulling the boys around.

I put the rest of the photos on a slide show because theres just too many cute ones :)

HHHHHHHapPy New yEar!

2009-01-22T15:24:00.000-08:00

What a fun new years this year. After having dinner with the Bezzants we headed over to a party at Katie's moms house. It was a lot of fun.

Katie, Me, Helen (m.i.l.) and Kira

look at my little plaYer....
This is awesome, look at these faces, can you tell heir thinking
"adult parties are lame, what is that, underware, why is everyone laughung at Devin,
isn't it my bedtime...
A perfect white elephant gift, a picture of Devin in short short cutt off jeans posing with his leg up in a frame that says... purrrfect with a cat on it... yeah, we brought the best w.e. gift for sure..The other gift we brought was "a husbands OOPS I forgot valentines day survival kit"

it had undies, plastic rose and a bag of petals, a honey DO whistle, and two heart plastic wine glasses in a heart shaped basket...
My sweet boys. they loved the parties that night and when we were at the first party andrew politely said "we have to go because we have two other parties to go to tonight". Can u tell he's my son or what...
Happy New Years Kisses :)

Locks first new year
The boys giving mom New Years Kisses, so sweet.Thanks Katie, for a really fun night.

Christmas at the Bunnells

2009-01-22T15:22:00.000-08:00

So I think i'm the last person I know posting Christmas pictures still :)

This was our Bunnell Christmas party, it was so much fun.

We had grandpa dress up as Santa

played games

laughed

and stuffed our guts on some prime rib and grandmas yummy ham

had a cookie exchange

kids did nativity

and all wrote letters gushy we love mom and dad letters and put them in a box for their

Christmas gift. It was so much fun and we're definately blessed

to live by our family and to have such a great relationship with them.... you guys Rock!

These are the only two girls in the fam, lucky gals, their spoiled :) and well deserved. They got matching tutu's. I just CAN't take it :)

Grandma B holding little Lock, with his first cmas gift.
A surprise visit from Santa
this was the funniest thing ever
for those of you who know Wayne would have died laughing to see him in this
santa outfit that was a little bit tooo small. He made a great Santa and even did
a scary-funny deep santa voice :)

I"m not really sure what the kids thought, but they liked the presents.

All the grandkids.

All my kids.

Nick as the wiseman for the nativity.

Look how cute, the kids all did great doing the Nativity this year.

then we topped off the night with some silly games.
Necia getting a laugh while holding Lock.

Double Bezzant Fun

2009-01-13T21:22:00.000-08:00

SO part of my 2009 goals are to be BETTER about seeing old friends.

I've decided to have one family over for dinner once a week,

now don't everyone start expecting an invite, i'm talking OLD friends that

we don't see often. It's been a blast, there are a lot (not bragging :) so it will take me a while

to get down the list but i'm excited to make good friendships even better.

THis was new years eve so I was getting off to my new goal perfectly.

My friend Jenny who I just LOVE got my christmas card in the mail and

gave me a call, within a few minutes we had plans of a birthday bash

at my aunts spa a dinner plans with another great family (missy and russ) for new years eve.

We had a blast catching up and it was so great to see these girls. We lived in Missy's basement

for the first year of our marriage and they were such great friends to us.

ANyways, Jenny has had FIVE kids and had twins for Missy (she couldn't have anymore)

and then just adopted an adorable little boy. SHe's super woman for sure, and she looks amazing, she runs 8 miles everyday, i wanted to punch her but was afraid i'd break

my hand on her rock hard abs :)

and Missy looks as young and gorgeous as she did 5 years ago. She is so sweet and so much fun.

with twins and a 5year old life has her really busy. I'm excited we

made plans to hit the spa for a coveted girls day and can't wait to catch up even more.

Meyers, Some free soup and Nicks Drinking problem

2009-01-13T21:05:00.000-08:00

We were so excited when the Meyers called to tell us they were in town and

were wanting to get together. We LOVE this family. They are so amazing and Greg is truely

one of the NICEST guys i've ever met. He has the cutest kids you've ever seen and

did I mention Tallie. SHe's my beehive (was but still is i guess) anyways,

she's darling and I just love her like she's my very own. I miss the ARBOR VIEW ward so much

(sniff sniff) we made friends there that I know we'll have for life.

We met up with Greg and the kids at Cafe Rio and Greg was so sweet to INSIST on buying

my soup for me, what a gentleman :). It was great to see you guys and to catch up.

thanks for calling :)

oh, and look at that HOTTIE on the left, yummo, my guy is so handsome!

Tallie holding Lock

Greg being funny behind my pic with Tallie, some
boys NEVER grow up, :) and they shouldn't, if they do there
no fun.

I couldn't resist to put this one in. Look at this gorgeous guy,

Oh man i love this baby. you see that bib, that's right "mommy" ha!

take that dad :)

ok this post is AWESOME, for all of you who KNOW
Nick you know he has a drinking problem. If you leave a
drink laying around (or even someone he doesn't even know) he
will take it and drink it, this time i caught him hiding in the corner
with someones drink, too perfect and too funny.

Christmas Morning

2009-01-12T16:04:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful Christmas it was at our house this year!

We had so much fun watching the kids and how excited they got. I'm not sure who had more fun, us or them :) These pictures aren't about "what they got" but about the funny faces and moments they represent.

These are my favorite highlights.

Christmas breakfast (out of order, we didn't eat until after presents of course :)

look at Clint's face, he's going to love me for putting that on :)

breakfast was so nice, the kids sat quietly and ate and we all shared our feelings on the Savior, I felt as if my boys grew up just for that breakfast moment, soooo sweet. It was i think our favorite meal together ever (so far :)

These are their stockings ready to go.

Santa and Rudolf came and ate their snacks and even left a thank you letter (thanks dad :)

Here's Clint bringing the kids down the stairs in order of their age.

Opening their stockings... look at those faces.

Nicholas dream come true, a wagon to push and a sippy, this picture is so Nicholas.

Nicholas' other fave! a basketball, what more could a boy want....

I love his face in this one too.

Andrew scored with action figures,

I love it when he gives me that look,

it's the mommy willl you snuggle me look

and more figures...

look at Clint's face in the background.:)

What a sweet moment!

Not too sure what this is about, i think he may even be growling.

Andrews wish list from Santa!

Lock is in bliss with his new friends.

Here I am, my one picture the entire morning... perks of being the camera girl.

He is still walking around in that helmet. He loves it and mastered the bike the first try.

Pushing cars! an hour later, still... pushing cars, three days later... still pushing cars.

Andrew is in la la land with his figurines. He stood here all morning.

Clint's face when he saw his Santa surprise.... I GOT him this year :)

Toooooo yummy!

Playing that leapster.... He loves video games and begged for a PS and you guys all know me, no way! so i settled for a learn video game system... he loves it and i scored!

Nicks hero besides dad, he LOVES spider man. He's obsessed with this toy... so much fun to watch these two dancing.

I think this might have been the #1 toy this year. and only $10 YEAH! it came with two guns, two sunglasses and two vests and they play it all day.

I can't help but get all soft when I see this one, what a great DAD!

ok so i'm realizing i have way more pics of nick then of Andrew but he was also in the kitchen all morning playing with his action figures.

Well, I hope you all had a great Christmas. I'm still recovering :)

Christmas Day at the farm

2009-01-12T08:15:00.000-08:00

Is this not the most beautiful place you've ever seen?

This is Clint's family farm. We love bringing the kids over there

to play and all of the memories that we make being there.

Clint took all of us after we opened presents and had breakfast to

do his favorite thing, which is sled on Christmas day. It was so much fun and

a lot different then our normal Christmas in the heat we've

had the last 3 years in AZ and NV. It was a blast to be there with the kids.

We didn't stay long, just an hour or so but still fun. Here's Clint with Andrew

The cows.

The snowman, thanks Devin and Kira for making a great one.

Me and Andrew ripping it.

Clint boarding farm style.

Andrew loving his first time sledding.

Kira and Saia going for a ride.

um, i'm trying to board, don't worry, i mastered it!

One last run...

Polar Express

2009-01-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

This is from the first week in December, we took the kids to the Polar Express ride in Heber and it was AmAzIng. We had some great friends, the Sandovals, come stay the weekend with us from Vegas and we had a blast, i love GREAT friends, we're so fortunate to have some wonderful friends in our lives and we had a blast hanging with them for the weekend. I had to share this shot of my oldest, Andrew, snuggling Lock, yummy!

THe rest are on a slide show below :)

Andrews School Christmas Fun

2009-01-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

Andrews Class Party:

Andrews teachers asked me to come help out at the class Christmas party because NO moms signed up to help (rude :) so i brought the kids and helped for the day. I love helping out at his school and Andrew acts so proud that i'm there, makes me feel pretty good :)Here he is handing out his train treats to his buds, He was so excited to hand them out and they were for SURE the class fave.

Andrews School Christmas Program (the next day):

Andrews school did a Christmas Program that was too cute to handle. They did the cutest songs and skits. He looked so handsome, sniff sniff-i can't believe how fast his life is flying by :(can you even TAKE how cute this little guy is... I soooo deserve him. :) Proud Papa doing some filming, gotta love those proud dads :)After the program the kids got to see Santa, Andrew had a few things he told him he wanted NONE of which I got him, so panicking I asked Santa for a breakdown on his wants and headed out for some last minute desperate attempt to salvage a Christmas crisis.
Nick wanted NOTHING to so with him.

Snowed In

2009-01-01T14:15:00.000-08:00

We got soooo much snow the week before Christmas so the kids and I spent an hour bundling up in snow gear then an hour building ramps and running the kids through the snow on boogie boards (this is when having 5 brothers really comes in handy-i knew exactly what to do to make it fun) then spent an hour Un-bundling... it takes forever to play in the dang snow but it was so much fun.

A night with Catherine

2009-01-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when you take little boys to a reception and beg them to behave. They were just making sure the bar was strong enough for the ladies, aren't they such gentlemen :) Catherine was in town the same weekend our friends came to stay so I didn't get to see too much of her but we did have a girl-cheesecake-sparkeling soda in a wine glass-bday celebration and did some much needed catching up. We met up with her at her brother-in laws reception then stole her later that night for the girls cheesecake night :)Catherine and the handsome-est guys at the party :)

Why we bother doing this to ourselves is BEYOND me, i mean why WHY do I put myself through this, the boys will never cooperate for a family photo, and they can't stop being little boys for five seconds, dang it... i should've brought gum, they'll do anything for gum :)

Catherine, I sure do love my girl friends, I honestly have been so blessed and TREASURE my friendships sooo much :)

The Yummiest Disgustingest Sandwich Ever Made

2009-01-01T13:50:00.000-08:00

I had to post this, I walked into the kitchen to see Andrew doing this, I asked him what he was doing and he said "making a sandwich mom, i'm hungry" I had to take a picture of this because YUCK-O, He put it all on his sandwich and ATE it, I never want to hear "I don't LIKE vegetables" ever again :)

Bread, Peanut butter, cheese, jelly, yogurt and a side of icecream and an orange.

Lock at Three Months

2008-12-31T00:26:00.000-08:00

Where does the time go, I feel like every week i'm posting about Lock being ANOTHER month old. So what is he up to, well he's now in 3-6 month clothes although he still wears his 0-3. He's rolling over but not all the time, he's cooing and trying his hardest to talk. He sits up for a while and is trying to pull himself up, i think he thinks he's 2 1/2 and 4 like the other boys. He loves to smile all the time and is the happiest baby i've ever seen. and he's a mommas boy, Yeah... i finally got one out of three to like me best... hah! look at that face, oh my gosh i could take a dozen more of these.

Getting ready for Christmas

2008-12-31T00:12:00.000-08:00

So these are the aprons that my sister in law Cindy and I made for some special girlie friends for Christmas, I've been hunting for ever for the perfect apron and haven't found one that I love so I decided to come up with own design. They were a labor of love because it took me forever to make these with three kids, it was more like a Christmas miracle and my house looked like... well, take a look at the third picture down :) ahhhhh! but it was well worth it. I'll post a picture of what it looks like on soon. Aprons all packaged up and ready for delivery.

This is the aftermath, I wish I took a better picture but you get the idea.We put up our tree right after Thanksgiving, ok so the boxes sat in the hall for a few days then we finally put up the tree.

the kids loved helping this year and Christmas is definitely more fun the older they get. Andrew was so excited to put the star on the tree, we told him he got honors because he's the oldest.

Santa's elves left a special delivery the morning after the tree was up with a letter reminding the boys to be nice and to learn about the true meaning of Christmas. they got some Christmas books and a Christmas movie. We made these candy trains for Andrews school party, they were so much fun to make. Thank you Heather for the great idea.

After we made the ones for his class I let the boys make one any way the wanted and they came up with some great looking trains.

A Shout OUT for Momma

2008-12-22T08:29:00.001-08:00

Cotillion Southern Cafe This post is for you MOM!!!!

If you are looking for the perfect place for a girl friend lunch or even a dinner with your sweetie, moms place is soooo amazing, if you are interested in eating there then I suggest you make a reservation because you might get turned away if you show up, depending on how busy they are. It's well worth the wait and well worth the reservation, she's had several magazines do articles on the place and ALL I hear about from everyone is how amazing the food is. I haven't been there my self but hopefully i'll be able to visit soon. So if you live in Florida then take the drive and dine at there amazing restaurant. LEt her know "the daughter" sent you in.

I ripped this post off from my sister in laws blog, cindy. (thanks girl :)
I've decided to blog about this because it is my honest belief that my in-laws will be extremely wealthy someday. This is their restaurant. They have been dreaming of this moment for a long time now. She's been collecting antiques, mismatched china pieces, lace, old photographs and frames for probably as long as she can remember. But besides the decor, she and Jimmy (my father-in-law) are AMAZING cooks. I can honestly say that in all my life I have never tasted food at any restaurant, or catered event that tastes as good as their food. They've been open for about a month now and have been doing Extremely well, especially considering that they haven't paid for any advertising. If anyone wants to check it out (and they should), they are located on Road 301 in Wildwood, FL across from the city hall building. I'm not sure of their hours but I'm pretty sure they are open for Lunch Mon-Sat. And they serve Dinner WEd-Sat (I think).I'll get back to you on that info...We wish them the best and have complete faith in them.

Five star rating, five star dining, the best food, best local favorite, top five places to dine in florida, top five places to dine in marion county, wildwood. best restaurant pick, best mom and pops family owned.

My new Christmas Header

2008-12-20T13:37:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to ALL yall

I'm sure you noticed my new Christmas header. I wanted to say THANK YOU to Amanda Peterson Photography for taking such beautiful shots of my kids even though it was so last minute and crazy. They turned out perfect. Christmas cards were mailed Friday so check your mail box and if you would like one send me an email and I'll mail one over.

This is my Card:

and thank you Amanda for designing such a cute card..... :)

A Major November update

2008-12-10T13:06:00.001-08:00

So i'm going to make the LONGEST post ever by putting everything into the same post. I have lots to catch up on before the Christmas fun starts. So here goes::::

A DAY WITH GRANDMA

Clint and I got to spend some special time with his Grandma Bunnell, we drove her down to see the car Clint wrecked and on the way back we stopped at the cemetery to see Grandpas grave. Clint hasn't really been there since his mission so he was very grateful to be there with grandma and share some memories. I couldn't help but grab my camera when I saw him walking with her..... Clint is so sweet, he's the real deal and I'm so lucky to have him in my life. And there's no one in this world like Grandma Bunnell. She is the most loving and kind person in the world and she's been a perfect example to us, we love her so much and cherish the time we can spend with her.

A PRESCHOOL THANKSGIVING

I was lucky enough to get to help out at Andrews preschool feast, it was such a fun day and I was surprised and touched at how excited Andrew was to have me there and how proud he felt, he introduced me to all of his friends all on his own, like I was his show and tell (tear:) and it was so much fun to get to watch him interact with his classmates. I'm so GRATEFUL for my boys, for the moments THEY teach me and for every MOMENT we spend together. One day they'll be 16 and my post will be so much different, just thinking about it makes me laugh, can you IMAGINE. Girls, and curfews and allowance... AGHHH!

This is Andrew's favorite kid in his class, Braden.

um, don't look at me in this picture, as Nicholas would say BLAHHH!

A THANKSGIVING AT DANIEL'S

We were invited to Daniels for Thanksgiving dinner (thanks guys:) and Cindy made the yummiest food ever. If you are looking for killer new recipe for potatoes then she's got one :) We had a great time and the kids had fun playing as always.

Andrew loves to give Lock piggy back rides so I have to be the helper...

Look at this crew, MOM AND DAD you are MISSING OUT :)

DISNEY ON ICE

Thanks to a GREAT friend we were able to get some sweet tickets to Disney on Ice, the kids had a blast and LOVED it. When it was all over, Andrew leaned over and said "Where's Spider man and Batman and Superman, when are they coming out" I had to laugh at that, I guess it's more for kids who don't think that the world revolves around SUPER hero's. But he still loved it. Nicholas wouldn't take his eyes off of the ice, he loved seeing all the character's. Thank you so much ANGIE for inviting us to tag along and for the SWEET tickets, we owe you!

Angie, Stan and their cute kiddos

LAS VEGAS AIR SHOW

The Thunderbirds

We went to Vegas in the beginning of November to visit our friends and Necia's family. We had such a great time and I wish we could've stayed longer. I love that we've lived in different places because we have great friends all over and it's so much fun to take a weekend trip somewhere and visit. Clint wanted to take the kids to the Nellis Base for the airshow to see the Thunderbirds, If you haven't been you HAVE to go it's AWESOME... The Princes hooked us up with some sweet VIP passes, that is the ONLY way to go for sure because we didn't have to wait in any lines and were able to watch the show in the VIP tent and were served a great lunch, YEAH! It was a blast and the kids loved - but hated the noise because they were INCREDIBLY loud, I thought my ears were going to burst so of course our boys were dying so we had to shell out some major $$ to get all THREE Of them ear phones. They looked SOOO cute, i couldn't even take it. People were stopping and getting the biggest kick out of LOCK in ear phones because they were bigger then his entire body :) He looked so cute.

This shot is of the boys trying to shoot down the planes while we were waiting for everyone to come. This is Andrew and his BFFFFF Trevor, he LOVES trevor and had the best time.

Our crew, look at Nicks face, he did NOT like the noise at ALL. Poor guy!
We ran into some GREAT friends, the Snavely's. It was great to see them.

Sarah Prince, Me, Cathy Snavely, Lock in his ear phones :)

Can you HANDLE how cute, He was so sweet and a great trooper, poor guy!

Our VIP deal, yeah!!!! I love all the kids in this photo, even Tom and CLint, intently watching.

A DAY AT THE VEGAS PARK

I know i've mentioned a few hundred times how much we LOVE the parks in Vegas, wow! The lighting is pretty amazing too. Look at this cutie. yum!

and this Hottie :)

I think i gush over this one sooo much because he is MOST likely my last. It makes me sad and I want to freeze every moment with him. I've enjoyed him so much, and can you even believe I threw such a fit for a GIRL... :)

Look at this boy, he's getting so big...

Lochlan at Two months

2008-12-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

YEAH!!! It's Lochlan's 2 month post and he's almost 3 months, Man i'm good.

So Lock is I think about 11 lbs, his appt is tomorrow. He's sooo yummy. I can't even handle how crazy I am for this little guy. ALmost everytime we go out, someone asks me to hold him, can you believe that, Of course I say NO, but enjoy the attention he gets. He deserves being #3. At church the ladies in the ward take him and I don't see him until church is over, they even take the diaper bag and burp, change and take over, it's sooo nice. I wish they'd take my two year old and leave me the baby :)

Lock still eats ALOT during the night mostly because I let him, I spoil them in their first few months, around the fourth month I'll start trying to get him to go through the night. His eyes are BLUE and his hair is still BROWN. I have to hurry because my computer could shutt off at any moment. These pictures are from his 2nd month of life. Next week i'll do some of his third.This outfit (below) is one of my faves, he looks so yummy in it.This was Thanksgiving DayTHis was on our Vegas Trip, look at that face... Andrew is like this with him ALL The time. He LOVES this baby.who does he look like??? Both of my boys I think....THat face is sooo Nicholas

Poor guy, he gets mugged by these two 24/7

and is even cute when he yawns..

I love this picture.

Andrew teaching him to talk, he's got Andrews nose.

You can kind of tell his eyes are blue here
His Harvest outfit
Doggie outfit
and this is how i get him to sleep for long stretches at night, he heee heee i'm so clever.

Clint's Accident

2008-12-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

So Clint totalled his parents suburban the week of Thanksgiving. I think it was a Tuesday. He is ok, thanks goodness, and just suffered some minor injuries but we were so grateful and truelly felt blessed that he walked away from it. He was babied and spoiled the entire week and well taken care of, he luckily recovered well and started back at work the next monday. If you think he looks roughed up, you should see the OTHER guy...

this is the other guy.... :)

No more photos

2008-12-07T19:05:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh, what a crazy month. I can't post any photos because our computer won't stay on. I turn it on and type in my password and it just shutts off..... any suggestions????

SO what have we been up to... well here goes:
Clint totalled his parents suburban and luckily walked away from the accident but he did get a slight fracture between his eyes on his skull, and a brain contusion. It shook him up pretty bad and he was hurting and out of it and missed about a week of work and slept it all off all during the WEEK Of Thanksgiving. So that was a crazy week for us, then Andrew got a yucky virus or something and ran a fever of 103.5 for four days. So we had to miss out on a lot of fun post Thanksgiving festivities. But Clint and I did still do our annual christmas shopping on black friday thanks to THE best mother in law on the planet who came over for a sleep over even with a fevering toddler. Thanks HELEN :) So when my computer gets fixed i'll post a months worth of stuff like Disney on Ice, our christmased out House, some christmas projects i've been working on, clints accident and our Vegas trip back in the begining of November, WOW, i have a lot to update on this thing. I hope you all had a great thanksgiving and a wonderful christmas and i hope to get my christmas cards out before christmas this year but if not then it'll be fun to be the LAST one to get them out this y ear :)

Trick or Treating

2008-11-17T16:35:00.000-08:00

Part One of Three: Halloween Morning

What a fun day. My kids and I slept in, then made pumpkin shaped pancakes together for breakfast. We had the bEST day together. I LOVE days like this. It makes all of the other days that they are sooo hard and make sooo many messes well worth it. I decided to not do anything I had to or needed to do but did things with the boys all day. We snuggled and watched cartoons for a few hours (that's right, hours :)

Then we did some "projects" as my kids like to call them. We decorated cupcakes to look like monsters.... there were very sCaRy!

Then made these ghost puppets, the kids loved those.

Then Nicks fave was making necklaces. Thank goodness for craft bins, we got really creative with our stuff, we keep the bin full from the dollar store..

Part Two: Trick or Treating at the Farm

We went trick or treating this year with some good friends, the Millers and Mays. We had a blast with them and were so happy they invited us to tag along. They have lots of boys as well so our boys had a blast.

left to right: Andrew, Ashton, Caden, Ethan, and Nick

Our little puppy - Lock, I wanted him to stay nice and comfy so I opted to not put his costume on this time...

I told you there were a lot of boys in this group, t he other boys belong to our friends the Mays, they have FOUR boys. See no hope for me :)

Nick and Malise's first kiss, isn't she sweet, this is my friend Brandi Millers little girl.
Can you handle how gorgeous that is, this is right next to clints family's farm. So gorgeuos.

Now we're off trick or treating
It was so cute to have all these boys together knocking on doors. I hope there always friends.

Me and my boys.

We topped the night off by hanging out at the Mays for a movie, pizza and the yummiest caramel apples on the planet, thank you Erin :)

Well this wraps up our Halloween adventures. I PROMISE I have no more halloween things to post :)

Watch out for Pirates

2008-11-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

So you all know my boys were pirates for Halloween and I definately think we got the pirate thing out of our system. I think they wore these costumes to 8 different parties or picture events :) i'm surprised they lasted that long but i did have to take out the sewing machine once to fix some holes :) but all in all it was great and the kids LOVED being pirates.I took these shots the day before the first Halloween party to make sure they all fit and couldn't resist taking pictures, of course :)

This was a little outfit I got for Lock on ETSY. I loved it!!!

Our Halloween Party 2008 - The Food

2008-11-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

Here it is, for all of you who have been asking, the pictures from the party. This year was a blast. We invited a combination of new and old friends. We only invited 6 couples over because of space. Next year I think we'll do it at our club house and invite a lot more people. It was really hard to decide who we could invite. We really wanted to invite a few couples from our new ward that we wanted to get to know and then Clint and I each invited a family member ( He chose daniel and I chose Kira because she wanted to come so bad and wanted to drive down to VEgas for our party last year, kira loves doing parties as well so she was IN :) and then we each invited a friend, he invited the Millers and I invited the Petersons. It was a perfect combination of personalities and a mixture of family, friends and new friends. We had such a blast. Here's the pictures from the food. Thank you Kira for coming and helping out :)

Halloween Party - The People

2008-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Here are a few shots of the couples and some random shots. The costumes were so "incredible":)

Halloween Party - The Fun

2008-11-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

We played the Fear Factor-How well do you know your spouse- game again this year. It was so much fun. I think the funniest thing about it is the couples not knowing each other like the spouse wants them too and then their facial expressions when they eat the grose food. How it works is everyone has to answer questions about their spouse, like what is his favorite treat, if she got it wrong then she fear factored and the hub got to pick the item and give it to her..... it was sooo much fun. We already hashed out after the party how to do it next year so be prepared for something new :)
We had some couples who get EVERY single question right about each other (pretty impressive) and couples who almost got every question wrong about each other. The funny thing is the couple who did the best was the newly-est married couple, go KIRA AND SAIA and the couples that did the worst were the longest married couples, won't mention any names - how wonderful Daniel and Cindy looked this evening :) and we looked great too :) It cracks me up to see the guys who act so tough to be soooo grossed out over food :) - babies :)

Several Halloween Parties

2008-11-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

We had a fun month of going to lots of different halloween parties this year. I have to admit that every year holidays get more and more fun because our kids get more and more excited. Here's a breakdown of a few...

Party One: Ward Halloween Party

Our ward is a new ward that just split a few weeks before this party and thanks to Hannah we were able to still have a party. It was a lot of fun.

Party Two: Andrews Preschool Party

Isn't this out of control. The entire preschool combines for major holiday parties and they did the cutest little skit and songs. Then they had the entire gym set up with lots of activities for the kids. We had cotton candy, pizza and lots of treats.

Party Three: The First Annual Bunnell Halloween Party

This was so much fun, all of the Bunnells got together for some fun games and treats. Each family hosted a game for the kids to play and we had a blast. They fished for flashlights, tossed bean bags, and bobbed for doughnuts, decorated cupcakes and then ended the evening with some fun jump roping :)

My sweet little puppy.

It was grandma's Birthday as well so I made her a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Thanks mom for the recipe ( she serves it at her restaurant) clint said it was the best carrot cake he ever had :)

Party Four: The Spa of Oz Annual Halloween Party

at the Primrose Retreat Spa - (my aunts place)

They went all out this year doing an Oz Theme and it was so much fun. In every corner and room of the spa they had games and prizes for the kids and refreshments like yummy cupcakes and italian ice. The kids had a great time and I htink the boys liked the "spoiled rotten" part of the spa the best were they got to walk the runway all night :)

My sweet little nephew dressed up as Walle- sooo cute.

Halloween Fun

2008-11-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

Well, i'm soooo behind on posting the Halloween Fun that we had. But here's a late overview. THis was the favorite for me. THe THanksgiving Point Scarecrow Festival. It was such a blast. If you are ever in Utah in November you have to go next year. I was surprised at how many activities they had for the kids. We stayed all day and still didn't do everything. I have more posts on halloween coming in a few days so this is part one.

They had tons of games for the kids to play and they even got prizes.They had too many slides and jumping things to count and the kids spent hours playing on them (so did Clint :) Even a train ride

They rode buggiesShooting off rockets, that was the real hit of the day.

They spent forever shooting these things off, boys! Lock barfing down my leg, yum!
The funny scarecrow. HE's not so scary when he gives out candy.Moments to cute to not share :)

Boo

2008-11-12T16:55:00.000-08:00

We started a new tradition this year, Booing our neighbors. It was so much fun. I will admit that i've never passed on the boo's in the past years ... sorry :) but to copy the papers and pass them on was one too many steps for me. So this year I hunted down an idea that would be easy to pass on. A pumkin with a mask and a poem that gets passed on from neighbor to neighbor, you fill it with treats and leave it on a door step then the last one to have it on halloween keeps it and starts it for the next year. Easy! We made masks for ours and the kids helped us cut them out and glue them on, filled them with treats and out the door we went. we did pass on the phantoms we got as well so we had a night of neighbor knocking fun :)

I had to include this one of all three boys (four) running. It was so funny. Nick would freak out and fun scared screaming,... SCARY SCARY and then trip and fall. Lucky for him he didn't get hurt but we busted a gut watching him do it after every door. soooo cute.

Treats

2008-11-12T16:24:00.000-08:00

Nicholas and I made caramel and chocolate dipped pretzels while Andrew was at school one day and it was so much fun and they were yummy. I think we ate more than we gave away.

Pumpkin Face

2008-11-12T16:08:00.000-08:00

We carved pumpkins with the kids at Daniel and Cindys for FHE. It was so much fun. The kids drew on their pumkins (thanks grandma) the faces they wanted and then we carved them out..

Lochlans Blessing

2008-11-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

WE blessed our sweet little guy this past Sunday. It was such a perfect day. Clint gave a beautiful blessing (thank you honey) and we had lots of family and friends come to support our little guy. Thanks guys :) I wanted this day to be special for him because I feel sooooo guilty for wanting him to be a girl. I feel like he knows I wanted him to be a girl and that i have to make it up to him with extra loves and kisses. SO i wanted to make this day very special for him and all about him. Clint and I even went to the temple the night before to be in the right mind set. We are so grateful for this little guy. I'm ashamed I threw such a fit for a girl, I wouldn't trade him for 10 girls :)

Isn't his little outfit so sweet, compliments of my aunts boutique in springville (Spoiled rotten at the Primrose Retreat) , thank you Susan. Also thank you Aunt Kira and Uncle Saia for coming sooo ealry to help us get kids ready. I really don't know what we'd do with out you guys. and Thank you Helen and Wayne (Grandma and Grandpa) for staying and helping us clean up... you guys are great.

We had lunch afterwards at our clubhouse and I made a few hundred Pumpkin Cupcakes with fluffy cream cheese frosting, and they were yummy! We also had 3 kinds of soup that I made, they were yum! Southern Corn chowder (thanks mom for the recipe) and Clam Chowder and Tomato Bisque Soup with lots of topping options.Hello Vegas friends, here's Angie and her youngest Luke, isn't he a cutie.

My friend Melanie Auntie Michelle, thank you for snuggling Lock while I socialized :)

Katie, Kira and Saia

Lock

I didn't do the greatest job taking pictures of the luncheon. Sorry to everyone else who was there and not featured on the blog :) I put the camera down to chat and forgot about it until it was all over but thank you to everyone for coming. It was a great day.

Announcemnt

2008-11-04T14:13:00.001-08:00

Here's Locks birth announcment. not only does Amanda take the best pictures but she even designs beautiful announcements. I told her what I wanted and she went above and beyond.Thank you Amanda :) THese will be coming to a mail box near you soon so keep an eye out, and also I might not have your new addresses so if you'd like one or know i may not have your address so shoot me an email and i'll mail one to you :) thanks!These are some of my faves that I framed in the house.

Photo Shoot

2008-10-27T22:58:00.001-07:00

My friend Amanda Peterson (CLICK HERE for link to her website) did a shoot of my boys when Lock was only a week old. He wasn't very willing to sleep and be perfectly still for us but she still managed to get some great shots. I LOVE THEM amanda and thank you so much. TO see more from the shoot go to her site. She has a few more on her blog that she posted. The above one is my favorite.
The pirate one below are the outfits i sewed for them to wear for halloween.

I love this one too, so sweet.

Living in Lock Land

2008-10-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

I can't even believe that my baby is 6 weeks old. I told Clint today, "I'm going to cry because I can't believe Lock is 5 weeks old, and he said "honey, he's 6 weeks old", WHAT! and then I did cry. The time really does fly. I've enjoyed this little guy so much. He really is such a wonderful little baby with a sweet spirit. He's so calm and cuddly. I could just smooch on him all day and most days thats all I do. Yes Clint, I admit it, that's ALL i do (yeah right) :)

It's my escape from the craziness of my two boys, for me it's an excuse to ignore their tantrums and costant destruction of everything we once had that was nice, i just sit and snuggle my baby and escape Lock Land,

and am in complete bliss.

Here is a random collection of some pics of him over the last several weeks.

I LOVE This owl shirt and pants. I got the shirt on etsy. Gotta love Etsy!

He has the yummiest eyes, if your one of those that has been "htinking of having another baby" then don't look at Lock's eyes because he'll make you want a baby so bad :)

yummy! I really really wouldn't trade him for anything, not even a girl! :) remind me one day that i said that when I have three boys coloring my walls and cutting my curtains up... more on that later ;)

Surviving Angels of Destruction

2008-10-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

Don't let these faces fool you...
So i've mentioned several times in the last few post about my sweet little angels turning into two STINKS since i've brought boy #3 home. I think they think that since i'm sitting and nursing all the time that they can get into EVERYTHING they want. Just to prove that i'm NOT exaggerating... i know some of you might think i'm capable of such a thing :) so here's my proof...

Nicks new tantrum face... lately he wakes up just like this... it makes for a long day!

This is what they did to the bathroom two minutes after I just washed the tub and scrubbed the bathroom down, i walked out to go on to bathroom #2 and went back in a few minutes later to get something and this is what I found.

Same DAY! Then I was doing Andrews hair and noticed he had a huge chunk missing and realized he had cut his hair, so now he has no hair and i'm sooo sad. I've been making him wear hats everyday :)

Nicholas outside screaming because he did this....

and this...... (one handprint of chocolate sauce on my couch)

and this.... (that would be two handprints of chocolate sauce)
and an entire bottle of hair gel in his hair (my hair gel that cost $12) ahhh!
There were atleast a dozen more that I didn't capture but here's a few.... Just know that here in this house this is our life story.... messes, screaming, crying, me threatening a nervous breakdown and we're all just trying to survive the toddler years,... can teenagers really but any harder than this... yikes!

How can you resist

2008-10-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't resist!
How can you resist to not take a million pics of these cuties. My boys are kissing on the baby non stop. They love him to death. I never imagined them being so ga-ga for this little guy but they are. and their great helpers. Nicholas runs to grab a paci to put in his mouth everytime he hears him cry and andrew will run to rock him or sing to him. it's so cute to watch my two big boys jumping around singing twinkle twinkle star to a newborn. so sweeet.

Family Night

2008-10-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

we took the kids to Sub Zero Icecream in American Fork and it is YUMMY! It's definately my new favorite place. THe ice cream is frozen right in front of you with nitrogen and it tastes like dipping dots (the hardness of it) you can chose if you want it made with pure premium ice cream, yogurt, low fat... and then pick toppings. My kids love going there. Upstairs they have a fun place to hang out with couches and arcade games... here are a few pics from our evening there. This was a few weeks ago.

Can you beleive how TINY baby Lock is.... yummy, i love how little he is. Andrew played games the entire time and wouldn't eat his hamburger (from the burger place next door) or his ice cream and nicholas (below) wouldn't play games, he jsut wanted to eat his and everyone elses ice cream (even people who left theres in the window and it was melted and hours old, yuK!

and of course Lock just hung out in his jammin seat. I have to admit having three is a lot easier for me then the shock of having two. After two, what's one more..

Paparazzi

2008-10-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist to snap a few million pictures of my new boyfriend a few weeks ago. He was only a week old. I just can't handle how cRaZy I am over this little guy. Maybe because I know this MAY be my last. He's so sweet and so cuddly. I could and do just sit and snuggle him all day long, mean while my house is being destroyed, see destruction post coming soon :) but oh well! I can get the house repaired but I can't turn back time and wish I held him more.

Locks first play date

2008-10-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

My SIL Kira had a baby a month before me so these little guys are only a month apart. Can you believe it. Are they not soooo dang cute. Semisi has some Samoan in his blood so he's a chunk. I hope they'll be BFF's :) Kira thanks for having a photo fun shoot with me, it was a blast. Lock is one week old in this pic.

Launa Turns ONE

2008-10-12T21:19:00.000-07:00

My adorable neice, Launa, turned one on Sept. 24th and that saturday they had a party for her. My SIL did THE cutest job throwing her a "pumpkin" themed party. It was So ADORABLE. She even had her in the pumkin outfit that she made for her... so cute! She loves RUBBING it in that SHE has a girl! Whatever, ok i'm jk :) but what a fun party. Heres the bday girl and her parents...

This was a "little pumpkin" sign Cindy made for the table... so dang CUTE!
This was THE CAKE! OMG can you handle how cute. She MADE this with twom bundt cakes, and it was pumkin flavor with cream cheese icing. yummo.
These were little caramel apples dipped in orange chocolate made to look like pumpkins, so cute.
the food table outside for the kids.My handsome boys.Lucas, launa's big brother. Isn't he the cutest. That hair, yummYThe hottest guys at the party, clint helped out making the quesadillas and they were the bEST i ever had, we'll have to con Daniel to put the recipe on their blog, honestly they were better than any i've EVER had at any restaurant.Me and baby, he was only a week old here.Locks 1st game, a perfect saturday!After the party the girls took off to Gardner Village for a few hours, it was SO MUCH fun. My mom, CIndy and I shopped, ate and had a blast looking at the adorable shops. Everyone loved seeing our little neewbie out, it's hard to stay home with him when i have two other todds and a mom who i was dying to take everywhere. but i SWARE the last few weeks i've been doing NOTHING but trying to SURVIVE and being completely sleep DEPRIVED. Seriously i think i cry everyday because i'm so tired. When newbie isn't waking me up then my other kiddos are. it's been a rough few weeks. but i know i'll survive.

Hee Haw fieldtrip

2008-10-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

A day with dad at the farm....

Andrews school had ANOTHER fieldtrip the monday after I had the baby which meant there was NO WAY i was going, but dad was nice enough to take time off and take his boys. This time kiddos could come so that's why Nick was there. Hee Haw is a great place to take kids if you live in Utah... I was surprised to hear about all of the fun things they had for the kids to do, like hay rides, slides, picking pumkins, corn maze and lots of other things. I think clint did a GREAT job taking pictures. THanks hottie. I was sad to miss it but not sad enough to get out of bed and drag my sleep DEPRIVED self there. more on sleep deprivation later....

Thanks Granny

2008-10-05T15:52:00.000-07:00

My mom came to visit for a week and boy was I grateful. She (i think) had such a great time with boys although I think they wore her out :) She was such a great help, she drove my boys to preschool, entertained Nick so I could sleep and smooch on Lochlan, washed my many dirty dishes, spoiled my boys with marshmallows, spiderman sheets and many trips to mcD's. Thanks Mom!
Andrew was SO excited for her to come that he was counting down the days. Nicholas still wakes up everyday and asks "where's gummy?" that's what he calls her, gummy, so cute!

MOm, thanks again for coming and for all of your help. I'll have to have more babies so you can come visit us more :)

Spa Day

2008-10-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

Most of you know I have an aunt here in Utah who owns a spa, Primrose Retreat-Click here for link. She was sooo generous and offered to have my mom, me and my sister in law down for a day of selfishness... my sister in law couldn't make it (crazy lady) but of course we could, so what if I got out of the hospital on Sunday and went to the spa on Thursday. I was a little worried about having a 6 day old baby there but I think he enjoyed his luxuries as much as we did, everyone was dying over him and my aunt held him while we were being pampered.

We had the BEST massage I've EVER had EVER, thanks Luke. If you go there (which you should) then ask for Luke, he did such a great job! Then we had facials, they were amazing. Then a pedicure, with a yummy lunch lunch served to us while we were being painted... :) What a fun girls day for us!
Yes, I was nursing in the pedi room!

Thanks again Aunt Susan!!!
http://www.primroseretreat.com/index.html