Happy Easter

Here's my three little ones on Easter! We had a fun weekend filled with the usually Easter activities. The boys are on Spring Break this week, but we're laying low since we'll be adding another little boy to this picture soon. Went to the doctor this morning and things have continued to progress since my visit last week. We're all getting excited and ready for our new baby brother.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Max brings home some pretty cool art projects from Kindergarten. Today he hopped off the bus with this great creation, we had fun playing with it and taking pictures of our little leprechauns. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Thunder Struck

So I was trying my best to find the best Halloween pictures to share, but this one trumps them all! Halloween this year fell on Monday, and of course Ben had to work, and of course this is exactly how he looked as he was inches from you and your mouth holding a drill! Doesn't get much scarier than that....well, maybe it does.....those jeans you think he is wearing in the picture above are really cut off jean shorts....and they're short!

A Bunny Called Easter

My neighbor was telling me about her little boy who just turned three this last weekend. He met the Easter Bunny for the first time at a family hunt a week prior to Easter Weekend. Days after this meeting, he asks his mom, "Is there a bunny named Easter?"

The last great thing about my trip to China, was that I made it home in time for Easter Weekend. Saturday we woke up early and got ready to hunt eggs with a group of our friends. Saturday night, while I was putting the boys to bed, I asked what Easter was about...thankfully Max said it was about Jesus, I couldn't have asked for a better answer or understanding!

(Seth is starting to dress himself...I'm sure you could tell by this picture)

This picture was taking on Monday after Easter...can you tell Jake raided his brother's Easter Baskets?!?!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We just wanted to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day, filled with LOVE!

Back Track {Part II}

So, even though I haven't shared Halloween Pictures this year, we did celebrate and go Trick-or-Treating. And I have pictures to prove it! Ben picked the boys costumes out this year and I thought they were perfect...yes they were little Beavers...I think it fits their current temperment...BUSY, you know, "busy beavers"! I guess there's only one thing to say, "Happy Halloween!"

HaPpY fOuRtH oF jUlY!

The summer is just flying by, it's hard to believe it's already the 4th! Currently it feels like fall here with high 60 to lower 70 degree weather. Not only is it on the cooler side, it's over cast! I'm not going to complain, it actually feels nice. Since it's so dreary here, I thought I would post something colorful and patriotic looking to celebrate our country and the freedoms we enjoy!

Wish I could take credit for the beautiful pictures, a good friend of mine took these for me along with some cute pictures of my boys (I hope to post some of those soon.) I can take credit for the Jam (strawberry freezer jam)...me and my other good friend put these together the other day to pass out for the 4th.

Easter Eggs

I'm so excited to report a few things:

1-Easter was in April this year (meaning that our chances for better weather are greater...we've still had snow this month, but not a blizzard)

2-There was no snow on the ground for our hunt

3-This was the first year Max and Seth hunted eggs outside

4-Both of my boys are old enough to hold their own basket and get into the fun

5-There's a ton of chocolate floating around

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter with their family and friends. Here's a few pictures of our attempt at dying eggs with a 1 and 3 year old.

Valentine's Day Tag-One day late

My friend Amy Tagged me with this, since I'm late on posting, I won't tag any of you with it...enjoy! If you want to check out her cute blog click here.


♥ How long have you been together? 6 years (5 1/2 married 5 months dating/engaged)

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? one week

♥ Who asked who out? Ben

♥ How old are each of you? 28 and 32

♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most? My sister since she lives close

♥ Do you have any children together? Two boys

♥ What about pets? none...not till we finish having kids and they're all potty trained

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Determining who loves who the most

♥ Did you go to the same school? nope

♥ Are you from the same home town? nope, we come from different worlds-me from GA and Ben from UT

♥ Who is the smartest? Definitely Ben...he knows a little bit about everything, which is great when talking to people and his patients.

♥ Who is the most sensitive? I'm not sure...we're both a couple of tender people

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Mandarin-Chinese

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? St. John

♥ Who has the craziest exes? neither

♥ Who has the worst temper? I have the worst temper...and yes I'm trying to work on that. I've come a long way and it's all because of Ben-he's a great example of love and patients

♥ Who does the cooking? I would say it's half and half...we both love to be in the kitchen

♥ Who is more social? I think Ben and I both suffer from a little social anxiety...you might not tell it in the moment, but right before we freak out a little. I think Ben is a little more social than myself...I do better socially in small groups of one to two.

♥ Who is the neat freak? I am, but when Ben decided to clean he goes all out and does a great job.

♥ Who is the more stubborn? BEN

♥ Who hogs the bed? We have a king size bed so there's enough room for the both of us

♥ Who wakes up earlier? He does for work.

♥ Where was your first date? He took me to the Rodeo and then made me homemade peach cobbler because I'm a GA peach

♥ Who has the bigger family? Ben, he is one of seven

♥ Do you get flowers often? Not really...I have to beg for them

♥ Who is more jealous? Definitely me.

♥ How long did it take to get serious? Not very!

♥ Who does/ did the laundry? I do.

♥ Who’s better with the computer? Ben

♥ Who drives when you are together? He does!

2009

Happy New Year! I've been thinking a lot about New Years and the whole resolution thing and I think I'm kinda leaning towards my husbands point of view or maybe a hybrid of my beliefs and his. He thinks that you don't need to wait until January 1st to be a better person, you should be setting good goals year round. I agree with that, except I think people do need a nice reminder to help motivate like New Years day. So here's to 2009, lets be a little better starting today, and if you see something worth working on, put it into action and not wait for 2010 (that year was awkward to type).

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to All! What a great day it's been...a fun morning with the boys opening a few gifts from Santa and Ben and I. A yummy Christmas dinner we were able to enjoy with my parents and Ali, my mom's parents, and my great aunt. It was so nice...the best part for me is that I'm finally able to use my blog effectively. I've got so many things to update on my blog, I can't wait. I've got to get a few things organized on my computer so I can post some pictures. And no, the picture of that christmas tree below is not my tree...I be sure to put a picture of my actually tree in the next post.

It the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It is officially December even though the Christmas decorations and shopping started up right after the 31st of October in the retail world! I've got my radio set to 102.1...Christmas Music round the clock, my decorations are mostly up, the boys Christmas outfits are ready to go, the snow is falling, and my Christmas cards are ready to be mailed...I'm definitely feeling the Christmas Spirit.

Where's Waldo

Do any of you know those books, "Where's Waldo"? We had a few of those books when I was growing up and it was so much fun to try to find that little fellow. He was always in a very busy area in the middle of chaos. When you found him, he looked just fine and always had a smile on his face. Think of me as Waldo...I'm here somewhere with a smile on my face. We've had a busy month finishing up Halloween and getting ready for Thanksgiving. In the middle of the two holidays, we've all been sick, I've fed the missionaries at our Stakes zone conference, thrown a bridal shower, celebrated my dad's 50th birthday, finished up my '07 scrapbook, been getting use to a brand new calling in church, and been totally aggravated with my computer...it won't let me sign into my blog! My mother-in-law call me a few days ago to check on me since she enjoys keeping up with us by our blog, I was happy to report that we're all okay, just have had a busy run. I posting this from my mothers house, so I'll be sure to post soon with some pictures of the last month.
I do want to say how thankful I'm am for all my blessings and my sweet family...Happy Thanksgiving!

If you would like to take a peek at the storybook I made for my dad's 50th, click here and follow the instructions.

Trick or Treating

Now that we've had a chance to enjoy some treats, we will now move to the entertainment portion of my Blogger's Halloween Party! Here's a little comic relief that I hope you will enjoy:

Halloween Party

I wanted to kick off this fall with a great Blogging Halloween Party!  Today starts the party, with blogs full of food and fun till November.  Lets start kick things off with some refreshments.  Below are a few ghoulish treats I've made this season that you are welcome to feast your EYES on.  If there are any recipes that you would like, let me know.
                                             These are miniature candied apples
          Here are some Marshmallow Bones for our Blood Red Hot Chocolate
Chocolate Cup Cakes that are so good, they taste more like a brownie and not cake...to die for

Blood Red Chocolate with Marshmallow Bones (I wish I would have had a clear pitcher so to see the hot chocolate better)

A Challenge

We are constantly teaching the youth of the church to make those hard moral decisions before they are placed in difficult situations. By doing so, you don't have to think when someone asks you to do something you're not suppose to...the choice has already been made and you just follow through on you previously made decisions.
I put this to practice the fall before I got pregnant with Maxton when it came to all the holiday food and treats. I went a head and made my decisions on what I would and wouldn't eat and I didn't gain those holiday pounds for once and I was so much happier with myself. I've decided to try it again this year, and see how it goes...anyone with me? It's always a little easier if you know others are doing the same and that the one Christmas sugar cookie or slice of pumpkin pie won't be alone...somewhere near or far there are a few more treats in the same boat...all stuck with strong women about to toss them in the trash or let them be ripped to shreds by the garbage disposal! That's my Challenge, any takers?

Happy Birthday Baby Seth!

Here's Seth blowing out his candle tonight...well, Max actually blew out the candle!

Today at 11:06 this morning, my sweet baby turned one! It's amazing how long and short the year has gone by. We've been so blessed to have this little guy join our family. It feels like he's always been apart of our family, just like little Max. We love you Baby Seth!


Me and Baby Seth the day he was born!

Our 5th Wedding Anniversary

Today marks five great years since Ben and I were married in the Washington D.C. Temple. It's hard to believe it's been that long. We've certainly been busy since that day and have done some wonderful things together and as a growing family.
Five things I love about my Husband:
*He has the best green eyes ever...can I please have a child with green eyes?!?
*He sets and meets goals...is ambitious.
*The way he cares for me and our boys.
*He makes me laugh and I love to spend time with him.
*He makes me happy and very at home when I'm with him.

Five things that make us good together:
*comfortable silence
*pillow talk
*not only do we have our own hobbies, but we enjoy a lot of the same things together.
*we love and care for each other
*we compliment each other

Five things we've accomplished since married:
*getting Ben graduated from school
*having Maxton
*having Seth
*buying a practice
*being able to pay our student loan debt and still go to the movies every once in awhile

Here's to all the years ahead! I love you BEN!

Fourth of July!

We celebrated the 4th like we have in the last couple of years, down in Tennessee at Lake Norris. We love it so much, it a great get away. The water is so beautiful and it relaxing to sit on the dock in between wake boarding and tubing! Maxton did so much better with the life jacket this year...he usually cries the whole time he has to wear it, but not this time. As for Seth, he did pretty good for his first trip to the lake. The night of the 4th, we held our own fire works show off the dock...it's funny how a few fire crackers can bring out the boy in some grown men, and eat into their wallets...they had a blast!





Ben helping Maxton with his first sparkler

Here's Seth helping me clean out the fridge once we got home from TN...he is such a big help?!?

Easter in the Snow

This is what we woke up to on the Saturday of Easter Weekend. We had to hurry and get the drive and walkways shovelled so that our friends could come over and hunt eggs in our house.

Growing up in Georgia, you think everyone has a great spring break and a beautiful Easter weekend...NOT SO! I feel sorry for all the sweet children here in Ohio that have to travel south for some nice weather. When I got out for Easter/Spring break I laid out at the beach thinking everyone was enjoying the same type of time off from school that me and my friends were. I was clueless. I long for those warmer days and and lighter clothing. Weather here wouldn't be so bad if winter came and went and didn't linger. Our worst months are from January to the beginning of April, when it's already been cold since October. Oh well, we try to make the most of it. So, to all my Georgia peeps...don't feel bad or guilty when you are playing in the sun...we're just shoveling out our drive ways, hunting Easter eggs indoors, running around the house in sweat pants since it's too cold to play outside and covering up our cute Easter outfits for church with jackets. Yes, I'm missing my home town right now and wish my little boys could be outside playing in short sleeves, so to all my folks down south...soak up a few more rays for your Ohio family.

Here's Maxton with his Elmo basket collecting a few eggs.

Here's the friends that joined us on our way fun indoor egg hunt. (Hope you caught the sarcasm)

Me and my Boys

Me, Dad (my dad), and the boys after church

P.S. Here's Baby Seth...He was seven months on Easter Sunday...He's such a great baby!