On Guard Daddy!

We have a bunch of nerf swords left over from Reagan's princess party. Cole LOVES to play with them. His new favorite game is to gang up with Reagan against Steve. Cole comes out swinging the sword and jumps from the ottoman to the couch to the floor and back again, all the while fighting with Steve. Reagan usually comes in for a few swipes and then backs out. I've heard some parents say that they don't allow their boys to have guns or toy weapons of any kind in order to keep them from being too violent. They probably think we're crazy because we have sword fights almost every night.... oh well... we love it! On Guard Daddy! (gotta love the Cars sticker on Steve's back - tee hee)

Dress Up Party

Reagan was invited to a friend's birthday party and it was a dress up party. The girls came to the party, got dressed up, had their make-up, hair and nails done and then they went outside for a "fashion show".

I had to laugh at all these little girls dressed up to the hilt, with their make up on and nails done just right. Then, they decorated picture frames, beat a pinata and had cake and ice cream. Reagan had such a fun time. Even Cole got in on the dress up bit. Take a look:

Reagan's Preschool Program

Reagan had her end of the year program at preschool last week. Her class members were so cute - they sang about 10 songs, did little dances and recited poems. When I picked Reagan up the school day before the program, her teacher said "Please don't let her get sick for Tuesday. She is our best singer and we'll be sunk without her." It took me a little by surprise because although she sings all day long in our house, it is more songs that she is making up as she goes. She sings for family night and primary and in the car, but I've never seen her as "a singer". Who knows, maybe it will turn into something she loves. When we went to the program, we sat in the center of the room so that we could see her no matter where she was on the stage. Well, she was front and center, which was perfect for pics until the teacher leading the music brought a chair and sat right in front of us.... grrrr! Anyway, here's a few pics of our "little performer". She did great and was clearly having fun .... as were we!

Advertising..... It Really Works

Reagan, Cole and I were driving several days ago and we stopped at a light. There was a car in front of us and a truck to the left of that car. The truck was white with nothing else on it but the name plates of the manufacturer and the dealer. Suddenly, Reagan is pointing and yelling "Look Mama....Look!!!" I ask what she is looking at and she replies "Look!!! Right there!!!" I still don't get what she is pointing out. She says "Right there... the truck. Look!!!" I say "What? What are you showing me?" She responds: "Look! American Idol!!!!" Apparently, she saw the Ford name plate and recognized it from American Idol (if you aren't an Idol watcher, Ford is their main sponsor and the contestants sing music videos while driving Ford cars). I wouldn't call us Idol fans, but we do watch it. I couldn't believe that she put that together and identified the truck based on the show. I guess that's why a 30 second spot costs so much. Apparently it really works.

Spring has Sprung on Temple Square

It seems like each day is a new adventure in the Utah weather. One day it will be sunny and 65 degrees while the next day it is raining... or even snowing. We can have drops of 20 degrees in one day - crazy! So, when my friend Stacey and I decided to take our kids down to Temple Square to see the flowers and take some pics, we were hoping for good weather. Unfortunately, the day we planned to go, it was raining and very cloudy. We decided to take Trax to make it an adventure for the kids and I had to go downtown to pick up something at the church museum, so, we opted to go even in the bad weather. We reasoned that even pics with umbrellas could be cute if we did it right. Well, when we got on Trax, it was raining - when we got off Trax by Temple Square, it was raining. We went to the museum first and then walked toward the temple. By the time we were inside Temple Square, the clouds had literally parted and there was a clear, blue sky with sun shining on all of us - COOL! We walked all around, played in the water, looked at the couples who had just gotten married, took lots of pictures and had a great time. Then, Stacey and I looked at each other and said "I think we're done - should we head back?" Seriously - the clouds came again and by the time we walked to the Trax station, it was raining. We are soooo lucky. The kids had a great time, we enjoyed ourselves and we took some darling pics. I put a slide show at the end of this post, but here are some of my stand-out favs:

Reagan's 4th Birthday

Having had our princess bash, on Reagan's actual birthday, we just celebrated with our little family. We tried to make the entire day about her and her birthday. When I picked her up from preschool, I told her that we could go to lunch wherever she wanted. She said "Mama - I'm all about McDonalds" - too funny. So, we had McDonalds for lunch, we played with the toys she wanted to play with, we read the books she wanted to read and we spent the evening celebrating her birthday. We opened presents:

We played in our backyard:

We sang, blew out candles and ate cake:

AND we enjoyed just being together as a family:

Reagan has been such a blessing in our lives. She surprised us by coming over a month early when she was born and she hasn't stopped surprising us since. She is more grown up every day. I can't believe some of the things that she says and does. She is most certainly her own little personality and we wouldn't have it any other way. Happy Birthday to our Reagan - we love you!!!

Reagan's Princess Party

I know, I know, I'm super late in posting about Reagan's princess birthday party for her friends. I was waiting to get all of the pics back from the other moms who were kind enough to snap shots while we were busy "having" the party. So, here we are. Reagan actually wanted a princess theme last year, but I thought she was too little to really get into it and to do it right. Boy - this year she did it right!!! We had 16 little princes and princesses running around this house along with about a dozen or so adults. Total chaos, but great chaos!! My friend Stacey (again!) helped me decorate the house and we had crowns and tiaras everywhere. Of course our colors had to be pink, purple and white. When our royal guests arrived, they decorated and ate sugar cookies. Then, we decorated gold crowns with glitter glue and jewels. After that, we rotated princesses through a little mani/pedi station and did glitter toes while the boys played a jousting game. One of the boys actually wanted glitter toes too, so the jousting quickly stopped. Even King Steve got into the glitter toes (he said he had to be involved in his daughter's party), although he balanced the manliness by only having one foot done and by promptly removing them after the party. Once their little "toesies" were dry, we had hotdogs and hamburgers and chips and dips. All during the party, we had kids playing with toys and the girls changing in and out of Reagan's plethora of princess costumes. Then, we opened presents and finally, we had cake. Whew! By the end of the party, Reagan told Rachel "this was the best party ever!!!!" and cute Rachel (knowing how moms are) told Reagan she had better make sure to tell me that. We had so much fun. Thanks to everyone for coming and for helping out and a HUGE thank you to Stacey. I could not have pulled this party off without her - she helped me plan, make the invitations, decorate, prepare food, she did almost all of the glitter toes, and she helped clean up - what a great friend! Not sure what next year's theme will be, but we'll be ready. Cole (having a hard time with the whole "its not your birthday" thing) has already informed me that he wants a "moto-ii-ca" birthday. Yep - talk to me in October. For now, we're just relishing that we have pulled of "the best party ever"!!!

Happy Mother's Day

We had a wonderful Mother's Day. Saturday, we were able to visit with Steve's parents for a while. Then, on Sunday, we went to church where Reagan and Cole made cards and earrings for me (what a project for sharing time - my friend Stacey did a great job!!!). Next, we went to my parents' house and, after that, we hit Rachel and Kevin's where they had a barbeque. We weren't able to stay nearly long enough at each stop, but were so pleased to get to see everyone. I am so grateful for my Mom and all that she has done for me and for Steve's mom (I still don't know how anyone can raise 11 children well, but she is proof it is possible). I am also grateful for those who have "mothered" me or my children.

Finally, I treasure the opportunity to be a mom to Reagan and Cole. I never would have imagined how much having children changes your life (or how hard it is.... geez). Every day, Reagan and Cole teach me and I am constantly trying and re-trying to get it right. I love them more than life itself and cannot imagine our lives without them. Even though it has only been four years, it is actually hard to remember life before them. They occupy our every thought, word and deed and, after all, isn't that the best life to have? Thanks Steve for a wonderful day, beautiful gifts and an amazing letter and card and thanks to Reagan and Cole for "training" me in how to be a mom. I love you!

Tag.... With a Twist

You know how to play tag...... well try playing it on the trampoline. Reagan and Cole try to "tag" Steve while he runs, jumps and spins to keep them from catching them.

Sometimes they almost catch him;

Sometimes they aren't even close;

Sometimes they team up to "take him down";

Other times, they give up and do something else altogether.

Whatever happens, they all have a blast!