Part 3 of 3

So during that full week I got to go do something I've been really wanting to do for a looooong time. Using my christmas/anniversary gift from Daniel (a new DSLR & lens) I went and met up with Gena from Gena Susan Photography. She's my cousin now, she married one of my bestest cousins Jeff Patten and I was sorta involved in their getting together so she must feel like she has to be nice to me :) Because she set up an engagement shoot in Vegas for me to come learn at. Of course she is super talented, so is her sister Tonya Joy who took this photo of Gena

So yeah now that we've established she's gorgeous, talented, and super sweet. Let me tell you about our day. I met her at her hotel room and then she taught me a few things with my camera, lighting, and tips for how she does things. We laughed, I cried (seriously had an emotional thingy) then we went out on the strip mid day to meet up with this couple who are engaged. I will leave you with some of the photos of this much in love couple. If you want to see more check out my youtube video of them. BTW I haven't edited any of these yet still decided on a program and such.

Part 2

If you read the last post you would have seen our days filled with horseback rides and teacups. We also had a day of Liam not taking this off.

Finally I suggested a shower (good Ol' shower)

I turned the water on, then told the kids to wait while I grabbed their shampoo from their bathroom... Liam is not good at waiting.

Later we finally got to go see Mary Jane and Kaitlyn and Vaughn who had got to LaRae's house Wednesday night. The kids were quite fond of Vaughn.

Addy though was enthralled with MaryJane. She immediately hugged her and the whole time she was here she was asking me about MaryJane. She especially loved the pigtails MaryJane gave her. She also may have LOVED having Kaitlyn around.

Kaitlyn was so funny she always says the most random things

Uncle Vaughn was visiting on leave from Iraq, he is back there now but it was good to see him. He brought the girls these necklaces (which they both loved) they have a tiny locket, we just need pictures for them. Addy is a necklace girl and I had a hard time convincing her to take it off at night. She loves it and I think Uncle Vaughn just bumped up on her list.

Though it was fun to see Vaughn and Kaitlyn I was so glad to get to spend some time with my big sister. It wasn't enough time but we did get a good walk in and chat. I sure do love her, she's always so kind and worried about others. She was always the peacemaker in our family, and made chores so much fun.

You know everyone's lives get tough sometimes, they get thrown curve balls. I remember in the same month, the same MONTH my sister had an appendectomy and a cholecystectomy. Her life has sometimes been an onslaught of lemons, but she's made lemonade. She may not think she's done well, heck other people may not think she's done well, but MY sister has made lemonade. And I respect her for that! Love you lots MJ hope we can see you down here again soon.

A full week part 1 of 3

You know sometimes I am flipping through pics that need blogged and think... man my week actaully was pretty full.

Last week Sunday night-Tuesday I babysat this guy again...

his Mama (comet) arranged for me to take him the last few days of her 2 week vacation to give the other babysitters a break

Wanna know where she's been? BALI .... can you say lucky? I mean it must have been tough having to have a 10+ hr layover in

Hawaii, then a first class flight to Tokyo then a 2 day stop in Syngapore. Bitter much? Ha, ha no every year Comet takes amazing "Mega trips" and has a fabulous time, I am just glad I get to look at photos of her lounging on beaches in Bali :) Or seeing the serenity of the rice fields there.

Speaking of serenity... my journaling/scripture study has brought me some. Keeping good habits is so hard but man do I feel like I have a more worthwhile existance.

Wednesday at the flat Heidi took the kids on a short ride. Addy LOVES horses, she use to be scared but now she begs Heidi for a ride... Liam not so much.

Didn't know we were so fancy did ya? Morning rides, drinking milk out of glass tea cups.

Sniffle

We're all sick... except for Daniel, he'll probably wait until I'm well enough to baby him before catching it :) Stuffed up, sneezing, watery eyes, ear aches. Thank goodness it was just starting Friday morning (I did something awesome Friday). Now we're just nursing our colds, hope we clear up soon!

TWO cute

Many of you know that my sister LaRae and I married brothers, making our kids double cousins. I feel like I have a pretty special bond with these 2 boys. Tyson was the reason I was down here when Daniel came home, and I also played with him everyday when we lived there for 9 months. And I was there at Lincoln's birth so even though I LOVE all my nieces and nephews these 2 hold a special place.

Tyson just wants to be a tough ol' boy, but it's a hard job acting tough when you have eyelashes that ARE TO DIE FOR.

It's also hard to put on a "mean" face when you have dimples so deep he could hide stuff in there :)

Then there's Lincoln. People will sometimes overlook Linky's cuteness because... well because he smiles like this...

and he might not be considered "debonair"

but those "quirks" just add to his cuteness factor and lets be honest he has gorgeous big brown's, he LOVES babies and is pretty much the funniest little guy around.

Speaking of Babies these boys are excitingly awaiting the arrival of another "Brudder" ETA: April. You know what else happens in April?

These 2 cuties turn 3, I wonder at the future of these 2. The older they get the closer they get. I have always had AMAZING relationships with my cousins, some who were my best friends, but these two will be THAT much closer and it will be interesting to see how great of friends they will be.

Butcher Boy

See these hands?

they belong to this guy.

pretty much the sweetest grandpa

but did you know he own's one of these babies?

which rips apart these with ease

and want to know how long 1 beef takes to process

... 8 hours

it's hard work but worth it

especially when you get to hang with the butcher boy

Introducing...

My new babysitter.

You know how it's common knowledge that you're considered a failure as a mommy if you let the t.v. baby sit your kids? Sounds easy right? Except when you need to get things done then all of a sudden sticking them in front of the tube sounds like not such a bad idea. I have been trying to find better "babysitters" than the t.v./movies but nothing has quite the lasting power until my cousin Steph put me on to this multi tasking, child entertaining thing called.....

the shower.

30-40 minutes of bathroom cleaning, laundry folding and children giggling and getting cleaned all at the same time. We still let Mickey Mouse watch Addy in the morning when the hubs and I want to snuggle in our blankies a little while longer.

Park Play

Well we've had a few cold days here but the last few days have been in the 60's and yesterday we took advatage of it.

Liam loved the park but had to be convinced on the slide.

Last time we went to the park Addy would scream even if one of us went down with her on the slide, this time however within the first few minutes of being there she went down every slide there was, Daniel and I were shocked to see how fearless and grown up overall she was.

Steph and I went to Old Navy clearance this week which wasn't as good of prices as usual :( but I did get a few things and suprised Daniel with Liam's raiders shirt. That was the team Daniel grew up liking though now he couldn't tell you why except that his brothers and brother in law liked them. I just love Liam's goofy smile.

This jacket is just one more instance of how grown up Addy is. I wanted to put a blue jacket on her and was doing so, I had just finished buttoning it when she looked down and said "I can't wear this mom", I asked why and she said it doesn't have pockets. I tried to show her the ruffle collar and other features but no go, she was not wearing a jacket without pockets, she acted like it would be committing the fashion faux pas of the century. So we had to switch. She is so funny, and is continuously making us laugh, even when we shouldn't. I fear she copies me a lot, I often tell her when she's doing something I don't like "Stop that, you're making me mad." Well she turn it right around when I'm changing her diaper or something she says "mom, stop.... you're making me mad mom!" I think I need to remember how to approach things.

Anyways we have lots of exciting things happening (well it's exciting to me) I can't wait to update on them but I will. (and before the rumors start flying no I am not pregnant!)