My mom and Kim.....Aren't they beautiful!

Oct. 24th

Today is my birthday and it was a nice day. Colby always makes my birthday special. This year he surprised me with a nativity scene by Jim Shore. I really like this artist, his figurines are really cool. They are full of color and very unique. He also gave me a really cool turkey and pumpkin made by the same artist. I have to admit I'm not a very good gift giver and my sweetheart is the best. Poor guy always gets the shaft on his b day and I get treated like a queen on mine. Anyway, I just wanted to say how good it makes me feel when I get those fun phone calls and visits from family and friends wishing me a happy birthday. Thanks for making me feel special everyone. I hope that I will remember all your b days.
My mom called me this morning and asked if she could take me to lunch with my sister. I'm so grateful for my mom and my sister. They are two of my closest friends.
Tonight we ate cake and ice cream. Colby brought home a cake that was decorated like a baseball diamond with baseball players. Happy birthday Amy and Go Red Sox was written on it. He is so cute....he makes me laugh!

Look What We Can Do When Mom's Not Looking.....

No this is not snow....this is what happens when two 3 year olds get in the bath tub and mom walks out of the room for 1 minute. I watched Emico today and when I told Noelle that she had to take a bath, Emico insisted she needed one too. So I put them in my jetted tub with a little bubble bath and when I walked out to go get something they poured a whole bottle of baby shampoo in the water and turned on the bath jetts. Wha-hoo if only I could be a kid.....

Uncles and Aunts are the Best!

I just couldn't stop the marathon of posts with out posting this picture of my brother throwing Conner up in the air. I love it when my family comes to visit and my kids love it even more. Mark plays so cute with my kids. He also threw his daughter up. Each time he did they would squeal with delight....or maybe it was out of pure fear for their lives:) At any rate they didn't want him to stop...but if you know Mark he's not too strong....hehehe....Not really. He's weally stwong huh Marky.

How To Spend UEA At Home

We started our day out at my friends house and the kids had fun making Candy haunted houses. Than we came to my house and let the kids use some large boxes to make their own haunted house. The boys had their own and the girls decorated another one. They had a great time drawing scary pics, hanging up spider webs, plastic spiders, plastic skeletons and what ever else they thought would be appropriate in a haunted house. Their were a few tears when the boys sneaked over to scribble the words poo and pee and the girls house. But me and Tam had quite a laugh. These boys always right the words poo and pee. The boys got real creative and taped up Conner's psp so they could watch Nacho Libre while in their house the girls chose to play their animal game. Noelle and Emi got to build a fort down stairs with a corral for their horses who were later fed water out of a bowl and apples. Noelle came up stairs with minute to minute updates on how much their horses liked their corral and that they loved the apples. She later said that when she grows up she wants to be a horse:) Good luck is all I can say.

Noelle and Jaxon Frosting Halloween Cookies

After preschool last week Noelle had a few friends over to frost cookies or should I say eat frosting. Jaxon is my neice's little boy who is so dang cute. He and Noelle have fun together. Jaxon loves to tease Noelle and Noelle has quite a good time bossing Jaxon around.

I love it when Brittany comes to visit, she always makes me laugh. I wish she lived a little closer. This one is for you girl, you're the best! And so is your mom!

Weekend Get Away To Park City

Colby and I went to Park City for the weekend about 2 weeks ago and this is a picture of us eating lunch. As you can see Colby was surrounded by his adoring daughters who would rather be with their dad than anyone else. Poor little Savannah had a terrible stomach ache the entire time, but we still had fun just being lazy and hanging out with each other. Conner didn't care that it was only 35 degrees out side he still wanted to go swimming in the heated pool. Colby treated me to a 50 minute massage which was heaven. Noelle had fun going up and down in the elevator and jumping up when it came to a stop. It always takes a good picture to remind you just how fun small get aways can be.

Saturday Afternoon Fun

Colby and I took the kids down to Color Me Mine after the Saturday afternoon conference session and they had so much fun. They didn't fight, whine, or cry the entire time being there. All of them just painted till their heart was content. They picked out the colors they wanted to use and where the color went on the pottery and really had a lot of fun doing it. They have been begging me to go back and pick up their stuff and today is the day they'll be done so will be going back down tonight to pick everything up. I'm always looking for fun things for my kids to do where they are not going to fight, whine or cry. So I was glad that they enjoyed it.

Great Friends and unforgettable memories

In the last two days I've gotten 2 separate emails that have been amazing blasts from the past. One being from a long time best friend from childhood who was a kindred spirit from the day we met. Which was in 4th grade at our grade school birthday lunch. We used to set up her slip and slide right after school and play till it was too dark to see. We always had something up our sleeves, from going sledding down the UVSC hills and hiding when we'd see a car coming, to sneaking out to go toilet papering or to roam the streets of our neighborhood at 2-3 in the a.m. We would play make me laugh for hours or wrestle like we were little boys. Anyway, she sent me some pics of her mom which is the lady you see and I got so emotional thinking about how grateful I am for the way she treated me as a young girl. She loved me like I was her own at a time I needed it the most. She is a blessed lady who I will always love as a second mother.

My little Conner.....what more can I say!

The other day my sister in law asked Conner, who is almost 7, what his favorite thing to do with me was. He said that he loved when I snuggled with him right before he went to bed. It wasn't until about a month ago that I finally understood the importance of doing this with him. During those few precious minutes that I'm laying by him he asks me about my day, tells me about his day, asks me what my favorite thing to do is, whether or not I like baseball or soccer more? We figure out math equations, spell words (which he hates) and tell stories. The amazing thing about him is he never gave up on me....how many times I turned him down because I was too tired, I really couldn't count. But, he always asks me if I will lay by him for a minute no matter what my mood is, and today I can say that I'm grateful for his persistence. Last night while I was laying by him I asked him if he thought we should have any more kids? He said, "no....but mom, how do you not have any more kids." I gulped and thought to myself, "what do I say" so I said, "well, me and dad just don't have any more kids together." That answer wasn't good enough for his young but quite mature little mind. He than says, "so...I don't get it, what,....so....you just don't drink milk?" I had to suppress the laugh with all the control I could muster. The conversation went on and all I will say is, what a wonderful conversation it was. He asked me direct questions which I answered with correct terminology and ended the conversation with the fact that the power to have children comes from heavenly father and it is to be experienced when you are married. Conner is conner and if you know him you will know what I mean. What a kid!

A thought from my head....beware do you really want to know!

I think as I go through my everyday life and find myself struggling or getting frusterated with certain things, it seems that I, very often, forget that those things are small in comparison to the way that my reaction will affect me for the rest of my day, week, life, or for how ever long I struggle with that issue. Having said that, I also believe that each day is a day to learn what to do, what not to do, what's important and not, how I should be treating someone as opposed to the way that I am treating them. So many times I let a thought that should be kept locked inside my head, squeeze through the thick door jam and as it is exposing itself to the outside world I'm kicking myself that I didn't try harder to keep it inside. For all those who have been witness to this weakness of mine, I'm sorry. Last but not least...something that I want to improve upon is, listening to my intuition, or the prompting of the spirit. So much can be accomplished by being a better listener and than acting upon it. I will say that there would be less going back for the second time to do what I was prompted to do the first time. And there you have it.....A deep thought that I'm sure you wished you'd skipped by.....next time ask yourself, "do I really want to know":)

What I'd like to get in my trick or treat bag....hmmm

A trip for two to Hawaii......and......a day at the spa, facial, massage, pedicure.....and.....the list goes on.

Conner Loses His First Tooth!

On tues. the 25th Conner lost his first tooth....well at least by the hands of his dad and not the dentist. I couldn't believe it, he didn't even flinch as Colby tugged and tugged and tugged until it finally, but reluctantly came out. When it came out he shrugged his shoulders and said, "cool." I asked him if he was going to put it under his pillow and he said, "mom I know that you and dad are the tooth fairies" I didn't say much other than the fact that it doesn't matter who leaves the money, but just that they leave it....right? He forgot to leave it the first night but I reminded him and he remembered the following night. The difference between he and Savannah is, that Savannah knows that the tooth fairy isn't real but doesn't let on because she knows her dad is going to leave big bucks each time she loses a tooth.

I'm way new at this....

Ok, so, I meant to write something with the photo of Savannah but pushed the publish post prematurely and couldn't figure out how to edit the post. So....what I was going to say about that photo was; Savannah and Katie went to the "What Women Want" expo up at the South Town Expo Center last weekend with Kate's mom and aunt. She had such a good time and was so excited to tell all when she got home. Both she and Kate got their hair done and bought one item each. Savannah picked out some hoop earings that are pure silver and Kate got a green, sparkley sash. I guess the gentleman that owned the booth where they both bought their things from was really nice and let the girls buy the items for the price that they could each afford. His wife said that he couldn't resist giving little girls a good deal. It's so nice having good friends that offer to take your kids on a special outing with them, it meant a lot to Savannah and me!

"What a Women Wants"

Happy Feet.....Noelle

Noelle had just returned from dance and put on a little show for me, Lisa, and Ava. During the summer she learned a dance called "Wiggly Party" she still performs the dance every time I turn the music on. She is such a performer, from the way she shakes her hips, moves her arms, to the way she holds head and smiles for everyone. I love to watch her dance! As you can see Ava was completely entertained as were Lisa and I.

A couple of weeks ago I went to Savannah's class to talk about El Salvador with her History Class. I dressed in a typical El Salvador dress and brought some pictures, a poster, a map that my mom supplied me with and a basket full of tortillas. I thought I would take the kids through a day in El Salvador. I started off by putting the basket on top of my head and walking around the class yelling "Vendo tortillas," I felt quite foolish to be honest and I got quite a few funny looks. We talked about what the people eat, and how they cook their food on an open stove most often found outside of their homes, I also mentioned that most people do not have indoor plumbing for a bathroom and used out houses; which got a lot of oooh sick. We talked about what their money is called, and how some of the people do not have enough money to send their kids to school. Savannah stood right next to me the entire time ready at any moment to interject a small comment or two. I was there about 30 minutes and then had to run home to teach a pilates class.
For the rest of the day I worried whether or not I embarrassed Savannah or if the kids enjoyed what we talked about. Just normal worries a mom might have. But my worries were put to rest when Tammy shared with me what her daughter had to say about our day in the life of El Salvador. She said, "Kate told me that you came to her class today, (suppressing a laugh) and that you wore a dress from El Salvador, (trying harder now not to openly laugh) she also said that you put a basket on your head and walked around the room yelling "tortillas for sale" (giving up the fight and openly laughing at this point)" She preceded to tell me that her daughter loved it and thought it was fun that I was so willing to make a fool out of myself for the sake of my sweet little Savannah. She really didn't say it that way but could have. Actually I had two kids come up to me and say that they liked the report. It's just a good thing the parents weren't invited.

A weekend of laughs, workout, and more laughs!!!!

Me, Tammy, and Lisa went to a pilates conference in Big Bear, CA....or at least that's what we told our husbands. Really we went to laugh the gut laugh, eat really good food not cooked by one of us, and sleep all through the night without having to get up with a crying baby. I can't tell you how much fun we had. The pilates was amazing! The instructors were far better than I had expected with really great bodies to prove that the pilates really does work. When not in classes we shopped, tried on silly hats, bought Halloween decor; asking one another ever few minutes if the other was excited to get home to set it all up, ate yummy chocolate from the North Pole Candy Shop, and laughed ourselves sick. About the Halloween decor, Lisa didn't buy any of that and Tammy and I weren't noticing how often we were asking each other if we were excited about it, until Lisa pipes up and says,"Hey Tammy how excited are you about getting home and setting up your Halloween town." That started up a whole new set of laughs.
We learned so many different teaching tips, our clients always hate it when we get back from a pilates conference because we push them a lot harder. This time is no different, all my clients that I've taught have worked the entire hour without speaking more than 10 words...and then wonder why their behind hurts or their stomach feels more worked. It's so great watching them walk out with a new sense of determination and or not.....:) I do have to say that I'm not nearly as strict as the pilates enthusiasts out there. They worship Joseph Pilates, I'm not kidding. They toasted to his name with their wine glasses and just got giddy talking about what a genius he was. Yes, was...he died a long time ago but you'd think these people talk to his spirit, the way they talk about him. We were kind of naughty and laughed a lot over it all...I know that was not so nice, but I had to stay sane....that really isn't a good excuse I know. I do have to say once again that the instructors new their stuff like nobody else. Thanks Colby for all your support, I love that guy!

Auttumn's first birthday

Auttumn turned 1 on Sept. 7th. We had a small b-day party for her and to be honest it was perfect. She loved the balloons and her little cake that she got to eat all by herself. We gave her two small gifts, some plastic keys that play music and a little push toy. She hasn't played with either one of them very much but Noelle sure loves the toys. So I guess we bought the right thing for someone even if that someone doesn't happen to be Auttumn. You could tell she loved the attention. She sang along when we sang happy birthday and clapped when we finished. She dived into the cake as if it just might be the only cake she ever taste and savored every bit of it.

Isabel and Savannah