Who needs a house?

This is what our house has looked like for the last 4 days. Our townhome complex has some problems with the plumbing needing repairs. We had about 50 holes all around our house. So we had the plumbers, then the drywall repair men, then the painters. It was very interesting. We are so glad to have a home that is fixed but mostly we are so thankful to have a home. We are so thankful to friends and family for letting crash for all this time.

SAN DIEGO

Hi. So our little family made an impromptu trip to San Diego last week. Geoff found out he had to work in San Diego on Thursday and we left on Sunday. McCall decided to go with Christan too. (he and Geoff work together). We thought it would be fun to take the girls to Sea world and the Zoo but we also thought it might be a chance to see Geoff a little bit. Unfortunately Geoff worked until 11:00pm every night but, hey, we got a little trip out of it.

Fortunately McCall was there. It was So fun!!

Have you ever been to Sea world? Well if you haven't I strongly suggest you get in the car RIGHT NOW and get there. It is a wonderful place full of surprises, fun and serious amazement. The girls loved it, I loved it all around a great time.

Jack, Cash, Aria and Laila ready to see Shamu

Shamu was by far Aria's Favorite. I have to say it was my favorite too! Seriously so Amazing!

We are waiting for one of the shows to start. So excited.

I think Cash loved being surrounded by so many girls!

The exhibits were awesome and fascinating. We are watching the sharks.

Another of Aria's favorite was the Pet show. Laila fell down on the bleachers you can kind of see her goose egg.

We also got to get up close and personal with the dolphins.

Laila thinks she is one of the big kids and wont sit in the stroller.


The next stop was the San Diego Zoo. That place is HUGE not to mention the extreme terrain.

Can you see the huge Gorilla ?

Aria really is a monkey!

This is the only picture I have of McCall. We were each others photographers so we never had any pictures together.

The trip was full of extreme weather, sick kids, getting lost and A LOT of fun. I am so so thankful that McCall, Cash and Jack were there, they made the trip so much more fun! I am trying to figure out when we can go again.

So I have this sister, she might be one of the smartest, most talented, amazing ladies I know. Sarah has been involved in the health and wellness field for a very long time. She is a personal trainer, emotional release facilitator, herbal specialist and an avid researcher. She developed her business 4 years ago in California, as a private exercise and nutrition consultant, where she had personal clients pay her big bucks for her health advice. But NOW, she has this blog where we can see for FREE a lot of great health tips. I highly recommend everyone visiting it. We all want to be healthy and look fabulous. Sarah gives us all the little boost we need to get going! CHECK IT OUT!! The Enlightnd women

Aria's first day of dance

Aria loves to dance... well, she mostly loves to wear ballet outfits and twirl around. Ok, honestly she is very high maintenance and wakes up at the crack of dawn asking what we are going to be doing that day. If the plan is not up to her standards it is not a good day, believe me. In an effort to fill up our days I thought a CREATIVE dance class would be wonderful.

When I was little I had a creative dance class and it was a lot of twirling and leaping. Well...Vegas is a little different. Aria's dance class consists of creative booty shaking, creative chest shimmies and creative pole dancing. Gotta start 'em young eh?

hair cut anyone??

While in the shower this morning Aria crawled up on a chair, then crawled onto the desk to get a pair of scissors. She thought it would be a good idea to cut her hair.

She discretely chose a lock of hair kind of underneath her hair. When I went to do her hair and realized what she had done I had kind of a hard time getting mad because I realize it could have been soooo much worse. So somewhere inside Aria there is an ounce of understanding that actions reap consequences.

Oh but if she EVER does it again....

Feeding the Fish/Ducks.

Today we went to Lake Mead to feed the fish. We do this a few times a year when the weather is nice and ALWAYS when Geoff's friend Alex from Chile comes to visit. It was a beautiful day, very warm.

Laila only wanted to eat the popcorn.

Aria was the popcorn police. Don't take too many, or else.

Laila has no concept of "edges" so we almost lost her in the water a few times.

Aria was one of the "attractions" at the Pier. What have you never seen a crack before?

We have SNOW!

Las Vegas has received more snow then they have seen in 20 years. The girls loved playing in it. If anyone reading this knows me, I wasn't to happy about it. The best thing about living here is that I only spend a few months in the cold and it isn't even that cold... then it snows. RUDE!
But seeing my girls playing in the snow made it wonderful.

Laila totally caught a snowflake on her tongue.
Aria threw a snowball and hit Laila right in the face. Good thing they both laughed so hard.

Laila was the only one that would look at me for a picture.

Christmas Quilt!

My most beautiful, talented, wonderful mother created an awesome advent calendar for our family. It was so fun and exciting to get up every morning and find a fun surprise and celebrate Christmas getting closer.

We LOVE it!

Traditions??

As Aria grows up I begin to feel an urgency to create some traditions for our little family. I have always loved Christmas and I want my children to have so many memories beyond the presents and Santa. I want them to love Christmas for the traditions surrounding the birth of Christ, giving, and family. For some reason the only way I know how to do that is through food. Is there any other way? What are some of your family traditions? Please I need a little help.


Yesterday I thought it might be fun to make Gingerbread men and I was right! Aria thought this was the best day ever! She helped me make the dough,

She cut out all the men,

and she was the creative director of what the men should look like.
not to mention the taste tester.
So now I have one tradition.
HOORAY!

I LOVE the holidays!

I have been out and about for the past few weeks and I have had so much fun! I love the holidays and I love going home and I love seeing friends and I love eating food and I love being with family. I love so many things!

Our Thanksgiving was wonderful, unfortunately I didn't take any pictures.

But I did take a picture of the quilt I made for my sister Sarah's baby. I am so happy that it turned out so cute! I just had to share.

He comes in a couple of months and I am so excited!

THANK YOU!

I realize that it is kind of tacky to wish yourself a Happy Birthday and tell everyone about it...buy hey you gotta do what you gotta do.

I just wanted to say "thank you" to everyone for the Happy Birthday wishes. I love birthday's and I appreciate all the love. It was a lovely day and I forgot to even take a picture.

THANK YOU!

Birthday

Today I am 27!

Happy Birthday to me.

Pink sponge curlers

Do you remember the pink sponge curlers?

I remember my mom putting these in my hair after my Saturday night tub so my hair would be curly on Sunday. I had stick straight hair, and it was the 80's so I totally didn't fit in.I couldn't find a picture with the sponge curlers, but these are pink perm rollers... same idea.

These little beauties are still around. I found some yesterday and I had to buy them. They took me back to so long ago.

Aria was so excited to put the curlers in, and even more excited that she got to sleep with them!

This might be the last time she gets to sleep with them because she got up about every 2 hours, definitely not worth curly hair.

She woke up with 3 left in her hair, but it worked. Her hair looks very lovely!

YUMMMM

This morning I made bran muffins. Either my kids were starving or they are really good because they are all gone and I only had 2. Good news is I have enough batter to make fresh muffins every morning for the whole week!

Laila on her 6th!

Aria had only 4.

Bran Muffins:

4 cups All Bran cereal (looks like little sticks)

1 cup shortening (I use butter)

2 cups boiling water

2 cups sugar (I use honey)

1 quart buttermilk

5 cups flour (I use whole wheat)

4 beaten eggs

5 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. salt

350 degrees for about 15-17 min.

The batter is good in the fridge for 7-10 days!

Ode to the DAEWOO

You were the first car I purchased with my own money,

I walked into the dealership and they thought they were funny.

They saw "sucker" written all over my face,

so they told me that they would cut right to the chase.

A car they would find to help fit in my budget,

the car company didn't exist, but they would just fudge it.

"A beautiful Daewoo is the best car for the price"

Later to find out it was worth less then rice.

I drove that old Daewoo and never had trouble

Though ridiculed and mocked for buying such rubble.

Some called her "Daepoo", but they didn't know

that she was my friend and would always go.

Today is the day that I sold the old girl.

I hope the new owner will realize the pearl

of a car, that has gotten a bad wrap

but runs like a gem and doesn't smell like crap.

Goodbye, goodbye my trusty old car

I know you will continue to go very far.

Too smart for her own good.

Aria is smart. Most of the time she is too smart for her own good. Take for instance;

Exhibit A:

Hot water

Our water cooler has hot water that is 190 degrees. Oh and yes, it does have a "child proof" switch so children cannot burn themselves. Aria has been getting herself hot water from the "child proof" hot water button since she was 2 1/2.

Exhibit B:

"Child proof" lids on vitamins or medications.

It could be that Aria was raised in an herbal supplement store, but she has been able to open the "child proof" lids on vitamins since she was 18 months. She wanted some vitamins so she was going to get them.

Exhibit C:

"Child proof" cabinet lock, door locks, socket covers etc. etc.

These silly contraptions have NEVER been a problem for Aria, we installed a bunch in our first house in Provo and I was always catching her in the cupboards with the latches on them.

Maybe she's not smart, maybe she is just super stubborn and wants what she wants when she wants it.

Exhibit D:

Writes her name and all the letters in the alphabet.

Aria doesn't draw, she writes. Since she learned her alphabet, she recognized letters everywhere. When she scribbles she can make letters out of her scribbles. So I was surprised when she asked me how to spell her name and she wrote it on a piece of paper. I taught her some of the harder letters but she pretty much taught herself how to write letters, and now she is writing words.

I am proud of her accomplishment. She is a little smarty pants and most of the time she makes me frustrated but she is getting so big, so fast so I am trying not to take her for granted.

Laila's first goose egg.

Laila is still a little unsteady on her feet and the result is a huge goose egg.

SAD!

Happy Birthday to Kelsey!

She turns the big 18 today. It is a big day she can now vote and by dry ice, so lucky. Kelsey is one of the sweetest, kindest, loveliest ladies that I know. She is so easy to talk to and so much fun to have around. My kids ADORE her...I ADORE her!

If you were turning 18 today what would you do differently...or the same? What advice would you give Kelsey? She is the youngest of 7, has 7 months left of high school, Varsity cheerleader and on Student Council.

What are some of your best memories of being 18? I know that she would love to know!

I love you Kels. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy Halloween!

This year the girls were hand-me-downs for Halloween. Aria was a fairy and Laila a ladybug. I took them to to get their pictures done by Sarah Goodsell. She is FABULOUS, check her out.
I love how they turned out.