What the Hail

We had some crazy wet weather last week.  It was so nice to get more rain and not have to turn on the sprinklers yet.  Funny that those are the things that you think about as you get older.

Erik thought it would be funny to go out and jump on the trampoline in the hail storm.

He was a bit wet and cold when he came in.

Family Fun (lots of photos)

What a great weekend.  Even in between me working on a huge home project we found time to have fun with the girls.  Erik has been wanting to go out shooting again (we went shooting on Easter weekend and had a blast).

We have a cute little pink Daisy BB gun...(our first gun)

We just got another BB gun today.  It takes co2 cartridges and has a lot more power than the Daisy. So fun to see the girls get excited when they hit their targets.

We took a case of soda to use as target practice.

Shake 'em up and fire away.  This was the last pop can left, so glad I was able to capture this shot with the camera.  We also took Erik's 9mm and fired a couple clips.  There is a lot more power with that gun.  It was our first time shooting that one outdoors.  He had only used that one at the indoor shooting range until today.

We started a funny new tradition on Easter.  When we go out shooting we pick up a bucket of chicken to complete our little Redneck adventure.

I love having a nice camera and tripod.  

Love my girls!

It was such a gorgeous day.  So happy to spend it together as a family.

Bring on Summer

Friday was the last day of school.  The girls are so happy to have a break and 

we are looking forward to our Summer adventures.  I love spending time with my girls.  

We want to tag along with Erik to Idaho at least once this Summer(we went twice last Summer, he goes to work and we go to play).  We have Bear Lake with my family. Family Reunion in Heber.  Dacia and I both have a birthday in June.  I have YW Camp in July.  We bought Summer Movie passes and we also love the drive-in on a hot Summer night.  I am sure we will do shopping trips.  We will have lots of fun riding bikes....I am so happy that all three girls have learned how to ride bike now.  

We will have lots of Summer BBQ's in the backyard.

(I got a great deal on a used patio set yesterday, we have a table and chairs big enough for all of us now)

And we will just be silly and enjoy the time we have together when I am not working.  

(Boo...too bad work gets in the way of Summer)

And I will be working on a few projects this Summer.  I just started something in the girls bathroom yesterday.  It's looking really good.  I will post pictures when I am all finished.

Sewing

Last month I had to do some sewing to get ready for our Camp Fundraiser.  We had a spaghetti dinner, so why in the world did I have to do sewing, you ask.  Well , simple...

I made the YW all aprons to wear while they served dinner.  They turned out cute and added to our little restaurant atmosphere we were creating.  I made 16 of these babies.  

I have been busy working on other projects since this one and working on other camp stuff.  I don't get the sewing machine out as much as I would like to.  My friend Bryanna has started sewing clothes and making patterns.  You can find her projects here.  She made a cute cardigan pattern and she was nice enough to share it with me.  Today I finally had time to pull out the serger and sewing machine and do a little sewing.  I just used some fabric I had around the house to test the pattern out.  I haven't sewn with knit before so I wasn't sure how it would turn out.  

I think it turned out pretty good for a first attempt.  I think I need to go get a bunch of cute knit fabrics and make me a bunch more.  One in each of these colors and maybe some chevron print cardigans.  

Stop Growing Up

Sunday after sacrament meeting ended I hugged Brylee before she headed off to Primary then she looked at me and said "stop growing up".  I laughed.  I tell my girls that all the time.  It is so hard to see them getting bigger and not be my little babies anymore.

See, she is getting bigger.  One day she is graduating preschool and the next day she is riding her bike without training wheels.
She was playing around on the bike at the babysitters house and decided she wanted her training wheels off. A few days later I hadn't gotten around to it yet so she took matters into her own hands and found the tools and had Grandma help her while she was there babysitting.  A few days of practicing and this little girl is a pro.  I love her and she really needs to stop growing up.  So despite the fact she won't stay little forever, she will always be my baby.

She's a Big girl now

My baby graduated from Preschool today (wipes away tear).  I can't believe she is getting so big.

They sang lots of songs they have learned this year.

Each kid sang a song all by themselves.  I am so proud of Brylee for singing.  She sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star perfect.  I didn't think she would do it...she hates getting up in front of people.

Walking down the aisle in her gap and gown.

Getting her candy lei from her teacher.  We love Miss Pateresa!

Off to Kindergarten in the Fall!

She was so proud of her diploma she hung it up on her door when she got home.

Tastes of Summer

Last year I bought a couple case of peaches.  I made lots of jam and the rest I just cut up and froze. They sat in my freezer for a long time not really knowing what I should do with them.  I finally started using the frozen peaches in smoothies and they disappeared fast from the freezer.  I used the last of them this past week.  (excited for end of Summer and more peaches...maybe I will get a few off my own tree)

Strawberries just went on sale at Macey's and thinking that I still had plenty of jam I would just freeze them for smoothies.  Yum!  I think I need to go back and buy more...cause I actually learned after I went to the store that I only have 6 jams left.  LOVE homemade jam....on fresh out of the oven homemade bread.  

I want a freezer full of fruit and jam!

Crossing things off my list...

I love days that I can get things done and cross projects off my LONG list.  Today was a work outside day. It was warm and gorgeous and so nice to feel the sun shining down on me while I worked away.

 My garden area needed serious help this year.  I put ground cover down last year but didn't ever get anything put over it so it ended up just shredding and the weeds took over.  Not to mention, my garden sucked last year.  I don't know if it was just the heat, but I didn't get one single vegetable from any of the plants I planted. I am hoping for better luck this year.  

Looks so much better!  Weeds are gone, new ground cover down and put down bark.  I kinda wanted gravel but didn't want to spend the money on it.  So I settled for something cheaper.  I added some new containers.  I have blueberries planted in 2 of them and the other 2 will have raspberries.  The back right box has strawberries in it...we just planted them last year.  I hope I get a few strawberries this year.

See that pretty vinyl fence up the left side....yep, it's brand new.  It was just finished yesterday.  It looks so nice and and it will be awesome having our yard enclosed now.  There is wood fence on the back and up the other side...I am hoping to replace those with vinyl next Summer.

I started this project a while back and it needed to be finished.  It's an annoying little spot that just grows weeds so it needed to be fixed.  Plus, that is where the chickens were taking there dirt bath and getting dirt all over the patio area.

I was going to put the pots there and plant stuff but decided on doing something different. 

I really want to expand the patio...I am crossing my fingers that it will be another Summer project that will get crossed off my list.  I dream of lounge chairs and laying out on the new patio while the girls play in the sprinklers.  A girl can dream : )

Brylee was my big helper today. ( Love that girl...she graduates from Preschool this week)

The chickens were free range all day now that we have a fully fenced yard.and they have found other spots in the yard to take their dirt bath.

Now I am sitting down with this....I spent too much time in the sun today (I have the red skin to prove it) but I am happy with what I got done.  And it only took 3 trips to Home Depot.

Mother's Day

I love being the mom of these three beautiful girls!
They are amazing and teach me so much every day.

And I love the pictures they draw for me!

New Toy = lots of random pix today

I got an early Mother's Day/Birthday present.  

Just a new little hobby to take better pictures of the girls 

(and whatever other random things I come across).

I love this man!

Flowers we bought for Erik's mom.  

We went to visit her today for Mother's Day since we can't fit everyone in on Sunday.

Flowers growing in their yard

I am not a dog lover but this dog totally looks like it's smiling.

Crazy about my girls!

While we were up in Layton we stopped at the Park...didn't there use to be more ducks?

Love them!

Did I mention she thought it would be ok to cut herself some bangs at the babysitters house last week?  And...she has now lost both top teeth.

I am amazed at how clear of pictures this camera takes.

I also ordered me a photo shop program...should be here Tuesday.  Then we can really get busy taking pictures.

Two for Tuesday

1.  I can now continue with my house projects.  I had to stop painting for a while and move over to working on the YW Fundraiser.  It was on Saturday and I think it went pretty good.  It was the first time I was in charge of an event like this.  I have been very nervous and now I am very relieved to have it over.  Our ward amazed me with their love and support for our YW.


2.  I love pedicures!  I finally went and got my first one of the season last night after work.  I treated myself to one for having a successful fundraiser and surviving the past week.

Birthday Boy

Someone had a birthday this week.  May 2nd to be exact.  The big 3-5.  We celebrated by going out to dinner.  Mmm..BBQ.  He all ready got his bday/fathers day present..he wanted a gun, but I did still surprise him with tickets to see Muse. They are one of his favorite bands and they are coming in concert in September.  It was a great evening with the family.

Next year I will try to plan the YW fundraiser not on the week on someone's bday...Eriks bday dinner was planned around a trip to Sam's Club so I could do food shopping for the spaghetti dinner.

What I Love Wednesday

The smell of fresh baked bread...

thirty loaves to be exact!  I spent yesterday baking bread for our YW Fundraiser Dinner.  They are nestled snugly in our deep freeze and will be enjoyed on Saturday.