New Pictures

My friend has been taking a lot of photoshop classes and photography classes. So she sent an email out that she would be willing to take kids pictures in the ward for a much smaller fee than the school was offering. So me being cheap took her up on the offer. The pictures turned out pretty good. Especially when I offer the kids blizzards. Whenever Matt would want to quit taking pictures all of us would just say blizzard and then he would be sure to smile at the camera. I didn't get Derek's picture done this way, because he had already gotten his picture done at school. So here are the pictures of the 3 youngest. I kind of wished I would have paid for Derek to get his picture done this way too.

Here's Matt:


This is Matt's smile he would do everytime he was reminded of eating a Blizzard.




Here's Adam:






Here's Shay:

Shay's Idaho report

All of the 4th graders have to do a report. Shay chose Idaho, because her best friend Britany lives there. They have to do a written report,oral report, visual aid, and a project. Shay chose to do a big cookie in the shape of Idaho (or I did). It was the easiest selection at the last minute. Mark's solution for the cookie was to just bite the side out. Since it looks like someone bit the side out of Idaho anyway. We didnt end up doing that I just took a picture of the shape and tried to copy the sides as best I could. Shay helped with the mixing of the cookie dough and putting the lakes and rivers on. Idaho by the way has lots of little bodies of water.

Mark and I went to see Shay do her oral report in her classroom I was really proud of her. She spoke up and could answer all the questions the class asked. The school has a presentation day where all of the 4th and 5th graders display there projects. 4th graders state reports and 5th graders important people reports (Derek's was Robert E. Lee when he was in 5th grade). Shay dressed up as Peekaboo Street. Which was easy, because we just dressed her up with all of our old ski clothes.

Mothers Day 2011

On Saturday the day before Mothers Day my sister-in-law Jackie and I went out for lunch to Costa Vida, got mani/pedi's, but before that we went to the Salvation Army.
We had started to look at all the fun stores by Costa Vida, but then my sister in law suggested we go to the Salvation Army. I was actually thrilled by that. My new passion is finding things to make over. I have been looking and thinking about a coffee table for quite awhile. It happened to be 45% off at Salvation Army that day so I got this table for a total of $18. I was extremely happy. My sister in law found a few treasures of her own. I thought it was kind of ironic that going to Salvation Army was more satisfying for me than going to Anthropology.
BEFORE:


AFTER:


I'm still unsure about the color apple green. Even though its the color I really love right now. You can see from the picture that I went a little to crazy with the stain trying to make it look old. The stain dried real quickly, but that can be fixed as soon as I remember to buy one of those magic erasures. It's actually perfect for our family. You see it provides a place for the little boys to stand, crawl under and sit on the bottom. My older son and daughter were pleased because it was the perfect place to hold food while your watching tv. My husband was excited there was now a place to put the laptop. So yes I aim to please.

It was a great mothers day. My dad came over and made his homemade waffles for dinner topped with ice cream. They were delicious.

Easter 2011

This Easter was close to the time my mom died. So I felt a little melancholy, but was extremely happy to be reminded of all the things I'm thankful for. Shay as a bunny and especially the savior. It's because of his sacrifice that I can see my mom again. What a wonderful gift. Every time I hear this song I think of the savior and how he saves me everyday. These were the thought that kept going through my mind.

Matt and his shoes

I got these shoes for Matt a couple of months ago. He loves them dearly. I'm not sure why maybe it's because he can put them on himself. All of my other kids have wanted nothing to do with shoes.
When he gets up in the morning the shoes go immediatly on.One time I was gone at night and I saw when I got home that he had gone to bed with his shoes on.
The other day I was trying to figure out how to get him to stop saying bad words like stupid, dummy, idiot, and butt. Then it occured to me that everytime he said that I would just take away his shoes for a punishment. Well guess what it works better than time out or any spankings for that matter. (Yes I spank) All I had to do is warn him that he would be losing his shoes and he would immediatly stop. Awesome, heh. Who could have known

Tour de Mesa

Back in April Mark, I and a friend Kristine did the Tour de Mesa (formely known as the Tour de Phoenix). Kristine did really well and beat us both. This was her first race too. Mark was a little disappointed in the time since he came in 1/2 hour later than he did last year. I thought I would do better too. I did come in a 1/2 hour earlier than the previous year though. I just thought because of all my practice I would come in significantly much faster. It didn't happen though. The winner of the race finished in about 2 hours and 50 something minutes, while it took me 5 hours. Those people at the beginning of the race must be kicking it the whole time. Taking turns helping each other out. That will be my next goal figuring out how to get faster. I would be ok with finishing in 4 hours next year. I can dream right.
I did have a neat experience that I wanted to write down though. I was riding up this hill on Shea. It's pretty steep. I hadn't really been thinking about my mom before, but all of the sudden there she was in my mind. I heard this voice in my head that said Go Yvette Go. It felt like it was my mom rooting me on. I got teary eyed and had renewed energy to kick it up the hill. Thanks, mom

Happy 3rd Birthday Matt!!

Matt I am so glad you came to live with us 3 years ago.

Your personality at this point can only be described as crazy, silly, feisty

stubborn. You are shy when anyone other than the family tries to hold you. You are

shy when poor Grandpa Hall tries to hold you every Sunday. When your home and with Adam you love to scream and pull jokes on people. Yes already! You keep us laughing when you act like a cat, sing the words to songs like Uh oh I want some more What are you waiting for or Meow Meow I want some more. You dropped Beary and adopted a new stuffed webkinz cat that you affectionately named Brown Kitty. You love and take care of him like your own baby. You love for me to hold you and hug you all day when the kids are at school. I love it when you say

Mommy I want you. You bring the tender side out in Derek, especially when you give him kisses. Your a little crazy right now with your new hobby of taking off your

diaper and telling everyone that your now naked. No potty training anytime soon since you are afraid of falling in the toilet.You idolize Adam and Hunter and want to be just like them. You do and say what ever they do. You always pick someone on a cartoon that you want to be. Like your always Walle and Hunter is Eve from the movie Walle. You and Hunter fight over which one of you is Sponge Bob when it comes on. Hunter is your best friend.

We are not sure what we would do with out you. All of us love you so much and are so glad you came to live with our family. Happy Birthday Matt!