A Girls Weekend in Reno!!!

Tuesday Marisa and I met up in Tremonton, dropped off our kids, and headed out early Wednesday to Reno to visit our sister Tiffany. After our 8 hour drive we arrived there in time to have yummy enchilada casserole and then headed to Home Depot to go get paint for our big project. We had gone to Reno, not only to play, but to help paint Tiffany's new house, which has all white walls!!! So we started taping Wed night and finished up Thursday doing all the prep work so we could spray her walls. It took ALOT of tape and paper!!!!!And plastic.......

The missionaries even stopped by to say hi while we were working!

Tiffany sprayed the front rooms and Aaron sprayed the family & kitchen.

On Friday, we did some touch up paint and finished all the cut in that we couldn't do with the sprayer.

And finally.....the finished product.....

We finally cleaned ourselves up to head out to dinner Friday night.....to a SUSHI BAR!!!

Aaron & Tiffany took us to RickShaw's Sushi and we met up with their friends Rachel & Wayne. They all LOVE sushi!! Marisa & I have never had it before!! Marisa was the brave one....she tried a FISH sushi!!!!!

So what did Marisa & I eat??? We shared a plate of Teriyaki Chicken......it was REALLY GOOD!! No sushi for me please!

The sushi looked so pretty and interesting, but it still didn't look good enough to eat!

Except for the dessert Sushi.....banannas and strawberries covered with chocolate and whipped cream!! How can that NOT be good??

So I don't think it was technically sushi....but I think it was pretty close!!!! It has been a fun weekend and we still have a few more things to do before we head home!! Having a girls only weekend with no kids has been a blast...but have I missed my kids and hubby SOOO MUCH!!!! Can't wait to get home to them!!

What do you do in the summertime?

I can't believe it is June, and even though it is still a few days away, the start of Summer is in full swing around our house! Last week, I had my friend Melissa come over and help me fill water balloons for our neighborhood BBQ. While we did that the kids had a fun time playing in the water and eating Otter Pops! Unfortunately, the sun has decided to disappear the last few days and the rest of this week, and rain clouds have taken its place, but it is nice to just open the windows and enjoy the fresh air....(that is when the refinery next door doesn't stink!).

I had to throw in this picture of Kaylee covered in Spaghetti.....she was really happy eating it, but I think she got tired of sitting there waiting for me to clean her up, and just couldn't take it anymore by the time I grabbed the camera!

Carson has quite a collection of Trucks, and Tractors, but specifically has been asking for a "Back Hoe". So we have had our eye out for one that would work for him that doesn't cost a fortune. So luckily Nick and Carson stopped at the DI the other day and found him the perfect Back Hoe....it is remote controlled and all....it even plays music!! He loves it!! The best part is that it cost a whole $1.50!!!! Love it!!

And yes...Kaylee loves it too!!

We took a trip out to the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple on Monday for FHE. It was raining when we got there, but cleared up by the time we got done. It was beautiful and Carson really like it!! He has been talking about it quite a bit since we have gone. If you get a chance to go you should, it makes a great activity! They even served really yummy cookies at the end of the tour!

And finally, our next summertime project.....flower beds!! Okay, they will end up being bush beds, since I don't know how many flowers will actually make it in them! We planted 4 bushes already in front of the house, and we are going to be getting some mulch and hopefully curbing eventually on the other side of the front of the house. Sometimes owning a home can be very overwhelming and expensive!! But we are doing a little at a time which seems to make it manageable! Hopefully soon I can share pictures of a finished project!

Chalk Time

This past Monday, I had colored some posters that we hung up to remind people of the BBQ on Tuesday. Carson wanted to help me, but I explained to him he couldn't, but he could color on paper. A few hours later he was outside while Nick worked on his car. He had found a blue marker from they computer desk and proceeded to use it. So when I walked out to see what he was up to, I saw exactly where he used it.....on the driveway.....so I put him in time out and explained to him how that ruins the markers...(I wasn't too concerned with the concrete...I figured it would wash eventually). But after going back outside through the front door, I noticed he had colored on the front door too! Then I got a little more upset. So Nick cleaned up the marker off the door and the sidewalk then also told me that Carson colored on my Ladder Decoration! (It now has blue polka dots!) Needless to say I was pretty mad since I thought Carson knew better than that! But I soon realized that he was just trying to use a marker to color like me. So then I felt a little bad that I just didn't let him help me with the posters. That night for FHE, we had planned a trip to the library, and so afterwards, we stopped by Smith's and found a great big box of sidewalk chalk for pretty cheap, and thought that would be a fun activity for Carson and Kaylee. And maybe Carson would get his fill of coloring....so he won't color on the house anymore! We invaded our neighbors across the street since they had shade and a large area of SMOOTH concrete to use!! Thanks again Brian & Kristi for being so accommodating! Kaylee had a blast!!! Carson colored a little, but spent more time riding bikes with the other kids! But it was fun to just sit and visit and color! We got done just in time for it to start POURING rain!! It was quite a storm! And it probably cleaned up our mess for us pretty well! Here are some pictures from that night:

I think Kaylee got more chalk on herself than on the sidewalk!!!!

What Fun Is!

This should be a fun summer! Our family got season tickets to Lagoon and we are so excited! Both Carson & Kaylee love the rides! And we can just come and go as we please!! We haven't tried the water park yet with them, but so far I can tell it will be worth the money! I have always loved lagoon, but I also LOVE riding roller coasters and other crazy rides! So does Nick, so we are both happy to see that Carson & Kaylee have no fear when it comes to rides either! Last Saturday, while Tiffany & Aaron were here from Reno, we all went to Lagoon (Chris & my Mom). It wasn't too busy, which made it even better!!
We took Carson on the BAT!! (He is maybe a little short for it, but they still let him on!) He loved it!!!!

Grandma was so nice to take them on the Carousel. She even took Kaylee for a bit while the rest of us went on Rattlesnake Rapids. Carson was a little surprised by the water...but loved it!

Carson & Aaron....just hanging out!!!

We also took Carson on the tidle wave...that was so funny!!! He absolutely loved it and would pull the funniest faces!! I think everyone on the ride got quite a kick out of it!

Kaylee is so funny.....we rode the Tiki Boat ride in Kiddie land...and when it stopped she had a FIT!! So while I took Carson on the small swings next to it, Nick took her on it SIX more times! She was in heaven, but still would get mad when the ride would stop. Maybe someday she will get the concept of how the rides work!

Later that day, we took the Kids to Matt & Nat's house, so we could ride some rides with Tiff & Aaron, with NO KIDS! (Like all the big roller coasters and the Samuri). It was kind of nice, but I actually really enjoy taking and watching my kids ride rides! I am so happy that we decided to get passes. I know that we will get our use out of them!! Especially since it is something that ALL of us enjoy!

No Training Wheels!

I am so proud of Carson. On Friday, he told Nick he wanted to take his training wheels of his small bike, so Nick did. He would go a few feet before falling over, so I recommended taking off his training wheels on his big bike, since he wouldn't have to peddle so fast. At first he was a little reluctant, but then he tried it once, and realized how much easier it was on the big bike. Before we knew it he was going quite far before falling over or stopping. On Sunday evening, we decided to try it again, so we headed around the block. We noticed that he would go further on the street than the sidewalk, since it is a larger space. He did amazing, and would stop and tip over every so often, probably because he didn't realize he can just keep going! He had two falls that were pretty rough, but thank goodness for helmets!! The last crash happened about 3 houses from our house, and he fell pretty good since he was going pretty fast. He scrapped his elbow pretty good on that one! And we walked home from that injury...but I am so proud of him from not quitting and getting back on his bike! I think it will be a fun summer!!!!

(Nick was pushing Kaylee in the stroller, chasing after us and taking pictures, and helping Carson get started on the bike each time....what a good dad!!)

My little brother....has graduated!!!

I can't believe that it is here. My little brother, Chris, is the youngest in our family and has graduated from Bear River High School! I graduated 10 years ago...and thought it would be an eternity before Chris would be graduating!! But here it is!! When I graduated, we just had our graduation in the gym....but they held the graduation at the Spectrum in Logan at USU. It was nice. We were able to leave Carson & Kaylee with a sitter at my moms, so we were able to really enjoy our evening seeing Chris graduate!

I can't believe he is old enough to be done with High School. He has a full scholarship to UVU this fall as a runner. He is pretty excited!!! He also is going to Europe next week for a senior trip with the French Club...which he isn't even a member of, but is really good friends with the teacher's son. So I guess that counts for something!!

My two sisters came in from Boise & Reno to see him graduate. It was a quick trip but it was super fun to see them and their family!

OH....so funny story....at the spectrum, the lobby has a wall of windows you can look out of, from a balcony. So my sister and I were standing there waiting and decided to pose for some pictures. Afterwards, we turned around and looked below at all the people outside taking pictures and talking. We recognized a family we knew, and then noticed the mom was trying to say something to us....it looked like she was saying....UP YOURS!! UP YOURS!! Then we both realized she was trying to tell me that they could see UP my skirt!! Yikes!!! Talk about embarrassing!!!

We love you Chris!!!!

We wanted to go get some ColdStone Icecream afterwards, but the place was packed so we settled for a wendy's frosty (you can now get them with mixin's...I had oreo's...yum!). It was a great evening!!! I still can't believe it has been 10 years since I graduated...which means I have a 10 year reunion this summer. It is actually in a few weeks, and I am planning on going. I missed my 5 year, but I am looking forward to the 10 year! Crazy!!! We are so proud of you Chris!!!

Memorial Day 2009

This post is a few days late, but it has been a busy week! After we got home on Sunday evening, I woke up early for the WX Memorial Day 5K, and then our family headed up to Ogden to help Matt & Nat put new siding on their home. My dad, mom, and brother, Chris, also were there to help. Matt had gotten the front of the house done, and we were trying to get the rest finished. After lunch, my kids, mom, dad, and I took a quick trip up to Morgan to visit my Grandpa & Grandma Brower's and Aunt Artis' grave. I don't think Carson & Kaylee have actually been to a cemetery before this weekend. I was good to go there, it had been quite a few years since I had been up there.

We got quite a bit accomplished on Matt & Nat's house. I helped by cutting the siding...which doesn't sound hard....but some of those angles can be a bit tricky!! My arms got quite the work out from doing it too!!!

Kaylee had fun just walking and playing around the yard. Carson also had fun....he was such a good little worker. He helped pick up the old siding and Styrofoam. They both did great!!

Here is cute prego Natalie!!!! She is like 22 weeks and it doesn't even look like it!!! And she was right there working harder than everyone else!!!

We grilled yummy burgers and hot dogs! They hit the spot!!! Thanks guys!!

Grandma had given Carson & Kaylee goldfish to eat...but I think Kaylee enjoyed feeding them to grandma more than feeding herself!!!

By the time we got home it was quite late...and the kids had just gotten completely worn out....
It made it really easy to put them to bed....except we had to give both of them a bath first....but it didn't take much to put them right back to sleep! It was definitely a full and productive weekend with both of our families!!!! It was just really good to be with everyone!!! Matt & Nat's house looks fantastic!!! And we made some great memories!