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Cleaning The Garage

2012-02-13T21:05:00.000-08:00

Michael and I have been talking about cleaning our garage FOR MONTHS! Who really wants to clean out their garage honestly?! I finally had had it! I wanted to start by doing a little each day for a week or so, but once we dug in I couldn't stop. My OCD kicked into full gear! My motto was "if we haven't used it in a year then toss it!" We made 2 trips to the dump and at least 4 trips to the Salvation Army.

After all was said and done, we still had a full garage, but I now know everything we kept had a purpose and that feels sooooo good! The kids had fun playing in the garage & getting dirty while we cleaned and purged our garage. I feel like less of a hoarder now!

New Laker Gear

2012-02-13T20:07:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows how much a fanatic Michael is about the Lakers, & he is breeding the next generation of Pionke's to follow in his footsteps!

Christmas 2011

2012-02-13T19:17:00.000-08:00

Opening the 1st Christmas Present: PJ's (Pedersen Tradition)

In their new Christmas PJ's

Santa Definitely Visited our House!

Santa ate his cookies (even though I burnt them!) and drank his milk!

Digging in

I love Harley's excited look on her face in this picture

Harley Mae with all her presents!

Christmas this year was soooo much fun! As soon as December hits Michael & I get super excited to start our Christmas Traditions, enjoy the spirit with our kids, and shop 'til we drop for our kids.

Merick & Harley had soooo much fun this year. They are getting so old and are able to understand that Christmas isn't all about Santa and getting gifts. We talked a lot about how we are celebrating Jesus Christs birthday and that is why we get gifts. The good thins is that this year Christmas was on a Sunday. I loved going to church with my family, it helped us focus on what that day really was about. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to enjoy our day and to show my love for Jesus Christ.

After church we put on our new Christmas outfits and went over to Auntie Ashley's and Uncle Danny's house for Christmas dinner. Ashley's whole family was in town! I love her family, they are sooo much fun and have sooo much love for every one around them! Ashley's mom cooked an amazing Christmas dinner (Thanks Jo, I'm sooo happy I didn't have to cook that day). Uncle Danny got a Ping Pong table, so a majority of the day was spent trash talking and playing ping pong. The other half of the day was spent riding Harley's New Bike & Merick's New Scooter!

All in all, I have to say this was my favorite Christmas thus far. I love my family, I love the Gospel in my life, I love my friends, and I love the blessing we had to have the means to provide a fun Christmas for our kids this year. We truely have been watched over and blessed!

I LOVE MY LIFE!

Santa Train ~ 2011

2012-02-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

Waiting in line for the Train

Harley peaking in Santa's Mailbox

Giving tickets to the Train Conductor

Jace, Merick, Harley, & Mason looking at the scenery as the train moves

Just a couple of guys talking

Harley & Mason

Harley examining her mittens

Harley talking to Mason about her mittens

Harley showing us her mittens

Amy & I

Amy & Dave

I love hats!

The kids with Mr & Mrs Santa Clause

Sitting in Santa's sleigh

Merick Modeling Session...

Harley's turn...

Pictures in front of my favorite train...

The Cousin's

This was our 3rd year of being able to ride The Santa Train in Boulder City, Nevada! Every year it never fails and we have sooo much fun. This year we got on an outside seat & it wasn't freezing cold. I have to say that this year was my favorite year riding the train. I hope we can continue to ride the train and my family & I enjoy it! I think having our good friends The Cousin's with us make it even better! I love our Christmas traditions!

Christmas Tree Decorating

2012-01-31T13:50:00.000-08:00

The Kids love love love decorating the Christmas tree. They have gotten so we don't even have to do that much to help them anymore. Michael does the lights & the ribbon, the kids put on the ornaments, & I come in afterwards and tweek a few things.

This is our 3rd year with our fake Walmart tree - one of our best purchases from that store. I know it is fun to have a real tree with the wonderful smells, but it is sooo nice to have a pretty looking tree for as long as we want!

Best 9 Days

2012-01-30T19:03:00.000-08:00

Riding bikes/scooters can be sooo much fun with cousins!

My cool dude

Kayden in the morning

Keelie on the phone

Silly Kayden Catherin

The kids in front of the Bellagio

M&M Factory

Harley looking down at Hello Kitty

Kelsey and her girls in the M&M Movie

Kayden had NO IDEA her glasses were upside down...look how happy she is!

Me & my kids!

The twins were very hesistant about Hello Kitty

Harley LOVES her!

Merick and Santa

Keelie playing with the Mermaid

Keelie hugging Mama

The Bass Pro Shop is soooo fun

The kids in front of the huge fish tank

I love those bums!

Keelie and me on our way to take her home

Harley had to take a picture too

Keelie REALLY rubbing my hair...of course she does this on her way home!

Merick took his adorable picture of Kayden

After Thanksgiving my sister, Kelsey, and her daughters, Kayden & Keelie, stayed at my house for a week! I was super excited to have them stay with us and play all day every day!!! Harley and the twins get along really well & Merick is great with them too! Plus, I always love when my family is around me. I miss them more then I like to admit!

In the week that Kelsey was here we went to the strip, went out to dinner, rented a TON of movies, got the twins off their naps (Kelsey hates me a little bit for that), went to Bass Pro Shops, ate too much food, got our nails done (without any kids), were completely lazy 1 day, went to Ethel M's Chocolate Factory, looked at Christmas lights, and ate some more! I loved each and every minute!!

I know by the end of the week Kelsey was ready to go home. I hated driving away from her and my beautiful nieces, but I know she will come back!!! Love you Kelsey, you are an amazing sister and my best friend! xoxo

Thanksgiving 2011 (I'm behind with my blogging!!)

2012-01-30T16:45:00.001-08:00

Michael cutting the turkey

Damian, Jordan (little sister), Vickie (mom)

Anthony & Andrew eatting Thanksgiving dinner

Ashley doing what she does best: playing with the kids!!

Kelsey (my sister), & ME!

Keelie & Kayden playing with Ashley

Harley, Koby, & Merick the next morning eatting breakfast

Hailey & Merick: Cousins/Friends Forever

Anthony & Trysie cuddling!

Me & Trysie at the park

Me & my love

This is my favorite picture of the day: Kolby flying down the slide!

Isn't he handsome???

Pretty girl Hailey

The Corona's

My favorite 6 yr old boy in all the world!

Harley loves these slides!

Cute aren't they?

Kayden a little overwhelmed by all the people at the park

Needing some love from mom

Prettiest twin girlies

Kolby loved seeing Santa

The Pionkes & Brown/Wallace's at Ethel M's

I love these girls!

Sisters!

It takes a lot to get love from these girls so I HAD to document it!

Keelie is rubbing my hair, that is a high honor

Even when Keelie is sad she is pretty

Santa wasn't there so we sat in his chair!

Harley & Michael's relationship has its ups & downs

Oh Michael!

This year for Thanksgiving a majority of my family came up from California, stayed at our house, and ate a dinner that Michael & I prepared for almost 20 people! I didn't do a great job of taking pictures because I was very busy cooking for everyone, but thanks to Ashley we have a few to remember the day! Here are the people that came:

Vickie

Trysden, Andrew, Hailey, Anthony, & Kolby

Kelsey, Kayden, & Keelie

Jordan & Damian

Danny & Ashley

Michael, Amber, Merick, & Harley

With all those Brown family members we didn't have any drama and the kids played very very well together! I "borrowed" 1 long table & chairs from our church building (I wish more then anything I could've gotten a picture of that!) to accomodate everyone. At the end of the day we were overly fed and the kids played amazingly well together

The next day we went to the park with all the kids. What a joke though...it was Black Friday and I took all those kids to the busiest park in Vegas! I don't know what I was thinking, but I think the parents were more tired from chasing all the kids around and making sure we didn't lose any of them.

By the end of the 2 1/2 days that my family was there I was ready to get my house back and clean up after a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Things that I am VERY grateful for:

*My eternal family

*Michael's determination to work so hard to provide for us

*The gospel in my life

*My testimony

*The blessing to be a stay at home mom

*A roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and food in our bellies

* The opportunity for Michael to finish his BA degree

* Our extended family members

* Our ward family

First Professional Haircuts

2012-01-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

Our kids have NEVER been in salon to have their hair cut before. Usually Michael or I (in the past) cut Merick's hair & Harley has had my friends cut her hair. We thought it would be fun to go out and let them get their hair cut in a salon. Merick was a champ and loved his hair cut, Harley on the other hand was silent & had a stern look on her face the entire time...but as soon as we left she couldn't stop talking about it. Typical Harley!

Cooler Weather

2012-01-09T19:51:00.000-08:00

We have been taking advantage of the GREAT weather we have been having in Henderson! We have been riding bikes, spending time together as a family, and eatting our lunches outside. As much as the summer heat is brutal sometimes, I can't give up the fall/winter months here! We are having a BLAST!!

Donuts for Dads

2012-01-09T19:48:00.000-08:00

Merick's school did a "Donuts with Dads" Day. Merick was super excited to bring Michael to school and eat breakfast with him. Michael is Merick's best friend, I hope that never fades. I want these 2 guys to be best friends for LIFE! I love my guys & Michael is such a great dad!

YW In Excellence 2011

2012-01-09T19:32:00.000-08:00

Group Shot with leaders & girls

(Me, Taylor, Jordan, Kimberly, Brenna, Kim, Stephanie, Hailey, Emily, & Tristin)

Girl Group Shot

Taylor

Stephanie

Stephanie

Jordan

Hailey

Emily

Brenna

I LOVED how the YW in Excellence turned out this year! I got called to be the 1st councelor in the YW Presidency late last year & I have enjoyed every second of it!!! I remember one YW in Excellence from when I was younger...it was sooo nice and ellegant. I wanted to try to emulate that as much as possible for our first BIG activity with this presidency. I wanted to turn off all the lights in the room and line the room with white little Christmas lights. I also wanted everything in the room to be white and silver or gold. I also wanted to highlight each girl individually so they could show themselves off and feel special. Our theme was "Let your light so shine". The night went perfectly!!!! I couldn't have asked for a better night or a better group of girls. I felt the spirit sooo strongly, and it was all because of these wonderful young women that I get to serve. I love each and every one of them!!! They have shown me what girls go through nowadays & how much times have changed - the girls seem much more mature and going through more then I did as a teenager. I respect that they are still going to school, coming to church, and trying to be good people. I hope they know just how much I love them!

Merick Turned 6!

2011-11-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

Merick finally turned 6!!!! He is the last little guy out of all his friends to have a birthday, so this was a long time coming. We have been counting down for weeks!!! Having a birthday at the end of the year stinks for 2 reasons: 1- it is so close to Christmas, and 2- he has to be patient which isn't easy for a kid!

This year we did a family birthday party. We are going to rotate every year - family birthday one year and friend birthday the next. Merick has had some great friend birthday parties in the past so I knew he could handle having a family party this year. We asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday this year and he said Miniature Golf. We've done bowling and movies so the next logical thing was mini-golf. I thought it was a great activity for the family. We had a lot of fun and come to find out, Michael is a Pro!

We also took cupcakes to his Kindegarten class. I think Merick was more excited about the cupcakes then he was about the rest of the day. Merick picked out what kind of cake mix, frosting, and decorations to put on top of the cupcakes. With Merick getting older it is fun to see his opinions in life. He is definitely a Pionke: he loves chocolate!

Merick chose McDonalds for lunch (because Michael and I hate that place and he never gets to go) and Cafe Rio for dinner with Aunt Ashley and Uncle Danny. It was a fun day from start to finish. Merick got sooooo many fun things for his birthday...money, Thor action figures, almost ever Green Lantern Action/Toy, and The Captain America Shield that he has been wanting forever!

Merick is such a great kid! He has really turned out to be such a gentleman! He loves to help out whenever he can. He opens doors for people, he helps buckle his sister in her carseat, he is very polite, and he loves to serve others. Merick does really well in school and his teacher says that is a great kid in class. I love my buddy sooo very much. I couldn't imagine not having that handsome man in my life! I am excited to see what the next holds for him!

Happy Birthday Merick Daniel! Mom & Dad love you very much and are very proud of you! Keep up the good work!

Drawings

2011-11-11T12:51:00.000-08:00

Merick, Michael, Amber, Harley

Merick is going through a phase of drawing, coloring, writing, etc. Anything creative he is all over it! Almost everyday I come downstairs to pieces of paper all over my kitchen. My favorite: little pieces of paper he has cut, glued, or taped onto another piece of paper. Michael seriously loves this, he thinks Merick is going to be an artist!

One day Merick called me into my bedroom and taped onto my wall were these 4 pictures. He pointed to them and told me, "Now we can all be together forever." I thought it was the cutest thing ever! I need to get frames so that they can stay on the wall permanently. I love that he said that...we will be a family forever...whether he likes it or not!

Happy Halloween - 2011

2011-11-11T09:33:00.000-08:00

The Kids Trick or Treating

The Bevell's, Pionke's, and Schouten's

Michael taking Harley into a Haunted House

Harley coming OUT of the Haunted House

Hugging Dad for comfort

Still Crying

Hugs from Mom

Merick took this picture of Aunt Ashley being silly!

Cutest Woody (Chase)

Pionke Brothers

Violet was my friend for 10 whole minutes, so I had to document it

The Schouten's

Auntie Ashley and Merick

Our little family...and Uncle Danny

Uncle Danny, Aunt Ashley, Cousin Tilly and our kids

Trick or Treating was super fun this year. We went over to Uncle Danny's and Aunt Ashley's subdivision as usual to trick or treat. It is a nice gated community and not too many kids. Also, not as many houses either - thanks to the economy and soooo many foreclosures! Not to worry, our kids still got a ton of candy, it was just sad to me to see sooo many dark houses.

Anyways, it was fun to have our friends and family with us! More kids equals more fun!!! As usual the kids raced from house to house. They had sooo much fun! Merick had a costume change for some odd reason: he wanted to be Wolverine all year long, then Halloween night he changed his mind and was Black Spiderman. Michael took Harley into a Haunted House and scared her to death!!!! She cried for at least 10 minutes before getting over the terror. We are bad parents because we laughed at her sadness!

I love that my kids are getting older to enjoy these holidays. It makes the holidays that much more enjoyable for Michael and I!

South Valley Ranch's 2011 Trunk or Treat

2011-11-11T07:48:00.000-08:00

Wolverine Merick

Strawberry Shortcake Harley

Typical Harley

At the Trunk or Treat

Merick and Gerritt D

Harley and Alissa

Harley, why couldn't your eyes be open?!

My dear friend Aidee and Amber

I love our ward! I think I've said that at least 100 times! Our Trunk or Treats are sooo much fun! Tons of friend, candy, and chili! Our ward does a Chili Cook Off every Halloween and there is at least 20 different crock pots of chili to choose from. I also love that our Trunk or Treat is a safe way for out kids to run around at night time and hang out with their friends. The adults also get a chance to socialize as well! It was a fun time again this year!

Adults Can Dress Up Too!

2011-11-10T08:43:00.000-08:00

Halloween is my favorite holiday. I used to dress up a lot when I was younger. Then I got married and had kids and enjoyed dressing my kids up. This year we got invited to an Adult Halloween Party. I struggled with wanting to put in the effort to dress up, but my love for Halloween took over! Michael and I dressed up as vampires. I am super glad that we went though! It was a fun night without the kids! Socializing with adults is always a good time! Thank you Howell's for inviting us!!!

School Halloween Carnival

2011-11-10T08:21:00.001-08:00

Iron Man and Strawberry Shortcake

My kids with our good friends the Hancock's

Merick and his school buddies

Merick Golfing

Great Picture: Michael caught Harley throwing the ball

Merick Bowling

Harley Playing the Bean Bag Toss

Merick Tossing a Football

This year Merick's school threw a Halloween Carnival. I love doing every activity I can so that my kids can wear their costumes more then just on Halloween Day. It was a fun way to support our school and get to see Merick's friends and his school environment. It was fun watching the kids play and getting to chat with friends.

Maids For Hire

2011-11-09T12:27:00.000-08:00

Don't these 2 look super cute while cleaning? I think so! I was dusting the house a few weeks back and both of my kids asked to help. I jumped on that and handed them a rag and sprayed down the area I wanted them to clean. Now only if they were this eager to help clean the rest of the house (I.E. the toys in the background of the above picture). So if anyone out there needs a few good dusters give me a call and I will send over my 2 kids!

Jazzercise

2011-11-09T11:40:00.001-08:00

Angie's reaction to our surprise (sorry bad picture)

Kim & Dawn bringing Angie her cake

Angie and her daughter Alissa

Jazzercise Crew: Dawn, Angie, Kim, and Me (Minus Aidee & Cindy)

Jazzercise Crew: Kim, Dawn, Angie, Aidee, and Me (Minus Cindy)

I've never blogged about my fun hobby: JAZZERCISE! Our instructor, Angie, had a birthday in September & we threw her a surprise birthday one night after her class. It was super fun getting everyone involved in on the surprise. We collected enough money from everyone to get Angie gift cards to her favorite store and restuarant and then we got to stuff cash in the envelope because people kept donating the night of the party. The party was a blast and we were sooo happy to be able to do something for Angie, she is one of nicest people I've ever met. Being able to manage for Angie's class has been such a blessing in my life! The reason is that I LOVE Jazzercise and because Angie so generously thought of me as a person who she would allow to help manage her class I get to Jazzercise for free! I've been Jazzercising for 4 yrs total - 3 of which I've been one of Angie's class managers! It has helped me stay healthy and I've been given a good outlet to deal with stay at home mom wows. Thank you Angie for all that you have given me!

My Tired Little Girl

2011-11-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

Since we took Harley out of her crib she refuses to take a nap. It SUCKS! I have not one second of down time in my life anymore! I know, I am now entering the real world of being a "mom". Merick was always sooo obedient and would do quite time in his room. Harley on the other hand gets out of her room a million times and it annoys me sooo much that I just stopped putting her down all together. The only thing that ticks me off is that Harley now falls asleep around 3 or 4 on the couch. On the other hand she looks sooo cute! Notice, she has her 1 comfort item: her blanket!

Harley's 1st Princess Party

2011-11-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

Harley got invited to her favorite friend KellyJo's Princess Birthday Party. As you can tell by her face in the pictures, she was very very excited!! Harley loved getting ready for the party as well. She didn't yell at my 1 time while brushing the snarls out of her hair, she didn't get nervous while I curled her hair (because YES, I have accidentally burnt her in the past), she posed for many pictures until we got a good one, and then she ran into the car when she was completely ready! She had a blast at the party and came home with a box of princess things! She held onto that box so tightly for days. Needless to say, Harley is a little on the girlie side!!! I LOVE IT!

Baby Declan

2011-11-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

Merick is such a big boy standing while holding Baby Declan

Harley getting really nervous because Declan is crying

My dear friend Laura and her cute family came to stay with us! It had been over 2 years since I had seen her last. In those 2 years Laura had gotten married and had a baby! To say that I was excited to see Laura is an understatement. Plus, my kids loved her son Baby Declan! It was sort of annoying at how much my kids wanted to hold Baby Declan or sit next to Baby Declan or play with Baby Declan. Laura and Heath (her husband) were very patient with my kiddos! Laura and I got to spend a lot of time together and just chat. I miss having friends around who know everything that has gone on in my crazy life and just get me. No explaining or tip toeing over weird subjects, we just got to be comfortable and hang out! I am very happy that Laura and her family came to stay! I had a blast! I hope to see them again very soon.

Costumes

2011-11-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

G.I. Joe Merick

Iron Man/Super Why Harley

My kids love to play dress up! We have many costumes! Merick has been collecting them since he was little! Harley does have Princess dresses, but sometimes she like to dress up with Merick! I love how they play pretend, their imaginations amaze me!

My New Church Calling

2011-10-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

Brenna, Emily, Haylie, Jordan, Taylor, & Kimberly

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new calling!!! I've been trying to get back into Young Women's the minute I was too old to be in it anymore! Being the 1st Counselor is great because I get to sit back and be told what to do! Our ward has a small group of girls, but that makes it more personal! I hope these girls know how excited I am!

Photo Shoot 2011

2011-10-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Of course Harley falls asleep on the way to the photo shoot!!!!

We took our Christmas pictures this month! It is sooo much fun to be able to do with with my family: get dressed up and document what the kids look like. It is sooo great to have a friend who knows how to take pictures of my family and we look amazing! I can't wait to see the final product that Craig Tovey (craigtovey.com) came up with!!!!

The First Cold Day of the Season

2011-10-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

For a whole week Nevada got down to the 60's in the mornings! Harley couldn't handle it and HAD to wear a sweater! She is such a Nevadan!!! She wouldn't smile for me to take a picture...this is the best I got out of her! Little stinker!!!

My New Do

2011-10-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

I finally did it! I've been thinking about cutting my hair for months now. It was quite the process because I haven't had short hair in 7 years!!! The main reason I wanted to cut my hair was to get all the blonde off my ends. My hair was sooo damaged from me bleaching it for a few years. My great friend (Laura) came into town and this was the perfect time for me to cut it because I know she would make me look great! I love the color and cut soooo much! Thanks Laura, you always do an amazing job!!!!

Who Knew...

2011-10-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

That Jo Ann's could be sooo much fun? Merick and I went on our weekly lunch date (without Michael this time because he was working) and I needed to go look at a few things for Young Women's. I never knew that Merick would have sooo much fun in a store! We spent way more time goofing around then we did actually looking for the things I needed. It was a fun date for sure! I love my buddy!

Please Look At The Camera Harley!

2011-10-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

Harley has wanted to swing on our friends tree swing for such a long time. We finally had a few minutes that she could, and the dang kid would not look at the camera! This shows how much of a little stinker Harley actually is. She sure is pretty, but she is such a stinker!

A Pionke Obession

2011-09-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

Merick's love for ice cream is a love that has been passed down through 3 Pionke generations. Papa Pionke LOVES ice cream, Michael Pionke LOVES ice cream, and now Merick Pionke LOVES ice cream. It doesn't matter what kind: if it made from ice cream they will eat it! I just hope that Merick can learn to control his ice cream intake so he doesn't get the "Pionke Belly" when he get older! I can only pray for him to have self control!

Fun Times With Harley

2011-09-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

Harley with her girlfriends at Jazzercise (Mia, Ava, Harley, Payton, Olivia)

Harley has started putting her "cellphone" in her shirts like her mom and aunts

Best Friends

Harley is a very hard child. She is one of the biggest reasons we don't have another child. I am hoping that her temper and listening skills will get better over the next year (as she gets older). BUT through all the craziness Harley is a fun kid as well! I love her personality and it makes the tantrums bearable!

Merick's Photos

2011-09-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

Merick earned this soldier in school for being such a good boy

I downloaded pictures off my camera a few weeks ago and I found these 2 pictures that Merick took. He is soooo cute and lined up the "toys of the week" and took pictures. I love this kid!

Dress Up Harley

2011-09-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

Harley said she was a "Rock-N-Roll Girl" in Amy's Harley Davidson Jacket

Harleys Halloween Wings from last year!

Harley is such a little girlie girl...she came out of her room one day and had on a few different "outfits". I just had to take pictures to show what she does on a regular basis! I'm just glad she didn't change her whole outfit because she does that 2-3 times a day as well...just like her Auntie Kindra when Kindra was her age!

Best Friend Necklace

2011-09-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows Merick knows that Michael is his Best Friend and has been since the day he was born! Merick made Michael a Best Friend Necklace for him to wear. I thought it was adorable that he even knew what a Best Friend Necklace was. He did a good job, but needless to say Michael was "thrilled" to wear his necklace for everyone to see!

Merick's 3rd Lost Tooth

2011-09-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

Merick lost yet another tooth, it feels like he is loosing a tooth one a month! This time Harley is the one who knocked Merick's tooth out! She was jumping on the couch and kneed him in the mouth. He jumped up (crying of course) and spit out the tooth! Thanks Harley...now I don't have to pull it out!

Merick put his tooth under his pillow as usual and the Tooth Fairy only had a $5 bill in her "pouch" so he scored! We went to the store the next day and he was able to buy GI Joe's with his tooth money!

Harley's First Day of Preschool

2011-09-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

Harley's 1st day of Preschool

Harley wanted to pose

This is Harley at "Amy's Preschool"

We are so lucky to live where we do to have such great friends who organize Preschools!! Harley had a hard time when Merick went to Kindegarten this year, because she wanted to go with him. Luckily, I have great friends (Amy & Becky) who started up a Joy preschool with other moms in our ward and a mom who started a preschool out of her very house! THANK YOU GIRLS!!!Harley goes to preschool on Wednesdays from 11:00-1:30 and Fridays from 9:00-1:30! It is a great way for her to get educated before Kindegarten and to give her and I a break from each other! Harley loves going to school and she loves being able to hang out and meet new friends!

Merick's CTR Ring

2011-09-26T14:18:00.000-07:00

Merick has been bugging me to buy him a CTR ring for a while now. He is in the CTR 5 class this year in Primary. I thought it was only fair to buy him one, but I haven't been able to get over to the book store to buy him one. Then a few weeks ago he came home from church with a green CTR ring from his great teacher, Jessica Howell! Merick has been wearing it everyday ever since he got it!

Thank Goodness for Great Teachers!!! The world need more!

Oldie, but Goodies

2011-09-14T20:19:00.001-07:00

This picture was taken in the summer of 1999. My dads company went to Hawaii and we got to stay in the Ritz Carlton Hotel because my dad built it! It was AMAZING!! I think that was the most nice hotel I've ever stayed in. Corey, Kelsey, and me were the only kids out of my family that got to go because other kids their age came and my mom wanted me to play with her. I remember it was a great vacation! I miss the days of my family at this age!

Embarrassingly enough this was take during our Engagement Photo Shoot. Craig Tovey (our best friend) took our pictures. I can not remember for the life of me why Michael was grabbing his bum and making this face, but this pictures captures Michael's silliness! I love it!!!

Look Alikes

2011-09-04T16:30:00.001-07:00

My kids are OBSESSED with wearing my glasses! I don't like them touching my glasses because I have the worst eye sight and if anything goes wrong with them I can not see!!! I finally came up with a solution: I broke out the lens' on a pair of sunglasses that I've had for 8 years! The funny thing is that the sunglasses look very similar to my glasses so the kids went with it! Michael laughed so hard at how much alike Harley and I look in this picture!

Merick's 1st Day of Kindegarten

2011-09-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

Merick started Kindegarten on August 29, 2011. Merick has been super for a year now, I am just glad that the day has finally come! We enrolled him in a Public Charter School called Somerset. There are a lot of reasons that we wanted him to go to a Charter School: to get a better education, to go to school with friends, to have more opportunity in school, it is a brand new school, and the uniforms. Merick's teacher is Mrs. Erickson, and she is super excited about being a teacher! I love her enthusiasm and I hope it carries on throughout the school year!

The night before school we put out Merick's clothes for the next day and got his backpack all ready. When I went to wake him up for school the morning of the 1st day he woke up with a smile and said, "I knew you were going to do that!". On the car ride over Merick was quite. I think the unknown of what was going to happen that day was getting to him. I was sooo super excited for him, but at the same time I had a little anxiety that whole day. I can't believe that my little boy was going to school! It brought on many changes in our life. I just want him to love school and succeed. I want him to make friends and always fit in. I want him to be safe. I want him to like his teacher. The list can go on and on. When we picked him at the end of the school day he was all smiles! As soon as I saw that Merick was happy I immediately felt peace and knew that I could do this-PHEW!

I love my Merick-Man and I hope he knows how proud I am of him!

Just Like Dad

2011-09-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

Merick loves to play drums, it is such a passion of his...just like Michael. I love this picture of Merick, you can see how much he loves drumming!

Harley's Many Faces

2011-09-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

Harley and I were messing around with my cell phone. These are the many faces of Harley-I love each and every one of them. Harley is the cutest little girl in the world to me!

Harley The Gemini

2011-09-04T15:47:00.000-07:00

Harley has 2 sides to her personality: sweet/love & crazy/silly. These 2 pictures capture Harley perfectly!

Cutest Cousins EVER!

2011-09-04T15:38:00.000-07:00

This is Keelie Catherin, Harley Mae, and Kayden Lynn! They are 5 months apart, and they live in 2 different states. The thing that I LOVE about these 3 little girls is how well they play together no matter how long it has been since the last time they saw each other.

To say that I love Kayden and Keelie (my nieces, Kelsey's kids) is an understatement! I just love being and Aunt...it is one of the best jobs in the world!

Harley the Runner

2011-09-04T15:26:00.001-07:00

This is Harley's permanent seat at Costco because she is "runner". I honestly think she is too big for shopping carts because of her LONG LEGS, but she hasn't proven to us that we can trust her out of a shopping cart. I think Harley is going to be the only 5 year old still in a shopping cart. Oh, Harley!

Red Target Ball

2011-09-04T15:17:00.001-07:00

Does anyone else have kids who HAVE to sit on the red balls in front of Target every single time you go to Target? Mine do!

P.S. These are Cell Phone Pictures!

The Harts

2011-09-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

I believe I have mentioned more then a few times just how much I LOVE having visitors! It makes living so far away from family bearable. Vegas is the perfect middle point for my family! Kevin and Shera stopped at our house for the night on their way to California for a summer family vacation! It was soooo nice to see them and their kids! Who, by the way are getting HUGE! It makes me feel sooooo old when I see Dani who is 17, mind you I used to change her diapers! Kevin and Shera are genious and had their older kids watch all the younger kids (something I did all the time when I was younger and the families got together) so the adults could go to dinner! Ahhh, the benefits to having older kids! Then we brought home dessert to have with everyone. Then next morning we took pictures and went out to breakfast before they left to continue their trip on to CA!

I love Kevin and Shera with all my heart! I have the best memories of spending time with them and their family! They took me to Europe for 3 weeks! I spent a few days with them right after they got married. I grew up in Shera's home after I was born, she is practically the older sister I never had! I spent many weekends at their house in college. I babysat their kids ALL the time while they went on mini-trips. They helped me get everything ready for my wedding. Kevin is the one guy I go to for Fatherly Advice. He has taken that role over perfectly and I admire him so much for that! I look up to Kevin and Shera for soo many things. I try to have the loving marriage that they have. I try to parent like them. I want to be the example they are to their family. I am sooo lucky to have them in my life!

Thanks for stopping by guys, I hope to see you again soon!

School Carnival

2011-08-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

Merick HATES rides, but he went on with his friend to save face

Merick's favorite part of the carnival: the huge water gun fight!

Harley in the Jump House

They even had a small petting zoo!

Merick starts Kindegarten on Monday, August 29th! He is super excited! His school had a carnival before school started. We got there an hour before it ended and we still had to park a block and a half away! There were soo many people there! It was great to see that our brand new school has such a following! We had a great night of cotton candy, snow cones, bounce houses, rides, chatting with friends, water fights, and zoo animals. I hope that Merick's first year of school is as fun as this night was!

Harley's Obsession

2011-08-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

To say that Harley loves milk does not even come close to her obsession! She would rather drink a cup of milk then eat a meal. Whenever she is sad, sleepy, bored, or hungry she asks for her milk. Michael, being the nice dad that he is, got her hooked on Chocolate Milk! That was a bad thing because now everytime she wants chocolate in her milk. Good thing Nestle makes a "less sugar" kind. Milk has become Harley's best friend in a time of need! I don't know how we are ever going to break this habit of hers!!! I can honestly say that Harley drinks 3 gallons of 1% milk a week! At least it is a healthy addiction right???

Merick Lately

2011-08-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

Merick loves music...he is either playing Michael's drums, playing his guitar, or making noises/beats with his mouth. It is something that he does naturally or without thinking about it...Michael LOVES that!

Mericks LOVES to jump off things...the stairs, my couch, to slam dunk a basketball, or off my bed while wearing a Superman cape. I love my little Superman!

I would love to put Merick in gymnastics, but Michael is SOOOO AGAINST that one! Dads!

Harley Lately

2011-08-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

Little Snooki...a.k.a. Harley Mae

Harley is soooo silly - she gets this from Michael & I love it!

Harley LOVES protein hamburger's from In & Out, that she gets from ME!

My Kids

2011-08-12T11:53:00.000-07:00

I know everyone says this, but I really do ... " LOVE MY KIDS"! As much as they frustrate me, keep me up at night, don't listen, say my name a million times, fight with each other, annoy me, and want everything that I have, I could NOT imagine my life without them!

Michael and I talk about our life before we had kids, and we laugh at how boring it was. I can't believe that all I had to worry about was waking up on time to get to work! My life has so much more meaning now. I am grateful for the 2 blessings in my life: Merick & Harley! I hope that they read this one day and know that I didn't just yell at them all day long!!! They are my life and I love it!!!

Ward Friends

2011-08-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

Jessica, Me, Kayla, & Becky (sorry Diana, I didn't think to pull out my camera until everyone was leaving!)

Our ward had a family move out last month so a few of us got together to say our good-byes! It was fun to get our kids together to play and let the adults hang out! I wish that I had made more time to actually hang out with the Hartshorn's instead of just talking about it ALL THE TIME! I will miss the Hartshorn's dearly! I am lucky and got to be Kayla's visiting teacher this last year!! I have loved being able to hang out with her and her very cute son!!! I am excited for their new adventure & I hope only the best for them! I hope to see you guys soon! xoxo

Sneaky Sleep Over

2011-08-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

We put Harley in a toddler bed a few months ago and I regret it every single day! She doesn't nap unless she is exhausted or I bribe her, she doesn't stay in her bedroom, and she wakes us up in the middle of the night at least once if not more every single night! If it weren't child abuse to keep Harley in a crib until she went to high school I would!

A few nights ago we put the kids to bed and we didn't hear a peep from them. They usually mess around for 30 minutes before falling asleep. Michael got up to go check on them and he saw that Harley had gone into Merick's room to watch a movie with him (yes, he has a little DVD player in his room because he has a very hard time sleeping. I know it is bad parenting, but this is the ONLY way we have figured out to help him not have as many night terrors!). Anyways, Harley went into Merick's room to watch his movie with him and they both fell asleep...cute huh?? Harley is a VERY HARD child, but times like this makes me forget about the stuggles I had with her that day...until she wakes up of course and starts screaming at someone! Aww, the joys of my life!

July Random-ness

2011-07-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

Lately Merick LOVES to play Hide-n-Go-Seek. His favorite place to hide is underneath our bed. As you can see he fits perfectly & he thinks it is hilarious! The only down fall of him playing this game is that he thinks we are cheating when we find him. I don't understand why he thinks that & no matter how many time we explain it to him he does't get it. One of these days...

I thought as Harley got older she would become less of a "mama's girl". Michael would love more then anything for her to love him for then me. Well, as she gets older she gets more attached to me. Even if I discipline Harley she will come running back to me for sympathy. If she only knew that Dad would give her the world I think she would change her tune!

July California Trip

2011-07-19T18:29:00.000-07:00

Harley is upset about...I don't even know, she is just emotional!

Remember Tireswings? Trent, Jenna, & Merick

Catching up with great friends: Robyn & Sarah

Merick, Jenna, & Harley watching the cute ducks

Then off to Nana's: Merick, Hailey, Harley, & Anthony

Keelie & Harley

Pretty Kayden Lynn

Keelie Posing

Kolby Drew and his cute faces...

My handsome brother Jace

Oh Jace!

I love this picture of Merick

My beautiful sister Kelsey

Anthony is all boy. Whenever I see him he either has a sword or a gun in his hands

Snack time!

Kisses from Uncle Jace

SOME of the sisters: Trysden & Kelsey

SOME of my siblings: Trysden, Kelsey, & Jace

Trysden & Kolby

Bubble Time with Nana

Nana with her grandkids in the backyard playing

My man & I

We decided to take a quick trip down to Souther California to see my family & for Michael to train for his new job. It was such a great trip between seeing family and friends! Plus, for being July the weather was beautiful! We got to play outside all day long. The kids got to roll down hills, play on swings, blow bubbles, and play with the hose. It honestly the perfect mini vacation. Oh plus, my Grandma and Uncle Jeremy stopped by for a quick visit as well. My favorite part of the trip was spending time with my sisters and nieces/nephews. The kids got along sooo well that the adults got to sit around and chat. I hope that I get to see my family again soon!

Good-Bye

2011-07-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

If I haven't expressed it enough I LOVE living in Henderson for many reasons! One of them is because of the church we go to! We have made many close friends and we never want to move out of the ward. Another fun thing about our ward lately is the missionaries that are serving in our area. Elder Remington & Elder Chriswell are amazing! We have had them over for dinner as many time as we could. They have stopp-ed by or called whenever they need help & gave us the opportunity to serve. Plus, my kids LOVE them! This week they are both being transferred out of our area, but I just wanted to post about them so we can always remember how much we enjoyed getting to know them! I wish them luck for the remainder of their missions and hope they do great things with their lives!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2011-07-10T18:29:00.000-07:00

The weather has been really weird in Henderson, Nevada this last week. It has been VERY hot, rainy, and muggy. One day we even had a thunder storm where the electricity was shut off for 20 seconds. I thought is was fun, but it scared my kids!!!! A few days later it rained again and my kids ran to the window to look at the rain. I came over to look out the window, but the rain had stopped. Merick leaned over and whispered to me, "Mom, I prayed that the rain would stop, Heavenly Father answered my prayer." He was worried about having another thunder storm. Ahhh, the worries of a 5 years old...if only my life were so simple!

Merick's Love Letters

2011-07-10T18:13:00.000-07:00

Merick is soooo cute lately. He has grown into such a nice boy! We are sooo lucky to have a kid like him, I know I won't have to worry about him when he gets older. Harley on the old hand terrifies us! Anyways, Merick has been very thoughtful and making pictures for Michael and I. After he colors them he folds them up and put a pound of blue painters tape around the letter to give them to us.

Merick told me that I am in the middle of the hearts & that the hearts mean I love you! He is super proud of his pictures and always gives me a hug and kiss after I gush over his creative skills! I love that kid!!!

Merick's Long Prayers

2011-07-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

Merick is 5 1/2 now and we are really trying to improve our prayer skills at night time. For a while we had a lot of giggling, shushing, and a LOT of repetitive prayers. One night for FHE we sat down and talked to the kids about prayers and how to say them. Merick must have taken it to heart because now we are kicking ourselves a little bit ... he now says 10+ minute prayers. Often Michael and I open our eyes and laugh (silently of course) because he is really going at it! Merick says a lot of thank yous...

Thank you we can go to the pool

Thank you we can eat

Thank you we can play

Thank you for our friends

Thank you for Harley

Thank you for Dad

Thank you for Mom
Thank you for other family members

Thank you for Thomas S Monson

Etc, Etc, Etc

I should be very grateful for an attentive son, but oh my goodness I don't know how many more of these extensive prayers I can live through. I am such an evil mom that I sometimes ask Michael to NOT choose Merick because I am too tired and want to go to bed myself. Maybe we will have to talk to Merick about cutting them a little shorter.

The 4th Of July-2011

2011-07-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

The first Official 4th of July picture

Merick climing the rocks in Danny's & Ashley's backyard!

Victory!

Ashley & I @ The Green Valley Ranch Hotel waiting for the fireworks to start (note: Ashley is on her tip tops to even us out in the picture!)

Harley with Aunt Ashley (I love this picture!)

The Pionke Brothers: this picture doesn't need an explanation

COME ON DANNY!

Merick wanted to climb over the gate to go down the ladder on the other side: Um, no thanks!

Merick & Lydia playing on the utlity box

Merick LOVES sparklers

Merick stomping out the sparklers

I'm so patriotic

I was trying to talk Harley into holding the sparklers (she hated them)

Aunt Ashley talked her into holding a sparkler...FINALLY!

Then she burnt her finger

Lydia & Troy

Cute Jonah

The fireworks finally began!

Harley doesn't like loud noises...this is her way of covering her ears

Harley screamed through the entire show with her ears "covered"

Uncle Danny teasing Harley, he NEVER does that

Lydia & Merick watching the fireworks together....so romantic

Aren't they so cute???

The 4th of July was a fun day for us this year! We started out with going to the movies with the kids. It is nice having kids old enough to be able to go a theater again. After the movie and naps we went over to Danny & Ashley's house for a BBQ! I love having family close to be able to celebrate holidays.

Our 4th of July tradition is to go to The Green Valley Ranch Hotel and watching their fireworks show. It is a nice show (but every year it gets shorter and shorter), and we get to hangout and play while waiting. It was nice to have the Hancocks (minus Jessica & Ryder) with us this year. The more the merrier is our motto! The kids had friends to play with and the adults got to socialize.

Our day was successful and we had fun celebrating our independence...we are very grateful for it!

A Big Girl Bed - FINALLY!

2011-07-04T16:41:00.000-07:00

Michael and I were not very rushed to get Harley out of her crib for a few reasons:

1- We didn't have another baby to put in the crib

2- Harley wasn't too big for the crib

3- Harley LOVES her crib

4- It was a good way to keep her contained when it was bed time even if she didn't fall asleep

5- I also read a few articles about how it is okay to keep them in a crib for as long as they are comfortable and happy

The ONLY reason I took Harleys crib front off to make it into a big girl bed was that she was getting super heavy to lift. Plus, she is 3 now! I was hesitant also because Harley listens to no one unless you yell at her so I knew she would be in and out of her room 1 million times before falling asleep. We took the front of her bed off one night without discussing it with her (oops), but she did a great job! She didn't fall off, she slept through the night, and the next morning she went downstair with Merick so Michael and & I slept in until 8 am! Now we are smart and make her milk the night before so she has NO reason to wake us up...it is such a beautiful thing, but it is making me super lazy in the mornings!

I love having older kids...my life is getting sooo much easier!!! Why do I have this nagging feeling to have another kid again? Someone please remind me...

Merick's 2nd Lost Tooth

2011-07-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, June 21st Merick lost his 2nd tooth! We were at Costco with our friends eating pizza: it is our Tuesday ritual. Anyways, Merick was eatting a piece of pizza and he got this worried look on his face. He then teared up and said "Mom, my tooth came out." I thought he swolled his it and we lost another tooth. Then he opened his mouth and it was hanging by a thread, which meant I had to rip it out. I smiled, yanked, got a sick feeling in my gut, and got his tooth out. Merick is a very sensitive boy when it comes to blood and being hurt so when I got his tooth out he immediately cried. After a few napkins to clean up the tiny bit of blood he was back to eatting his pizza and playing with his friends!

That night we forgot to put his tooth under his pillow. He was worried that the Tooth Fairy wouldn't come, but Michael and I reassured him she would come whenever you put a tooth under your pillow. That night I remembered, took his tooth, and replaced it with 3 $1 bills. He was very excited the next morning to see she had come!!! Ahhh, the little joys in life. Merick bought a miniature transformer with his Tooth Fairy money! Being a mom is fun sometimes!

A Brown Girl Tradition

2011-07-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

She just can't help but be silly...

For any of you who know me & my family, every Saturday night all the girls in my family HAD to put curlers in their hair for church the next morning!!! My mom would pull out this gigantic silver bag that had hundreds of curlers in it and make us sit in front of her while she sprayed our hair with a spray bottle and rolled up our hair. With my mom having to do 5 girls (Jordan wasn't born yet) you would think this would take forever, but because she had done it a million times she was done before you could blink! THEN the next morning she would do our hair and throw a big bow on top of our heads. I know it sounds scary, but we always look very nice and everyone knew about the Brown Girls Bows! Thanks Mom for starting a fun tradition that I passed on to Harley!!!

Michael's FAT Lip

2011-07-04T12:57:00.001-07:00

This isn't the greatest picture of Michael's lip because the injury is 3 days old here. All I have to say is: Church Basketball! Yup, some big guy put his elbow in Michael's mouth and walked away from him! I get a picture message on my phone of the gross mess right after it happened...I had no idea what I was even looking at. After the text message I called him and he tried to talk as clearly as he could telling me what happened. He then tells me he has to get stitches! What? It was 10pm at this point and I think "I'm going to have to wake my kids up to go to the ER". URG! Good thing our trusty ward doctor and great friend said he would stitch him up no problem! So Michael went to his house and got 2 stitches on his living room couch...gotta love having friends in high places! Thanks Steve & Troy, you save us a hefty ER bill!

Fast Visitors

2011-07-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

One of my closest friends passed through town on their new adventure to Idaho!!! I love being in Nevada for this one joy: we get a lot of company. Courtney and her family met us at IHop for a interesting breakfast with 6 kids and 4 adults. Those odds are never any good, especially when the husbands put themself in the corner away from all the children! You should've seen the looks we were getting from the IHop employees! And yes, we tore apart the restuarant! Courtney and I just had to sit back and laugh about all the chaos that was going on around us: kids throwing things, passing food from one plate to the next, kids eatting off Courtney's plate constantly all the while we were trying to have a conversation! Where were the men? In the corner gossiping!!! All in all, I loved seeing her & her family. Our kids get along famously! Merick and Braxton talk like they see each other everyday & Saylor and Harley play very well together. Poor Krew & Dempsey, I have no kids for you guys to play with (and no pictures proving they were even there).

Thanks Courtney for passing through, I love being with you: it is a breath of fresh air hanging out with someone who knows all my bagage and loves me for it! Also, thanks for the surprise you put in my purse: I am still hoarding half of it in my wallet!

I hope Idaho is everything you wanted in life! LOVE YOU DEAR FRIEND!!!!!

Harley Mae's 3rd Birthday

2011-07-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

Harley's Birthday was on a Sunday this year, so we started celebrating her 3rd birthday on the Saturday before. Our kids LOVE Cafe Rio so we went there for her birthday dinner and then we went next door to a great ice cream restuarant. Harley loves the waffles cones, ice cream is just the topping on the cone. Then that night we went across town to this really fun water park. It had tree houses, a maze, a splash pad, and slides. Harley loves to run through all the trees houses.

The next day she woke up to a pink decorated house and gifts on the table! She is at the fun age where she understands holidays and has been looking forward to it being her birthday since January when Michael had his birthday. She went to church in her new birthday dress (I forgot to take a picture of her in it, dangit!) After church we had Danny and Ashley over for Harley's favorite dinner: Spaghetti. Michael invented this great spaghetti that our whole family loves! Then our friends, the Cousin's, came over for cake and ice cream!

Harley was so cute opening her presents...she dug right in!!! I didn't even have to help her. She got Zoobles, Strawberry Shortcakes, books, more Zoobles, and a bubble wand.

In Harley's 3 years of life she has added so much to our family:

She is the silliest little girl I've ever met

Harley loves to play in the dirt, yet she is sooo girly

She loves to play in my makeup when I get ready

She always has to wear bracelets and rings

She LOVES to sing to songs on the radio

Harley is the sassiest little girl in the world: there is NO telling that little one what to do

Merick is her best friend

She loves to ride her bike in front of our house

Harley is extremely bossy

We finally moved her out of her crib and she did sooo well from the first night in a big girl bed

She runs on her tip toes

Harley loves to go to the pool so much that if you tell her we can't go she cries

At 3 years old Harley is still obsessed with drinking milk morning, noon, and night

If you hug Harley and she is in a good mood she always tells you that she loves you

Harley gives everyone a mean look before warming up to them

Harley is very smart: she remembers everything just like her dad

Laker Vision 2011

2011-06-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

This was a pure accident! The kids and I were out running errands and Michael had come home, taken a shower, & gotten dressed before we got home. When we walk in I see that we are all wearing Laker colors! Michael made me take pictures of course. Michael's love for the Lakers is the 5th family member in our house...I on the other hand am not a huge fan anymore. Michael had beaten it out of me!

Merick Can Ride A Bike

2011-06-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

After MONTHS of trying to get Merick to practice riding his bike without training wheels he finally got it!!! I sort of tricked him into it...we were going to a friends house for dinner and playing in her cult-a-sac & I knew that all the kids would be riding their bikes. Merick is VERY competitive and I knew if he saw his good friend racing around without training wheels he would have to do it. Good thing Merick's friends dad is a professional at riding bikes (literally) and he helped us fix Merick's bike so he would feel comfortable to ride by himself. Within 10 minutes of fixing Merick's bike he was riding without training wheels!!!! It was a MIRACLE....thank you Gerritt Schouten - it wouldn't have happened without you!

Now Merick thinks he is sooooo cool and wants to show everyone his bike riding skills! We are so proud of him...he is growing up way to fast for me, but I am enjoying the ride!

My 33rd Birthday

2011-06-02T08:26:00.000-07:00

Turning 33 was a little hard this year...I am getting OLD! I don't feel it, but something about that number is just daunting! Everytime I say it outloud I cringe a little. Good thing we had a BLAST on my birthday though!

My husband did such a great job this year! We had so much fun!!! He tried really hard to make my day special...I am a lucky girl. Michael took 2 days off of work for my birthday!!! That in itself was a great present! My kids and I loved having him home for 4 whole days! I wish he could stay home everyday! Anyways, the day of my birthday started off with Michael making me breakfast and giving me my presents first thing in the morning-he bought me an outfit from The Buckle (my favorite store in the entire world)! Of course, everything fit perfectly because he picks out my clothes a lot of the time. Then we went to playgroup to let the kids play and give them something to do. After that Michael arranged for my friend Jen (Thanks sooooo much Jen for taking our rugrats!) to babysit Merick and Harley so we could go to lunch and go bathing suit shopping because I didn't have one for the summer. We went to Great Harvest & I bought 2 bathing suits!!! Woohoo, summer here I come!!! After lunch and shopping we came home to put to kids in "quite time" and we made my cake - Jello cake with cream cheese/whipping cream topping-Yum, my fav!!! For dinner we went to a mexican restuarant with my brother and sister-in-law. Then to end the day we came back to our house for cake and ice cream!

Phew, that was a lot packed into 1 day!!! My kids were great, my husband was great, and my friends were great! Thanks sooo much Michael-you made turning 33 super fun! I love you my handsome man!!!!! xoxox

My Mothers Day

2011-05-11T18:39:00.000-07:00

Jewelry from my 2 favorite stores: The Buckle & Charlotte Russe

The MOST comfortable shoes I've ever had!

Card from Merick

Card from Harley Mae

Mothers Day this year was GREAT! Michael tried really hard (and succeeded), I got my anual pair of running shoes (that I soooo desperately needed), and my kids fought all day long (even though I told him that all I wanted for Mothers Day from them was to get along). All in all I loved my day...it started off with Michael making me eggs and fruit for breakfast. Then I got to go to Sunday School & Relief Society for the first time in almost 6 months. When I got home I took a nap and then we went over to Ashley and Danny's for a delishous dinner. I didn't have to cook or clean one meal...that in itself would make my day~NO presents needed. I love my family, they we more thrilled that it was Mothers Day then I did. My kids are really making the holidays fun for me! I'm one lucky girl!

Fun Windy Days

2011-05-07T22:31:00.000-07:00

Harley and her Barbie Kite

Her kite worked perfectly from the start & she was a pro from the beginning!

Merick's kite was less cooperative and he needed Michael's help

He finally got his kite to fly!

Merick learned to run around to control the wind and his kite

Michael and Merick flying kites together

My favorite picture...

Harley being cute

They got tired so they sat down to fly their kites

Today was the perfect day to fly kites: super windy and not to hot! Michael bought the kids kites a few weeks ago while we were in California. It was hard to find the time to get all of us together on a windy day to fly them, but today was the day! Harley got a Barbie kite and Merick got a Star Wars kite. For some reason Harley's kite worked right off the bat! Merick's kite on the other hand took us 30 minutes to figure out how to keep it in the air. I felt so bad for Merick because he waited patiently while his mom and dad tried to get his kite to work. When Merick finally got to hold and fly his own kite you could see the excitement on his face! He loved every minute of it! Harley had a good time as well. They both did very well of not tangling theirs lines too much and Harley only let go of her kite once...Michael ran after her kite before it went into a tree or on top of a house.

All in all kite flying was a SUPER FUN family activity! I loved every second of it! Good investment Michael!!!

Mericks First Loose Tooth

2011-04-28T15:17:00.000-07:00

Merick lost his first tooth on Tuesday April 26th! This was after almost a full month of him pampering the tooth! He first noticed it was loose after eatting an apple. This week it had gotten sooo loose that it was up to me to get it out! Tuesday morning when I was brushing his teeth I was more aggresive then normal. When his tooth finally came out Merick cried (of course), more because he saw a little blood. After we cleaned out his mouth and changed his shirt (that he had just put on) I asked him if it hurt and said no. Typical Merick...sensitive until the end!

That night I put his tooth in a zip lock bag to put under his pillow, but of course he lost it somewhere in my house! YUCK! I hope that it turns up sooner then later. Reguardless the Tooth Fairy came and left Merick $3 and a note telling him that when he finds his tooth to put it under his pillow so she can come back to get it later.

Merick has been carrying his $3 around talking about what he wants to spend it on. Simple pleasures in life!

Future NBA Star

2011-04-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

Lately all Merick wants to do is shoot the ball, either into his basketball hoop upstairs or our tall wicker basket downstairs. Most times he wants us to play with him while he either blocks or dunks. The funny thing is he is getting decent at getting the ball in the hoop. He loves basketball right now! He always stays up to watch the Laker games with dad & today when we were at the library he picked up a magazine that had a NBA player that he recognized on the cover. I just hope that he is tall enough to play in high school or in a league because he really does love it!!

Easter Sunday

2011-04-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

Thank you Grandma for our Easter outfits!

Merick Daniel 5 yrs 5 months Harley Mae 2 years 10 months

Harley's favortie candy: Bubble Tape

Our Easter Sunday was a very nice day! It started off with church, then we had our own Easter Egg Hunt afterwards, and then Uncle Danny & Aunt Ashley came over for dinner to break in our new BBQ. It was a very nice day. Nothing to hectic and we got to take a family nap ~ BONUS!

I am so grateful for my family at this time of year. I am grateful for the blessings that I have in my life. I am grateful that Michael has a job. I am grateful for the gospel in my life because it makes my life so much easier to live. I am grateful for this day...it was a good one!

Egg Coloring

2011-04-28T14:32:00.001-07:00

Can you tell that I am exhausted? Today was a busy day for us... Michael's head is shaped like an egg, so here is the side by side proof

Kids make holidays so much fun! Plus, my kids are both old enough to participate in a the activities. It was fun that Harley could color and decorate her own eggs this year. Michael and I got to sit back and make sure the spills didn't get out of control.

And yes, I am that mom that strips her kids down so that they don't stain their clothes. Sorry about the shirtless photos!

Ward Easter Egg Hunt 2011

2011-04-28T14:19:00.000-07:00

One of our Easter traditions is a easter egg hunt at a park by our house. It is nice to have an activity that I can trust my kids will be safe at. We have so much fun every year that we go and it is a good way to be social for the parents as well. This year they also did a pancake breakfast which was a nice bonus ~ I didn't have to cook or clean up. WooHoo for me!!

Fat Booth

2011-04-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of Fat Booth? It is a cell phone app that my brother Jace has on his phone. One night at my moms house he showed Michael and I don't think I've heard Michael laugh like that in a very long time! Here is what we would look like if we were all morbidly obese! Here are the FAT PIONKE'S!!

Merick cried when he saw his picture he hated it that much & being the good parents that we are we laughed in his face!

Some Good Comes Out of A Sad Visit

2011-04-27T17:07:00.000-07:00

*These are ALL cell phone pictures*

Kayden and Keelie hugging at funeral

Sassy Kayden

Harley hugging Keelie

Harley hugging Kayden

Miss Kayden Lynn

Keelie, Harley, & Merick laughing at Michael

Harley reading her library books to the twins early in the morning

Pretty Kayden

All the cousins eatting (minus Merick)

Harley, Anthony, & Uncle Josh watching TV at Nana's

Uncle Jace putting up the tent so Merick can have a sleep over

Kayden & Keelie in high heels

Kayden & Harley in high heels

On April 11, 2011 Keith Wallace was in a car accident and passed away. Keith is my little sister Kelsey's significant other & father to my 2 year old twin nieces. Keith was 24 years old and a GREAT father!!! I had only met Keith once, but it still felt like such a loss to our family. Keith's death was a shock to everyone involved. I know that he is with my family who has passed before him and is watching over his girls every day. I hope that my sister feels his love and has some kind of comfort that Heavenly Father is watching over them. It is something that is going to be impossible for her to get over, but I know she is a very strong person and wants to be the best mom to her twin girls. I pray for my sister Kelsey and her girls every day of my life! I love my little sister and best friend more then I can express!

On a positive note: I got to be in CA for 9 days!!!! I got to hang out and play with my siblings, nieces, and nephews every day! I got to see my Grandma and some extended family members who made the trip to support Kelsey and her girls. That in itself was the best time of my life! When can you get all the cousin's together and let them play for days on end? So to me it was a blessing to be able to be in CA for so long!

P.S. I want to say a special Thank You to Amy Cousin & Jennifer Schouten! My 2 friends who watched Merick while Michael went to work all day long. I am so grateful to have friends who I can count on. I love you girls and consider you my family! Merick had a blast and it was nice to not have him around all the chaos.

Our First Tball Season

2011-04-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

Merick and Harley in the dugout ~ Harley thinks she is on the team as well

Harley watching Merick play outfield

Thanks to a good friend, we got Merick into his first year of Tball! Merick was super excited when we talked to him about it. We practiced for weeks, and then finally he had his very first game! The funny thing about Tball for 5 year olds is that there is no outs, everyone bats, and their are NO winners and NO losers. Merick asks after every game who won. We just tell him that everyone wins in Tball. He is very discouraged with that answer. He is soooo my son!

Merick team is call "The Bulls" and his coach is Coach T. Harley called him Coach Team for a while before we corrected her because it was sooo cute. The one thing I love about Merick playing Tball is his opportunity to make new friends. Merick laughs a ton while he is in the outfield and plays in the dirt because there aren't a ton of fly balls in Tball.

We have a few more weeks of games and I hope that Merick decides he likes Tball enough to do it again. Plus, he looks so dang cute in his uniform!!

One Cute Little Girl

2011-04-10T22:05:00.000-07:00

Who knew eatting a fudgsicle could be soo messy and cute at the same time?

This is what Harley looks like after she uses the bathroom. She was sooo angry Michael took a picture of it!

Best Friends

2011-04-10T22:01:00.000-07:00

Merick and Harley have finally hit the right ages where they can play and have fun together! It is sooo much fun to listen to them talk and laugh with eachother. My favorite is when they are sitting at the bar eatting lunch...this is when they communicate the most. Merick is so patient and loving to her and Harley brings the comic relief and sass!

I know it won't be like this forever, so here is proof that they really do love one another!

The Teasie Becomes the Teaser

2011-04-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

For almost a year we have been working on Merick to STOP teasing his little sister. Then the other night Harley finally caught on and teased him back!

Harley: "Merick has a girlfriend" (Then she snickers a little)

Merick: "No I don't!"

Harley: "He kisses her" (Harley smiles BIG because she knows she got him)

Merick: "Don't say I have a girlfriend!!!" (He was soooo angry at this point)

Michael and I laughed so hard after this one...1- for Harley being proud of herself 2- for how angry Merick gets when we talk about him and girls!

T-Ball

2011-04-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

This was at the team picture day...

Merick is finally old enough to starts sports! We were sooo excited to sign him up and start going to practices! It is soooo fun to watch your kid do something that he really enjoys! Merick and his team, The Bulls, have been practicing twice a week for a month. Tomorrow is their very first game! Merick keeps talking about beating the other team, little does he know that in T-Ball there is no winners or losers. So it will be just like practcice, but there will be new boys at bat.

More pictures to come...

Peanut Butter Chocolate Faces

2011-04-01T14:53:00.001-07:00

Today my kids and I made these cookies...

but when you eat them you always end up with chocolate ALL over your face...

their faces are soooo cute making the cookies are soo WORTH IT!!!

Auntie Kelsey Comes To Visit

2011-04-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my sister Kelsey and her pretty twin girls, Kayden & Keelie, came to Vegas to visit us! I LOVE it when my family comes to visit me! Seeing Kelsey was an added perk because I don't get to spend enough time with my nieces! Kayden & Keelie are extremely shy and so I have to work twice as hard to get them to even look at me! While Kelsey was here we went to a few parks, out to lunch, girl talk, and I finally got to meet the infamous Keith Wallace...her boyfriend!

These were the ONLY pictures we took the whole time...good thing Kelsey had a good camera on her cell phone! Thanks Kelsey!

I hope they can come to visit me again. I miss and love those girls too much!

A Forgotten picture

2011-04-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

When we went down to CA in January my family and I took this picture at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and I forgot to post it! Thanks Trysie for reminding me!

If you look close enough...NONE of the kids are smiling except for Merick...STINKING KIDS!

Firehouse

2011-04-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Fireman showing kids an ax

Jaws of Life

Fireman in full uniform

Harley holding firehose

Merick & Jace holding firehose

Merick in firetruck

Harley in firetruck

Merick in ambulance

Group Shot

Our family friend had a birthday party last month! What a great idea to go to a firehouse!!! The boys loved it, and I have to be honest I was excited to be there as well! The boys got to see the inside of the firehouse and see the firemen eatting dinner. They got to see the in's and out's of an ambulance and firetruck. The firemen showed them the jaws of life, an ax, and their uniform! The best thing of all: all the kids got to hold a firehose when it was on!!! I was a little jealous and wanted to do it, but I had to be a mature adult! We had a great time at Mason's birthday party!

Bounce House

2011-04-01T08:22:00.001-07:00

**Please forgive the quality of my pictures, my lense had finger prints all over it AGAIN!**

My kids LOVE the local bounce house! I try to take the kids once a month! They have way more then just things to bounce on: the tball corner, hula hoops, basketball, and of course we always go with friends...Thanks Jen for going with us!!!

Fun FHE

2011-03-09T15:29:00.001-08:00

Harley loved feeding the ducks! They were sooo friendly!

Can you tell she was excited? My handsome Merick Man!

Feeding the ducks at Sunset Park is the BEST FHE we' ve had in a while! I takes a while for me to save up enough bread to go, so we don't do it as often as my kids would like. Harley loved every second! The ducks are overly friendly though...if you aren't fast enough at throwing the bread they will come up to you and take it out of your hands! I love that we have a fun park this close to us!

Purple High Heels

2011-03-01T16:45:00.000-08:00

Harley Mae 2yrs 8 months

Harley LOVES my new purple high heels. I've tried to hide them a few times, but she always finds them! I secretly love that she loves them, but I am also tired of tripping over where ever she has left them!

Valentines Day

2011-03-01T16:35:00.000-08:00

I went out at midnight and "heart attacked" Michael's car before work!

Michael and I "heart attacked" the kids doors

Michael got me a jewelry box...so I would stop putting mine on top of the microwave

& I made everyone heart shaped cakes

After being married for 10 years and Valentines Day landing 3 weeks after our anniversary we usually celebrate the day more for the kids. It was a nice day that we got to spend together, have a few treats, and go out for dinner so I didn't have to cook!

I love my family!

Having A Sister Can Be Hard Sometimes

2011-03-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

Minutes after

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Here is the story on Merick's black eye...the kids and I were playing in my bedroom because we were having a lazy day. On those days nothing good happens because we are stuck in the house all day long. So, Harley and Merick find these 5 lb hand weights underneath my dressure (that have NEVER been used by the way). I then say "Put those back so no one gets hurt please" then Merick starts to scream his head off! Yup, Miss 2 1/2 yr old Harley Mae THREW her 5 lb hand weight at Merick's face! To say that I was mad was an understatement because his eye was swelling up so quickly and I was scared that it broke a bone or hurt his eye. Harley ran herself into her bedroom for a timeout and didn't come out until I called her! We immediately put an ice pack on Merick's eye & he layed on my bed for an hour or so. Harley is not the little girl I thought I would have (don't get me wrong, I LOVE her with all my heart and soul) ... she is such a little stinker and creates most of the drama in the house. I hope she grows out of it...I've heard differently about little girls though!