Thursday, April 19, 2012

Isabella & The Peanuts Gang





I was grateful to attend this
Charlie Brown production with Isabella and her class!

The show was outstanding
-I'm always blown away by anything "live"-
and it was a great chance to spend some one-on-one time
with my daughter.

She is a beautiful girl,
nearly as tall as me now,
and it blows me away that once
upon a time she ran around in diapers...

Okay...crying now.

I love you, Isabella!

xoxomom


Iris & Grandma Lopez on a Field Trip!

I have the greatest grandma in the world!

While I was on a field trip with Isabella,
Grandma Lopez accompanied Iris on her
field trip to the Sunflower Market.

They had the best time together,
and as much as Grandma looked out for Iris,
Iris looked out for Grandma!

Since this field trip,
Grandma has had a mild stroke,
making it impossible for her to do something like this again.

How grateful I am for time well spent
together as families,
and for captured memories too!





Thank you, Grandma!

You do so much for us!





Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Welcome to the family, Louella Mae!


And then there were eight!

...

Yes,
once upon a time,
 said I would never.  ever.
ever, ever, ever, ever, ever.

Have a dog.

And yet.

Here. We.  Are.

Sigh.

...

In a nutshell:

It was love at first sight! 


Even for me!


And the kids?

They finally
-FINALLY-
have a dog!

And sometimes they still can't believe it!

And yes, I'm the the one that takes the most care of her!

Sigh.


Friday, April 13, 2012

Blue Goo



With the kids home for Easter break
we did some fun things in the kitchen including
making "Blue Goo".

The recipe came from a
Science Project workbook and was super-simple:

Blue Goo

1 c cornstarch
1/2 c water
blue food coloring (liquid-not gel)

Pour the cornstarch into a large mixing bowl.

Slowly add the water and a few drops of blue. 

Squish with your hands mixing well,
and...

Wa-La!

...

The result?

Craziness!

I think we were all at a loss for words.

Liquidy.

But dry?

Crumbly.

But wet?

You really have to try it for yourself!

And the kids?

Of course,
they loved it!

...

Summer break?

Bring it!

We're ready!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Monday, April 9, 2012

Easter Morn


Happy Easter!


Things kicked off a bit sluggishly...

can you blame the Easter Bunny for being tired?


But it's always worth it!

Love those early morning smiles!


After a wonderful Sacrament Meeting,
we met up with my family for Easter Brunch,
and later we met up with Samuel's family for Easter Supper!

Talk about a feast!


And last but not least,
a good ol' fashioned egg hunt!

...

Easter, for us,
is a celebration of our Savior, Jesus Christ,
of family,
and of love!

We hope you had a wondeful day too!



Saturday, April 7, 2012

Lazy Park Days







Love, love, love
lazy days!

And the piece de resistance?

Playing to the very last coin...

and winning!

Go, mom!

{Sorry, Bella!}


Friday, April 6, 2012

The Classic Easter Egg Hunt

We love visiting the Wyllie Home
for their annual Easter Egg Hunt!

The wide open spaces,
the green grass...
it beckons:

"Hide your eggs here!"

And hide them we do!

The kids go nuts,
the adults relax,
we all puzzle over that last
missing egg...

It's wonderful!

HAPPY EASTER!




It's nearly time...


Anxiously waiting...


And their off!


My beautiful girls!


Owen


Gabriel


Strategizing...


Sometimes things don't go your way...


But we ended on smiles.

Thanks, Dad!

...

And thanks to the Wyllie Family!



A replay of the action...


Thursday, April 5, 2012

83 years!

Happy 83rd Birthday, Grandma Lopez!

We loved celebrating with you!









Beautiful!


I couldn't NOT include my monster shot.

This was in frustration to the seemingly
endless amount of photos we had to take in which
everyone was still or almost smiling!

Love this crazy bunch!


Wednesday, April 4, 2012



Oh, the trials of youth!

To not be able to climb all the way up to the top bunk-
let alone climb down...

Of course this was a temporary setback,
like most challenges are,
and days later,
guess who was triumphantly shouting from the top bunk
and taking swings at the ceiling fan?

Oy!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

General Conference Weekend



Conference was amazing,
and as usual,
we were all looking forward to it!

Big family breakfasts...
pj's all the live long day...
snugging on the couch...

But most importantly,
listening to living prophets and apostles!

It's a miracle,
and I'm blessed to share this with my family.

Check out the highlights here!

You won't regret it!


Thursday, March 29, 2012

Happy Birthday, Samuel!



The big 3 - 3 finally came for Samuel and
all I can say is,

"Good grief!  Thank goodness it's here!"

As much as I love celebrating how many wonderful
years he has graced this earth...
every...single...year
(because I'm older by two weeks),
he gloats about how he's a whole year younger than me!

Do your math, buddy!

Even if I have to say I'm 33
and you get to say your 32
-I'm still only two weeks older!

Anyway...
his birthday wouldn't be the same without this
annual back and forth,
and truly,

"Happy Birthday, Samuel!"

I love you, hon!

This year was a bit unconventional for us
in that I was away for the big day in Bakersfield, California.

My grandma's nephew passed away and
I drove her and my little sister down for the funeral.
It was a wonderful opporunity to visit
family that I haven't seen since I was a little girl,
and to be able to spend time with my grandma and sister
was priceless!

What to do about the homefront though?

Well the day before I left,
I baked my buns off and 
gave the girls the secret mission of carrying
on the festivities without momma!

I am so proud of those girls!

They put the finishing touches on a 
hearty lasagna dinner,
wrapped dad's gifts,
AND
served Samuel's favorite chocolate cake for dessert! 

They are wondeful little momma's!

And the boys,
they played their part well too!
Keeping daddy busy with their escapades so
the girls could finish up!
...

When I got home the next day,
there was nothing but hugs and kisses
from all but one...
Gabriel!

He refused to look at me,
or let me hold him!

He was so, so upset with me for leaving!

I apologized and
told him I was home now,
and only then did he crawl into my arms!

What a sweetie! 

I love my brood!


Saturday, March 17, 2012

Graceful Ballerinas?


My sister, Julia,
is in an advanced ballet class
and recently learned how to
be lifted gracefully as part of her routine.

The kiddos, of course,
went crazy trying to do the same thing,
and Samuel,
the unfortunate counterpart,
nearly keeled over after hefting them
time and time again.

The worst, by far,
was Isabella!

Who crumpled the moment he
touched her waist!

The best?

Gabriel!
He was a natural!

All my money is on that guy!
Maybe we'll see him in Swan Lake someday...
Though that would be a bit awkward since
he'd be the one being lifted...

Anyway,
great fun!

Tons of good pictures and
many, many laughs!


Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

I know how to catch leprachauns...


Let's just say it involves...


Sugar!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Rain



Love this girl!


Iris' Mommy Time

Iris has been working hard on
chores and extra jobs around the house,
and it when it came time to cash in
for some of her hard work
she chose "Mommy Time"!

Woo-hoo!

We headed out in the pouring rain
for a bit of shopping
and for some delicious frozen yogurt.

Her concoction?

Mint yogurt, gumballs,
maraschino cherries, sprinkles...

Hmmm....

But of course,
she loved it!

...

Iris,
You are lovely, talented,
and one smart cookie!

I love spending some alone-time with you!

Thank you for choosing me to spend
and afternoon with!

I have loved every second!

xoxoXoxoO
Mom