Our Signature Poses

Look on my side bar, think back in your mind, or reflect on our previous family pictures and you will find that there are a few things they all have in common. {1} One {of two} well posed parent, {2} One pretty girl trying to glam it up for the camera, {3} One handsome boy sporting a very toothy (either giggling or clenched) grin, {4} One very strong parent....wrestling a larger than life toddler. Check it out...Scroll back through our life, you'll see. This is our signature pose.

...a little better...Caleb is still in pain but the rest of us are hanging in there...

...ok, thank you Brandt for making some random bird noises...that actually helped. Caleb went from crying to hysterics within a few seconds.

...now's our chance, Caleb is acting sweet and coy, but the bird noises were just too hilarious for the other two...goofy grins all around!

...that's more like it, wait...really? Closed eyes and furrowed brows from our more stable picture takers? After all that? Seriously.

Invites

I tried to get a few of these invitations sent out for Cali's baptism. I also thought about posting them BEFORE she was actually baptized. But, with so much going on the last few weeks, I didn't get as many sent as I'd liked....AND I didn't get it posted before the date.

The next couple posts are dedicated to this great event. Thanks to everyone who was able to make the trek to Rock Springs!

Cali's Baptism

July 23rd was a special day for Cali, she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was a very exciting weekend for us, lots of family, lots of fun, and lots of food. We had several tender moments with our sweet Cali reflecting on the past eight years.

I snapped this picture in the dressing room right before I helped her dry off. I think her crazy smile and her drippy face is so precious. I want her to stay this precious and innocent forever, I know she won't, but I am glad I have a picture of it.

Here's a collage of our wonderful supportive family members who able to share Cali's day with her. Top Row: Grandpa Neal and Grandma Gwen, Brandt and Alexis, Tyler and Bethany, Melissa, Parker, Brock, and Devin. Bottom Row: Dory, Brittany, Grandpa Carl and Grandma Vicki.

I also have to say a big thank you to my friends who helped me so much too. I was running around like a crazy mother and forgot to get a picture of these wonderful ladies, but their help was very much appreciated.

Here's Cali in her "fancy woman" dress. This girl has always been a very fancy girl. When we started talking about her baptism dress she had a lot of ideas of how she wanted it to look. She drew me a few sketches of what she wanted it to look like, I found a few patterns that were acceptable to her, and this is what we came up with! It turned out very pretty, with only a few minor glitches {one being the zipper and the other being the fact that the material is very slippery, and not as sturdy as I had hoped}.

Cali is very grateful {and so am I} that she has a lot of supportive and kind friends.

It was a great day. I still can't believe that she is THAT old, and I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around how old that makes me. I am just very grateful to have a such a great girl, and I know my life would not be complete without her...fanciness and all!

Two Friends

Cali and Abby on Cali's baptism day {July 23, 2011}

Cali and Abby on Abby's baptism day {April 10, 2010}

What a difference a year and a few months makes!

Birthday Party

We had a fun, simple, and low key birthday party for Cali this year. With all the fun and festivities going on, I didn't want to overwhelm her {or me}. So we met some friends at the rec center splash park. We took advantage of the huge lawn and played some relay games that involved the kids dressing up in ridiculous clothes, running, and passing the clothes to the next person. Since one team was short a person, I joined in on the fun. The kids came up with creative ways to put the clothes on, and ways to help each other. It was really fun/funny.

Cali insisted on having Cowboy Donuts for her birthday instead of cake. Easy enough! After the games and the donuts, the kids splashed around in the splash park and munched on Chex mix. To wrap it up we sang, and opened presents. One of the best and easiest parties ever! Cali had such a great time, and was so glad that her friends were able to help her celebrate her birthday.

A Special Birthday Gift

My mom and dad gave Cali a blanket that my mom has been working on for several weeks. She incorporated Cali's favorite colors {blue and turquoise} and her favorite color {purple}. She also worked in alternating rows of white to remind Cali of her special birthday and her baptism.

There are eight colored rows and eight white rows, and numerous other patterns to follow within the intricate design. Cali took a few moments to spot some of the more prominent ones.

Of all the patterns that we have to recognize and follow in our life, it's important to remember that the pattern we should always follow is that of our Savior Jesus Christ. This blanket will be a reminder to Cali to always follow the pattern that Jesus has set for us, it will also always remind her of her grandma who spent so much time making her such a special gift.

Cali put the blanket on her bed that very night!

Birthday Eve

I snapped a couple pictures on the eve of Cali's 8th birthday. I want to remember these three this way; all bathed up, in their p.j.'s, all ready for bed, sitting nicely on the couch. It's just so sweet.

Cali is a good big sister and always tries to take care of Caleb, even though she is often times rewarded by him punching her. We're working on it.

Caleb, not camera shy at all, has now learned how to hold still and say "cheeeeeeeese".

Christian also enjoys a funny photo op from time to time!

Girl's Camp 2011

It took months and months of preparation, sewing, certifying, music mixing, planning, and packing; but we finally made it to Girl's Camp. The girls in our ward were really outstanding. I left Monday morning and hung out with the 4th year girls on their 8 mile hike. We stayed at the Legault's cabin, and had a great time getting to know girls and leaders from other wards.

I got up early Tuesday morning to try my running skills out at 9000 feet. Let's just say, the air is very thin up there, and it was uphill all the way back. It was a good learning experience for me!

Speaking of the Legault's, they stole the show with some skits on Tuesday night. People really let their comedic juices start to flow when the are in the woods and sleep deprived.

Here's a few pictures of the girls in our ward performing their skit. They did a music medley about peer pressure and the differences between good influences and bad. It was really good.

All in all it was a good learning experience for me. I must say, the preparation was far more intense than the actual camping. Once I got there, it was really quite enjoyable. I wish I had some more pictures of me and the other leaders, specifically my new best friend Melinda. If ever I thought about complaining, I just looked at her 8 month pregnant belly. She was a truly an inspiration to me of what a leader can and should be.

Welcome to 31

I just finished my first full week of being 31. So far. So good. It actually feels a lot like 30, which felt a lot like 25, which was really similar to 21, which was nearly indistinguishable from 18, which was pretty much like a sweet 16. Bottom line, aside from the obvious changes in my skin's elasticity, I don't feel a whole lot different than I did 15 years ago.

I have been blessed with good health, a great family, and a pretty awesome life. Each of my kids took a minute to welcome me to 31 {see collage}. Carter and Cali both welcomed me with a hug and a smile; Caleb by eating a good chunk of my birthday pie.

Ok...ok...So, Caleb didn't eat ALL the pie, I took care of most of it! Christian and I enjoyed a nice dinner at Fiesta Guadalajara on Saturday night where the service was so so slow. When we take the kids out to dinner, slow service is my worst nightmare. However, when Christian and I go to dinner, I LOVE some slow service. It makes me feel like I don't have anywhere else to be. Plus, after a couple basket of chips and salsa, you're not even THAT hungry anymore. It was great.

Some time between midnight on the 9th and midnight on the 10th my inbox was flooded with a ton of Facebook posts, I was able to respond to each one, but would like to thank everyone again for their thoughtfulness and kind remarks. I got some nice gifts from my family and friends, enjoyed a birthday dinner with some of my best girl friends, and now I am ready to face the adventures and challenges of another year. Here's to AT LEAST 31 more!

Bad News For Rock Springs

According to a recent GQ Magazine survey, Salt Lake City is the 8th worst dressed city in the country. Surprisingly, even worse than Provo, Utah {#15}. There are some obvious cities on the list; Seattle, Santa Fe, The Jersey Shore, Las Vegas. However, there are some shockers too; Austin, Miami, Manhattan {#5}, and Los Angeles {#2}. Boston was crowned with the #1 worst dressed city in the US {must be all the Red Socks gear!}.

All I can say is, if SLC made the top 10...bad news for Rock Springs.

Love

The Fourth

I would love to post some pictures of my kids in matching 4th of July outfits, but this is as festive as we get. We spent our 4th of July hanging out with each other and doing a lot of nothing. It felt pretty good. I did go for a four mile run {get it...four miles on the fourth}.

Later that afternoon we did make it out the door to watch Cars 2. Cali and Carter loved it, I couldn't quite follow the plot. It may have had something to do with chasing Caleb around the movie theater, DVD's are a much better choice for us {me and Caleb} at this stage in our life together.

After getting his workout at the movie theater Caleb went to bed before dark. We didn't want to miss the Rock Springs firework extravaganza, so instead of going to the golf course, we watched it from our front porch. Not a bad view at all. As a bonus, our neighbors put on a show that would rival any professional firework's display!

98 Degrees {not just a 90's boy band}

On Saturday July 2nd we made the trip to the zoo. It was a scorching 98 degrees, which to some is a cool breeze, not us Wyoming people. Rock Springs rarely gets above 90 degrees in the summer, and we wear our jackets year round. Despite the heat, the kids had a great time.

We started out our trip with a Caleb pitching a fit in the parking lot, and climbing out of his stroller. We also ended up parking farther away than Bethany's apartment, so we should have probably just walked from her house. None the less, we carried on, we don't let heat...ornery kids...1 or1/2 mile parking lot walks deter us from our goals.

The dinosaurs were very lifelike and pretty scary. Carter even said, "MOM! Protect Caleb". The dinosaur/live animal combination was a little confusing to Carter. When he saw the elephants he said, "Mom, are these real or robots?"

We were missing the infant gorilla in this photo op!

Caleb loved the zoo, he walked for nearly two hours, and then finally gave up and voluntarily got in the stroller.

And her a montage of our wonderful day!

Spontaneous Splashing

For part of the 4th of July weekend the kids and I ventured to Salt Lake. Caleb had a Dr.'s appointment, and so did my Honda {which turned into a bit of fiasco}, so we decided to spend Friday and Saturday with Bethany. Christian was off hiking and adventuring with the young men from our ward, so we decided to have some adventures of our own.

We did a little shopping at the Gateway and the kids couldn't resist a splash in the Olympic splash fountain. We quickly found out that the stone was very slippery, at least five kids biffed it big time. I spent most of the time on the sidelines yelling, "don't run!" in an attempt to prevent all three C's from cracking their skulls.

Caleb was in crazy splash heaven. We didn't plan to stop at the fountain, or to get wet for that matter, but kids don't care. Fully clothed splashing is just as good!

Carter stripped the shirt and showed off his chest and guns, he was the smart one, at least he had a dry shirt to put on afterward. Cali's a lot too old to strip down in public, so that approach wouldn't have worked for her, but should've thought to take Caleb's shirt off. He was soaked and pretty freazin' cold.

All of the kids in the area crowded around the misters. Every time the mist started, all the kids ran to stand on or near them {this is where the slipping and head cracking first started}

And this is how we left the Gateway that evening. Pretty wet, a little bit cold, and very happy!

It Has Come to This

As a responsible adult, I make certain assumptions. One such assumption is that an almost 8 year old and a 5.65 year old can pick up their own toys and messes, the first time they are asked to do so. After a lot of pleading, some asking, and equal parts yelling, I have resorted to employing the use of a chore chart. After trying out a few different designs and ideas, I found these clip art pictures that illustrate the daily and weekly chores now required of my two older children.

I thought that I would share them, in case there is anyone else out there who wonders whey their throat hurts at the end of the day...and then realizes it's from yelling. So far {day 4ish} the chore chart has brought a lot of peace and a sense of responsibility to our house. Of course there is a reward, if they don't miss a chore for a month there could possibly be a couple of bikes in their futures...We'll see.

Cali & Carter: Brush teeth, rinse sink, and wipe down the bathroom counters


Carter: Pick up the toys in the living room, and help Caleb pick up his room.


Cali: Vacuum the family room. Carter: Vacuum the stairs



Cali and Carter: Put laundry away neatly


Cali: Put the clean dishes away

Cali & Carter: Straighten up your bedroom everyday



Cali & Carter: One daily bonus chore, mom's choice

Cali & Carter: Make your bed every morning