Early Birthday Present

My mum called me a couple of weeks ago to tell me that she had found my birthday present. My birthday isn't until next month, but when you see a good deal, you jump on it then. How my mother is so insanely gifted with finding awesome deals, I will never know, but I am very grateful for it! Thank goodness that she is also instilled with a sense of impatience too! 

She had found 6 backdrops that were from Kiddie Kandids on Craigslist for sale. Then we started counting and realized that there wasn't just 6, there were 7! I haven't been able to take pictures in front of all of them yet, but I have been loving it and setting up my backdrops as often as I can. 

Here's some of the pictures we've taken. 

And what is a pretty field without it's zombie??

The greatest part? We found pictures of Gavin and Aevarie from 2008 in front of the same backdrop. 

LOVE my new present! You can even ask my neighbors. I'm sure they're getting a kick out of seeing me set it up on my porch! :D

Thank you mother dearest! You KNOW I love love love it! 

Jude's 1st Birthday

This time last year I was 36 weeks along and had just woken up to my water broken. Needless to say, I was freaking out. I called my mother, who didn't answer the phone. So I called my best friend, Jen. Cause hey, was I sure it was my water? It had never broken before on it's own and I did NOT want to drive 1.5 hours just to show up to the hospital and exclaim to them that I had just peed myself. After about 5 minutes of feeling like I was continuously dribbling pee, we decided it wasn't a bladder issue and started to get everyone ready. Which really meant I was taking a shower and shaving.
 About an hour later we dropped the girls off at Jens and Corey, Gavin, and I headed to the hospital.
My doctor was of course, inconveniently on vacation. They got me all set up and we waited. My contractions were weak and all over the place, so eventually we started pitocin. At around 4:10 the nurse came to check on me and then demanded I keep my legs crossed and DO NOT PUSH! She informed us that she did not get paid enough to deliver a baby and I had to wait for the Dr.
What did I do? I crossed my legs and prayed that dr was going to get there soon!
So at 4:37pm, only minutes after the dr's arrival, Mr Jude entered into this world.

He was 6lbs 4oz and absolutely perfect. Since I was 36 weeks, Jude was considered a preemie, even though I had been asking my dr the whole pregnancy if he was sure I wasn't farther along. The nurses made me laugh by saying, "You've probably never held a baby this small before". Little did they know that Jude was bigger than 3 of my "full term" babies! He didn't seem like a preemie baby at all and was just perfect. 

Here's our first family picture:

The kids all sing "Hey Jude" to him and I love it. 

I can't believe how fast this little kid has grown and how much he has changed. He came into this world with dark hair and blue eyes, and now his hair is blonde and curly and his eyes are more green. So crazy how that happens! 

Here's the timeline in photos: 

It's really hard to believe that a year has gone by already. Jude is silly and sweet and a perfect fit into our family. 

Happy Birthday to our sweet boy! 

Guest Blogging at Welcome to the Mouse House

I am guest blogging over at the amazing and wonderful Hayleys,  Welcome to the Mouse House, today. Head over there to get the pattern and tutorial for these adorable Tutu swim bottoms! 

Thank you so much Hayley for having me!!

Rat Fink 2013

Over the weekend we decided to head down to Rat Fink. It's a huge biker/car show and Gavin just loves it. I wont do much talking and just show pictures. The cars were just awesome and funny, so enjoy a bit of our weekend! 

Our love Story

13 years ago to the day I met my husband. We were both 16. My family had just moved us all into a new house in a new town while I was away at EFY camp, and on the day I returned I answered the door to 3 kids coming to meet the new neighbors. I know for a fact that Corey did not expect ME to answer the door. His first impression of me was:
1- astonishment that I was his age
 and
2- I was tall. Like, almost look him in the eye tall. (he's correcting me and telling me that since he was a step down from my door, I actually seemed taller than him.)

I was thrilled. In the town we moved from, I really didn't have any friends and I was so excited that 2 kids my age lived on the same street and wanted to be my friends.
We got to be really good friends and had a great summer. Then 2 weeks into our senior year his family moved "up north" (into the city and away from small hick life) and for a little while we didn't really talk.
I love to sing and had joined the school choir and for one of our performances we got to go up to Salt Lake City and sing in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle. We were up there for a couple of days and during that time, Corey came to hang out with me and all of his friends from hick-ville. This is where "friendship" started to turn more into "romance". We had such a fun time and when he dropped us off at the house we were staying at and went to leave, I kissed him on the cheek. He had the STRANGEST look on his face. I'm pretty sure I panicked and shut the door a little harder then I meant to. Then I sat in shock wondering if indeed I had just kissed him, and what on earth had possessed me to do it. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to kiss him, I just couldn't believe I had been brave enough to actually do it! I went home thinking I'd never hear from him again.

How wrong was I.

After that the letters and calls picked up. We would spend every minute we could together. One night after we had gone for a walk, we were sitting on the curb in front of my house, my back against his stomach. I asked him what he was thinking and looked up at him and that's when he kissed me. On the lips! A cop passed us almost immediately following that kiss. Is that a good omen? Must be since we're still together. lol
 As soon as I got in the house I found that my whole family had been sitting at the window spying on us. They didn't see us kiss, but my little sister yelled out, "You kissed Corey!" and when I turned beet-red and responded with a, "So!" They all stood in disbelief. I think my mother thought Corey was gay (I can't blame her cause that thought had crossed my mind before, sadly) and then they all just burst out laughing. Yes, thank you family! I love you too!
Around graduation (May 2001) one of our mutual friends parents (did you follow that?) told Corey that he could use their little camper and stay in it for a while. We were together every day and I still remember how embarrassingly loud his Jimmy was. I could seriously hear him coming from half-way across town.
Just as I was gun-ho about kissing him first (does a kiss on the cheek really count as the first kiss?), I was the first to say "I love you" too. We were sitting in the trailer talking one day and I was pretty confident that he loved me. We were listening to music and I know I was putting on songs dealing with "I love you" to try and give subtle hints and make him say it first. It's incredibly sad what a nerd I was. I finally got annoyed that my attempts weren't working and just came out with it. There was a horribly long moment of silence. Then finally his response was, "Is that it?" Jaw drop and WHAT????
The only thing I really remember after that was how embarrassed and pissed off I was at his response. I mean, what kind of a response is, "Is that it?" anyways?

When I say I was angry, I mean that I was REALLY angry. I didn't see him before he went back up north and then after a couple of weeks not hearing from him, I figured that was it.
A guy at work had been bugging me to go on a date with him, so being hurt and just plain stupid, I said yes. I  dated that guy for a couple of months before ending it, and sometime during that time Corey had come down and seen us holding hands, so he thought I had moved on and it was over.

Corey did come back down here for college (fall 2001) but, things were awkward and we were trying the whole "lets just be friends" approach. That lasted until December when we finally, officially became a couple.
I went to England with my mother and sister for the whole month of March. I missed him so much. When I got back we talked a little about summer plans. Neither of us liked bringing it up though, cause we didn't like the thought of being apart again.
Then at the beginning of May 2002 Corey proposed. The story I love to tell is that we were on a walk by the Manti Temple when he asked me. Truthfully though, I was a brat and I made him do that months before I even went to England cause I just wanted to see how it would look to have him propose. And yes, "I" do that. lol
The real proposal did give me goosebumps (in the good way) and made me feel all giddy and happy but my semi-forced proposal makes a better story. :D
So that's our love story. And yes, we did get married 3 weeks after getting engaged. I have no patience when my mind is set on something. :D

Happy 11 years together to my wonderful husband and I hope a lifetime more to come!

Summer Vacation is officially Here!

This was the last week of school and because we had 4 kids going at 3 different times and days, I'm going to break this down by Day. 

Monday: Gavin had regular school, Aevarie only had Mayday practice and this was Zoe and Paisley's last day of preschool. I WISH WISH WISH I knew they had a little program going on, but I didn't and it didn't really matter cause Zoe refused to be a part of it and sat on my lap the whole time. They did have a fun time though and got to go to McDonalds. 

Tuesday: Gavin had regular school and Aevarie only had Mayday practice again. 

Wednesday: Mayday Performance. 

I get to post a cool awesome picture like Crys, where you have to play "Where's Waldo" to find my kids. I made bright green arrows to make it easier. 

Aevarie danced to the "Gummy Bear Song" (which they've been singing non-stop). I really wish I could post the video. She's such a cute little dancer! 

I'm not sure what song Gavin danced to, but he was really getting into it too. 

Thursday: Junior Olympics Day

This was the first year I got to see Gavin at Jumior Olympics. Gavin is a really good little athlete, something to do with all that energy..... Here's some pics from that day. 

Balloon catapult

Red Rover

Victory!

3-legged race.

Tug-o-war

The girls got in on the tug-o-war too. 

They had a booth set up with water and banana's for all of the kids, and they told my girls to take as much as they wanted......I don't think they realized how many banana's these girls can eat! 

Paisley decided to use the back of the stroller as a chair.

Zoe getting yet ANOTHER banana

And of course Zoe telling all of her tiredness woes to her banana friend before eating him. 

This was Aevaries last day of  Kindergarten. :(

Friday: Gavins official last day of school. They only went for 1 hour and 45 minutes. When Gavin got home, he promptly got into his comfy pajamas and declared that since he had woken up too early (7:45am) that he needed more sleep. lol

After lunch we went out to the park. All of the kids rode something and it took FOR - EV - ER to walk the 3 blocks up to the park. I was honestly ready to go back home and take a nap as soon as we got there!

I did let the kids play though. Gavin gave Jude a ride in his go-kart:

The kids had races down the grass hill:

We got to swing, which despite the picture, he really doesn't enjoy.

Aevarie helped Paisley cross the monkey bars:

Zoe spent her time doing some very serious riding and smashing bugs:

And when Gavin wasn't in his go-kart, Jude kept climbing in. 

Gavin is already giving him driving tips.....

So that was our lovely last week of school. 

Tomorrow our town has a festival so we'll take the kids down and walk around all of the booths. 

You can look forward to my guest blog coming up soon and hopefully I will get into a better blogging schedule! 

Have a lovely day and YAY FOR SUMMER!

Peek-a-boo Patterns Paradise Bay Tankini

I was so excited to be able to test the Paradise Bay Tankini by Peek-a-boo Pattern shop. I seriously LOVE Amy's patterns. This was the first swimsuit I have ever made and truth be told, I was pretty intimidated about it. The swimsuit really was a breeze to put together though and now I can't wait to get more swim fabric to make all of my kids bathing suits!

I made the size 3t and it fit Paisley perfectly, which was amazing! Usually when we buy swimsuits at the store I have to size down 1 or 2 sizes for this little girl.

I love the little ruffle at the top and the length of the bodice. So nice that it covers her little tummy. :D 

Paisley had a lot of fun with her photoshoot and I seriously can't say enough good things about Amy's patterns!

I couldn't resist showing a picture of her cute little bum.

 I can't wait to try Amy's Hang Ten Rash Guard and Surfs Up Board Shorts.

And if you're intimidated by swimsuits, don't be and dive right in! They really are a lot easier then they look!