Five Fotos for Friday

In Pocatello, they were having a appreciation day at the airport - we stopped by and the kids got to do lots of fun things! Here is Maya being trained by an Army guy (love my technical name) on how to shot a gun - they were hooked up to a laser and the target would bing everytime it got it! Love how her leg is bent!

Madi - be taught too! She hit the target everytime she shot!

Max is getting tips on where to point the gun and how to use the sights!

Another picture from the St. George Temple - love how Max is "hugging" his sisters!

The first night in the hotel. In order to fit 3 kids on a Queen bed - we had them sleep sideways! It was the beginning of tons and tons of fun for 2 weeks!

10 reasons why I am a slacker!!

I have not been very good about updating my blog this summer and here are the top 10 reasons why I haven't been:

10, Went fishing on the way back from Idaho - all 3 kids caught fish and Max's weighed the most at almost 2.5 lbs!

9. Spent too much time at the Idaho Falls July 4th Parade - my kids loved cheering for the floats and people as they went by. Our matching Old Navy shirts also took time away from the blog.

8. Made some swords out of PVC pipes and foam water noodles and had to fight off evil uncles and cousins and had a ton of fun doing so!!!

7. Madi and Maya were wrapped up in very colorful toolle and it took way to long to untangle them! The wind carried the toole all around and it made them look like fairy princesses.

6. After days of watching and waiting - the rouge bunny finally let Maya, Max and Madi put it. They put in a lot of time sitting close by with out touching it!

5. Eating and eating as a family. - enough said

4. Stopping for hamburgers at the same place that Man VS Food did - this time - Food won!

3. Shooting soda cans, clay pigeons and lots of water bottles to make sure that the area stayed green from the water spray!

2. Visiting the St. George Temple - one that we had not stopped off to see! So white and beautiful with the most peaceful feeling!

And the number one reason why I am a slacker about blogging - Vegas Baby - what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!! More summer fun pictures on Five on Friday

Ten on Tuesday - A Few hour early

Today is Madi's 10th Birthday - so my ten on Tuesday is a day early but will be all about her!!

1. Madi is such a great older sister - she takes such good care of Max and Maya. She has set a great example for them to look up to and we would not be happier! She loves to have whip cream on her face!

2. Madi loves to swim!!! This picture is her getting out of the water at the family reunion in NY last summer. She loves to be in the water and she gets very tan just like her mom does!

3. Madi has the kindest heart. She is always concerned for others and wants to make sure that they are okay. She goes out of her way at school when she sees kids that are by themselves and plays with them!

4. Madison loves kids - she can't wait until she can be a babysitter and at church you will always find her with the little kids - taking care of them and helping them get to their car and find their moms!

5. Madi loves to do things outside. She loves to ride her bike, jump on the tramp, go fishing and shooting with Bryant. She has ALWAYS loved to catch bugs, lizards and many other crawling things!

6. Madison loves Christmas! She loves the songs on the radio, the decorations, light and loves giving presents to other people!

7. Madi loves to be silly! She likes watching Max and Maya be funny and do silly things - as she has gotten older - it is a little harder for her to relax and have fun but once we get her started - she has a hard time stopping!

8. Madi loves school - this is a picture of her on her first day of preschool! Ever since then she has loved going to school, reading late into the night and loves being with her friends at school.

9. Madi loves to dress up - we have always had dress ups and she loves putting them on more than Max or Maya. We recently got 2 tubs of dress ups given to us and she was so excited to put them on a do a show!

10 - Madison is a great girl and we are so luckly to have her in our family! She truly has blessed our lives and she is turning into an amazing young lady!!! Can't wait to see what the next 10 years have in store for her!!

Seven on Saturday - My Mom

With Mother's Day on Sunday - I thought that I would share with everyone 7 reasons why I love my Mom.

1. Look at the picture above - this is always how I see and think of my Mom. She may not have the fanciest clothes, she may wear the same shirts, cut off shorts and sneakers forever. But she is doing what matters most. In this picture she was sledding with her grandkids. The boots she has on are my dad's and so is the sweatshirt.

2. KYMS - that was and is her motto today - Keep your mouth shut and if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. She always lives these two rules. I know that if I told her something - it stays locked in the vault and nothing would make it come out.

3. Whenever I need to talk to someone, she is there for me. We don't live in the same neighborhood, city or state and some times even country, but I know that she is there for me. When I used to work full time before I got married, I would call her everyday. Sometimes just to say Hi and other times to cry on the phone but I loved knowing that she would be there for me with a word or two of encouragement!

4. Service - where it was making cinnamin rolls for the ladies in the ward on their birthdays, going to girls camp for thousands of years, doing whatever was asked of her, she did it and always gave 100%. I also never heard her complain when my Dad's callings took him away lots of the time. When they were called to go to Africa and back to New York - I have never heard her complain about serving. I have learned from her example to give my life in service to those around me.

5, Kids - I learned from my mom that it is more important to spend time with my kids that it is to worry about having the cleanest house on the block. I learned from her that it is okay for my kids to be dirty, for dishes to stay in the sink so I can go and play with them.

6, My Dad - I have seen how my mom supports my dad in everything he does. I am grateful to her for that example. That has helped me support Bryant in all of his crazy schedules and it has helped made our marriage stronger.

7, Small and Simple things - my mom is all about the small and simple things. For birthdays, my kids get a punching balloon for her - they think that it is the best present ever. She perfers to be behind the scene - rather than out in front of the group. She always is herself too. No matter what the situtation is.


Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you and am so glad that you are my mom!!!

Ten on Tuesday (A few hours late)

1. Madi's 4th Grade Project - For the past few weeks, Madi and Bryant have been working on part of her 4th grade history project. She decided to do it on the Saguaro Cactus. She wanted to make one. Here is what it looked like before the part, flower and spines went on it. She was so excited to turn it in yesterday and do her oral presentaton. She got 20/20. She did a great job!

2. Hair Cut - after pictures. I hope you can see the differences in the hair cuts. The biggest change was Maya and it looks SOOOOO much better!

3. This past weekend was father and sons campout and Max and Bryant left at 4:30 am to go fishing. They caught 51 fish in a few hours. This is one of the bigger ones that Max caught! They both look forward to this weekend all year long!

4, Bryant's Birhtday - Part 1 - for his birthday, Bryant wanted to go fishing and try out his new fishing hat. Here is the first fish that he caught that day. I went with him while the kids were in school and I even caught 2 fishes and 5 craydads. He had a great time and it was a great day to spend together!

5. Bryant's birthday - Part 2 - Maya was so proud of this hat she made for Bryant for his birthday that I had to post the picture. She had it double wrapped in 2 towels and thought that she was hilarious! He also got some new sandals, fishing stuff and new fishing hat!

6. On Monday was the Spring Sing for the kids school. They all did a great job and Maya even got to introduce one of the songs! Next up - Madi's orchestra concert on May 17th - you all are invited to come join us if you want too!

7. Microwave - 18 years ago, when Kindy moved to AZ, we got an apartment together and it needed a Microwave. We bought one and the thing that we liked most about it was that after it was done cooking, it said "Enjoy your meal" Well, it was laid to rest last night. The light no longer worked -it took over 4 minutes to pop a bag of popcorn and I think it might be the cause of Maya's 11th toe. We bought a new one and WOW it heats things up so quick and is so much lighter (even though it is bigger).

8. Shun the Sun - in October of 2010, I ran my first 1/2 marathon and loved it. So much that I just signed up to do it again! So, any one who wants to run with me - I would love the company! It is a very very flat easy course in Mesa and the finish line is at home plate at the Cubs Stadium!

9. Clothes - After watching so many pictures of Kate Middleton the past week or so, I decided that I truly hate all of my clothes. I was tempted to throw them all away and go buy new ones - but when my senses kicked in, I went shopping with Kim instead and we each bought a whole outfit (including accessories) from Old Navy. We had a great time but found it was a little hard to really spend money on clothes for ourselves and not at goodwill or any other second hand store.

10. The Restoration - in Primary this month - they are learning all about the Restoration. I am so glad that I am the one doing sharing time this month. I love the church and I am so grateful that it was restored to the earth and I had lived in NY for so many years!!

1. my 3 monkeys!!! Each one of them is truly the monkey that it shows. Maya - can't find/see anything to save her life. Max can't hear me ask him to do things and Madi has started saying things with eye rolling that I wish would stop. These kids are GREAT but some times their monkeyness comes out!

2. Shooting - Bryant has always wanted to get a junior 22 for the kids to use. Well - he got 2 of them and they have gone shooting twice. The kids love it. Maya has not quite figured out how to close one eye and shoot with the other but she tries hard. Max actually has a great shot and Madi loves it too. Their favorite thing to shoot is lemons - they explode when you it them.

3. Easter Egg Hunt - we went to the Wolfleys and joined up with the Rapiers and Rostenbergs for our annual easter egg hunt. Kindy always has games for us to play - hook up and tug o war. The kids got lots of eggs and then we all had a YUMMY brunch afterward with Bakes French toast - which was DELICIOUS!!!

4. Max at Day Camp - they got to make rockets and shoot them off. He loved every minute of it!

5. The before picture of the hair cut. Madi got about 3 inches cut off with long layers 0 which she thinks makes her look like a teenager. Maya's is up to her shoulders and layed too. They both look way dfferent and great!

6. 2 Date Nights in one week - Bryant and I actually went on 2 dates at night this week, The kids slept over at the Rapiers and after they left - I called him at work and told him that they had just left for the night and if he wanted to come home for a date. He was home in a hour. Then on Saturday night - he had it off since of the Easter Egg hunt and stuff. I loved spending each and every minute with him!!

7. Easter Sunday - In church on Sunday, Madison and Max sang in the choir for the Easter program. They did a great job and loved the treats that they got afterward. I think it was the only reason why Max sang.

8. Swim Team - last week I signed up the kids of swimteam this year again. I love spending all summer at the pool. I love watching them swim their best and get better each year.

9. Max - we hit a new milestone in our home on Saturday. Max mowed the lawn for the first time and wants to keep on doing it! He did a great job for his first time. He can't wait for the lawn to grow again and to mow it again. I am sure that it won't last too long - but I will take it while I can.

10 - Food Storage - Lately, we have been focusing on getting our year supply where it needs to be. I am so grateful for Bryant and he desire for us to have plenty of food incase something was to happen. It is amazing what piece of mind it brings!

Well - hopefully I did not bore you too much! See you next week - if anyone even reads this! It is more for me as a way to keep track of what has happened in our humdrum lives!

Ten on Tuesdays

1. I am so glad that April 18th is done. I work for 3 CPA's and I have been working 5 days a week since February. I have not done that since I had Max. Very grateful for the job but even more grateful that tax season is over!

2. Cub Scout Day Camp - this past Friday night and Satruday morning - I got to go with Max and 6 other boys from our ward for Cub scout day camp. It was a lot of fun and they all had a great time. It was lots of fun to be there with Max.

3. Hair Cuts - Madi and Maya both got their hair cut. Maya got about 5 inches cut off of hers, and Madi got 2 but got some long layers put in. I will post before and after later. Madi asked me if she looks like a teenager now - she is almost 10 but she is looking older with this hair cut.

4. Primary - it is still great working in primary. I am so grateful for Tori and Hali who make my life so much easier! It would be hard to be there without them.

5. Lost teeth - for the first time Madi has actually pulled out one of her own teeth. Most of the time there is a lot of crying, but this time it happened at school and she did it all by herself.

6. Running - I have not been running nearly enough lately and the scale shows it. I have recommitted myself to start running more than 3 miles a week now that I don't have to work so much.

7. Questions - why does it seem like all 5-6 year olds love to ask questions. Maya is always asking questions - non stop. I love to listen to them and then think what wis going on inside her little brain. She asks a lot but it keeps me and Bryant on our toes.

8. Our Trampoline - the mat is in the process of dying, but I think we have found a replacement. The kids LOVE jumping on it and we love it too.

9. No pictures - sorry this week's post is without pictures. I will do better next week - I promise.

10. General Conference - I love listening to each session and love the way that I feel after conference is done. I also love listening to it on my Ipod as I run, or are just doing things around the house. It is the lift that I need each and every time!