Lil' Climber

Nate took Hailey to climb the "Y" this morning. He's been talking to her about it all week and she has been so excited. She's been looking forward to a 'Daddy/Daughter Date' for some time now. The morning came and she couldn't wait. She helped me pack a backpack with some snacks, water, band aids and a jacket and they were off.  

Addy was pretty sad that she couldn't go, but felt better when I told her she could pick out a treat at Costco to bring home. She chose chocolate covered raisins. Great choice.

About an hour and a half after they left, I get a phone call from Nate and Hailey saying that they were sitting at the top of the "Y". I couldn't believe it. I really didn't think she'd make it up there all the way. It's quite the climb. Hailey told me they did a ton of exploring. Her words were "mom, I made it to the "Y" and I found a roley poley and a centipede!"  When they got home, she kept telling me they saw a beaver, to which Nate always had to correct her and say it was a squirrel. :-)

I took this picture while I was on the phone with them and they were describing to me that they were at the very top left end. Pretty cool to have a picture of it while they were actually there.

It was so great that the weather held up for the morning...

I'm so glad they went and had such a fun adventure together. 

Exciting Stuff!

We have some exciting news!!!

Carmen and Ben moved back from the Phillipines.

We've known for a while they were coming home, however, we haven't said anything to the girls so that they could surprise them.

Surprise them, they did!! Hailey's face was priceless.

Addy was very excited as you can tell, but it took her just a minute to warm up so she clinged to me for a bit.

Hailey on the other hand, wasn't shy at all....

We're so glad you guys are back. We've missed you so much.

Later that night, our nephew Spencer graduated from Independence High School.

I can't believe he's 18. So weird to me.

Carmen and I took the opportunity to have a little photo op with our beautiful niece Monika.

It's been a great day with some really great people!

Love you all!

A Little Creativity

Yesterday was a great day. It was one of the best days I've ever had.

So, naturally, I decided I wanted to do a fun project.
I went to the store, bought some paint and went to work.

I painted the girls' bathroom yellow and I have to say, I LOVE it.

It took me a couple hours total and I get so giddy about painting rooms. 

It just does something to me.

I've had this little project on my mind for a while now. 

I just didn't know exactly how I wanted to do it.

I've been blog searching and google searching and I finally found it.

So, I once again, ran to the store.

After getting everything I needed, this is what I came up with...

Cute eh?

What is it? You might ask?

This is it's purpose:

A Hair Bow Frame

I threw a few of the girls hair bows up there so you could see what it's for, but isn't it the cutest hair bow holder ever????!!!

After picking up a cute frame at DI for .50 cents and a little chicken wire at Lowe's, I was set.

Now their newly painted bathroom has a start in the new decor.

So, while I was on a roll of craftiness, I decided we needed to make Hailey's preschool teacher a gift.

So after a little glass etching, this is what we came up with.

It's a little hard to see in the picture, but it says

"Miss Megan Rocks"

haha.. no pun intended. :-)

Now i've got the craft bug.. we'll see what I come up with next...

Mother's Day 2011

 Most of you who know me well, know that I'm not a fan of Mother's Day.

There's just something about it.

This year, it was better.

 I was still running around like crazy getting myself and two little girls ready for church, oh, and Nate too, he usually needs help getting ready for church. What is it with boys? :-)

But, it was better.

I am so in love with my girls, I can't even describe it.

I am unbelievably grateful for the opportunity to raise a couple of the best little girls.

The knowlege that Heavenly Father has intrusted me with two of his children is beyond belief.

To be a mother is one of the greatest gifts I could ever receive.

I love my little monkeys and I don't know what I would do without them.

I love you Hailey and Addy... with all my heart.

Thanks for being my babies and for being such great girls. I love spending my days with you two.

Another thing that just made my day was that we have some Hawaiian friends that are neighbors. They have always spoiled us. They have allowed us to be part of many of their family and extended family gatherings and we have just been so blessed to know them. Saturday night, before Mother's Day, we walked to their house where they were selling some Hawaiian necklaces and hair pieces,etc. They gave me both a handpainted necklace and a hair piece straight from the Island itself. "Happy Mother's Day" they said.

Sunday morning, I was in the foyer at church with my girls giving them a snack when Moana walked right up to me, said, "Happy Mother's Day" again to me and presented me with this gorgeous Lei they had made. Yes, it was made of fresh Plumerias.  

What a great friend, and what a great day.

I'm so blessed to be surrounded by so many great people.

And to you, Nate... Thanks for being my everything and for giving me my dream..

A chance to be a mom.

Love you babe.

News From My Side

 Since my blog has become more of a Journal for me rather than a cool place to show off how cute my family is, I thought I should add some important news-like things that have happened recently.

First off, we got a new niece.
Meet Macey.

Isn't she precious?

She is the sweet daughter of my brother Jared and his wife Jenna.  She looks so much like her siblings, Gavin, Preston and Marley. She weighed 6.9 lbs and was 19 inches long. She was born April. The best month. :-) We are really excited to have her in the family and I can't wait to snuggle her in person.

Next is a bit of sad news. My nephew Hudson, Damon and Summer's little man had to have an extensive head surgery.  His head was growing into an abnormal shape causing some squishiness on the brain which could eventually turn into some developmental problems if it's not fixed. So, after some meetings with the neurosurgeon and plastic surgeon that would be performing the surgery, the end result was that they had to cut from the eyebrows to the bottom of the skull, open him up and do a complete reconstruction of his skull.

Um... no thanks. It was such a scary situation for all of us but mostly for his parents. After family prayers and fasts, his 6.5 hour surgery went very well and he's home and recovering quickly.

Before Surgery

After Surgery & Recovering

Thank goodness everything went well.

And Macey, we can't wait to meet you baby girl!

Gone And Done It...

Addy has been asking for quite some time now to get earings like her big sister.

So, we gone and done it.

She was hilarious. We walked into the earing store and she hopped right up in the chair, held the teddy bear on her lap and said "i'm ready mom"

She didn't cry at ALL!

She was so excited about them that afterwards, we were walking in the mall

and she kept going up to random strangers, pull her hair back and say

"see my new earings?"

Every day she makes me close my eyes and then yells "SURPRISE!"

When I open my eyes, it's the familiar sight of her holding her hair back so I can see her new gems, 

as if for the first time.

A true girl she is.