3 Years Old!

It seems like just yesterday they were born! Aren't they the cutest little twins?


Where has the last three years gone? Oh yeah, I remember...about a million diapers (thankfully, no longer!), a zillion feedings, and a few sleepless nights! But, we all survived, and look how darling our little family is!

We had a little dinner/party that included this little masterpiece:

And these two cutie-pie's:


HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELLA & CARSON!

Home Repairs

Mark replaced the seal on the dishwasher...


The conversation afterwards went something like this:

"So, did you fix my dishwasher, or did you break it?"
"Yep........you're welcome"

In order to keep the door closed on the dishwasher now, it involves a washcloth, a vacuum, a step stool, and a bottle of vinegar. He assures me that once I run it a few times through on hot, the door will stay closed on its own. Keep your fingers crossed for me, 'cause I sure don't want to rig that up every time I do a load of dishes! I love my husband! He's so handy!

Like Father, Like Son

Mark spent the morning working in the yard...along with his trustee little helper. He had to have the hat, sunglasses, 'work socks', shorts, and short-sleeve shirt...just like Dad! Our neighbors have a little toy lawnmower that looks quite a bit like our real lawnmower.
Carson spent the entire morning outside with Mark following him around the lawn, pushing and pulling his little mower!

I guess we all want to be like our parents when we grow up!

It's Official...I've Lost My Mind!

We surprised Mark for his birthday and got him this cute little thing! I was debating on this or a 3-month massage package at Massage Envy. I clearly made the wrong decision! We got the doggie (and by the way, he is still referred to as 'doggie' because we can't come up with a name for him. Please add your comment and make a suggestion on what you think it should be called.) on Thursday of last week and had to keep it a secret until Sunday, when Mark got home. The dog was at the neighbors on Sunday, until our 'party' on Sunday night. So I talked to the kids about keeping it a secret, and surprising Dad....the very first thing out of Carson's mouth when he saw Mark was, "We got a dog Dad!". I just brushed it off and said he was referring to the stuffed dog. Anyway, he was totally surprised and even started getting choked up when the dog ran in and straight to Mark. Here's a couple pictures of our new addition.




So far in the 'name-running' is "Dash"...what do you all think?

Snowmen & Naps?

The week of Christmas we got a great snowfall--perfect for building snowmen and ensuring a white Christmas. In the afternoon, while Mark went out to snowblow our neighborhood, and while the two little ones were 'napping', Sophie went out to build a snowman. After some time, she came in and asked me to come out and see her masterpiece. I grabbed my camera, and headed outside. I took this shot:

And then this shot before realizing what was in the background of my picture:

Let's get a closer look:

And silly me....I thought he was sleeping!

Accessories!

Last night at dinner, I look over and see Bella with a darling 'french bread bracelet'. It's the new thing. A while later I hear Carson say, "Bella has a headband." Sure enough....the bracelet has been converted into a 'french bread headband'! A girls just gotta have her accessories! Who ever knew that a piece of french bread can double as a bracelet and a headband? I love that Bella-girl!!

Pumpkin Patch

Sophie had a field trip to the pumpkin patch, so we all enjoyed the morning walking through corn stalks, pumpkin fields, and picking out our own pumpkin!

2009 St. George Marathon

Before:

After:

We had to post a picture with our 'finisher's medal's' on to prove that we actually did finish the marathon. The 26.2 miles weren't pretty, and we have both vowed to never run one again, but there is something to say about completing a marathon!

1st Day of Preschool

Today was Sophie's first day of Preschool! She was pretty excited, and at the last minute, a little nervous. Here are a couple of pictures of our big girl (and her siblings)!

Go Lightening!

Sophie started a city soccer league and her team name is 'Lightening'. We've had to 'practice' putting our hands in the circle and yelling, "GO LIGHTENING" as we raise them up (I think that's one of her favorite parts of soccer)! She had her first game today and it was so fun to watch them! Considering they've only practiced twice, they did a great job! During the first soccer practice, the coach kept using the word 'goal', and finally one of the kids on the team asked, 'what's a goal?'. And when the coach asked the kids what the best part of soccer was, one kid said, "getting drinks"! Kids are awesome!! Here are a couple of pictures from today's VERY HOT game. Enjoy!

The Cabin

We just loved having Mark, Cori, Sophie, Carson and Bella back in town for a few days. Our favorite place to meet up with them is at the cabin...food...games...movies...swimming...giggles...laundry...yummy burgers in Cle Elum...all the good stuff! Here are a few pictures of our adventures there.

Re-cap of the last month..

We've had a doosey of a month! In fact, I'm not sure what the highlight was...Sophie dislocating Bella's elbow because Bella had her toothbrush (sorry, no picture, I was too busy beating Sophie and taking Bella to the dr.), making 'white-trash' smores, our first 'home-haircutting' night, or the best birthcake a mother could ask for. Here's a few pictures to re-cap...

Mark and Sophie made me this AWESOME birthday cake and decorated it themselves!

Does that just melt your heart, or what? The best part was, in Primary the kids asked me how old I was turning and I told them 25 (that's a lie, I'm a bad example), and my sweet daughter in the front row says loud enough for everyone to hear, "WOW, THAT'S OLD!"

We were planning on going up the canyon, but the weather took a turn for the worst. Sophie and I already had our heart set on s'mores, so we decided to do a 'white-trash' version. BTW, if you haven't tried Keebler's striped cookies instead of the chocolate and graham, it's a must. Very delicious...even roasted over a gas burner with a mallow stuck to the end of the fork!



Grandma Peggy thought it a little rediculous that I would take my 1 year old to get his haircut. I've never cut hair before, but she informed me that is why you start when they are little...to practice. For my birthday I got a haircutting/clipper set. Since I opened the present, Sophie has been wanting me to cut Carson's hair. I finally got brave. It was pretty much a repeat of what we did a couple of months ago, minus the $10 and waiting for the chair. Carson cried the whole time, and it actually turned out pretty cute. After I finished I asked Mark if he wanted me to cut his. He said I should practice a few more times on Carson! Sophie was my best client of the evening. Happy and excited, and thankful too!




And a few more random pictures of the kids...swimming (if that's what you can call it when it's 4 inches of water), and hat's & glasses! I love my kids!!

Sophie's Dance Recital

Sophie had a dance recital about a month ago, and I'm just now getting on the ball to post these pictures. She had two dances that she performed, one was a 'village child' (the headband and wrap-around skirt), and the other was a bird costume (rainbow colored feather boa). She was SO cute!

Easter!

Saturday morning we fought the crowds and attended the city Easter egg hunt. I'm not quite sure why we go to those. I guess it's to teach our children about real-life: fight like a dog for what you want, don't let anyone step on you, and cry when you don't get what you want. The actual hunt lasted about 2 minutes, and Sophie cried for the first minute and a half because she didn't want to do it alone. She ended up with a few stepped-on eggs full of cheap candy and bubble gum. So, all in all, a total success! We ran into Sophie's little friend, Elyssa and they got their picture taken with the Easter bunny. "Not the real one, just a boy dressed like him--he had tennis shoes on."

We then dyed eggs...



and then made the easiest and cutest Easter bunny cake...


Sunday morning we woke up and found that 'tricky' Easter bunny had hidden candy in our house...everywhere! Sophie cleaned the place out in a matter of minutes. Carson could have cared less about an actual Easter basket, he just ate them as he found them. His mouth was so full he couldn't talk, but still manage to continue to shove them in. Bella did great...she was walking around finding things, eating as she went, but also filling her basket too.





We then got ready for church! I couldn't get the kids all in the same picture with their cute Easter clothes on, so I took individual shots!



All in all, a fun Easter!