playing catch up. my least favorite game to play.

hello. hello. is this thing on?

sorry for my absence.

blame it a little bit busy,

mixed with some flu,

add a splash of hubby out of town,

mixed with a ginormous heaping spoonful of lazy

and you've got a neglected blog!!!

lets get on with it shall we?

emmas bday celebrations.

emma had a great birthday.

she got some cold hard cash and

a nano with skull candy earphones.

plus some other dittys.

next.

a couple of weekends ago i was able to go to st george

with my friend heidi and her daughters

and daughters in law.

we had such a great time.

this is us minus heidi and DIL andrea.

they walked to church so they missed the photo op.

eating at pizza factory.

which isn't so fun now that we have one here.

but it was still yum-o.

we shopped, went to vegas, stayed up way too late,

packed me in cabbage(can you say engorgement)

and just had fun chatting and being together.

our family has also been busy with sports, school,

and just life.

well there it is.

a little catch up for you.

as for me, its monday.

that means wash and a little cleaning. blah.

happy monday!

Griffin @ 15 months.

things to remember.

*you are a talker.

mama, daddy, day!(after a kiss)waa(bath)
bubbees!(when the boys get home)
bubye

*you want to feed yourself, and you're actually

getting pretty good at it.

*you are thinning out. boo. 25lbs exactly.

60%on height and weight.

still 100% on that noggin' awesome.

*you love your brothers.

sam plays with you like you are his age

and you love it!

you love ethan to snuggle you for a cat nap.

*you love chuggington and elmos world.

*you are obsessed with being outside.

*when we go to get out of the car you hand us your binky.

*you understand everything we ask you to do.

change diaper, throw it away, get jammies etc...

*we just finished up nursing.

we are both sad.

i asked our pediatrician if there is such thing

as baby depression. you seem sad its over.

once a day you ask me for "baba?"

i hate that i have to tell you "no".

we love you griff, you're the best!

dear emma.

11 huh.

wow, this gett'n older is sure hard on your moms ticker.

but its a part of life.

know this, i'll only allow it today.

since it is your birthday.

and because i absolutely adore you.

love.

mom.

sniff, sniff.

its all fun and games....

until griff decides he needs a makeover too!

ps. that curling iron was not plugged in.

it was just needed to complete the salon look.

a little more of this in the world please.

70 years.

on saturday night we gathered to celebrate

my grandparents 70th wedding anniversary.

nope, thats no type-o, 70 years.

they are truely amazing.

95 and almost 93 years young.

my mom ordered this beautiful wedding cake

to put their original "topper"on.

they loved that.

i had fun planning the table.

i did these little bottles

all with different ribbon and a different flower.

i wanted it to look old fashioned.

cheers to 70 years and a great night.

we love you grandma and grandpa.

and cheers to my bad hair night.

i didn't have time to get ready after i showered.

i sort of look creepy in this picture.

my fingers look like claws!

a few little items of this and that....

that are bringing me joy.

random, so hang in there with me.

lets start with

this little notepad that my gma gave me.

it makes me feel so 1950's.

the refill is 3 for $1.oo.

ahh, the simpler times.

i love having this chalboard in the kitchen.

we've been counting down to different things

for a couple of months.

i really want to cut off the bottom, paint it, and hang it.

one thing at a time.

have i showed you this little duvet i made for elizas bed?

i might have, lets look again for fun.

i love. love. love. this fabric.

birds. need i say more?

had to throw this in.

my sweet baby toddling around the house.

sometimes it really catches me off guard.

how is he old enough to be walking? boo.

ok. sometimes tai pan nails it.

this sign had to be mine.

$20.oo.

can you believe it?

i love it.

my january decor.

i wanted something new without spending a dime.

solution:jars filled with sugar and mini trees.

yes, i might have added a little black bear in there.

well thats it.

my needs are minimal.

its the little stuff that brings me joy.

happy weekend everybody!

girffin loves my moms spicey meatballs!(said in your best italian accent)

and so do the rest of us!

thanks mom!

i'm going to confess something now...

please don't think less of me.

yesterday at 10am.

while still in my pajamas,

i took my baby downstairs,

shut the blinds, turned off the lights,

pretended that i wasn't home,

and watched a movie and snuggled my baby.

he fell asleep.

i might have too.

it was awesome.

and the best way to start my weekend.

that's all.

i feel much better now.

i hate keeping secrets from you.

new years....bear lake style!

so i have to start out with the one and only picture of emma outside.

see her there.

on the side.

pink hat.

i'm lame.

good thing she knows i adore her!!

despite the sub zero temperatures we sure had a blast!

this was griffys first time in the snow.

he loved it!

he was constantly wanting to be outside.

but i have this weird thing about

wanting him to keep all of his fingers and toes!

it was so fun to see ethan snow board.

he's getting really good.

some serious air!

and he landed it!

way to go E!

bear lake, you never fail me.

snow or sunshine i love you either way!

see you in august!

1st haircut today...in pictures.

there might have been tears shed.

and not by griffin.

thanks heidi. you're the best.

(fyi. she gave ethan and sam their 1st haircuts too. it felt right.)

goodbye children...its been real.

well the vacation is officially over.

reality hit.

morning routine.

kids.

breakfast.

laundry.

here are some of my favorite highlights of christmas vacay 2010.

*sleeping in past 7:30

*constant friends in and out of the house

*the mailbox filled with christmas cards. ya di good, real real good.

*my kids actually enjoyed each other

*going to movies

*christmas day, ahhhh. you were gone so fast

*battleship and guess who

*wii sing it, i could play all day. come over, i'll prove it.

*new years get away

*kids flying through the air on tubes, sleds, and boards

*husband running shirtless outside in 0 degree weather while carrying sparklers yelling happy new year!(he lost a dare)

*my baby deciding that walking is a cool way to get around. boo.

*just being together!

i hope your break was great as well.

ours rocked.

pics to follow. my camera is currently charging.

happy new year everyone.....

bring it.

oh. oh. oh.

i almost forgot to tell you my word.

remember..no resolutions, just a word to live by for the year.

are you ready?

drum roll please.

did you do one in your head?

busted.

the word for 2011 is MORE.

MORE love.

MORE joy.

MORE yes's.

MORE happiness.

MORE patience.

MORE spirituality.

MORE exercise.

MORE time for what matters.

MORE food. (oops. that one didn't work out so well.)

MORE. MORE. MORE.

and in this case less really isn't more.

i want more of all the good stuff this year.