This makes me Laugh . . .

Caught RED HANDED with Mommy's Chocolate . . .

If I smile I might get away with it...

SWEET... Daddy is Laughing... I TOTALLY got away with it...

What a Lucky Kid! ~

THANK YOU EASTER BUNNY ~

The reason I thank the Easter Bunny is because I melted him . . .

And I made this ~

STRAWBERRIES

PRETZLES

and

OREO'S

covered in Chocolate OH MY! ~

Spring Break Vacation ~ Andersen House

We went to Sacramento and Stockton this last week to visit with family. With Hailey getting sick at church, we were worried about going. We all woke up Monday morning feeling great, so we decided we were still going to go! Well... Matt and I ended up getting sick while we were there. We pulled in Monday afternoon, and we were sick Monday evening...

I hate being sick . . .

Not that I think anyone enjoys being sick, but I really hate it. I feel like I am doing NO good to the world, and to make matters worse Landon started getting sick too . . .

THE ONLY good thing to my baby being sick along with me is that we just chilled together. I love that he will just snuggle up with me for hours!! We ended up getting my sister Sharon sick too. I hate being the one to get others sick. I won't take my kids out when they are sick, and I won't go out if I am sick... Does anyone know how you can tell if you are going to get sick ? ?

Anyways, we enjoyed our time there!!

I took all my projects that I needed to get help with. My mother is like Martha Stewart, I LOVE having someone who can fix anything!!

I needed to make Landon's long sleeved Church shirt into a short sleved...

I needed to repair Hailey's Tinkerbelle Chair that ripped in the seat...

Matt wanted to add belt loops to his HOT boardshorts because they were a little big...

and I needed to fix my ONLY jeans that fit before they got a big whole next to the pocket on the butt.

We did it all AND got our Taxes done! My dad (the accountant) helped with that one!

And what is even better is that we made THIS also...

check out this purse... 

I picked out the fabric, and I think it turned out GREAT! ~

The inside has all kinds of pockets. The ones that are empty in the picture hold diapers and wipes!!

Thanks Mom for the adorable purse! It cost less than $6.00 to make! My mom had made one for herself, and I saw it and told her it was cute. She said "We'll lets make one for you!" LOVE IT!

We also went to one of Preston's Baseball Games.

He is currently the only Sophmore on the Varsity Team. He is a good player, and really enjoys being on Varsity. His batting avg is .333 which is pretty good. We look forward to hearing how the rest of his season goes. The game we attended was a Pre-Season Game vs. Marysville. Natomas won 14-9. Had I been feeling a little better I might have taken some pictures from the game. We were glad to get a chance to see him play! GO NIGHTHAWKS!

After the game we headed straight to RED ROBIN for dinner! YUMMMMMM!!!

Because I was still feeling a little sick I got the French Onion Soup and Salad Dinner. That REALLY hit the spot! My mom heard what I ordered and got the same! We REALLY enjoyed it! ~ TRY it next time you go!!

We really enjoy our time when we visit my parents. They love seeing the Grandkids, and love seeing us too!! My mom had purchased The Princess and The Frog and the kids enjoyed watching that together . . . can't you tell??

THANK YOU ANDERSEN FAMILY FOR A GREAT TRIP!!

Spring Break Vacation ~ Bird House

After being at my parents, we headed to the Bird's in Stockton. The main purpose for the visit was to see Melissa (Matt's Sister) and her husand Nathan Imel. But we were lucky enough to catch up with Kevin Matt's little brother too.

The first night we were there we headed to AT&T park for the Giants vs. A's game. We went on a Thursday so it would not be so crowded in San Francisco. We decided to take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to the game from Pleasanton. I do not recommend this form of transportation to people with young children. The kids enjoyed it for a little bit, but they were quite restless, and I did not have a carseat to buckle them into. . .  We made it to the game, and to our seats at the VERY top! We were worried it was going to be FREEZING, but we were perfectly protected from the wind up there! Here is the view from our seats.

Landon got to sit with Uncle Nate and Aunt Melissa until he fell asleep later in the game...

Then he slept on me. I did not mind one bit!! ~ He kept me warm!

Hailey tried to go on the Coca-Cola Bottle slide, but she was too short. I guess she was able to go in the Mini Ballpark area and hit some Baseballs off a Tee. She LOVED the game!

We wore our ORANGE and BLACK to cheer for the Giants, but they lost the game. They played the A's the next two days and won... too bad we went to the wrong game! I think we all enjoyed it!

The next day the girls went shopping and the boys had the kids. I sure am thankful for the time I get away from my kids. It was nice to shop without worrying where me kid had ran off too. I was able to pick up some PJ's for Landon that we needed on clearance! I Love Baby Gap PJ's!

Then on Saturday we visited with Grandma and Grandpa Bird, and we colored Easter Egg's.

Hailey LOVED going to her Great Grandma Bird's because she pulled out Easter candy and cookies. It made me remember visiting my Grandma Smith's House. She always had speical treats for us, and it just felt SO good to have a Grandma spoil us! I did not take pictures at Grandma Birds house, but I should have. The kids played with a race car track while Matt and Nate played with a cool toy gun! Fun Times! But I did get pictures of the Egg Coloring ~

This was a first for Hailey. She enjoyed it very much. She really loved the apron Grandma put on her! After the Egg's dried we went on a little easter egg hunt in the front yard. Nate, Matt and I laughed every time she found another egg because she threw them in her bucket without any worry about breaking them! :)

It is fun to experience new things with Hailey. She is growing and learning so much every day, I have to sit back and take these things in.

We had a great dinner that night with all the family (minus Chirs, Erin, and Rylie who were in North Carolina checking out a possible job and move for the family) and enjoyed the time together. Our kids are so lucky!! I LOVED seeing my kids interact with their Aunts and Uncles. Nate was always playing with the kids. If I lost track of Landon I always found him in Uncle Nate's arms. And while Kevin was visiting he played with the kids throwing them up in the air and laughing with them. It reminded me of how the kids interact with my siblings. We don't get to see Matt's siblings as often, so I really enjoy these special moments.

We headed home that night so we would be home for Easter. It was a perfect trip shared with the people we love the most! ~ THANKS BIRD-IMEL FAMILY FOR THE FUN TIMES! ~

EASTER 2010

I LOVE EASTER  ~

I love setting out the Easter Baskets and goodies ~

The kids got PJ's, Clothes, The CareBear Movie, and candy this year.

I was going to put out their Sunday Easter Clothes, but it was just too much. I get practical things for them, but they think they are getting spoiled... yeah... that is how I roll! :)

I like to get a little something for Matt and I too...

I laugh whenever I see this picture of Hailey because she looks JUST like I did when I was younger in the pictures my parents have of me. Hair all messy! HAHA! She will thank me later for that one! :)

Hailey was trying to put an Egg on her nose.

While Landon ate his candy.

The best thing about Easter this year was that it landed on Conference Weekend.

What a better way to remember our Savior than to listen to our Latter Day Leaders Proclaim his Gospel!

I hope you all had a Happy Easter!!

WEEKEND ~

We were going to be driving to Idaho and back this weekend to see my sister Nicole's little baby boy get blessed . . .

Matt ended up getting a second Interview here at a local Business here in Fresno for Friday afternoon, so we stuck around town. I was glad I did not have to do the long drive there and back, and was looking forward to a relaxing weekend . . .

But when you are married to the man I am married too, he has PLANS to cover the PLANS that did not go through. We woke up early Saturday and made Pumpkin Waffles with Apple Syrup... MMMMMMM!! We invited our friends Spencer and Lauren Baker to come over for breakfast too.

After breakfast we went to a Local Clovis Car Show.

Then we went shopping at Ross and Marshall's for PJ's for the kids.

Then we went on a Bike Ride.

Then we had to ride home FAST because we only had an hour to be ready for

GIRLS NIGHT OUT . . .

Then I kissed the kids and Matty goodbye and headed to BJ's Brewery for a GREAT dinner! (I got soup and salad so I had room for my PIZZOKIE, I opted for the Peanut Butter and Oreo half and half... it was SOOOOOOO good!!)

Then did a little more shopping with the girls at the Mall and other stores.

Then went home and watched a movie with the hubby.

There was ALOT of running around with the kids, and ALL these activities were shared with the Bakers! We had a fun-filled BAKER day! :)

So needless to say Hailey was a little over worked with all the activities...

She threw up in Sacrament Meeting . . .

GO FIGURE!

Healthcare Reform . . .

I love Jay Leno...

He knows how to make an aquward situation funny!

"President Obama signed the landmark healthcare reform bill into law on Tuesday. I'll tell you how excited the president is. Today, he changed his slogan from 'Yes, we can,' to 'Yes, we finally did something.'" --Jay Leno

"Well, as you know, healthcare reform was passed by the House last night. Supporters of the bill say the American people now get the same health benefits that members of Congress get. Now, if we can just get some of their other perks: free travel, envelopes with cash, get-out-of-jail-free cards..." --Jay Leno

"I have been thinking about the healthcare problem and how to pay for healthcare. If you took all the money the Republicans have spent trying to stop healthcare and all the money Democrats have spent trying to get healthcare, we could afford healthcare." --Jay Leno

"And to help sell this plan to the American people, President Obama said it's the same plan Congress has. See, I think that's a mistake. I think that's why a lot of people opposed it. Have you seen members of Congress? Do they look healthy to you? Anybody here want to be as fat as Barney Frank? Huh? You want to be as orange as John Boehner? I don't think so." –Jay Leno

"It looks like Democrats have their 60 votes for healthcare. Harry Reid said the bill will save us hundreds of millions of dollars. Well, it would have, except for the hundreds of millions of dollars we had to pay to buy the 60 votes." –Jay Leno

"The healthcare reform bill now includes a tanning booth tax of 10 percent. You know what this means? This whole thing could be funded by the cast of 'Jersey Shore.'" –Jay Leno

I am not ignorant enough to think that this Bill is ALL BAD...

But I am also not ignorant enough to think that this Bill will not cost us financially and emotionally. . .

 Democracy seeks to grant equality to its citizens through freedom. This bill is not only bad in the details, but takes a major step toward a socialist government. That means a people who are not free, but dependent upon and serve the government. This is why it must be repealed. There are good ways to reform health care that preserve the most important principles of our government and freedom, this bill does the opposite. It’s time for all good men and women to stand up and cleanse the government of the cancer that has invaded it.

Would you be happy if you saw your freedoms eroded and were forced to depend on government to do things for you that you would prefer to do for yourself? If you were forced to depend on government to make decisions about your health care that strangers ought to butt out of, that your privacy and deeply personal health information was about to become part of a gigantic government data base would you feel secure with that?

WELL I DON'T!!!

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE . . .

WHY are WE constantly looking over our fences into what we THINK is GREENER pastures??

WHY can't we just be happy with the LIFE we are LIVING??

I am SICK and TIRED of people wanting what other people have...

Oh, you think MY life is perfect, and if you just had THIS or THAT you would be happy . . . huh??

Why can't we just accept what our father in Heaven has given us? This includes our trials. Why can't we take the BAD with the GOOD??
I was watching Dr. Phil the other day (yes I am going to "Go All Dr. Phil on you) and he brought up a GREAT point. There was a lady who was having trouble dealing with the problems she was facing. Some of these problems are things she COULD solve, but CHOSE not too. She would rather live her life ANGRY and UPSET at those around her who have what SHE THINKS she wants. I know I do not always live by this rule, but I am going to TRY to live by it...

ONLY WORRY ABOUT THE THINGS YOU CAN CONTROL!!!

Simple RIGHT?? Only if you think about that with every trial you come across . . .
Take me for instance. My husband is unemployed... I can not control that. However, I can control the kids when he is "working at finding a job at home", I can also control the things I say to him. Rather than being an angry, mean wife that he is not working; I reasure him EVERY day that he is a GREAT provider. This will be a short time in our life that we will get through. I can control my support to be positive not negative. I can control my prayers and fasting to help us . . .

Take your current TRIAL or PROBLEM . . .

FOCUS on the things you CAN control, everything else you have to just LET GO! Heavenly Father BLESSES us with trials. We were put here on the earth just for that purpose. If we are letting these trials and tests get the better of us guess who is winning? 

GET CONTROL and LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE! ~

Summer Hair ~

Does anyone else have to get a new hair cut or hair do for the summer months?

Am I the only one who thinks after being outside in 75 degree weather last week...

"WHOA I better cut my hair soon to get ready for the real heat!"

Here I am in the bathroom trying to get a good view of all angels of the "New Do!"

The side view... WHY does my auto camera think I needed that flash??

The front view... wow I need to clean my mirror again... haha!

This it My Hubby's View... I think I like it the best.

I went for the SHORT and BLONDE hair...

Carissa Hosford does my hair, and I have NEVER been disapointed with her work. I went to a beauty school when I was living in Sacramento and the girl chopped my hair... needless to say I VOWED to only let Carissa cut my hair after that! THANKS CARISSA!

My Summer Hair THANKS you too!!

Story Book Time

"NOOOO, I don't want to go!" Hailey screams as I PRY her fingers from her car seat.

"We are going to the Library for STORY BOOK TIME!" I reply and excited as I can be that I am OUT OF THE HOUSE!!!

"NOOOO... Oh look Mommy Merry Christmas." she says as she points to a Pine Tree. I laugh and think to myself... did she really go from NOOOOO to Merry Christmas in three point five seconds... I think my daughter has ADHD.

"OH Books!" she screeches as we walk into the quiet Library.
We head over to where the other mothers and children are sitting waiting for THE LADY to come and entertain our children for 20 minutes.
"Mommy LOOK... a SHISH!" she said as she grabbed the FISH puzzle from the table.
I acted suprised and said "YES sweet girl that is a FISH."
Then THE LADY approaches and all the kids get quiet... All the kids that is EXCEPT for mine...

"A CRAB Mommy a CRAB!" she yells as all the other kids wave and say Hello to THE LADY.
One mother turns around and gives my daughter the look...
I smile at her and pretend I don't want to go slap her silly. I want to say This is our first time, but I keep my mouth shut. "Yes sweet girl that is a Crab, can you come and sit for Story Time now?"
They start singing a song, and Hailey started running away.
"Hailey come and sing the song." I say to her, "It is a FUN song!"
"No Mommy...No!" I.Dislike.Defiant.Children.

"Ok then, Landon and I will sing by ourselves." I tell her.

Landon quite enjoyed the Story Book Time. Until he saw the computers. HE LOVES playing on computers. He ignored the last 10 minutes while he pounded away to his hearts content on the kid keyboard. I figured that was ok, it was a kid keyboard afterall.

The Magic Letter for today was U. THE LADY talked about Umbrella's, Uniforms, and Underwear. One little girl yelled out "Hey, those are PANTIES!" to which all the mothers laughed... good times.

Hailey wanted nothing to do with the Magic Letter for the day. She wanted nothing to do with anything THE LADY did.

They read two book, sang some silly songs, and played with scarves.
Hailey only payed attention when she wanted to. I kept telling myself ~ This is he first time, she will be just as nice and quiet as all the other kids after a few times going.
When they were playing with the scarves each kid had to go up and get their own scarf... Hailey tried to steal one from a boy who had already gotten one from THE LADY. When she finally figured out how to get one correctly THE LADY said "This must be your first time,what is your name?" Hailey grabbed an orange scarf and turned around and walked away. Not Embarassing... I did tell her not to speak to strangers...
But despite THE LADY's attempt to get her attention, Hailey had realized Landon was having more fun on the computers so she headed over to the other computer where both my childen POUNDED on the kid keys while the other little sweet children sang their silly songs.
Maybe I should listen to her when she is screaming " NO Mommy, I don't want to go!" next time.
Or maybe next week will be A LITTLE BIT better...

P.S. This is THE BEST Story Book Time I have ever been to. We have moved alot and I have been to 5 different ones... I hope we stay here because I LOVE this one. It is at the Clovis Library Fridays at 10:00 am for those that might be interested. For ages 2-3 it says but I took Landon too, and there were LOTS of little babies there! ~